Cassandra wiped her mouth with a napkin. "So, what's the big news?" Apparently her parents had deemed it so important that they had her dress up in official garb, complete with the peach necklace Jareth had given her. She also decided to wear the bracelet Troy had given her. She didn't want to let it go quite yet.
Jareth had the largest smile on his face. "Oh, nothing," he said teasingly, sipping some wine. Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, nothing? Tra la la?" Cassandra giggled. It was always nice to see her parents being so loving and silly with each other. She hoped that she could find a man that would make her feel the same way. For some reason, she thought back to Troy, and how he made her feel.
Her father laughed, bringing her back to their lunch. "Oh Sarah." He leaned over to kiss his wife, and placed a crystal in front of his daughter. Cassandra looked at him curiously. "What's this for?"
He eyed Sarah, draping his arm around his wife and put his feet up on another chair. The Queen turned to her daughter, delighted at the news she was to share. "Cassie, I'm pregnant!"
Cassandra's eyes bulged out and her mouth dropped open. A sibling? She squealed, and practically jumped on Sarah. While Sarah excitedly hugged her daughter, Jareth frowned a little. "Careful! You may hurt the baby!" Sarah scoffed. "Jareth, I'm pregnant, not weak. The baby is fine." She smiled at her oldest child, and guided Cassandra's hand onto her belly. By using magic, Cassandra could feel the baby's kick. She smiled. "Oh, I'm a sister! I can't wait!" She went over to kiss both her parents.
"Now," said Jareth, handing her the crystal he had placed in front of her. "What's this for?" Jareth looked Sarah, and made an impression of himself when he met Sarah in the Above. Flipping the crystal back and forth, he mesmerized his daughter. "It's a crystal, nothing more. But, if you turn it this way," he flicked it into her arms, "you can engulf it in flames and you'll see the gender of the baby." Sarah rolled her eyes at his dramatic display.
Cassandra's excitement reminded Sarah of when she learned to sew her first tapestry when she was 10, a circle that represented a crystal for Jareth. On the other hand, Jareth was thinking of the time when he taught her to throw illusions of flames to scare goblins, only 8 years old. Unfortunately, she accidentally threw a real flame and Jareth had to put the fire out of the poor goblin and compensate him with a new helmet. That incident made Sarah pretty upset, since she disapproved of Cassandra learning about throwing flames at such a young age. This resulted in both monarchs teaching her how to control her powers. That, and the time that Cassandra set Sarah's hair on fire, much to Jareth's amusement.
Looking at the crystal, Cassandra made it float in front of her. Snapping both hands at the same time, the crystal was in a perfect sphere of fire. When it burned out, the crystal was a lovely dark blue shade. "A boy!" Cassandra squealed again in delight.
After the family relished in the excitement of having a new addition, Sarah suggested that they go out in the garden, the very same one that she proposed Jareth in. Staying cooped inside made her nauseous, and Jareth obliged, not wanting another wave of vomit to get all over his clothes like when she was pregnant with Cassandra.
They never made it to the garden.
Instantly, the room became dark. Wind blew all over and Jareth threw a crystal in the air, expanding it to cover the family like a force field. "What's going on?" Yelled the princess. "I don't know!" Both parents yelled back at the same time. Something, or someone was infiltrating the Labyrinth for the first time since the jiangshi.
Appearing before them, a beautiful woman floated down. She wore a scarlet robe, Roman style. A golden laurel crown rested on her auburn hair, indicating that she was a queen of some kind. She was beautiful, though not as beautiful as Cassandra. Her hazel eyes were filled with rage and hatred, reflecting the feelings in her heart.
Without warning, she easily broke Jareth's crystal like a bubble and sent all three of them in different directions, suspending each of them in midair. Though Cassandra couldn't see anything surrounding her, it felt like tight ropes were binding her wrists. The mystery woman walked in front of her, eyeing her with great hatred.
"Don't you DARE touch my DAUGHTER!" Sarah yelled. She tried to conjure a mirror, but nothing worked. She was as powerless as she was when she was a human. She looked over at Jareth, who looked like he could kill if he wasn't struggling himself. Who was this creature? The only ones this strong were gods and goddesses. So was she a-
"Oh don't worry, Goblin Queen," the woman said sweetly. "I won't hurt your precious daughter. Yet." She combed through Cassandra's hair and pinched her cheeks. "Such beauty. And all wasted on a fey," she said.
