.
.
Chapter Twenty-Five
.
.
"My parents are
where?" Lizzie's voice bordered on shrill and Randoly restrained his reflex to cover his ears with his hands, as it would appear unseemly, rude, and extremely dishonorable. He did, however, purse his lips and squint ever so slightly. The princess noticed and scowled.
"Councilman Randoly," she said, voice heavy with frustration, each word spoken clearly and with great deliberation, "You're telling me that the Council, led by Tignach, banished my parents into the Void after stripping them of their magic." It was not a question.
Cautiously nodding, Randoly thanked the gods for the agreed upon truce as the princess's face hardened. Her friends' faces seemed just as brittle; the consequences of his actions—or inaction—settled firmly upon his breast and he swallowed heavily. The Gryphon sitting behind the princess lowered her head as if preparing to strike, snapped her vicious beak, and hissed. Lizzie glared at Randoly until he feared his clothes might combust.
"And your part in this plot?" she asked, her icy voice contrasting with her fiery gaze. Randoly stumbled over his next words rushing to explain his attempt to vote against the Council and the subsequent squishing of his political power. He also explained, almost without conscious will, how the Void influenced the more treacherous members to tear each other to apart. Odd how he felt beholden to answer to a half-transformed Fae child a fraction of his age, must a goblin related. Her narrowed eyes stared into his purposefully guileless ones for extended seconds before shifting to meet Scarvy's. The princess and the cop exchanged knowing looks.
"I believe him, Your Majesty," Scarvy replied with a sharp nod. The Councilman raised questioning brows as to the reason she listened to a Mortal, but kept silent. The harsh, sandy-haired man flanking the princess with his arms crossed appeared ready to devour on her command, truce be damned. While the attractive, blue-haired woman on her opposite side mirrored the man's stance.
"Well, fortunately for you, Councilman, Captain Scarvy is an excellent judge of character." Lizzie's stance relaxed as she considered how best to use Randoly to their advantage, meanwhile Randoly found that he distinctly disliked the glint in the young woman's eyes.
"So...the Council is currently
without leadership..." she said.
"Yes..." Randoly drew the word out disliking the direction she led the conversation.
"
Excellent, you'll serve nicely, High Councilman Randoly," Lizzie declared with a lop-sided smirk while Captain Scarvy chuckled, and the blue-haired woman's eyes widened suddenly. But it was the Gryphon's strangely sarcastic chirps that gave Randoly full body chills. Seven hells...what did the Goblin Princess expect of him?
.
.
jsjsjsjsjsjsj
.
.
Sarah wandered every dank, dark hall and room for what seemed like hours with only Labyrinth for company. Even the monstrous residents did not appear again, to her immense relief, but no sign of Jareth or any clue to his whereabouts.
"This is insane. Where is he?" said with deep frustration, Sarah's voice echoed loudly as she slapped a nearby wall.
"
Perhaps he does not wish to be found." "Do you think he knows I'm here? And if so, why hide?"
"Why indeed?" Using one hand to lean against a wall, Sarah contemplated why Jareth might hide from her and if so where. The first half came easily enough—being a place of one's fears, Jareth obviously felt threatened by something related to her that drew on his deepest horror. However, the second half took more thought. Having checked every accessible room, Sarah realized that either Jareth hid in an inaccessible, sectioned off chamber or in some manner of altered perception.
Of course! Altered perception was the answer; they were, afterall, inside his subconscious. She'd already located the correct room at some point she just couldn't see him because her mindset differed from his. What would his be? What did she feel during her nightmares? Fear, shame, anger, isolation, terror to name a few major emotions, and the physical pain reflected by them; Jareth experienced these as well. And at a level that drove him to hide rather than confront and fight.
"My God...what's happened to him?" Sarah wondered aloud as the implications of his fears swamped her. Even during her worst she chose to fight. Jareth, at least the Jareth she knew, would fight unto death: any foe, any cause, any risk. Never would he give up or run away...
"Oh God, Labyrinth!" she said, her hands cupping her face in horror as realization struck her.
