Author's Note: Ok, so as I'm attempting to improve my writing skills, you might have noticed that I have experimented with different styles of writing throughout this story. This chapter is partly a journal form of Sarah Williams and Mara. I thought it might be an interesting manner to tell the following exploits, from the master minds themselves point-of-view. I understand that some of the stuff I'm playing around with (ideas, names, and whatnot) has been done with authors who actually get paid for their writing (unlike me), and to I am eternally indebted to. So tell me what you think of it, whether you liked it, hated it, whatever. I'd really appreciate it.
And I tried to make this chapter longer then the last few.
Disclaimer: Don't sue me. I don't own nuffin.
The Incentive
by Fou Fou
Chapter 14: In Which All Hell Breaks Lose
From the Journals of Agent Sarah William's
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Project Revenge . . . (aka Project Matchmaker)
Entry One:
Sarah Williams here. I have decided, childish though it may be, that Mara must pay in one form or another for all the stress she caused me over the whole wishing me to the Labyrinth thing. And even though nothing has really happened romantically per se since the whole mistletoe kiss thing, Jareth and I have started getting along much better. In fact, we went for a lovely picnic just the other day . . .
But I digress.
Mara still must pay. And so, I shall attempt to get her together with one Garith, a Vampire though he may be (and perhaps on the wrong side), for I feel the two would make a great couple – I mean, they look cute together, and they fight enough that they might as well be married. Plus I think one of Mara's problems might be the fact that she doesn't feel that she would be any good at relationships, according to the vague stories she's told me about her last interest. Something about him marrying her sister.
This idea came to me last week when Tom, Andrew, Mara and I ran into Garith at the Food Court minus the Barbarian Horde (the only bad thing I really can see about him . . . he actually can be a nice guy once you give him a chance . . . which Mara doesn't).
It's kinda funny really. She told me I should do the same for Jareth. Looks like someone needs to listen to their own words of wisdom.
But, back to my story, when I saw the two together, I couldn't help but feel the two would be perfect for each other.
And thus, this journal. So when this whole matchmaking scheme (which I hope shall become successful) is over with, I can look back in this journal fondly and laugh at the entertaining times I had.
I'll just have to make sure Mara never finds this. She'd probably kill me.
Entry Two:
Current homework has been taking up my time, so as of yet, I have not had a chance to put any of my plans into action, however, I have been observing the two Undergroundians together. Garith has taken up his old habit of following her around. When I asked him why he keeps on annoying her, since the barrier is up, he merely replied that he finds that he enjoys being with her. (Mara told me that while he knew that she tried to get me into the Underground, he knows that she brought me back and doesn't realize part of me is in the Underground . . . she said it would be better for both of us if we keep it that way.) The only downside is that Mara is even more venomous towards Garith, and is often doing her best to stop herself from attempting murder, when she isn't in bed from a headache and taking Aspirin.
I am kinda worried about her in that respect. I would think that elves would not need to take Aspirin for weeks on end, and yet she is dosing up on it like there is no tomorrow. Along with the whole getting her together with Garith, I must look into this. Maybe it is some form of Elvin PMS and is normal. I hope for her sake that it is.
But, back to the topic at hand, I don't know what happened at the Olive Garden during the holidays, but something must have happened between Garith and Mara to seriously piss her off. In the whole time I've known her I've never seen her this . . . hateful towards anyone.
Funny though, even Garith seems to be apologetic about whatever happened. He keeps saying sorry to her (in his playful manner, but he seems serious enough). Mara is taking refuge from him by seeking the company Tom and Andrew, who aren't that crazy about him either, though it seems to be mostly because he has the permanent attention of almost every girl on campus. Currently, Tom, Andrew, and Mara are making up another song about Elmo the Polka Dotted Penguin and the Bunny of Doom, to Britney Spear's song "Drive Me Crazy." Personally, it sounds absolutely terrifying, which I believe is the effect the three of them are going for.
Right now the only thing that seems to be preventing me from putting my first idea into action is the fact that Mara is avoiding Garith. I have decided that if I want them to get together, they must be forced into a room together, no matter that Mara might try to kill me. I shall invite Garith up to the room tomorrow without Mara's knowledge . . .
And hopefully if this turns out well, she won't feel it necessary to kill me. Perhaps I should go and find some help. I mean, aren't Elves and Vampires normally stronger then human beings?
Entry Three:
I am right now outside my room, having enlisted the help of Tom and Andrew to help keep the door shut as Garith and Mara are right now trapped inside. The conversation went something like this when Garith came in with me:
Mara, who was sitting on her bed reading, looked up when I arrived and immediately said, "What is HE doing here?"
Me, being full of innocence, replied, "I invited him up. Is something wrong?"
"Is something wrong, she asks!?" Mara demanded angrily, standing up. "Is something WRONG!? Did I not tell you what Garith was!? He is on the BAD SIDE for Pete's sake."
"Nice to see you too, Mara," said Garith with a lopsided smirk.
"Well, at least he didn't try to put me into the Labyrinth!" I argued, while mentally saying to myself, I'm sorry Mara, this is for your own good . . . while attempting to ignore the hurt look on Mara's face.
