Adult-FanFiction.org : Movies

Worlds Of War	By : Lasski Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 16038 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chapter 9: Bargains, Compromises and Ultimatums

                Fear gripped Sarah as she fell and her chest felt like it was trying to splinter out of her body so it wouldn’t be crushed in the landing. Then she kept falling and falling and falling, and slowly the terror receded until she wondered if it wasn’t her that was falling down but the world that was falling up. More time passed and she kept falling through the widespread darkness – perhaps she was Alice and she had fallen down the rabbit hole. Maybe Jareth was somehow responsible for that story. That was something she could believe. Jareth had a thing for terrorizing young girls.

                After a while, Sarah slowly began to enjoy the falling sensation. It was sort of like flying.

                When an endless time had passed, Sarah realized that this trap of Jareth had more serious consequences than what she had originally thought. She felt a distant need to go to the toilet, the darkness was starting to annoy her, and the constant free-falling feeling was no longer slightly exciting but slightly sickening to her stomach, as if she had spun around too fast for too long. She wasn’t sure just how long Jareth was going to leave her here.

                More time passed and just like a loud dripping tap, everything was starting to drive her insane. The blackness around her was impossibly starting to choke her as if there was little air to breath and her distant need to pee was becoming immediate. Her tailbone, which she had bruised landing the other day, was really beginning to ache and her worry that Jareth might not come to her was becoming a frightening reality. They had a deal! When was he coming for her?

                Sarah suddenly got the fright of her life when she landed on something soft and slightly bouncy. Blinking into the bright light after a time of only darkness, she saw Jareth leaning over her while she laid on the bed back in the room he had captured her in.

                “Did you like my little trap?” he asked with that smirk on his face.

                Sarah was torn between slapping the bastard and thanking him for finally pulling her from that dark place when he could have just left her there. Instead she just lay there.

                “Well, at least you took my suggestion and had a bath. You are much more presentable now.” His eyes flickered in appreciation over her body and Sarah knew that he wanted to pick up where they left off.

                “Wait,” Sarah held out a hand to hold him back remembering how Jareth liked to play his games, “Before we go any further I want to know the details of this deal. I want to know exactly what we’re gaining and what we’re not before we go any further.”

                “A reasonable request,” he drawled.

                Sarah blushed red as she remembered a pressing need, “But there is one thing first.”

                Jareth arched an eyebrow.

                “I have to use the ladies room.”

                Sarah fled and Jareth’s soft laughter sent shivers up her spine.

                ***

                It took Sarah a lot of courage to return back to the bedroom. She just knew that Jareth would have a smug, amused grin on his face. He did so love to humiliate her. However, when she entered the room she found Jareth’s face devoid of anything; he merely pulled out a chair for her near a table that had tea and dry biscuits sitting on a tray. Sarah sat cautiously and tried not to flinch when his hand brushed against her hair. Jareth gracefully sat down in the opposite chair.

                “You wish to discuss the deal.”

                Sarah nodded and looked dubiously at her tea. She didn’t put it past him to try something, so she left the cup where it was despite how thirsty she was. She discarded the idea of eating the biscuits as well.

                “I know your terms for the deal, you want me to sleep with you. But what is it that you’re offering us?”

                Jareth leaned forward on the table, his fingers steepling before him, “I will not win this war for you. I will not heal every bruise and cut. I will not save every life. I will simply do enough so that your people can survive. The Force Groups surrounded many of your people so I simply prevented them from dying. If your people starve that is of no concern to me, but if they begin to die from starvation then I will provide enough food to bring them back from the brink. If the Force Groups attack you en mass, then I will step in. If you attack them first, I will not. Make no mistake in this Sarah, as long as there is a chance of survival on your own I will do nothing.

                But I will not let you die.

                He didn’t say it, but Sarah heard it nonetheless. She frowned, trying to see around his words. On one hand, it seemed like he was being a right bastard and doing nothing unless he absolutely had to – but on the other hand he was offering so much. “It seems like you’re giving us a lot in return.”

                “Don’t place such a low price on yourself.”

                She blushed hotly, “I’m not,” she snapped out, then took a deep breath, “but knowing you as I do, there has to be something more that you’re getting out of this besides me.”

