Jareth tore through his bedroom frantically searching though the discarded clothing left scattered from the night before. Standing to his side, Marcus watched impatiently. It was only seconds since they had left the dungeon, but now Jareth seemed hell-bent on finding which pocket he left his car keys in - or at least that was what Marcus thought it looked like.
"What the hell are you doing, man? Shouldn't you be poofing us to wherever Elyssa is?"
Ignoring Marcus' suggestion, Jareth searched for a moment longer before jumping back to his feet. "It's not here," he muttered.
"What's not here," Marcus shouted.
Jareth turned, staring at him with is cool, mismatched eyes. "My cloak. She must have been wearing it when Arik took her."
Marcus was on the verge of losing what little temper he had left. "Then just find another one so we can get the hell out of here."
Jareth shook his head, his voice perfectly calm. "You don't understand. The clasp from my cloak - it was fashioned from crystal. My crystal."
"And..." Marcus twirled his hand in a frustrated hurry-up gesture.
Jareth sighed, resisting the urge to smack Marcus' head. "Arik is covering her mind, you twit, he's hiding her from me. That's why my magic won't work. But, if I can get close enough, there's a possibility that I can find her using the crystal."
Marcus' eyes brightened in understanding. "Track the crystal and track the girl, right?"
A single vicious nod was all the answer he received. Jareth turned and sprinted towards the balcony leaving Marcus to trail behind.
"Hey, wait a minute Jareth. You're not leaving here without me. Aren't you just going to poof us over there," he called.
Jareth glared at Marcus as he stepped onto the balcony. He was dismayed to see that light had already burned away all traces of morning. It would be late in the evening at the earliest before he could safely reach the Geishal stronghold. Time was getting away from them.
"Poofing, as you so delicately put it, is not exactly the safest mode of transportation - especially in enemy territory. Teleportation is an exact science. I have to have a clear picture in my mind of the destination, and while I've spent plenty of time at the castle, there's no telling what could happen. What do you think would happen if I appeared halfway into a wall, or worse into a room full of guards? Flying is the only way."
Turning away, Jareth prepared to transform. Marcus lunged forward grabbing Jareth's shoulder. "Wait a minute damn you. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not. Besides, you might need me."
Looking into his earnest face, Jareth was forced to smile. For a brief moment, he realized just why Elyssa liked Marcus so much. "This isn't a game Marcus, it's not safe for you. The Geishal's are vampires, one of the most dangerous creatures in the Underground, don't you realize that?"
Marcus refused to let go of Jareth's shoulder. "I'm coming."
Jareth sighed in frustration. This was wasting valuable time, a commodity too precious to be squandered so easily. Jareth made his decision. If the boy wants to come, let him come...
"Suit yourself," Jareth murmured as he slid into the form of a snow white owl. The next thing Marcus knew, his body began to shrink. Instead of two legs, he now had four. His nose grew long and pointy sprouting long white whiskers. And, oh Hell no - that had better not be a tail growing out of his ass.
Effortlessly the owl grasped the wriggling mouse in it's talon before taking wing.
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Elyssa still lay in a crumpled heap on the cold stone floor trying desperately to feign unconsciousness. Behind her, the silently brooding Lord paced the floor. Elyssa still hadn't had the chance to get a good look of the room she was in, but her nose told her everything she needed to know. Someone had tried to temper the smell of moldering curtains and dank decay with incense, only highlighting the dreadful odor. Elyssa tried not to shudder even as her cramped muscles screamed for her to move. The sound of Arik's boots on the floor was maddening, sending her thoughts of another...
Jareth
Arik's mother, or whoever she was, seemed pretty damn sure that Jareth would come for her. Elyssa wanted to believe that, but refused to let her heart hope. In her world, kidnappings usually ended in ransom or death, and it sure didn't sound like it was money they were after.
Elyssa wondered what time of day it was - for that matter what day this even was. All she could remember was being abducted then waking up to a nightmare.
"...kill her or be rid of her..."
The words resounded in her mind. Well, she thought, this is certainly turning from bad to worse. When you get kidnapped by a psychotic vampire who has some kind of grudge match against your unrequited lover who just so happens to be the king of goblins, you either needed to get on Jerry Springer or refill your prescription for Valium. And damn it, she was all out of Valium.
