Revenge and anger filled her black and soulless heart as she looked at the vampires that had not long ago followed her Sire. ‘They dare oppose me’ she fumed inwardly summoning forth her power. Wind began to rise as her hair flared about her form like a raging flame, the tunnel walls that surrounded them beginning to shake.

The vampires that stood before her looked worriedly about them, as it appeared as if Navea was about to bring the walls tumbling down upon them. They instinctively ducked as the ceiling began to fall about them and as soon as it had began it abruptly stopped.

Navea smiled darkly as the vampires now coward before her, “Now, do you still wish to disobey me?”

None of the vampires before her spoke as they now stood before her speechlessly. She looked about the room pleased with the silence, “Good…Now I have found a secret entrance leading into the castle of the Goblin King that leads directly to his ancient library. Anyone interested in causing a little mischief and hopefully bloodshed?”

The vampires grinned with fangs drawn as their interest was peeked with the promise of spilling some blood. It might not be so bad working for this vampire after all. Jonathan never did let them have any fun.

Giles sat at the desk that he had been sitting at the past couple of days as he watched the others gathered about within the room. Riley sat contently in a chair located not to far from Giles while Buffy paced the room. Willow sat on the other side of Giles deep in thought not really paying much attention to Buffy’s pacing. They were all waiting for Sarah and The Goblin King to show and had been waiting for the past twenty minutes.

Buffy growled, “Where are they? It’s been almost an hour since we were summoned to be here.” She emphasized summoned with some bit of distaste.

Xander, who had been leaning up against the far wall smiled, “I’m sure they’ll be here soon.” Buffy just looked to him with a sideways glance.

Shaking herself out of her own thoughts Willow brightened, “It hasn’t been that long. They might have gotten…I don’t know, sidetracked.”

Buffy made her way towards Riley casually sitting on his lap, “Personally I don’t see what she sees in that guy. I don’t think he’s all that good looking and God knows he’s all lacking in the charm department.”

Willow grinned, “I don’t know he is kind a gorgeous and all. Not to mention mysterious and…” she stopped as she noticed all eyes on her. “Well in an all magical kind of way!” she added sheepishly.

The gardens were a comfort to her senses as she walked slowly down the garden path. Breathing in deeply she took in the strong comforting fragrances carried by the soft cool breeze. It was quite beautiful surrounded by short green grass, flowers, shrubbery, and an occasional tree that provided a bit of shade.

Sarah’s mind was focussed on the past as the past few weeks ran over in her thoughts. In the past two weeks she had recognized her love for the Goblin King, found out that she was a Slayer, found out that she had some kind of destiny within the Underground and that it was her real home.

‘Home,’ she thought with a bit of a frown, ‘Have I ever really had one? My mother abandoned me for her career and my father barely looked at, let alone spoke two words to me. Toby has really been my only true family and to think I almost got him turned to a goblin.’ Sarah stopped as she thought of her little brother.

She would truly miss him, he was the only one in her so-called family that took notice or cared. He loved her unconditionally and it made her wonder if he would still feel that way if he knew about what she had done. She was so self-involved then, burying herself into her own world and fantasies to block out the pain and abandonment she felt for herself. Her adventure through the Labyrinth had changed her a lot she grew up then. When she returned she thought that things would be different that the world would change just as she had, but it didn’t. Instead her life deteriorated instead of getting any better. Her father grew more distant, her stepmother more annoying and hateful towards her, her real mother communicating with her less and less. She could never fit into the world around her and now she felt as if she were truly home.

The only down side was the foreseen awakening evils that she was supposedly to protect the Underground from. So far though there were no signs of those evils being awakened but just because they had yet to see it did not mean that it had yet happened.

Rubbing her neck her mind flashed back to that Elfin Vampire that tried to kill her, the one she finally knew the name of. Navea was her name but that was pretty much all that they knew about her. That and she being very powerful for a vampire so newly made. She deduced that it was because she was of the Underground and not of earth, but then again the fieries that were turned did not show any sign of such power.

So wrapped up in her own thoughts, Sarah almost ran over Jareth as he appeared just before her. Sarah stumbled but was helped as Jareth’s arms came about her arms to steady her.

Jareth smiled in amusement, “I didn’t realize that you missed me that much.”

Sarah smiled, the smile not really reaching her eyes, “Sorry, I was kind of someplace else.”

Taking her hand in his he eyed her critically, noting her mood, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really. Where are the others? I haven’t seen them at all this morning.”

“They’re currently gathered within the library waiting for us,” he answered her inquiry knowing not to push any further on trying to get her to confide in him. She would do so when she felt comfortable with doing so, he just had to be patient. “Shall we?” he asked her as he held out his hand for her. Within minutes they were inside the room adjoining to the library where the others were waiting.

Sarah smiled warmly at her friends, “Sorry if you guys had to wait to long.”

Xander moved from his position against the wall sitting beside Giles, “Na, we just got here.”

Willow and the others rolled their eyes. Buffy looked to the Goblin King as she stood, “Okay, so what’s the plan.”

Before Jareth could answer Sarah beat him to it, “We need to find Navea’s lair and destroy the vampires. Hopefully with them gone this sleeping evil won’t awaken.”

