Chapter 18

Salvation

She sat with arms wrapped around her legs, knees pulled tight against her chest, her back to the wall in the bedroom which she watched with detachment. The frilly lace and the warm floral colors pleased her, but she felt very far from them. She was huddled in the corner, long black hair falling over her body and spilling messily over the floor. Absentmindedly she picked a strand up and dropped it. It was quiet in her head right now. That did not happen often, usually it was she that was quiet, but right now that odd pressure was asleep, deep in the corners of her mind, and she was happy for the moment to herself. Her bright blue eyes swept over the room. If only she could be alone all the time, just her and Mommy and Sarah, that was how it was suppose to be. There wasn't suppose to be someone else with her, right? She wasn't really sure for that second voice had never not been with her, not that she could remember anyway. And that thought puzzled her; she couldn't remember a lot anyway.

With a sigh she pushed herself off the wall and smiled as she heard a door open. Mommy was already home, so that could only mean one person: Sarah! She ran out of the bedroom, her pink dress rustling softly. Rounding the corner, she jumped into Sarah's arms. It was so nice to be around Sarah. It was like Sarah chased away all the bad things; all the darkness, and she was pleased when the hug was returned.

"Hi Deirdre," Sarah said softly as she backed away, "Where's your mommy?"

"I'm in the kitchen!" was the reply and Sarah smiled putting her purse and briefcase on the ground. She was vaguely aware that two bright blue eyes were still looking up at her and she returned the gaze.

"What is it, Deirdre?" Sarah watched as the little girl squirmed a second.

"There's…there's something wrong with me, isn't there?" Deirdre wasn't quite sure why she felt she needed to ask Sarah. Maybe it was because she felt Sarah would be honest with her. Mommy just smiled whenever she asked.

A strange compassion filled Sarah and she knelt; bringing her closer to Deirdre's height. "Why do you say so?"

"Well, when I was at the doctors everyone stared at me…and Mommy…Mommy always cries…" she was silent a moment before continuing, "and…I can hear it sometimes."

Sarah's eyes widened and she bit her lip, "Hear what, Deirdre?"

The little girl shook her head and squeezed her blue eyes shut. "I don't know, but it says things to me…and sometimes…sometimes I don't remember what I've been doing, and all I can see is black."

A soft smile crossed Sarah's face. So there was a little girl in there. Deirdre really was a little girl: lost, confused, but there nonetheless. Her eyes darkened. And they were eventually going to have to kill her if a way to destroy the curse itself was not discovered. That troubled her. This little girl…and Carol. Oh Carol. Sarah sighed and smiled sadly as Deirdre opened her eyes. Sarah stood and placed the girl's hand in her own, "Let's go talk to you mom." Deirdre just nodded and followed the slender woman down the hall and into the kitchen where Carol was scrubbing a few pots, her curly hair messily paced atop her head in a bun. She blew a stray hair from her face and smiled, "Hey, Sarah, how was work?"

She led Deirdre to the table and sat with her before considering her words. "Well…it was…eventful." She finally managed with a smile. "I had a very, VERY unexpected visitor."

Carol turned frightened eyes towards her, "Not that strange man…" her voice trailed off as Sarah shook her head.

"But…I don't know," she smiled as the man's voice echoed in her mind, "he was very…similar." Carol's brows rose and Sarah shook her head, "That's not really want I want to talk about…I need to tell you something, something really important."

"Ok…" she said turning from the dishes.

"Well, come sit down, this is going to be difficult." Sarah sat back in the wooden kitchen chair and sighed as Deirdre's eyes blinked innocently as her mother took a seat across from Sarah. Once seated, she placed her hands on the table and locked eyes with Sarah, who nodded. "Ok, first of all, I should explain who that man was, I'm sure you're curious." Carol nodded and Deirdre just looked confused. Sarah took a deep breath. This was not going to be easy. "His name is Jareth, he's the Goblin King."

As she expected it, disbelief was evident on Carol's face. "The Goblin King?" she said in a slow voice.

Sarah could not meet Carol's face and she lowered her head. "And believe it or not, that isn't the hardest part to believe." Carol's eyes widened. Well, Sarah thought, the time had come, what did she have to lose anyway? "I met Jareth years ago; fifteen years ago, I was just a stupid kid, and I wished my brother away to him."

"And that means?" Carol interrupted.

