Chapter Two

Sarah almost fell asleep standing up, laundry, paperwork, dishes, sweeping, painting, feeding animals, and just generally lots and lots of cleaning. Sarah wasn't aware how dirty a castle could be. Neither was she happy about being back Underground but she figured it could be worse, she could be in the Labyrinth.

"Done so soon?" Naomi asked around four in the morning "wonderful! You may go and rest now. Tomorrow, we have a ball to go to."

"A ball?" Sarah yawned "what do you mean a ball?"

"My dear," Naomi chuckled "you can't think I merely wanted you so you could clean for me! You are my friend. And I am taking you to a ball." Sarah didn't believe this woman. She looked maybe twenty but had the mind of a forty year old. She thought she could trick Sarah into thinking they were good buddies. That Sarah could trust her. HA! No way.

"I suppose that'd be fun," Sarah smiled sleepily.

"Oh yes," she laughed walking Sarah to her room "you'll meet all sorts of wonderful gentlemen." Sarah's heart stopped.

"Whose going?" she asked "do you know?"

"Just an array of different Fae," she shrugged "why do you ask?"

"Just wondering," Sarah lied. Naomi saw through it though and smiled.

"You know someone in the Underground," she said slyly "don't you?"

"Me?" Sarah squeaked. Well that verified it, and they both knew it.

"Who is he?" she asked and Sarah shook her head. Naomi smiled an evil grin and snapped her fingers "who is it?" Sarah struggled not to say but whatever magick Naomi was using was very strong.

"Goblin King," she choked out.

"Ah," she grinned "I see. So you're the girl that beat his Labyrinth. Well won't that be interesting?"

"Naomi," Sarah said, still breathless "I don't want to go anywhere near him."

"Here's your room darling," she smiled "sleep well, I will wake you later in the evening, I'm sure your exhausted." With that she disappeared before Sarah could protest. Sarah opened the door and looked in. A candle and a dirty old mattress on the floor. Stone flooring and it was very cold in that room.

"Friends eh?" Sarah grumbled lighting the candle "I'd get treated better by Karen." Sarah fell asleep quickly, only awaking to having ice cold water thrown on her. "What the hell?!!" she screamed.

"Wake up!" Naomi yelled "get up and help me with my dress!" Sarah grudgingly got up and followed Naomi into another room. "Don't drip water on my floor," she ordered. Naomi quickly put on her dress and Sarah saw the problem right away, it was too big at the top. It hung down and showed so much cleavage that Sarah was sure that her breasts would just fall out.

"Here," Sarah said and took some pins from the dresser. She quickly pinned it in all the right spots, making sure it wouldn't look funny afterwards. "Would you take it off please," Sarah said and Naomi did as asked. Sarah quickly ran it through the sewing machine and gave it back to Naomi. "There," she sighed "it should fit now."

"Your so smart Sarah," Naomi gushed "wonderful job! Just for that, I'll let you borrow a dress of mine." Sarah wanted to laugh and tell her she wasn't going, but Sarah didn't have much of a choice.

"Thank you," is all she said and went into the bathroom Naomi had showed her.

"You can shower and such in there," Naomi said "I'll leave the dress by the door."

"Thank you so much," Sarah said faking a smile. Naomi nodded and left. Sarah locked the door and sat down on the floor, crying. What was going on? Why did this woman pick her? There was so much that wasn't explained and Sarah desperately wanted to understand. "Hoggle?" she called into the mirror, but nothing showed, just her reflection. "Ludo?" Nothing. "Anyone at all?" There was a slight glimmer but it faded away.

Her reflection smiled back her and she stifled a scream. "What are you?" Sarah asked.

"Well," the reflection said slowly "I'm you... sort of."

"How are you me when I'm me?" Sarah asked.

"Alright let me explain this to you," her reflection sighed "you've activated a spell put on you. When your little friends can't be there to help you out, I am."

"Who put the spell on me?" Sarah asked.

"Why do you ask questions to which you know the answers?" the reflection asked.

"Jareth," Sarah nodded "but why?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you," the reflection said "ask him tonight at the ball."

"I'm not going near him," Sarah protested.

"You know Naomi will make you," the reflection said sitting on the floor "just, a word of advice, don't be afraid of Jareth. He may be your ticket to get away from Naomi."

"And you're telling me to use him?" Sarah said "you're a great conscience."

"I'm not a conscience," the reflection protested "I'm merely here to tell you how to get away from Naomi."

"Does Jareth know about Naomi?" Sarah asked.

"No," the reflection said sadly "he knows of her, but he doesn't know that she's taken you for her own."

"And how exactly do I get away from her?" Sarah asked.

"Well," the reflection blushed "tonight is a ball. But this ball is kinda like... the Underground's Christmas. People give and get presents."

"So?"

"Just make Naomi really mad," the reflection said as it went back to normal "and don't be afraid."