Ch 11

The Night Before the Wedding and Somebody is Missing.

The week passed quickly; the days were filled with fittings with the tailor for my wedding dress. I tried to get any little bit of information out of Jareth that I could, but he would divulge no information. Marissa and I laid in the gardens and ran in the safe parts of the Labyrinth, laughing until dark. Jareth and I ate dinner privately with Queen Niamh and King Azriel. My life in the Goblin Kingdom had never been better; it was the rehearsal of the wedding that got me a bit worried. See, underground weddings are nothing like aboveground weddings.

Yes, the bride is dressed beautifully, and yes the groom was dressed in the height of style, but so many things were missing and replaced by very different and strange things. For example, instead of the bride walking down the aisle on the arm of her father, the groom's father is to carry the bride bridal-style down the aisle. Also, there are no vows said by a person of the clergy, the whole thing is done by the goblin king, Jareth in our case. My finger is to be pricked by Jareth, and I am to prick Jareth's finger. Then we let enough blood drip into the water goblet on the altar that the water turns a light red, and then we both take a sip. After that, we smear whatever is dripping on out finger each other's forehead. Then Jareth and I have to drip another few drops of blood in a fire that Jareth will light with magic and if the fire turns green, the wedding is going smoothly. I am also to be taught how to conjure a crystal, and will have to juggle it just like Jareth.

Because I will have drank Jareth's blood, I will have taken in his magic. Along with this, I already have magic in me from the recent…err…valentine evenings we've had over the past few months. Because of that I have as much permanent magic as Jareth does. So together we are expected to juggle a crystal, my hand on one side and Jareth's on the other. Then we will kiss and Jareth will carry me down the aisle.

After that, we are going to go aboveground and get married the mortal way in a church and then go on our honeymoon.

This is going to be so complicated.

I was in the bath after the rehearsal dinner. We had gotten the contact juggling down, but I was getting the finger pricking messed up; I didn't want to hurt Jareth.

I climbed out of the bath just as Jareth finished changing. He came up to me and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

"Oh, darling can you believe we're getting married tomorrow?" Jareth said excitedly after he let me down. I was looking for something to wear. I looked through the dresses, and finding a light white tea dress that came to the floor, I grabbed a pair of white Victorian boots, and my black cloak to match. We were going to dine out in the garden under a tree filled with peaches, the royal fruit. I slipped my corset on and handed the laces to Jareth who helped tightened them enough so I could get an hourglass figure but still breathe. Then I slipped on a petticoat with a lace bottom that would show a bit under the dress, and then finally, I pulled on the dress. I pulled a black sash tightly around my waist to pull in the black cloak. I looked rather put together. As usual Jareth was dressed to match me, white poet shirt, black tights and black boots.

I looked back at Jareth, he smiled. I looked at him then at the mirror. My hair was a mess.

"Jareth, we're going to be late. Why don't you head out to the terrace? I'm going to fix my hair; I'll be out soon." I smiled as I kissed him lightly. He returned the smile, before slapping me on the butt. I yelped in surprise.

"I love you and I will never let anything bad happen to you. I will never let you get hurt again. Don't ever forget that." He said before he slipped out of the room.

I sighed as I walked over to my vanity, picking up my brush and looking in the mirror. I hummed the tune to 'As the World Falls Down'. As I was trying to decide whether I wanted to have my hair up or down there was a knock at my door.

"This must be Jareth." I said to myself. "I told him I was only going to be a minute." I picked up my skirts, and walked over to the door, my boots clicking on the floor.

"Jareth I'm almost done, I- Oh!" I started before I looked at the person who was standing there.

Princess Marlys.

"Oh, hello, Marlys...Jareth isn't here. He has gone down to the dinner already. If he sent you up, you can tell him I am on my way." I said as I started to close the door, but Marlys stuck her foot in the doorway.

"What the hel-" I began, as she forced her way in, before pushing a cloth under my nose. It made me feel dizzy. I struggled to get away, but she shoved me back. As I collided with one of the dressers, the glass jars on the top came crashing down. I pulled away, and ran for the door, but she tackled me, pulling me to the floor. As she forced my hands away from my face and shoved the cloth over my mouth, my head began spinning. Everything became fuzzy, my vision out of focus.