"That means," Sarah said exasperated, "That Jareth took him." She noticed Carol's eyes flit protectively to Deirdre, and Sarah shook her head, "I made him promise not to take her, but there's more."

"There's more?" Carol lowered her head, "I'm confused, Sarah. This…this Jareth…what was he doing here?" It was Sarah's turn to look at Deirdre, and Carol noticed. "What?"

Sarah was quiet a moment longer and she let her eyes linger on Deirdre who was watching both adults with curiosity. "Carol, Jareth lives in a different place, a different world called the Underground." Carol scoffed and began to rise, but Sarah grabbed her friend's hand and brought her back to the table. "I know it sounds ridiculous, and I don't have proof right now, but just trust me on this, because this is only part of what I'm trying to tell you." Reluctantly Carol sat and ushered for Sarah to continue. "Well…Jareth has been cursed, a really powerful curse too," she added quietly.

Carol shrugged, "Ok, assuming I believe you, which I don't by the way; what does this have to do me?"

Sarah shook her head, "Not with you, actually." She allowed her hand to flop towards Deirdre, whose eyes widened and she squeaked.

"Me!" Carol stood and wrapped her arms around Deirdre when the little girl jumped up.

"Sarah, this isn't funny!" A reproach from Carol caused Sarah to grimace and she lowered her head a second.

"No, I suppose its not," she thought a moment, "and I'm pretty sure its not suppose to be. But that fact remains that Deirdre is the curse."

The little girl's eyes shut tight, and her mouth dropped. Carol picked up her child and glared at Sarah, "How could you say such a thing! SARAH!" Carol's voice rose as Deirdre began crying, "Why would you say such a thing!"

Sarah stood quickly and approached them both. "Because it's the truth. It hurts like hell, but it's the truth." She brushed a few strands out of Deirdre's face. She stopped crying instantly and regarded Sarah. "You know, don't you?" was all that Sarah said. Deirdre buried her head in her mother's shoulder briefly before nodding. Sarah reached out to touch her, but Carol pulled away.

"Stay away from us, Sarah."

A small tear fell from Sarah's eyes and her throat tightened. "We're trying, Deirdre." She said still staring at the little girl's form. "I promise we are."

Deirdre pulled away from her mother's grasp and fought to stand. Carol reluctantly placed her down, but regretted it instantly when the child ran towards Sarah throwing herself into outstretched arms. "I don't want to die," she whispered softly as Sarah cradled her tightly. "Oh, I know, I know," was all Sarah could say. She was concentrating too much on not crying. She barely noticed when Carol sat down resolutely on the floor.

For Carol, not believing Sarah was becoming a difficult thing. How else could she explain Deirdre's growth, her birth, everything surrounding the child was a mystery, but was it a curse? It was a terrible feeling thinking that the one thing you care about more than anything was a damned being. "Why her?" She finally managed to choke out. "If this is all true, why Deirdre?"

Sarah shook her head. "I wondered the same thing." It was silent a moment and Deirdre, still in Sarah's arms, took a small finger and pointed to the middle of Sarah's forehead, giving a little push, causing the older woman to blink.

"It was because of you." Deirdre said quietly.

Sarah's eyes widened, "What do you mean?"

Deirdre smiled a happy smile. She was able to be useful and that was a wonderfully different from feeling so helpless when the voice was awake. "It was because of you. It wanted the king, but he was so far away, it chose me because I would be close to you."

Sarah's head spun. Where was the little girl getting this information? Suddenly a light bulb clicked and Sarah placed Deirdre on the ground quickly, backing away. "You know what its thinking." It wasn't a question, it was a horrifying realization.

The little girl shrugged, "Sometimes. It says things to me, Sarah. It tells me it will destroy everything that Jareth loves, everything he cares for." Tears began to fall from Deirdre's eyes; large, crocodile tears that rolled down her chubby cheeks and splashed to the floor. "It says I will die too because I'm a child, and Jareth cares for children. And it says you will die, and Mommy will die, and the Labyrinth will freeze."

