350 Caugh

CHAPTER 350 – CAUGHT

The emotions were too much and Astrid could barely contain it. Before she knew what was happening, her vision's blurred as well and her knees gave way, causing her to fall forwards on her knees and hand.

Jareth could no longer watch the things going on and made to move and help her when Terrence shot another arrow in front of him.

He whipped his head back to see who had dared do that, but when his eyes met his brother's challenging one, his anger dwindled a bit. His hands balled into fists at his side and he knew he could not disobey.

"Stand down, Blade. Do not interfere."

"Terrence." He tried protesting but Terrence wouldn't have it. They had come too far for his brother to suddenly grow soft-hearted on him.

"It is an imperial order."

"What is happening?" Astrid muttered to herself as she felt her entire body feel like it was spinning continuously and her skin became hot like she was on fire.

"It is a poisonous dart. It would weaken your limbs and render you unable to walk and you would lose consciousness soon. So do not bother thinking of running. When I told you, you were cornered, you thought I jested."

Astrid scoffed at him. He felt he won now. She was just too trusting that was all.

"Terrence!' Jareth called out to his brother. He did not believe things would get out of hand so quickly.

"Blade, do not interfere. What did you think? I should just waltz in like that? You wish."

"Aunt was right, sadly. The elves are not to be trusted."

"Did you think that an important thing like this, I would not come prepared? Tsk, hybrid you should have known better. You pose the realm's greatest threat, after your mother, that is. So I came prepared. General Aelfdene," he called out.

"Your highness, capture her."

"Stay back." Astrid raised her right hand in front of her but she could barely keep them up as all her body felt like lead.

"Or what? You do not know your situation, do you? The magic collar you wear has the ability to disconnect you from your powers and make you weak like a human. There is nothing you can do now."

"Terrence that's enough," Blade yelled at him, his gaze still fixed on Astrid and the burning in his eyes and heart, felt so torturous.

He never wanted this, at first yes but now, no.

"Why?"

Astrid hissed as she tried to move her limbs. Ignoring the heaviness in them, she managed to stand up.

Seeing this, Snow bared his fangs and flared his wings, ready to charge towards her but several arrows were shot at both of their feet, preventing them from advancing to each other.

"Master!"

"Snow. I…" A wave of pain shot through her at that instant and her legs gave way under her. Before her body could hit the ground, she felt something or someone caught her and hold her.

Jareth who was being held back by everything he stood for could not watch any longer as the girl he loved, go through endless pain in the hands of his people.

The moment he noticed her legs bucked under her, he moved, ignoring everything and anything. He knew none of the soldiers would shoot but Terrence may and may not.

Whether his brother did, that was not his problem. Nothing mattered at this point. All that mattered was making sure Astrid was alright.

"Blade!" Terrence bellowed at his brother, but he was too far gone to care. "Step away from the hybrid!"

Jareth paid him deaf ears and gently touched her forehead. It was burning hot and a reaction she should not be having from the poison but she was.

It was obvious about one thing, her powers were fighting inside of her. Her emotions raged but the collar was inhibiting them.

"Master! Master!" Snow yelled through their mind link in tears but all the elves heard was a loud roar each time he called her name and Jareth knew he was in as much agony watching her and doing nothing.

"Snow, run."

"Master, what? No. I cannot leave you behind."

"There is nothing you can do, please. They would hurt you too. I do not want that."

"Master I do not want to leave you, behind, please."

"Snow, I love you, please, run." She coughed and a trail of blood escaped her lips. "Go."

"Master."

Seeing this, Jareth felt his heart began to beat wildly as his fear overtook him. 'No, please.'

"Astrid, hang in there, please do not fight it. You would only get worse," Jareth whispered to her. He could see the tears threatening to break free from her sockets and his heart clenched at the sight.

'What have I done? Please.'

"Ja…areth, why…" Those were the last words she said and her eyes dropped close and her hand went limp at her side.

'No!' He screamed in his mind seeing her almost lifeless.

Snow roared the more, shaking as tears flowed down his face. He did not want to leave but when he saw some of the soldiers stalking towards him, he shot several balls of fire at them and they moved back.

Quickly he took their distraction and used it to his advantage and ran away, leaving them behind.

"Master, wait for me. I would save you. Mother, mother!"

Without being told, he knew he was outmatched and if anything, he would be at a disadvantage and only burden Astrid if he was caught too.

In as much as leaving her behind pained and hurt him, it was the best thing. Jareth would not have let Astrid go either. He already betrayed her.

Snow stopped after he ran far and turned his head to look at Astrid once more. He saw Jareth shaking her body and after some time he stopped and as if he felt the eyes on him, he instinctively looked in the direction Snow ran to.

Their eyes met and he could see the teary big eyes of the beast, mirroring his pain and rage. "Jareth, I would make sure you pay for what you did to master."