A/N: Two chapters left after this! Also, remember what I said about crossovers?


"Yeah, Mom, everything's fine. I am completely safe in my apartment and on public transportation. No accidents, fires, assaults or meteor strikes since the last time you called." Jessie pulled the phone away from her ear and mouthed, 'kill me' at Sarah. "Yes, Mom, I-"

Sarah walked away, giving her some privacy. She was supposed to be observing Dress Rehearsal anyway. No time to be distracted.

The University Fair was well underway, starting bright and early with the culinary arts majors almost burning down the kitchen and one of the models for the fashion majors splitting a seam on stage. Their presentation was scheduled for seven. After a week of tireless research, planning, and Abby's panic attacks, they were finally ready to put on the best damn Mythology and Folklore exhibition this school had ever seen.

Peter and Lisa were at the booth outside, and they'd already handed out three fliers. They were in one of the smaller auditoriums as the theater majors were putting on a massive production of Hello Dolly! Ronnie had said something about a line stretching to the parking lot across the street but Abby insisted they had drawn the better lot.

"Have you heard the acoustics in here?" Abby had shouted from behind a massive clipboard bursting with paper.

"Every time she walks in a room, the acoustics go up," Eric had muttered to Sarah.

Sarah had tried to laugh, just as she tried to reassure Jessie in her moment of pain. Somehow, the necessary feelings of joy weren't coming to her. All she could do was nod and turn away, hoping everyone was too wrapped up in preparations to care whether or not their secondary leader was conscious.

At least the presentations were going mostly well. Jessie and Ronnie had yet to stop glaring at each other backstage though Eric assured everyone it was only a matter of time before they jumped into a closet and got it all out of their system. Gerald and Irene's Tristan and Isolde were perfect, or at least no one had said anything when Sarah dismissed them without processing a single second of their performance. All in all, things were going great.

The last time she heard from Jareth was yesterday morning. He had been checking in periodically over the last week, never with anything new to report. The most interesting thing that had happened since their outing had been a goblin choking on a chicken feather. There hadn't been a single sign of The Demoness or her underlings. Aside from the protective magic still keeping them inside, the Labyrinth had remained mostly at peace.

What did that mean? They wondered over a few tense evenings taking root in her apartment. It was the longest she'd been dormant thus far. She knew where Sarah was and how to get to her. Jareth had strengthened his wards around her since Gobble's death and dismissed all other volunteers for their safety. Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus remained on duty, though Sarah had yet to hear from them again. Jareth assured her they were well but didn't tell her not to worry. He knew she would no matter what. In exchange, Sarah never pointed out how worried he was.

So far, all of Jareth's searches had turned up nothing. Not even a hint of a shadow that didn't belong. "She's planning something," he had said two nights ago while pacing around her living room. "Waiting for her moment to attack. She was always one for theatrics."

"Is it too much to hope that she's changed her mind about invading and taken up crafting instead?"

He hadn't acknowledged her pathetic attempt at humor, which was probably the nicest thing he could've done. The next morning, Sarah found another note. He'd be gone for the rest of the day while he handled some routine affairs in the Labyrinth. Nothing to worry about.

Okay, what happened to not telling each other that? She'd been checking her watch every few seconds since she woke up this morning, wondering why the hell he hadn't contacted her yet.

What was she supposed to do, wish for it?

"Look, Mom, I'm glad grandma likes her new walker, but I really have to go." Jessie had the phone almost all the way away from her ear, but her mother's voice blared like a foghorn. "Yes, I- yes, that's great. I'm sure the kids will have fun. Thank you. I will keep an eye out. So goodbye. I love you, too. Goodbye. Okay, goodbye. Okay, goodbye. Okay, goodbye!"

Jessie slammed the phone down, no doubt while her mother was in the middle of a sentence. "And then she wonders why I didn't go home for Thanksgiving."

"Everything all right?" Sarah asked, shoving her hands in her pockets so she couldn't see her watch anymore.

"Well, the neighbors are splitting up, Grandma still hates the nursing home, and someone I've never met before is cheating on someone else I've never met before with some guy who works at the nail salon where my mom goes for her manicures." Jessie rubbed her temples. "Oh, and my aunt is bringing my little brothers and my cousin to the fair today. They're really excited to meet some college kids."

"Are they mythology enthusiasts?" Abby appeared so suddenly, Sarah would've thought she was magic.

"Not really. My brothers are really into construction workers these days and I think my cousin likes astronomy or something?"

