Into the Labyrinth

5

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for continuing on with my story. I hope you vote and comment.

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"It's only forever, not long at all,"

-Jareth, Labyrinth (1986)

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Cassandra sat sullenly at the small table, her eyes ablaze with a hatred for the man across from her. The smell of the food set out on the plates in front of them was intoxicating. The bacon alone was enough to have her stomach rumbling. Still, despite the hunger pains she refused to take a bite.

"Really child, are you just going to scowl at me?" Garrett, the bastard of a Goblin King, rolled his eyes at her.

"I am not a child!" Cassandra spat, her cheeks red at the implication. She was no child. She was supposed to be Queen.

"You act like one," Garrett told her, his eyes severe with critical opinion.

Chewing on her lip, Cassandra avoided his gaze. He was reminded her of the tantrum she had thrown when he had told her she was never to leave. Stomping feet, high pitched yells, and useless flying fists had ensued. All of which that had done little more than annoy the Goblin King. Now seated at his breakfast table, Cassandra felt the first hint of shame curling around her. What a fool she had made of herself.

Giving him a pointed stare, she scooped up a spoonful of scrambled eggs onto her plate. The eggs she was used to at home were usually mixed with vegetables and cheeses. They were a gourmet meal all on their own even without the side of bacon and grits always served with them. These eggs she poked at with her fork were the complete opposite. She doubted there were any spices added to them.

"Don't play with your food....child," he added the last word with a small smirk.

Cassandra said nothing, only glaring. She stuffed her mouth full of the bland eggs. The decorum lessons all but forgotten in her bitter retaliation a the man's petty jabs at her.

Morland stood beside the table, eager to assist in anything she needed. He had all but rushed to the door when she had demanded to be returned home during her tantrum, only for Garrett to force him back into the throne room. Only the promise of information on her captivity had coaxed her into her seat at the table, that and the knowledge she could never fight him and win. Cassandra knew which battles to fight.

"I must say out of all of your ancestors you seem to be the most petulant," Garrett grinned her, placing his fork back down on his empty plate.

"You knew my ancestors?" Cassandra asked, her earlier thoughts of him being the descendant of the original Goblin King came back to her.

"I have known them all. I may have been locked out of your silly kingdom, but do you think I would have left the woman I, unfortunately, loved unattended while I built this labyrinth? I left eyes behind to tell me of my future queen. Even after she trapped me in this hellhole they remained, always watching what went on in that castle of yours," Garrett told her, bitterness heavy in his words.

Cassandra thought of the whispers she had always brushed off as her own imagination. Now their memory brought goosebumps prickling the skin of her arms. Her entire life someone- or rather something she suspected- had been watching her.