Labyrinth chapter 4

When you finally woke up, you found yourself inside Hank's home. Slowly, you sat up, groaning a bit at your stiff muscles. Your eyes went wide for a moment, suddenly remembering Jareth. "Jareth?" you called, looking around you. He was nowhere in sight. "Where is he…" you whispered quietly, the sudden sounds of footsteps coming from the stairs. It was Hank. What you soon noticed, was that Jareth was perched upon Hank's shoulder, looking at you. You smiled at this, lifting your arm and calling to him, watching as he flew over and landed on your arm. "Hey there" you cooed quietly, stroking his head with your fingertip. You heard Hank let out a chuckle, causing you to look up at him.

"You act as if you're in love with that bird" he said, laughing a bit. You just tilted your head to the side a bit.

"In love with him? What do you mean Hank? He's just my friend and a BIRD no less" you explained.

"The way you act with that thing, you act as though it's a person" he said.

"He is a person" you protested, earning yet another laugh. You sighed quietly, before looking back down at Jareth. "You are…I know you are" you whispered quietly, stroking his head softly. His eyes seemed to light up upon hearing this, happy that you said what you did. You gave him a small smile, but that soon changed when you felt sick to your stomach. You groaned uncomfortably, feeling as though something might come up. "Hank!" you called quickly "bathroom!" he understood, quickly picking you up and racing to the bathroom. No sooner had you got there, you threw up in the toilet, groaning in disgust. He placed a towel down on it so you could rest your head as you set there. Jareth soon made his way into the bathroom, using his magic to close the door as he resting upon her shoulder. He nudged your cheek with his beak, causing you to look at him. Within a moment, he changed into a man, his hand on her cheek.

"I'm glad that you remember me this time" he said, whispering into your ear. You blushed a bit, but it was covered up by your already slightly red cheeks. You gave a faint smile.

"Jareth…" you murmured quietly. He gave a short nod, smiling down at you. You soon found yourself throwing up again, a faint moan escaping your lips. Jerath stared down at you with sympathy. You just closed your eyes, trying not to move around too much. Moments later, you felt Jerath wrapping his arms around your shoulders, pulling you to him. You let your back rest against his chest as the two of you sat there. He seemed to be muttering something quietly to himself, chanting something. After a little while, you felt yourself getting sleepy. What ever he was doing, it was working, and soon you were out like a light.

Jareth smiled down at you, before shifting a bit and placing a subtle kiss upon your cheek. "Sleep well my dear" he whispered into you ear, right before Hank came in.

When Hank came in, he found you leaning against the wall, Jareth in your lap. "Silly bird" he muttered to himself, before carefully picking you up and carrying you downstairs to the couch. It was then that he laid you down, placing a hand upon your forehead. "Still hot" he said, walking into the kitchen a moment later, coming back out with a wet cloth in hand. He placed it onto your head, before going back upstairs to his room. Jareth himself, stayed by your side the whole time, never leaving once.

The next day, you woke up around noon, feeling better than ever. You were actually shocked, since you had been so sick the day before. Although, you were running to the bathroom when you woke up though. You made sure that Jareth didn't follow you, that would have been extremely embarrassing. Once you were finished though, you went back downstairs, smiling when you saw Jareth on the arm of the couch. "Good morning Jareth" you said happily, only to receive a voice in your head.

"Don't you mean good after noon?" he asked, staring at you with large owl eyes. You let out a small laugh.

"I suppose so, yes" you said, nodding.

"Who are you talking to Crystal?" Hank asked, walking into the room from the kitchen. Your face flushed slightly.

"Um…only Jareth" you said quietly. This caused him to laugh.

"You mean that bloody bird?" he asked. You blushed a bit. "Crystal, he's a BIRD for heavens sake" he said, looking at you. You just looked down, eyes down cast. Jareth didn't seem to like this very much, so he flew out the window purposely.

"Jareth! Wait!" you called, running outside after him. You ran as fast as you could, trying to keep up with him as he continued to fly away. He grinned on the inside, he had flown out for a reason because he knew that she'd follow him, and he was right.

You followed him for quite some time, until the two of you came to the park again. Why was it he always went to the park? "Jareth…w-wait" you called out, hands on your knees, panting. Moments later, he changed into a man, staring at her. "Why…why did you run off?" you asked, still panting. He just came up to you, placing a hand upon your shoulder.

"Why, to talk to you of course" he told you simply.

"About what?" you asked. He just looked at you for a moment, before opening his mouth to speak.

"For beginners, Crystal, you must go home" he told you, staring straight at you. You wanted to yell as he said that, not wanting to go home in the slightest.

"What? Are you kidding me?" you asked, your voice raising in frustration at the very thought of it all.

"No, I'm afraid not my dear. Truly, you must return home" he told you.

"No…I…I can't" you whispered quietly. It was true, you couldn't go home, not after everything that had happened. Slowly, he came up to you, placing a hand on your shoulder.

"I'm afraid that you must my dear" he said. You just sighed heavily, pulling away a bit, your head turned to the side.

"Why?" you whispered quietly, wanting an answer as to why you had to go back.

