AN: This chapter definitely ended up being way longer than I expected, and while I probably could've broken it up, decided against it. But I guess that makes up for the delay in the update, right? I'm certain there are still some typos/errors, so forgive me & my tired eyes!
Psychometry
Chapter Five
The Night Market
Sarah suspected she should've been at least a little bit concerned with how easily accustomed she became to talking with a cat and having it respond in return. If she hadn't been in the Erlking's domain, she would've assumed she had gone mad. But she was a quick study and learned that she couldn't take most things for granted.
Still, she found herself silently pinching her arm, just to be sure she wasn't dreaming.
"You needn't do that constantly," Erebus, the cat's name as she had come to find it, rebuked her. "I assure you I am most certainly talking and you are not losing your sanity. Well, for the most part," there was an edge of humor to his tone, one Sarah could only read as him mocking her.
"Forgive me for not expecting a talking cat," she griped.
Sarah leaned back into the plush armchair, reveling in the warmth of the fire coming from the hearth. They had found themselves currently in one of the numerous empty sitting rooms, and much to Sarah's surprise, the hearth had flickered to life, as if the castle had a mind of its own. She didn't think that was too outside the bounds of possibility, all things considered.
But she had other things preoccupying her mind, namely the cat sitting before her feet, stretching languidly by the fire.
"So why exactly did he turn you into a cat?" Sarah propped her chin into her arm, trying hard and failing miserably at not being nosy.
"That is a story for another day," he snorted. "All you need to know," he said, tail twitching - a gesture Sarah had come to quickly discover meant he was growing irritated - "is that Jareth isn't one to trifle with."
"That's all well and good, but how do you expect to help me then?" Sarah retorted. "How can I trust you if you won't tell me what he did to you? Maybe knowing could help."
"Knowing is one thing, being capable is another," Erebus hissed softly. Upon seeing her confused look, he released a sigh. "My curse is…complicated. It's not just something that can be easily undone."
"Do you have an idea on how?" Sarah worried her lip, wondering if Erebus' difficulties with getting out of his own predicament was a harbinger of her own trials to come.
His feline eyes narrowed, tail flicking softly. "Oh, I've had some theories, but it's nothing concrete. I'd like to think after nearly three hundred years I'm getting closer."
"Three hundred?!" Sarah couldn't keep her voice from pitching.
Erebus gave what sounded like a dark chuckle. "I forget you humans live such short, fleeting lives. Three centuries is hardly anything for an immortal, but it's still troublesome," his tone took on a brooding quality, and Sarah could easily sense the hatred he held for the Erlking.
She had to force herself to hold back more questions about the reason he was cursed. Perhaps it was her humanity, as Erebus noted, that made it impossible for her to conceive of such things, but the thought of being cursed for that long seemed like a death sentence. Despite any apprehension she had about Erebus, she could at least feel some measure of sympathy.
Another thought then latched on.
"Why help me?" Sarah asked, curiosity and suspicion mingling together. "I mean, it's a nice enough gesture, but…" 'but what do you have to gain?' were the unspoken words.
Erebus sat up straighter, gazing with those luminous yellow-green eyes. "I believe that in helping you, I may be helped too."
Sarah arched a brow. So there was another motive, as she had suspected, but it hardly made sense. "How do you figure that?"
"Call it a hunch."
Sarah stared for a beat before sighing, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I suppose you're not going to elaborate on that either."
Erebus leapt onto the arm of her chair, whiskers twitching. "You have power here, Sarah. That ring on your hand is proof of it."
Sarah felt her stomach flip at the mention of the ring, and she defensively dragged her hand from view, as if hiding it could make it disappear altogether. She had been trying her best to forget its existence, because if she thought about it for too long, it started to feel like her own kind of curse. It felt like more than just a symbol of marital vows…it felt like something deeper, something that she didn't understand, and she wasn't sure she wanted to. Worse yet, she didn't know how to describe it, but there was the sensation of being pulled, as if the ring itself were attempting to lead her somewhere.
Her mind fretted at the idea of that somewhere being wherever Jareth lurked.
Maybe it was fair to say she was cursed too.
