A/N: Thank you to all who responded so far. This chapter is a bit long, and may be a bit confusing cuz there are a lot of things happening at once, but hey, like I said, we were coming up to a storm! So without further ado!

Chapter 21

The Storm

Sarah curled up on her bed and dragged a pillow into her arms as she watched the sky brew outside her window. It had started to snow again about an hour ago and now a full blizzard was raging outside. She yawned and got the distinct impression of jet lag from the transportations. It had been four in the afternoon when she had left home with Addoyn and she couldn't possibly tell what time it had been in the Labyrinth, but on the beach it had been around three. And now, as she looked at her clock, it was six in the evening. Exactly how many time zones did she cross in one day?

And she recognized the absurdity of the conversation she was having with herself. It was merely a distraction. A distraction from the king, from his plight, and a little more importantly, her plight, for she occasionally would hear Carol and Deirdre speaking from another room. She had no desire to see them; no desire to be confronted with the awful reality that things were not what they should be. Well, that was an odd way to put it, she admitted, for who was she to decide what should and should not be? And in a strange way hadn't this whole curse business brought her back to the Underground and back to a certain Goblin King?

That thought made her blush. She truly never forgot him; he was always with her in the back of her mind. Every time Toby would strain her nerves she thought of the arrogant and gorgeous king. But she would never wish Toby away again, she had learned her lesson, but when she was younger she would sit for hours in her room staring at the wall. She smirked to herself, "Obsessed much, Sarah?" She said with a laugh. Her hair began to fall into her face again and she pulled the satiny ribbon from her locks and brought it forward so she could see. It was just a simple blue ribbon, but the thought behind it was immense. Smiling she stood and tied the ribbon in a bow around her door knob. "Good luck!" She said to it. A strange thump from outside her door startled her into stepping back and with a frown she pulled the door open and peered into the dark hallway. There was nothing strange, nothing out of place, but something nagged at her, something told her to turn around and run back into her room, or better yet, run out of her apartment.

But she was never one to run, so she swallowed her fear and stepped from her room into the corridor. She was about to call out, but decided against it. If she was quiet perhaps she could sneak up on it…that thought chilled her to the bone. The curse was quite awake, she could feel it and taste it as she made her way to the second bedroom past the bathroom. Sarah quickly crossed the bathroom and hesitated with her hand on the doorknob of the second bedroom door. She contemplated her action a second, but the decision was made for her as the door swung inward on its own accord. A strange blackness swirled in the once colorful room, like all the brightness was being sucked into a hole. Sarah froze when she saw Deirdre standing by the bed: too tall for a five year old…in fact, Deirdre looked much as she had at the age of fourteen, but with much, much longer hair. Oh, this wasn't good. Sarah was about to speak, but Deirdre snapped her eyes forward and with a wicked grin made a pulling motion with a finger. Without any thought on her part Sarah followed and winced as the door slammed behind her.

"Hello Sarah," Deirdre spoke, but it was not a normal voice. It worked on several different levels of perception. Sarah could hear and see and smell and taste the words and they were awful, black, horrid and vile. "Where have you been? We have missed you," Deirdre said circling Sarah's still form.

Finally Sarah found her voice, "I was out," she said lamely but defiantly. Suddenly Deirdre was in front of her, staring at her with eyes like no mortal has. There was no pupil, nor iris, no white around the eye; it was just a black liquid pool that shimmered and sloshed. Sarah was horrified and she looked away, causing the being in front of her to laugh.

"I thought you would be stronger than that," Deirdre said stepping back, "Didn't you think she would be stronger than that?" She asked the air around her and Sarah looked around in apprehension as the air shimmered and a woman appeared, a woman from a picture and Sarah felt her blood freeze. In front of her, in a black robe stood Temnestra, and her mismatched eyes watched Sarah's every breath.

