A Tainted Land

A/N: How do you like the story so far? I'm working hard to keep it interesting. I really appreciate all reviews and they really do keep me pumped up to write. I love you guys and gals!

Chapter 6: Hope

Paramore- Last Hope

It's just a spark
But it's enough to keep me going
And when it's dark out, no one's around
It keeps glowing

And the salt in my wounds isn't burning anymore than it used to
It's not that I don't feel the pain, it's just I'm not afraid of hurting anymore
And the blood in these veins isn't pumping any less than it ever has
And that's the hope I have, the only thing I know that's keeping me alive

Alive

"We have to hurry, Micah…" murmured Sarah in an exhausted tone. Her eyes were droopy and her head pounded more the farther they traveled. "If she dies…" She whispered, her eyes glazing over as she thought back on that little wolf girl. Micah made a tsk noise under his breath and came to a stop.

"Shh…Sarah…We will save her…Do not give up hope…" he assured her with a warm smile. His eyes burned into her soul and she couldn't help but smile back. "We are almost on the coast…We will be there very soon…I must put you down now…" he told her as he slowly lowered her out of his arms and onto the forest floor. Sarah was woozy and waited for a moment with her hand on his shoulder before she tried to step away. "Are you well enough to continue? I am worried about your head…" he expressed with concern. Sarah waved at him with a smile.

"Us humans are tougher than we look, Micah! Don't worry about me…" she murmured as she pushed him forward with her hand. He chuckled and continued forward. They couldn't run through the forest any longer, it was much too dense and they would only end up getting hurt or tangled in vines. Sarah noticed it wasn't as dark as before, but there was still a dim gloom about the trees. "Why is it lighter here?" she asked as Micah stopped to help her over a large tree that had fallen across their path. He looked around as if he'd just noticed the difference and then he nodded in realization.

"It is because of the nearness to the water...to the other kingdoms…The Sirens are the final border between this kingdom and the Kingdom of Dóiteáin…" Micah explained.

"Dóiteáin? Isn't that Gaelic?" asked Sarah curiously. Micah nodded.

"Yes from your world that would be what it is…It means fire…" He continued. "The ocean changes as you continue across it…The waters get warmer and less dangerous…Some try to escape the forest by swimming the ocean but the Siren's normally kill them before they reach the warmer water…" he said sadly. "The water on this side of the border is frigid and can kill beings easily…but the Siren's are swift hunters and merciless killers…" He lifted some thorny branches from their path as Sarah moved past him.

"Well we will just have to be swifter…" Sarah said with a grin. Micah nodded grimly and they continued in careful silence. Sarah scratched her legs on thorns as they went and she also fell numerous times only to be snatched up from the ground by warm arms. Despite the warmth of her outfit, she could still feel Micah's warmth spread through the fabric and furs to warm her skin. She would thank him each time and he would merely nod as they continued. The path kept getting more treacherous by the second and Sarah was starting to think she wasn't going to make it.

How could they win when so many things seemed stacked against them? Micah murmured something about them being minutes away and Sarah nodded, sticking closer to his side as the vines and obstacles started to thin out, making it easier for her to walk without Micah's constant aid. "How is this going to work Micah? How are you going to get the pearl from the Sirens?" asked Sarah curiously. Micah turned to look at her and he seemed unhappy, like the idea of finishing the mission was really wearing him down. Just how dangerous was this going to be? Sarah shivered at the thought.

"I need to swim about twenty yards through the ocean and then dive down and follow a specific track…it is hard to explain what it looks like…once at the end of it, several more yards…there is a chest of pearls…I know it sounds silly…and easy…but the Siren's watch it…it is like a trap of sorts…but the pearls are of incredible magic…" he said softly.

"So what am I here for?" asked Sarah nervously.

"I am going to give you a time frame…if I do not return within the time given…You are to…follow…" he frowned and rubbed his forehead, obviously irritated. "I do hope that it does not happen like this…but you would hopefully serve as a distraction and I can get the pearl and you to safety…" he said with a sigh. "Do not fret, Sarah…" he assured her. "I will do all I can to keep you safe from the Sirens…"

Sarah nodded and smiled weakly at him. She really didn't like the sound of the Sirens, and the closer they became to the ocean edge the more her stomach started to hurt. It was nerves, she knew. But she was still in pain and she was scared regardless. Micah slowed down a lot more and finally came to a sudden halt. He turned to Sarah and took her hands in his own, pulling them up to his face. Sarah felt her body tense, her heart stop in her chest, and her eyes waver as she looked into the beautiful eyes that watched her so intensely. They shared no words, but she knew what he was thinking. He was scared, not for himself. He was afraid for her. Her safety. How this man had grown to care for her in such small span of time was strange to her, but in her chest she felt a tug of affection for him as well. It was strange, foreign to her. The emotion was something she had never felt before. It wasn't love, no, it was a bond though. It confused Sarah. "Micah…" she whispered. He pressed a finger to her lips and leaned in to place a kiss against her cheek.