Sarah shook her head, willing herself back to the present. She wouldn't bother thinking about what the ring meant. With luck, it would vanish soon enough. And if she didn't have luck, then she'd force the ring off.
Changing topics, Sarah asked, "What do you know of the labyrinth? Jareth said it was a cruel teacher, but I hardly know how to make sense of that." Her eyes glowed with challenge. "Surely you must know something?" Less a question, more a demand.
"Ha, there is one thing the bastard and I can agree on," Erebus scoffed. "The labyrinth rules over Jareth as much as he rules it. A sort of…mutually beneficial relationship. He maintains balance, and in turn, the labyrinth grants him many of his abilities."
"It grants him powers…? Are you suggesting it's some sort of…entity?"
"More or less."
"Huh."
With every bit of information Sarah gleaned, she felt like she was learning less. Nothing made sense here, and though she wasn't exactly dying to learn more, it also made progress feel fleeting. She just needed to get out before things took an even bigger turn for the worse. Sarah wasn't exactly sure how it could get worse, but she wasn't about to tempt the Erlking into proving her right.
"Well." Sarah patted the arms of the chair resolutely before rising from her seat. "I really need to get back to looking for some way out of here. I can't afford to waste more time."
Erebus jumped from his perch on the chair and stepped into her path. "Getting out of the castle is just one thing, Sarah. But it doesn't mean you'll escape."
Sarah's eyes hardened. "Yes, but it's certainly a start, wouldn't you agree?" Sidestepping him, Sarah moved for the exit before calling over her shoulder, "I'd love for us to help each other out, but it seems like you don't have the answers I'm looking for."
Sarah yelped and pitched forward when she felt the cat pounce onto her right shoulder. She hadn't heard him and certainly hadn't expected him to be so bold. "What's the big idea?!" She snapped, righting herself with indignation.
"Because, silly girl. I may not have all the answers, but I have the start of some." He paused, sensing she was hooked, paying attention to his every word. "And I do know how to get out of the castle."
Erebus hopped off her shoulder, landing before her and sitting with an almost aristocratic air. He somehow managed to pull off looking awfully pompous for being a cat.
But then, Sarah supposed he had reason to be, because she found herself replying, "Lead the way."
Sarah marveled at the way Erebus deftly navigated the subtly shifting halls of the castle. The more she paid attention to her surroundings, the more she noticed how easily the walls shifted, doorways blinking in and out of existence. The castle continued to give an air of being a living, breathing thing and one with a surprisingly mischievous countenance. Sarah maybe would've found it endearing in a fairytale-like manner had the circumstances been different.
Still, it unnerved her to feel like she was walking down a rather straightforward hallway, only to turn back and see a deadend from the way she came. Paintings and tapestries seemed to slowly fade in and out of her periphery, leaving Sarah wondering if she were going mad. It was unsettling to think what her time here would've been like without Erebus leading the way.
Sarah was pulled out of her musings when she noticed they had drawn to a stop before an unassuming wooden door. Glancing around, it looked like they were in some sort of room that had once been the kitchens, if she had to guess. Though from the looks of things, it seemed as if it had been out of commission for quite some time.
Erebus looked up at her expectantly. Sarah awkwardly fumbled for the door, belatedly realizing that as a cat, he wasn't exactly in possession of any thumbs.
She felt the air get knocked out of her when she opened the door to reveal an autumnal clearing, the day's last rays of sunlight filtering through fiery leaves. The air smelled crisp and clean, reminding her again of home. Sarah felt the ache for it intensify, but she squashed the feeling, worried that she would find herself in another tearful fit. She had to keep reminding herself that one way or another, she would be home soon enough.
"How did you know this existed?"
Erebus gave what looked like the cat equivalent of a shrug. "Call it intuition. And I've had more than enough time to prowl around."
Sarah accepted this, already distracted by the small wooden shelter off to the side, nearly blending in with the tall trunks of the maple trees surrounding it.
She felt her heart kick up despite herself, anticipating that it was a stable and was elated to find proof of this with the horse inside. It was a small, gray dappled mare, neatly tucked away in a stall. It looked to be the only beast, and while Sarah was more than excited to see one - she had always loved the thrill of riding her own horse back home at top speed - she had to wonder who was taking care of it.
