Labyrinth: Second Coming

Title: Labyrinth: The Second Coming
Rating: NC-17
Mood: Romance
Warnings: Spoilers.. and what could be considered incest... oh, and death again
Couples: Jareth/Toby, Sarah/Thomas (original character).... and perhaps a few more.
Summary: After 16 years, Jareth is finally overcoming his love for Sarah, and is now focusing on her younger, 17 year old brother, Toby.
Current Status: Incomplete

Author's Note: Labryinth and all of its characters are the property of the Hensons. And there might be a musical number coming up.
Jareth: Really?!
Emily: Nah, I just love getting your hopes up.
Jareth: ....your eyes can be so cruel...
Emily: Stop it!
Jareth: Just as I can be so cruel...
Emily: ::swoons::
Jareth: Yup. I still got it.
Emily: You have no power over me!
Jareth: Crap! ::melts::

Chapter 5: Calathia

Toby felt his way through the inky darkness until his hands touched a cold, wet stone w He He pressed his back against it and slid to the floor, defeated. "...that's it... I'm stuck here forever...," he whimpered, pulling his knees tightly to his chest. His lower lip trembled with the effort of holding back his tears, and finally he gave into them. "...I didn't want to leave. I didn't mean it... If I could take it back, I would..."
"...take what back, dear?" Light suddenly filled the chamber, and Toby was startled to see a beautiful young girl dressed in a lovely white gown smiling at him, her auburn curls pinned atop her head, some of them spilling out and over her shoulders.
"...who are you?" he sniffed, whiping his eyes.
"Oh...," she crooned, pulling a handkerchief from her dress and gently dabbing away the tears. "Don't cry, love...," she whispered, all the while smiling motherly at him. "Now, tell me what's wrong."
"I'm lost." Toby sighed, staring down at the dirt floor of the Oubliette.
"Oh, but you're not lost!" the girl smiled.
"I'm not?" Toby looked up at her, frowning.
"Of course not, darling...," she drew him into a tight embrace. "You're right where you belong... Jareth's been waiting for you for some time." She released him and held his shoulders, looking him over appraisingly. "Well, now, you can't face the king of goblins looking like that, can you, now?" She stood, pulling him easily to his feet. "We'll make you into something worthwhile."
"...you'll take me right to Jareth?" Toby marvelled. "No tricks?"
The girl laughed. "Of course no tricks. I've been sent to take you to him... You want to see him, and he wants so much to see you... He's the one who sent me!"
"But...," Toby began, then stopped himself. 'She must not know that my 13 hours still aren't up... and if she takes me right to him, then...' He shook his head and managed a weak smile. "What's your name?"
"I'm Calathia, and I'm very pleased to meet you, Toby. You're every bit as lovel Jar Jareth said." she spun him around, muttering to herself. "Yes, I think I have the perfect thing."
Toby gasped as she grabbed the back of his pants and shirt and tugged. A loud rip filled the room and Toby started to cover his nakedness before he realized he wasn't at all naked. He was wearing a white shirt with elaborate beading all across the front and slit sleeves that flew out elegantly whenever he moved his arms. Over that, a white leather vest to accentuate his slim waist, and then tight, black breeches, the ends of which were tucked into stately, but comfortable, black leather boots. A crystal pendant hung from his neck, and silver bangles wrapped gently around his wrists. Calathia handed him a hand-mirror, smiling, and he gasped when he looked into it. It was his face, but... He looked clean, beautiful... His hair was smoothed back, reminding him of a movie star's... A gold tint seemed to have settled over his skin -- a gentle, sun-kissed glimmer... He looked like something worthwhile.
Calathia smiled gently at him. "That's better, isn't it?" She rested her hands on his shoulders and looked into the mirror with him. "...this is only a taste of the things he can give you...," she whispered. "Any desire, any comfort... Nothing will be spared for your happiness." She turned his chin towards her. "...do you understand, Toby? Eternal joy... And all you have to do is give yourself to him." She kissed his cheek and released him. "Shall we go, then?"
"...how do we get out of here? There's no door."
"Oh, finally using our eyes, are we?" Calathia laughed. "You should know by now that nothing in this place is what it seems." She then reached down and pulled away what appeared to be just another part of the floor. "This was just a blanket." She tossed it aside, and lifted the door beneath it against the wall, then unlocked and opened it. Sunlight filtered out of toor.oor. "Come on, then!" She hiked up her skirts and started up a long staircase. Toby followed her silently.

Toby walked out of the tunnel first, shielding his eyes from the harsh sunlight until his eyes adjusted. Calathia followed him out, and Toby was sure he heard a door shut, but when he turned to thank her, all he saw was a wall of bushes that looked strangely familiar. "Wait a minute, Calathia! This is the beginning!" He turned left and right, but Calathia was nowhere to be found. "Calathia?!"