The last thing I remember was a smirking Marlys before I fell backwards against the ground and passed out.

~*~

As I awoke, I was somewhat aware of cool, rough metal against my back; I could feel it through my dress…wait, I didn't have any sleeves or anything around my neck. I could feel the familiar twinge of discomfort in my ribs meaning that I still had the corset on and I felt the lace of my skirt on my ankle, but no boots or stockings. So, I had only my petticoat and corset on. I started to reach to my back to loosen my corset strings but I realised my wrists were chained to whatever I was pressed against, as were my ankles. I pulled at the chains, but there was no give. I was trapped. Suddenly, I heard a door open, although I couldn't tell where.

"You're finally awake…you aboveground slut." I heard a very familiar voice say.

"Marlys?" I said, my voice hoarse and scratchy.

"Yes, oh and congratulations on the little miracle. She won't last long, though." Marlys said as a bright light was turned on in the center of the room. I blinked as my eyes adjusted. Looking around, I saw that I was in a dank dungeon, the floor absolutely disgusting, the smell worse than anything had ever smelt. I heard the click of Marlys boots as she stepped towards me. She was wearing my dress.

"Why?" was all I could ask.

"Because you came into a world that you were not welcome in. I was supposed to married to Jareth. I was supposed to be the one wearing the beautiful dresses. I was the one who was supposed to go aboveground and I was the one who was supposed to be the one who Jareth fell in love with." She growled angrily as she came closer and closer to me. I was scared.

I was trapped, utterly defenceless. I was totally screwed if she got pissed at me. Where was Jareth? Did he know I was gone? Did he even care? And what did Marlys mean by 'Congratulations on the little miracle'? I couldn't be pregnant…could I? No, she has to be lying.

"But you still can have your way…" I said frantically as she walked to the door. "I can leave...send me aboveground!"

"I can't. Only the goblin king and the vampires can go aboveground." Marlys sneered bitterly before slamming the door closed, and I was left in the dark.

~*~

It felt like days passed by as I lay on the table, waiting for somebody, anybody to come back. I wouldn't have cared if it was only Queen Adrienne. Anybody would do. I heard the door open, and the light reappeared. It was Marlys again. She looked so sombre, as if she was going to say her last goodbyes to a dead relative.

"I'm sorry." She said plainly. I looked at her as if she had told me she was a guy and as gay for Jareth. "I don't really want to kill you; I would rather send you aboveground, fake your death and not have to kill you. But mother does want to kill you. She says that if we don't, Jareth will go looking for you. I love him, and I want to be with him and bear his children…but I don't want to tear him from somebody he loves. I tried to get him to forget Sarah by giving her cancer, but just as we were beginning to get close, you came along and ruined it all. I'm sorry, but by tomorrow morning, you will be dead. We will show Jareth your body, and although it will be a few years before he gets over you, that is the price I must pay." She said, climbing to her feet.

I thought she was going to leave but she only left for a moment before coming back in with a bowl of stew. She unchained my wrists, which, by now were numb, before handing me the bowl and a glass of Absinthe. I sipped the drink and scarfed down the stew, which was delicious.

"Thanks." I said with a half smile

"Don't thank me." She said bitterly, before getting up, taking the empty glass and bowl and leaving without another word.

~*~

She came back a few hours later and unchained my legs. I didn't bother making a run for it. If I was going to die tomorrow, I was going to go without being chained to the table.

"Thanks again." I said with a half smile, she returned it this time.

"I'm really, really sorry. I'm sorry about all of this…" She started, gesturing to the chains and the table. "You're really nice after one kidnaps you and gets to know you."

We both laughed. The smile faded from her face, and she leaned in towards me.

"I can help you get out." She whispered. My heart fluttered.

