Sorry for the longer wait, but this was the first chapter I don't have pre-written. And it still wouldn't have taken so long if I hadn't have gotten distracted by Girls Next Door and Roommates. If you know what I'm talking about, smile and nod. If you don't... go read them. Deviantart, super crossovers, and AMAZINGNESS. Labyrinth, Phantom of the Opera, Pirates of the Caribbean, Les Miserables are the main four, but characters in these comics come from all walk of weird and amazing.
But, so yes, finally the next chapter. I've got plans written out, completion ideas, and not everything has been told as of yet.
I corrected a few things and added a bit to chapter 7. After going back, I realized that it wasn't all that spectacular what happened. If you don't want to go back and read the beginning part, then read the next paragraph. If not, then the next paragraph has spoilers and you should just skip to the story...
Remember when Roger called home about the lights going out at the restaurant, and that they'd be home for dinner but never showed up? That would be the Shadow Reapers' doing, hence 'shadow'. If it's dark, they can do anything they want. If it isn't dark, they make it dark. And they got Toby after he went to bed and the lights went out. They got her family the way the goblins get a wishaway, with their king not actually present. He comes later, only appearing before the one he has 'business' with.
I don't own Labyrinth, and I hope you enjoy it!
We walked in silence down halls and through doors, until he held a door open for me and followed me in. This was the strangest of rooms, resembling the picture I had on my wall by M. C. Escher.
"What is it, Jareth?" I asked, sitting at the base of a staircase. "What's happened?"
He sat beside me and brushed a hand over the air as he came down, bringing a small table before us with a deck of cards. I quickly took them to shuffle- he cheats.
"Many things have happened, but I'm sure you're referring to one thing in particular." He mused, watching my hands. I'd perfected my shuffling technique and didn't even think about it anymore.
"Oh, you know what I mean. You're the one that wanted to walk this way."
"Of course." He paused. "Bartley is still out there, and he will not cease his pursuit." He still escaped? Why does he want me so badly? I mean, I get that I've got a pretty good connection with magic, but is it really worth it?
"Who is he anyways?" I asked, setting the deck down so he could cut it.
"I've already stated, he's an Unseelie." Jareth answered, dealing out cards. "But he is a rather nasty nomad of the Underground that has, in recent years, become fond on preying on my kingdom. You present not only an opening to a wealthy supply of magic, but also leverage against the Labyrinth. That is why he shows such an interest in you particularly."
I didn't believe him for a second. Oh, he's telling the truth. He's the one that taught me never to lie after all, but he also once said that withholding the whole truth was different from lying. I eyed him for a minute, before deciding that he'll tell me eventually.
"So what did you want?" The game started when he laid down a card. I looked to my hand, and back to him. In six years, it felt disturbingly natural to sit back and play games with him again.
"He will attempt to capture you again, I'm certain." He paused, waiting for my turn to be over. "And while your reinstated wish gives me some leeway in your natural realm, as it had before, I would rather not take risks. It is my wish that you remain here, in my Labyrinth." He eyed me for a moment as I decided how to react. "Until I've finally rid of this pest."
He didn't seem truly concerned with him, but then, he never seemed concerned with those creatures either. I remember, he only had to wave a hand when they got too irritating or too close, and they were tossed back to the opposite end of the room. Which meant he wasn't worried at all that they'd get to me if I went back home. Once again, he was hiding something.
"What about my family?" I asked, not denying his request. Honestly, I was a bit excited. Who wouldn't dream of staying in a magical castle in the middle of a magical land? With my best friend to boot? The only thing that kept me from making him give me a tour of the grounds and showing me where my room- and the library -was the fact that I haven't even slept in a different room since that sleepover when I was eight.
"They'll return to the house, they are in no danger." He brushed off easily. "So long as they don't make another foolish wish..."
"So he really did get his 'in' from Toby's wish?" I sat up quickly. "Can he take wishes like you?"
"Magic is magic, Precious." He answered. "Wishes aren't often the most efficient method for those who aren't often associated with humans. But in this situation, it's worked quite efficiently for him. When you return to the others, you should warn them against making wishes."
"Does that include me?" I was for some reason rather upset by this. But a smirk in the corner of my eye distracted me, making me stop.
He chuckled. "Oh, no. There are entirely different dangerous creatures watching your wishes." I know that tone! I started to vibrate with excitement, that meant magic. What are you planning Jareth?
I drew another card, having no idea if it was my turn. "Then I sure wish this all ends well."
He chuckled again, and there was very suddenly no longer any ground. I screamed and grabbed at the arm closest to me.
There was a sideways staircase about twelve feet below us and an archway ten feet below.