"Aren't you a lovely thing?" Sarah cooed, gently walking up to the mare and stroking its nose. The horse gave a soft snort in response, ears flicking back appreciatively.
Erebus hopped onto the stall door, eyeing the horse with thinly veiled disgust. "They're dumb beasts. I don't know why you're treating it like anything other than such."
Sarah gave a small smirk. "Don't worry, I think you're a lovely thing too," she mocked, gently scratching the space between his two ears.
Erebus scowled, giving the softest of hisses. "That's wholly unnecessary."
Sarah shrugged before making her way to the wall where she found the horse's gear. She found herself running on muscle memory, having saddled up her own horse plenty of times. The stableboys had long ago given up trying to prepare her horse for her since she always insisted she do it herself. That, and the fact that her horse had a rather ugly temperament with anyone besides her.
When Sarah secured the girth for the saddle, Sarah patted the mare's neck. "I wonder what your name is?"
Erebus groaned, sensing Sarah's attachment to the animal already.
"Don't be such a grouch," she groused half-heartedly. "Maybe I'll just call her Mist."
"Very original."
Sarah scowled but didn't bother to snark back. She figured at this point, Erebus was a grump just to be a grump. A sourpuss, Sarah inwardly cackled at her own pun before turning to give an expectant look at the sourpuss in question.
"Where to?"
"The Night Market."
"Sounds foreboding," Sarah remarked. "Should I be worried?"
"Not at all," Erebus replied jovially. "In fact, I think we'll find plenty of useful information there."
"You're certain of this?"
"Of course."
Sarah sighed before leading Mist out of the stable. She would've been lying if she said the setting sun didn't provoke some fear. This place seemed frightening enough as is, but she hardly knew what to expect when night fell. What creatures lurked in the shadows.
But Erebus seemed confident this Night Market was worth going to, so she wasn't about to argue.
Sarah raised herself into Mist's saddle with fluid grace, having done this hundreds of times before. Erebus leapt up onto Mist before bounding up to Sarah's shoulder, his favored perch.
"Follow this dirt path and keep heading north. The Night Market will reveal itself at the Broken Maw."
Sarah wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Broken Maw? What is that supposed to be?"
Erebus yawned. "You'll know when you see it." Stretching across her shoulders, wrapped like a fur around her, he then added, "I'll be here to point it out in the event you somehow do miss it."
Sarah rolled her eyes before urging Mist forward. She got the feeling Erebus would be down and out for the count soon enough, giving into the instinct of a catnap.
Sarah kicked her heels lightly against Mist and they were soon off at a comfortable trot, the path too narrow for now to go any faster. Sarah felt the tension in her shoulders and back loosen the longer she remained astride Mist, finding relief in the familiar motions.
She thought maybe she was getting too relaxed, for her eyelids began to droop as the sun sank lower. Sarah jolted, cursing every time she felt her eyes shut entirely. Now more than ever she couldn't drop her guard.
Deciding the best way to stave off the urge to sleep, Sarah turned her head slightly to Erebus. "How close are we?"
He was silent for a moment, and Sarah began to worry he was passed out before he softly replied, "Close."
Sarah pursed her lips. "Should I be worried about what's lurking out here?" She cast about, eyeing the dark trunks of the trees surrounding them. Despite the setting sun, the leaves didn't seem to lose their bright colors, mimicking fire raining down upon them. Sarah's vision grew hazy with sleep, and the red leaves began to transform into something more sinister, like blood weeping from the branches. Sarah shook her head with a start, relieved to see the leaves return back to just what they were - leaves.
She couldn't tell if it was her tired mind playing tricks on her or the labyrinth itself toying with her senses, but she felt nervous energy thrum through her body. Mist must've felt it too for she began to stomp this way and that, nervously flicking her ears back. Sarah fought to regain control of her fear and the reins, gently guiding Mist back onto the path.
Erebus twitched his tail in response to Sarah's heightened fear. "What you should be worried about is Jareth, and you've already dealt with him a handful of times it seems." He sounded more confident than Sarah felt, but she accepted this as answer enough.
