Labyrinth Fan Fiction ❯ Pick up the Pieces ❯ Chapter 2

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Bleedingchaos: Well I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the intro. This idea just popped into my head one day randomly and I thought id like to make it into a story. As you can see I love writing I just don't get much inspiration to continue. I think my work sucks and I try to think otherwise but it doesn't work very well. Anyways I really hope I can keep your guys' interest and I swear not to quit on this story unless I'm told otherwise. Love you guys and here's chapter 1.

Chapter 1. The Fates

Jareth stared into the eyes of the three fates. He elder was Scarlet who was dressed in a scanty silver gauzy gown. Her two younger sisters were twins named Grace and Bella. Both dressed like their older sister only Grace was in green and Bella in blue.

The three fates were exceptionally beautiful. But no one compared to his beloved Sarah. What the three fates lacked was the deep passionate fire that glowed in Sarah's eyes. Even when Sarah was broken her eyes never faltered in their scorching gaze. And it was because Sarah that he was now standing in front of The Fates.

One minuet he was standing in his throne room pacing and ignoring his goblins then the next thing he knew he was standing in the grand hall in front of the three fates. And now they were giving him hell for what he did. The three fates might have faces of angels but step on their territory and mess with free will and you can see just how impish and demon like they really are.

"We gave you one simple rule Jareth of the Goblins… And you broke it." Scarlet spoke.

Jareth didn't say anything. It had been a week since he had given Astrid the book. She hadn't spoken the words yet. He didn't think she would either but the fates knew what was going to happen. And it must be something big to make them call on him like this.

"You have threatened life as we know it Jareth." Scarlet spoke once more and again Jareth stayed silent. He knew something was up. Both Grace and Bella were usually smiling and playing around. And now they wore frowns and were silent.

He closed his eyes in frustration. "So what are you trying to say" Jareth barked out and immediately regretted it.

Scarlet's irises changed from Amethyst to blood red. "Do not take that tone with me Goblin King. If not for me you yourself would be just a low peasant Fae. We gave you your life and helped you harness your powers. We can take them back just as easily" Scarlet hissed vehemently.

"Forgive me" Jareth spoke softly.

Scarlet's irises changed back to Amethyst as she walked up to Jareth and caressed his beautifully smooth porcelain cheek. "Usually we would be able to interfere with what's to happen with you but we cannot this time." Scarlet said quietly. He heard Grace Sniffle behind Scarlet and Bella held her sister close… this didn't look good. "You know the reasons we cannot help you Goblin King." Scarlet said sadness clouding her once sparkling eyes.

Jareth actually paled. "Is their any way to stop it?"

"Nay" Bella said sadly.

Jareth's face contorted into one of anger. He wanted to scream. But he wouldn't. He damned himself the day he gave Astrid the book…now someone was going to pay dearly for it….

"Who's going to…." Jareth started to ask before he just vanished from the room. There was only one other power that could have pulled Jareth away from the fate's chamber….he had been summoned.

"It's too late" Scarlet whispered….

Astrid lay in her bed pouting. Her day was going bad. First her mom had come in and found her reading a book that she randomly found on her dresser. She thought it had been a present from her mom so she had been reading it over and over again. In the week she had had it, it had become her favorite book. She could probably recite the book if she wanted to.

For the first time her mother had screamed at her. She didn't understand why. She said the book was evil and had walked off with it. Astrid didn't think it was evil. For some reason the girl in the book reminded her of her mother….and Astrid felt a strange connection to the goblin king. She felt sorry for him and wished the book had ended differently…that the goblin king got to keep his love…but no…. he had kept his word and set his love free even though it pained him. The first time she read the book she had wept for the goblin king.

Even now all she could think about was the book. It was like….the book was somehow calling out to her but she couldn't understand why. 'Say the right words' a scratchy voice kept whispering to her but she thought it was just her imagination running away again. When she had been reading the book she had been picturing her mother running through the labyrinth in search of her brother. And at the ballroom scene….she could picture her mom in a beautiful elegant gown and a tall man with dazzling mismatched eyes chasing after her mom. Astrid sighed. She really needed to stay away from her mother. Maybe her dad was right saying she was becoming much like her mom… But was it such a bad thing to dream and to imagine what life would be like in someone else's shoes?

Astrid sat straight up when she heard something crashing against the wall. She peeked her head out of her room and snuck into the living room after making sure it was clear as she was still grounded and didn't want to get into more trouble. She gasped lightly as she watched as her father smacked her mother around.

She clenched her little fists and ran to him to try to protect her mother.

"Stop it! Stop hitting mommy!" Astrid screamed pounding on her fathers legs then he smacked Astrid before he froze with realization.

She sat there and cried silently. Sarah got up to tend to her daughter but Astrid scooted back flinching away from her touch before running to her room.

'Say the right words!'

"I wish the goblins would come take us away right now" Astrid whimpered.

"No!" Sarah cried out from the doorway.

A strange current ran through the room then there was a white owl in front of the window. The windows blew open on their own accord and there was a bright light. Astrid screamed and Sarah had to shield her eyes. The light started to recede and there stood Jareth.

"Oh…no…." Sarah breathed as she stood still frozen in place as if she were paralyzed by his mere presence. Jareth stared at her before turning to Astrid. "Its…you…the man I imagined from the book" Astrid said in a small voice and Jareth nodded walking towards Astrid.

"Don't you dare touch her" Sarah cried out. Jareth knelt down beside Astrid and touched her bruised cheek with his leather incased hand. "Did he do this?" Jareth asked Astrid quietly.

Astrid sniffed and nodded. Jareth wiped the blood from her mouth then made a crystal appear in his hand. He twirled it and it turned into a daisy. He handed it to Astrid who giggled and took the flower.

Sarah watched transfixed. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She never saw Jareth like this before. He stood beside Astrid turning to look at Sarah.

"Are you going to take us away?" Astrid asked

"Yes little one" Jareth said.

"M'not little I'm 8 now" Astrid said puffing out her cheeks in a pout.

"Ah yes forgive me" Jareth said chuckling.

Astrid walked up to Jareth and attached herself to his leg. He bent down picking her up into his arms.

"Take me instead Jareth…Leave my children out of this" Sarah said.

"What's said is said Sarah. You know that better then most." Jareth said to her as he glanced over to the sleeping Daniel on his bed. He gave her a hot stare "You have beautiful children" he said lightly sending chills of anticipation down Sarah's spine.

"And would you really want to leave such beautiful children to suffer at your husband's hand? He could scar them permanently…would you subject them to physical scars as well to go along with their mental scars" Jareth spoke in even tones.

"Shut up what do you know" Sarah hissed. "A lot more then you think I do Sarah. But that doesn't answer my question" Jareth said

"Never…I would never leave them with my husband" She said. But she couldn't help but wonder how Jareth knew about her husband.

"How..?" She started to ask before he shook his head. "Now is not the time for talk" He said before he turned to the window which was now a door that he pushed open and walked through.

Sarah turned to Daniel's bed and saw he was gone. She quickly ran after Jareth through the door that actually leads into a bed room. The door slammed shut behind her and she saw Jareth setting Astrid down on the bed beside her sleeping brother.

Sarah looked behind her and saw that the door they walked through had disappeared… She knew there was no going back now….

Bleedingchaos: Well I hope you all enjoy that chapter. Ill have more up soon. Please review. Might make me want to update sooner. ^_^x