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Down The Rabbit Hole
"Your Highness!" Anya snapped.
"Okay, I'll see you guys later I have to go take care of this"
"Wait" Jareth said grabbing her arm to stop her.
His crystal that melted into a sheet of paper.
"Sign it" he insisted handing her a quill he plucked off her desk.
She did, "Done. Now, get the hell off my property" she squeaked sweetly then ran off.
With a flash the paper disappeared. Sarah could smell the scent of smoke now and hear a distant sound of cracking wood. Perhaps the framework of the building.
"Excellent," Jareth said then turned to her, "Sarah, we can't stay here"
"Obviously"
"You must stay close to me" he stated, taking a hold of her upper arm.
He peered around the corner before they headed down the hall.
"Your sister seems-" Sarah started.
He cut her off, "-Exceedingly bipolar and undoubtedly a sociopath"
"Actually I was going to use the word 'vampire', but I noticed that too"
"I thought it best not to mention that. Vampires have quite a bad stigma in your culture. You would've most likely been even less eager to follow me if you knew this place was a vampire hide away" he explained checking the next hallway before they turned down.
"Hmm, so vampires exist now" her tired state seemed to be making it easier to accept things, "You're not a vampire right?"
He let out a small laugh, "No, no I'm not"
There was a crack that came from a close by room. Jareth stopped immediately and leaned their backs against the wall. He pulled her close and summoned a crystal. There was a sudden cold that hit the air. Sarah could see her breath. Suddenly, there was a loud bang. Jareth threw his arm around her to protect her from the flying fiery debris coming from what used to be the wall next to them. Jareth took hold of her waist and lobbed the crystal into the doorway. A boom sounded from the room and shook the floorboards, as Sarah was drug down the hallway. Smoke began to catch up with them.
"Don't let go" he yelled over the sound of their fleeing foot steps.
The smoke engulfed them. Sarah looked down to see several smoggy hands emerge from the smoke. She gasped as the smokey hands grabbed at her. Jareth's grip tightened as they blindly ran through the eye-stinging fog. Suddenly, they could see a large window at the end of the hall. She shut her eyes tightly and heard the anticipated sharp sound of shattering glass. Her eyes opened slowly for she was expecting to fall to her death, but instead she found herself gently floating a few stories above the pavement. She looked up to see herself in Jareth's arms. He threw another crystal at the broken window, and it vanished leaving a brick wall. She wrapped her arms tightly around him in fear of falling. He smiled down at her as they slowly descended.
"I won't drop you" he assured.
"I'm not all that used to hovering" she said keeping her grip.
As they landed there was a loud boom as some of the brick blew out of the wall and landed around them.
"I thought they'd give up" he frowned grabbing her hand.
They took off down an alleyway dodging around trash cans. Sarah took a moment to look back and saw two dark figures running after them. He pulled her across streets and through developments.
"They're getting closer" Sarah warned between breaths.
Jareth pulled them down a pitch black alley. She didn't have time to resist as they headed straight for a concrete wall. She expected to smack her head off the barrier but instead went through it. Now in front of her was a staircase that resembled old metal fire escapes. She looked back at the wall to make double sure she had in fact gone through it. He pulled her down iron stairs, and she kept busy trying not to trip over her heels. The clank of those pursuing them quickly followed. Jareth grabbed a tight hold of her upper arm and pulled them downwards to avoid a ball of fire that hurled towards them.
Sarah was now shaking from a mixture of fear, adrenaline, and exhaustion. They finally reached the bottom and Jareth shoved open a metal door. Beyond it was a what Sarah could only describe is an underground city, clouded with steam and smoke. Before she had any real time to admire the brick buildings and stands of foreign goods that surrounded them, he was pulling her into a crowd of magical creatures Sarah had dreamed about since she was a child and some that never crossed her imagination. It was all right under her feet this whole time.
Jareth kept checking behind them and then pulled them into an extremely thin alleyway between two of the buildings. The space was so tight that both their backs touched the opposite wall, but they were only a few inches away from each other.
"Exhausted?" he asked through heavy breaths still keeping a watchful eye out.
She responded with fatigued breaths.
"You're shaking" he commented pulling her close to help hold her weight, "Are you alright? Take deep breaths"
Although she wasn't too sure how she felt being held by him she was too tired to resist and laid her head on his warm chest.
"I'm alright, Jareth. Just not used to all this. Writers don't do a lot of running, adventuring, or leaving the house at all really" she joked then her eyes began to flutter shut.
