Oh yes, 3 chapters in under 24 hours. Who knew a decent laptop would spur my creative edge?
The Mature themes are coming... Just not in this chapter (Maniacal laugh).
Thank you, be sure to review if you enjoy. I have yet to admit to the Labyrinth group I admin that I am writing again, I am intrigued to see how many chapters I write before they catch on.
Thank you all, NovaNights xx
USUAL DISCLAIMER; JIM HENSON AND CO CREATED THE LABYRINTH, NOT I AND I DO NOT PROFIT FROM IT OR ITS CHARACTERS, THIS FANFIC IS JUST A TOKEN OF MY ADORATION TO THE FILM THAT STARTED MY BOWIE OBSESSION AT 6 YEARS OLD.
Chapter 3; Lady in Red.
Sarah awoke startled, she had gone to sleep in the hopes of sleeping the entire evening away, so she didn't make a decision she would regret. Instead that dream had given her an epiphany; if she wanted to save her career, she needed an influence, she needed the Labyrinth.
Throwing back the duvet, she clumsily got out of bed and hurried into the living room to inspect the package which she originally planned to ignore. Gingerly, she opened the large brown box to peak at its contents, only to be annoyed by what she saw inside. Wrapped in tissue paper she unravelled her ball gown which almost completely resembled the gown she wore the first and last time she danced with Jareth. This dress however was slightly more slender, it was still virgin white with sparkling gold around the skirt, but gone were the enormous puffy sleeves and the skirt was nowhere near as large as it was before, attached to the dress was a long gold cape. "He cannot seriously expect me to wear this?" she almost laughed at the notion. It was beautiful yes, but she was not fifteen anymore.
Sarah threw the gown down on the settee and continued to explore the box, inside she found a pair of strappy open toed gold heels, leaves decorated the straps making it look like vines were holding the shoe in place, alongside these she found some hair pins, and two earrings that had the same twisted vines as the shoes. Lastly, she pulled out a pendant, one which she recognised all too well. It was Jareth's seal. "You have no hope in hell Goblin King" she muttered. It was one thing to taunt her with the dress, but to basically mark her as his with this? He was insane.
Chewing her cheek she looked at all the contents deciding what to do, she couldn't wear the dress he had given her, that was for certain. Sarah then remembered she attended a charity ball a few years back with some author friends of hers. She was gifted a few gowns to choose for the occasion and was never asked for them back.
"I swear I had a red gown that would look lovely with the gold jewellery somewhere" she spoke loudly to herself as she went to look. Pulling open the doors to her wardrobe her emerald eyes raked over the clothes until she found the bag in which it was neatly stored, pulling it out and unzipping the bag Sarah smiled approvingly. "Well, you are definitely better than that poofy meringue his highness insists on". Closing the cupboard, she took note of the clock which told her it was quarter to five. "Let's get moving" she said excitedly before racing into the bathroom to start getting herself primped.
- IN THE HEART OF THE LABYRINTH –
"Your Majesty I-"
"I care not for your excuses Abela, tonight I will be crowned High King, tonight I will own the Southern Realm and tonight I shall claim the only wench who almost cost me all of that. Do you understand?!" The Goblin King roared at the young girl cowering at her alter, nodding her understanding.
"Yes, My King." She spoke softly before standing back to her feet.
"Abela, you are very precious to me, without you there would not be a Labyrinth nor would there be Sarah but mark my words, if you allow her to escape or seek refuge here at any point, I shall ensure you suffer" He warned. The girl nodded her agreement once more.
Before the King could speak further Kenneth appeared before him, a crystal in his gloved hand. "My King, it appears you were indeed correct, Sarah is readying herself as we speak". Abela couldn't help but gasp. She was the Labyrinths soul, she saw all that had been and what might come, she had tried to protect Sarah and was heartbroken to hear she would definitely return.
Jareth smirked as he took the crystal, it was a still image of Sarah holding up the dress he had gifted her, her eyes told of her remembrance for when she last saw it. "Very good Kenneth. How long until the guests start arriving?" His mismatched eyes narrowed onto that of his advisor who curtly replied "They will begin arriving in the next two hours, your highness. Your Mother and Father are to arrive soon to start the authentications." Jareth nodded moving towards the door exiting Abela's alter. Before leaving he turned to face the trembling girl one last time "I have warned you, if you obey me, your freedom to roam again shall be rewarded to you" Abela managed a small smile "Thank you, you are most generous, My King" Jareth flashed her a sickening grin before abandoning Abela once more.
- BACK TO SARAH -
Giving herself a once over in the mirror Sarah couldn't contain herself, she was genuinely excited. Despite knowing his royal pain in the ass would be there, she was looking forward to learning more about different creatures to document them for her next book, she had already thought up a title "Enthralled by Magic". Delicately she painted her lips in a deep red to match her dress she grinned "Well Sarah, for twenty eight, I suppose you scrub up rather nicely".
The rouge dress Sarah wore exposed her slender neck, pronounced collarbones and shoulders, two straps securing at her upper arms, it was figure hugging and fell to her ankles ensuring the golden shoes were visible. Up one side of the dress was a slit that stopped mid-thigh so whenever she walked you would see a hint of her creamy flesh. She adorned the hair pins in a half down curled up do, the earrings hung low only accentuating her neck further. She added a small gold purse which had original held some long since discarded makeup, grabbing a small voice recorder for note taking, her lipstick and the invitation she took herself to the mirror In her hallway.
"Ok ok ok… you've done this before… right words right words"
She nervously reassured herself, raking her brain of what she should say. "Well I know I have to say I wish at least" she giggled slightly, her confident faltering. She took out the invite to reread its instructions ignoring the stupid warning about the necklace, her only danger was Jareth and she knew how to tell him to fuck off already. She had practiced the verse that had defeated him the last time over and over just in case. "Ok let's see… Ah... 'If you wish to accept please say your right words once fully dressed for the occasion' simple enough I suppose.
Hurriedly Sarah folded the invite back into her purse before looking directly into the mirror once more, it was almost nine o'clock and she hoped she wasn't late although the invite never stated a direct time.
"I wish to accept King Jareth's Invitation…" The last thing Sarah heard was the chiming of bells before she was transported from her humble apartment and back once more to the Castle, beyond the Goblin City.