Calathia waltzed into the throneroom, a triumphant smile playing across her features.
"What do you look so pleased about?" Olivia snorted.
"...Jonas is dead." Sarah murmered from the corner of the room. She was staring blankly out of the window over the maze. "Where is the little bratling? Oh... I see him... Think an arrow could hit him from here?"
Calathia froze, her smile fading. "What was that about Jonas?"
"Father killed him. He said that Jonas was a traitor." James replied idly, cracking a passing faerie out of the air with his whip. "Ha!"
Calathia looked at Markus, who was watching her with red eyes. He had been crying... She crossed the room to him quickly, kneeled down beside him and took his hands in hers. "Markus... Is this true?" she whispered. "Did Father kill Jonas?"
Markus sighed and nodded. "...yes. Jonas betrayed us all, so Father had to kill him."
"He was weak, anyway." Olivia sighed, stretching her arms above her head.
Jareth entered the room, his cape billowing behind him. He spotted Olivia lounging in his throne and smiled a little. "Feeling rather courageous, aren't we, Olivia?"
She smiled back and stood from the throne, bowing. "...it is how you taught us, my Lord."
"Indeed." He took his seat in her place. "Ah, Calathia... I didn't expect you back so soon." He ran a hand through his hair, and Calathia felt suddenly chilled. "Report."
"...so that's it, then?" she whispered.
"What's that?" Jareth straightened.
"One mistake? Is that all?" Calathia's voice rose. "One slip-up, and he's dead? You just killed him?"
Jareth chuckled. "He was expendable."
The other four were watching with mild interest.
"And the rest of us? Are we all... Are the rest of us expendable?" Calathia's hands were balled into fists at her side, tears filling her soft, green eyes.
"Of course we're expendable." James snorted. "You should have realized that a long time ago. You can't be king and expect your closest circle to make mistakes."
Calathia did not take her eyes from Jareth once. "...he wasn't the traitor, Jareth, you're the traitor! He trusted you! He would have done anything for you, and you know that! You killed him out of jealousy, and that's all there is to it!" Calathia opened her mouth to say more, but nothing came out. Olivia stood behind her, her hand stretched out as though she had thrown something.
Blood trickled from the corner of Calathia's mouth, and more blood spread across the white linen on her back, seeping from the hilt of a dagger directly between the girl's delicate shoulder blades. Calathia dropped to her knees, then fell completely with a soft rustle. Her hair spread around her as though it was trying to imitate the blood pooling beneath her. "Olivia...," Jareth sighed. "That'll be fifteen lashes. How many times have I told you not to kill unless it's ordered?"
Olivia shrugged. "It's worth it. She was soft... and annoying. She acted like she thought she was our mother or something."
James returned to calmly oiling his whip, and Sarah looked back out the window. Olivia kicked Calathia's shoulder, then sprawled on a couch beneath a huge window, yawning while Jareth called for a few goblins to clean up the mess. Markus stared, white faced, at his sister's body.

"He only has 7 hours left..," Jareth laughed, watching the clock. Markus stood behind him... The other three had long since retired to their anteroom to wait until Jareth needed them. "And he's just now reaching the Oubliette again. He'll never make it in time..." Jareth turned to smile wickedly at Markus. "He'll be mine, Markus...," Jareth reached out and gently cupped Markus' cheek in his hand. Markus flinched slightly, but did notl awl away. "...now, what's this? What's wrong with you, Markus?"
"...why did you kill Jonas?" Marwhiswhispered, his face pale.
"It's the way things are, Markus...," Jareth sighed, seating himself at the couch and motioning for Markus to sit at his feet. Markus kneeled on the floor and stared up at him.
"And why did you let Olivia kill Calathia? You could have stopped her."
Jareth reached out and ran a hand through Markus' hair, sighing. "...they both showed weakness."
"And if I ever show weakness, you'll kill me?"
"You're showing it now."
"But I'm still alive. What's the difference?" Jareth had never seen Markus' eyes look so intense.
"Jonas showed weakness during a mission, which is unforgivable... Calathia questioned my authority. You have not done either of these things." He gently stroked Markus' hair, watching him through half-lidded eyes.
"Do you love me, Father?" Markus murmered.
"I love all of my children." Jareth closed his eyes and left his petting of Markus, resting his head against the back of the couch. "Even the ones that ask so many questions." He opened his eyes again as he felt a weight on the couch. Markus was above him, stradling his lap, his thin, white hands resting on the back of the couch. Jareth searched Markus' eyes, but they were clouded. "You have no idea what you're asking, Markus... Such a sad love in your eyes...," Jareth sighed.
He did not resist when Markus kissed him, or when Markus' fingers deftly stripped him. He took pleasure in Markus' sweet, supple mouth, and then pinned the boy to the couch and took him hungrily, passionately, treasuring every whimper and sigh.

Markus moaned softly as Jareth moved above him. He wound his fingers in the older man's hair. "...what if I killed him?" he whispered thickly.
"Mn?" Jareth looked down at him. For a moment, he had forgotten who it was, and he nearly forgot to hide his surprise. "...ah... then I'd have to kill you, wouldn't I?"
"Just like that?"
"...juste the that." Jareth kissed Markus' neck softly. "Stop asking questions like that."
"Why?"
"Because it's not fun having to tell someone you'd kill them while you're fucking them, that's why."
Markus silenced and, an hour later, after their love-making was finished, left. Jareth stared quietly at his crystal, watching Toby's progress. He shuddered and dressed quietly, never taking his eyes from the boy. When he was done, he ran his hands through his hair with a deep, soulful sigh. "...it was you I saw, you know..., whi whispered. He had been surprised at his own gentleness, though he knew it was because the entire time, he was imagining it was the beautiful brunette beneath him, hiding his face in Jareth's shoulder to muffle his sobbing moans. "I suppose I should tell Sarah to watch Markus, shouldn't I? Gods... I should have seen it sooner. The fool's fallen in love with me."
Sex had always been just that... Even with Markus just then, it was only sex. There had been no meaning behind it. All the same, Jareth found himself doing something he hadn't done since he first took the throne -- he was second guessing himself. He knew he should never have overstepped that careful boundary he had always maintained with his little warriors. "It's only hero worship." Even as Jareth spoke those words, he found it hard to believe them.