"Yes," she said slowly, "I had thought she would be stronger than that." Temnestra approached Sarah and caressed her cheek, and leaned in to smell the mortal. A dangerous look washed over her face, "You smell of my son. What did he do to you?" Before Sarah could answer, Temnestra spun her around so Sarah was facing away from her, and she held Sarah's arms down to her side. "It doesn't matter anyway, does it?"

Deirdre snaked forward, the long black hair flowing behind her like a breeze had picked up in the middle of the bedroom. Sarah watched with horror as she caught a glimpse of silver in Deirdre's white hand. She tried to fight, tried to wriggle free, but her body did not move and she watched silently as Deirdre brought the knife up and plunged it downward. Sarah shut her eyes and prepared for the worst. She awaited the pain and the darkness, and she continued to wait, but when she never felt the blade slice into her she opened her eyes. It was not a very comforting sight however, for the blade was mere inches from her eye. She screamed and tried to push back, but Temnestra's arms held her tight. Deirdre brought her arm up and thrust it downward again and again the blade stopped inches from Sarah's eyes.

Temnestra sighed in disgust, "He placed a spell on her." Deirdre lowered her hand and stepped back and Temnestra released Sarah roughly leaving Sarah in the middle of the snake's pen; arms wrapping around her to afford some comfort. Temnestra paced around Sarah as Deirdre leaned against the bed frame, lips curling in disgust as she spoke, "Let us see now, what are the extents of this spell, hmm, little girl?"

Sarah shook her head, "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Temnestra mocked, and Sarah shook her head and tried to keep the fear out of her eyes. Temnestra thought a moment, hands on hips, before quickly striking out at Sarah with a fist. Sarah's eyes widened, and she tried to step back, but she was powerless and she watched the fist come closer to her face, but at the last possible second Temnestra's hand was deflected and Sarah stood a few feet back, gaping and trying not to scream.

Deirdre pushed herself off the bed, "It's a protection spell, how adorable." Temnestra nodded and reached out a hand again and gently brushed Sarah's loose hair away from her face, "Quite." A knowing smile spread on her thin lips and Temnestra turned to Deirdre, "How would you like a new host?" At this she stood around Sarah and draped her arms over her, "A nice, strong, one?"

Deirdre licked her lips, "That is a marvelous idea, Temnestra. Should we ask her?" Deirdre stepped close to Sarah, who stood captive by Temnestra's arms. "Would you like that Sarah?" Sarah shook her head and Deirdre appeared to pout, "No? We could have so much fun together, don't you think?" Again Sarah shook her head, but she was unable to form any words. Her mind was racing. She was literally at the mercy of these two beings, and at their hungry looks she doubted very much she would get mercy. And if the choices were between death and being a host Sarah was at a loss either way. She was still aware of Deirdre's presence, and she parted her lips to speak, "Jar…"

Deirdre put a finger to Sarah's lips, "Oh no, not yet, we can't have you calling him yet, will you agree?" Sarah shook her head and began to speak again, but this time she found her mouth covered by Deirdre's in a sickening kiss. She tried to push away, but she only heard Temnestra's laugh, and it seemed so far away. Everything seemed very far away, and she felt smooth fingers prodding and searching her mind, all her thoughts, her memories, her feelings, they were being broken into, and at the same time she felt herself being pushed away; pushed far away in a dark corner. It was dark, but comfortable, and Sarah sat quietly curled in a ball wondering if she had always been here.

Another empty room, another dead end; Jareth waited patiently before Addoyn appeared in the room, "She's not here." Jareth was growing aggravated and Addoyn's expression showed much of the same. The room was just a simple sitting room in a simple town cavern where minutes ago Jareth had traced his mother's signature from a similar room across the country. "This is pointless, Addoyn, she's just toying with us."

Addoyn nodded slowly, "She was here though, wasn't she?"