"Sarah?" "I'm his worst nightmare! He's fighting me!" As Sarah spoke the words the hallway dissolved and reformed depositing her in the pitch black dungeons again. This time, unlike earlier, she heard a combination of moaning and scraping a short distance away. Quickly, she conjured a light crystal to illuminate her surroundings and it revealed the source of the noise. Sarah gagged involuntarily at the ghastly sight which attracted its attention.
It—Sarah refused to think of the horrific, deadish version of her as a she— it snapped its head and bare torso up from its brutally ardent attack upon Jareth's likewise nude body. He, however, did not move, or flinch, or in any way indicate that he knew of Sarah's arrival.
A creepy, green glow blazed from it, nearly smothering Sarah's pure crystal light. Sarah froze. Gory details of her evil alternate forever imprinted upon her mind: sunken gray skin, skeletal frame, blood pouring from its mouth and coating her breasts, black tresses writhing like Medusa's, and her brilliant, solid green eyes. This evil
thing sat astride Jareth with obvious intimate intent as it stared at Sarah for those first few seconds. Then it shrieked and flew at her wrathfully; its black, bloody talons reaching for Sarah's face and neck.
.
.
jsjsjsjsjsjsj
.
.
Dawn broken and late into the morning found Maruel Randoly confidently striding into the chamber used for confidential Council deliberations, on his heels followed a remarkably regal Goblin Princess and her armed and scowling private entourage—including one excessively daunting Gryphon. Lady Fena's pride prowled the hallway behind their small but intimating group, their growls and hisses echoing as a persistent alarm to their presence.
After explaining to Lizzie the remaining Council members' plans for the morning, Randoly convinced her to use the opportunity to affirm her support of his rise to power instead of her original plan of violent insurgence. With the Gryphons backing the ad hoc Goblin Queen, particularly after the debacle involving her parents, there would be little the remaining five members could or would do to prohibit the power shift. As they entered the well appointed chamber, Randoly registered the shock on the members' faces, shock which rapidly turned to disbelief. He may be the youngest and least politically power Councilmember, but the older, more devious members understood a power grab thrust in their faces.
"Council members, good morning, I trust you've all rested?" Randoly asked pleasantly receiving slow nods in reply, "Outstanding because I have an announcement I'm sure you're all anxious to hear and support." He stepped aside nodding to Lizzie who drew even with him. "As I'm sure you know, this is the Goblin Princess Elizabeth Morton," a few groans escaped from the otherwise silent Council members, "and she and her esteemed party lend their support in favor of voting me High Councilman." Lady Fena chose that opportune moment to lightly hiss and Randoly barely kept his countenance as a few members jumped in their seats.
"Is there any objection to their motion?" Randoly politely, yet pointedly requested, pinning each member individually with this gaze. They shifted and fidgeted in their luxurious chairs, but gave no verbal response. Once a good minute passed without any denouncement—so simple Randoly thought he should feel a twinge of guilt, but just couldn't bring himself to care—he smiled delightfully.
"No? Well, then, I thank the Council for its unanimous support of my installment as the new High Councilman," he replied bowing his head shallowly before winking at Lizzie with his face turned from the Council's view. Lizzie bowed her head in return keeping her face serious, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"And my first act as High Councilman is to order the return of the Goblin King and Queen from banishment."
Having heard enough from the upstart, an older member sprung up from his seat, "Now you've gone too far. Those criminals received their just punishment and shall rot in the Void!" Lizzie's growl nearly outstripped Fena's as the Princess leapt forward, conjuring a crystal simultaneously. Before anyone else reacted, Lizzie's crystal flew and struck the dissenting Councilman in the face, its razor shards slicing deeply.
"Lizzie!" Alia cried out in dismay while Scarvy ran to back up his liege, and Fena unfurled her wings and full height, moving until she encompassed the center of the room. The sight of an enraged Fena set the other members running allowing Lizzie safety from attack. Meanwhile, Randoly edged his way closer to Lizzie watching his own back from all sides.
"Not the wisest reaction, Princess," he told her as she stood menacingly over the writhing Councilman, physically daring him to further comment. Ignoring Randoly's caution she gave in further to her rage.
"I want my parents returned, intact, immediately!" Lizzie left the injured man and stalked towards the remaining members who cowered against a far wall. Never had they been threatened by a lower ranking personage nor attacked with so little provocation, and none ever wished to face a Gryphon—a race of beings known for their ferocity, as well as their tendency to remain aloof from the Fae. The fact that Gryphons so evidently maintained an alliance with the Goblin Kingdom spoke volumes. Lizzie faced those stunned members and spoke with cold venom.