Abby was already walking away, muttering to herself about kids these days.

Rolling her eyes, Jessie turned back to Sarah, who was flipping through her notebook like she was doing something. "Best thing about graduation will be no longer being under her thumb, know what I mean?"

"Yeah," Sarah mumbled. Thumbs. Like The Demoness's giant shadow hand squeezing her bones into dust. Shudders ran through her. She tried to soften her face, but she wasn't quick enough.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jessie asked.

"Fine," Sarah said, nearly dropping her notebook.

"You've been acting kinda weird lately."

"I'm fine," Sarah said again. She tried to be firm without raising her voice. Jareth had told her to act normal. Don't give anyone a reason to think anything was wrong. The Demoness probably wouldn't attack any of her friends while Sarah was still fresh meat, but there was no need to give her any reason to change her mind.

If Jessie was at all convinced by that, then all their years of friendship might as well be stricken from the record. As it was, she wasn't the type of person to pry when someone didn't want to talk. She would just give you the kind of concerned look that she'd punch you for saying was just like her mom's, and say something like, "Okay, well, if you want to get some drinks later, I'm free."

"I definitely need a drink," Sarah muttered.

Something backstage popped and the lights snapped off. Sarah almost screamed until they turned back on half a second later.

"Best acoustics my ass," Jessie said, shaking her head. "We better hope the roof doesn't fall on us."

"Hey, Sarah!" Lisa was backstage holding the phone receiver. Sarah hadn't even heard it ring. "You have a call."

Sarah rushed over, ignoring Abby's scoff, "Hurry up we're still rehearsing."

She jumped up all three stairs and ran through the curtains. Jareth had never contacted her like this before, but after all his disguises and sitcom-level antics, she wouldn't put it past him to play that kind of game.

God, please let this be his game. "Hello?"

"Sarah, there you are! We tried calling you at home but you weren't there."

As Karen's happy voice wrapped around her, Sarah tried her best not to sound completely deflated. "Yeah, we're rehearsing. Sorry I haven't called home lately. Things have been hectic."

"I'm sure they are. I hope this isn't a bad time."

'Worse than you can imagine.' "No, I'm fine," she turned away from Abby's killer glare. "How's Toby doing?"

"Wonderful. He's all excited about kindergarten graduation. By the way, did you get that picture of him in the little Nutcracker play? Oh, he was just a darling Sugar Plum Fairy, wasn't he?"

"I got the picture," Sarah smiled. It was back home on her refrigerator, giving her a smile when she needed it most. "It'll be perfect for embarrassing him in front of his friends one day."

"If he can't appreciate how cute he was when he's older, there's nothing I can do about it," Karen said. "Anyway, we have your room all set up for you and your father's friend Daniel offered to help you find an apartment next fall once you start school again. You remember Daniel, right?"

"I think so," Sarah said, shifting the phone to her other hand.

"Also, we're going to be flying down a day earlier if that's okay. Our original flight got canceled and that's the best they can do. At least I hope you're not too embarrassed by your family to keep them for a little extra time."

It was like she sensed Sarah freezing up, and interpreted it the only way a normal woman in the normal world could. Never in a million years would it occur to her that Sarah had forgotten they were coming, and even then, she'd never guess why. Sarah swallowed, fighting against her parched throat to get the bile down. "Uh… that's fine. Sure, I mean. I have room."

"Your father figured it would give us more time to help you pack as well. Have you arranged everything with your landlord?"

"Yeah, my move-out date is the twenty-eighth, right after graduation." Sarah clutched the phone so tightly she thought the plastic might crack. "Thank you for coming, by the way. I know it's a bit of a trip."

"Oh, come on, how could we miss your graduation? It's all your father can talk about at work," Karen said. "He's so proud of you, Sarah. We both are."

Sometimes, she wished she could still hate Karen. There was this childish impulse deep within her brain to never let go of the Evil Stepmother she had hated as a teenager and always see her through that lens. That was the thing about temper tantrums. They gave you a modicum of satisfaction in the moments after you've released your primal suffering, but when you finally look at all the unmoved people around you, you realize that the only person you've hurt is yourself.

If Sarah had never learned her lesson, this all would've been so much easier.

"Th-thank you," she said. "I'm so… I mean I'm looking forward to seeing you guys. I miss you."

"Is that Sarah?" A tiny, childlike voice bounced around in the background. Sarah could hear several thumps. Toby ran across the room and then jumped up and down to reach the phone. "I wanna talk to her! I wanna talk to her!"

