Twenty
1
Sarah stifled a yawn.
In her chamber she was waiting for the signal from Dink to descend to the ball. Absently she fingered a piece of fringe that ran around the bodice of her dress. Jareth had employed all of his seamstress' best skills to ensure her a costume that would not only turn heads, but slit throats as well. She was clothed in a crimson bodice with gold detailing and a trailing ebony skirt. Her only accessory aside from her mask was her silver dagger, secured in its hiding place.
Turning towards her mirror she examined her self one last time. The actress in her felt like macabre embodied. The dark rich fabrics of her dress were stark against her pale skin and dark brown hair. She ran her hands down the length of the bodice, feeling for any hint that the dagger could be detected. Finding everything well hidden she locked eyes with herself in the mirror: she was as calm and determined as she had been the night she had gone after Lord Edenberge. "The heart judges its self," she murmured out loud before turning towards the door.
In the hall Sarah suddenly felt the need to check on Leslie. It was a near over whelming sensation. Part of her chalked it up some innate mothering instinct, another to an over whelming sense of paranoia, but she had to see if Leslie was all right. Everyone's stress levels had been ridiculously high as of late. Their chambers weren't that far apart, Sarah felt she could be back in plenty of time to meet with Dink. When the ground swayed under her feet in that all too familiar motion, she nearly began to run for Leslie's chamber.
At her door Sarah knocked once and called out. Without waiting for a reply she entered: Leslie was gone. Her costume and mask were absent as well. Perhaps she had all ready gone down to the ball? The Wimberly's after all were more or less the guests of honor. A light burned on the small writing desk where a letter lay. 'Really Sarah,' she chastised her self. 'You're too high strung.' But the motion under her feet- the Labyrinth had wanted her in here.
Her eyes wandered back to the desk. Curious she picked up the letter. "Well," she said out loud. "Explains why Leslie broke things off with Jareth: she has a sweet heart." The letter was written hastily urging Leslie to run away, leave during the hustle of the ball. Paranoia made its way back into Sarah's thoughts. She raised the letter to sniff it.
2
On a raised dais in the middle of the room Jareth watched as his guests arrived and were announced. Courtiers and royals from all walks of life were arriving. Some had all ready begun to dance, others lingered near the tables that lined the walls waiting for refreshment to be served. When Countess Wimberly was announced he saw her stifle a sneer at the goblin acting as footman. Jareth smiled with satisfaction. The piece de resistance would be the arrival of Sarah's former companions. He actually harbored hope that Ludo would some how knock her over with his lumbering body. And when her husband arrived that Sir Dydimus might accidently gouge him in the knee caps.
King Oberon stood at Jareth's side, quietly observing. He inclined his head to a couple as they paid their respects. "Where is Sarah?" he murmured in low tones to the Goblin King. "And Count Wimberly?"
Jareth kept his eyes schooled on the surrounding company. "Sarah should be arriving soon." He smiled again. The dress he had designed for her he had yet to see on her person- she would be delicious! A deadly vixen! 'All mine,' he thought. The rumbling that passed under his feet he interpreted as the Labyrinth correcting his ownership. 'Ours,' he conceded in his thoughts, as he hid a yawn behind his hand.
3
Dink was most agitated when The Lady did not acknowledge him. He had put on his best helmet to greet her, and had even washed his face. She came down the stair case though and walked right past him heading towards the outer door. Lady looked mad.
4
She would gut him like a fish in front of Leslie or alone. Let the whole party see her spill his blood. The warmth of the kill spread over her hands and up her arms, causing her fingers to twitch excitedly. Her moment was only steps away.
The night felt heavy, as if some unseen force were trying to tear through the atmosphere. Within moments of her rapid walking Sarah felt her brow began to moisten with sweat. The oppressiveness matched the feeling in her soul. Her vengeance wanted out, to be let loose and vindicated. It clawed at her insides. She sniffed the air: he was close.