Jareth shrugged, "I don't know. This whole thing is strange. Like, she's keeping us busy; keeping our focus off something else." His eyes clouded over and he lost his focus. Something was wrong, he could feel it, and there was a nagging in the back of his mind that screamed to him. Addoyn noticed his faraway gaze as well, "Follow your instincts then, Jareth. It has to be better than chasing shadows."

And Jareth did just that. He reached out with all his senses and questioned the magic around, asked it, prodded it, begged for any information available, and he found himself transported into a new surrounding. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but as he blinked he was standing in a familiar room, one he had just left a few hours beforehand. He was standing in Sarah's room, but there was no Sarah. But with a shudder he knew there was curse, and he smelled his mother as well. Without waiting for Addoyn Jareth stormed out of the room and in a few paces he stood before the bedroom down the hall. He did not bother opening the door with his hands, for his anger was nearly out of control and the excess energy exploded the wood allowing him access to the room.

For a moment he thought his eyes were deceiving him, for it was a strange sight. His mother's arms were wrapped around Sarah and Sarah was being kissed by another woman, it took a moment to focus and realize it was no ordinary woman, but Deirdre, and he instantly pulled them apart. Deirdre fell limply to the ground, a bundle of limbs and hair, but Sarah stood tall and smiled. Jareth took in her expression and backed away. It was not right; there was too much malice in that smile, too much evil in the eyes. It was then he noticed the eyes. Replacing Sarah's normal emerald orbs shone black masses, dark and cold and he suppressed a shudder as his mother's icy laugh filled the room.

"Too late, my son, too late!" Temnestra said as she released her hold on Sarah and spun away gleefully.

Jareth felt Addoyn's presence, he also felt the anger and was shocked when Addoyn appeared before Temnestra pinning her against the wall, "Have you gone insane, Temnestra?"

Jareth tried to pay attention, but a hand reached out and touched his chest, the light touch trailing down his torso before he caught the hand in his own and stared down at a very beautiful Sarah smiling up at him. "You want this body?" she spoke suggestively. The body may have been the same, but the voice was nothing alike, this voice was filled with hate, filled with darkness and Jareth pushed her away; causing a laugh. "You could have it you know," she replied and laughed again as Jareth narrowed his eyes.

"Where is Sarah?" He demanded, and the figure before him danced in a small circle, "Oh, she is safe, here, for the while." She continued to dance around him, a strange beat heard only by her ears and Jareth grabbed her arm and held her still, "Let her go." 'Sarah' gave him a sideways glance and pulled away from him, continuing her dance. "You still are not in any position to make demands of me, Jareth."

He cringed as he said her name. Sarah, the real Sarah, was still in there somewhere; he could not harm this body, not in the slightest without harming her as well, at that was not acceptable. He could not harm her, but perhaps he could reach her, "Sarah," he called using his magic to push his presence through to her. "Sarah, can you hear me?"

Addoyn watched detached as Jareth stood with Sarah, though he could tell it was not the real Sarah, but he was busy holding Temnestra down, for every second she was trying to escape, but he was fast and cut off her exit, binding her to stay. She glared at him and he shook her slightly, "Have you gone insane, Temnestra? Surely this is not what you wanted to happen?"

She writhed under his grasp, "What do you care, Addoyn? Going to pretend to be a father for once?" Her insult rewarded her with a push against a wall, but she just laughed. "You always were sensitive about that."

"Temnestra," he began softly, "where have you gone?" His soothing voice caught her off guard and for a second they were in a different time, a time when he had stood next to her with his arms wrapped around her lovingly, not holding her captive. And she responded to this tone. What was she doing? Why was she fighting with Addoyn, who for all accounts was her love and her light? She frowned and searched Addoyn's blue eyes for answers, but it was the scene behind him that snapped her back to reality. Addoyn saw the change in her eyes again and braced himself for a fight.