"I told you to stop jumping," Karen said, though she was laughing too much to be stern. "Sarah, I hope you have another minute for your brother."

"I-" But Toby was already on the phone.

"Hi, Sarah!" His adorable little inflictions made her heart melt and her eyes water. "I miss you!"

"I miss you, too, kiddo. I hope you haven't been in any mischief since I've been gone."

"Nuh-uh, I'm waiting for you!"

"Attaboy," Sarah smiled, wiping her eyes. She took a deep breath as her throat began to constrict. "Uh… I hear you were in a play. That sounds like fun."

"I had wings and I threw paper airplanes."

"Paper airplanes. Awesome."

"I make really good ones."

"I bet you do. Maybe you can teach me."

"Yeah!"

"Okay, Toby, go and play outside now so I can talk to Sarah some more," Karen said.

"Aw…" Toby whined. "Okay. Bye, Sarah, I love you!"

"Love you, too, Tobs…"

Sarah wanted to reach through the phone and grab him. Run away somewhere safe and never let him go until all the shadows had been banished. But could she protect him from them? She should be telling Karen to keep Toby as far away from this place as humanly possible. Far away from her.

"Well, your father is at work, but he might call back later. Will you be at home?"

"I should be," Sarah said, standing ramrod straight like that would make her sound more sure. "Uh… it'll be a long day, so if I'm not back, just leave a message. I'll call as soon as I can."

"All right, then. Have a good time at the event. I know you'll do great."

"Thanks, Karen."

They said their goodbyes after a moment of awkward silence where they both simultaneously wondered if today was the day they could finally say it. Every time, the pause grew shorter, and maybe one day those three words would slip out one of their mouths. Sarah could have said it now if only they didn't feel like a spell to summon The Demoness straight to her family's door.

After hanging up, Sarah wandered off stage to find Professor Prince inspecting Jessie's Eurydice costume while Abby buzzed around his head. "I think the leaves in the skirt are a great touch. It emphasizes the influence of nature on the myth."

Professor Prince rubbed his chin. "You don't find them a bit on the nose?"

Abby's face fell. She stammered for a bit before managing to get out, "well, maybe we don't need so many. I can have the designer remove some."

"Oh, don't do that, I like them."

Professor Prince stepped away from a swollen-faced, still stumbling Abby. It was hard to tell, but he appeared to be smiling. Almost like he'd been intentionally messing with her. He glanced at Sarah. "You've been practicing your speech, I trust?"

"Yes," Sarah said without thinking. "I mean… I mean, yes sir. I've been working hard on it."

"Of course, you have," Professor Prince said. "Your last draft was very well-written and I trust it's in even better form now."

"Thank you, sir."

At most, she'd corrected a few spelling mistakes and rearranged a sentence or two. Yesterday evening had been much like this morning, a lot of staring at blank notebook pages for hours between periodic peeks out the window. She was probably going to fail her psych classes and Professor Twill would never compliment her again. And she probably wouldn't graduate, flush grad school down the toilet, and where the hell did she get off worrying about this crap when there were lives at stake?

"You'll do well."

Sarah jumped. Somehow, she'd forgotten Professor Prince was still there. "What?"

His blase expression didn't change. "I said you'll do well today, Miss Williams. You are very driven and intelligent, so don't waste your time with fear."

Amazing how he could make that sound so much like Henry V rallying his men at Agincourt. It was enough to make her wonder if Ronnie had been on to something.

Unless…

Nah, Jareth would've known if something was up with this guy. Right?

Of course, he would!

She backed up anyway.

"Hey, Sarah!" It was Lisa again. "You have another call."

"Someone is popular," Professor Prince said before gliding off to go scare someone else.

Lisa held the phone out to her with more attitude this time. Sarah wanted to tell her that if she didn't want to be the unofficial secretary then she shouldn't take her smoke break next to the phone. She thanked her instead and took the receiver. "Hey Karen, was there something else?"

It wasn't Karen on the phone. She knew that before she ever heard his labored breath. "Has she been back?"

"No," Sarah whispered, covering her mouth and wrapping herself as far into the curtains as the cord would allow. "I haven't seen anything all day. Are you okay?"

"I am fine," he said. He didn't sound fine at all. "There may have been a breach. Several of them, but I am handling them. Nothing is going to get in here. I promise."

Was he talking to her or the palace walls? Maybe it was both.