"You can?" I whispered back

"Yes, I can. I know you and Jareth have done it, and I want full details later, by the way. Anyways, what you can do is use the magic in you to call to him. It will pulse through his brain until he answers your call, and then you can tell him everything. Tell him my mother took you and locked you in the mutilation room and is going to kill you before the wedding. I don't want to get in trouble, but you can blame me if you want." She said with her head bent, a few tears falling down her cheeks. I took her head in my hands, and made her look at me.

She was a girl who was groomed to marry a king; she never had what I had. The more I thought about it, my life was so easy compared to hers. I was a spoiled brat worse than Sarah.

"I won't turn you in." I said softly. "I really think you're a good person, you've just been forced into a life of servitude to your mother. You're a good person when you don't have your creepy, scary mother with you." I smiled and she smiled back. She hugged me and thanked me.

"It's not a problem. You know, you should move aboveground. It's really similar to this only you have more freedom. I love it up there, but I like it here so much more." I said, thinking of all the fun I had here and then all the fun I had aboveground.

"Well, I have to go to see mother and brood and say I hate you and all that stuff now, but I will think about what you said. About moving aboveground, that is.. I'll see you later Casey. Oh, and don't forget what I said about using your magic to call Jareth." She said before slipping out the door.

~*~

I slept for about an hour before I woke up to the sound of the creaking door. I wondered if it was Jareth. I had sent him a message in my head but so far he had not responded and I was getting worried. What if he didn't find me in time? What if he didn't want to find me? What if what Marlys said was a lie? Tears welled up in my eyes as I realised that I really may die.

"After all this time, after all the drama, after being with Marissa again, I am really going to die…" I thought to myself in despair. I started to cry at the very thought. Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the hallway. And voices too.

"I swear Jareth," I gasped. Jareth…"Lady King is nothing here. I give you my honour." It was Queen Adrienne. I tried to cry out but I couldn't. I felt like my throat had closed up. I couldn't speak. What was the last thing I ate? The stew…

Marlys. She tricked me. I can't believe I fell for that…I am so stupid! I started to sob silently. I was never going to live…and all because I had fallen for her illusion. She didn't want to be my friend and help me escape. She wanted me to feel what she felt when I took Jareth from her.

So close to what I wanted but to be unable to see, and be heard by him. He would slip through my grasp.

I used the mind thing that Marlys told me about; she didn't lie about that.

Jareth, I'm here. Don't believe her, whatever she says.. I'm in one of the cells! I don't know which one…Please help me! I love you! I don't want to lose you!

"Queen Adrienne, what is behind this door?" I heard Jareth say as the familiar click of his boots stopped outside of my cell door.

Yes! Jareth, this is my door! Make her open the door, make her let you in! Please! I need you! Help me!

"Nothing, Jareth I-" She started before he cut her off.

"No, open this door. Now." He said angrily. I heard the opening of the door.

Yes! Jareth I'm here! I'm on the table!

Jareth stepped in and the lights flared. I blinked. Then I gasped. I saw the face of Adrienne. Not Jareth. I had dreamed the whole thing.

"Oh stop blubbering, you aboveground scum. It will be over before you can even blink." She scowled, rolling her eyes.

As I was staring at her, I saw from behind a bit of light, something I had never seen before. A window. A window in the corner. This could be my chance. Using my magic, I tried to contact Jareth like I had before.

'Jareth, if you can hear me, it's Casey. I'm in the mutilation room in Moraine Palace. Please hurry. Queen Adrienne and Marlys are trying to kill me. There is a window in the corner. Look for that. Please hurry; I don't have much time.' I kept repeating that phrase until I couldn't think of anything else.

That was when I noticed Queen Adrienne holding something gold in her hand. It was a dagger. A white hot, golden and very sharp dagger.

I began to struggle against the chains. I still had a little time; I kept repeating the phrase in my mind.

"Stop moving." Scowled Queen Adrienne, irritably. "You'll only make it hurt more. I am going to carve the mark of one of the anarchy gangs in the labyrinth. They are always looking to create havoc. That way, when we kill you, Jareth will hunt them down and not have a second thought about us." She said as she pulled at my corset strings. I started to struggle more, but the chains had tightened. Marlys was the one who pulled at the chains.