Sarah's eyes closed. The Labyrinth…she hadn't said anything about the Labyrinth. The realization hit her squarely in the chest and she slumped to the floor. She couldn't even imagine the fear Deirdre must be feeling, the dread of having a voice in your head constantly telling you of your impending doom. A soft touch to her cheek forced her eyes to open, only to see Deirdre leaning close to her. "It is asleep right now," she whispered into her ear, "it did something, and now it is quiet, but I can feel it starting to wake. I don't want it to wake up, Sarah," Deirdre's voice cracked and Sarah wrapped her arms around the trembling child. "Listen to me Deirdre, listen to me while you have the chance, and don't forget." She pulled away so she could see Deirdre's face, "Promise you won't forget." The girl nodded vigorously and smiled behind her as two more hands, her mother's hands, rested lightly against her shoulders.

"Deirdre," Sarah continued, "I want you to fight. You have to fight it, fight the curse. You have to give us time." The tears continued to fall from Deirdre's face, but Sarah noticed her cheeks were wet to, and looking up to meet Carol's eyes she saw she was crying as well. "I don't know how," was all the sobbing child could manage. Sarah grabbed her tightly again, and Carol scooted closer, arms around Sarah and Deirdre.

"Just think of me," Sarah said through sobs of her own, "Just think of your mommy, think of all the people you don't want to hurt." Deirdre nodded and Sarah heard Carol gasp for air.

"This isn't fair, Sarah." She said holding Deirdre to her tightly. The little girl wrapped her arms around her mommy's neck and hid her face away.

"No, it isn't." was her reply, and Sarah stood from the floor with a new sense of determination. She was not going to allow some damned curse destroy a little girl who had committed no crime save having a mother who was a friend of hers. That was unspeakable. She clutched her hands tightly and crossed her chest. "I'm not going to allow anything to happen to you, Deirdre." After a moments pause, Sarah took a deep breath. "And, I'm going back." She thought her words over carefully. "I wish to see the Goblin King, right now." Within a few seconds the same man in the brown robes appeared; a slight twinkle in his eyes.

"My my my, aren't you demanding," he smirked at her before noticing the surprised expressions of the other two in the room. Disgusted he turned away from them. Mortals, always so damned shocked when one appeared in this fashion. He held a hand out to Sarah, "I gather you're ready then?" Boredom soaked his words and Sarah laughed much to his surprise.

"Did you and Jareth go to the same school or something, because I swear, you act just like him." She wiped what he assumed were tears from her eyes. When he made no attempt to answer she just nodded and looked past him to the woman and child on the floor. "Be careful, Carol. The curse is getting stronger, and you won't always be able to trust Deirdre." At this, the man in brown swirled towards them, eyes blazing, mouth set tight.

"This girl is the curse?" He asked Sarah, but was answered when the little girl nodded her head. He clutched his hands tightly. It would be so easy just to destroy her now and end all of this useless suffering. Sarah seemed to notice the direction of his thoughts for she spoke aloud.

"Don't even think about it," her tone was threatening and he turned to regard her with an icy stare. Who was she to order him around? There was a deep stubbornness in her eyes, in her stance, and he nearly laughed when she, as a second thought, added, "Sir."

Under different circumstances he would have severely punished this fool for speaking to him in such a manner, especially in front of another mortal, but instead he narrowed his eyes. Jareth had warned him of her stubbornness, and he had agreed to grant this girl leniency, but he was still irked, and as such he leaned toward her. "If I were you, girl, I would learn to hold that tongue of yours." Her reaction was not what he expected at all. He expected her to cower before him, or at least look frightened, but she tilted her head and looked him over, as if seeing him for the first time.

"You're his father, aren't you?" She grinned as he took a step back as if someone had wounded him. There was genuine surprise in his eyes and she knew she was right when a second later a mask similar to Jareth's slid over the man's face and he watched her with disinterest.

"We should go now, if you are ready." Was all he said, and he offered his hand again. She took it now, firmly, and smiled to Carol and Deirdre as her world blurred before her eyes. She was getting vaguely dizzy, but shrugged it off, for she had only done this once before. In a second, her surroundings cleared and she felt solid floor beneath her feet. Her vision returned and she found herself standing in the middle of a throne room.

A/N: I have more written, but it was getting out of hand. Too long for one chapter, so I'll update in a couple of days. I want to thank you all very much for reading and responding, especially Morrigana (I love your stuff), Alorindanya, Shavaineth (I absolutely cherish your reviews), and to Lady of the Labyrinth: I know you want me to kill Temnestra! You aren't the only one  So, just stayed tuned, and remember to review!

Nylle.