Jonathan growled as one of the vampires told him of what had transpired within the fiery forest. Not only was Buffy, the Slayer here in their new home but there was another Slayer in the mix. He mused that Faith must have been killed for there to be another Slayer. Looking to Navea he noticed the fearful expression on her face. Approaching her he cupped her chin in his hands forcing her to look within his eyes, “What is it you fear, my dear?”

Navea could not break her gaze from her Sires eye as she felt completely compelled to tell him all that she knew, not that she would resist him. “The girl he described I think I know who she is. She is a threat to us, more so than Buffy.”

Tightening his grip, “Oh, please enlighten me as to why?”

Navea jerked her head away from his grasp angered by his use of force upon her will. Her eyes shimmered darkening the green of her eyes as her powers rose up from within, “Never touch me that way again!” she fumed.

The other vampires within the underground cavern backed away fearful of the power that emanated form the newly formed vampire. Jonathan stood his ground not at all afraid of her show of power, she was his childe and bound by a bond to never use her power against him. Quickly he was upon her crushing his body against hers as he intensely glared into her glowing eyes, “Would you really use your power against me, a power that you would not have if I had not made you,” it was a statement more than that of a question.

Navea smiled up to her Sire, her desire for him pushing away the anger, “Maybe,” she purred as she lightly brushed her lips against his biting his lower lip lightly. His strength excited her as he pulled her lips back to his in a searing kiss. Navea smiled as he pulled away and glared at the gaping vampires. They quickly looked away knowing their masters anger.

“Navea, my pet, don’t toy with me. The Slayer’s are no trifling matter. Now, tell me what you know of this other Slayer.”

Navea’s eyes were back to normal as she regarded her Sire and sauntered up to his side, “Her name is Sarah Williams. She solved and defeated the labyrinth four years ago. No one has ever done that in the history of the underground and no one knows for sure what effect that it would have on the winner.” She paused a moment looking away from Jonathan as she contemplated the knowledge that had flooded her mind only moments ago, “She is connected to this world and holds unrecognized power. Her being the Slayer was meant to be. The Labyrinth brought her here. The portal in which you and the others entered were meant for her and closed when she passed through.” Navea smiled at the sudden new knowledge that entered her mind, “Oh that would be grand.”

Jonathan noted her change in demeanor, “Have your powers revealed something to you?”

“Yes, there is a way we can turn the circumstances to our favor,” she was almost glowing from within with the news she was holding.

“Go on,” he was not a patient vampire.

Tossing her red curls over her shoulder she looked back towards him, “Has a slayer ever been turned?”

Jonathan smiled at the idea, a slayer turned into a vampire would be something worth seeing. The possibilities were endless, “No…do you suggest that we do just that?”

Navea leaned her chin upon his shoulder, “No, I suggest that I turn her.”

Jonathan grabbed her by the wrist pulling her to face him, “You’re not ready to Sire, my pet. Why you and not me?”

Navea grinned, “Because I’m different than the others and my power would be doubled. Think of the possibilities. With Sarah as mine, she would be under my power to control and you would rule this world.”

Pulling her closer to him to catch her eyes in his, “And what stops you from pushing me out of the way to have everything to yourself?”

Navea smiled wickedly as she bent her head to nuzzle at his throat just before whispering in his ear, “Because I need you, I want you.”

The way she spoke to him made his flesh tingle with anticipation. Lifting her into his arms he carried her now giggling form towards the bed into a joining chamber of the tunnel. The other vampires had already left the safety of their new home to go hunt for their next victim.

Sarah sagged against the wall as she was starting to get tired. It didn’t take long for Buffy to follow suit. They had left the fiery woods a long time ago and were now in a part of the labyrinth that half resembled the hedge maze and half resembled a garden. For the life of her, Sarah did not recognize this part of the labyrinth. Closing her eyes she let the small breeze caress her long dark brown hair away from her face. The smell of flowers and magic laying heavily in the air.

Buffy sat beside Sarah looking around at their new surroundings. If she didn’t know that there was danger she might have been enjoying the scenery. The fact was that she was wishing that they were back in Sunnydale and not stuck in this crazy monster infested maze. She wasn’t too comfortable about having to fight an enemy on unknown ground. Sarah might be feeling at home in this world but Buffy was not. So far they have been attacked by crazy orange creatures that had been turned to vampires and could disassemble their own body parts, lost in a giant maze, her feet hurt, and to top it all off her stomach was starting to growl. Taking a deep breath she looked over to Sarah to see that she looked contempt and at ease unlike her annoyed self.

