Chapter 2

Ah Sarah, my sweet Sarah. How shall I get you back my dear? Shall I just whisk you here? Or should I try talking things out with you first? Six months. That's all I have to gain your love, trust, and memories. How I've longed for your love. Your soft lips against mine. Your sweet

touch when I'm feeling glum. Out of all the girls I bed, you're the only one I want. I could care less about all the other women. They are just my temporary entertainment. But you my dear, you are my real prize. You are the only girl I could ever love. And I shall win you. And you shall be mine.

Forever and always.

I sink deeper into my thoughts about Sarah. I need to start forming a plan to save my home. It isn't an easy feat, saving something you love so much. Nor is it easy to win over somebody's love, when they've already turned you down. And when she remembers, when she realizes what's

going on, she will reject me again. And now things will have to be done in such haste, that I hope I can get her to understand, even if I can't save my beautiful Labyrinth. "Sire, sire! I need your help, there was trouble in the hedge part of the maze! There is chaos, and I don't think me and my son

can handle it on our own. There are these big goblins, and they have taken my wife. I don't know where, and I cannot go on living if they had brought harm to her. Is there any way for you to come wi" I snapped the fingers on my left hand and nodded my head "It is done little one. Run along now, you will find your wife at home sitting in her rocking chair. Just as before. And when you get home, please say 'allo to a little worm for me."

He showered me in thank you's as he ran out the door. I just let out a sigh. I try my best to keep my subjects happy. It is not always an easy task. Sometimes, when I can't do something correctly, or someone is too gone to save, they freak out. They don't know what to do so they scream at me. They try hitting me, and they even spit on me. Of course I just sit there and take it. I know how grief is, and all I can do is try to calm them down.

I love my subjects, and want the best for them. They try to keep everything going as the world falls down. It's hard knowing everything is coming to an end. It really is hard to believe. I know I need to keep hope that Sarah will love me, but I just don't know how. Nonchalantly, I conjured up a crystal and whispered her name.

I looked into it, and saw her sitting with Toby. He is still such a lively little chap. They seem to be playing something called video games, and it appears they are having a great time. I'm glad they are having fun. It's nice to see smiles on their faces, and it makes me kind of sad knowing that those smiles might soon be erased. What I would do to keep a smile on her beautiful face. Maybe I'll just bring Toby home with us. I'm sure he would love it. There is always so much to do here. Like he could go to the Goblin's Market.

That was always such a good time, and when I went, I didn't always feel so empty. "Toby, you know there's no cheating on Rainbow Bridge! Come on, I wouldn't ever cheat on this. Play fair!" Sarah called out, interrupting my thoughts about the market. As I looked back into the crystal, I saw her shove him playfully. He just smiled widely and giggled. Well, I guess it was time to go above ground. This is going to be interesting.

"Alright, it's time for you to go to bed. It's already 11:30, and you have to get back to dad's house by noon. Now, march young man. I'll be right there to tuck you in." I yawned at Toby. I'm getting pretty tired myself; it had been a long fun filled day. And I'm glad I spent it with Toby.

I feel like I don't get to see him much anymore. I try my best to visit as often as possible, but I always end up losing track of time. I don't even realize that it has been weeks or sometimes months by the time I go to visit again. Never longer than two months though. But, I do call as much as possible. And I know Toby is getting a phone for his birthday, so then we can text all the time. Nothing fancy, just a nice little flip phone to keep in touch with family. It was Karen's idea. I was overjoyed when I found out that I could text him soon.

It was just so much easier than trying to keep his attention on me over the phone. All I know is that I needed to go to bed.

"Sarah! Let's make pancakes, with chocolate chips! And have chocolate milk! Or, lets totally have s'mores!" Toby shook me as aggressively as he could, which isn't much, and kept giggling as he woke me. I smiled at him through the blankets, grabbed him, and threw him into the air, letting him fall back onto my bed laughing all the way. "Alright munchkin, let's get you some grub!" I laughed with him. He just gave me a face.

He hated it when I called him munchkin. He said it made him feel he was a little kid still and 'he's turning nine in six months'. Which automatically makes him a 'big boy' in his eyes. And honestly, I think it's the cutest thing in the world. After finding all the ingredients for s'more pancakes, I started mixing it into a bowl while Toby was rambling on about the Deadpool movie and how he's mad that he can't go see it. "Well Tobe, its rated R for a reason. And that reason is because it's too dirty for younger boys like you. Me and you will watch it when you're older.

