Chapter 13: The Lost and the Not-So Lonely

In his twenty-two years on the force, Tony Murdock was pretty damn sure he'd never worked on a case as migraine-inducing as the Olson kidnapping. Sure; there was that one time when those Trinity College frat boys had bird-napped Redd - Wesleyan's prized cardinal - after division finals and demanded five hundred kegs of beer for his safe return. But that was drunken stupidity. The ransom video had been filmed right in front of the Alpha Chi Rho frat house; Greek symbols and all. The perps who'd taken Olson's kid were clearly more sophisticated: it'd turned into a triple kidnapping without them even naming a suspect. And while it still gave him heartburn to acknowledge, they also seemed to be…magical. Inhuman. He'd seen the tape.

Tony rubbed at his eyes as he made his way to Danon's office. The Chief had asked him to take over for Williams after he'd disappeared, but there didn't seem to be much he could do. He had no idea who'd sent the damn book and notes, and if they were to be believed, neither did Williams' sister and her fiancé. He supposed they could run the book for prints, but so many people had touched it at this point that finding a clean print would be a long shot.

And he was also pretty damn sure they didn't keep non-human prints in AFIS. The agents would have told him, if so. Until they received another tip – or more likely, a ransom demand – he felt useless. He and the agents couldn't even convince Williams' sister to stay under their protection. Tony groaned when he saw Danon's face through the glass; he already looked pissed.

"Chief," he exhaled, pushing open the doors. "Bad news about Williams' sister."

Danon's scowl deepened. "She didn't know any 'A.H.C.'?"

"No."

"Damn." Danon moved one hand to his temple, slowly circling the spot. "Which of the conference rooms did you put her in? Did her fiancé come?"

"That's part of the bad news, Chief."

Danon snapped his head up. "She wouldn't stay?" When Murdock just frowned, Danon groaned, hissing something that sounded like "God-damn Williams'" under his breath.

"Her fiancé seemed adamant that he could protect her. I believe him. He's…very convincing. I wouldn't want to cross him on a bad day."

Danon barked a laugh. "Great. And when she gets taken, he'll be all over our asses with some shit about us not doing more to catch these guys."

"What do you want me to do? Detain her?"

"No," replied Danon, waving him off. "I don't need another lawsuit added to this mess. Olson's probably already got his drafted as it is. If she wants to go it alone, we at least made the offer. Make sure you note it in the file."

"Will do, Chief. Anything else tonight?"

"No. Go home, Murdock. I'll update the Olsons in the morning." He sighed as he glanced at his desk clock. "Later in the morning. They'll want to know the next plan."

"Anything I can do to get it started?"

Danon eyed him wearily, shaking his head once. "That's why I'm not calling them now; I've got to think of something first. Someone else to question."

The suggestion of additional questioning sparked an inkling. There was someone who might know more. It was likely even more of a long shot than the prints, but it would at least give him something to look into. Tony shifted his weight before speaking. "What about this Goblin King guy?"

"Who?"

"The one in the book. The tipster said Williams' sister knew him, and that he was involved. We could try and track him down."

"He also said he was our friend, and then he kidnapped our best shots at finding Olson's kid."

"Yeah, but this king might be our only lead. I don't think the lab can pull usable prints off the book." Tony furrowed his brow slightly, considering the odd coincidence of the king's title. "Seems strange to me to throw in a random name if he had nothing to do with it. And now we've got a missing goblin."

Danon sighed. "Look into it, Murdock. Tell Henry I gave you permission to borrow the book."

"Who?"

"Sorry; Agent Collier. He and I go way back. You remember that explosives case with the mayor from ninety-eight?"

"Sure. Pipe bomb in his car, right? The press had a field day with that one." It had been a last-minute decision to send a dog to his reelection campaign announcement, and even luckier that the dog had passed by the car before the speech ended. They had never quite figured out how the perp had gotten to the car with all the security around. They'd never identified a suspect, either.

"Yeah, well, FBI said it wasn't an ordinary bomb." Danon accompanied the statement with a pointed glance.

Tony's heartburn churned violently. It was one thing for magical creatures to suddenly appear in Hartford; quite another to learn there'd been inhuman activity in his hometown for nearly a decade. Secreted clearly before now, given they'd only just been sent photos.

But, why reveal themselves now?

He'd look into this 'Goblin King' guy. But he was also pulling the ninety-eight case.