“Okay, where are your friends you said you had in this place?”

Sarah opened her eyes to look at her friend, the Slayer, “What…oh, I don’t know. I was hoping that we would have run into one of them by now. I hope they’re alright.”

Buffy frowned, she had been so annoyed with their current predicament that she didn’t consider how worried Sarah might be about her friends, “Sorry, cant you just call him?”

She knew that Buffy was referring to Jareth. Quickly looking away she was afraid to admit that she had wanted to, that saying that she needed his help was a way of surrendering to him. His offer still fresh in her mind, she knew that if he offered it to her one more time that there would be no way that she could refuse him or his advances. She knew that she was just being stubborn but a part of her was afraid of letting him in, of letting anyone in. Ever since her real mother rejected her request to live with her and how her father rarely acknowledged her existence she was afraid to let anyone else in. She didn’t know if she could ever really fully trust, or open her heart to anyone. Not after the years of emotional rejection she had gone through.

Buffy noted Sarah’s silence on the matter, “Look, I’ve seen the way that you two look at each other.”

Sarah got up from where they were resting, looking around them as to think about where they were to go next. She was avoiding the issue trying to distract Buffy from the topic but Buffy didn’t go for it.

“Look…”

Sarah cut her off, “No, don’t. What is between him and me is between him and me. I know that you’re only trying to help but when it comes to you know who, just don’t.” Sarah paused she was tired mentally and physically, “We need to keep going. I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this place.”

‘Oh, there’s an understatement!’ Buffy thought to herself, ‘If she wont call him in the next fifteen minutes, I sure as hell will!’

As they reached the end of one of the corridors they entered into a large opening. No maze, no hedges, just open field of grass and dark sparkly gravel. Sarah raised and dropped her hands to her side in aggravation, “Shit, now I’m completely lost!” she was aggravated more than anything and her lack of sleep was not helping the issue.

Buffy calmly looked about their surrounding getting one of her bad feelings about their surroundings. Quickly she drew out Mr. Pointy as her eyes carefully scanned the darkness around them. The stars and moon in the sky lending just enough light to let them see their surroundings.

Sarah didn’t notice Buffy stiffen and continued berating herself for ever going through that portal. All she wanted now was a bed and a bath, to close her eyes and drift off into peaceful sleep. The echo of laughter caused her to pause in mid mussing. It wasn’t the teasing laughter of the Goblin King but a sinister deadly laugh that sent ripples of chills down her spine. Before she had time to reach for her stake she felt her body slammed into by an unseen force throwing her back, she hit the ground hard knocking the breath out of her.

Buffy stood ready for the oncoming attack as she saw dozens of vampires emerging from everywhere around them. They were greatly outnumbered, looking back she noticed that the entrance that had led them to this place was gone. They were trapped and the only way they were going to get away was forwards which was blocked by the large group of vampires. Looking to her side, Sarah was still sprawled on her backside looking up into the night sky. Slowly she backed away from the impending attackers making her way to Sarah’s side, “Sarah, now is not the time for a nap.”

Sarah struggled with the invisible force that held her to the ground but was only able to look helplessly to Buffy, “I…cant…move…”

Buffy looked back to the group of very hungry vampires and stood ready to do some damage. Within seconds they attacked all at once. The first couple were thrown off easily enough but as one would get dusted another would take its place. She was getting no where fast and she wasn’t able to stay with Sarah, she could only wish that she would be alright as she tried to stay alive.

Sarah closed her eyes as she tried to break the invisible ties that had wrapped themselves around her.  When she opened her eyes her heart immediately sank into her stomach. The woman that she had seen in her previous nightmare was now standing over her with a wicked smile that made her heart freeze.

The pale skin and dark red hair fell about Navea’s face as she bent over the helpless Slayer, “Sarah Williams, I have a gift for you.”

Her voice was laced with sweetness but Sarah knew better, this vampire was powerful and she could feel the evil radiating off of her smiling form. Sarah’s eyes shifted to the other vampire that stood beside Navea and couldn’t help but to shiver. She was helpless and they were looking at her like she was prime rib. As Navea crouched closer Sarah eyes watered with impending fear letting a single tear escape her eye and run down the side of her face.

Navea gently swept away the tear with the back of her cold hand, “Now, now, Navea’s going to take all of your fears away.”

Sarah closed her eyes as she whispered Jareth’s name with a whimper.