First for the most fab reviewers:
Nikia Flynn: Hey thanks, and sorry to disappoint but there's more darkness to come.
Saphire925: Ahh well, just read and see.
Avalon-blackandgreen: Um, right. Yes that is exactly what it was intended for. Ahem...Yeah, so sorry about the disturbing-ness of it all. I reiterate; what is going on in my head? 'cause I sure as hell don't know
Moonjava: Thank ya much. And whoa, you review fast. I got this about twenty minuets after posting. Nice work!
Anywho's on to the announcements: I have just finished writing this story. Tis finished now and I will update regularly depending on how good your reviews are. Get typing people.
In regards to the rating hike, I do not feel this fic requires an "R" rating but that's it after "PG-13" which it definitely exceeds. Just thought I should clarify.
I'm not sure your going to like me after this chapter, but go ahead.
Chapter 13: The Final Confrontation
Sarah leaned against a wall as they looked up at the castle. The group stood just inside the gates of the goblin city. The city was silent just as when Sarah had first set foot in it, but for some reason she really didn't think that Aaron was going to send out an army of goblins to attempt to stop them.
"How the fuck did we get this far? This has been way too easy."
Jareth raised an eyebrow. "Easy? You call getting transported to a completely different dimension, being locked up by my evil brother, getting thrown in to an oubliette, washed away by a giant wall of water, getting lost more times than I can count, a torrent of boulders and a snake pit easy?"
She looked over to him. "A bit stressed are we? And you forgot the creepy cave men."
He just scowled back at her and she rolled her eyes. "Yes Jareth, I call that easy. You saw those people." Her stomach rolled at the memory of that horrid place. "They obviously had a much worse time of it than us. Now what keeps coming to mind is what is waiting inside that castle. Call me a pessimist but I really don't think Aaron's going to let us off without killing at least one of us!"
She raked her fingers though her long hair. "I just have a bad feeling that one of us isn't going to come out of this with a pulse." She finished weakly.
She glanced up at Jareth who had his eyes fixed on the castle. "When you get your powers back, can you get us home?"
He looked over to her and nodded.
"That's a relief. Well, lets go." She pushed herself off the wall and began towards the castle. She faced the fireys and Eliza.
"Thanks for all your help guys."
"We not comin' with you love?"
She smiled. "No offence, but you'd just get yourselves killed. Better you get going now."
"Alright little lady but..."
"I know, I'll call."
Jareth snorted and Sarah glared. "Well bye guys."
She turned and joined Jareth as they made their way up the steps towards the castle doors.
"How disgustingly sentimental."
"Well you royal coldness, it's not like you'd know much about it." Good. This is good. Keep up the sparring. He'll hate you, you'll love him...Damn it!!!
Aaron was sprawled on the throne as the pair entered the room. He glanced lazily at them. "Hmm, I see you've kept our little deal my love. How boring. Though I am surprised you got this far and with..." he looked at the clock. "...four minuets to spare. Well done. I have an idea; lets play a game of catch. I'll give you a thirty second head start...Go!"
They paused for a second before Sarah grabbed Jareth's hand and dragged him down a corridor.
"Sarah what..."
"Trying to delay our little confrontation with that bastard." She looked over her shoulder at him. "I know you want to kick hiss ass, so do I, but neither of us would last a second with him. Now." She stopped at a crossing in the twisting passageways. "You know this place. Where do we have the best chance against him and which way is it?"
"This way." She followed him down a passage and then up a stairs but stopped at the open doorway. "You have got to be kidding me."
She looked in at the Escher room nervously.
"It's the only place he wont be able to corner us."
Sarah heard footsteps and laughter distantly behind them and it was Jareth's turn to grab Sarah's hand as he dragged her into the room and slammed the door behind them. He pulled her up (or down) a flight of stairs, paused and turned to her.
"It would be better if we split up."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded slowly. "Gives him less chance of finding us both. While he's concentrated on one of us, the other will..."
"Find away to kill him."
"Back to finishing my sentences are you?"
She shrugged and he looked at her. "Well you go that way and I'll go round the back."
She nodded looking at him strangely. Suddenly she grabbed the front of his shirt and pushed him into a corner.
"Jareth I need to tell you something." He opened his mouth to speak but she put a finger on his lips. "No, let me talk. After I left you in the forest Aaron came to me, you know that."
He nodded silently.
"He...he said that if I let you touch me again the game would be forfeit and he's kill you. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I just couldn't let him kill you. I am so sorry."