I promise you that, okay?" I looked over at him. He just shook his head yes and watched me stir all the ingredients together. Then I started cooking them in a big skillet I have. "I hope you like these. I heard that they're really good. It's a combination of what you wanted for breakfast, and we can also have chocolate milk. Remember, were still celebrating your half birthday until noon." I glanced at the clock and saw that it was 8:30. We had just finished up breakfast, and were starting to wash the dishes. "What do you wanna do today Tobe? We have a couple hours, and you get to choose. Maybe if I call and ask, I can keep you for longer, depending on what you want to do." I said, looking at him.

Shaking his head, he answered "Yeah that would be cool. Can we go to lunch and maybe a movie? Or go to the park and play pirates?" He looked at me. "Yeah, we can do whatever you want. It's totally up to you." I smiled at him. "Alright, then I choose to do all three! It will be a lot of fun. We can see the new Zoolander" He got all excited. I just couldn't turn him down. "Alright", grabbing my phone "Let me call daddy and see what he says." I went through till I got to my contacts, finding my dad's, and called him. It kept ringing until the last ring, and he finally picked up.

"Hey, is it possible for me to keep Toby for a little while longer? He wanted to get lunch, see a movie, then go to the park by home to play pirates. And he seemed really excited. Would that be okay with you?" I tried to talk quickly, trying to get a yes out of him. He told me he didn't care, make sure Toby was home by eight. So after everything was tidied up at the apartment, they headed out around 11:45 to get some lunch.

Toby had decided on going to Casa's. It's one of his favorites. He gets the cheese stuffed shells every single time. With a bit of chorizo. After lunch, it was time for the movie. We went in and got tickets. Then went to sit at the very top row. The best way to watch the movie.

"It was so nice of you to take Toby to do all of those things. I'm sure he had a great time" Karen exclaimed. She was washing up the dishes when we got there. I was still worn out from playing pirates at the park. "I know I did. It was weird at the park because I saw an owl in the tree."

I haven't seen an owl in the park since I was sixteen. Oh, it was such a beautiful owl too. It was a regular barn owl, but it looked soft to the touch in the setting sun. Almost as if it was mesmerizing. I have almost never seen anything as beautiful in the time of my life.

Just thinking about it now almost makes me want to run back to the park and try to get a sense of how soft and brilliant the feathers must feel running through my fingers. Shaking my head, I turned back to Karen and smiled at her. "Sarah, did you hear me? I asked if you were staying for dinner."

She said to me, confused. I just shook my head no. "I can't tonight. I promise soon though. I gotta go. I love you all." I quickly smiled at everyone, then strode out walking briskly to my car. I zoned out? I never zone out. That kind of thing just doesn't happen to me. It's never happened. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't think about it too much should I? Starting my car, I was well on my way home. I needed some tea.

I know she saw me in the park. She looked right at me, as I watched her playing pirates with her brother. But, she seemed to pause as she was about to 'stab a shark'. And looked up at me. And then she just stood there, looking at me. Her amazon green eyes feeling as if she's staring right into my soul. But, she wasn't. She was staring at me, sure. But not into my soul. She was staring at just me. Well, not me. The owl.

She was staring at the owl sitting perfectly perched on the bare branch. Watching over the park, the people having picnics, the families playing games together, and most importantly, Sarah and Toby playing pirates right in front of him. And how perfectly careful the wise bird sat. Not wanting to miss a beat of the world going on around him. Not his world, but a world. One that would help him get Sarah back.

One that he is fine being in as long as she's here too. I just shook my owl head and continued to watch them play pirates in that small clearing across the bridge. Just as I did all those years ago when Sarah would act out the book I left her. She had come here before the book, practicing Shakespeare. Wanting to be just like her mother. That's when I knew I loved her. There was just something about her. I just can't seem to put my beak on it.

She was beautiful in every way. The way she took it all so seriously. As if she had to get it just right or else she would feel as if she was failing. Which, she never failed. She did so splendidly every time, no matter what.

After looking around, I realized that I was completely alone in the park and it had gotten well past dark, I took off to the skies, and on my way home and I decided to swoop by Sarah's window. Not the one at her father's house, but her apartment.

I needed to make sure she got home safely. I had just a few more minutes before I was at her window, so I let myself fly without another thought. Just soaking up the way the wind ruffled my wings as I breathed deeply. Just taking in the clean air as I kept going.

Flying upon her window, I saw two shadows. But that couldn't be right. Sarah lived on her own. And she doesn't really have friends. She's kind of a lone wolf. Or, at least, that's what the crystals suggested every time I would check up on her. Maybe her mom was visiting.

But, the shoulders are too broad to be a woman's. Unless that was one ugly woman. But, they wouldn't be climbing into bed together. Or kissing.. Taking to the skies as quickly as I could, I had to get home that instant. Looks like getting Sarah would be harder than I thought.