"What about the goblins? Are they…" The melted body in the broom closet flashed through her memory, stealing her speech and making her want to throw up. She didn't bother trying to finish the sentence.

"They are fine. Eager for battle. Too eager in some cases. Your friends are also well. I heard from them not a minute before I called you."

"Then what do you think she's doing?"

"I wish I knew," he said. "The woman I grew up with never waited so long to strike. She hadn't the patience for it. Perhaps she learned that during her imprisonment along with everything else."

"Well, she can't wait around forever," Sarah said. Someone walked close by and Sarah ducked, holding her breath until they passed. "There has to be some way to figure out her plan."

"There is and we will," Jareth said, and it would've sounded more reassuring if he wasn't groaning between each sentence. "Trust me, Sarah, I will keep you safe."

"I do trust you," Sarah said.

"Then trust that I know what I'm doing. I have dealt with her before, Sarah. This is child's play to me."

'No it isn't,' she wanted to scream. Next time he might come back with his head slashed open. "I just want you to be safe. Please don't get hurt on my account."

He chuckled. "It's not always about you, you know."

"Of course not," she said.

She could hear rustling on the other end like he was fighting through some branches. Was he in the maze right now? There was something higher-pitched further away.

"Damn," Jareth hissed.

"What is it?" Sarah clutched the phone as the whine seemed to double, then triple in volume. Like multiple people screaming.

"Sarah, I'm sorry, but I must go. There is another breach."

"Wait, Jareth, what if it's a trap?"

"She will not get me even if it is," he said. "You said you trusted me, Sarah. I will return to you soon."

"But Jareth-"

He was gone. There was no dial tone and there may as well never have been.

Sarah dropped the phone, not bothering to put it back on the receiver. Everything around her was moving, even as her mind stood still. Voices everywhere. Jessie, Abby, Ronnie, Professor Prince. Despite the number of tasks still cluttering her To-Do list, the auditorium was closing in on her. She felt around for the door and found an emergency exit next to stage right. The hallway was empty, but also too hot. Outside, a breeze rolled in, playing with her hair and soothing her skin. She took a deep breath of fresh, sunny air. When this was over, if it ever was, she was treating herself to a beach vacation. She didn't care how many jobs she had to get to fund it.

The courtyard was crowded with students, professors, parents, and prospects all filing through the many stands and displays. One of the A Capella groups was singing Disney favorites for a gathering of children. An art major was speed painting a landscape. All the clubs were crammed into the football field, and the cheerleaders were in the middle of a routine leading a slightly engaged crowd in spelling out the school's name.

Near the fountain was a series of benches, most of which were currently occupied. Sarah walked in a wide circle to find the one remaining free space and sunk into it. The business majors were getting their booth set up. She watched them with glassy eyes, spelling out the names of their organizations in her head like a nervous student at a spelling bee. After three seconds of that, her mind wandered underground.

Or not underground. She couldn't dig for the Labyrinth.

But she wanted to, dammit. That was the only way she was ever going to find it. She didn't know where it was, there was no map. She couldn't close her eyes and feel for its energy like a psychic.

What was the point of her having a 'piece of the Labyrinth'? It didn't even mean anything!

"Fucking useless," she mumbled, dropping her face in her hands. She tried to breathe slowly, not that she needed to. She wasn't going to cry, just maybe smash something.

Sitting was going to drive her crazy, so she started walking again. That wasn't much better but at least it gave her feet something to do. Wandering the courtyard, she counted booths for the history majors, the sports medicine majors, the psychology majors. A pair of teenagers were eating hot dogs from one of the many food stands without any apparent care for their education.

"I heard he's being flown in by a helicopter!"

"What, the robotics speaker guy? What makes him so special?"

"Come on, man, don't you know? It's-"

The band students started up a song and drowned them out.

In the far corner, the New Age and Yoga club had a trio of fortune tellers with fake crystal balls telling people all the wonders of their futures (and definitely not reading from a script). They were by far the least busy of all the exhibits. The fortune teller in the blue silk scarf, who Sarah recognized as a girl she took an English pre-req with, was speaking to a guy in a high-pitched, lofty tone.

"Yes, yes, I see… you will have a girlfriend in March!"

"That's ten months from now!"

"The future takes time, my friend! You must be patient and trust my wisdom!"

'Didn't you once think Moby Dick was a porno?' Sarah thought.

That was mean. She should apologize for thinking that.

"Your fortune?"