"You bitch! You're such a fucking bitch! You lied to me!" I screamed before I was backhanded across the face by Queen Adrienne. The slap was so hard that it brought tears to my eyes.

"Don't you dare call my daughter a bitch. You will be gone in no time and you don't want that to be the last words to cross your lips." She sneered as she took the knife and sliced at the corset strings. I started to cry. This was it. Suddenly, something caught my eye; rustling wings.

Jareth?

Yes my darling?

My heart skipped a beat. This was him.

Just in case, what was one of the first things I said to you when we first met?

Nothing really, you babbled.

This had to be Jareth. I felt the cool air of the mutilation room on my breasts and my nipples hardened.

Jareth you need to hurry. I need help! I'm going to die if you don't get help now!

As I was transferring this thought, I felt a stab of white hot heat in my side, just about where my ribs ended. I looked down and Marlys was holding my convulsing body down. I couldn't scream. I was in agony. I felt a sharp stab as the dagger was removed to heated up again. I was in so much pain that I could no longer think coherently. My thought we fading...I was going to pass out from the agony.

Jareth, you have to hurry. P-pl-ple-please. I managed to spit out in anguish before I passed out from the throbbing pain.

~*~

"I can't loses her! Father let me help! I love her too much! I can't go through losing another love! I won't let her die!" I heard Jareth scream as something cold was placed where the burning was.

Jareth, stop freaking out. I can hear you. I'll be fine but don't leave me, please. I managed to tell him. He gasped and took my hand,

"I swear I won't leave you. I swear I will never let this happen again. I got my father down here as soon as I could; he caught as much as I did. They will be banished to the aboveground forever, stripped of their powers and their memory of the underground. The kingdom will be given to Lord Maximilion; he is the most sensible choice. Father is healing the wound with magic now, and it won't hurt ever again." Jareth said as my side began to stop hurting. My vision came back slowly. I could see Jareth first. His hair was still a mane as proud as a lion's. His eyes were filled with concern and as soon as I could see I tried to talk. But I couldn't.

Jareth, I had some liquid that Marlys gave me and I can't talk. That aside, I feel much better now. Thank you.

Jareth repeated everything I said as they sat me up and made me drink several liquids. I felt so much better and tried to talk, finding my voice very rough. As I looked around, I saw we were still in the mutilation room. It was only Jareth, Azriel, Niamh and I. When I refused to look at the burn, Jareth told me I was fully healed, and it would never hurt again. It was scabbed over but it would never go away. Jareth even took my hand and made me trace the wound. It was cool and I didn't feel any pain when I touched it. The burn felt like a labyrinth of swirls and curves. I was actually quite embarrassed to find that nobody had covered my bare chest. My corset having being ruined, I had nothing on but my petticoat. I saw my cloak in the corner and motioned to it with my head. Niamh was quick to respond and came over with the silk thing quickly. I covered up with a blush. I saw my corset on the floor, covered in dirt.

"Darling, I'm so sorry! How could I have been so stupid? I should have listened to you when you said that they didn't like you. I'm so sorry." Jareth said hugging me close. My cloak, being tied around my neck, needed to be held closed and as Jareth hugged me it fell open, showing off my bare chest to the in-laws as I clung to Jareth. My built up emotions came out in one big sob. We sat together like that for what felt like all of time. Jareth eventually picked me up like a child, my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, he carried me like I weighed nothing. I sobbed into his shoulder like I was two. He shushed me the entire time. We walked through the castle but I kept my eyes closed. I didn't want to see the castle I was almost going to be killed in. I felt Jareth pick me up and place in a carriage. I was still crying.

"Jareth, your mother and I will take the other carriage. Take Casey home, put her to bed, and make sure she sleeps well, we can postpone the wedding till next week." Azriel said before shutting the door, I laid my head on Jareth's chest as I snuggled into his lap. I opened my eyes and wiped away all the tears before looking at Jareth.

"I'm sorry, I'm blubbering and I never bothered to thank you for finding me." I said roughly as I looked around in the carriage. It was a very nice carriage; the seat was comfortable. Compared to the table I was laying on for god knows how long, it was like heaven to my aching body.

