Chapter 6 - Black Dreams

Sarah brought the plates back into the kitchen. She looked over at Toby and saw he wasn't doing any better then she did with feeding the reticent toddler.

"No luck huh?"

Toby shrugged, "I got her to eat a few bites but not nearly enough."

"That's okay Tobes, tell you what, why don't I finish in here and you can go play your new games."

"Thanks Sar!" Toby dashed out the door wasting no time at all to get back to his gaming.

Sarah quickly tidied up the kitchen and turned to the task of feeding Tessa.

Tessa had a medical device called a g-tube for supplemental feeds. It was a port in the belly that allowed formula, fluid and meds to be syringed directly into the stomach. The doctors believed she had suffered lack of oxygen during birth and diagnosed her with a mild form of cerebral palsy. She still remembered Karen crying her heart out over the news. That was when Sarah and Karen had truly started to make amends. Sarah had done her best to lend her step-mom the support she needed.

None of the aunts, uncles or grandparents would even acknowledge Tessa's existence. She had agreed to watch Tessa when no one else would. It still made her angry how everyone else had turned their back on her sister. If there is one thing the labyrinth taught her, it was to value family. Gone were the days she would resent babysitting her siblings. Sarah had finally grown up.

Grabbing the syringe and Pediasure Sarah began the slow process of pouring the liquid nutrients into the little girl's stomach. She then carried Tessa upstairs where she played and read to her until she got sleepy. After putting Tessa down for her afternoon nap, Sarah decided to follow suit.

Jareth, Braxton, and Ida sat at a large wooden table eating diner.

"Have we found any one to replace Watson yet?" Jareth asked,

"No" Braxton replied, "I've looked far and wide for someone. All the people I have spoken to have scoffed at the idea of working so close to goblins."

"Perhaps, it is time we asked your father to loan us one of his guards." Ida suggested hesitantly to Jareth.

"Absolutely not! I will ask him for no such favor. Offer the candidates more gold, if I have to dip into my own personal funds then so be it."

Jareth would not lower himself to ask his father a favor. It would make him seem weak as a monarch to be unable to handle the details of the Underground's smallest kingdom. He knew if he was ever to be coroneted High King he would have to prove his worth in this primitive and wild kingdom.

The Goblin Kingdom was very important to the magical races for procuring children and yet no one wanted to dirty their hands running the place. It had made quite a quandary for the Kings' council. Oberon, the first high king decided to make it a test for the heirs to the high throne, one they must pass or forfeit their destiny. An inventive solution that successful solved two problems at once.

Running the goblin kingdom was an extremely grueling task. The goblins lived for chaos and the wild magic of the Labyrinth was difficult to keep in bounds. Jareth had little support staff, no one wanted to live here when they could enjoy their cushy lives back at court. Being the Goblin King was far from glamorous. Jareth worked hard everyday, side by side with his staff to keep things running.

He was pulled out of his reverie. Warmth seeped from his coat pocket. Sarah's dreams were calling him from within the dream crystal. He simply vanished from the room. Of course he knew neither Braxton nor Ida would even think much of it. Jareth's popping in and out at whim was par for the course. The king had many duties to fulfill.

Sarah looked around there was nothing as far as the eye could see. She knew from experience that walking and even running wouldn't get her anywhere. She had dreamed this dream before, there was always emptiness, just a great big black space of nothing. This was frustrating to no end to be trapped in a dream that wasn't a dream and a place that wasn't a place.

Looking around Sarah saw a flash of white. She was relieved, finally something else would give stark relief to the blackness but as it came closer her relief turned into trepidation.

"Jareth" She called hesitantly.

"Hello Sarah," his mocking tones rung out over the vastness of the void. He walked closer and Sarah could see him fully, right down to the white feathered cloak he had worn the last time she saw him.

"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked calmly although she was far from feeling calm.

"I suppose I could be asking the same thing of you." He said stopping a short distance away.

"What do you mean?"

"What is this place, Sarah? What is supposed to be here?"

Sarah paused looking up and realizing for the first time that the dream Jareth felt real and substantial. Not knowing how she knew, she queried, "How did you get here?"

Jareth raised a mocking eyebrow "You brought me here."

"No, I didn't"

"Oh, didn't you? He mocked.

Now, Sarah was starting to get miffed. She stalked up to him angrily and started poking him in the chest, "This is my dream! Now, why are you in it!"

"Beware Sarah, for I can be cruel." He warned, grabbing her hand and holding it a safe distance away from him.

Sarah looked up at him, "I know" she said softly with hurt shining in her eyes. Jareth let go of her hand as he stumbled backwards a brief unidentifiable emotion flashed across his face before it went blank.

Sarah advanced on him once more but this time he didn't give ground. "What do you want?" She asked a hard edge entered her voice.

"I wanted to see if the little girl still enjoyed her silly little dreams. Instead I find a child with no dream at all," He said scathingly throwing his arms apart to encompass the great void.

Sarah placed both hands on her hips and stuck her chin out; her eyes glared at him defiantly. "I am not a child!" She spat.

"Really? You couldn't be more then what 23? 24?" She crossed her arms refusing to answer. "No matter, to a centuries old being like me, all you mortals seem childish."

"Centuries?" She asked dazed.

"Yes, Sarah I am timeless."

"Then can you tell me why I keep dreaming about this place?"

"Think Sarah! Think back to when it first started. What belongs here? What did this use to be?"

"Don't you think I have already tried! It's pointless, I can't…." She trailed off. "You know don't you. You know how this happened." She accused.

"I'm here to help you figure it out. Come back with me Sarah, come back to the Labyrinth so we can find the answer."

"No! Get out!" Sarah felt something rise in her and strike out at the Goblin King.

Jareth saw it coming too late. "No, you don't….." Then he was gone.

Sarah came awake. Leaning forward, resting her head on her knees, she attempted to slow her breathing. She knew iin the pit of her stomach the dream was real. As her head began to clear she looked up and saw lightening flash outside the window. The thunder rumbled loudly and then Tessa's crying resounded through the baby monitor.