She was more than grateful to see that as the path continued forward, the trees began to thin out gradually, until there was nothing but gently rolling hills on either side. In a way, she felt more open to danger given how exposed they were, but at least if any predators saw her, she would also see them.
They continued on the path, with Sarah comfortably kicking up the pace once there was significantly more space. She couldn't help but give a soft whoop of joy as she felt the wind tangle through the loose strands of hair from her braid, whipping her cheeks with their cold touch. Even Erebus' claws digging painfully into her shoulder to hold on couldn't stop her happiness.
Eventually, Erebus demanded that Sarah come to a halt, noting they were almost there. Sarah wasn't sure how he knew, given that she didn't see anything standing out. He had said to look for the Broken Maw, but it was hard to know what to look for when she had no idea what it was in the first place.
"There," he announced, leaping off her shoulder and onto the ground. Sarah frowned, wondering what caught his attention.
"What are we looking at…" she trailed off hesitantly, craning her neck around to see if anything was lurking in the fast-fading twilight. "Oh."
Like a veil parting the sky, Sarah was stunned to see an old, gnarled tree standing a ways off to the right side of the path. Its branches were bare and twisted grotesquely, reminding Sarah of a beast's sharp claws, reaching out to grab its latest victim. She instinctively wanted to flee, and took equal parts comfort and apprehension when Mist appeared to be shying away nervously as well. Perhaps she was only reading Sarah's discomfort and assuming there was a nearby threat.
"Shh," she idly patted Mist's neck, never taking her eyes off the tree.
Upon closer inspection, she could see that the tree had what looked like an uncanny imitation of a face, with two small slashes in the trunk for eyes and its mouth open in a grim, jagged smile. It looked like sharp teeth, and suddenly Sarah understood why it was called the Broken Maw.
"That's a little frightening," Sarah admitted, waiting for Erebus to guide her through the next steps.
"It's the marker for the Night Market. The only way in is through here." Sensing Sarah was about to launch into a thousand questions, Erebus quickly continued. "The Night Market doesn't reveal itself to just anyone. It's a rather secretive affair, but if you can find the entrance and pay the price of admission, you should have no trouble."
Sarah balked at this. "Price of admission? You never said anything about that!"
Erebus flicked his tail nonchalantly. "It shouldn't be an issue."
"That hardly illuminates anything," she growled in response. "So how do we enter?"
Erebus gave what looked like an attempt at a smile, his sharp teeth poking out. "That ring on your finger and a drop of your blood."
Sarah clutched her hand defensively. "I don't think so."
One of Erebus' ears swiveled. "Why ever not? If you want to beat Jareth at his own game, there's no shame in taking advantage of the privileges that ring grants you." Seeing Sarah was hardly swayed, he pressed on with, "and as you yourself know, his magic has touched you. It exists within you - the labyrinth's magic - exists within you. Even if it is just a drop, it's still there nonetheless. That is guaranteed to grant you admission into the Night Market."
Sarah eyed Erebus for several moments, processing what to do with this information. She also wondered again why and how Erebus seemed to know so much about her. Finally shaking her head, Sarah scoffed. "Fine, I'll do it." Dismounting Mist, Sarah stalked over to the tree and Erebus.
"Perfect." Erebus then struck at Sarah's hand without warning, so fast that Sarah didn't even realize he had left his spot by the tree's roots. "Hey!" she cried, snatching her hand back. "What the hell was that for?!"
"The necessary blood to open the barrier to the Night Market." He said this as if he had been abundantly clear about the next steps.
"You could've warned me," Sarah hissed, walking over to the tree and facing the Broken Maw. Gazing with irritation and confirmation, Erebus nodded when she held her bleeding wrist to the jagged maw waiting for her.
The moment her blood touched the wood, light shined from within the maw and Sarah took a stunned step back. Gold light shimmered for a few more moments before the air around her seemed to shimmer as well, as though she were gazing into the rippling surface of a pond.
"We're in," Erebus declared triumphantly. "Just continue on the path."
Sarah frowned but grabbed Mist's reins and slowly proceeded down the path. She felt a small crackle of energy as she passed through the invisible barrier, not sure what had changed otherwise.
