Ok, the next Chapter is up. Enjoy! Again I ask you all to R&R and under the same conditions as before. Thanks again to those of you who have reviewed and continue to do so, Im glad that you're enjoying the story.
Difficult Tasks:
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief when she got back to her study. Ordering Toby to be taken was one of the hardest things she had been forced to do since she had been made Queen of the Labyrinth. Unfortunately she did not have time to think it over, Alyana was already there and she had brought Toby with her.
"Sarah!" He yelled, bringing her full attention to him.
"Toby," she looked at Alyana. "You brought him here, now." It was not a question.
"He's your responsibility, at least until she solves the Labyrinth or fails." Sarah closed her eyes briefly. -Why me?- She thought before answering.
"You could have waited until I was ready."
"This is the best time, Sarah, he's asking for explanations. You're his sister, you should tell him."
"Thanks," the sarcasm rolled easily off her tongue. Alyana merely grinned at her and left. "I swear if she didn't rule the most powerful realm..." she muttered before turning to her brother. "Toby," she said again, unsure where to start.
"Where are we, Sarah?" He asked the easiest question.
"In the castle beyond the goblin city, at the centre of the Labyrinth," it was the easiest question to answer.
"Why? Why did that lady bring us here? She scared me, Sarah."
"Alyana's not that bad, not really," Sarah laughed, then she became serious. "She didn't bring you here though, Toby, I did." His face crumbled. "Oh, Toby, if Karen hadn't said the words I never would have. I didn't want to take you away, I had to." She tried to pull him into her arms and he pushed her away. "Damn you, Jareth," she hissed, "why couldn't it have been you who did this? Why did you have to leave me?" She began to sob, all of her grief for the Goblin king combining with her guilt over, first Maria, and now Toby. "I'm sorry, Toby, I'm so, so, sorry."
Toby saw his elder sister's tears and he could not stay mad at her. He had heard her mention Jareth and had seen the way that she had reacted to her own words. Something was happening that he did not understand and it seemed like she was the only one who could explain it. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"Sarah?" She pulled him into a hug and he heard her apologising to him over and over again. "Sarah, where's the Goblin King?" Her sobs stopped suddenly and when he looked up at her, he saw a haunted look in her eyes.
"He's dead, Toby, gone. Now, because of it, I'm the Goblin Queen." Her voice was distant, it scared him a little.
"You mean the book is real?"
"Yes, that's why I gave it to you. I wanted you to know about the Labyrinth that nearly claimed you as one of its own, because I was stupid enough to say the words too."
"You wished someone away? You wished me away?" She nodded.
"No more, now. You know where you are, you know why. Now tell me what you've been up to lately."
OoOoOoOoOo
He awoke with a start, he had been dreaming of her again. This time she had been sobbing, damming someone called Jareth. He was not sure who Jareth was, he was not even sure who she was, but he swore that when he found out, he would make him pay dearly for causing so much pain to this woman who was so obviously special. He did not know why, all he knew was his feelings for this woman were not those of casual friends, he felt something more for her. He had to find her. He had to know who she was. He knew that she would be able to tell him his name, and so much more. He just had to find her, he had to find the castle beyond the Goblin City. He had to find the Labyrinth. It never once occurred to him that she might be nothing more than a dream as he began to run again, always running away from the strange place he had woken in, never looking back, never thinking, just running, always running.
OoOoOoOoOo
She ran as fast as she could down the endless corridor. It never seemed to end, she had been running for six hours, nearly halfway through her time, and still she saw no turnings, no exits and no signs of life. Exhausted, she leant against the wall and slid to the ground.
"Not as easy as it looks, is it, Karen?" Sarah asked from beside her. Karen jumped to her feet, startled by the sudden appearance of her stepdaughter. "I remember when I ran it, I ran this corridor for nearly an hour before I stopped and was pointed to an exit. You aren't looking hard enough."
"What do you mean, you ran it?"
"I wished Toby away, too. The difference is, I won him back. You never will."
"You don't know that." Karen suddenly hated Sarah with all the intensity that she once had so long ago. "I'll beat you, Sarah."
"Camulus will come, he'll kill me, make you Queen of the Goblins and hold Toby hostage so that you do as he tells you! He tried to control me so that when he killed Jareth, he could rule the Labyrinth through me. Take your dreams, Karen, take them and be happy with them. Don't bring danger on yourself and not on Toby, too. Give up whilst you still can." Sarah was also stood, and in the twilight, her eyes glowed with a dangerous fire. Karen shrank away from her, unable to meet those terrible eyes. "Do you really think that I asked for this?" Sarah hissed. "Do you think that I enjoy this? That taking Toby from you was in any way an easy thing?"
"So why do it then?" Sarah's words had stung Karen into a reaction. "If you hate it so much, why do it?"
"Because I have no choice. I can't have one rule for you and another for them. I told you earlier that it's sacred law," she summoned a clock. "You only have seven hours left. Don't waste them, give up and take your dreams, or you will leave with nothing." She shimmered and vanished in front of Karen's eyes.
The woman was dazed, shocked and confused. Sarah had been Sarah but not. She was too confident in herself and to terrifying to be completely human anymore.
"What happened to you, Sarah?" She muttered to herself.
"I often wondered that myself, Karen," a voice said behind her. She turned, saw him and passed out.
OoOoOoOo
Something stirred, something bad, he could feel it as he entered the gateway. Something had come to hurt that woman, the woman who haunted his every waking moment and his every dream. He still could not tell who she was, but he was getting closer to her. He could feel her drawing him to her with his every breath, calling, demanding his remembrance. He needed to know who she was and who he was and she was the only person who could tell him.
So then, what do we think happens next? Who is the mysterious running stranger? Why did Karen faint? Answers and clues in the next chapter, remember to R&R and I'll remember to update. Thanks guys
Artemis