The note had given a specific spot to meet, near the pagoda in the main garden. It was the same pagoda where Sarah had learned of her attacker and found Leslie. The Forbidden Forest was near the same spot. Hopefully she could warn Leslie, remove her from the situation. She would do what needed to be done, but in her heart she would rather spare Leslie the sight of her father's death.
5
Sir Didymus surveyed the ballroom, searching for his lady. He had arrived promptly at the stroke of eight in his finest attire. With him were Hoggle, openly ogling all of the pretty baubles the lady courtiers wore, and Ludo who smiled at everyone. All three of them were most excited to be formerly reunited with Sarah Williams as well as to join in with the goblins to make certain fae squeamish.
Didymus felt his nose twitch. There was a marked change in the air this evening. It was not food or fragrance though, and it did not seem to radiate from any one person. "Hoggle," he said gaining his friend's attention. "Do you smell that?"
Hoggle inhaled loudly, his nose making an odd vibrating sound. A near by lady snapped her fan in revulsion and moved away. "Yeah. What is it?"
"I am not sure. Make sure that Ludo doesn't sit on anyone; I am going to investigate."
The little fox made for a door that would lead him outside. At the thresh hold he sniffed again: yes, it was definitely coming from outside. His nostrils tingled. His delicate whiskers twitched. What was it? He could all most place the scent; it was familiar to him. Lightning suddenly pealed across the sky revealing heavy, thick clouds looming near. Rain. Rain was coming to the Labyrinth.
"Didymus!"
King Jareth's voice brought the fox out of his moment of joyous meditation. "Rain!" he exclaimed excited. "Rain is coming sire!"
The words seemed lost to Jareth. Instead he asked, "Have you seen Sarah at all this evening?"
"My lady still has not arrived?"
6
The clouds were obstructing the moon. Without light Sarah was moving on instincts and smell. The pagoda was only a turn or two away. She stopped briefly breathing deep- his scent was becoming deluded in the gathering humidity. Ahead she saw that Leslie was alone under the pagoda. "Leslie!" she called out to her. Another crack shook the sky.
Leslie started. "Oh Lady Sarah!" she exclaimed. "How did you know where to find me?"
Sarah cast her eyes around the heavy shadows- he could be any where. Curse her tired mind. "Never mind! You must come with me!"
"Come with you? No. Lady Sarah-,"
"I insist!"
"-I am going to leave my father-,"
"-Lesie-,"
"-Meet someone here-,"
"-In danger!"
Their words were lost on each other as they both spoke at the same time. Leslie seemed convinced that her secret lover was arriving to take her away, that safety was moments away. Sarah sensed the danger, felt it scurrying up the nape of her neck like a fiendish spider.
Quite suddenly the aroma of old books and cinnamon filled the air. The scent was so familiar to Sarah that she battled with her mind to remember that the smell was deadly. A man's loud scoff caused both of the women to stop talking. "Father?" questioned Leslie in confusion.
Sarah had her by the arms. She began pushing her towards the far end of the pagoda, down the garden path. "Leslie, go! You must!"
Count Wimberly laughed. "Well, my, my isn't this an interesting surprise? Dear me, has my little Leslie found someone willing to be her guardian?"
Sarah put herself in front of Leslie. "You will not touch her!"
"A woman savior- how quaint." He moved under the pagoda. Sarah got the impression that he was assessing the situation. "Whoever you are, my lady, this does not concern you. Go along back to the Goblin King's soiree."
Sarah stood her ground. Behind her she felt Leslie twitch. "Lady Sarah," she murmured in fright. "What are you doing?"
Sarah watched the man's stance- he could spring forward and try to over power them at any moment. His eyes were tight and every fiber seemed coiled and tense. If he sprang, she would have to draw her blade in a flash. "You will not touch her," she said again defiant.
Lightning light up the sky and in the same moment he darted forward. Sarah felt his hand on her arm- rough and pinching- and smelt his breath as he growled. He was attempting to throw her aside and get to Leslie. His hand tightened. She saw her blade, glowing silver in the dim light, and then the pressure of slicing through skin. Stunned she looked at the blade smeared with a dark matter- she had cut him; she had made her first strike.