But it seemed the labyrinth would continue to surprise her time and again because the moment she stepped fully through the barrier, an explosion of sensations overwhelmed her. The quiet path suddenly wended itself through a myriad of colorful tents, with voices from all sides hawking their wares. She smelled the most delicious scents, her stomach growling in response, and she could see a rather eclectic gathering of beings. Some looked more human, but she had also assumed the same of Jareth, and she couldn't have been more wrong about that.
Well, that's not entirely true. You knew he wasn't quite ordinary…If only that suspicion had protected her from her current predicament.
She felt like she needed a moment to sit, but Erebus didn't offer her the chance.
"This is the infamous Night Market," he sounded amused as he resumed his perch on Sarah's shoulders. "Denizens from all over the labyrinth jump at the chance to be a part of it."
Sarah cast a mesmerized stare at the affair, finding the whole setup almost charming. If she hadn't known better, she would've assumed she had stumbled across a village town square back in her own home. Not that she had been able to go often, but it looked remarkably similar. Absently, Sarah tied Mist's reins to a nearby tree, not wanting to try and maneuver the horse through the crowded streets.
Sarah paused at nearly every stall despite Erebus' complaints, wonderment evident on her face as she saw the strangest wares being sold. Jars containing fairies that could grant the owner any wish but only once, animal parts to use for elixirs and tonics, fabrics that looked like they had been spun from starlight. She saw old tomes that were scrawled in languages she couldn't understand and crystals that seemed to twinkle in the firelight, promising great magic. She was afraid and excited all in one breath, unable to resist wondering what it would be like to live in this kind of world.
But most of all, the smell of food wafting through the air was impossible to ignore. Sarah should've felt more cautious, given what happened with the peach, but it became abundantly clear that she had skipped one too many meals. She figured the castle could've likely procured some food for her if she had wished for it enough, but truth be told, she hadn't been giving it that much thought as her mind had been preoccupied with escape.
"We should move, and quickly," Erebus drew Sarah out of her thoughts, deftly squashing any plans for grabbing a snack. "There's someone who I believe can give us some answers. Or at least get us one step closer." He hopped off her shoulder and turned to look over his shoulder. "Follow me."
Sarah shrugged and ambled after him, but slowly found herself struggling to catch up. She couldn't help but think he was purposely trying to lose her, toying with her, though it wouldn't benefit either of them.
Sarah apologized distractedly as she pushed past other revelers, but they seemed to pay her little mind. Glimpses of his black fur twinkled in the firelight, but Sarah began to worry she would actually lose him.
And while the Night Market was intriguing, Sarah had the feeling it wasn't the type of place a mortal girl should be caught alone in.
"Erebus!" She called after him, grimacing when she was pushed back by the current of shoppers going in the opposite direction. "Wait up!"
Sarah finally pushed past the throng of people and took a tentative step in one direction before pausing and stepping towards another. She got stuck in this lock-step pattern of indecision, futilely hoping Erebus would reveal himself.
If the crowd of people around her noticed she was lost, they seemed to ignore her. But Sarah didn't miss the sensation of her skin crawling, eyes staring and assessing her; she knew she stuck out like a sore thumb. One look and it was clear she held no powers, no otherworldly attributes. She was a mere human, and Sarah knew that in the labyrinth, it had to be considered a weakness.
She screwed her eyes shut, wishing she could just disappear. The sounds around her became distorted, no longer merely laughter and a myriad of voices in rapt conversation, but a cacophony that assaulted her senses. Blood roared in her ears as her heartbeat quickened. Breathing felt like a suddenly insurmountable task.
Sarah jolted when she felt a warm hand land on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
Sarah traced the hand, scaling past the wrist, up the arm, and to the broad shoulders of a man standing before her, golden eyes shining with nothing but concern.
Breathing felt like an insurmountable task for an entirely different reason now.
"N-no…I mean, yes! I…" She trailed off, unsure of how much she could trust any denizen of this realm. "I just lost sight of my friend." She was being truthful. Well, mostly. The fact that her friend was a cat was less important.