"You know, Mara, she's got a point . . ."said Garith with another smile, putting his arm around her. "If you put it her way, I'm actually the good guy. Amazing isn't it?"
"Don't make me stab my pencil in your eye, Vamp, because I will have no misgivings about doing so," she threatened, holding up her pencil as if to prove her point.
See what I mean about the two of them being a perfect for each other? I mean, they practically act like a married couple! And maybe if she falls in love with Garith, it can help stop this whole wedding thing with her and Jareth.
Oh God, I forgot about that. Well, I guess that means that having this go through is all the more important. If both parties are otherwise occupied, then they CAN'T get married!
"I'd like to see you try," said Garith, who was then rewarded with a pencil ALMOST being jabbed in his eye. I guess he wasn't expecting her to actually go through with the threat. He was only barely able to stop her.
It was then I snuck out of the room, pleading have to go to the bathroom. I then, sat against the door, holding it shut when Andrew and Tom showed up. I explained I was getting back at Mara for a previous prank she played on me and was attempting to hook her up with Garith. While Tom and Andrew, having misgivings at first, thought that in the long run, it would be fun that Mara finally got some of her own medicine, and agreed to help me keep the door shut.
And so, for the past few minutes, the lovebirds have sounded like Mara is attempting the murder of Garith, who is attempting to dissuade her. Tom, Andrew and I are all trying to contain our laughter, as we find it all very amusing.
They sometimes give me weird looks when Mara and Garith start talking about the Underground Council, but I told them I'd explain later.
Maybe they'll just forget. If I'm lucky.
"Why can't you just leave me the hell alone, Garith!?" Mara just demanded loudly through the door.
"Look, I just came to visit Sarah."
"Right, I believe you completely," said Mara sarcastically, followed by the sound of what sounded like her pillow being chucked at his face.
My assessment has just been confirmed by Garith, who said that while a pillow is not nearly as dangerous as a sharpened pencil, Mara really should do something about her anger issues. He also said that she has way too high an opinion of herself if she assumes that everything he does must be done in some way to annoy her.
"I am friends with Sarah, as completely amazing it must sound to you, to admit that some people might actually like me."
Mara responded by throwing what sounds like a book at him.
Tom and Andrew are now looking at each other worriedly, asking if they are sure it is a good idea to keep those two in there that much longer.
I admit that I am worried too. I never anticipated this much physical violence emerging from these two in a single conversation. True, most of the time the actually violence was coming from Mara . . . but she normally isn't this violent. Something really bad must have happened over vacation.
A sigh from Garith, interrupts Mara's attack of flying projectiles. "Look Mara," he is saying quietly, so it is kinda hard for me to hear. "I'm sorry about the whole thing at the Olive Garden."
"SORRY!?!?! YOU'RE SORRY!?!?"
That was Mara. Finally, I might be able to get some details about that encounter.
Right after she finishes throwing whatever she is currently throwing at him.
"He SAYS he's sorry," (thwack . . book) "Not only does he find it necessary to delve into my mind when he feels like it, but now he is apologizing for ruining what WAS going to be a fun night with friends. (thwack) And he say's he's SORRY!?"
Tom and Andrew are now looking very confused at each other. Are muttering that Mara might be a little crazy. They have no idea.
Come to think of it, what the hell ARE they talking about? Mind diving?
"Look, Mara, I told you I didn't mean to!"
"Don't. Touch. Me!" said Mara, followed by a slapping sound. "I know fully well that you meant to. It is part of your whole job! Your favorite pastime along with manipulating people. Now I suggest you back of before . . . before . . ."
Uh oh . . . Mara just trailed off and I think I heard the thump of somebody falling on the floor. Maybe someone killed someone. I believe it is time to check in on those two. Shall write more later.
Oh God, what have I done?
Entry Four
Sorry, I haven't had a chance to write in a week. My life has been, in one word, stressful. But, continuing on from last entry, Tom, Andrew and I entered the dorm, finding it an absolute mess with Mara lying on the floor and Garith kneeling over her. To say the least, it did not look good. Andrew immediately went into yelling at Garith, demanding what he did to her. Garith kept saying he didn't do anything, all the while looking worriedly at her. He tried to get closer to Mara to try and assess what was wrong with her, but both Tom and Andrew dragged him away, saying that he'd done enough trouble and if the hospital reported that some sort of abuse or whatever on Mara, they were fully going to be blaming him. Garith apologized to me before asking if there was anything he could do, to which Tom and Andrew said that he could leave Mara the (place explicative here that begins with an 'F') alone. Garith, however, in one of his moments of true heroicness, insisted on staying until we could figure out what was wrong with Mara. Tom, after much grumbling, agreed and went to call the hospital for help. Meanwhile, I started feeling funny, almost as if my self in the Underground was calling me. I got this really weird feeling, that if I fell asleep, I might not be able to come back, so I asked if Andrew could get me a cup of strong coffee from the cafeteria, since I felt a bit woozy. After much grumbling about leaving me with Garith, he agreed, which left me and Garith in the destroyed bedroom together.