"Trust me my dear, things will be made clear in due time" he said, smiling down at you. You closed your eyes for a moment, trying to think things through. "Trust me…" his voice came, whispering into your ear softly.

"Do I really have any other choice?" you said, with slight sarcasm. He merely laughed at this.

"Just trust me" he said one last time, before turning and disappearing into nothing. You looked around quickly, trying to find him, but came up empty handed. You sighed.

"Fine…"

Quietly, you made your way inside your house, looking around carefully. You found no one to be in the living room, so you decided to make your way upstairs. Once you did, you walked into your room. At least Cassandra hadn't destroyed anything or at least from what you could tell anyways. Demon child, you thought quietly to yourself, before sitting down upon your bed. It wasn't very long though, before you heard footsteps on the stairs. "Oh no…" you whispered quietly. You heard them getting louder as the person continued to get closer to your room. Eventually, they opened the door, revealing none other than Cassandra herself. You glared upon seeing her. "Get out" you hissed, not wanting her anywhere near you. She smirked.

"Why don't you get out" she said, glaring daggers right back at you from the doorway in which she stood.

"This is my room, I don't have to go anywhere" you informed her, turning your gaze to the window. She took a step forward, something in her hand. When you turned to see what it was, you were instantly thrown from the bed as something made contact with your head. You groaned in pain, trying to blink away the fuzziness. When you looked, you found the weapon to be a long metal ruler, more like yard stick actually. You groaned again, rubbing the back of your head.

"Wha…what is wrong with you?" you asked, a bit dizzy as you attempted to stand up. Though before you could fully get your bearings, she hit you again, harder this time. "Ugh…" you felt like crying now, your head was pounding horribly. Before she hit you again, you caught the ruler, protecting yourself from it.

"Go away and leave us alone!" Cassandra yelled, this time smacking you in the face with the thing. This time, you did cry out in pain, the ruler nearly skimming over your eye. Where was Jareth when you needed him? He asked you to trust him and where does it get you? A freaking beating! "I wish you would just disappear!" she shouted, picking up a book from your nightstand, looking at it. She'd obviously been touching your stuff again, given the expression on her face as she held the book open to the first pages. She smirked. "I wish the goblins would come and take you away…right NOW" she spoke happily, throwing the book at your face.

For a moment, it was as if all time stood still. The awareness of someone's arms around you becoming very apparent. You looked up, blond hair making contact with your face, tickling it slightly. For a moment, you actually felt yourself become at ease. When you looked up, you found that it was none other than Jareth himself. "Don't worry my dear…you're safe now" he whispered quietly, smiling down at you. He then lifted you up, arms wrapped around your waist from behind, his eyes set on Cassandra. When she had spoke those words, the power had also gone out, leaving them blind.

"Who…who's there" Cassandra squealed, looking around. Jareth had a menacing look upon his face as he stepped forward, picking you up in his arms, your head pounding. You groaned slightly, before closing your eyes and burying your head within his shoulder.

"You know…you really are quite the little monster aren't you?" he asked Cassandra, a sour look upon his slender face. "And to think, you tried to ring my neck" he said quietly, his eyes burning. In his mind, she was truly an abomination, a demon among demons. He knew that you felt the same. "Time and time again…you treat Crystal the same. Do you really want her gone that badly? Do you truly wish for her to disappear?" Jareth asked, keeping a good grip upon you.

"Yes!" Cassandra shouted.

"It looks like I've gained a new love then…" he whispered quietly, unable for you to hear this, seeing as you were half asleep by now. He smirked, before walking towards Cassandra, phasing through her and freaking her out. Moments later, he disappeared from sight, holding you in his arms. "Well my dear, you're finally free" he said, whispering into your ear softly, your hand curling around a piece of clothing. As you laid there, you could feel the difference around you, you were no longer at home. In fact, you were far from it now.

"Jareth…" you whispered, eyes slightly glazed over. Cassandra had truly hit you in the head too hard, for you had a splitting headache. Jareth heard as you groaned from the pain in your head. He stared down at you with sympathy, knowing the pain that you were in at the moment. If he could have stopped it from happening, then he would have, but he had to get you there one way or another. Now that you were there with him, he no longer had to worry about it. You were now at his side, with nothing really to worry about. Nothing, but a sore head that is.

Gently, he placed his hand upon your head, making you wince. It really did hurt, that was for sure. He ran his thumb and fingers across it, trying to massage your temple, you smiled faintly at this. "M…" you moaned faintly. After a moment, he pressed his lips lightly to your forehead, kissing it.

"Close your eyes my dear" he whispered softly into your ear, making your skin flush a slight red. You listened as you were told, closing your eyes. Soon after, the feeling of movement hit you. You could tell by the lack of breeze that you were somewhere inside now, you didn't mind though.

"Where are we?" you asked, eyes still closed.

"You're new home" he told you, giving you a small smile.

Ok everyone, there's chapter 4. I hope everyone enjoyed it and sorry if it a little bit sort. Please remember to REVIEW? I'd really like to see what you think about this chapter. Thank you. Pleasant reading.