Stunned by the flurry of words Jareth had no chance react as she kissed him hard. She pulled back and smiled sadly.
"Just in case."
His hand came up to stroke her face and she turned to kiss it. "I am so sorry." She murmured softy. "I love you."
Jareth's heart soared and he pulled her to him fiercely. He was sure his strong arms around her were painful but he didn't think he could let her go. Sarah smiled as she kissed him. His arms were like steel bands around her, so strong she could barely breath but she didn't care.
"I love you." He whispered against her lips but they jumped apart as they heard the door open. "Aaron." she breathed.
Her hand caught his and she squeezed it quickly before she disappeared through an arch. Jareth shook his head and hurried down a flight of stairs.
Sarah looked about her. She was pretty sure anything she remembered about this room was useless, as it seemed to change constantly.
Maybe I should just jump off a ledge and see what happens. She mused as she turned a few corners. She could hear the footsteps of the other two that were in the room with her but could not place either of them.
Right, so maybe I should just go hide in a corner instead. Be very quiet.
She turned a corner and came into contact with a warm hard object. She closed her eyes hoping desperately that it wasn't Aaron but smiled when she felt gloved hands glide lightly down her arms. She looked up at Jareth and pointed to a stairway, neither of them daring to speak. He nodded and brushed his lips lightly to hers before disappearing around a corner.
She grinned to herself and continued on.
Arch, stairway, spiral stairway, passage, stairway, arch, passage and so on.
This kept up as Aaron's voice echoed around them counting down the seconds.
"One minuet and counting."
Sarah paused between an arch and a passage when someone grabbed her from behind causing her to shriek. "Shh, love. I just got bored of the game. Lets go find my brother shall we?" Aaron dragged Sarah behind him as he moved through the perplexing room.
"Come out brother. It's over."
They came to a halt and Sarah took in the surroundings. They stood in the spot that Sarah had jumped from six years ago. Jareth stood below them in the place Toby had been sitting. Aaron laughed nastily. "You see brother. You can't beat me. I will soon have every thing that belongs to you. Your kingdom, your queen..."
He grabbed Sarah's hair in a painful grip and crushed his mouth to hers. He pulled back and jerked her head causing her to cry out.
"...Your life and your powers."
He held up the multicoloured crystal spinning it on the tip of his finger. Sarah flashed a glance at Jareth and lunged for the crystal.
She had it in her grip and hurled it towards the ground in front of Jareth. Jareth yelled and Aaron let out an inarticulate growl. There was the sound of metal on leather and suddenly everything was quiet.
For Sarah the world around her became very clear, almost painfully so. She could hear Aaron's harsh breathing beside her and she could hear the sucking noise as he withdrew the dagger that he had twisted into her abdomen. He pushed her aside and she fell from the ledge. It was a familiar feeling but this time she hit the ground hard and as she did she could hear something break but she couldn't feel anything. Two pairs of boots came into view and they moved around.
She was sure it was Aaron and Jareth fighting as she lay on her side but all she could hear was her own heart pounding as her blood pooled around her. Both moved out of her line of sight and she found she was unable to move to see what was happening.
Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and turned her. Jareth's face looked down on her. His face was raw emotion, a way in which she had never seen him. His concern was etched clearly on his face, along with it fear and something else.
He really does love me. She thought absently.
"Sarah...Sarah!" She shook her slightly causing her to moan.
Now that she thought about it, she really was quite tired. She began to close her eyes but he shook her again, harder than before.
"Sarah...Sarah listen to me! You are to badly injured for me to heal you here. I have to get you back to my castle. You have to hold on! Do you understand?"
Sarah just wished he would leave her alone and let her sleep. He shook her once more. "You have to hold on Sarah! Don't leave me. Promise me that."
She looked up at him with a sudden clarity. "I promise." Her bloody hand came up to trace the contours of his face. He turned to kiss the palm of her hand just as she had done earlier. "Jareth, I love you." She rasped out slowly. He turned and their eyes locked. She saw a stray tear make its way down his cheek hitting her hand.
I didn't know he could cry.
She really was very tired. She let her hand fall by her side. She could feel Jareth summoning the magik to take them home and the air around her tingled before the world went black.
End Chap.
A little longer than usual I know. I felt it needed that attention. Are you going to beat me with sticks now?....Thought so. Well get reviewing or I'll make you wait long for the next chapter.
Slán lads.