"Ah, it can be tricky navigating these crowds." His smile opened up his demeanor, and Sarah found herself helplessly floundering. "Do you know where your friend was headed?"
Sarah shook her head. "Oh, no…I suppose that would've been important to know ahead of time," she laughed weakly, feeling a little sheepish. "It's my first time visiting," she blurted, suddenly embarrassed at how pitiful she must've looked, if how she was feeling was any indication.
"Well that explains it!" The stranger expressed lightheartedly. "The first time attending one of these markets is always overwhelming."
Sarah offered a tentative smile, certain he was only trying to assuage her feelings of embarrassment for looking like a lost fawn in search of its mother.
"I'm Herla," his hand had trailed down her shoulder without her notice, where it ultimately enveloped her own. Sarah felt like she was suddenly talking to a nobleman. "And you are?" His eyebrow quirked upwards playfully, and Sarah felt her face flush much to her annoyance. Sarah had seen handsome men before, so she really needed to get a grip.
"Sarah," she responded softly.
Herla broke out into a grin. "Sarah? The Sarah? Bride of the Erlking himself?"
Sarah felt like she had been struck. "How did you know that?!"
"Why, everyone knows."
Sarah suddenly scanned the crowds, more acutely aware now of the passing glances and arched brows. Perhaps it wasn't just that she was a mortal girl, but that she was the bride of the Erlking, that made her stand out. She didn't know how that could be possible, seeing as they had only had their farce of a marriage happen hardly less than a day ago. But then, there was clearly more to the labyrinth. For all Sarah knew, she could've been walking around with a banner screaming, "I'm the Erlking's bride!"
Shaking her head, Sarah chose to clear her throat and paste on a smile. "Well, that's…lovely. But I must get back to finding my friend. It was lovely to meet you." She extricated her hand and gave one of her best curtsies before moving to brush past.
Herla grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but still gentle, as if he was politely insisting she stay. "Perhaps I could help you look for him?"
Sarah pursed her lips, slightly taken aback at how bold he was, but the thought of navigating the crowds by herself made her throat close up. Even if she suspected that everyone did in fact know she was the Erlking's bride, she wasn't sure if that would be in her favor or not. Given Erebus' hatred for Jareth, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think he had other enemies. It wasn't any different for her own family after all.
"I would like that very much," she said in earnest.
"So who are we looking for?" Herla asked as they made their way back into the crowd, offering his arm.
"Ah, his name is Erebus," Sarah replied, scratching awkwardly at her cheek. And by the by, he's a cat. No, that would only certify her as a nutter. Although…maybe here in the labyrinth, that wasn't so far-fetched. It could've even been downright pedestrian to know a talking cat.
Even so, Sarah decided less information was better. Until she knew who she could trust - and quite frankly, she only felt forced into comradery with Erebus - Sarah would keep her lips sealed.
If Herla thought it strange that Sarah offered no more, he didn't let on. He simply continued strolling, humming lightly to himself. Sarah knew she should've been keeping an eye out for Erebus, but she couldn't help sneaking covert glances at Herla.
Had Sarah not been in the labyrinth, she would've taken him for a human. But scrutinizing him further left her with the impression that Herla was decidedly not. It was subtle, but it was the same way she felt when looking upon Jareth. He seemed almost too breathtaking to be real…to be human.
"Haven't you ever been told it's not polite to stare?"
Sarah started, face flushing red with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I was only -"
She stopped short when she saw that he was smirking softly, a glint of humor in his amber eyes.
"I was only kidding," Herla saved her from further humiliation. "Truthfully, I don't mind the staring," his voice seemed to dip ever so slightly as he leaned in conspiratorially, and Sarah felt her stomach twist. "Although." He straightened, dusting at his cloak with his free hand, "the way you're staring seems more like you wish to interrogate me."
"Well…if we're being truthful," Sarah replied, mustering up as much false bravado as she could, "I was just wondering whether you were human or not. I'm going to guess there's a strong chance you aren't."
He grinned. "You'd be correct. And based on your expectant look, you then are wondering what I am?"
Sarah had the decency to look slightly guilty but didn't deny it.