                Jareth seemed to contemplate her for a moment, “I have my own reasons for interfering in the plans of the Superiors, and who knows… perhaps your people will come to see me as a savior – as their king – and become true subjects of my realm. One can never have too many slaves.”

                Sarah scowled at him, but let it slide. She had another important question, “And me? How are you going to treat me?”

                Jareth leaned back in his chair, “As long as you do not… defy me, Sarah, I will endeavor not to harm you.”

                “That’s not much of a reassurance.”

                “It’s as much as I can give. This is war, Sarah, sacrifices must be made. Risks must be taken.”

                They sat in silence for a moment.

                “How do I know you’re going to honour your side of the bargain?” Sarah blurted out.

                “You don’t,” he took a sip from his tea.

                “Then you and your deal can go screw yourselves,” she said in a fit of frustration, half rising from her chair.

                “I’d rather take you,” he shot back.

                She reined in the scream of frustration that threatened to come out, but could not stop herself from standing and turning her back on him. She knew it was the wrong thing to do immediately and spun back around, but the damage had already been done.

                He was in that classic pose, the one she remembered most clearly; he held a crystal ball in one hand, a regal stance and an almost bored, disinterested face. Any moment now he was going to offer her her dreams in return for a high price.

                But if there was one constant about Jareth, it was that he was unpredictable.

                “It is true, Sarah, that you may refuse our deal. I will send you back to your city and you may fight you war and you will lose. That aside, while you were discovering my trap I was generous enough to help your people as they were attacked by the enemy.”

                Sarah gasped and a hand shot to her throat as if to try and steady the lump of fear that had appeared there.

                “Some were injured beyond what their mortal bodies could stand, Ludo was shot many times, and if it wasn’t for my magic, many would be dead right now.” Jareth turned the crystal slightly and Sarah watched a scene act out in horror and then amazement as Jareth healed Linda. Suddenly the crystal popped and Jareth snapped his hand closed. “I have given them a haven, Sarah, a sanctuary where the enemy cannot trespass. If you back out of our deal now I will take back all that I have given.”

                “It’s a trick,” she whispered, “you’ve shown me lies.”

                At that, Jareth’s temper broke. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her sharply. “You little fool!” he spat violently, “I show mercy to your pathetic mortals and you insult me by calling me a liar!” He shoved her onto the bed so that she fell frighteningly backwards and paced away from her as if he had to expend some of his angry energy or hit her.

                Sarah felt tense with the danger in the air and stayed frozen where she had fallen. She barely dared to take a breath. She knew she had a do something to diffuse the situation before something worse happened. Jareth was a being of terrible power.

                “I-I’m sorry,” she stuttered.

                Jareth froze in mid-pace and glared at her with cold eyes, “Sorry? Spoken apologies mean nothing to me, Sarah.”

                Sick to her stomach, Sarah struggled to move her body into a sitting position on the end of the bed, “I-I’ll make the deal. Everything we spoke about. I agree. I’ll s-sleep with you.”

                “Will you Sarah?” he mocked harshly, “will you offer your body to me? One could almost say that you have already backed out on our deal – what were you doing trying to leave this room?”

                Sarah stuttered for an answer, “I-I was just… I didn’t think-”

                “I should just let your friends die now.”

                “No!”

                “Then you agree to our deal then? Completely?”

                “Yes,” she hung her head. She couldn’t look at him. Didn’t want to see herself in his eyes.

                He stepped closer to her. “Any way I wish?” he hissed, “maybe I want to rip the clothes from your body and take you without a moment of preparation. Maybe I want you to scream in pain as I rip though you as dry and tight as you can be.” He leaned over her so that their hair lay softly against one another, white on black. “Maybe I want to take your arse from behind, shoot my seed deep into your gut, make you tear. Make you bleed. Is that what you want Sarah? Is that what you will give me?”

                She was shaking. Her mouth was dry. She couldn’t say yes. She didn’t want the pain. She didn’t want him to hurt her. Sarah flinched as one gloved finger ran softly down her cheek and caught the single tear that had slipped from her eyes.