Sarah hadn't known precisely what to expect with Jareth's glamour. He'd said only that she could appear herself (could not appear human?) in order to ensure her safety. So, she'd assumed he'd cloak her in some sort of… 'faeguise', for lack of a better term. Slightly pointed ears and eyebrows that arched at odd angles; a metallic swipe just below. Beyond that and magic, she wasn't quite sure what outwardly distinguished fae from humans.

Besides the corseted dress of rich garnet trimmed with gold, however, she didn't notice anything different about her appearance when she glanced in her full-length mirror. She frowned into it as Jareth stood behind, touching a few fingers to her familiar brows. Then, to her ears. They still tingled as if asleep, but she felt and saw no pointed edge. "Are you sure it worked?"

"Certain," he replied with a languid smile. "The guise will only mask you from those you do not know."

"But you can see it?"

His grin widened as he leaned near her ear. "You know me, Sarah."

Sarah's pulse skipped again. So, that was a no, then. She knew him – knew his name and God, knew his lips and the dark timbre of his voice - and yet, she didn't know him. He was so good at keeping his secrets to himself. Infuriatingly good. She was determined to solve every last puzzle of his person, even if it took her a lifetime. Sarah internally groaned. And now she was considering things long past the kidnapping. Dangerous, long-term things. She really was in serious trouble. Toby. Focus on figuring out which bastards took Toby. Fury, fortunately, proved a decent distraction.

"Fine," she said, after swallowing. "Are we leaving now? How many days should I pack for?" She realized it was somewhere around five in the morning and she was going on minuscule sleep over the past few days, but she doubted she could sleep until they got some answers. Or she'd eventually just pass out. Jareth didn't appear at all tired, at least. If anything, he seemed...invigorated. Of course, she had just about bruised his lips with her own. Again. She was pretty confident their attraction was mutual, or else he'd never have made that first move in his castle hallway. That would explain the renewed heat in his glance; the low drawl of her name against her ear...

Toby, damn it. TOBY.

"There's no need," he chuckled, twisting his wrist again. "I can provide for whatever we need. It shouldn't be longer than a day, at most."

"Fine," she repeated. It wasn't like she had much control over this visit anyway. He hadn't even clarified where they were traveling. Someplace not too cold, it seemed, from the light silk fabric he'd dressed her in. And at least if they left now, they might reach wherever they were going without the need to stop for the night.

Because she was damn sure Jareth would take advantage of that situation. He'd already tried to claim her bed once and he'd been bolder ever since. Then again, so had she. She frowned and internally groaned again. This 'Rielle' better have answers for all this trouble this trip was likely to wreak.

With a crystal balanced atop fingertips, Jareth wrapped his arm around Sarah's stomach and pulled her back against his chest. She instinctively clenched her eyes shut, remembering how the world had lurched the last time she'd traveled by crystal. Something tugged at her stomach. A jolt of electricity shot from her head to her toes. But the sharp lurch never came. She knew, however, that they'd moved; she was showered in the musk of dirt and pine and evergreen just after rain before she'd opened her eyes.

"A forest? She lives in a forest?"

He snorted. "No. But this is the closest to Tearmann Bhaile that I could bring us."

"Tearmann what?"

"A village of sorts. Come," he said, releasing her stomach and heading deeper into the woods. "We have a ways to go."

Sarah sighed but followed. It didn't take her long to realize that something was off about the forest, however. She heard the snap of twigs and strain of Jareth's leather boots ahead of her, but beyond that, very little. It was dark enough for owls or bats or whatever nocturnal creatures claimed home in the Underground but the flaps and howls had been stolen from the skies. The scratch of crickets or their bug brothers nonexistent. And while she wasn't particularly fond of bugs and bats, the silence cast an eerie haze over an already worrisome trip.

"It's too quiet here."

Jareth glanced back but didn't stop his gait. "Yes, that would be part of the barrier enchantment. When we get farther in, you'll notice a change."

She'd understood the transportation issue, but the barrier bit didn't click. They'd walked right in. "It's spelled to keep things out?"

"Unwanted things. Or those who do not know of Tearmann Bhaile."

"Neither of which is you," she said drolly.

His lips twitched. "Precisely."

She sighed again but jogged up to join at his side. "Why all the protections? Does someone important live here?"

"More than one someone."

"Rielle?"

He tilted his grin. "She's not the primary reason for the protections."

Sarah didn't even bother to scowl at his riddle-speak. "You aren't going to tell me, are you?"

"You are welcome to continue guessing," he chuckled. "It's a long walk. You might figure it out before we arrive. But even with the enchantments, I'd rather not say until we are within the village limits."