"It's okay, I'm just so glad to find you're alright. C'mon you need sleep." Jareth said as he pressed a black button by his window. I gasped as the floor raised up to be the same height as the bench and grew pads, it was like the carriage was one big mattress. I laid down and so did Jareth. As I laid my head on his chest, he wrapped his arm around my body. I finally felt safe enough to sleep. I kissed Jareth softly before falling deeply asleep.

~*~

"Sweetheart, wake up. We're home. You need some sleep in a comfortable bed." Jareth said as he gently shook me awake. I woke up like a shot, the cloak falling open. I blushed as I rubbed my eyes. I still had not looked at the scar; I refused to see it.

I said nothing as I covered up again and crawled out of the carriage, Jareth following behind. The carriage pulled away. Within five seconds of walking towards the castle, Marissa came barrelling out. She was sobbing and as she clung to me, I begin to sob too. Marissa took my hand and led me into the castle and into my room. Jareth was hot on our heels but as he went to follow us into the bedroom, Marissa shooed him out.

"No, this really needs a sensitive hand; I think I will need to stay with her for awhile." Jareth nodded, grabbed a book and headed out respectfully. I just sat numbly at the fireplace. I didn't want to be in here; I just kept having flashbacks. I started to cry again as I looked at all the glass objects I could have broken to protect myself.

"Casey? Hun, are you okay? Do you want to stay in my room tonight?" Marissa asked and I nodded, too busy trembling and crying to make words. She helped me grab everything I would need for the night, my pillow, my nightgown, my robe. As we opened the door, Jareth was on the floor with his book and a floating flame. I wiped away all the snot and tears from my face as Marissa said that we would be staying in her room. Jareth nodded before picking up his things and moving to sit in front of Marissa's door.

~*~

Marissa was right that day in the garden when she said that she had a beautiful room. Her back wall was made of glass, and she could watch the sunrise in the mornings if she wanted to, and there was also a large black curtain if she wanted to cover the window and sleep in. She had a dome in the ceiling that looked like the night sky, similar to the one in Jareth's and my bedroom. Her bed frame was made of mirrors and her bedding was a deep red. She had the same bath as I did.

One of the first things she made me do was strip as she drew me a hot bath. I slipped in, barely talking. I would nod as a response but that was about it. I let let a few tears side down my cheeks as I thought how close I was to death. I could taste the copper taste on my tongue. Marissa helped me with the bath, taking a good look at the burn.

"It's not that bad; it looks like you got it done. You know like a tattoo but it's only like a burn. Hell, you may grow to like it…" She said as she dried me off and helped me slip into my nightgown. As she turned off all the oil lamps off and slid us both into bed, I said the first thing I had said since the carriage ride.

"I was so close to death… I could taste it on my tongue…I almost died and that's not what bothers me…what bothers me is what Marlys said. 'Congratulations on the little miracle.' Marissa...I think…I think she…I think she means I'm …I'm pregnant." I said before starting the endless crying.

I didn't stop until late in the night, when I fell into a deep sleep.

~*~

A/N-OHHHH DRAMA! =P

I love it, I have all the power. Well it is getting really close to the time where I need to get a move on cause it's…THE FINAL COUNTDOWN! BA-BA-BA-BUH-BA-BA-BA-BA-BUH! OMG! Ha-ha sorry I'm totally sugar high, I had an Amp energy drink and $5 worth of gummy bears and one bag of skittles, a coke and like 2 sprites. Yeah sugar made this chapter possible…THANK THE SUGAR!!! I also have to thank me new beta Cyllene! Without her, my grammar would suck potatoes o_0

As always, there are images in my profile to help you see the dresses and imporatant things better. In my profile now is the dress Casey would have work to the rhersal dinner and the burn. bear in mind it is a picture of a tattoo so you must think of it as a burn.

=P

Love and E-eatable, zombie gummy bears to all who review!

Xoxo

Always Running The Labyrith

Ps. Sorry Marissa, not a ton of you or your luverrr in this ;D