Elyssa was suddenly aware that the sound of Arik's boots had ceased. "You can get up now child. I've known for quite some time that you're awake. It's senseless for you to remain so uncomfortably still." Arik's voice was crisp and full of authority, nothing like the seductive silkiness of Jareth's which held it's own power of persuasion. While Jareth's whispered pleasure, Arik's only spoke of death.
Cursing herself once again for a fool, Elyssa sat gingerly up, immediately covering her bare legs under the folds of Jareth's cloak. The small clasp at her neck had dug inter her tender skin. Absently, Elyssa rubbed at the spot while quickly surveying the room. Arik stood by a tall open window, his back kept to her. Beside him was an ancient writing desk which an equally old chair both so old and frail, she doubted it could support her weight, let alone a man Arik's size. Stretching out across the wall hung at least one source of the room's stench, a half rotted tapestry. Even in it's pitiful decaying state, she could see that it was once intricately woven and probably very costly for it's beauty. The only other furniture in the room was a still functional bed. Not surprisingly, the bed was covered in black silk sheets and heavy furs. With the guttering torches and the rotted interior, a bed covered in such finery seemed oddly fitting. It added to the pleasant ambiance of insanity.
Carefully, Elyssa rose to her feet keeping her eyes warily trained on her captor's back. In another lifetime, she might have actually found the man oddly attractive. His long jet black hair was kept neatly tied with a satin ribbon at the back of his neck. He wore a voluminous scarlet dressing robe which dragged the ground and gathered at his feet. The dark red of his robe and the blackness of his hair were a stark contrast to his pale skin. When he turned unexpectedly to face her, Elyssa couldn't help but gasp. What might have once been a handsome face was now haggard and thin. Dark, unpleasant smudges formed underneath his eyes. Regardless of the paleness, his skin had an unhealthy, almost swallow look. There was no glimmer of life in those dead, violet eyes - no shred of humanity or feeling. His were those of a raptor, honed in on his prey. Elyssa couldn't help but shudder. Never in her life had she felt so exposed and helpless.
After several heavy moments of silence, Arik spoke. "What to do, what to do? It's not every day that my enemy's prized whore falls into my hands. Now the question remains on how to best exploit it."
Elyssa's jaw almost dropped in shock. Her cheeks burned red in her anger and she balled her hands into tight fists at her sides. She had been called many things in her life, but whore was a newbie. Her hot temper kept Elyssa's voice from trembling. "You seemed fairly gung-ho about killing me only a few moments ago. Already lost your nerve?"
Arik's eyes bore into her own, searching her face for weakness. So the chit was defiant was she? He would teach the little baggage what it meant to defy one's betters. An empty smile played at the corner of his lips. He would enjoy this lesson in particular. "I could kill you, yes. Perhaps by draining you myself or simply leaving you as a present to my subjects. Afterwards I could leave your broken body on his lordship's doorstep. Ah, but where would that see me?" Arik waited several seconds for the words to sink in, watching Elyssa carefully for some hint of a reaction. When she refused to give her the satisfaction, he continued. "Other than a fine meal, that course of action leaves me nowhere. Why you ask?" Arik's lips curled into a cruel, humorless smile. "Because unlike my over-zealous mother, I don't believe Jareth will trouble himself to come and claim you."
Elyssa couldn't prevent her eyes from flying open in surprise. Arik felt a thrill of triumph. So the chit had a weakness after all.
"Oh," she said mildly, "and why is that?" Fury welled up inside of her burning her cheeks crimson. She didn't want to show her anger, but her temper was getting harder and harder to control.
Arik stepped towards her, his lips curled into a derisive leer. He towered over her, but Elyssa was too livid to be intimidated. Arik spoke, his voice as cold and emotionless as it was calculating.
"Jareth won't come for you because for him you've ceased to matter. If I thought I could smell his stench on you before, you reek of it now. Even more interesting, you've lost the scent of your innocence - your purity. And while you might have once held some minor fascination for His Majesty, you've already given him what he was truly after." His eyes burned with cruelty, making it painfully obvious that Arik was enjoying every moment of this. "Jareth has no more use for you now than for any other common courtesan. The diamond, it would seem, has lost it's sparkle. You're nothing more than glass now." He paused, along time for his barbed words to take hold in the tender flesh of her breast. Hurting this one was all to easy. Even if he could not make Jareth pay for his crimes personally, he would dole out punishment on his wench with glee.
He leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "So tell me, little baggage... Knowing this, why in the Underground would Jareth trouble himself any longer with you. Why, when he has already taken everything he wanted from you?"
Elyssa struggled to keep her emotions under control, to keep from letting Arik's hateful words from sinking in. Damn it, she was pissed. Hell, pissed couldn't even come close to describing the way she felt in that moment. Not only was she getting insulted by this half-baked Count Dracula wannabe who so easily talked about her own demise, but she was also struggling with her own private battle with fear and dismay. What if Arik was right and her worst fears were true? No, she couldn't - she wouldn't let herself be so easily manipulated. Even if Jareth didn't love her, she couldn't let Arik trick her into despair.
He stood so close to her now, their bodies almost touching. Elyssa felt so small standing next to the tall, muscular man. Arik's proximity was disturbing. Jareth had always projected an aura of power underlined by his raw, sexual masculinity. Arik too held that same power, but along with it came the sense of danger and death. Standing before him in nothing but a shirt and cloak, Elyssa felt powerless and exposed. All her life, she had someone to save her - to rescue her. First there was Michael and to some degree Marcus, but without Jareth, who would save her now?
Arik's words cut like a knife deep into her soul. Standing there before him, she realized how easy it would be to simply submit to him - to give in to death.
Greedily, Arik eyed the delicate flesh of her neck standing in stark contrast to her flaming red hair. Looking into her eyes, he knew the battle was over. "Now that he has made you his whore, I will make you my slave." Reaching out, he grasped Elyssa by the shoulders, pulling her against him. The smell of his breath was fetid and rancid. Teeth gleamed in his mouth, threatening and razor sharp.
Suddenly, Elyssa realized what he meant to do. She had seen the movies after all. Giving herself a mental slap, she broke free from her fear. Who's going to save me? "I am," she murmured. As slippery as an eel, she dropped to her knees in a crouch moving easily out of his grasp. Before Arik could react, she punched him in the groin with all of her might, then scampered away. Her heart was thundering in her chest from fear, but she forced herself to turn around and look at him. Already, Arik stood, a look of dumbfounded shock crossing his face.
"Get over here now, little whore, and I'll consider taking your life easily." His face contorted with rage, marring his once handsome face. Reaching out, he tried to grasp Elyssa but she moved too quick. "Keep defying me, and I will teach you the true meaning of suffering." Again, he lunged for her, but she darted out of his grasp.
"Oh, go to hell," she muttered through clenched teeth. "You want a fight, buddy? Well you've got a fight. I didn't suffer through months of Tae-Bo for nothing." Raising her hands, she managed to get in one solid punch before Arik easily caught her arm. Yanking her forward, he threw her to the ground. Her dancer's training prevented the fall from breaking any bones, but her ankle wrenched painfully nonetheless.
Arik was on her in an instant, yanking her to her feet by her hair. Grabbing her roughly around the throat, he lifted her up in the air, her feet dangling inches above the floor. "Little whore, where is your insolence now?"
With all her might, Elyssa kicked the much larger man in the stomach. She had hoped to knock the wind out of him, but Arik only looked angrier. Viscously, he shook her in the air, his hands slowly closing off Elyssa's windpipe. She struggled for breath as little black splotches threatened to overtake her vision. Arik continued his taunts. "So brave, you are little one...even in death. Tis a shame to have to kill such a little firebrand as yourself, but I've always been willing to make sacrifices." He watched her struggle in his hand for a moment longer then dropped her.
Elyssa fell straight down into an undignified heap, panting for breath. Her hands flew to her neck, trying to ease the cramping muscles. Arik stood back and watched her, a callous smile playing at the corner of his lips. "What, sweetling? No more attempts to fight? No more trivial shows of temper?"
Elyssa's head shot up, her eyes burning with hatred. She wanted to stand defiantly, but knew her quivering legs wouldn't hold her. "Go fuck yourself, assclown."
Arik's hand shot out, slapping her across the face. Her lips crushed against her teeth, mouth filling with blood. Absently, she wiped at the slow red trickle which fell from the corner of her mouth. "Takes a lot of guts to hit a girl on her knees, you know," she grated. "I'm awed by your gentlemanly nature."
Again, Arik's hand shot out hitting Elyssa so hard, her head whirled backwards. His eyes where hard flecks of stone, daring her to speak again. Elyssa spat at his feet. "If you want to kill me, just kill me. All of this S&M shit's starting to bore me."
