Jareth held the glass cup by its long, elegant stem, slender fingers wrapped around it with a gentle firmness. He casually inhaled the bitter-sweet scent of its blood-crimson content, registering the flavors through smell. He pressed his lips against the smooth rim, allowing the wine to slide down his throat. After a few modest sips, he directed his attention to his nervous captive from across the elongated table.
She shook violently in his presence. It wasn’t of what she had been through that frightened her; It was his air of confidence that made her state of mind wane and her buoyancy falter. Her security lessened with the sight of her tattered, filthy clothes standing out into the open like an old rusty telescope in the middle of a room. A feeling of shame sunk into her chest. But she’d never tell—she’d never give him the satisfaction of knowing her utter embarrassment.
A few minutes passed as an unnerving silence haunted the beautiful dining room.
Knowing her incapacity to withstand awkward pauses, she attempted a nervous hum.
The rhythm she captured in her casual humming soothed her somewhat, but this was only too soon and too temporary to last. After three minutes she found her defense wither under his pensive gaze.
“I have a Labyrinth to solve, don’t I?” She said frantically, with a nervous giggle.
“Au contraire,” He said plainly. “You’ve lost.”
No matter in what manner he expressed her loss, it was clear that she was distraught by the news. Having been standing there for the last few seconds, she found herself sinking back into her chair with a look of defeat crossing her pale features. She suppressed tears from escaping her black eyes.
She looked up briskly, unsure of what to make of the situation. “I still had time…what did I do wrong?” She asked.
“You never believed you were in the Labyrinth in the first place, which gave my Labyrinth a “hollow effect”—meaning you went through paths that were not meant to be. You still, even after all this time, supposed you were in a silly old story book…when really, you were here…and continue to be. You thought all this was a dream. You would have never made it to the castle…” He paused, “Did you understand?”
“Huh?” She said, tilting her head to the side. (XP)
“I don’t repeat myself very often so listen carefully.” He said, appearing next to her.
She fell off her chair from fright. She looked at the ceiling, not wanting to confront what was just said.
He lay next to her, supporting his upper half with a lone elbow. “You forfeited even before you started. End of story.” He explained.
Tiffany looked to him, bewildered, “All because I did not believe…?” she was stopped.
“Exactly! Cheers to our new beginning.” He said, raising his cup in her honor.