Count Wimberly cried out. He held his hand- blood trickled down his fingers. "You nasty creature!" he spat out. "You cut me!"
Yes, she had cut him. Her moment had come and it felt oddly surreal. She smiled as the morbid satisfaction took affect. "Oh, I'll do more than 'cut' you," she said adjusting her grip on the handle. And with that, Sarah raised her arm and lunged at the Count.
He was quick though and held her off. There was a burst of warm air and Sarah felt her body being driven back. Count Wimberly had deflected her with a spell. "Leslie! Go!" she commanded regaining her balance. She took the stance to throw the blade.
The Count shot his hand out forward. "Enough!" he bellowed, and to Sarah's horror she felt the dagger being ripped from her hand. "I don't know who you are," the Count sneered. "But you shall pay for your interference."
With an animalistic cry, Sarah dug her nails into his face, slashed his skin, and hurriedly retreated from the pagoda. Magic. Magic was the one thing she could not compete with. She hadn't any powers of her own. Distance between the two of them would give her time to assess and think of a new plan of attack. Her dagger was gone (her precious dagger!), and before her was the living Labyrinth. 'Help me!' She sent her thoughts out. A rumbling guided her around a curve. She knew that Count Wimberly was only yards behind her. She rounded two more turns before she heard his voice again.
"Come out, come out girly!" he taunted. "If you want to play rough, you must play fair!"
She could see in her mind how his face must look slashed, red, and swollen; his eyes alive with hatred. He looked maniacal. She could see his eyes both here and again in that study, looming over her as he raped her. The Labyrinth guided her around another bend. Sarah ran into the Forbidden Forest.
7
Jareth concentrated on his very center, gathering as much of his magic as he could. His tired body strained under the pressure. If he could muster just enough he would appear as close to Sarah as was possible. It had become apparent that something was wrong. Dink had explained how Sarah had walked outside, and Count Wimberly's and Leslie's absence could no longer be explained. Jareth had ordered Didymus to block all of the exits. King Oberon had cordially detained a rather dejected looking Countess Wimberly. With considerable effort Jareth managed to vanish.
Suuuck-POP!
The Forbidden Forest opened up before him. Two smells immediately became apparent: Sarah and Count Wimberly had come this way. 'No,' he thought concerned. 'She had her dagger!' Sarah was supposed to have been avenged by her own hand, the blood of her tormentor was supposed to be on her skin. Growing increasingly agitated Jareth sent his mind out to the Labyrinth. "Where are they?" he asked out loud. "Protect her! Protect what is ours!" The ground began to roll. Trees swayed. The sky bore down. The two storms swelled in unison.
Sarah was the first one he saw. She was dashing from tree to tree, her gorgeous dress now hanging from her in a wrinkled mess. Then he saw the Count, arms raised, his magic gathering. The Count was going to strike her down! "No!" Jareth cried out. He felt the ground beneath his feet heave in a tremendous wave. Several loud cracks of thunder threatened to burst his ear drums. From the trees orange forms began dropping. The Firies were awake! And they were attacking Count Wimberly! Their woops and hollers were filled with rage.
Jareth ran forward as the very earth began to vibrate. As he reached Sarah's side the rumbling grew into shaking- the very earth was breaking apart. Jareth could have sworn that a disembodied voice was screaming, "Die! Die! Die!" over and over again. It sounded as if the Labyrinth, its living essence, was tearing a hole in its self. Firies were crawling all over the body of Count Wimberly- his muffled cries were of pain. Were they going to tear him limb from limb?
He and Sarah stumbled to the nearest tree and wrapped their arms around the trunk holding on as the earth began to break apart. The connection they shared with the Labyrinth tensed and was pulled taunt. They cried out joining their voices with the Firies. The Labyrinth opened the ground and swallowed Count Wimberly.