Chapter Ten

Karen and Sarah's father soon left and Toby came wobbling into Sarah's room. He was four now, and seemed to remember parts of what had happened two years earlier.

"Sarah," Toby said coming into her room "tell me a story."

"Ok." She said "Somewhere on the edge of your imagination, there is a Labyrinth. It twists and turns like wicked thoughts, and no one--no man, woman or child-- has ever reached its center. There, standing within the walls of Goblin Town, is the castle of Jareth, the goblin king. Goblins are nasty little creatures whose greatest delight is in stealing babies and turning them into goblins. But this can only happen if you wish for it. You must say exactly the right words for your wish to come true. "I wish that the goblins would come and take you away right now!" are the right words .When the goblins hear them, they will come.... And they did."

"Sarah," Toby said "why'd you wish me away?"

"Toby I told you," she sighed "that never happened."

"You're a bad liar," Toby pouted sitting on her bed. "Tell me what really happened."

"Once upon a time," Sarah started "there was a beautiful young girl whose step-mother always made her stay home with the baby. The young girl was a spoiled child, not understanding that she took too much for granted. And the girl was practically a princess. But what no one knew was that the goblin king fell in love with her, and gave her certain powers. So one night, when the babe wouldn't stop crying and the girl was upset with her step-mother she called on the goblins for help." Every creature had hushed in the house, to hear the story being told.

"'Say your right words,' the goblins said 'and we'll take the baby to the goblin city and you will be free.'" Sarah stopped for a moment, noticing that the house was completely silent. "But the girl thought that the king of the goblins would keep the baby forever and ever and turn it into a goblin. So she suffered in silence until one night when she felt betrayed and hurt by her family, and sick of the child's crying and she could stand it no longer."

"So you said the words?" Toby asked.

"So the girl said the words," Sarah corrected "and the lights went out! Soon, the girl came to realize that she hadn't meant the harsh words spoken, and also came to realize that the baby was gone." Toby shrieked and lightning flashed and rain started to pour. "Are you sure you can handle this story?"

"Yeah," Toby said "you never tell me the whole thing."

"Alright," Sarah said lighting some candles, just in case "so like I was saying. The baby was gone and goblins dashed around the room while a big white owl fought to get in."

"And it DID get in," Toby said raising his arms "and it was the goblin king!" Sarah had to laugh, Toby made it sound so stupid and innocent.

"Oh yes," Sarah said grabbing a cloak and rapping it around herself "so he stood in front of the girl, who was now terrified to no end. She begged for her brother back, but the goblin king showed no pity. 'What's said is said' he told her 'go back to your room, play with your toys and your costumes, forget about the baby'. But she couldn't, she needed her brother back."

"And then he offered her," Toby said quietly "her dreams." Lightning flashed again and Sarah let the cloak fall from her shoulders. She stood there, just as determined as she was two years before. Just as strong, just as powerful, but oh so much wiser. So much more knowledgeable, so much more, everything.

"I turned him down," Sarah said quietly "to bring back the child that I wished away." Thunder boomed and Toby looked on anxiously. "So the girl got thirteen hours to retrieve the babe from the castle beyond the goblin city."

"You never get past this part," Toby pointed out.

"Well I'll tell you the rest tomorrow," Sarah said taking him to bed.

"Aww Sarah," he sighed "you're no fun."

"Yeah," a voice came from behind them "no fun at all." Toby screamed and Sarah clung tightly to him. Cockily sitting on the bed was a tall woman. She had black hair that was long and perfectly straight. Her eyes were a dark brown, so dark in fact that it looked as if she had no pupils. He was skinny, perfectly built, pale face, deep red lips, and she wore a light red dress that was tattered at the bottom.

"Toby," Sarah whispered "go to your room and shut the door."

"Sarah," he said pulling at her shirt.

"Tobs," Sarah said bending down to him "do what I say ok? Wish yourself away, alright? You'll be safe with Jareth."

"Sarah," Toby whispered "this lady is bad. She wants to hurt you." Sarah was surprised that he could feel it too. There was a strong sense of hate coming from this woman. She wanted to hurt Sarah, rip her to shreds, but Sarah was more worried about Toby than anything.

"I know Tobs," Sarah said pushing him out of the room "I'll be alright. But you gotta wish yourself away, you hear me? Be safe. And no matter what you hear, don't come in here." Before Toby could respond Sarah shut the door and turned to face the woman. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Me?" the woman asked, getting up off the bed "my name is Mélusine."

"Alright," Sarah said "what do you want?"

"I just thought you should know," she said coming closer "Jareth is getting married."

"Oh really?" Sarah asked. She had the feeling that she shouldn't listen to a word this woman said, but she didn't feel like getting killed so, she stood her ground.

"Oh yes," Mélusine laughed "to me."

"Well I'm very happy for you both," Sarah said "if you don't mind leaving now."

"You don't seem to understand," she said, grinning "I'm not kidding. He can tell you himself." Jareth faded into the room and Sarah was sure she looked like a deer in the headlights of an on coming car.

"Sarah," Jareth said very happily "I'm getting married. I was hoping it'd be you but, I found Mélusine. I love her." Sarah stopped for a moment and heard a slight crack. Mélusine smiled as they both faded away. Sarah sat on her bed grasping her chest; there was a deep pain every time she heard a crack. Later that night Karen found her laying on her bed, weeping bitterly.