Chapter Fifteen

"You're not getting anything out of me." Tara grit through her teeth for what seemed like the millionth time today. The elves simply wouldn't accept that she didn't know where Crysandra and Xanthe had gone and had sworn to continue whipping until she told them. "Never, never, never."

A man of tall structure and pointed ears leaned casually against the sticky white rock of something that she'd been chained to. The sweet smell of some treat with far too much sugar was almost worse than the scratches lining her back. They glared at each other as words almost as sweet as the torture device slipped away from the elven mouth, but Tara merely turned a deaf ear. Even if she had known where her beloved had escaped to, she would never have told him-- no matter what they did to her.

"I'm sure Jareth..." Tara's eyes focused as she heard the name, and she forced herself to resist the urge to protest its use. "...wouldn't wish you to put yourself in pains way just to be heroic--"

"What makes you think he would care!" She bit, eyes narrowing at him in fury, "He cares nothing more for me than any of you do you-- you-- long legged, hearing impared BEAST!"

A mere grin met what was to be an insult as he backed away from her and turned to his two elven comanions. "Our guest believes us to be beasts." He purred, ice blue gaze flickering over them. "Show her to the facility, would you?"

The elves unchained her wrists and pulled her with them away from the star mint path. She did not struggle, but she did glance behind at the only elf that had spoken.

"I will kill you." She swore, eyes fierce despite the crimson streaks across her back in all directions. "Maybe not today, but tomorrow. No matter where you hide, no matter what you do to me, or for me, I will kill you. Tomorrow always comes."

Crys glanced over at six year old Xanthe as she worked at stacking candy cane shafts together and trying to think of how she'd catch it aflame. The nights in the Middle Ground were cold, and the sun was setting far too quickly for her liking. She sighed, and looked back at the stripes of red and white.

"I want Tara." Xanthe murmured for the millionth time, standing once more to make sure her aunt hadn't escaped and was running toward them. There was no one.

"I know, sweet heart." The older girl sighed as she gave up, and collapsed by the heap of candy. "But we can't go for her yet. They're still looking for us."

"I don't care. I want Tara." The pure one protested.

Crys shook her head helplessly and poked at the red of the candy cane with a long, chipped fingernail. Despite the pastels around them, everything looked so dark. They were caught in the middle of a war that she couldn't control, and there was nothing she could do to get them out. Besides that, the elves had one of them, and the younger would never leave without her. Not willingly.

"Now would be a good time to show up, Goblin King." She whispered, and let her head drop to her knees. As silent sobs escaped her, Xanthe crawled to her side.

"Crys?" She cooed hopefully.

Crysandra shook her head, and then raised it. "No. We're not giving up." she gave the bundle of candy one last poke, and it burst aflame.

Somewhere in her dream world, Tara could see the Goblin king on his balconey of iron and onyx. Even without a crown upon his head, or gold laced in his tunic he stood tall, ivory hair waved softly, wildly in what little a breeze there was. He resembled an elf in his height, but that was where simularity ended. So very strong, and so very real despite the illusion, he was like nothing she had seen here in dungeons of powder and licorice that left trails of slime to infect the wounds their lashings left.

She took a step toward her king, and reached out as he turned. He offered her a faint smile, and took her hand in his, pulling her into his arms with the gentlest of tugs. She stared into his eyes of green and steel, savoring the feel of the tingle in her neck where he had bitten her in a time that seemed so distant now.

"Where are you, Goblin King?" she whispered, voice sounding awkward to her. He placed a slender finger to her lips, and watched as she changed around it, lips deepening to the crimson of blood, hair becoming just as wild as his and crowned by a tiara of silver leaves, and a gown of black and green slipping over her desirable form.

"I am here." He purred, replacing his finger with his lips for only the briefest of moments. "And soon, you will be as well."

She looked uncertainly over the edge of the balconey, and down on the goblins continuing to run their day to day lives. The sky swirled purple and gold, and the people of the city beyond the labyrinth were just a fog. "But I cannot escape." She murmured, emerald gaze flickering back to the hero at her side. "Not on my own."

"You need not escape." He assured her tenderly, fingertips grazing over the curve of her pale cheek. "They will release you in time."

"My lord wishes to make a trade." Stated a familiar brown haired fae as he brushed an elf away from him. Damien turned his gaze toward who appeared to be in charge, a colder looking elf atop a throne. This world of glitter and sweetness drove him absolutely batty, but he had been given an order and he had no intentions of ignoring it.

"Adriana DeLearté for one of your own."

The elf lifted a neatly trimmed eyebrow. "One of our own?" He repeated snidely, "Just 'who of our own' do you have to deliver, little fae?"

"Crysandra Belli, for one, but she is not who we offer." Damien purred, "I am sure you are aware of the... hostilities between vampires, and elves. My liege has heard word from the kingdom of the vampires that Kayos has taken your dear Xana as his own. We can rescue her if you cease the attacks upon the goblin kingdom and release Adriana to us."