And that is when I saw the one moment that convinced me that these two would be perfect for each other. Garith went back to kneeling over Mara, holding her hand almost tenderly, muttering to her that he was sorry and to just wake up. It was like he completely forgot I was even in the room, he was so focused on Mara.
Of course, all good moments must come to an end, and this one was ruined by Mara actually waking up and promptly slapping Garith. "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU BASTARD!!!!" she yelled, shoving him away. She was trying to get up, when both Garith and I gently pushed her back down to the floor, saying that she had just fainted, and it would be best if she laid down. It was then that I felt myself going back to normal, and the two of us tried to keep Mara contained until Tom came back in saying that an emergency transportation device was on its way to pick up Mara (he refuses to use the world ambulance . . . he's weird like that). That was when Mara started insisting that she was perfectly fine, and started to get up again, when she laid back down again because she had a head ache. Garith picked up Mara (with Tom glaring at him suspiciously the entire time) and put her on her bed so she would be more comfortable. Andrew soon showed up with my coffee, and about a minute later, the ambulance crew showed up. They asked us the usual questions if any of us were drinking, and what happened. Garith replied that he and Mara had been arguing when she all of a sudden fainted. Of course, the ambulance crew was suspicious (since it looked like a hurricane hit our room), so while they took all of us down to the hospital and when we arrived we were drilled by the police (since the police station is right next to the hospital) about what happened. Involved taking the 'Are You Drunk Test' where we had to walk in a line and breath into something (we all passed) and getting questioned a lot, until a doctor showed up and said that while Mara's body system seemed a little off (it was cooler then humans are suppose to be) everything seemed to be functioning normal, except for a large amount of Aspirin in her system. He asked if she had been taking a lot of Aspirin lately, and I said yes, because she's been having bad headaches lately. That was when Garith started flipping out at me and asking how long it has been going on, and I told him since Christmas. Then he started getting all worried for some reason, Tom and Andrew began demanding explanations about just what the hell was going on, as were the police. So then Garith did this whole Obi-Wan Kenobi thing and was like "Nothing is wrong, this is all normal. You will release us so we can go see Mara." And the police did! In fact, they apologized for bringing us in and took us right to Mara! Apparently Vampires can affect the minds of other beings, so I can begin to understand why Mara was a little freaked out about him.
So, we went to see Mara, who is now fine, just under orders from the doctor not to take so much Aspirin anymore, since it is apparently bad for you to take in large doses, and we were all released back to the college. Since then, Garith has been trying to talk to Mara alone about her Aspirin thing, who is refusing to talk to him and is threatening to disembowel him. I later explained to Tom and Andrew about the whole Underground thing, and they agreed, that while it sounds crazy, considering what happened in the police station, they can actually believe it.
So, in light of current events, the whole matchmaking thing is off for a while (about a week or so) until everything dies down, and the teachers stop looking at Mara worriedly all the time.
On the plus side, Tom and Andrew have agreed to help me further in the whole MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Get Mara together with Garith thing, since, besides the whole going to the hospital thing, it was actually entertaining, and since Mara is off the Aspirin, it should be ok.
On the Underground side of things, things couldn't be going better (which is more to say then what is going on up here . . . since as I said before Project Matchmaker isn't going to well. Jareth has seemed to have dealt with his massive Superiority Complex Thing (mostly), and is more understanding about the facts that I do have friends in the Labyrinth besides him. And he is always doing the sweetest things for me.
Of course, we still have fights. I think it is kinda impossible not to, given our background. But they normally don't last for more then 13 hours now.
I just hope that Mara doesn't marry him.
And now, from the other sides of things:
The Princess Diaries of Mara K'Talven
Entry 2317
Well, I believe I have now sufficiently recovered from my visit to the hospital (three weeks ago), and I've decided that I shall just have to endure my headaches, since I don't want to end up there again. Not only does the place have the freaky sterilized smell to it that reminds me of old people homes, it also makes me unable to sufficiently beat Garith over the head, since the doctor said I shouldn't excite myself since I passed out due to stress and overdose of Aspirin. Apparently, according to the doctor, I have been overworking myself too hard at school and should relax and lay back.
In all honesty, I really didn't expect reaction headache to be setting in this fast. As you know from my previous entries, a lot of my magical reserves were zapped when I tried to drag Sarah back from the Underground. Apparently, however, to be able to actually keep her here on Earth has started to zap the rest of my magic faster then it would've gone out on its own. So by the time the wedding comes, I don't think I'll have any magic. At the rate it is currently disappearing, it should be gone by mid-April. And since it is now halfway through February, that doesn't give me much time.
I think Garith suspects something might be going on, since he keeps checking in on the dorm (insisting he is looking for Sarah) and will start inquiring about how I am doing and if I am alright. I am beginning to suspect he is taking far too much pleasure in this whole fiasco and I would beat him over the side of the head, except Tom, Andrew, and Sarah have been making sure I don't have any objects that could possibly injure someone since I've suddenly shown my violent psychopathic side three weeks ago in the dorm which led up to my eventual passing out due to "stress overload."
I've pled temporary insanity.
