The Hearts of Goblins

Chapter VIII

The sun slowly rose just above the Labyrinth walls in the distance. Jareth stood at the balcony of his castle, watching the sky light up with gold and pink. Behind him came the sound of bare feet on stone floors. Jareth sighed silently and rolled his eyes, keeping his back to his intruder. He knew what he would see when he turned around. The same devil that had plagued him with their presence for weeks.
"Is there something you need, Emrys?" Jareth asked. He turned around to face them.
Emrys, who had been a frequent visitor lately, walked over to Jareth's throne and sat down. The creature was elegant and graceful and clad only in a thin robe of golden silk.
"Good morning, Jareth," Emrys said. Jareth grit his teeth in annoyance at the alluring and seductive tone of Emrys' voice.
"What do you want?" Jareth asked.
Emrys turned their golden eyes on him. Their red lips parting in a wicked grin.
"Well, I want many things, your highness." They said in mockery. They let their silk robe slide off around their shoulders. Making themself comfortable and letting Jareth see the blood-red tattoos that stood out against their deep tan skin. The tattoos, a sickening reminder of where Emrys' allegiances lie.
"Why are you here?" Jareth clarified. Emrys sighed.
"The same reason as last time," they said, "My superiors still seem to think that you're useful."
"You mean, my Labyrinth is useful." Jareth scoffed He turned back towards the sunrise and said,
"You'll have to come negotiate some other time. I'm busy."
Emrys stood and walked over to the balcony. They stood behind Jareth and pressed their body against his back.
"How busy?" They whispered in his ear as they laid their sharp chin upon Jareth's shoulder. Pieces of Emrys' thick black curls brushed along Jareth's cheek. Emrys and Jareth were roughly the same height in Jareth's high heeled boots. Jareth knew that this devil was taller than him and yet slouched to appear meek as they pressed their slender body against his. Jareth rolled his eyes and produced a crystal ball from within his sleeve. Emrys gazed over Jareth's shoulder and stared into the crystal. Through it's magic they were able to see two humans and a small fox making their way through a tangled mass of vines.
Jareth smirked. He had finally been able to distract Emrys from trying to seduce him for a few brief moments.
Emrys' lips parted as they grinned from ear to ear.
"How intriguing." They said. Jareth narrowed his eyes at them.
"Just what are you up to now, Emrys?"
Emrys cocked their head and huskily whispered into Jareth's ear,
"You shouldn't worry about it." Before quickly kissing his cheek and turning away.
The sound of bare feet on stone receded until it could be heard no more.
Jareth looked into the crystal in his hand once more, before tossing it into the air, where it floated weightlessly. Like a feather on the wind.

"LOOK OUT!" Lee shouted as he lept over a vine the size of a small tree trunk. Gwen grabbed Didymus and jumped out of the way as a large thick vine came crashing down where they stood just a moment before. Gwen dropped Didymus and they went straight back to running for the exit. Things had been looking up just a few moments ago. When Didymus had pointed out the exit of the massive green entanglement. For a brief moment Gwen and Lee were filled with hope, right before the forest shook itself into life and vines started moving on their own. Gwen ducked as a smaller vine swooped for her neck. She spun and with her clock hand spear sliced the vine in half. She spun full circle and kept running. Lee was faster than Gwen, he always had been. With the level of adrenaline rushing through him, he soared through the vines. Leaping over low trunks like hurdles. As Lee flew through the last meters of the thicket and to the exit, Gwen moved at a slower pace. Tiny wisps of green rope lashed out and whipped around her ankles. She stabbed and sliced with her spear and ripped the remaining threads up from their roots.

"Gwen, C'mon!" Lee yelled. He stood at the edge of the thicket, waiting for her. Gwen looked behind her.
"Damn it!" She hissed. Didymus was no longer behind her. "DIDYMUS!" She cried out.
"GO, MY LADY!" Sir Didymus yelped from somewhere within a slithering sea of green.
Gwen growled and took off away from the exit and towards Didymus' cries.
"GODDAMNIT GWEN!" Lee hollered. Gwen ignored him. She found Didymus caught in a tear that was wrapping around him like a python. Gwen savagely ripped the vines away from the fox.
"My Lady!" Didymus said in awe. Gwen paid no attention and simply grabbed Didymus by the back of his tunic and carried him with her as she sped towards Lee.
Lee stood on the outside with his arms outstretched towards Gwen. He clenched his jaw as his heart hammered against his chest. The opening was getting smaller.
"GWEN FOR GOD'S SAKE, HURRY!!!" He screamed.
Gwen ran so hard and fast that the blood in her legs felt more like molten lava. Her throat burned and her vision grew blurry with tears. She was still several feet away and the opening was closing fast. She knew that she wouldn't make it in time.
"LEE!" She yelled. She drew back her arm and, with all her might, flung Didymus' small body towards Lee.
Didymus shrieked as he was sent flying through the now small exit. The little fox hit Lee squarely in the chest with enough force to knock him off his feet. Gwen's feet slammed against the stone tile floor. The opening was now just big enough for her body to fit through. She was still too far away.
"GWEN!" Lee screamed.
With one last push of her legs, she dove towards her small window of freedom.