Updating yay!! ^.^ Sorry it took so long. I decided to have 4 fics to work on. ^.^ Such a Fooled Heart, Love's Eternal Flame, If the Blood Runs True, and The Ties of Magic. I'm hoping to update two a day. @.@ Okie day have fun buhbyez R&R!!
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Sarah woke up to see her bedroom, twilight softening the furniture and creating shadows in every corner. What the heck. . .? She thought blearily. Everything was in place, exactly as she had left it. However, there was one major difference.
There was dust everywhere.
"That's odd," she murmured, "I could have sworn I dusted right before I left for the Labyrinth. . ."
Voices floated up from downstairs. Her parents were talking in low voices, probably in the kitchen. They sounded exhausted, as if they hadn't slept in weeks.
Sarah looked at the clock. "What are they doing up at 2 am?" She wondered. Running a finger along her nightstand, she examined the white powder with disdain. "Heck, how long have I been gone?? Maybe I should go down and see them. . ."
Being careful not to make too much noise in case Toby was sleeping, Sarah crept down the familiar stairs and headed for the kitchen.
". . .she's been gone for a month, Richard," she heard her stepmother saying tiredly. "And the police haven't found anything. Not on Sarah or any of the other children! What if they're dead?" Her voice was on the edge of hysterics.
"Karen, they're not dead," Richard said firmly. "They'll be back before you know it, and Sarah will be with them."
The statement hung heavily in the air, echoing the unspoken phrase; whenever that may be.
Sarah had stopped short just behind the doorway. A month??? She thought incredulously. It COULDN'T have been that long. . .
"Let's get some sleep. No use waiting any longer tonight." Footsteps neared the door. Sarah hurriedly stepped back so she wouldn't get hit. Her father walked out of the kitchen, looking over his shoulder talking to his wife.
"Come on, Karen you haven't slept in -" Richard turned to see his little girl standing in front of him. " - SARAH!"
"Daddy!" Sarah ran at him and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh my God, I missed you so much!"
The tired man hugged her as tight as he possibly could. "God, Sarah! Where have you been?! Karen, she's back! She's home!"
Her stepmother dropped the files she was holding and rushed to join the embrace. "We thought you were gone for good!" She sobbed.
"No, YOU thought that dear," Richard corrected with a relieved laugh. "I knew my little girl would be home! I just knew it!" He beamed at his daughter, then grew serious again. "Where have you been, young lady?!"
That threw her. What was she gonna say? 'I've been in the Labyrinth of a Goblin King for the last month that only seemed like a day to me'? "Uh. . ."
"And where are Bryan and Lindsay?" Karen demanded. "Their parents are just as worried as we are; and they say the last person they were seen with was you."
Sarah stared at them blankly. What do I say. . .?
Her parents looked back at her intently. Then, after a while, Richard sighed. "We don't have time for this tonight. All that matters is that she's safe and sound. But could you at least tell us where Lindsay and Bryan are?"
"I. . .don't know," she lied.
Richard straightened. "Well, that's that," he proclaimed. "I'll call the police and tell them that we've found her." With a last hug for Sarah, he walked back into the kitchen and picked up the phone.
"Get to bed Sarah," Karen said. "I'm sure you've had a very trying day."
More than you'll ever know. . . "Yeah, you're right. G'night." Sarah trampled back up the steps and into her room. Once there, she collapsed onto her bed to reflect on what had happened. Instantly, her hand moved to her lips, fingering them affectionately.
He. . .kissed me. . . she thought, a smile spreading across her face in spite of herself. When she thought back, she could faintly feel the warmth of his body against hers, and the caress of his lips as they tenderly moved against her own.
"I wonder what he's doing. . .?" Sarah gazed up at her ceiling, trying to imagine what the Goblin King was up to. Abruptly she sprang to attention.
Oh my God! He was just about to fight Bryan! She had been so caught up in the memory of the kiss that she had totally forgotten the reason she was now lying safe at home in the comfort of her own bed. Bryan and Jareth were in a fight to the death. . .or at least, they would be if Jareth had refused Bryan's request for an hour. And all she could do was sit helplessly at home.
At least I could watch. . .where did I put that crystal he gave me? Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she stood to begin her search. But she didn't get far, as a hand reached out and grabbed her ankle.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
"Shh, Milady! It is I, Sir Didymus!" A teenager with dirty brown hair peeked out from under the bed. He relinquished his hold on her ankle, but still cast wary glances around the room.
"Sir Didymus, what-"
He waved wildly for her to quiet. "Quiet, my lady! There is evil afoot! We seem to have been transported to an alien world!"
Sarah couldn't help but laugh. "No, silly! This is my world; and this is my bedroom! Come out of there!"
"Your. . .room?" Didymus looked confused. Then he crawled out from under the bed. "How did we get -" Then he caught sight of himself in her vanity across the room. "Good heavens! What happened to me?"
"Jareth turned you into a human! Calm down calm down!" She reached out a hand and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, it's not permanent. We just have to stay here while. . .while Jareth and Bryan battle. And that's the problem! Jareth left me a crystal to watch him with, but I can't remember where I put it!"
Didymus tore his eyes away from the mirror and flashed a quick salute. "Then find it we shall!"
The two started searching the room. Didymus dove back under the bed, and Sarah walked over to the closet. Oddly, there seemed to be a noise coming from it. She grabbed the handle and yanked it open. . .
And out fell Hoggle.
"Hoggle! . . .You're an old fart!" Sarah said incredulously. Indeed, Hoggle had been transformed into a man of about 70, barely 5 feet tall and hunched over.
"I ain't no old fart!" Hoggle declared indignantly. He shuffled to his feet and looked around. "We're in your world, aren't we?"
"More or less. We're looking for a crystal ball Jareth gave me."
"Ah. I see." Hoggle dragged his feet across the floor to the bed and plopped down. "Well, I don't see how I'll be much help. . ."
"Oh don't be lazy, Hoggle!"
"I found it!" Didymus announced as he slid the lid to the container of costumes shut. In his hands he held the sparking orb. Sarah ran forward and grabbed it.
"Thank you, Didymus!" She kissed his cheek. Didymus smiled, blushing. Sarah beamed back, then turned her attention to the ball. "Show me Jareth and Bryan."
The crystal gleamed. Sarah and the others waited with bated breath as an image slowly formed.
A battle raged.
Apparently Jareth had ignored Bryan's request for an extra hour. The two were now locked in deadly combat, each focused intently on his opponent.
There was only one difference between them.
Jareth was almost dead.
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Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha. . .I just love cliffhangers. Don't you? *halo* ^_^ Guess you'll just hafta wait till next chapter to find out why Jareth suddenly faltered, eh? Lol! R&R!
