Labyrinth Herbs and Birds

Chapter 15

I realized that I was in a cold dank place as soon as I opened my eyes, my head was still spinning as I stood up to gather where I was, and how to get out of it.

The room that I was in was dark with a cold breeze drifting into the room, causing goosebumps to appear on my arms and caused my teeth to chatter. I rubbed my hands and blew on the to get warm as I looked for any speck of light to shoe me the way out. It was hard to tell where I was, at first I assumed I was outside because of the cold air, but I could see only walls with no windows. As I took a few steps to the side I ran into what felt like a tree truck with a glass bowl on top. Whatever I hit must have activated something because the top glass lit up like a lightbulb, it looked like one of the crystals Jareth and Gareth used, but like the one Rudolf used before I blacked out: because it was red. Suddenly the entire black room became aglow with more tall tree trucks that held twisted branches that looked like fingers griping more red crystals. I tried to peer into one to try and figure out what it held when I was interrupted by a familer voice behind me.

"Oh good, you've awaken"

I glared as hard as I could and turned around to see him walking towards me at a smooth place as if he were just out having a morning stroll, admiring the crystals with his gloved fingers.

"You! You're the one who brought me here! Send me back!" I yelled, trying to sound demanding and not afraid.

He just tsk-tsked me with the shaking of his head as if I were a child, "I'm afraid I can't do that."

I fought to control my frustration, "why not?!"

Rudolf merely shrugged, "I haven't had the pleasure of your company, even though our first meeting was odd, and that clod of an oaf cousin of mine has been keeping you all to himself. Tell me, what does a little, pretty, mortal such as yourself, do to turn a king's head?"

I raised my eyebrows in suprise, why does he keep insinuating that Gareth and I were in a relationship?

"How many times do I need to repeat myself! Gareth and I are NOT a couple, he doesn't really like me half the time, he said that I was annoying and nothing but trouble..." Why did I feel sad telling him this, it was the truth afterall, Gareth did say those mean things to his brother and did fight with me often...well, not all the time...aaaahhhhhhhhh...my head began to hurt again.

Rudolf frowned and peered his head closer as if to examine me, "impossible! The fool has never looked after a female who isn't family before, and the looks he gives you is more than just curiousity!"

I backed away from the contemplating Fae lord and felt my back come into contact with one of the scary black twigs holding a glowing red crystal, the crystal gave off a chilling ice cold shutter on my back. As Rudolf continued to talk to himself, I tried looking around to find a way out, but it seemed that the room was a constant void full of thousands of glowing red crystals. Even if there was a way out of here, it would take too long, and Lord knows how dangerous this crazy fae was that held me here if I tried anything dumb too quickly.

I tried to change tactics and question him instead, maybe if I sounded more understanding he'll not hurt me.

"What exactly is your main goal in all of this?"

Rudolf flased his blue eyes in my direction, then raised an elegant glittered brow to my question, "Why are you so interested?"

I shrugged, "well, it would be nice to know why so many handsome men are trying to get my attention?"

It wasn't a lie, but I figured that attempting to butter up this wierdo's ego would ease the tension and get him to not feel like a mad animal around me.

Rudolf seemed suprised at first, then quickly recovered his face with a cocky smile, "Really? Do tell..."

Geez, that was fast, but maybe too fast...he could be just trying to play me. In my head, I was making gagging noises, sure this Rudolf guy was handsome (apparently all the Fae men I have met so far had this outward trait), but I could see how ugly he was inside the first moment I met him no too long ago.

"I-I'm just curious, you understand that don't you?"

Rudolf turned his head to the side and began sizing me up with his eyes that made me really want to punch him in the nose, but I kept my hands behind my back just incase, my fingers touched the red crystal to get it off my back.

Rudolf finally spoke, "I guess for a human you are at least entitled to learn what is going on around you, though I don't see why you need to worry your pretty little head about anything..."

I gritted my teeth for his insults an decided to play dumb, "True, true, but it does help to know what I'm getting myself into as long as I am trapped here."

Rudolf nodded walked closer towards me creating a red crystal out of no where and held it out to me, "Do you want it?"

"What is it?"

"It contains anything you will ever want or need in your life, I can make it all reality for you..."

I raised my eyebrow and smirked, inside I was able to see through his doubled-edged deal, who did this jerk take me for?

"What's the catch?" I asked nicely.

He smiled his sharp teeth down at me and began to stroke one of my wild curls with his fingers, I tighted my hands behind my back to keep from hitting this smug jerk.

"I only want you to work for me and I reward you well, and I'll give you the choice of staying or returning to your world, but in exchange; you help me destroy the two most powerful kings in the Underground."

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