It was the woman at the middle table. She was older than the other two, more fairy-like in her features. Shocking red hair flowed in waves down her back. Her bright blue eyes were almost certainly color contacts and she had smooth skin that didn't appear to have been made up. Her ears were almost pointed, and her gaze was impenetrable. The longer she stared at Sarah the more Sarah felt like her skin was being peeled off.

"Me?" she asked, looking around to make sure there was no one behind her.

"I can tell you all," the woman said. She hadn't moved an inch since she started talking. Had she even blinked?

"Uh…" Sarah swallowed. "I'm sorry, I don't recognize you. Are you a student here?"

"I was asked to come," the woman said.

"So you're a guest."

"You might say that," she smiled like she knew something Sarah didn't. "Now then, let me see your future."

"You don't have to do that," Sarah said, "I don't have any cash on me or-"

"I do not work for reward," the woman intoned. "I work because it is my purpose."

Oookay.

Sarah eyed the woman, knowing she was risking looking more interested than she was. There was nothing immediately threatening about her. She wasn't floating off the ground or glowing. Most importantly, her shadow wasn't doing anything shadows weren't supposed to do.

"Uh, well, thank you," Sarah said, taking a step back, "but I need to-"

"Go?" the woman said, staring so intently at Sarah that she might not have been seeing her at all. "Yes, you must go quickly, for the future around you is uncertain. There is a fog over you, Sarah Williams, and if you don't dispel it soon, terrible things may happen."

That didn't sound like it came from a script. Sarah's entire body felt a hundred pounds heavier. If she tried to move her feet might just crack off. "Wha… how do you… who are you?"

"Worry not about me," the woman said, running her fingers in a circle around the crystal ball. "It is the man of your heart who needs you, now more than ever before."

"You know where Jareth is?" Sarah wanted to grab her and shake more predictions out of her. "Does that mean… wait a minute…"

What had Jareth said before? She'd never waited this long to attack. That means she must be planning something. Something big. Like when she first appeared in the High kingdom.

The crowd around her was swelling. Adults and children wandered through the exhibits on this perfectly average Friday afternoon. Overbearing parents hunted down professors to demand information about their children's grades. Prospective students scoped out the best party spots from the seniors. Sarah could try to count them all, but more would keep coming and fewer would leave and she'd never reach an accurate number. It all meant the same thing anyway.

"The fair," she said under her breath. "It's the fair. She's going to-"

Sarah spun around, but the fortune teller was gone. Another woman, younger and taller, stumbled out from behind a curtain, tripping over the hem of her dress. She fixed her hair, cursing to herself. When she noticed Sarah, she put on a grin. "Hey, looking for a fortune?"

"But where did…" There was nothing behind the booth. Nowhere to hide. Sarah shook her head and ran for the doors.

As soon she was inside, she was lost. There was nowhere to go. He wouldn't be a librarian today. Her apartment was too far to run. There were payphones around the corner and she tried all of them. Nothing but endless, screaming dial tones.

"Jareth," she muttered, jimmying the hook. "Come on. Talk to me."

The receiver was cracking in her grip. It made an uncomfortable sound when she slammed it back into the cradle. She kept walking, far away from any shadows. This wasn't the way back to the auditorium. Other than that, she had no idea where she was going.

"I wish the Goblin King was here," she whispered, staring at the ceiling. "I wish the Goblin King would talk to me. I wish the Goblin King would come and take me away right now. Come on, Jareth!"

No one appeared who didn't look like they belonged. Jocks, cheerleaders, art kids in smocks, every stereotype was represented and none of them even remotely resembled a king. Sarah rocked back and forth, muttering her wish in an endless mantra.

"I wish the Goblin King was here. I wish Jareth was here. I wish anyone was here."

She didn't want to cry. Crying was useless. It's what princesses in the tower used to do before someone had the bright idea to give them personalities. If she cried now, that was akin to giving up. She might as well let all the goblins and everyone at this fair die for her, it wasn't like she could protect them. She couldn't even protect him.

Passing a window in a shaded area, Sarah caught a glimpse of herself. Yup, there were the tears. She thought she saw a shadow crawling over a tree. There might've been a broken body at her feet, the shards of a crystal embedded in the tips of his cold fingers.

"Stop it. Stop it." She slammed a hand against the window. "Goddammit, look at you. Can't stop the fair, can't get a message to him, you couldn't even beat the Labyrinth without help. How are you supposed to save the day, huh?"

"You know, some people say talking to themselves is a sign of madness."

