Nothing Is What It Seems

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Outside the Castle, theGoblin Army held the invading arm at the destroyed wall. The foolisharmy was no match for the very angry defenders. The citizens of theLabyrinth were fighting back as well. Clearly, they had finally hadenough of the battle. Hunger was a major motivator.

Within the Castle, thingsweren't looking so good. It took all of Sarah's strength to helpJareth up the stairs to the Room of Stairs. Jareth could only go afew steps before needing to lean against the wall. The color wasslowly leaving his face causing her to worry. The last time she hadseen him even remotely this bad had been at the end of her run, butthis seemed worse. Much worse.

None the less, as theytraveled slowly up, he told her everything he knew. His "uncle"and the true cause of this damn war. At this point, Sarah reallydidn't care. The bastard was going to pay for all of it.

Stumbling on yet anotherstep, Jareth placed a hand on the wall. "Sarah, this isn't goingto end well."

With a straight face, Sarahhelped him up to the next step, "for him." Tynan was the onlyone that needed to about something happening. No one else. No one.

Shaking his head, he took anunsteady breath, "I'm not sure."

"Don't you dare thinkabout losing. We need a plan to deal with him. He's going to cometo the Castle."

"We have to allow theLabyrinth to deal with him."

Sarah shook her head as theyfinally reached the entrance of the room. "Not till we're finishedwith him."

Sarah looked out at theroom, looking the same as it had when she had run up the stairs andalmost off the edge. Her only plan was to get lost in the room fornow. She knew there had to be hiding spots where they couldn't beseen or barely be seen.

"Stay close. I'll get usout of sight, but I feel we don't have enough time." Jareth triedto lead, but he stumbled again causing him to place a hand on thewall.

Frowning, Sarah steppedtowards him. "Jareth, what's wrong? You look horrible."

He tried to laugh butstopped. Tiny lines began to form around his mouth. "I don'tknow, Sarah."

"Jareth?" She wrappedan arm around him.

He leaned back against thewall. "We need to move, but I'm sure I can go much farther."

Sarah pulled away slightly,looking around her. Maybe the Labyrinth would help hide him. "Ihave an idea."

"Sarah, you are not toface him." He cringed as tried to stop her from moving away.

Sarah walked to the edge ofthe platform, they stood on. "We need some help, please."

Suddenly, a gently slopingset of stairs appeared, close to her feet, leading down.