"What?" He scoffed. "Have you forgotten with whom you're dealing with?" He began to pull away, making me float there in mid air by myself. But I was starting to realize what he'd done. Just a little too late, though, because he was already walking down the wall. My vibrating started to return and I lunged for the very same wall, putting my feet down cautiously before running after him.
How many witching hours were spent sitting on my ceiling, looking up at the dark creatures that growled at me even while Jareth showed off his gravity shifting?
"Where are you going?" I called out as he turned the corner. "Hey!"
"This way." I heard a voice above me, and I looked that way. But he was gone again. I jumped forward to shift gravity, chasing after him once more.
It's amazing to be so free. To play without restraint. I'm so used to having to be quiet, to be careful and stay near Jareth. If I was too loud, someone might wake, or if I stray too far the creatures might get me. Not here, and I was quickly getting used to it.
When I finally collapsed, sprawled out at the edge of one catwalk to look up at the elaborate scheme of a room above, it was he who was attempting to catch me. I knew he succeeded in catching up to me when he crouched beside me.
"Sarah, how are you enjoying my Labyrinth?"
Rolling my head towards him, I grinned widely. "It's amazing."
"Then how would you like staying here?" He asked the question I'd already avoided.
I snorted. "Is that your game, Jareth? Butter me up with magic and games, then as a question like that while I'm high on excitement? It's just your style... I love it." I laughed.
He grinned back- his face looks weird upside down -but didn't say anything. He was waiting for an answer, but I was hesitant. The idea of spending a night anywhere that wasn't my room was terrifying, no matter how childish. But I already know I trust him, and care for him at least as much as my family. So that wasn't the problem. It's just... all the change.
"Sarah?" He sounded concerned.
"Yeah." I sighed, deciding to worry about consequences more than the decision itself. "I'll stay."
He opened his mouth to say something else when, all of the suddenly, a chill swept through the room; visibly and physically. The entire Escher room got colder, and I shivered involuntarily. I heard whispers and sat up when Jareth looked away.
"What is that?"
Silence, before he sighed and stood.
"Your family is in the throne room. I've got business to attend to, and I'll return as soon as possible."
Then he was gone, and I blinked. So... what just happened?
And how am I supposed to find my way out of here? He just expects me to know my way around? I don't even know which direction is- that door wasn't there before.
It was rather easy to find the throne room, I just had to follow the dull roar of goblins and chickens. No one noticed when I first walked in, for Toby and Irene were distracted by a chicken-goblin pile in the corner (Toby found it interesting and wanted to play and Irene found it terrifying and was trying to get Toby away), while Dad was trying to get the doors open. He didn't even notice three other goblins holding it closed from above.
So I crept along the wall towards the throne- the weird chair I remembered he sent me to after the sleepover. Sitting down again, I crossed my legs and looked around. As lively and excited as it was in here, it was just as chilling. Something had the goblins excited.
Irene finally got Toby away from the crude ball the goblins had been playing with. It came rolling farther this direction, after Irene kicked it away with repugnance.
One... two... three... a dozen goblins fell over it, rolling and wrestling over the ball.
"Sarah, get away from those things." Irene insisted.
"What for?" I leaned over to watch them. "What are you even playing?"
One of them, that had been kicked out of the mob and was on his way back into lunging for the ball, looked up at me.
"Kingy chair." He pointed at me. "Kingy chair, out of Kingy chair."
"Yeah, I thought it was probably his throne." If he's a king, and this is the throne room...
"Out of kingy chair, you're not kingy." He came at me. I scooted back so he just fell on the arm of the chair. I laughed.
"I'm sure it's alright." I insisted, smiling at him. "It's not the first time I've been here. What are you playing?"
He stared at me, obviously not sure what to do. He looked back at the others, a few shrugged, and he looked back to me.
"Ball?"
"Can I play too?"
"Sarah!" Irene looked appalled at the idea of any of us running around with them.
"... okay?" He blinked at me.
The ball rolled towards me and, since I still had no idea what they were playing, I stood up and kicked it half across the room. They cheered and ran after it. After about five minutes, I deduced that it was just 'catch the ball' with a mix between soccer, football, and baseball.
Toby ran in to join me, escaping Irene, and I kicked the ball to him. He was in soccer last summer and eagerly kicked it the air with his heels.
"Toby, get back here." Irene demanded, face getting steadily redder. She was now standing with Dad by the still closed doors. He'd given up and sat against them.
"He's fine." I insisted. "Just relax. We're done running." She hadn't relaxed at all since we got here.
"And we're not home yet either. If your friend there is so great, where'd he go? Why'd he leave us here, and not send us home? We already know he can." She obviously had a fair amount of pent up anger. She's about ready to blow a fuse.