Sarah almost lost her breath. Her heart froze and thawed in seconds as she whirled around and met a pair of soft eyes and a kind smile. "Oh, Professor Twill. What uh… shouldn't you be at the Psych booth?"

"They can handle things on their own," Professor Twill said. She was in a pink cardigan today and her brown hair was pulled up in a prim bun. Very college professor. The overbearing parents probably loved her. "I was just heading to my office to make some tea. Care to join me? Or do they need you back at the auditorium?"

God, she needed to get back, didn't she? Abby was going to blow a fuse when she realized Sarah was gone. Forget about shadows tearing the place apart. They'd have to stand in line. All of them needed her there. This was her bright idea. How could she abandon them at the eleventh hour?

Maybe that was the only thing Sarah was good at in the end. Failing…

"Tea sounds great."


Professor Twill handed Sarah a cup painted with smiling suns and clouds. It was hot on her hands, cooling her blood. She could hardly feel her fingers and had to lift it slowly in case her muscles failed her.

The tea was delicious if a little sweeter than she'd prefer. Sarah gulped it down and sat back as the steaming liquid melted her insides. She could relax the tiniest bit, though the storm cloud over her head had only grown bigger.

Professor Twill finished her cup with a satisfied sigh. "Hits the spot, doesn't it?"

Sarah nodded, running her finger around the rim.

"Especially after a hard day," Professor Twill continued. "It's been a hard month for you, hasn't it?"

"Huh?" Sarah looked up. "How so?"

"Well, what with preparing for finals and graduation," Professor Twill said. "Compared to all that, you'd think the fair would be the easy part."

"Oh," Sarah mumbled. "Yeah…"

Professor Twill's smile dropped. "Okay, Sarah, tell me what's going on."

Sarah bit her lip. She should've known it would come to this. Professor Twill had only been her teacher for a few months, but she could read her like an incredibly uninteresting book. "Um… would you believe nothing?"

"No."

"Yeah, didn't think so."

Professor Twill walked around her desk. "Let me guess, this has nothing to do with school or the fair and everything to do with that friend of yours."

None of it was accusatory, but Sarah felt a million fingers pointing at her anyway. "I uh… I can't reach him right now. And I need to- want to. Want to make sure he's okay."

"Do you think he might hurt himself?"

Sarah shook her head. "If that was the problem, at least I'd know where to find him."

"Well, he must know you care about him," Professor Twill said.

"That's the thing," Sarah said, "I've been cruel to him before. I've hurt him, and I never bothered to say I was sorry. I used to think he was… not a good person, I guess. I was wrong. I was so, so wrong and I don't know if I can ever tell him. And if I can't, maybe he'll always think I hated him. I don't want him to think that. I don't hate him, I- I…"

Dammit, she was crying again. Professor Twill rubbed her back as she braved a few sobs and then rubbed her eyes clean. It wasn't enough to stop a fresh wave from coming. She swallowed it back until her throat burned, but at least it was clear.

As she took some deep breaths, wishing she'd had more than a passing interest in meditation in Freshman year, Professor Twill kneeled in front of her. She held Sarah's arms like a mother comforting her child. She would make a good mom, now that Sarah thought about it.

"If you really feel that way," Professor Twill said, "and if you've shown him that you care, even if you didn't say the words, then I promise you he knows."

"What if that's not enough?" Sarah asked.

"Then you still did everything you could. That means so much more than you think. Trust me, Sarah, Jareth is lucky to have someone like you in his life."

Sarah ran her hands down her face. Everything ached in some way, but when she stood up, her legs felt strong. "You're right, but I can't just give up. There's…"

She couldn't say there was more at stake because then Professor Twill would ask about that, and Sarah would either have to make up something stupid or tell the truth and watch the entire school go up in flames from a padded cell. That left her in the awkward position of not finishing her sentence, dropping the cup in her chair, and stalking toward the door.

"Thanks for the talk, Professor, it really helped."

This wasn't the end. Even if she wasn't the hero, she could do everything possible to find him. Maybe Hoggle or Sir Didymus would answer her. At the very least she could find that fortune teller again. Hell, maybe she'd pull the fire alarm, get the school evacuated, take the write-up, and…

Sarah stopped.

She stared at the doorknob.

It was shut, but not locked. None of the doors in this building were supposed to lock without a key. She hadn't seen one anywhere, so she could just reach out and turn the knob. Easy, right?