The elf responded better than Damien expected. "That-- That-- monster took my sister!" He cried loudly, rising to his feet, and attempting to glare the fae down. "Well-- RESCUE HER!"

"We will, your highness," Damien bowed to the elf, "But we will be needing Adriana in return."

Silence met the repitition of the request and the young fae almost feared that he would be denied, but finally the elf grudgingly gave up his claim. "She's in the room behind me. Take her if you will."

When Tara saw the fae walk into the room, she thought for a moment that she was hallucinating. Surely, so soon after such a confusing dream, a messenger for the goblin king couldn't be there-- but he was.

"Damien!" She cried, pulling at the sticky chains looped around her wrists. "What are you--" Suddenly she realized that he may have indeed snuck in to rescue her, and she quietted, peering past him at the door. "If you snuck in here, I think I just blew your cover..."

He laughed as he approached her, dagger in hand. "I didn't sneak here, my lady." He stated, "A respectable fae never sneaks." With a quick motion one of her wrists was free from the disgusting substance, and then the other wrist. "I have just negotiated your release. You will be brought back to the Castle Beyond the Goblin City shortly. The king awaits your arrival eagerly."

Tara stared at him before looking down to look over the damage on her wrists. It was minimal, but the green goo left on her skin made it look so much worse.

"How did you..." She asked hesitantly as she looked up, "...negotiate my release?"

"A bit of a lie." He admitted quietly. "I told the leader that his sister has been abducted by a vampire. If he finds that it is the Goblin Kingdom that has actually abducted her... well, it will be the beginning of the first Great war the underground has ever seen. I warned the king of the risks, but..."

"He lives for risks." Tara sighed, pursing her lips in thought. "Well, we should go."

Damien nodded in agreement, and led her out of the building, back to the star mint path where a carriage, hung with the finest of silks, and drawn by two huge black wolves.

"Wha--!" Tara cried out in shock, seeing the beasts, and backing instinctively away from them. Damien glanced at her, and then followed her gaze with a small grin. "They are the finest of the kings Royal guard. The first defense in the case of an attack, and the most powerful. There are twenty two more at the castle, though it's not surprising that you haven't run into them. Their chambers are locked quite securely."

Tara nodded a little, "I see." She stated, and frowned, "But why are they -here-!"

Damien laughed outright at that, and shook his head. Not bothering to answer at first, he swung the door of the carriage open to allow her entrance. "I'm sure you've noted that the king has taken quite an interest in you. Your safety is of the utmost importance."

The ride to the portal that would lead them to the Underground was a pleasant one, despite the lack of interesting scenery. Despite his effort to remain politically correct at all times, Damien made good conversation. The wolves pulled the carriage almost effortlessly, and it rode smoothly over the terrain of candy. Though they made good time, it was twilight when they came to the gigantic mirror that would serve as a portal to another world. The moon glittered off of Damien as they walked up to it, and Tara stared up at it in unmasked fascination.

"So this is what takes people between dimensions." She marveled, reaching out and touching the cool glass with her fingertips. She watched as it rippled away from her in great waves of silver.

"I hope Xanthe and Crys made it here safely..." She whispered.

"What was that, My lady?" Damien asked politely.

Tara turned back around to give him a reassuring smile. "Nothing." She assured him, and glanced back at the glass. "Where will this take us?

Damien didn't look so sure that it had been 'nothing' at all, but he answered the question all the same.

"To the outskirts of the Labryinth." He explained. "From there we will have to make our way by foot to the Goblin City at the center, but there is nothing to fear: I know the way like I know my way through the castle itself, and the wolfines will be with us."

Tara nodded, and stared at the silver for a moment, before looking down at the glittering substance that appeared to be snow beneath her. Xanthe and Crys weren't safe. She could feel it. But what was there that she could do, but maybe appeal to the king of the Underground to rescue them... wherever they may be.

"My lady?" Damien asked, concerned. "What is troubling you?"

Albeit shaky, Tara gave him yet another believable smile. "Nothing." She assured him warmly. "Come. Let us return to his highness."

Frowning still, Damien nodded, and walked up to the mirror. He slipped his hand through it, and then another hand. Slowly, he pulled the two hands apart, and then jerked them out, destroying the shiny silver altogether, and revealing the image of a far away Labyrinth, so dark now.

"I have a question." Tara announced.

Looking at her, Damien crossed his arms in wait for said question.

"Why doesn't Jareth just teleport us to the castle?"

Damien sighed, and shook his head, muttering something about that being a question for the king, and not himself. She sighed as well with the vague answer, but accepted it, stepping readily through the portal.

"I will do what I have to." She thought bitterly, "They can't have Xanthe."


Authors Notes: Sorry for the long wait. It seems that writers block is fond of me lately, plus I was away from my computer for quite some time. In any case, here's (the short)chapter fifteen. Review, please!

I don't care if you're telling me that my writing sucks and should be recorded in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the most pathetic-- just review!

Please?