"Jareth will get you all home just fine." I crossed my arms. "As soon as he gets back, he'll take care of it just fine."
"Oh? Then where did he go?" She challenged.
"On an errand or something-"
"You don't even know? Sarah, it seems rather great that the notorious king of this land doesn't really want to kill us, but I'm not so sure he's intent on helping either."
"Oh, come on." I scoffed. "You don't know anything about him."
"And how much do you know about him?" She put her hands on her hips. "I'm tired of this here. We're caught up in one of your fairy stories, and you can't even get us home? You say that we're done running, but we aren't home yet."
Irritation caught me again. We're as good as home, so why can't you just relax? "I am."
"What?" Dad caught on quickly. He'd stayed out of it thus far, but this he'd caught.
"I mean, I'm staying here. And when Jareth gets back-" from wherever he'd gone "-he'll send you three back home. But, I'm going to stay here."
"Absolutely not! I'm not leaving you with some random man, not even human, in a place like this! Neither your father nor I know anything about him, except that he's got a temper and strong magic, and you don't know much about him either."
"I do know him." I countered. "He's a fae, he's the Goblin King, and his favorite color is blue."
"And what, may I ask, is a fae?" She demanded, as if I'd just proved her point.
"Someone we can trust."
"I'm not so sure. You aren't the only one who's read fairy stories. I used to read some to Toby when he was little. Most creatures with magic like that, who look human, they don't end up good guys."
"Not all fairy stories are real." I denied.
"Which ones are?"
"I don't know. How am I supposed to know, I've only been here as long as you have. And I've only known Jareth in our world." I shrugged.
"Then you don't know him."
"I do." I was getting red faced myself now. "Irene, can't you just trust me?"
"I'll trust you, and believe this evil king is going to send us safely home if you can tell me where he went." She glared at me.
I frowned, sitting back in the chair. (Kingy's throne! Geetofff!)
Well, he's the Goblin King here, and he loves games. That creepy feeling that seems to have come over the entire castle, his serious expression earlier, and all these excited goblins? I still wasn't quite sure.
"No?" She scoffed, and grabbed Toby's arm. "Then we'll wait by the door, over there, where it's clearest." She dragged him off towards Dad. He'd been watching silently, the whole time.
Fuming, I glared away from them at the goblins still chasing the ball. They didn't seem at all bothered that Toby and I had stopped playing. They were interesting little creatures, so easily distracted (from trying to make me get down) and were nothing like the cockroach creatures. They were small, and creepy, but I rather liked them.
"Hey." I stopped one again. He looked up at me. "How long is Jareth going to be gone?"
"Kingy gone, dunno. Gone for long, he took the dreams." The goblin spoke gibberish.
"What?" I shook my head. I'd already decided against asking where he'd gone. "Nevermind. Is there at least a library in this place?"
I knew Jareth had books, he'd brought some several times. He read some stories to me, and he read them on his own while forcing me to go to sleep via the silent treatment.
"Yeasss." The goblin shrugged. "Not allowed in..."
"Well, where is it?"
"Not telling you. Girlie in Kingy's throne!" He wrinkled his nose.
"Oh, I'm getting up." I rolled my eyes, decidedly ignoring the other three in the room. This isn't my world, but it's even less theirs. I'm not going to let them ruin my mood. "I'm not on the throne anymore, so will you tell me where the library is?"
"Nope. Don't knows, don't cares." He cackled and ran off. Instead of souring my mood anymore, I laughed.
"I accept your challenge."
"Girlie in throne." I heard them talking.
"Girlie... Peach Girlie?"
"Methinks."
One final look back in, curious to the goblins who were still whispering about the 'Girlie in the Throne', and mixed emotion towards my family huddled by the door. Dad looked sad more than anything else and Irene made it an issue to avoid my gaze.
Toby just looked bored. He wasn't afraid at all, Irene taught him from an early age that magic and monsters weren't things to be scared of. They don't exist, and they aren't scary. I'm not so sure he's convinced they are real yet.
"Well, come on feet." I sighed, turning back down the hall to explore this castle some more. The library is off limits to goblins? It's probably in a cleaner part of the castle then, and I'm not opposed to trial and error.
Everything about this place excited me.
Sarah likes the castle, and it's King is suddenly gone. Any guesses where? Well Irene isn't very happy, Toby seems alright with the whole situation, and her Dad is strangely quiet. What's that about? Also, did I happen to drop any other hints in this story? Did anyone catch them? Maybe.
But, anything else will have to wait for chapter 11 R&R, love the reviews. Every single one.