"You think you've seen my anger? You think you know what I'm willing to do to regain my parents? You have no idea how far I'll go to get what I want." Baring her teeth and thrusting her fist towards them, she continued, "You
will cooperate or I'll disband the entire Council and start anew with Randoly, and you'll not like my methods."
There were no further disputes from the Council members.
.
.
jsjsjsjsjsjsj
.
.
It moved faster than Sarah's mind grasped. A lightening blur of green and gore attacked; its claws encircling her neck before she could conjure again. She stared into the gleaming eyes and salivating, bloody mouth inches from her own—her reflected horrifying caricature.
"He's mine!" It said in a harsh, rasping voice; its breath foul and fetid as it washed over Sarah's nostrils. Sarah struggled with its preternatural strength: its hands choking her airway, and its weight dragging her to the stone floor. Catching a quick glimpse of Jareth over its shoulders, Sarah saw his pale body lying motionless in the cell several feet away. He didn't appear to be breathing.
"Jareth!" his name struggled from Sarah's lips as the creature above Sarah choked her airway, its claws piercing the delicate skin of her throat. She felt its disgusting weight holding her down, and spots shimmered in her eyes as she lost air. Unable to work her fingers beneath the claws at her neck, panic set in.
"Sarah, you don't require air! You're not really choking!" Labyrinth's voice rang in her head.
Right! Of course, it's all a nightmare. This isn't real. Sarah dropped her hands to her sides, conjured two crystals and smashed them simultaneously against the thing's skull. Immediately it released her and howled in pain as acid dissolved portions of its head.
"Get off me, bitch!" Using both extended palms, Sarah willed her evil reflection forcefully away until it flew backwards at great speed, and slammed into a wall with a sickening crunch. It slid to the floor in a heap, but its sharp glare at Sarah informed her that it still lived. Hating that she must deal with this harpy before going to Jareth, Sarah flicked her eyes to his still unmoving form.
"You dare look to what is mine!" It screeched, fighting to rise from its severe injuries; greenish goo dripping from the open, acid wounds on the sides of its head.
"You're mistaken," Sarah replied coldly stalking closer while she conjured two more acid crystals. "It is you who dare and that ends now!" She flung both crystals at the creature striking it in the face. Acid splashed, smothering its entire head and causing the skull to quickly collapse inwards. The parody of herself crumpled back to the floor as a bundle of rotting flesh and ceased moving.
"Bitch," Sarah added with sneer then spun about and ran to Jareth. She knelt by his silent, still body. Congealing blood covered his face, chest, and matted his platinum hair. Reverently, she touched his face and turned his head towards her. His mismatched eyes stared upwards at her without seeing.
"Jareth? Love?" she called softly. His slack expression remained unchanged. "Jareth? Labyrinth, what's wrong with him?" Tension made her voice sharp.
"I suspect he has gone deeper into his subconscious." "Deeper!"
"
You must coax him back, Sarah. Convince him he is safe." Sarah continued stroking Jareth's face placing chaste kisses along his brow, down his nose, and upon his unresponsive, open mouth. She ignored the tang of blood upon her tongue, and focused instead upon the man she loved. Combing his hair with her fingers, she called his name repetitively and added more loving kisses to his filthy, pale skin.
"Come back to me, my love, and my heart, come back to me."
.
.
jsjsjsjsjsjsj
.
.
Randoly neatly installed as the new High Councilman, and the remained members subdued, Lizzie pushed her agenda to reopen the Void. She believed she could reestablish a Bond with Labyrinth and her mother if given a barrier-free environment. Predictably Randoly disliked having an active Void maw again so soon, but one growl from Lady Fena kept his silenced his opinions.
They located the sorcerer who closed the maw, and Randoly explained the situation while Lizzie and her group glowered behind him. With little choice, the sorcerer readily agreed, and preparations began with Lizzie to reopen the Void.
.
.
jsjsjsjsjsjsj
.
.
