Labyrinth- Jareth's Return

13. Realization

**Pictures curtesy of Lisa AI descriptive generation, Pictured above is Queen Seshi**

Dracius shook awake grabbing the sheets of his bed as he gasped for air. Shaking slightly as he felt his head and chest. Patting his stomach, he leaned his head back against the backboard to catch his breath. What the hell? One moment I'm walking along the lake screaming for Sarah and the next I'm swallowed into a black abyss. Dracius trembled slightly remembering his encounter. So many screams.. I thought I died. Dracius shook his head, taking one last deep breath before easing his heart rate and relaxing. Once settled, Dracius looked around his room and frowned. "Wait, if I'm in my bed.. ARANEL!"

Suddenly, the door burst open and a tall red maiden came before Dracius bowing. "Y..yes Your majesty?" Aranel quivered as she heard the anger in his voice. Dracius sat up staring daggers at Aranel. "What happened?! Why am I here and where is Sarah?!" Aranel lowered her head down farther and shivered as she felt his aura drop the temperature in the room. Aranel closed her eyes tight as she spoke. "I'm not sure, your majesty. One moment Sarah was by the water and the next I couldn't see anything. It blinded my sight with white light. The force of it broke the spell sending you back here." She paused. Dracius cocked his head as he stared at the elf before him. "What caused the light?" Aranel dared not look up to see his face as she stuttered out. "Her power sire." Dracius huffed a smirk and stood up from the bed. "So she's growing stronger then?" He smiled imagining the power coursing through her and what it would mean for him in the future. "Now, my precious oracle, where is she now?" Aranel's eyes shot open as she glanced up at him before looking away pursing her lips. Dracius's smile twitched as he stepped toward her, grasping her neck. "Answer me oracle. Where.. Is.. Sarah?" His voice was menacing as he sounded each word slowly to her. His voice deepened with each breath as his inner dragon began to try to take over. His eyes slitted slightly before flickering back to the red and blue swirl. Aranel struggled in his grasp as she tried to speak up before being flung to the ground. "Useless." Dracius stormed to the queen's chambers slamming the door open pushing himself inside.

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Jareth struggled to sit up as he rubbed his head. "How many times am I going to find myself on the damn ground?" He groaned as he sat up. "That bastard of a crystal! No.. uhrgg Almother! Damn you!" He mumbled through gritted teeth before shouting out. "You could've told me there would be a grand finale!" Jareth huffed as he looked around.

Unfamiliar trees surrounded him as he sat in the middle of a clearing. Am I still in the dream? Jareth wondered as he stood up dusting off his pants. He tried to change into an owl but still couldn't shift. Damn it. Jareth patted his sleeves and pockets before finding a crystal. This one was not the same as the one before, but his own personal crystal. Looking inside he could see all of the underground and sighed. "I'm no longer in the dream. But where am I and where's Sarah?" Looking into the crystal he could see he was between two kingdoms. "Ah, neutral territory." He sighed as he looked over to his right. "The troll kingdom and the Shadowlands. How in Almother's name did I end up here from a dream?"

Jareth sighed as he put the crystal away. At least I know where I am but where is Sarah? Shouldn't she be here as well? Jareth started to pace around looking through the trees and rocks trying to find any traces of Sarah. Just when he was about to give up he heard a rustle in the bushes. "Sarah?" Jareth called out. Just as he neared the bushes, out popped a short plushy haired ball that rolled toward him. Jareth stood back and snarled through gritted teeth as he looked down at the matted hair.

It stood only about two feet tall but had a thick layer of matted hair and twigs. Slowly it looked up revealing a wart-like nose that stuck through its hair. Its eyes were large and round with hints of yellow and brown dotting around its pupils. It carried a sack around its shoulder and was barefooted with untamed nails. It grunted as it sniffed the air and sneered.