Just When You Thought It Was Safe
Author's note: Set in the universe of The Beast Within, where Jareth takes Sarah as his apprentice after she successfully beats her way through the Labyrinth.
How bad could it be? The words hung in my memory like a sing-song taunt as I looked at the foreboding vista before us. You'd think I know better by now than to even think things like that when it came to Jareth. Clearly, I had more to learn.
And Jareth, for reasons unfathomable, had taken it upon himself to teach me. One didn't look a gift nephil in the mouth, particularly when he had a wealth of knowledge I really, really wanted, and he was willing to share. Which explained how I found myself staring at...this.
The slime alone was nearly overpowering, let alone the random shifts of the squishy ground in the yellow-greenish light. I swallowed hard, my eyes watering at the stench, and breathed through my mouth. "I thought you said we'd start with something simple today."
"What do you think this is?"
The stench was working its way down my throat. "I think this is your sadistic streak showing through, sensei."
He flicked a finger, and my perceptions fluttered in a kaleidoscopic mishmash that left me heaving inches from the foul ground.
Great. My jeans were now soaked through with substances better not pondered. After a moment, I straightened. "Okay, point made. That was your sadistic streak."
"So much to learn, and so arrogant. You have no idea what sadistic is."
I could see where this was heading and clasped my hands together in proper penitence. "My apologies for mentioning anything about sadistic. I'm an irritating apprentice and damned lucky you're willing to teach me about the Chaotic Zone. Okay?"
His half-smile was all the answer I got.
Irritating bastard. "So, sensei, what simple thing are we doing here?"
His smile widened into something definitely more malicious. "Perception shifting."
"And we had to come here to do that? Instead of, say, a nice comfy good-smelling coffee shop somewhere?"
"Proper motivation is the best teacher."
"I really hate you sometimes."
"Only sometimes? I must be losing my touch." He flicked a finger again.
The world spun and I found myself heaving again.
He snorted. "Hopeless. You must control your mind, girl. I've told you countless times."
I wiped my mouth. "This is our second lesson on the subject."
"I shouldn't ever have to tell you anything more than once. No matter. That's why we're here."
The ground suddenly rumbled in a distinctly organic manner.
What the...he wouldn't. "We're in something's mouth, aren't we?"
"We are until you can manage to shift your perceptions enough to get us out of it. Or rather, until you can get yourself out of it. I of course will be on my way shortly." He cocked his head to the side. "This beastie is just waking up, I think. I suspect our scents are just now penetrating its salivary glands."
I stared at him.
"I suggest you stop thinking about creative ways to torture me, and focus on shifting your perceptions. Here, I'll get you started." He waved two fingers in a swirling gesture and the familiar miasma of visuals began flooding me as the bastard phased right the hell out to safety.
A thick dollop of slime landed on my shoulder. I heroically ignored it and the fact that my stomach was trying to crawl up my spine.
Breathe. Focus.
I reached for that glimmer of mental sideways that Jareth had showed me at the coffee shop last week. I would definitely be fantasizing about nephil-torture later on, but for now, I had to get the hell out of here.
Ah, there it was. And if that sideways glimmer had flickers of sunlight hair, crystalline eyes, and a devil mouth in it that I wanted to either kiss or smash my fist into, well, that was just par for the course at this point.
I stepped, leaving putrid slime and certain doom behind for whatever further delights awaited me on Lesson Day. Goddamned nephils.