Speaking of Tom and Andrew, they somehow found out (through Sarah I expect – though I wouldn't be surprised if Garith was part of it) about the whole Underground thing. Considering how it went with Eric (who I have quite forgiven and we normally talk on the phone and joke around. He started going out with Alice, the girl at the arcade we were at and helped him out when Sarah and I fainted in the bathroom. The two of them have been having a great time playing Dungeons and Dragons together and what not. I am happy for him . . . cept for the little fact that everyone I seem to meet lately is having Happily Ever Afters. EVEN TOM AND ANDREW HAVE BOTH FOUND GIRLS) I wasn't surprised that they took it quite well.
I am beginning to suspect that Sarah is up to something. Ever since things have started going all fine and hunky dory with Jareth, it seems like she has gotten it into her head that I need to have a happy love life. I have been perfectly fine without a said love life since Nomar, and I do NOT need any help in that department. I would have suspected the whole "invite Garith to the room thing" to be part of her plan, but I know her. (Though the fact that Tom and Andrew are getting along with him, plus the fact that he is suddenly without his band of whores is beginning to make me suspicious . . . must check to see if he is doing some weird vampire mind control thing, you never can be too careful. And I don't care how cute he is, it's the cute ones you have to watch out for).
But other then some oddities, my life has gone back to normal. I'm going to class, doing homework, insisting to worried teachers that , yes, I am alright, and no, I have not been taking Aspirin lately. Or anything else for that matter. Everything is perfect.
Entry 2318
Am beginning to suspect that some sort of evil bad luck thingy is following me around. That, or I have somehow ended up in the Twilight Zone. It has been about a week since my last entry, and everything was going normal. This afternoon, Sarah, Tom, Andrew, Garith (WHY!?) and I all went to Borders. I found, surprisingly, a few months ago that by reading fantasy, it can help boost some of my magic, however slightly, and since I have been forbidden to touch Aspirin, books have been my new source of relief. The Borders near the campus is HUGE, nearly three stories high, and I was tired, so I decided to take the elevator to go to the third floor. Just as the door was about to close, Garith stepped in, saying there was some he wanted to get on the third floor to and wanted to keep me company.
And so, my dear journal, I was stuck in an elevator with Garith. Of course, I only figured it would be for a few minutes, since it doesn't take that long to reach the third floor in an elevator. Well, as it so happens, there was a light snowstorm when we went to Borders earlier, that somehow caused a power line to fall, effectively cutting of all power to Borders, thus effectively trapping me in the elevator with Garith, somewhere between the second and third floor.
Of course, the first word out of my mouth when all power died and the lights went out was a very lady-like "merde," to which Garith said that wasn't a very lady-like thing to say, to which I replied quite politely for him to go to hell.
Everything was quiet for a few minutes, and after coming to the conclusion that there was not going to be power for quite some time, I found a corner and sat down.
Unfortunately, it turned out that Garith also felt necessary to claim that corner before me, and so I ended up jumping off of his lap and sitting as far away from him as possible.
This led to another long, and rather uncomfortable pause, during which, the emergency lights came on, bathing the interior of the elevator in a reddish light. I sat there, wrapped up in my own thoughts, wishing that I had a book, when Garith suddenly said, "Mara, why didn't you tell me that you were losing magic so fast?"
"I beg your pardon?" I replied, putting on my best 'What are you talking about?' look.
"Your magic, Mara. I know why you fainted back in the dorms a few weeks ago. You're running out of magic. And judging by the way you've been so cheerful lately I'm suspecting it is giving you one hell of a headache, which explains why you were overdosing on those Aspirins all the time."
I really hate it when people decide to get observant. What happened to Mara, who used to get away with things without anyone catching her? Is all that bad karma finally catching up to me in the form of Garith?
"It's PMS, Garith."
"No it isn't. I would have smelled it."
Now, let me tell you, that was NOT the thing I wanted to hear. I mean, imagine, a guy who could tell when it was your time of the every few years through his sense of SMELL!? Mental Note: After this is all over with, avoid contact with the vampires. They have way too many freaky powers.
"Lovely. Now leave me alone." I turned away from him and attempted to do a thorough examination of the wall.
So thorough in fact, that I did not hear Garith slide over next to me, until he turned me around and placed a hand on each shoulder.
"Listen, Mara," he said, attempting to look at me. I of course, being the agreeable person that I am, refused to look at him. "Mara," he sighed exasperatedly, but didn't try to force me to look at him. "You've got to do something about this. Mara, you told me how dangerous it is for you to lose all your magic. That fainting spell in the dorm will not be just a one time occurrence. You need help."
I think he expected me to say something here, but I continued to childishly ignore him. After a pause he continued.
"Mara, you're going to die if this keeps up. I saw how low you were in the dorm . . ."
"And what happened to not reading me, hmm, Garith?" I spat, finally looking at him, pretty pissed off, all things considered. "What happened to all that 'Oh Mara, I'm sorry for invading your personal privacy and reading your mind. I won't do it again!' And here you are doing it again! I should've known better then to trust the word of a vamp."
