Chapter 8
423 Words
Elora stood warily in the balcony door, arms folded.
So she is intrigued, Jareth smirked internally.
"I didn't kidnap any babies," he said. "I only took what everyone else had thrown away. I rescued them."
"Then why did Willow have to solve your entire Labyrinth before he could take me back? You didn't exactly hand me over," Elora said.
"I had to make sure he was sincere," Jareth said innocently.
"Rubbish. You're just a no-good, cowardly baby thief. Get out of my kingdom before I send you myself."
Jareth stared defiantly back at Elora.
"If you're so sure, I'll go," he said. "But before I do, surely you'll accept one parting gift… to remember me by."
He reached into his coat and brought out a glassy orb. It seemed to flow between his fingers as he held it out to Elora, careful not to step any closer.
"What is it?" Elora asked suspiciously. She didn't step closer either, but she did lean forward.
"Look inside it," Jareth said.
Elora cautiously took the orb with the tips of her fingers. It felt lighter than it should be, but somehow still entirely solid. She looked into it.
Its clear center shifted to a pastoral scene of goblins sitting in front of quaint cottages and lounging in a fabulous castle. They were singing and playing.
Elora looked back up at Jareth.
"It's a lie, like everything else about you," She said. She held it back out to him.
Jareth paused.
"You're so sure? You won't even take a look for yourself? Maybe just this once I'm telling the truth," He said.
"I did look. I didn't see anything worth revisiting," Elora said.
"Not in there. In my kingdom," Jareth said.
"What?" Elora said.
"Come to my kingdom. See what it's like. Maybe it's not what you expected," Jareth said.
"You already kidnapped me once and you want me to go with you?" Elora said.
"Not now. Tell your guards where you're going and how long you'll be gone. If you're not back by then, invade my kingdom. Surely you can handle a few poor starved goblins," Jareth said.
Elora considered it. Jareth made no move to retrieve his orb, so she set it down on her dresser to examine later.
"Come back tomorrow evening. I will give you my answer then," Elora said regally. She looked expectantly at Jareth.
He took the hint. Without another word, he morphed into an owl and flew away. Elora watched him go.
Willow is going to have a fit.
- Writer