She should just do it. Lift her arm. Turn the knob and leave. Her brain should send that message to her hand, but it didn't. All of it was too busy combing over their whole conversation. Everything from now to the first time Sarah ever mentioned this.

Anywhere. Any time she'd said his name. There had to be. There had to-

"Sarah," Professor Twill said, and her voice hadn't changed one bit, but every hair on Sarah's body stood right up. "Are you sure you don't want some more tea?"

It took Sarah over ten seconds to finish one inhale. Everything from the top of her head to the tips of her toes was trembling. "I- I have to go now."

"Oh, but I'd love it if you stayed."

"I can't," Sarah said weakly. The shadows of the bookshelf and the potted plant on the window were growing longer. Reaching for her. "I have… things to do. Very important things. I have to-"

"No, Sarah," Professor Twill touched her shoulder again. Her hand was pure ice. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that."

She threw Sarah across the room with unfathomable strength. The desk vanished before Sarah could hit it and she smashed into the wall. Trinkets and papers flew everywhere like confetti. Sarah slipped on a broken empty picture frame trying to back away. Professor Twill grinned at her with a hundred sharp teeth as her body stretched and darkened. The cardigan melted into her pitch-black skin, her torso elongating until she could barely fit inside the room without stooping over. Her hands were tree branches, crawling along the walls and around Sarah's body. They turned to ropes that burned her skin. Sarah didn't bother to struggle. She knew exactly where that would lead.

"I finally have you," The Demoness hissed. Her face was barely eyes and a mouth, but they smiled at her so devilishly, Sarah could see every tiny detail with awful clarity.

"Wh-where's Professor Twill?" Sarah asked as the ropes climbed higher to her throat. "What- what have you done with her?"

The Demoness threw her head back and laughed. The branches almost seemed to laugh with her. "You stupid girl, and here I thought you'd figured it out. There was never a Professor Twill. I've been here since the beginning searching for you. Even after my traitorous little hellspawn lead me to you, I couldn't reach you beyond his protection. Lucky me, I finally have my opening."

"You fucking bitch," Sarah groaned. "What have you done with him?"

"Nothing he hasn't had coming for a long, long time," The Demoness coiled her massive body around the desk, bringing her face right up to Sarah's. "You should know, you fought him yourself."

"He is so much more than you can ever be," Sarah snapped back. "He loves his people, all of them. You're a murderer and a rapist and- urk."

The ropes tightened around her stomach. Sarah tasted copper. The Demoness chuckled.

"Oh, humans are a feisty bunch," she said, "but I shouldn't be surprised. After all, it wasn't so long ago that I was one."

"You- you were a hu-"

Sarah couldn't finish. Something snapped in her gut and the pain was so intense that she passed out for a few seconds. When she came to, The Demoness was stretching herself around the ceiling.

"I suppose the question now is what to do with you? Do I put you in an oubliette? Do I leave you to my pets? Perhaps I can make my little show all your doing. My essence should fit just fine in that fleshy little body of yours."

"Don't…" The room was spinning and Sarah could barely speak. The pressure on her ribs was growing and it was only a matter of time before another one broke.

"Or," The Demoness lifted her in the air upside down, "I can put you with my son, and the lovers can die together. How romantic."

"Let him go," Sarah whispered. "Please. You have me. Just let him go."

"Now, you know I can't do that," The Demoness said. "It's all or nothing with the Labyrinth, Precious. You will both die today. It's only a matter of how generous I'm feeling whether you die alone or in his arms. Which one do you think I will choose?"

'This is it,' Sarah thought as her vision began to blur. 'I'm not going to find him. I couldn't do anything for him. For anyone.'

The Demoness's low laughter bubbled over her head. She'd read somewhere once that when you die, hearing was the last sense to go. To think, back then it hadn't sounded so bad.

'I never got to tell him I-'

"Excuse me."

Something jerked and Sarah was on the ground. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes watering. The Demoness had sucked herself back into Professor Twill's shell, perky smile and all like a performer getting into character. Sarah managed to turn her head enough to see the tall, thin figure at the door.

'No… no!'

Professor Prince, prim and proper in his usual fitted suit, stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the doorway. He looked down at Sarah, not blinking at her battered form as Professor Twill spoke in cheerful tones. "Sorry, Sarah wasn't feeling too well. I hope all the preparations are going well for you guys."

"They are proceeding," Professor Prince said, "but I will need Ms. Williams back now. If you don't mind?"

"Actually, I think Sarah might need to go to the nurse," Professor Twill said. "Don't worry, I can take her."