I fear that I started crying right then, for the next second I found myself sobbing in a rather undignified fashion, and completely embarrassingly on Garith's shoulder, who was holding his arms around me in what I suppose was a comfortingly manner. Of course, I got extremely annoyed with the fact that I was crying, since I hate breaking down in front of anyone, especially Garith. In my ear I heard him muttering stuff about he was sorry and what not, which is when I came to my senses and shoved him away from me (or tried . . . since Garith IS somewhat stronger then I am, and with the whole magic drain, I haven't exactly been myself lately – and no, that doesn't make what he is saying is right) yelling at him, "See? This is EXACTLY what I mean. Let go of me! I don't want you even to touch me!"
Garith gave me this sort of funny look, that if I didn't know him better I would have sworn it was hurt, but I know Garith, and I knew that he doesn't even know the definition of the word 'hurt' since he is just some player who doesn't care, just as long as he has an opportunity to score on a girl. He did, however, back away from me, thus respecting my personal bubble, much to my satisfaction, since he left to his corner on the other side of the elevator.
And so, we had yet another round of uncomfortable silences, where we both kinda just looked around the very confining elevator, and not each other.
"Does Sarah know?" he asked, suddenly, interrupting me from my lovely visions of torturing Garith in my mind.
"Does Sarah know what?" I demanded, somewhat irritably.
"Does Sarah know that you're losing magic. I mean, I know she knows that you're an elf and all, since she has talked to me, asking if it is true that I'm a vampire and whatnot, but does she know that you're losing magic?"
Oh, isn't THAT just lovely. Here I am, telling Sarah that Garith is the BAD GUY, and she is out consorting with the enemy. She is now on my kill list, right after Garith, and before Jareth . . . for . . . uh . . . being my fiancé and . . . uh . . . annoying bastard all the time. And after my father. And the Underground Council. The stupid mages that set up the barrier. Ah hell, the whole Underground itself is right now on my list.
"Oh, will you just drop it?" I asked. "I'm fine. I can take care of myself, thank you very much, and I don't need Sarah's help."
Not to mention the fact that Sarah is the reason that my magic is draining so fast, since the stupid Labyrinth belonging to a stupid Goblin King won't freaking let her go causing a big ongoing stalemate about which world Sarah currently resides in.
"Mara . . ."
"I thought I said zip it," I snapped, finding a penny in my pocket and promptly chucking it at his head. I seem to have quite embraced my violent side lately.
"How much time do you have?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Mara . . ."
"Believe me when I say that I have no qualms about buying a silver stake and shoving it through your heart," I snapped. "The Underground is currently shut off, so it will take the Council some time before the realize you're dead. And when they do . . . well, I'll be dead to so it really won't matter."
"What a romantic thought, the two of us dying together," he remarked in is normal mocking tone. "Can you imagine the stories that will written about it? Why it will be like a modern Romeo and Juliet. Only without the Shakespearian prose."
"I hate Romeo and Juliet. It is a stupid story about two lust-filled teenagers that kill themselves in the throws of hormones."
"Titanic then."
"The girl lived. . . which actually doesn't sound too bad. You can be Leo and die, and I can go on with my happy little life."
"Yeah, married to Jareth."
"How about we go with one of those psychopathic murderer stories where the girl just randomly kills off a bunch of people"
"You'll end up in jail."
"Can't be worse then being stuck in here with you."
"Even with the one the mortals named 'Jack the Ripper?' I don't think even he knows his real name anymore. I hear he's still doing time in the Underground for that whole thing he did back in England when he was up on Earth for his commune with humans. I heard that he still is up to his all tricks, if he can find someone."
Ok, that is mind scarring.
"Ok, you might be slightly better. . ."
"Aww, thank you Mara, I didn't know you liked me that much."
I sighed, at the complete hopelessness of the idiot just as the power came back on. (Turned out they had an emergency generator, but some idiot couldn't figure out how to turn it on). The elevator started moving, much to my relief, since I couldn't stand another moment in the elevator with the Vamp.
As we reached the third floor, Garith came up to me and turned me towards him. "I'm going to tell Sarah."
Ok, this worried me. I mean, if Sarah found out about the whole magic thing, she'd tell Jareth that I'm actually still on Earth, and then I'd be figuratively screwed. So I felt I had to find someway to sway Garith's decision.
"And what, pray tell, is she going to be able to do? My solution to my problem right now lies within the Underground, and since I am currently unable to contact them . . ."
I was interrupted by a VERY unexpected, and I quite assure you, UNWELCOME kiss from Garith that silenced me I fear, quite effectively. Though I fear I might have started to react to it, considering the fact that Garith is quite a good kisser. Not that much, mind you. Just a little.
I mean, hey, I had NEVER been kissed like that. Just that one little kiss from Nomar. In all honesty, I've been living like a nun (who happens to joke about sex a lot). So a little tiny (and I repeat TINY) part of me wanted to see what a real kiss felt like.
Ok, maybe it was a lot.
But, I thankfully came back to my senses when, brushing across my lips, I could feel the sharpened edge of his fangs, just beginning to penetrate the skin.