"They're not...dangerous, are they?" That might be one reason why they'd been secluded far within a forest.

Jareth stopped still and Sarah could see the tight purse of his lips out of the corner of her eye. He didn't want to say. It spurred her on. "Tell me," she ordered.

"They can be...cruel," he offered after a hesitation. "And sometimes dangerous. But we have nothing to fear of those in this village."

That wasn't nearly good enough. She grabbed his arm and spun him, eyes narrowing. "Why not?"

"I will tell you when we arrive, Sarah. I will not risk their safety."

She let him go abruptly. He'd almost sighed the phrase, sagging his shoulders in an exceedingly not Jareth manner. Eyes blinking closed. That, even without a name, was enough to lessen concern about the reasons for the enchantments. She nodded softly and he exhaled.

She stayed silent for a time after that. Jareth was moving briskly through the forest and hadn't encouraged conversation. Some hours in, when dawn had broken, she thought she heard him start to hum a familiar tune, but when she strained her attention, all she heard was the hiss of wind bending leaves. So, she took the time to consider their situation; took the time to consider him. He was hiding so many things from her that at this point, it seemed routine to expect the barest of truths. But this mystery clearly pained him. Several others before had as well, most notably that abhorrent court's habits, but there was something...personal about this pain. Regret and remorse? Responsibility? But that seemed so unlike everything she knew about Jareth. He was cocky and proud. Powerful, mirthful, and alluring. She'd seen no obvious weaknesses. Well, apart from her being able to outwit him in his Labyrinth twenty years back. But he'd been clear she'd been the only one who'd left. He was not a creature of defeat. He'd intonated that he had enemies, but she thought it more likely that Jareth had bested them than the opposite.

What did he do?

"You're going to feel a brief shock when we leave the treeline," he called back suddenly. "It's the end of the outer enchantment."

Sarah strained her neck to see beyond the forest, but it was all trees for what seemed like miles. Jareth, however, had paused several feet ahead - in front of a pair of white-barked trees, limbs entwined - and was seemingly waiting for her to catch up. She furrowed her brow when she did. "This is the end?"

"In the Underground, as you well know, not everything is what it seems." And with little more than a smirk, he pulled her under the arch of white branches.

She winced as another spark flooded down to her toes and had barely opened her eyes before she winced again. Blinding sunlight. Far, far brighter than the dim glow of morning she'd faced in the forest. Had time shifted? Had they been...transported? But Jareth had said that was impossible. She wiped at tears and slowly opened her eyes again, glancing down at a spring green field, dotted with small white flowers. She heard chirping. Faint buzzing. Singing? Certainly, wherever they were now was blooming with more light and life than the forest. It was as if they'd stepped through a mirage. Not unlike the Labyrinth walls, she suddenly remembered.

Not everything is as it seems.

"We're about halfway there," he offered, stretching his arms before calling a crystal again. "Do you need to rest?"

"No, I'm fine." The sooner they reached Rielle, the better. Fortunately for her feet, Jareth had provided her a sturdy pair of leather boots instead of dainty matching slippers. The dress was long enough to cover most of the soft brown leather, but she didn't care if she was a fashion faux-pas; she was comfortable.

He nodded and crushed the crystal between his fingertips. "There's a small town some ways ahead. If you are hungry then, we can stop for lunch there."

"Tearmann?"

"No. Another refuge, and the main reason for your glamour." He frowned slightly. "There are many in the Underground seeking protection."

"Protection from what?"

He hesitated again in the way that made Sarah regret she'd asked. "It's a shorter list to say what they aren't seeking protection from."

Sarah's stomach twisted. It was becoming very clear to her that she knew very little about the Underground. And even more clear that it held more hazards than a feckless goblin army, shoddy machinery, and spelled fruit. This place was dangerous. And for her? Possibly deadly if this court had decided to seek her out.

God, why had she listened to Toby? None of this would have happened if she hadn't gotten involved with goblins and their king.

They were again silent as they crossed the white-flecked field. Before too long, the hint of cobbled stone and thatched roofs pierced the skyline. Voices echoed from a distance, but to Sarah's relief, they were relatively calm. Casual conversation instead of vigorous - or violent - debate. Although, Jareth had suggested this was a refuge; perhaps these were the hunted instead of the hunters.

Jareth's voice whispered from her side. "Stick close to me. No one should bother you if so."

She nodded tightly and slipped her arm into his proffered elbow. She was trusting him in this place. She trusted him in this place. He plainly knew where he was and what he was getting into. He'd also pledged to protect her, and she'd felt the magic take. There was nothing to do but follow.

