Chapter Forty Six

Teaching the Lesson

Grizbine was growing very tired of the game, and wanted to finish it quickly. He would take what he wanted, and give the signal as soon as he had satisfied his sexual urges. Once his cousin was in his custody, he would force him to place his hand in the gauntlet and watch him shrivel and die. Perhaps he would even allow Sarah to watch the end before packing her and the brat she carried off the Baal. Something in the back of his mind kept him thinking of the mortal, and her tempting assets. Perhaps he would keep her for a night or two. "Come, come, little pet. I want to taste the rose you've offered me." He moved father down the pathway. "Where the blazes have you gone, woman?"

A Goblin peeped past the legs belonging to Jareth. "We play with him now?"

"Be my guest, and remember, this one you may play rough with." Jareth snorted.

The little Goblin was joined by a dozen or so others. They scampered off toward the intruder. Jareth knew that Goblins had gotten a reputation of causing mischief. He also knew that his cousin was not aware that his own powers would be diminished in the Labyrinth, as it did not recognize him as an authority figure. Grizbine was not well loved by the Goblins, or by any other inhabitant of the Labyrinth. He was known for his despicable way of treating what he considered lower beings.

Jareth walked over to the hedges. "Old friend, the beast in your belly has threatened our Consort. He would defile her given half a chance. Show him some of your teeth," he said softly to the living Labyrinth. A roar came from deep within the bowls of the creature. The ground shook as the roar traveled from one end of the Kingdom to the other, and Jareth smiled.

Grizbine felt the ground beneath his feet quake and give way. What had been a clear path turned into a snaky slope with rocks and boulders placed to hinder the path down, Grizbine lost his footing and began to plummet forward. When he tried to use his powers, he found them dormant. He cursed while rocks pelted his body. When he came to a halt, he was disoriented and angry. He would make the slut pay for this, he vowed. Grizbine now changed his plan. The last images he wanted his cousin to see before his death was Grizbine making the Consort scream in passionate pleasure.

"Come out, pet," Grizbine called. "Don't make me lose patience." Grizbine heard a noise, but it was most defiantly not human, or female.

There was clicking and snapping, and then the intruder was surrounded by the wild Fireys. Jareth snickered into his glove and hid behind a tree to watch the fun. Grizbine swatted at the mischievous creatures, and moved past them even more disoriented. He was not sure which way he had come, the Fireys had him all turned around.

"Lady Sarah, where are you?" Grizbine called out with exasperation. "I'm not enjoying this, and you will be made to pay." He tried yet again to use his powers again they failed him. "Damnation," he uttered angrily. "What is wrong with my powers?"

Looking around himself he saw what he perceived as one of the castle towers. He moved in that direction.

Jareth walked into the clearing that his cousin had just vacated. "Good work, boys," he praised the Fireys. "Very good work."

"We never got to try to take off his head," lamented one Firey.

"So we just take yours." His head was taken by another and tossed about.

Jareth left the Fireys to playing a game of body toss. He followed the same path his cousin had taken. Several Goblins awaited their Master, and were ready to report the progress the intruder was making.

"He's headed straight for the Bog, Majesty," One Goblin cackled.

"See if you can direct him away from it, if not…"He frowned. "Tatiana is going to have one smelly house guest." Jareth watched a dozen Goblins of various sizes rush down the path. He drew a crystal from the air, "Show me Sarah," he said as he looked in the clear depths. Sarah was now in their chamber, and his Father was sitting guard. He tossed the sphere into the air where it burst into a thousand shards that vanished. He heard a great growl.

Grizbine swatted at the Goblins. "Get back you little beasts! Stay out of my way." He ordered. One of the Goblins sank fangs into the leather of Grizbine's boot. Grizbine furiously tried to shake the offending beastie off. By the time he was able to shake himself free, he had enough. "Stay in this God forsaken wood, bitch! I no longer want your favors. My offer is now rescinded. You had best hide from me, Lady Sarah. My forces are about to take this Kingdom, and when it's in my grasp, you will not find safe haven on one square inch of it!"

Jareth felt the rumble of the ground. "Wrong thing to say, cousin," he muttered.

Grizbine stalked past the bridge opening, never seeing the little Knight guarding the two children and Elf. He crossed the bridge, still moving toward the castle tower in the distance.

Jareth waved to Sir Didymus as he crossed the bridge. He heard Gwynn call out, 'Daaadeee,' but didn't stop. Swiftly, he moved after his cousin, but didn't try to over take him. Grizbine still had lessons to learn.

Grizbine stood on the edge of the forest, and wondered how he had gotten so turned round. How could he be so far from the castle? Before him lay what looked like a vast junkyard. He could see men and women with bundles of junk piled high on their backs. Many piles of junk seemed to be moving slowly though the rubble. He frowned, there was no way around the rubble, he had to go though it. There were dark shadows covering some of the piles, and the air seemed fouled.

Grizbine was angry his powers were not working. He was angry that Sarah had led him a merry chase and he had somehow lost her. He was furious the woman had made him come into the hedge maze. He was plotting how best to even his score with her.

Jareth stayed hidden as his cousin took the first steps into the junkyard of his life. A Goblin pulled on his boot, "Yes?" Jareth looked down.

"General Torbor sends his greetings and his complements, Your Majesty." The little creature bowed deeply. "The invaders are now our captives."

"Good work," Jareth winked, "My cousin still has lessons before we allow the Labyrinth to set him on his path. Go tell the General to have the prisoners brought to the throne room. As soon as this one has finished his journey, I shall meet you all there."

The Goblin bowed. "As you wish, Majesty."

Grizbine shoved one old woman aside. "Out of the way, scum!"

Agnes frowned and shoved back. "Look whose calling who scum."

Grizbine cuffed her and sent her and her bundle backward. "When I am King I shall eliminate this ruble and all of you who dwell here."

Another Junkwoman helped Agnes to her feet. "You think so?" shouted Agnes. "You think you're so smart, do you? Yet, a woman outsmarted you! A woman who led you down the garden path, Bucko!"

"Your former King's slut will pay for her transgressions against me," Grizbine warned. "No female, mortal or Fae, will ever be allowed to make a fool of me!"

"Hells bells, stupid man, you're doing a bang up job of that all on your own," Agnes scowled.

Grizbine began to fling ruble and trash left and right. He howled out his rage like an animal.

Jareth kept his distance, "Just a bit more, old friend, and then you may place your vines round him. You may bind him and render him helpless." Jareth whispered to the Labyrinth. "When he is secured, we shall transport him to the throne room to stand trial with the others."

Grizbine continued to push and shove men and women from his path, growling and snarling all the way.

Jareth didn't follow him though the junkyard, there was no need to. The only thing left to do was to wait for Grizbine to arrive at the gate. There the Labyrinth would wind its vines round him. Jareth drew one more crystal. "Sarah," he whispered. The image was as he expected. He tossed the crystal and frowned; he would have preferred to be with his Consort.