"Let's just say it's too complicated to explain all neatly wrapped with a bow. But I suppose you could say I'm an immortal. Much like your Erlking."
Sarah sighed, figuring as much.
They walked in what felt like an almost companionable silence. Sarah kept watch for any flashes of Erebus, but it was an unforgiving task given the sheer number of people and distractions. Irritation swelled in her chest when she thought of how carelessly he ran off. She couldn't believe he'd just leave her like that! Especially when they had come here together with a plan to seek some answers.
Note to self, I'll wring his little neck the next time I see him.
Sarah's murderous thoughts were interrupted when she noticed Herla had pulled them both to a stop.
He was looking at an old tent, one that appeared to have had the color leached out of it over time. It stood small, dull and tattered next to its grander, more vibrant neighbors, and nobody stood outside to reel people in. A barely noticeable wooden sign hung above the entrance, the faded etchings of a language engrained in it that she again could not understand.
But Herla seemed to know what it contained inside, and a mischievous grin spread on his face. Sarah felt unsettled by the tent and even more so at the idea of what it could contain. But looking at the smile on Herla's face somehow relaxed her, even if only marginally. She couldn't help but notice how boyishly-handsome he looked when his eyes crinkled like that.
"What do you say we take a break looking for your friend? You said it's your first time coming to the Night Market, so you should at least properly partake." The full force of his smile directed at Sarah made her cheeks flush.
A large part of her berated her for getting reeled in so easily, especially when she had a decidedly super important task! She needed to find Erebus, she needed to find answers. The last thing she should've been doing was entertaining this immortal who showed up seemingly out of thin air. Her mind prodded her with a healthy dose of suspicion, asking her to consider why he approached her and sought her company.
But the part of Sarah that had been kept locked away as the delicate princess, forced to endure failed proposal after failed proposal, mired in insidious rumors about being cursed (and subsequently discovering that thanks to Jareth, it wasn't entirely untrue), relished the idea of acting like a lovesick girl, running off to have clandestine fun. She and Tanya used to laugh at the idea of running away from it all, living their lives in complete anonymity.
And here an opportunity finally presented itself to momentarily forget about everything that had gone wrong in her life up until now.
Sarah would later wonder if it was entirely her own lapse in judgment or if it had been the labyrinth once again exerting its influence over her, but she found herself agreeing to follow Herla into the tent.
Upon entering, Sarah's eyes had to adjust to the significantly dimmer lighting. She was surprised to see that it was mostly bare inside, save for four lanterns, one propped in each corner of the tent, and a small, circular wooden table in the center with two candles atop it and a mirror as well as some unoccupied stools. A cabinet stood sentry towards the corner behind the table.
"What is this place?" Sarah whispered, afraid that her voice alone could invoke something.
"Have you ever wished to have your future told?" Herla asked, his voice dipping low conspiratorially, though Sarah suspected he was only humoring her hushed tones.
"My…future?" Sarah stared at the center of the tent in consideration. She didn't know if such a thing were possible, but if it was, then she absolutely believed it'd be possible in the labyrinth. But more importantly, did she want to know?
She swallowed her fear and considered that Herla may have just led her to something important, something that could offer her answers she was looking for. Knowing what her future held could at the very least give her some hope that she could get out of here. Or it may shatter those hopes, the pessimistic side of her reasoned.
Either way, she was here now, so why not take the risk?
"I suppose that could be…fun."
Herla offered one of the seats to Sarah and sat down next to her. As Sarah fussed about with the stool, she suddenly felt the sensation of a new set of eyes on her, and looking up, she let out a gasp.
An old woman sat before them, hands folded politely on the table with an expectant look on her face.
How the hell does this keep happening?! Sarah began to wonder if her vision was slowly fading given how things seemed to appear as if out of thin air. She didn't think she would ever get used to this.
"Well?" The old woman stated, raising a brow expectantly.
"Um…" Sarah fretted, her thoughts suddenly clearing out of her head entirely. All intelligible thought vanished, and she looked to Herla helplessly.
"She would like her future read," Herla grinned, charisma radiating off of him.
