Let's give a big round of thanks to my wonderful beta, Scattered Logic! Without her, you would be swamped in a sea of unnecessary exclamation marks and other unsightly writing mishaps. Hope you get better, SL, I know being sick is totally uncool.
In answer to your statement, DBfan, you've caught me! I am a total LoK: Soul Reaver nut, if not groupie. Raziel is just too damn sexy, and the plot is superb. You just can't go wrong with a guy that walks around in tight leather pants and no shirt. Of course, I don't think he looks too bad after he falls. Such a sexy voice! Well, anyway, I've obviously made you wait long enough for the standard disclaimer.
Ahem, Sarah and anything relating to Labyrinth are absolutely, positively not mine. Raziel and his hot, sexy body belong to Eidos and Crystal Dynamics.
Now, on with the show!
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"Finals, finals, finals! They're done! Oh, yeah! One semester down and only seven more to go before graduation." Elise jumped up and down on her bed, twirling around and clapping her hands like a small child.
"Elise, you need to get professional help if you're excited about taking tests." Still, Sarah couldn't help but smile at her exuberant comrade. Nothing could slow down Elise; Sarah was sure of it.
"Come on, Sarah! You want vacation as much as I do. Don't even think about denying it. And personally, if I have to go through a few tests, albeit insanely hard ones, I'll do it. Wait! Make that already done them," Elise flopped down, tucked her knees under her chin, cocked her head to the side, and looked quizzically at Sarah. "So, what are you going to do? I mean, we've got three, four weeks of par-TAY-ing before back to the usual drudgery, and you haven't said word one about where you're going."
"I'll probably stay here. It's too expensive to get plane tickets back home, and road trips can be too exhausting. But, maybe I'll visit some old friends." Sarah looked wistfully around the small dorm room, wondering if she could have a party like the one after she beat Him. God! how she missed them: the noble Sir Didymus, Ludo, and Hoggle especially. Sarah did not want to alarm her friend by nearly destroying a room during their revelry, or worse yet, accidentally having Elise see all of them. Sure, Elise shared her interests, but a love like that could only go so far, right?
"Sarah. Earth to Sarah! Requesting permission for head to return to its usual orbit around Sarah's body," Elise shook Sarah's shoulder. "Honestly, Sarah, I don't think I've ever met anyone who could zone out like you."
Sarah looked down at Elise. "I'm fine, really. I think I should, um, go take a shower. We have that party tonight remember?" With that comment, Elise shot one of those 'of course I remember' looks. "Don't forget to change into something interesting. I mean it, Elise. A t-shirt and jeans are fine for everyday wear, but this is a party!" With that parting comment, Sarah grabbed her towel and shower supplies and raced down the hall before Elise could retaliate.
Elise called after her, "Hey! You forgot wrist guards. I wear those everyday too," Elise glanced down at her black leather clad wrists. "I always wear those, always," Elise quietly whispered as she stroked them, tears forming in her eyes.
"Dammit! I refuse to cry, to pity myself," Elise snapped in her thoughts. "So, Sarah, you want me to wear something…interesting? Are you sure you want to see what I have in mind?" A small, secretive smile formed on Elise's lips as she turned around and went to change.
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The water ran down Sarah's body in rivulets as she considered, well, nothing. Her mind seemed a pleasant blank, which is expected after finals week. Yet in that same moment, her thoughts drifted to a time that seemed so long ago. Her time in the Labyrinth had been the happiest time in her life. She finally had seen what a precious gift a sibling could be.
Toby. How could she have ever despised that wonderful child? Her time at home at been less than wonderful, especially with Karen's constant demands. Yet Toby had always put a smile on her face, and she couldn't believe she had been willing, even for a second, to give him to the goblins. To be sure, she didn't always enjoy watching him, but whoever does? Needless to say, one tiny burble and a few toddling steps were enough to melt her heart.
Sarah awoke from her shower reverie and finished washing up. She definitely needed to spend less time in the shower and more time getting ready for the party. Elise was probably getting impatient, and when Elise was impatient, the neatness factor of their room suffered. Sarah began dressing in her best "wild yet sweet" clothes…
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"Okay, I'm dressed, and Sarah's nowhere in sight. It's been, what? forty-three minutes and she's still not out of the shower?!" Elise mumbled in indignation as she paced the length of the dorm cell. "The least she could do was say, 'Elise, I'm going to take my God-damn sweet time after commanding you to get ready for a party that starts in about thirty minutes.' Sweet Jesus! I am so sick of waiting and flopping on the bed is not an option in this outfit."
Instead, in the very essence of vanity, Elise began to practice some of her moves, which she hoped would keep her from completely embarrassing herself. She began to sway her hips slightly to the music that was playing in her head and moving her feet. Absentmindedly, she closed her eyes, imaging the evening that awaited her if only Sarah would hurry the hell up.
"Ooofff! Oh, no! Not again!" Elise yelled as she bumped into Sarah's nightstand and landed in an unceremonious heap as the 'darn piece of wood,' as Elise had dubbed it, began to sway dangerously. "Please no, no, no, NO! Aww, crap, there it goes." And sure enough, down went the nightstand with a resounding thud. "This has to happen, doesn't it? Yeah, hi, you must be Elise and now it's time for life to screw you over." Elise growled and stood up. "Well, what's a few more wasted minutes? I'll clean this up, and Sarah will be none the wiser."
Of course, the nightstand couldn't possibly cut Elise a break. As soon as it had begun demonstrating Sir Isaac Newton's laws of gravity, it had dumped all its contents all over the floor. Elise began the arduous process of picking up Sarah's bedside treasures and putting them away.
"Damn unstable hunk of junk! You wouldn't even make good kindling for a ritualistic book burning! Hate and loathing and disgust! Yes, yes! Those are the feelings." Elise glared at the taunting object and stuck her tongue out at it. Satisfied that it did not have a smart comeback, she glanced at what was left scattered on the floor. Then, something caught her eye; something obviously well-loved
"Huh? What's this?" Elise bent to retrieve it. "Ooohh! The Labyrinth. Wonder what it's about?" Elise began to absentmindedly page through the red leather bound novel. "Yowza! Best start at the beginning." Elise quickly sank onto her bed, bending her face over the tome, quickly reading with a very ravenous hunger. "Oh, wow. A Goblin King. Heroine versus dark, sexy guy. Boy, wish I was her."
Elise tucked her leg to the side on the bed, totally absorbed in the action. "God! I wish the goblins would come and take me away. No, better yet, I wish the goblins would come and take Sarah and me away," Sarah walked in with a 'I'm ready now. Let's go.' as she heard the last two fatal words, "right now!"
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Well, is it still good? Many thanks to the people who reviewed the first chapter: DBfan, dawn, Scattered Logic (luv you!), and Darkmaster. Your comments meant a lot to me. And for the rest of you people out there, please review. Tell me that I'm doing a horrible job if that's how you feel. Any feedback is always welcome, though, positive is more happily received!
Until I can help you procrastinate cleaning your room again,
little-raziel