Shaking her head in dismay Buffy agreed with the goal but they needed a plan, “I’m all for that but we’ve got to find out where exactly this lair is.”

The Goblin King added to the conversation, “I have a pretty good idea as to where it is and how to find it but we have one small problem.”

Taking a deep breath Sarah decided to finish his statement for him, “Navea.”

Giles entered into the conversation, “Yes. Well, what we do know is that she can be killed like any other vampire.”

“It’s just getting past the whole power stuff that’s going to be the tuffy,” Willow added.

Silence filled the room as eventually all eyes lied on Sarah and the Goblin King. Sarah wasn’t sure if she could do this. Was she ready for this? She had just started to learn how to use her power. Would that be enough? She looked to Jareth as she felt him squeeze her hand in reassurance, “Leave Navea to me. It’s getting all of the others that you guys need to focus on.”

Buffy frowned, “Sarah, are you ready for this? I mean, you barely escaped from her the last time you faced her.”

Jareth glared at the blond, Sarah had enough doubts as it was she didn’t need Buffy adding to it, “Sarah won’t be totally alone in facing her. We will both be facing her.”

Sarah felt the intensity of the situation starting to lighten, she wasn’t alone, she had Jareth and her friends all backing her up. With their help there was no way she could lose, well she hoped. “When do you think you can locate their lair?” she asked Jareth.

“It shouldn’t take too long,” he answered.

Everyone stood looking to each other as they wondered what they were going to do next. Buffy decided to speak for everyone, “The sooner the better, especially before nightfall. We don’t want any getting away.”

Willow interrupted, “What about weapons?”

“That will be provided just before we leave. Until then I need to consult my crystals.” Jareth rose Sarah’s hand to his lips kissing it softly just before vanishing from the room.

Sarah stared at the place her love had stood just before leaving. It was strange how everything was working out. Instead of Jareth being her enemy like in the past he was now her ally and love.

Giles cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention, “Now that that’s settled I think it best that we prepare ourselves.”

As everyone started out of the room Buffy looked back to Giles as she saw that he wasn’t coming, “You staying?”

“Yes, I want to look further into this book I hope that it will give us some idea as to how these evils will be awakened.”

Smiling to Giles she exited the room following the others. Catching up with Riley she looked to Sarah, “How are you doing?”

Sarah smiled to her friend, “As good as can be expected.”

Giles hovered over the old text, as he looked further into the characters before him. Though he was familiar with the language it was proving a bit of a headache to translate. He loved his work, sitting back he wondered if he loved it a bit too much. He couldn’t think of the last time that he had actually taken a break from everything, a type of vacation. When they would finish with helping the Goblin King and his world he was seriously thinking about taking a vacation. Surely they could do a week or two without his services. Buffy was more than capable of taking care of things without his help she had her friends to help her like they always did.

His musings were brought short when he ran across a particular passage within the text. Standing he leaned over the large book in concentration, not sure if his translation was accurate. “How did I miss this?” he mumbled to himself as he read the small passage before him. Standing from his position over the book he quickly took off his eyeglasses, stunned that he had missed it.

Not wanting to waste another moment brooding over his discovery he started out of the study towards the library. Just as he reached the doorway of the study he suddenly found himself flung backwards his back hitting hard against the adjoining wall. Blackness greeted his vision, as he was rendered unconscious.

 Entering the room of the study Navea looked down coldly to the unconscious man before her. One of the vampires within her company ran past her towards the fallen form.

“No!” she snapped, “I want him alive.”

The vampire looked to her with distaste, “Alive, I thought you promised that there would be bloodshed.” He regretted his comment as he found himself suddenly hovering in the air, bones cracking and turning.

The other vampires that were with her watched as Navea ruthlessly used her power. She sneered up to him appalled that he dared question her actions, “Let me remind you that I hold your existence within my grasp and am perfectly capable of snuffing you out of this world and will send you back to hell if I feel the desire to do so!” Ignoring the vampire that struggled in the air kicking and growling, she crouched down in front of the mortal before her. She remembered seeing him not too long ago, “Yes, you will do nicely.”

Giles tried to open his eyes at the sound of the woman’s voice but could not manage to do so, his head pounding as if elephants were running over his very skull. Stirring he tried to pull away from the woman but was stopped from doing so, his arm crushed by her grasp. The pain was definitely enough to make his eyes open.

Her forest green eyes boarded into his as she searched his mind, “Yes, you will do very nicely.” Her lips twitched in an evil grin, “Know this, your so called friends will watch you slowly die by my hands just before I destroy them all.”

He needed to get away, must free himself from her grip. Eyes shutting once more as his head pounded with immense pain, “You won’t get away with this.”

His comment brought out her laughter, “Sleep,” she commanded and his body fell limp in her grasp. “Here,” she handed Giles to one of the vampires, “Carry him while I get what we came here for.”

Making her way towards the large book she slowly ran her fingers along its pages as she closed her eyes. She could feel the power that the book held. Cleaver as it was in hiding its true power she knew its little secrets. “The key,” she commented just before closing the book and bringing it up within her arms. Walking past the others she motioned for them to follow as she headed back from where they had come.