Without another word he kept her hand in his and they stepped out of the forest and onto the sandy beach that bordered the kingdom. She felt a cold breeze slide across her cheeks and she shivered. There were dark waves crashing violently against the beach and small streaks of dim sunlight filtered through the black clouds above. It was not beautiful, and Sarah wished desperately for something beautiful, anything to tell her she wasn't in the kingdom anymore. But she was. She was stuck there for who knew how long and she couldn't do anything about it. She looked sideways at Micah and he pulled her down the beach, sand slipping into her simple shoes as she did so. The sand was not soft, but hard and sharp against her skin and she hissed as a large grain of sand cut her ankle.

"The sand here is just as deadly as the waters and forest…I am sorry I could not find better shoes for you…" Micah apologized. Sarah smiled and shook her head. They moved onto the wet sand near the crashing waves, it was more compacted there and she no longer sunk into the harsh pieces. Micah dropped her hands and peered towards the ocean. "It should take me no longer than five minutes…I am a fast swimmer…Count it, champion…Count the seconds on your hand and at five minutes I need you to come for me…" he pressed his hand to her cheek and his lips to her forehead. "Do not wear your cloak…it will weigh you down…Nor your shoes…I only hope I do not force such a danger on you…" He said as he turned and stepped into the water.

"Micah!" Sarah cried out, placing a hand on his arm. He turned slowly to look at her, a question on his face. "Be careful…please…" She whispered. He nodded and gave her a small smile before taking a deep breath and running into the water. His muscles rippled as he leapt into the air and then crashed down into the waves. Sarah's heart stopped when he disappeared beneath the water and she almost forgot to start counting. "One…two….three…four…five….six…." She continued counting, her voice cracking and her lips chattering from the brutal wind that started to blow against her. "twenty…twenty-one…" She squeezed her eyes shut and wrapped her cloak tighter around her body as she imagined what was happening under the dark waters. Was Micah alright? "Forty…Forty-one…Sixty…One minute…." She clenched her fists and felt her heart beating in her chest as she neared the second minute. Never before had she been so frightened, not even at the hands of Slevin and his monstrous followers. "Come on Micah…" she whispered as the third minute hit and she started to take off her shoes, her feet turning white with cold on the freezing sand. He wasn't coming. It hit her hard. She knew he wasn't going to resurface without her help and her heart stopped in despair and fright. What if she couldn't help him?

The fourth minute hit and Sarah took a deep breath and cried out, "MICAH!" she stared into the deep water and took off her cloak. Her small white feet padded forward into the icy water, a gasp falling from her trembling lips. The water was absolutely freezing cold, she wasn't sure she'd be able to move in it let alone swim to Micah's rescue. "Five minutes…" she squeaked as she suddenly took off into a run into the waves. Then she took a deep breath and dove directly into the water, her vision blurred for a moment as the dark water burned her eyes.

Many things happened for her at once. Terror seized her and determination replaced it. She was there to save a litte girl! A little girl who had done nothing wrong! A little girl and a mother were in pain and suffering because of what a monster did to their village and their people. Sarah was fighting to save the little girl, to return some shred of hope to the people who had been beaten down. She was going to save Micah and grasp that pearl firmly in her hand, and then she was going to rush through the woods to return it to the village. She had to. She had no other choice. Her wounds were nothing, her pain meant nothing, the only thing that was keeping her alive were the lives in her hands. So many lives. Without Micah she didn't know if the village would be safe from harm.

Her eyes narrowed, bright with spirit as she swam strongly through the water. It was then that she saw the trail Micah had mentioned. It was a strange glowing mist that seemed to float through the water. It was almost iridescent in color and it beckoned her closer, promising riches and happiness beyond her wildest hopes. She swam eagerly towards it and when she touched it she smiled, feeling a sudden warmth take over her body. Images flooded her vision and she wrapped her head around them, savoring each glimpse of her brother, her family, and even the Goblin King. She swam through the mist happily, swirling around in circles and playing with small fish that traveled by her. Their eyes glowing in a golden hue that reflected her face back at her. But then she stopped and frowned, her chest starting to ache from lack of air and it was then that she saw the demonic looking woman who glared at her from feet away. It was a trap. The mist was there to lure people in and distract them while they slowly suffocated, or while the Siren's snatched them up.