"Sarah…" she could hear the name being called. It was like a beacon and all she wanted to do was follow it to its source. "Sarah," it repeated and she found herself standing, "Yes!" She shouted, "I'm here!" She looked around in the darkness and found no one and a heavy feeling pushed down on her chest. She was all alone, no one wanted her, no one cared, and she slowly gave in to this feeling and slumped back down to the floor. "SARAH!" This time the voice was clear, and she snapped her head towards the sound. It was a man, a man she should remember, but she could not picture him clearly, she could not remember. Her name was called out again, and she stood to walk closer to the sound. She would find him, for he was searching for her. She had to find him, she felt so empty without him.

"Stop!" Cried 'Sarah' in agony as she brought her hands to her head and kneeled to the ground. Jareth advanced on her, "It will stop as soon as you release Sarah. She's still in there," with this he placed his hands on 'Sarah's face, "Sarah!" He cried out to her and 'Sarah' recoiled and her face contorted as Sarah's real voice sang into the air, "Yes! I'm here!" But she sounded so far away, like she was in a tunnel. 'Sarah's face contorted again and black eyes stared back at Jareth, who did not remove his hands, "Come on Sarah." Again 'Sarah' attempted to flee his touch, "Stop!" she screamed.

Jareth pulled the body close to him, "Release her!" He felt her shake her head and he gathered as much strength as he could and projected his image to Sarah, deep inside her mind.

Temnestra growled as she saw 'Sarah' slump to the ground, "He can't be allowed to do this! I WILL rewrite my destiny!" She shouted to Addoyn, who sadly watched her, "Don't you think you have rewritten enough, Temnestra?"

She shook her head, eyes flashing, "Not nearly enough! I would change everything if I could," something inside of her ached as she said those words, deep in her chest, and she brought a hand to her heart, gasping for air.

Addoyn gave a knowing smile, "It is very hard to lie to one's self, Temnestra, you should know that." She glared at him and he just lowered his gaze. It was hard to look into those eyes where nothing but hatred lived when for so long all he had seen was adoration and love. "Try and come back, Temnestra." He cupped her face with a free hand, startling her and she stopped fighting for a brief moment enjoying the sensation, but in a moment it was gone, and Temnestra pushed him away, allowing a moment for her to vanish.

Sarah began running. She saw brilliance before her and she ran full speed through the darkness to this shining hope of salvation. And suddenly she saw him, not clearly, but she saw his outline and she remembered, she remembered everything. He was standing, a hand outstretched to her, and without a second thought she reached for him, smiling as her fingers found his and her world exploded in white light.

As the light dimmed she found herself pressed against soft fabric and felt heavy breathing as well as a pair of arms wrapped around her. She looked up slowly and saw golden hair and sharp features, but he was not looking at her and she followed her gaze. A black shape, a dark mass, was circling the room, and made a dive down to Deirdre's form, and Sarah shouted out, "I wish the goblins would take Deirdre away right now!"

With a grin from Jareth the body disappeared and the black figure screamed and recoiled. A black hooded figure, Temnestra, Jareth thought detached, laughed through the scream. "You do not need her anyway. I am more than willing!" The curse paused in the air and then suddenly dived into Temnestra, even as Addoyn shouted in protest and Jareth shut his eyes as his mother's green and brown eyes shimmered into a dark pool. A wicked grin appeared and this 'Temnestra' bowed low to Addoyn, "Go on, and help your son," was all the multilayered voice said before vanishing from view, quite content with the mess she had left in her wake.

A/N: Yep! I'm leaving it there for now! I have to go to work and this seemed as good a place as any to leave it! And now, for thanks:

Morrigana: You know I love your stuff too! And it was a blatant homage!

Solea: Thank you, that was what I was aiming for!

Theshadowcat: Hope this didn't disappoint

Shavaineth: Don't be so hard on him! Sheesh!

Moonjava: Thank you

Lady of the Labyrinth: OF COURSE I couldn't just kill Sarah…now Temnestra…well, we'll just have to see about that one!

Alorindanya: Thanks much!