"Who are you to come into my kingdom and my Labyrinth?" Jareth demanded. He took things really personally when it came to his Labyrinth. It was his baby, after all. Well, at least until Cassandra was born. He put literal blood and sweat into that thing.
The goddess scoffed. "Oh, King Jareth. Your Labyrinth is pathetic, a cheap imitation of the one from my world." She was still touching Cassandra, who was flinching every time she touched her. At the sound of his daughter's whimper, Jareth struggled some more.
As her husband was struggling, Sarah had a chance to pause and think rationally. She didn't know who this lady was, but it was clear that she had to be a goddess. Any divine beings could wipe them out, especially a monarch in their species. So, she decided to remain calm. "My lady," she said aloud. "Why are you here and what business do you have with my daughter?"
The woman spun around. "Why, I'm glad you asked." She backed up, standing where all three could see her clearly. "This little wench here caught my son's attention with her beauty, and of course, I can't allow that. As a king and a god, he cannot fall for a puny little fey, so I must rid of her."
Sarah swore. Oh why did her beauty have to be that much trouble? Why must everyone be so vain?
She'd offer herself in her daughter's place, but stopped, remembering that she was carrying another one of her children. But, even if she could, Jareth would beat her to it.
"My lady," he swallowed. "I offer myself in her place." Cassandra gasped. "No, Dad you can't!"
The goddess rolled her eyes. "So touching. I want her to walk willingly to the Dark Cliffs, and wait for the monster to take her and marry her, so she would not be available for my son. I will not have her blood on my hands. But, if she does not, I will take your offer, Goblin King."
Cassandra saw the conviction in her parent's eyes. She knew that they loved her, but until now, she did not understand the magnitude of that love. Her parents really would die for her, without a second thought.
She thought back to all the times when her mother would tell her bedtime stories and her father would sing to her at night. She thought of the times when they sacrificed themselves for her and protected her like her life was theirs.
She would not let them make another sacrifice on her behalf. Even with knowing that she would die, she spoke up.
"Goddess," she piped up quietly. The three monarchs turned towards her, surprised that she finally spoke. "I will do as you ask. Just, please, don't let anyone else get hurt." She hung her head in defeat, fat tears rolling down her eyes.
"NO!" The King and Queen of Goblins roared. "SHUT UP." The goddess bound their mouths shut. "She is of age, and will do it willingly. You can no longer control her. Come child." She unbound Cassandra, and the girl fell to the ground. The goddess formed a glowing orb in front of her face. "This will lead you to the Cliffs. Don't try to come back, or I will make your parents pay for it." She held a dagger to Cassandra's throat. Since she was to die anyways, she braved a chance. "Wait, can't I say goodbye? Please? A death is forever."
The goddess looked back, considering her plea. After seeing their angry eyes, she decided no. "No. Your parents will someone influence you and I cannot allow that. Move!" She jabbed Cassandra with the back of the dagger.
Cassandra's eyes filled with tears. "Mom! Dad! I love you, and thank you for all you've done for me." Even with heaving sobs, she still looked beautiful, much to Ina's annoyance.
When Ina and Cassandra left, she let the voice binds on Jareth and Sarah go. Sarah wailed, and Jareth screamed, fat tears rolling down their cheeks. "I've failed," sobbed Jareth. "I've failed to protect my own child." Sarah looked at her husband. "No Jareth. We both did."
Cassandra heard their wails, and only marched forward so the goddess did not harm them. She knew that woman was doing this to make her miserable.
They reached the cliffs. The goddess tied the girl up to a tree, which was useless anyways since she could just burn them up. "Don't you think to escape back home, princess." She snarled. "Have fun with your new husband." And with that, the goddess disappeared, leaving Cassandra crying as she awaited her fate.
The moment the goddess left the Underground, the binds on Jareth and Sarah disappeared. While they both wanted to sit and cry, they jumped to their feet and immediately made a call to an old friend, the Southern Guardian.
Sarah conjured a mirror to talk to him, a big one so both of them could see. "Hello, old friend," the centaur greeted the king.
Jareth growled. "I don't have time for pleasantries. Tell me how to save my daughter." The centaur laughed. "My my, your temper has gotten worse! As always, this will require a price."
Can Jareth get any hotter? So he's romantic, fun, sexy as hell, and a cute/protective dad! ((Swoon)) Looks like Cassandra inherited her patents' selfless heart, aww. Thanks again guys for reading! When school starts, I'll be updating slower, but hopefully I'll finish this fix before then. Thanks for reading and don't believe to give me a review!
