Labyrinth Dancer

Chapter 14: The Labyrinth

*Sorry for the delay everyone! I'm afraid I was busy with my wedding and getting moved in with my husband! I hope you all enjoy the continuation!!*

At first it was only darkness that greeted her as the wind seemed to swallow up the room.

The sound of yelling and screaming finally ending.

When her eyes opened though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The book had actually told of a real place.

Staring in utter awe she could not help but smile as relief flooded over her; however, that was short lived when a flurry of glitter and wind appeared near her. Revealing none other than Jareth, the Goblin King in all of his Gothic and Glittery glory. Much like the book had represented him. 

"That's a first I must say, to wish yourself into my Labyrinth. Now, tra la la; if you wish to ever leave you have thirteen hours to solve the labyrinth by reaching the middle. If you lose, you will be turned into a goblin." 

She noticed the fact he seemed to be keeping his face from her but shrugged. 

"Alright then, I have thirteen hours to solve it and win; just point me in the right direction and I'll be going." 

He vanished in a flurry of glitter and wind, turning her the direction she was to go and she crossed her arms briefly in irritation. Shaking the glitter out of her hair and off of her clothes she took in a fortifying breath and started down towards the massive labyrinth entrance far below the cliffs. 

****

Sarah stared at the space Jareth had just occupied moments before as she recalled the words he had just uttered in utter agony. 

"She said the words..." 

Collapsing back into her seat, she stared down at her hands in her lap; only just now realizing that they were shaking. So much counted on Inara now; Jareth's life and that kingdom needed her to make a choice that no normal person could possibly make. 

She had to choose to stay with him, to win the labyrinth and choose to stay with the Goblin King; otherwise, everything was going to change for the worse...

****

Everything still hurt and Inara knew that the pain could only get worse if she wasn't careful. Slipping the last few feet towards the entrance to the Labyrinth she cursed softly as she scrapped her bruised ribs with the rocks. She knew she had probably broken some from the assault from her father so bruising more wouldn't help at all. 

Stepping closer to the giant walls of the labyrinth she looked up in wonder for a few moments, her hand cautiously going to the bare smooth metal of the doorway; the etchings coming to life on her skin as she took them in. 

"What the heck are ya doing?" 

Inara leaped back, looking for the source of the irritated gruff voice and came face to face with a walking tree covered in greens and intricate branches winding up and down his thin yet tall form. 

Looking up curiously she quietly responded. "I was admiring the doorway to the labyrinth before going inside." 

He stared down at her with an expression that could only be disbelief and he gruffly waved her back. "Then get on with it girly, thirteen hours passes before ya know it!!" 

She resisted the urge to smirk up at him and nodded. "Thank you dear sir, I'll be going then." 

Inara couldn't make out what he called after her as she entered the Labyrinth the massive doors closing behind her as she looked down the two paths she had available. 

"Well, lets just try this way a bit."  

She had officially entered the labyrinth, and unknown to her; the Goblin king was not the only one watching her progress.  

Another watched over her closely, waiting on the moment when he would interfere with her journey, forcing her to lose and his dear older brother to lose his kingdom...