Instantly, I shoved myself away from Garith, just barely being able to escape. Looking at him, he had a bloodlust expression on his face, fangs fully extended, as he began to step towards me. I took a step further back away from him, just as the doors to the elevator opened and I backed into Tom and Andrew, who had come to look for us. I leaned against them, feeling dizzy, while still trying to back away from Garith.
I could feel the lurking of the vampire mind call (something I had only really heard about . . . but it is this almost an overwhelming pleasure wave when it sets in fully, used to keep the vampire's prey from running away in fear . . . and let me tell you, just a light dose was pretty strong, I was seriously threatening to give in right then), when I broke away from Tom and Andrew and began running like my life depended on it (which, if you thought about it, it kinda did) until I reached the children's area and collapsed on beanbag cushion thing.
After a few moments, after sufficiently recovering myself enough (and wiping the blood from my lip) I went and found Sarah, found out about the stupid guy and the generator, and told her I was going to take a bus home, since I felt a little tired. I told her not to worry about me, and I'd see her when I got back.
And so, I'm here in my dorm. Scared silly, in all honesty.
But I think I now know why the Barbarian Horde followed Garith so faithfully. Because that one little taste of the vampire mind call thing has left me wanting for more. And since I noticed that when I left Garith, my magic reserves have taken another dip down . . . I think that being near Garith could very well kill me.
I'm getting really tired all of a sudden . . . and it's not even five o'clock yet.
Back in Borders, in the cafe area, having sufficiently recovering himself, Garith shook his head angrily. Damn that girl! he thought angrily. In all his years as a vampire (or as a human for that matter) he never once lost control like that. Even his powers got away from him, back there at the elevator, when he kissed Mara. He just all of a sudden went into full Vampire mode. What was it about that girl that made him unable to control himself? He knew how close he came to killing her back there. If Tom and Andrew hadn't been there to snap him out of it . . .
A lifeless form of Mara came unbidden to his mind, pale and devoid of blood. Being an elf, she could not be turned, leaving the only option of being all dead, and not living dead like he was if her blood was sucked all the way. Something caused his heart to catch at thought, and he sighed, leaning into his hands to stare into the depths of his cappuccino, as if he could divine an answer to his problems from it.
"Hey," came the voice of Sarah as she sat across from him. "Mara just left for the dorms, and Andrew and Tom said that something pretty freaky was happening between you two in the elevator. Care to explain?"
"I-I lost control," said Garith quietly.
"Please explain to the less Vampirely knowing," replied Sarah, looking at him.
"I kissed her, and I started going full vampire on her," he answered thinly.
"Meaning . . . ?"
"Meaning I tried to suck her blood while using a basic vampire mind control that overcomes the mind with a pleasurable feeling that is almost impossible to resist. Normally it wouldn't take much blood to appease the vampire, but with Mara's condition lately, I don't think she would've been able to survive if Andrew and Tom weren't there to bring me back to normal."
"Wait . . . what do you mean condition? What condition is Mara in?" demanded Sarah.
Mara, I know you're going to kill me, but this is for your own good. "Elves need magic to survive. It is part of them. With the barrier between the Aboveground and Underground being closed, her magic is depleting. She was full of magic just before the barrier shut, but she wasted half of it trying to bring you back to the Aboveground. Since then, it's depleting quickly, an effect of the Cold Iron. One of the side effects is a bad headache, a reaction headache from the lack of magic . . ."
"Which is why she was dosing up on the Aspirin . . ." interrupted Sarah worriedly, suddenly looking pale.
Garith nodded. "The Underground Council set up the barrier, in hopes that by the time the wedding between Jareth and herself occurred, she'd be too weak to object, and thus they would blackmail Jareth with that to get him married to her. The barrier was also to keep you away from Jareth so you couldn't develop the soul mates/lifebond thing." He glanced sharply at Sarah, realizing what he said. "I mean . . uh . . ."
"Yes, yes, I know about the bond," said Sarah. "Mara told me, and with the way things have been going between me and Jareth lately . . ."
"WHAT!?" demanded Garith urgently as Sarah trailed off, realizing what SHE had just said. "What do you mean, the way things have been going with you and Jareth . . ."
"Um . . . well . . . uh . . ." stammered Sarah, looking around worriedly.
Garith grabbed Sarah's arm, forcing her to look at him. "Sarah, you are going to tell me right now. How have you seen Jareth?"
"M-Mara wasn't able to pull me back all the way, y-you, know, back in the b-bathroom. In essence, I've been stuck half-way between the Underground and Aboveground. During the day, I'm awake here, and at night when I'm asleep, I'm awake in the Underground with Jareth." She paused, looking worriedly at Garith. "That's why she told the worm to tell Jareth that she was in the Hall of the Mountain King . . . she said it was because Jareth is often a worry wart . . . but . . . it was really because she was in the Aboveground, losing magic."
Garith's face grew pale as he listened to Sarah, causing his gut to strangely clutch together with something he knew commonly was associated with fear. "And the Labyrinth, being what it is, is greedy for human contact . . . which would mean that she would need to expend magic to keep you here . . ."
"Which is causing her magical reserves to deplete faster then they would normally . . ." continued Sarah.
"Oh my God . . ." whispered Garith, as if in pain. "Oh. . . Mara . . ."