To Sarah, the little village was reminiscent of what you might find on the French country-side. Narrow, cobbled streets and neat gardens between one-story dwellings. Fields of fruit trees and rows of vines and shrubbery. A self-sustaining village, it seemed, from the sheer number of plots compared to dwellings. She didn't immediately see anyone that looked fae. She did, however, spot what looked like a dwarf and something sickly green and scabbing chatting to themselves outside one of the front dwellings, but after a brief glance in their direction, and a nod of heads, they turned inwards again.

"The tavern is this way," Jareth said, jutting his head down to the right a few houses in.

Sarah allowed Jareth to lead her into the little building marked as 'Svenil's Tavern'. Several long wooden tables had been filled with boisterous diners, but as soon as the swinging door clicked shut, the room stilled.

"Your Majesty! We weren't expecting you today."

Jareth tugged her inwards towards the male behind the bar and the chatter kicked up again as he and Sarah settled onto stools. He had white-blond hair, cropped short, but carried the same pointed ears and arched, silvery brows as Jareth, leading her to believe he too was fae.

"Good to see you, Sven. I'm just passing through. Business with Rie."

Sven's ice blue eyes darted to Sarah. "Court business?"

Jareth frowned. "Unfortunately."

Sven snorted. "It'll cost you, you know."

"I'm well aware. But it's an urgent matter involving humans."

"Of course it is," Sven sighed. But he tilted a slim smile at Sarah. "Can I get you something to eat? Drink?"

Sarah glanced sideways at Jareth, and at his short nod, she exhaled. He knew this place. And really, it would be an awful lot of effort to bring her all the way here just to poison her. "Both. Thank you."

"My pleasure. Anything for one of His Majesty's guests."

When Sven had left for the backroom, Sarah twisted towards Jareth. "Is he part of your kingdom? He knows you."

"Not... exactly."

"How?"

Jareth sighed. "This is a place of refuge, Sarah. Those here know of me." When Sarah just raised a brow, crossing arms, Jareth frowned and turned forward. "I take only that which is offered but sometimes, I offer things too."

"What the hell does-"

But the clatter of bowls cut off Sarah's tirade. "Here you go: wild rabbit stew and mead. On the house, of course."

"Much appreciated, Sven. We won't be long."

Jareth, of course, was right. Sarah ate the hearty stew quickly and downed her drink just as fast. Likely a mistake, given the small amount she'd eaten over the last twenty-four hours, but she was anxious to get Jareth out in the open - alone - where he might be more amiable to speaking clearly. Sometimes he offered things too? Like what? Offers to be their slave? She grimaced as she swallowed the last bite. God, she hoped not. She didn't think she'd be able to tolerate this 'Rielle' if that was the bargain she'd made with Jareth.

They left the small village without incident. Several otherworldly creatures had gathered at the back gate to see them off, bowing slightly, but Sarah was too focused on getting to Tearmann to notice that all of them crossed an infinity over their chests as they did so.

Sarah kept her arm linked in Jareth's for the remainder of the walk. For one, the effects of the mead were starting to kick in and everything was slightly fuzzy. But second, the wind had kicked up as they traveled up into a hillside. Night too had started to fall. And damn it, Jareth was warm and smelled like spiced bourbon and honey. The mead, likely, but even more alluring when mixed with his uniquely masculine scent. Jareth didn't at all mind, keeping her tight against him as they passed up and through jagged rocks flecked with gemstones and glitter.

Wait. Glitter?

"We're close now," he whispered downwards. "One last shock. This one bigger than the last."

He paused at a flat slab of mountainside, also peppered with glitter and crystals. Another mirage, she knew. The last one before Tearmann. A place she now wondered was more connected with the Labyrinth than ever before. And when he pulled her again, gliding through rock like ghosts through a mirror, Sarah knew she'd been right.

Because there, at the entrance of a small half-circle of homes, was a lithe woman with arched brows and long, flaming red hair that reminded her of the fireys. And at her side, tucked under an arm, was a small boy with corn-silk hair and bright blue eyes.

She heard Jareth sigh. "Hello, Rie."

A/N: As always, much love to all readers and reviewers. No Toby/Grog/Dough in this one, but they're in the next. I know I'm throwing a lot of mysteries at you (and some world-building here), but there is a reason for all of it. I promise. :) Guesses on culprits or motives are continually welcomed! And as Jareth said, not everything is as it seems.