A cold sound like the rustling of dead leaves filled the room. It slowly dawned on her that the sound was Arik's laughter. "Are you so eager to meet your death, little whore? I would so hate to disappoint." Wrapping his hands in her hair, he yanked her again to her feet. Weakly, she sagged in his arms, too tired to keep up the struggle. Arik opened his mouth, revealing the razor sharp teeth hidden within. "I've enjoyed our...conversation. But, I feel the hour is getting rather late, so you will forgive me if I leave your lesson only half-learned." His eyes suddenly gleamed dark red. Elyssa shivered in spite of herself.
A knock at the chamber door sounded through the room like a cannon. Elyssa's heart leaped in her chest when Arik stopped and released her. "Can I have no peace?" He said in irritation when the door sounded again. Muttering to himself, he pushed Elyssa onto the ancient bed. "Stay here, wench. This will only be a moment." Angrily he stalked towards the door, locking it again once he had stepped outside. He was supremely annoyed to see his manservant Calfin waiting outside.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion. I ordered that I was not to be disturbed for any reason."
"But my lord," his servant stammered. "I felt that you would most assuredly wish to know that you have visitors."
Arik's eyes blazed. "I don't give a damn if I have the Queen of Fairies herself in my court right now, you idiot. When I tell you that I am not to be disturbed, that means I am not to be disturbed for any reason. Do you understand?"
The servant tried to explain. "But, my Lord..."
"Calfin, do you understand?" Arik's eyes blazed murderously.
The poor manservant stood quaking in fear. Bowing obsequiously, he murmured. "A thousand apologies my Lord, truly I am sorry. I understand completely. I will go and inform His Majesty the Goblin King that you are unavailable for an audience."
"What did you say?" Arik roared.
Falling to his knees, Calfin bowed to the floor. "I did not mean to anger your Lordship," he wailed in a quaking voice. "A thousand apologies."
Kicking at him, Arik shouted. "Get up, you idiot, on your feet." He yanked Calfin impatiently to his feet. "Who did you say is here?"
"His Majesty, the Goblin King. Your lady mother is already down in attendance..." Calfin stopped speaking midsentence. Arik had already disappeared.
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When Marcus told Jareth that he would come with him to save Elyssa no matter what, he had no idea that "no matter what" would entail getting morphed into a mouse then flying in the talons of an owl cross-country. Not that he would have complained, mind you...it just wasn't exactly what he was expecting.
Marcus watched in fascination as the landscape changed from the wilderness of the Labyrinth to a lush forest. Somehow, he managed to fall asleep. When he awoke, the scenery had changed again, this time to a nightmarish landscape. Shadows covered the barren earth. No grass or tree, or any living thing for that matter dotted this desolate land. Crags and rocks where the only features that Marcus could see. Every once in awhile, he could almost make out a shadowy form darting from one rocky outcropping to the next, but the dark clouds overhead made it almost impossible to see.
Jareth's voice spoke in Marcus' mind. Craig Machai...the Vampire Lands...Arik rules here. This place once was a thing of beauty. Now it is nothing but an empty tomb.
Again, Marcus thought he saw a shadowy form darting across the landscape. Not too empty... he thought.
...No, not completely empty. There are a few corpses here that refuse to give up to the night. And if they've harmed Elyssa, I will make them pay dearly...
Jareth flew on, steering them towards what looked like a mountain in the distance. As the neared closer, a fortress melded into the very side of the mountain loomed nearer. Marcus stared in awe at the impressive battlements, and mighty walls. It was as if the mountain itself lent it's strength to the power of the keep.
Yet, as they neared, he could see where the walls were crumbling. The once impregnable fortress was falling into disrepair. The mighty castle which no army could destroy was slowly losing the battle with time. The stoppable weapons of age and disrepair had condemned this once mighty stronghold to death.
Gliding downward, Jareth made a slow, circling descent, coming to land easily in the courtyard. With a word of magic, he morphed back into his normal form, absently mindedly remembering to transform Marcus as well.
"Dang, I didn't think I was ever going to stand on the ground again," Marcus said cheerfully. He glanced around the empty courtyard, searching for a doorway.
"Quiet," Jareth hissed. "We're not alone."
Marcus looked at Jareth in alarm. Out of she shadows stepped twenty silent figures shrouded in shadow. Slowly, they stalked towards the duo, surrounding them in an ever shrinking circle.