Sarah felt bubbles escape from her mouth as she screamed. Quickly she shut her mouth, trying to preserve what air she had left as she bolted down the pathway, ignoring the warmth that tried to work its way back into her mind. She was cold again, her body trying to fall numb from the icy water. The Siren made a deadly screech that hurt her ears as she swam away. It had reminded her of the mermaids she saw in story books back Aboveground, but horror induced one. It's tail was black and silver and much longer than that of her fantasy mermaids, and the tip of the tail had looked sharp, with several points coming off of it. It's skin was pale and the moon and it wore no shells to cover it's breasts. Instead they were plainly visible and large enough to tempt any man if he wasn't at first terrified of the Siren's other features. It's hair was black and long, flowing around it's head like snakes. The female had red eyes and a mouth full of jagged teeth, and it's scream was like a painful and angry wail.

Sarah moved as quickly as she could but the Siren caught her just as she saw Micah. He was wrapped in the tail of another Siren, her teeth assaulting his shoulder and his face contorted in pain. Sarah grimaced at the thought of being bit by one. The Siren after her grabbed her leg and yanked her back towards it and she kicked her legs furiously in attempt to break away. It wailed again and turned her around grabbing her by the throat in an iron grasp.

Jareth felt his heart explode when the two made it to the beach. He was so close to being able to help her. So close that it was killing him to watch any longer. He wanted to appear beside Sarah and wrap his arms around her, pulling her away from the darkness that was Dravyn's kingdom. "I will hurt you if she dies…regardless of our deal…" Jareth growled at the King who watched pleasantly from a few feet away. Jareth's fist clenched as Sarah dove into the water. Part of him was proud that she was so strong, and so determined to do what she needed to help. He was impressed that she was so brave, but the other part of him cursed her for being so foolish. It was a death wish to jump into the ocean with Sirens.

He watched her swim through the mist and his eyes widened when he watched her become engulfed in the mist's spell of warmth and wishes. There was a Siren so close to her, and it could kill her at any moment. But it just watched with an amused, crooked smile as she swirled around in the water, unaware of the time ticking away. Unaware of her life falling away.

"Come on Sarah!" he growled in frustration. It was then that she broke free from the spell and saw the Siren, bolting away into the water to find Micah and the pearl. It was too late. The Siren was on her in moments, snatching her up. "No…Noo.." Jareth groaned. Dravyn chuckled and clapped his hands in delight.

"Oh this will be fantastic…Will you run to her aid, Jareth? Hand her to me on a silver platter….She has twenty minutes left…twenty minutes to survive without your aid…" Dravyn chuckled and clapped his hands in delight.

Jareth was counting down every second until he could run to Sarah. But part of him dreaded what was going to happen. There was just no way she could survive a battle with Sirens. Yes she was the Champion, but he protected her from the true dangers of his challenge. His heart broke every second he watched the young woman fight. "Be strong..." he whispered.

Sarah struggled in the grasp of the Siren. Her chest was aching more painfully as her air was gone and she was going to soon either suffocate or drown. She lashed out, dragging her nails down the face of the Siren with force and then she kicked at the monster's stomach roughly. It screeched and let her go, holding its face while it wailed in pain. Sarah took no time to hesitate, she rushed towards Micah and she saw the pearls. They were sitting in a large chest, the lid open wide as the pearls overflowed down the sides and all around. They shone brightly under the water and it hurt her eyes to look at them as she grew closer. Micah wasn't moving anymore, but he was also alone. Sarah looked around for the other Siren and saw that she was reviewing her partner's injured face. Sarah grabbed a pearl and held it tightly in her hand as she grabbed Micah around the waist and started to swim back towards shore.

The Siren's were screaming and she knew they were screaming for help, for others to come to their aid and kill Sarah. Sarah shook Micah, begging him to wake up and help her, but he didn't budge. She choked, her vision going dim around the edges as she neared the monsters. One lashed out at her again, it's tail flinging out and it almost hit Micah. Sarah turned and took the force of the blow on her side, one of the sharp points putting a large gash in her skin. Pain exploded in her side and she used her free hand that didn't hold the pearl or Micah to scratch at the Siren closest to her. It dodged her for a moment but as it came forward to grab her Sarah was able to catch it. She pushed forward into the Siren and slipped her fingers deeply into it's eye sockets. The creature was not happy and lashed out with it's own finger nails, long cut forming down Sarah's chest where it made contact. Parts of her body were going numb and her limbs were slowing down as her body started to shut down from lack of oxygen.