He smelt of frankincense and it eased her tired mind, despite the sounds pouring from the busy streets.
"Excellent, I believe we've lost them" he let out a tired chuckle, "We should be safe now. If someone is trying to use other means to track us, this crowd will draw them away" he then looked down at her, "Sarah, are you sleeping?"
"Hmm" she mumbled lifting her head.
"We best get out of the streets" he decided then peered out of the alley for a moment.
He took her by the waist and allowed them to be swept up with the crowd. The crowd was thick only allowing her to see the back of the person a few inches in front of her. If Jareth hadn't had such a tight hold on her she would've been lost in it. He jerked her to the side to pull them in front of one of the many stands that lined the streets.
"Ah, your Highness and what lovely company you keep" said the big-eyed, old man selling his cloaks, "It's a pleasure, Sire"
"I ask for discretion" Jareth warned raising his eyebrows.
"Of course, of course" the shop owner said.
"Two black cloaks, please" Jareth requested holding plucking a few coins from his pocket.
They exchanged goods and handed one of the cloaks off to Sarah.
"You wouldn't happen to know where I could find a dark haired gypsy woman, would you?" Jareth said in a hushed tone.
He chuckled a bit "I believe I know of who you speak. There is a bar 'round the bend just there" he pointed lazily.
Jareth reached back into his pocket, "I certainly don't remember seeing me here, do you?" he said handing him a few extra coins.
"Not in the slightest your Highness" the man chuckled, "May the gods bless your path"
"Yours as well" Jareth nodded securing the cloak around his neck.
Sarah followed suit and with hoods up they were swallowed back into the crowd. It took only a moment to reach the bar on the corner. The inside was dark and hazy with smoke. Everyone seemed busy laughing or chatting. No one seem to notice them as they entered and headed straight for the bar.
"Your Highness" greeted the wide-eyed barmaid.
"Miss"
"I was expecting you but not so soon" the girl tilted her head back towards the kitchen, "Ma!" she called.
"What's the bother?" said a woman pushing through the curtains, "Oh, should've known it was you. A bit early aren't we? Follow me then"
She wore a silk skirt and a peasant top. Golden jewelry decorated every inch of her olive skin and she used a bandana to pull back her dark wavy hair. Sarah noticed her eyes first. A pale blue. Was she blind?, Sarah wondered.
The woman crossed the room saying hello to regular customers along the way. She pulled back a decorative curtain and allowed the pair to enter. The room was full of pillows, blankets, and burning incenses. It reminded Sarah of a gypsy caravan.
"Jareth, I've been expecting you" the woman said rooting through a chest in the corner of the tiny room.
"Or so you say" Jareth smiled.
"And what an adorable little mortal you have"
"He doesn't exactly have me" Sarah corrected.
"Of course not dear" she condescended.
Sarah furrowed her brow but was far too tired to say anything more.
"I did get your letter saying to look for you when I run out of ideas," Jareth said, "I'm quite surprised to see you opening a tavern"
"Yes well, everyone needs a hobby. Trust me when I say you don't have much time for pleasantries. I heard whispers of war, but I didn't expect it all so soon" she said plucking out a palm-sized, dark blue, pyramid shaped crystal from the chest, "Ah, here it is. Jareth you go first and show her how it's done" she said sitting on an end table.
Jareth went to say something, but she cut him off.
"Tut, tut, I know you're being followed no need for thanks. We'll catch up another time. Pleasant travels your Highness"
"Best wishes to you as well"
Sarah watched him reach for the crystal, but right before his middle finger reached the pyramids point there was a flash of blinding white light and a gust of wind. When Sarah could see again he was gone.
"Sarah Williams" the woman smiled taking both of Sarah's hands, "It is truly a pleasure"
"Thank you," Sarah said perplexed, "Have we met before?"
Sarah knew it was a silly question, but it seemed appropriate.
"I have met you, but you have yet to meet me. It is a very long story, and I believe you and I are the only ones to know it. And even you don't know it yet. I am Kiva"
"I don't follow" Sarah said studying the woman's pale eyes
"It will come back to you in time" the woman said releasing her, "There is a day when we will be very good friends. Don't be afraid to say hi to me the first time we see each other"
An unmistakable crack of lightning thundered from the bar area immediately followed by screaming and cursing.
"That must be for you" the woman said then grabbed Sarah's arm a hovered it above the crystal, "The only thing you must know is the way forward is sometimes the way back"
Kiva pressed Sarah's hand down and once she felt her finger make contact with the crystal, "Wait" Sarah said but she was already shielding herself from the white blinding light.