"G- g-" Could she even tell him to get out? Maybe that would just make things worse.

Professor Prince probably wouldn't take the hint anyway. "I would rather she come with me, thank you."

It was almost imperceptible how Professor Twill's smile changed. Sarah saw it. It should have ripped the scream right out of her mouth, but even with the branches gone, she couldn't move. Like they were still there, pretending to be air.

"If you say so," she said.

Then a branch shot out from her hand and impaled Professor Prince in the chest.

"NO!" Sarah found her voice again at the worst possible second.

Professor Prince's blase look morphed into shock as blood spurted from the hole in his chest. The branch lifted him off the ground, leaving his legs to dangle uselessly as The Demoness laughed in Sarah's face.

"Look at what your foolishness does," she says, her mocking hurting almost as much as Sarah's ribs. "Not that he would've lived long anyway. None of them will."

"Professor…" Sarah moaned.

He wasn't moving anymore. His body slumped over, eyes glassy as the last dregs of life ebbed away…

And then he vanished.

Sarah blinked. So did The Demoness. She looked a bit stupid this way, her white eyes cartoonishly round and her mouth a flat red line. "What?"

"I'm sorry." The Demoness's head snapped around. Professor Prince. Alive, whole, with not a drop of blood on him, looked almost bored as he sat cross-legged on the desk. "Perhaps I wasn't clear. Let my student go now."

With a swipe of a branch, Professor Prince's head went flying. It bounced off the ceiling tiles onto the floor as Sarah choked on a gasp. The head hit the ground once, then disappeared with the rest of his body.

"Now that was unpleasant," Professor Prince said from right in front of The Demoness. He wore a catlike grin. "Care to try again?"

The Demoness slashed him into pieces, as another Professor Prince appeared by the bookshelf.

"Oh, so close."

She cut him in half.

"Really now."

A slash to his chest exposed his heart.

"It's like you're not even trying."

"Bastard!" The Demoness shrieked, slashing at a spot he wasn't even occupying anymore. "What are you?"

"Someone you cannot begin to comprehend," it wasn't just Professor Prince speaking, but a dozen of him, all in a line, all moving and laughing in unison as she slashed uselessly through them, "but I suppose I shouldn't expect an ant to stand on the level of a god."

The Demoness drew back her branches, packing them away in her spindly arms. She rose from the ground, growling like an animal. The clones parted, making way for a man who might've been Professor Prince, but that armor and the horns on his helmet made him look so much bigger. Like Sarah wasn't even worthy to look at him.

"You," The Demoness hissed.

Professor Prince smiled. "Me."

"You have no business here, Asgardian!"

"I have much business," he said. "Unlike you, I've taken a liking to teaching. Even if I wasn't already tasked with protecting her, you will not lay a finger on Miss Williams."

"Well then," The Demoness kept to the corners where the clones had yet to touch, "I hope you enjoy playing with my pets because we both know you have no power where I reign!"

A hundred shadow wolves burst from her chest like a movie Sarah had never been able to finish. They lunged at Professor Prince, who batted them away with ease. He fired green light and threw daggers he pulled out of nothing. It only took him a few seconds, but by then, The Demoness had already slipped into the vent.

Sarah watched it all from the floor. She had pulled herself up against the desk, the most she could do with her entire midsection in agony. Professor Prince balled a fist. She thought he might go after The Demoness, but then he sighed and kneeled over her.

"Let me see," he said, pulling her hands away from her ribs.

"Don't touch," Sarah cried before he'd even done anything. "It hurts."

"Yes, that does look serious," Professor Prince said.

He pressed his fingers into her stomach, ignoring her cries. They glowed silver and then Sarah gasped. Not at the pain, but from the lack of it.

She felt amazing. Better than perfect. Like she could get up and run a 5k marathon without losing any breath. She started to get up, but Professor Prince stopped her. He made her rise slowly and kept her in place with a hand that, despite its gentle touch, felt stronger than a freight train.

"Be careful," he said. "You are just now healed and while you may feel wonderful, your body is still recovering. Take it easy."

"We have to stop her," Sarah said.

Professor Prince, or whoever he was, nodded. "We will, but first, I believe a proper introduction is in order." He took her hand and his lips grazed her knuckles. "I am Loki, second son of Odin Allfather, and prince of the Realm Eternal."

"Nice to meet you," Sarah said. It was nice how easy it was to get used to this kind of thing. "Now, let's go find Jareth."