                “Maybe that’s what I want,” he whispered, “but maybe I don’t.” He pulled away from her and straightened up. “In one hour I will return. You will either forfeit our deal or you will seal it. Show me you’re sorry by making a choice, Sarah. Stop procrastinating and decide.”

                Then, he was gone.

                ***

                There was a spark in Toby that flared in teenage glory as he sat on a chair up high on deck, clearly lording it over everyone. Usually he wasn’t so narcissistic – he preferred order and respect rather than silly shows of class – but the fox… dog… whatever the hell it was had thrown him off balance. Hefelt childish, he felt rebellious, and worst of all, he felt petulant. It was a very dangerous combination that shattered his control. The whole ship he was currently on could feel it in the air and had been treading lightly. Thank Sarah, it hadn’t spread out to the rest of the fleet – then he might have a mutiny on his hands.

                Things had just gone from bad to worse once the man had choked on his own blood. Sir Didymus – Sweet Sarah, the thing had knighted itself – had had the audacity to lecture him (or was it rant at him?) on his actions and how dishonourable it was not to give the criminal a swift, clean death, despite his crimes.

                Really, he wanted to kill the furball.

                But that would be dishonourable…

                                …And he was just so intrigued by it! An animal that could talk, hold an intelligent conversation, argue and appeal to the common human sense (that might have been a little debatable though). How could he not believe the tales of ‘The Underground’ that Sir Didymus came from when proof of the land was right in front of him – walking and talking! What other strange things came from this land? Was it possible to get there? Other than a brief overview, Sir Didymus had been reluctant to offer any details. His mission, the fox had said, was to protect Toby. Who had given him the mission, he would not say.

                However, Toby had time and could wait until the fox revealed more on his own. Admittedly, he could just torture the information out of the mini-knight, but the men had taking quite a liking to the “steed” – Ambrosis – in the last twenty-four hours, and some twisted logic said that that meant no torturing of talking foxes.

                “Pardon me, Captain Toby,” the fox’s voice broke through Toby’s thoughts, “but I’ve been meaning to ask. Where art thou destination?”

                Toby looked down at the creature. It truly was amazing, “Seattle.”

                Sir Didymus was silent for a moment. Clearly the fox had no idea where the city was and Toby wasn’t inclined to inform him in his current mood. Toby didn’t even look at the creature when it cleared its throat.

                “And how long until we arrive?”

                “A couple of months?”

                “Months!” the voice proclaimed, “But we must arrive there within weeks!”

                Quite a few people on board partly drew knifes and hand guns at the shouting towards their captain. Toby gave a slight hand signal to settle them down. He eyed Sir Didymus carefully. What secrets were about to be divulged?

                “It will take us weeks,” Toby assured, “around eight of them.”

                “No, no!” Sir Didymus looked up at Toby with sparkling eyes. “We must arrive there within the fortnight!”

                “Even if we wanted to, we can’t. We simply cannot travel that fast. Besides, what could be so important?”

                But Sir Didymus wasn’t listening, “Ambrosius! Ambrosius! Come out now and assist me!”

                There was a whine and then the little mutt scampered out from wherever it had taken hiding to.

                “Ambrosius, call now. Call out for them now.”

                Toby rose from his chair and watched, a sense of excitement strumming through his blood. Something great was about to happen, he could feel it.

                The little dog howled. Once, twice, three times out across the sea. The sounds skipped along the waves and tumbled down into the water.

                There was barely a moment’s wait. The water dipped down slightly before spiraling up in a massive, thick column of sea water and foam – dark blues, green, and a striking white rushing dizzyingly upwards. The entire water pillar must have been at least thirty meters across and hundred meters high. Strangest of all, the surface of the ocean around it remained as calm as still waters – the ships didn’t even shift in the slightest other than the usual dip and sway of a calm ocean.

                Sir Didymus swept off his hat and bowed low at the waist, “Greetings to thee, sea guardian. The waters of your world are empires over the land kingdoms.”

                The voice that spoke was feminine and light, but for all that held a slice of death, “Your kind are not welcomed here, diplomat. Return to your king.”
- 8
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Worlds Of War