Sarah looked at him strangely. "You wouldn't happen to care for her, would you?"
Garith glanced at her sharply, giving her a look as if to say "Are you completely crazy?"
"Come on, we need to go find her. To see if we can do something to resolve this mess," said Sarah, changing subject quickly, while standing up.
Hastily, Garith agreed, as his mind began to wrap itself around what Sarah had just said. Did he like her?
Quickly, they found Tom and Andrew, saying that it was time to go, NOW, and rushed back to the campus.
Running up the five stories of the dorm room, Garith and Sarah (with Tom and Andrew some stories behind them) burst through the doors to see Mara look up from writing in a journal of sorts at them.
"Oh, hello," she said weakly, face pale. Turning to Garith, she glared at him, stammering "I-I thought I said I didn't w-want to see y-you . . ." before she collapsed onto the floor into a dead faint.
A scream of pain came from Sarah, and as Garith looked over his shoulder at her as he rushed to Mara's side, Sarah disappeared completely from the Aboveground.
A few seconds later, Tom and Andrew burst through the door, simultaneous yelling, "WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO HER NOW?! AND WHERE IS SARAH!?"
Garith, ignoring the two yelling humans, tried desperately to awake the unconscious elf, desperately hoping beyond hope that it would be like last time and she would wake up in no time.
Funny how the universe has it's own plan on how things are done. One that often does not consider what others might want.
Because Mara would not wake up.
Back in the Labyrinth, Sarah jerked awake for the first time in the middle of the night. Jumping out of bed, and completely forgetting to put on the overcoat to cover that black nightgown she had been complaining to Jareth about just months before, she ran out of the room and began sprinting through the hallways, calling Jareth's name.
When he finally appeared, asking her whatever that matter was, she looked at him and said quite seriously, "I have something I need to tell you. It's about Mara. She's on Earth. And I think she's dying."
"Does Garith know?"
Nod.
"Well, isn't that just a wonderful slice of cake."
Mage Adept Rawthorn, currently on watch in the Official Magick Working Room Of The Underground Council on the barrier spell, jerked as he felt spells detecting the passage of Sarah Williams start going off wildly. Jumping up, he checked the spell that watched his niece, Mara. Swearing sharply, he began calling magic to himself as he stepped into the middle of the Working Circle. Underground Council orders or no Underground Council orders, his niece was dying and he was by God going to bring down the barrier or die trying.
Author's Note:
First of all, this was done over four weeks ago. I sent it off to my beta about a week after I posted the chapter before this. Unfortunately, Megs was on vacation a few thousand miles away, and wasn't able to answer my e-mail until after she got back two to three weeks later. By then I had field hockey try-outs and last-minute summer assignments that I put of to do that I didn't have time to check my e-mail for two weeks. And so, now that school has once again started up, I finally now have the time (strangely enough . . . I expected summer to be the time where I could do everything) to update this chapter. I apologize for the delay.
But moving on . . .
In all honesty, this was supposed to be a funny chapter, including the various exploits of Sarah trying to get Mara and Garith together. I was planning on eventually having Mara going catatonic, but I guess I'm in a hurry to get to the next part. Maybe when I fix all of this up, I can make this chapter more amusing, and you guys can give me more ideas for what Sarah can do. I decided that there needed to be a warning that Mara was beginning to lose it, thus her headache and Aspirin addiction in the earlier chapter. Then I figured it would probably to bad things to her body, Elf she may be. Add magic depletion with overdosing of Aspirin, and you got her first faint, minor in the scheme of things, but clued Garith into the fact that the magic lose she told him was going to happen in chapter six has gone into full effect, faster then he realized it would be. So, Mara is now basically in a coma state, which her body did in order to keep her alive, stopping all spells, activity, whatnot except for what is absolutely necessary for her to survive the longest she can. Basic self-preservation. So, you now get to see Mara's uncle again, (who was mentioned in chapter nine) and he'll be showing up more in the next chapter, along with (maybe) Mara's sister and old boyfriend, Nomar.
I realize that it might have been a little confusing, what with the journal entries and then reverting back to regular story telling. I'm not going to be doing that again most likely, but I really couldn't think of a way that I could get those parts through. (I tried doing it other ways and I faced a major writer's block. I was using journal form for another story I'm writing for fun, and that's was working for me, so I decided to try it for this.)
But moving on: Megs, even though you are several thousands of miles away from me right now, I must say THANK YOU! for betaing this. I am not worthy to kiss the ground you walk in, you are such a great editor. You are the best for constantly beta reading stuff for me and listening to me bounce ideas off of you all the time. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! bowing at your feet
Oh, and for those of you who don't know French, "merde" means 'turd' . . . or shit . . whatever you prefer. A guy I know once said it in my French class a few years ago to describe cafeteria food. Thought it only meant crap. So the teacher ended up going into an explanation about that it was a swear. Of course, this is the same teacher that took us to a 'how to say naughty stuff in French' website during school with insulting stuff to say after having sex. I swear, my school is so messed up.
