The purple sky was streaked with orange and red. As the crickets quieted their nightly song, the morning birds began their own soft lullaby. The running water of the stream provided a soothing mood in the tense hour of the dawn.
It was the hour Jareth, my stepfather, was leaving. He was leaving to go after a wonderful treasure that, by legend, was hidden atop the highest mountain. What was worse was the fact that the tall tale he was pursuing was told by the common peasants of the village.
Jareth and I had never gotten along. My mother was rich and that was the only reason he had married her. It wasnt until after they had wed that his true colors began to show. He hated me because I was the son and I would be the one to inherit her fortune in stead of him. I hated him because he pretended to care about me and my mother, but his false care was what drove her to her death several years before. We were constantly fighting and many times had become physical. The only reason he kept me around so that when he needed a little bit of money, he always knew where to find it.
I glowered at him angrily as I watched him pack his bag full of supplies.
Aubrey, I understand your anger but you must realize what this means for us. Imagine how we could live with a fortune that size. I could see his eyes glaze over with greed. This will really help us out later on in life when times are hard.
I dont care about something thats not there, I snarled. But I guess my feelings dont matter to you, do they, Jareth?
My head snapped to the side and my cheek burned like fire. It took only a moment for me to realize that he had struck me.
Do not speak to me that way, boy! I am your elder and as such you will show me respect and honor in all that you do! Jareth roared angrily.
In case you havent noticed, Im a man, not a boy. And as such, I can speak to you however I please! I retorted. Im not stupid enough to run across the country on some wild goose chase!
Do not mock me, boy, for I am in a foul disposition, he said arrogantly. And you are the one that put me there!
I glared at him. He wasnt my father, but it still hurt a bit that he cared more about money than he did about me; however, I would never tell him that. I cursed him silently for it.
Jareth strapped a dagger to his belt, picked up his sack, and stormed out the door. I waited until he was gone and preceded to slamming the heel of my palm into the closest wall. Pain ripped through me and moisture blurred my vision. I did not, though, regret my action.
Many months passed and Jareth still had yet to return. With each passing day I tried to ignore the longing I had for company, but it just wouldnt go away. I swallowed my pride, packed a bag, and headed for the mountains. After a journey that seemed to take all of eternity, I arrived at the largest and highest mountain.
I looked around and noticed a cave. It was so well hidden that had it not have been for the pale orange glow coming from the inside, I never would have known that it was there. As I moved closer, I heard singing from within. It sounded as if the men who were singing had had too much whiskey for their own good. I walked inside but a long, straight tunnel lay before me. Curious and too tired to think clearly, I went to the end of the tunnel, pushed aside the flap, and went into the main part of the cave.
Instantly, I regretted my decision. Although the cave was large and filled with gold and other beautiful treasures, the beauty of the cave stopped there. Blood splattered the gray stone walls and the cold floor. Bodies, or what seemed to be bodies, had been stripped of their skin and were hanging from the walls. The only source of light was the bonfires around which, not men, but little demons, danced and sang. I closed my eyes, but could not bear it. Without my site, my sense of smell became sharper and I could smell what else was in the cave. The stench of urine and blood almost gagged me and I could taste the old whiskey on my tongue.
When I opened my eyes, I realized the demons were no longer singing and dancing, but staring at me. One of them stepped forward to the largest fire and began to chant in a language that I did not understand. Smoke immediately rose from the fire, thicker than it was before. Soon, it took the shape of what looked to be a golden serpent with green eyes. The creature slithered forward and wrapped its warm body around mine and his face was but an inch from my own. As smoke filled my lungs, I felt as if they were on fire and began to choke violently.
Weve been waiting for you, Son of Jareth, the snake hissed in my ear. We knew you would come searching for your fatherit was only a matter of time before you did.
Where is he? I choked and felt tears start to stream down my cheeks from lack of oxygen.
Oh, he was here and yes, he did get his gold. But, he paid a high price for it. He pledged to us the blood of his only son--a son who no longer regarded Jareth as his father.
Im not his son, I croaked and gasped for air but there was none to be had. Not by blood.
The snake continued, apparently not caring what I said. We were suspicious at why this man would offer up the blood of his heir and decided to have him stick around for a bit longer. Care to enlighten us about why he would sacrifice you the way he did? it asked.
I closed my eyes so that none of them could see my fear. However, my closed eyes did not prevent them from seeing tears of anger and lack of breath. I was not completely surprised that Jareth would do a thing like this to me, but in a way, I had hoped that he would find it in his heart not to.
No? Well, I suppose it will have to remain a mystery thenunless we fetch Jareth himself to shed a bit of light on the subject.
I heard footsteps behind me but the serpent prevented me from turning around. I didnt need to. I knew who it was. It was Jareth. The smell of the room was becoming unbearable and I felt as if fire and ice were being force through my entire body and resting in my chest.
He is not my son. He is neither my blood nor does he care about what I need out of life, Jareth said coldly. His voice echoed loudly through the caveand through my head. Do with him what you will.
Ah, but we must give the boy a chance. It makes the game more fun and interesting. Besides, it prolongs this wonderful meeting of father and son a bit longer. Dont you think?
Two cups appeared in front of me. One was filled with whiskey and gold while the other one was filled with nothing but water.
Choose, Jareth, the serpent hissed and uncoiled itself from my body. I gulped in air and started to cough. Which cup do you want and which cup do you think your son deserves?
I knew this was a test, but Jareth, being the thickheaded idiot I knew that he was, did not know what I did.
Father, I gasped, surprised as my own words. Pick--
Silence! The snake exploded and breathed into my face.
My lungs were on fire once again. I was drowning in the smoke and there was no one to save me. I coughed uncontrollably.
For Aubrey, I choose the water. After all, the more gold I have the more water I can get later so why should he get money when he is going to die anyway? He deserves nothing for his ill treatment of me!
He kicked me in the pain of the knees and I screamed in agony and I fell to the ground in a heap. Pain burned at my knees and I looked down to find them covered in blood. The cave stench only intensified as I lay on the ground. I willed myself to get up, but my body would not listen to me. I looked up to see Jareth draw his dagger and start toward me. I turned my face away and let the tears flow. I felt my body tense as I awaited the blade and pain I knew was going to be in my back at any given moment.
It never came.
Instead, I looked up just in time to see the smoke serpent float over to Jareth. He opened his mouth to scream and the snake disappeared down his throat. He started to scream and claw at his chest in attempts to remove the creature from inside of him. Then, he became covered in blood and his skin slowly began to disappear. The thick red substance flew everywhere and I covered my face with my arms so as not to become covered. Finally, Jareth disappeared altogether.
I heard loud screams and discovered that they were coming from me. I slowly stood up and barely kept my balance because of my injured knees. I started to run, but became disoriented and screamed again as I collapsed to the ground. Fear burned inside of me. I could feel my heart in my throat--I was going to die.
Suddenly, I was cold and wet. I looked up to see the dancing demons holding buckets and realized that they had drenched me in water. They dropped them and silently pointed to the entrance of the cave. I stood as fast as I could and started to run as fast as I could from that horrible nightmare, but I never seemed to be able to move fast enough. A question drifted into my mind and I slowed down to look back at the smoke serpent with the question in my eyes. I could barely hear what it said, but I knew what the three words the creature was.
He guessed wrong.