Jareth crouched in one of the smaller oubliettes beneath his Labyrinth, a single wavering candle his only company in the gloomy, earthen hole. Time passed without measure in this hidden place. He waited for what...he knew not...only that he waited in peace and safety, and this he knew to be vitally important. After awhile heard a whispering of a whisper...
"Hello?" he called back, his voice absorbed by the bare dirt. He leaned his head back and looked around in the dim light, "Someone there?"
"Jareth?" a faint voice said his name. The voice seemed vaguely familiar.
"Yes, I hear you!" he replied, standing. Wisps of his hair on his scalp touch the dirty ceiling.
"Jareth? Where are you?"
"I'm here! Here!" he shouted. Sarah called him!
"Jareth, please come back, please!" he heard her plead and possibly sob.
"Sarah, I can hear you!" Jareth answered, spinning in place, unsure of how to reach her. Then a paralyzing thought occurred to him...did he really want Sarah finding him? She was so...so...
"Oh, gods, Jareth, I miss you. I need you. Don't hide from me."
Something in her tone tugged deeply at his heart. Was he really hiding from his Sarah? She needed him; he couldn't abandon her. Whatever her form, she called to every molecule of his body and soul.
"Sarah," he whispered and opened his eyes to gaze upon her worried, stunning, normal emerald ones hovering over his. Her warm tears splashed on his face, and her soft lips planted endless kisses behind the tears.
"Jareth, oh, Jareth, you're finally awake!" She said breathlessly between happy sobs.
"Sarah, Precious, you're...you look..." he tried to finish his sentence, but words slipped away. Instead, he passionately returned her kisses and wrapped his arms around his beautiful Sarah.
"I'm here now, you're safe, you're safe," she murmured over and over. Jareth sat up clasping her tightly to him, luxuriating in the feel of her against his bare skin. His Sarah restored to health in this nightmare world.
"I don't understand. How?" he pulled back from her slightly trying to process her current state.
"Do you remember the Council banishing us to the Void?"
"Banishing?" he shook his head, "the Void?" Confusion swirled in his eyes, this Sarah sounded and looked sincere, but what she spoke of brought forth...nothing.
"We're in the Void; these are your fears we're experiencing, Jareth."
"How can you be sure?"
"Do you trust me?"
He answered without hesitation, "Yes."
"Close your eyes."
Jareth obeyed and Sarah kissed his closed lids before covering them with her hands. She followed with the prolonged, deep kiss to his mouth. Finished waiting, Labyrinth surged from Sarah's soul, through her body, and into Jareth. He arched rigidly, but maintained contact with Sarah. A deep shudder ran through his body, he released one sharp scream into her mouth then collapsed from her touch.
"Jareth," Sarah caught his flaccid body in her arms before he struck the hard floor, cradling him. Waiting patiently, she watched his face jerk and spasm as Labyrinth reestablished its Bond and healed his magic. His reawakening took longer than Sarah's as his damage was more extensive, but gradually he calmed.
"Sarah, Sarah!" his said, eyes springing open, gasping. He clung to her as if drowning, his eyes darting frantically.
"Do you remember? How do you feel?" she asked, forcing him to focus.
"Yes, oh gods, yes, I'm okay I guess, my head hurts..." he stared into her eyes, calming moderately, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she replied, adding a small smile to reassure him. She doubted she would ever truly be fine again, but time enough to deal with such issues later. He squinted, doubting as only someone intimately acquainted with another can do.
"Sarah," he drawled, stretching her name out in his smooth baritone.
"Don't worry, we'll talk later. For now we need to ditch this hell."
He smirked, Gods he loved this woman. "Right then, lead on my dear," he said, a touch of his old cockiness reasserting as Sarah helped him stand. He looked down realizing his nakedness. "Perhaps I should dress first." Sarah laughed.
"It doesn't matter; remember we're in your subconscious. It's irrelevant; as soon as we wake up we'll be in our real bodies and clothes."
"Oh, of course...so when do we...?" Jareth opened his eyes again. Sarah's loving eyes stared at him, her forehead pressed to his, her body molded around his own. "Well, that was surprisingly easy."
Sarah's brow arched in disbelief while she untied them, "Remind me to give you the full story once we get home so you can retract that ridiculously short-sighted statement." Jareth smirked and planted a kiss on her lips.
"With pleasure, my dear."