"Ah, now that will certainly be interesting." She got up from her seat and walked over to the cabinet. She hummed idly as she rummaged through before producing a small vial and a jeweled stopper.
As she sat back down, Sarah felt some of the curious excitement fade into apprehension. This suddenly felt like a bad idea, and though the woman didn't appear to have any ill will, there was something about her that gave Sarah pause.
But Herla appeared entirely unbothered, and Sarah supposed that she'd just have to take a page out of his book.
"So, the bride of the Erlking wishes to see her future?" The old woman asked, settling back into her seat opposite the pair. "I wonder what she worries about." A knowing smile quirked her lips. Before Sarah could ponder this, she continued. "In order to obtain knowledge this great, you must first offer a sacrifice of your own."
"Sacrifice?" Sarah repeated, incredulity lancing her words. "I don't think I can…I don't know what that entails." Her heart started pounding in her chest, and she fought the urge to bolt out of her seat right then and there. "I didn't realize…" she canted her head to the side, giving a suspicious glance to Herla.
Herla, however, continued to remain at ease, his posture emitting casual nonchalance. But Sarah didn't miss the tensing of his fingers, the glint of shrewd assessment in his eyes.
"Come now," the woman cajoled. "It's nothing to worry that pretty head of yours over."
She got back up to retrieve more items from the cabinet. The old woman ambled back over and set to work on what Sarah now saw was a mortar and pestle. The scents of cardamom and cinnamon slowly permeated the air, and Sarah felt like her thoughts were getting stuck in sludge. Her eyelids grew heavier as the woman prepared three cups of tea.
"Simply drink."
The instructions hung forebodingly in the air. Despite Sarah's sluggishness, something told her to pause.
"The sacrifice?" She asked, allowing her fingers to loosely encircle the cup.
"Choose to seek a fragment of the future, and you must give up something learned from your past."
"Oh. Well, that can't be too bad, then." Sarah bit her lip, wondering if maybe she could unburden herself of some rather embarrassing memories. Or perhaps some of the nightmares that had stuck with her. She would've loved to forget Jareth, but that didn't seem like the smart call to make while she was still in the labyrinth.
The old woman's eyes crinkled, as if sensing the trajectory of Sarah's thoughts. "The catch is that you do not choose." The words were said not unkindly, but Sarah felt a prickle of mistrust all the same. She couldn't help but feel like the woman, and Herla, were in on some joke and she was being left in the dark. A stupid, mortal girl who was far too trusting and way in over her head.
"Then how do I know if it's worth the risk?" She shot back, a flare of stubborness cutting through the haze.
"That's precisely the point. Great rewards come with great risks."
No, Sarah thought, this is enough. I'm done here.
Sarah made to rise from her seat, but Herla caught her wrist again, and she didn't mistake the urgent look in his eyes, even if he tried to project an image of good humor.
"You should just try it." His eyes locked onto hers, as if he were trying to communicate something more. Sarah studied him for several moments, brows furrowing as she looked at him, truly looked at him.
"Why do you care so much whether I follow through with this or not?" It was supposed to be fun, she thought as she mulled over Herla's earlier claims of wanting to show Sarah the more charming aspects of the Night Market, but she wasn't having fun anymore. And she didn't want to be here.
"Because you and I are on the same side." His voice became husky and low, his thumb slowly rubbing her inner wrist.
Sarah frowned, unsure of what he meant, but found herself slowly sitting back down all the same. She couldn't tell why she humored him, but it also didn't feel like she was entirely in control of what was happening. The haze returned with a force, and Sarah slowly turned to look at the steaming cup of tea. The strong smell of the spices threatened to overpower her as she lifted the cup to her lips.
"I don't…This isn't right," she murmured as she lifted the cup closer. "How can I trust you?"
"Just remember, Sarah. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
The warm liquid slipped past her lips and down her throat. Sarah felt her mind suddenly going blank as panic seized her at the same time. Stars seemed to burst behind her eyelids, and she felt herself pitching forward.
The last thing she felt was Herla steadying her back while she heard the old woman unstopping the vial.
The world around her completely faded then, and a final thought echoed through her head.
What have I done?
AN: As always, I love to hear your thoughts/feedback! Until next time.