When it faded Jareth was standing in front of her.
"Welcome back to the Underground. Miss Williams" his smile was as bright as the high hanging sun.
"They got to the tavern the moment we left" Sarah warned.
She looked around to find them standing by the docks. Sailors and passengers hastily moved passed them unphased by Sarah and Jareth's sudden appearance. Sarah could see the tops massive ships from afar despite the crowd.
"I think we'll be fine, but regardless we'd best get going" he said taking her hand and pulling her towards the ships.
"What about Kiva?" she asked.
"Believe me she had known they were coming"
Sarah's mind fell blank when the crowd cleared and the edge of docks were in view.
"Oh my god" she muttered.
Before her, ships sat on a blue sky, afloat amongst the clouds. The ships themselves were unnervingly tall, constructed of beautiful shades of wood, and had many extra sails underneath them. They ironically shared a similar appearance to fish.
Sarah noticed that a man had stopped to speak to Jareth, but she was mesmerized by the view and had no interest in the conversation. As Jareth was rambling on about something Sarah pulled away and slowly approached the dock's edge. She completely forgot she was tired and a smile grew on her face. She leaned on the railing and peered down only the see white fluffy clouds. A strong breeze blew upwards and through her hair making her giggle.
"Sarah" Jareth's voice attempted to pull her back to reality.
"Hm?" she responded staring into the sky.
"We're ready to depart"
"How do people get down?" she questioned following beside him as he lead them towards one of the ships.
"How do they what?"
"Get down from the docks?"
"We're atop a mountain so naturally they walk or ride down" he informed.
"Jareth, this is just unbelievably beautiful" she exclaimed.
"It is a rather lovely day for travel" he agreed.
They approached the ship as the last cargo was being loaded onto it.
"The ship is just amazing, isn't it?" Sarah said as he guided her onto the ramp.
She practically ran up with excitement. The deck was massive and full of people busied with the ship's preparations. There were even a few little goblins running around. She looked up to see the sails snap in the wind.
"This is one of mine. I must be blunt with you. Your amusement to all of this is rather endearing. It's merely a cargo ship"
Sarah punched him in the arm, "Oh shush. To a mortal, this is really incredible... Is it really so easy for everyone to tell?" she asked walking to the side and leaning against the railing.
"That you're a mortal?" he said gently pulling her away from the edge "At the moment, yes. They can smell the city, air pollution, and the electricity on you. Soon that'll fade away, although you are unfamiliar with our ways of life so you can easily be judged based on that" he explained leading her to his quarters.
His room was relatively small. It was blatant that he never used this room.
The wood was dark and dusty making the royal furnishings seem out of place
It consisted of a double bed, a bookshelf, a sofa, and a small coffee table.
"These are my quarters" he explained, "Rest up in here. We should reach my father's kingdom before sundown. I'm going to be on deck if you need me"
"Well actually, could you sit with me awhile?" Sarah asked, "I just don't want to be alone yet"
"I suppose" he agreed strolling over to the bookshelf.
Sarah sat on the sofa then began to remove her boots and her corset.
"While I was lying in bed I heard someone yelling for me to wake up"
"Did you?" he asked sitting down to page through the book.
"It was you wasn't it?" she questioned pulling the comforter off the bed and to the sofa.
"Yes" he answer yet looked perplexed by her actions, "You are aware you could sleep on the bed"
"Why did you do that?" she said resting her head on a pillow and her feet near his lap.
"This situation came to pass rather suddenly, I hadn't anticipated that you'd ignore your voicemail. I thought it best, and I think you'd agree, if you didn't die so I woke you"
"I appreciate it" she yawned.
He turned the page and she stared at him the a moment. Sitting next to her, on a ship that sits on clouds, was her childhood nemesis. It was just all too bizarre.
"What?" he said, but his eyes didn't leave his book.
"You're just not how I remember you" Sarah confessed, "You were much more intimidating a couple years ago"
"I assure you, I haven't lost my touch" he seemed amused, but then his tone suddenly changed, "I'm not so terribly one dimensional you know. I was merely doing what was expected from of me"
She snuggled deeper into her comforter. She wondered what her time in the Labyrinth meant to him, and what it meant to her.
"Hey, sorry about the Toby thing" she said quietly eyes closed.
He looked from his book. Eyes wide in surprise, "It's quite alright", he said keeping his eyes on her in thought for a little while before turning back to his book
