I Can be Cruel

Sarah looked out over the small town of mud-brick houses. Some of the Labyrinth's denizens had gathered there and made a semblance of order in the chaos that was now the Labyrinth. Goblins and Fierys lived side by side with junk people and fairies. Even some of the false alarms and various door knockers and guards had ended up in the village. One of Kenji's goblins had led Sarah and her friends to the place where they were put up for the night.

Now in the predawn light, Sarah stood near the outskirts of the town. She'd slept poorly and her leg still pained her. A tired sort of restlessness had taken hold of her and she slipped from the house where she and her friends were staying.

"Jareth, what's happened to your kingdom?" she asked softly.

The crystal globe in her pocket pulsed warmly. Her hand slid into her pocket and she pulled the orb out. Colors and twinkling lights swirled in the crystalline depths, but Sarah didn't look too deeply. The last thing she needed was to be pulled into a dream world. She slipped the globe back into her pocket.

Sarah started to walk, letting her feet lead her aimlessly. She had no real goal in mind, just some mindless movement to keep her from thinking too much. As she neared the dark forest that surrounded the little town, she had to take more care where she stepped so as to avoid pools of stagnant water and less pleasant things. It was probably a bad idea to wander into the forest without her friends, and not having told anyone where she was going, but Sarah didn't care right then.

Huge trees, bare limbs dangling with moss, cut off any light that might have been showing at the horizon. Nothing but fungus and a few sickly yellow-green plants were growing on the ground.

"Charming place," Sarah muttered to herself.

She walked for a good ten minutes before coming to a sort of clearing. There was a sluggish grey-brown streamlet running the length of the clearing, trickling off into the trees. Sarah took a seat on a large boulder near the stream and stared into the murky water. Her reflection stared back, distorted by the ripples of tiny creatures in the water.

She wondered how her baby daughter was faring in this horrible place.

"Where are you, Ashley?" she whispered.

Sarah pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs. She'd been in the Labyrinth for a couple of days now, and she didn't like it. She wondered how long it would take her to save Ashley and get back home. Would Iribo even allow them to go home?

She was so intent on her musings that she didn't notice the great horned owl that settled into the tree across from her. Nor did she notice the man who entered the clearing until he called her name.

"Sarah."

She turned and her heart leapt into her throat. Standing in front of her was Richard, her dead husband. And in his arms was their daughter.

"Richard?" Sarah asked as she slid from the rock, moving toward him.

The man smiled timidly. "Do I know you?" he asked.

"I'm Sarah, your wife."

The man shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't remember."

"But you just said my name."

He shrugged uncomfortably. "It seemed the proper name to call you by."

Sarah swallowed against the lump in her throat. She turned her gaze to Ashley. "How is she?"

Richard looked at the little girl, who was sleeping in his arms.

"She's well enough. I think she misses you though."

Sarah took a step toward Richard. "May I hold her?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea. We're on opposite sides after all."

Sarah took another step forward.

"Can I touch her at least? Give her a kiss?"

Richard moved back and two little demons with cat-like bodies, scorpion tails, and twiggy legs moved between them.

"I think I'd better leave now. Don't follow me. I don't want these things attack you."

Richard turned and walked into the forest.

"Wait!" Sarah called as she ran after him.

The two demons hissed and leapt.

Sarah gasped and threw her hands up to protect herself.

The horned owl swooped down from its perch and grabbed one of the demons, knocking the other away from Sarah. The owl tore the demon in its talons in half, dropping the pieces into the streamlet, then banked and came back for the other one. The cat demon gave a frightened screech and ran off into the woods. With a low hooting cry the owl followed.

Sarah backed up until she felt the rock against her calves, then slid down to sit on the ground. A strangled sob escaped her, then another. She hugged her knees to her chest. She had been so close to her daughter, and yet hadn't been able to do anything. And Richard? What had happened to him? Had the Iribo taken him and faked his death a year earlier? It was almost too much to take.

Soft footsteps announced the approach of someone, but Sarah didn't look up. Gentle hands clasped her shoulders and gave her a shake.

"Sarah."