"Jareth..." Marcus questioned nervously.
"It's alright Marcus. They're the Lady Mother's men."
When the circling guards where only a few feet away from Jareth, they stopped. Bowing, one of their number stepped forward. Marcus was shocked to see that she was in fact a female. "My Lordship, this visit is most unexpected. However, the Lady Mother would be pleased if you would meet with her in the throne room. All has been made ready."
Jareth dropped his head in acknowledgement. "Lead the way."
The guard eyed Marcus with suspicion. "Your guest must wait outside until the Lady Mother requests his presence. You on the other hand will come with me."
Marcus began to protest, but Jareth silenced him with a small gesture. He offered the guard one of his most dazzling smiles and dropped into a low, courtly bow. "If it please you, my dear, I will personally vouch for the good behavior of my guest, and can assure you that he will be of no consequence."
The guard shook her head, obstinate. "I'm sorry, my Lord, but he must remain outside. Her Ladyship..."
"If her Ladyship wishes to speak with me before her ox of a son can get to me, then I suggest you and I be on our way. That is why she sent you out here instead of her son's own guards, am I right?"
The guard stammered, but Jareth continued relentlessly. "I have no time for trifling with guards. You will see me and my guest in to the Lady Mother's presence now, or there will be hell to pay. Do you understand, me my dear?"
Bowing, the guard relented. "Follow me."
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Elyssa sat on the ancient bed shivering. For the moment, she couldn't speak or move. Arik's cruel words had done their work. Her mind raced, shrinking back at the unthinkable possibility that she meant nothing more to Jareth than a whore. She remembered the way he touched her, the passionate kisses and embraces. Her lips still burned from his touch. For weeks he had lured her into his web of trust. Surely she must mean more to him than one night's passion.
"Damn it," she swore. "If only I didn't tell him that I loved him. It would have made this so much easier." Unbidden tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't let herself believe that Jareth would simply abandon her.
No, but I can't let myself believe that he will make it in time to save me either, she reasoned. Catalyzed, she stood up from the bed and surveyed the room. Taking a torch from the wall, she moved towards the high window in the far corner. Looking down, she had to catch her breath. The room was set at a dizzying height, several hundred feet from the courtyard below. Through the gloom that seemed to surround this kingdom, she could almost make out a deserted courtyard far below. The wall itself was sheer leaving no doubts about her ability to scale her way down.
Sighing in frustration, she raced towards the chamber door only to find that it was securely locked. "No way out," she muttered. "When that bastard comes back for me, he's going to kill me." The thought was rather sobering. As angry as the vampire seemed before he left, she was surprised he hadn't already come back to do the job. Her hands moved to her face, touching the swollen lips and bruised flesh. Arik obviously had no qualms about hitting a lady. When she thought about his superior strength and speed, her heart quailed. "How do I fight something so much stronger than I am?" she asked herself.
Shaking her head, Elyssa refused to let herself get discouraged. "Okay, so how do you kill a vampire? Come on, I've seen the movies just like everyone else. Garlic? Not happening. A crucifix? Forget it. Holy Water? Please..." Glancing around the spartan room, her eyes alighted on the ancient writing desk and chair. "Stake through the heart? Now we're getting somewhere."
Walking towards the writing desk, she considered the chair for a moment before picking it up. With all her might, she slammed it against the stone wall breaking it to pieces. Luckily, the legs of the chair broke off into several promising looking wedges. Testing them out in her hand, Elyssa selected two of the stoutest looking pieces with the sharpest edge.
Walking towards the bed, she hid one of the stakes underneath the pillow where she could easily get to it. The other she hid under the folds of her cloak. Arik was stronger and faster, but that might possibly be used to her advantage. Maybe if he didn't suspect, she could get him close enough. The pile of wood which was the remains of the chair worried her. If he saw it, he would surely know what she meant to do.
And who's to say that the ol' stake in the heart trick was going to work, anyways? Nothing in the Underground was ever what it seemed, she was starting to slowly realize.
"Stop it," she whispered. "Stop trying to talk yourself out of this. Arik means to kill you, and even if Jareth is looking for you, there's no telling if he will find you. For once, 'Lyssa, you're going to have to save yourself."
Swallowing back the fear that threatened to overwhelm her, Elyssa sat silently on the bed clutching her makeshift stake tightly. She breathed slowly in and out, forcing herself to remain calm.
....My mind and my body are one....