Labyrinth Pt. II

16. Win or Loose

Jareth's POV

I've waited as long as I️ can.

Sarah disappeared on me 15 minutes ago. I️ haven't heard the gnomes but I️ can feel them staring at me. Every few seconds I️ hear the crunch of snow from little footsteps. I'm positive behind all of this is that no good, kingdom stealing, faery bastard, King Nyx.

King, ha! He's a prince playing dress up. 

 
He loves taking things that aren't his. I️ remember him coming to negotiations with his father. He always was a little brat.

 
I️ keep moving forward. If he has Sarah, then the only way to keep her safe is to get to the castle. I️ can see the top of it in the distance. I'm close but I️ need to hurry.
He better not hurt her.

I don't know what kind of torture he's using on her. I️ should have never brought her. I️ never should have found her.

Regrets fill my mind as I keep traveling. My throat began to hurt after I've gone a good ways. The last time I felt this pain was when Sarah stopped to have us drink water. Thinking that was what I should do, I dropped my pack in front of me, on the ground, and pulled my canteen. After taking long gulps, my throat felt infinitely better.

 
I'm not used to these types of feelings. Sleep? Never needed it. Hunger? Thirst? I've had something similar to it, but I've never craved for food or drink.

 
Mortality was an interesting thing. Humans, the most mortal beings, mastered the mentality of making each day count. Immortal creatures never gave their day a second thought. The concept of time wasn't relevant, either. What was a day in a lifetime that never ended? It was merely a blink of an eye. My time was busy, however. I constantly was doing things for the kingdom and did what I could to keep it running. I hunted to keep my senses in their peak condition.

 
Occasionally, when I felt like I needed a greater challenge, I would set loose criminals and hunt them. It was always a thrill to capture them and hear their pleas for mercy. I loved being ruler. From keeping the kingdom running, to the power, to the life of leisure it occasionally allowed. Determination put the strength back in my body. I slid the canteen back in its place and shrugged my pack back on.

 
I will get my throne back, Nyx will feel my wrath, and Sarah will be safe.

—
(Time skip about 5 hours because I said so..)
—

I stopped and sat under a frozen tree to start eating food that Sarah put in my pack. Once I'm back to my normal self, I definitely won't miss being "hungry". I finished eating what is called a granola bar and a sandwich when I felt a presence near me. The air got colder, and a sharp breeze assaulted my bare skin. My instincts took over. I froze in a upright position to look around. In my peripheral vision I saw a spoiled, immature, throne stealing bastard. I relaxed my posture and leaned back up against the tree.

 
"If you found free time to pay me a visit, then you aren't doing your job as the new King." I said, lacing my words with disgust and disappointment.

 
"Oh no, I'm doing my job admirably. I'm doing it so well that I could find time to see you." He laughed. It sounded like air, like air that was on fire. "I also found more than enough time to keep a mutual friend, or should I say interest, entertained."

My ears perked up at his last statement. He could only mean Sarah.

 
"Be careful with what you say next, Nyx. If you have harmed her in any way, I will kill you without mercy." I stood up. "You will die a death that never ends. I will make sure that your death is a fearsome thing to behold."

 
The brat just laughed again at my words. My fists clenched from a controlled rage.
"Calm down goblin." He rolled his eyes at my threat. He isn't taking me serious, which is an error on his part. "Our little human is safe. Actually she's more than happy, at the moment. I'd say she's in bliss."

 
"What does that mean?" I step forward and he leans against a popsicle tree. He's so relax and it's irritating me to no end.

 
"My visit wasn't to talk about my snowflake," He says while waving a dismissive hand in the air. "I'm here to let you know that you are close! Congratulations!"

 
He's so condescending! I've worked hard to get here!
"This is where the game begins, however. What you have done already, was a walk in the park."

"You don't scare me, with your childish idle threats. I've played many games in my life time and won." My posture straightens at my boasting.

 
"Won all but one, you mean."

"What?"

"You meant to say that you've won all but one."

"I don't loose."

"But you did loose. To a human, no less!"

"Wh- I- ..."

"To your precious Sarah, Jareth. You lost to Sarah."

I remained silent. He was not wrong. After the time Sarah last left my kingdom, I was furious. It was the first time someone had bested me at my own game. I prisoned all those that helped her. They were traitors to my throne and were punished as such. Held back their food, threatened their loved ones, made a mockery of them in the court, and so much more. After a while, and after a few conversations with Hogwart and that worm, I realized that I wasn't completely angry. I admired Sarah for winning. Although these creatures were with her, they really didn't provide help. She did it with her own willpower and that damn stubbornness. I released the creatures and compensated for what I had done to them. I made sure thatvthey were taken care of and eventually some of us became friends. 

When Haggle disappeared, it was a sad day. He and I did learn to become friends and he helped a lot with running the Labyrinth's inhabitants. I brought Didimus out of the Bog and he helped monitor traffic in and out of the city. He was quiet diligent.

 
"You are correct. Sarah did win against me and yes I lost against her. That means whatever game you are playing with her, and with me, you will loose." I splayed my hands out beside my body. He was helpless to loose against her and I. I was now positive that there were two games going simultaneously. Sarah was facing hers and I am yet to face mine.