She lifted her head and found herself looking into the mismatched eyes of Iribo. The Demon King smiled at her.
"I can give them back to you Sarah," he murmured. "You can have your husband and daughter back in your life forever. All I ask is that you help me."

"Why did you take them from me in the first place?" Sarah cried. "Why are you trying to destroy my life?"

Iribo brushed his fingers across her cheek. "I'm a creature of habit," he confessed. "I only know a certain way to do things. When I want something, I do everything in my power to get it. Even if it means hurting others in the process."

Sarah couldn't help but notice similarities between Iribo and Jareth. They were both pigheaded and arrogant. And yet they both seemed to have a softer side that came out once in a while. Sarah brushed Iribo's hands away and met his gaze.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked.

A calculating twinkle came into the Demon King's eyes. "You'll help me then?"

Sarah shook her head. "I want to know what your plan is before I come to a decision."

Iribo sat back on his haunches. "Fair enough. I want to remake the Labyrinth. Ever since you defeated Jareth it's been falling apart. You thought it was dangerous before? It's even worse now. My only problem is that Jareth is trying to hold on to the Labyrinth. I can't seem to get rid of him. That's where you come in. You defeated him once, so I'm asking you to do it again. Banish him from this realm forever."

"What about the creatures living here now? Somehow I don't think you're going to let them continue to stay in this new Labyrinth of yours."

Iribo looked hurt. "Of course they can stay. It's their home too. They'll have to be turned into demons, but it's not too painful a process."

Sarah gaped at him. "You want to turn everyone into demons?"

"I am the Demon King after all."

Sarah stood and started pacing. She couldn't believe it. She'd never had a real fondness for some of the Labyrinth's denizens, but to turn them all into demons . . . She knew it was wrong. "Have you ever heard the phrase, 'the good of the many outweighs the good of the one'?"

Iribo rose to his feet and flicked his cape behind him. His eyes were cold like ice. "I can't say I've heard that one."

"Well, I can't help you. I can't let you take everyone from this place and twist them to your sick will. I will find a way to stop you."

"Very well then," Iribo said. "We are enemies. I hold your husband and child captive. If you do not reach the castle at the center of this Labyrinth in the next two days, I will be forced to turn them into demons and have them kill you. Perhaps that will drive whatever remains of Jareth from this place."

Iribo snapped his fingers and the clearing was suddenly filled with demons.

"I will let you play with my servants for a bit."

He vanished and the demons began to close in around Sarah.

"Someone, help," she croaked.

The demons launched themselves at Sarah with a shrieking cry. Light flared from the orb in Sarah's pocket and when it faded, both the demons and Sarah were gone.

Sarah found herself in the throne room of the Goblin King. It seemed as if time had been frozen in the middle of a party. Goblins were drinking from kegs of ale while others were chasing chickens around the room, feathers frozen in the act of falling. Seated on his throne was Jareth, the Goblin King. He was more casual that Sarah had ever seen him, clad only in tight grey pants, a white poet shirt, and knee high black boots. One leg was thrown over the arm of his throne, the other foot resting on the floor. In his gloved hands he loosely held a riding crop. He had a look of intense concentration on his face. Sarah moved through the goblins, making her way toward the throne.

Suddenly Jareth turned his head and was staring right at her and Sarah gasped.

"I can't keep saving you like this," the Goblin King said.

He rose and purposefully walked down the steps toward Sarah until he was inches from her face.

"My power is very limited and each time I use it to help you I have that much less to fight Iribo with."

"I- I'm sorry," Sarah stammered.

Jareth sighed and moved back a step.

"Don't be sorry. Just get to the castle quickly and defeat Iribo."

"I don't know how," Sarah said, on the verge of tears. "He has Richard and Ashley. I don't think a few words will defeat him."

Jareth shot an unreadable look at her.

"You have it within you," he said. "Somewhere in that pretty head of yours is the answer to getting rid of that pest."

He moved around her like a lion stalking its prey. Sarah followed him with her eyes, not daring to move.

"I have helped you as much as I can. Now it's up to you." His voice took on a gentler tone. "Don't let me down, Sarah. This is the last gift I can give you."