Ok . . . THANK YOU REVIEWERS!
takes a deep breath
Twin Kats: Hey it's ok. I've been really busy lately too and I haven't been able to get anything done or reviewed or whatever. Yeah, Jareth and Sarah kissed, but it will still take them a while. There will be fights, like Sarah mentioned there was this chapter, that will probably come up later.
Nyruserra: Thanks. I hope you liked this chapter.
word junky: I'm glad you like it. I like Buffy too, but I haven't seen many episodes. Only the last season, 2nd to last season ending, and a few random episodes when she was in high school that someone brought before one of my school's performances of Les Mis a few years back. But I did like Spike of what I saw of him.
Queen ofthe BogofEternalStench: NO! Not the Bog of Eternal Stench! AH!!! But I'm glad you liked it. I hope you liked this chapter. Sorry it was so late.
Liriel9247: Wow. I hope you like this one too. Thanks.
Jennypenny: This was kinda late, but I hoped you liked it.
Just Trying to Help: Ok, first of all, I have to admit that I was a little miffed when I read, but after thinking it over a bit, I realize you were right. I mean, I actually have seen lifebond concepts in other writing, but more often then not it is call soul mates or true love and often has to do with another life. That, or people being born at the same time on the same day of the same year and were destined to be together. As for K'Talven, I honestly wasn't thinking and didn't realize it until after I posted the chapter. However, I am planning on redoing this when I am done, so I'll probably change that. Heck, I might even change the lifebond thing around. But in any case, if you have any other ideas about things that need to be worked out, please tell me. It helps to get some constructive criticism. I will admit that Mercedes Lackey is one of my favorite authors, and perhaps I'm just trying to emulate her, I probably should just work on doing it my own way, huh? In any case, thanks for telling me you liked it. As for this chapter, ok, I admit, I got the idea a little from all those journal-type stories that are out right now, but I had a brain cramp. And as I mentioned earlier, I'm writing another story in journal form and I thought it might work for this chapter.
kalinda: hoped you liked this.
babez19: I'm glad you like Garith. However, if you tell him he is hot it will go straight to his head. Right now, he feels concern for her, but that's probably because he has been bugging her so much he wants to make sure she is able to stick around so he can CONTINUE on bugging her.
Rivers of Blood: I'm glad you like it. Mara's kinda out like a rock right now, so that will probably put a standstill on everything. Sorry it took so long.
Ivy Adrena: I'm sorry. I didn't realize I did that. I will fix it ASAP. Thanks for noticing.
DumbBlondeBlue: Aw. Thanks! Sorry the chapter took so long. Hope you liked this one.
LadyAniviel: Yes, there was fluff last chapter. Not so much this chapter. More drama and flying projectiles. I'll try updating sooner too.
Zero-no-uta: I hoped you liked this chapter. A bit different from the other chapters, but this is were the action starts going.
bungeecord: Thanks. I'm glad you like the oc's Hopefully I'll be able to update sooner in the future. Might be a little difficult with field hockey.
Devil69: Yeah, well, Sarah's match maker attempts went kinda not the way she planned. I'll try to update faster. I'm not sure I wanna know what 'or else' means.
CatsWhiskers: Yes, Jareth has superiority complex issues. Couples therapy also sounds it might be entertaining. . . though I don't know how I could fit it in. Maybe . .
Mara: Look you two. You always fight. So I've signed you up for a session.
Jareth: What kind of session.
Mara: Couples therapy.
Sarah: WHAT!?!? We've only been going out for a few months. I think that hardly warrants for couples therapy.
Jareth: Uh . . this wouldn't happen to be one of those feminine napkins things again?
Mara: No. You're going to talk to a councilor (a Earth thing, Jareth) so you can stop having such a massively dysfunctional relationship. I mean you fight all the time!
Sarah: You fight all the time with Garith. Why don't you two take the session. Your relationship is more dysfunctional then ours.
Mara: It is COUPLES therapy. Not ARCH-ENEMY therapy.
Jareth: So there will be no tampons?
Mara: Or we could just sign you up for a sex awareness class.
Sarah: uh . . . I thing couples therapy is a GREAT idea.
Who knows. I'll think about it.
Bree Mcgregor: I'm glad you like it so much. (And just to let you know, I love reading Snape stories too . . so there we go) I hope you liked this chapter.
b00kperson: Hoped you liked this chapter. Sorry I haven't been able to review lately, but I've been busy.
Mab, Queen of Faerie: Thanks! I hope you like this one too.
Danalas the Lady Chaos: I'm glad you liked the Star Trek reference. As for the M/G thing . . um not sure yet. There is a few ways they can figure it out, plot line in out, but when they figure it out is the question.
Mermaide99: Sorry I haven't been updating as fast. I'm glad you like it, and as for the stuff about other fanfictions, well, gee thanks! It means a lot to me.
draeogon-fire: I'm glad you liked it. Hope you liked this one. I had a fun time having the plans backfire (though maybe not in good ways.)
Acantha Mardivey: I'm glad you liked it. I had summer assignments to do, so I've been busy as well. Hoped you liked this chapter too.
iff-666: Well, parts of this chapter were funny (I hope). The last part was somewhat serious, but that sets up for the chaos that is suppose to be in the next chapter.