She pushed past the now blinded beast and she was faced with the one she had scratched earlier. For a moment the creature appeared beautiful and Sarah knew it was a spell. Something that normally lured in their victims, but she wouldn't fall for it. Sarah smiled wickedly at it and it screamed in anger, speeding towards her. It was then that Micah woke up. He wasn't moving very well but he did manage to transform one hand into dangerous claws just as the Siren reached them, her jagged teeth ready to bite. His hand dug into it's stomach, but it kept moving, determined to take someone with her into her descent of pain. Pain shot through Sarah's shoulder as dozens of teeth sliced through her shoulder. The world spun and she pushed the Siren away with sluggish arms. Micah couldn't swim on his own, so together they swam as quickly as possible towards the shore. They had to get out of the water before the Siren's back up arrived or the two Siren's got their wits about them again.

Sarah felt sand beneath her feet again and she reached her lips up for air. Her face broke the water and she got a breath in before she was snatched out of Micah's grasp. His eyes went wide as he took went up for air, but she looked at him from under the water with a face that told him to go. He had a job to do.

She didn't have time to find out what his decision was because a Siren was pulling her towards the deeper water again by her ankle. Her lungs burned for more air and her body was still going numb from both her injuries and the cold water. She kicked out with her free foot and caught the Siren in the chin, it's head snapping back. In the moment of surprise she started to swim back towards the shore, continuing to kick the Siren as it grabbed at her ankles. Talons sliced her legs as she kicked, but she managed to evade each grab. Screams filled her ears as what sounded like dozens of Siren's filled the water behind her. She panicked and swam faster, some strength fueling her body with energy to get away.

She broke the top of the water again and gasped for air but she didn't stop moving. Micah broke the water just as she did and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the shore. Their feet splashed through the shallows until they were clear of the water and they collapsed onto the harsh sand. Sirens popped up above the water and screamed at them, making foreign cries and wails before they dove beneath the dark waters and disappeared.

Sarah lifted her hand up and handed the pearl to Micah who lie beside her. "Micah…" she whispered hoarsely, her voice not working right yet.

"Yes?" he asked roughly, his voice strained through both exhaustion and pain.

"You need to go…with the pearl…" She croaked. "To the girl…I can't travel…and you can't…carry me…" she gasped as pain shocked her body, "You can go alone…I know you can make it…She's running out of time…" She whispered, squeezing her eyes shut as she felt his hand take the pearl from her own. He wasn't his usual warm self, but she could tell that his skin was getting warmer by the second. He would recover from his wounds a lot faster than any human would or even could. He groaned as he pulled into a sitting position and looked mournfully at Sarah.

"Champion…" he whispered. "I thank you…you have done a great thing for my people…" He lowered his lips to her cheek and pressed a kiss to her skin. "You will survive…and I will find you again…" he promised. "I will be your warrior…for I owe you my life…and my village…" He pressed another kiss to her cheek and slowly stood up. He had to wait a few moments before he could move, but he knew that Sarah's words were true. He could not travel with her and make it to the village in time to save the little girl. "Thank you Sarah…" he said once more before he disappeared into the woods.

Sarah lie on the beach, her breathing shallow and erratic. Her shoulder was bleeding badly, the sand beneath her turning red and brown where it seeped from her skin. Her legs were a mess with cuts and scrapes, and her side was bleeding as well. Her body was frozen to the core and her head was aching again from the injury in the woods. She knew she wouldn't make it off the beach alive. But she didn't care. Sarah smiled. She knew that little girl was going to be alright, and that was all that mattered to her. "Things…could…be worse…" she moaned, her body spasming as pain shot through her. Tears formed in her eyes from the pain and fell down her skin, burning where they touched her cold flesh. She lay limp, staring into the sky above her. She thought about her family, and she thought about the life that the small wolf girl would have once she got better. Within a few minutes she was numb and couldn't feel the pain anymore. She continued smiling; knowing that the end was near and that soon she would be safe and warm again.

Her vision grew dim, darkness encroaching across her eyes and she saw a face above her. Her lips parted to speak but no sound came out, she couldn't speak to this new person. He leaned above her and she felt nothing as her vision gave out and she was plummeted into a dreamless state of unconsciousness.