New Story. Enjoy. Don't own anything etc. No flames or spelling police.
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Down in the underground the master of time and space, the trickster of tricksters sat and waited, drumming his fingers as he gazed into his crystal ball, about to burst from the frustration of waiting for a girl to make a wish, the right wish. For him the years that passed only grew his desire for her. She had denied him what he wanted, and he always got what he wanted.
Sarah learned not to use the words I wish in such a casual manner as she once did, but every now and again she would be angered and use it without thinking. This would lead to a strange event that granted her wish exactly as was stated, each time being easily explainable as something normal and luckily no one ever got hurt.
Five years had passed since they met. Sarah had grown up in the shadow of tragedy and forgotten about the adventure in the Labyrinth, the very one that made her the strong person she was now. It was no more then a vague dream of blurry faces and confusion, but it didn't matter, there were more pressing issues in her life and her fantasy world had to be put to the back of her mind.
Sarah drove Toby to school every day and parked her stepmothers white Mercedes in the large parking lot. She walked him to the door in the mornings and then walked next door to the library where she now worked.
Life was on a set schedule. After her parents died one rainy night in a car crash, she took the initiative to raise the boy herself. Although their insurance policies were ample, Sarah still needed to work if she wanted to pay for her college classes.
The library was the best place for her to work. She had taken over for old Mrs. Henderson who stayed on, but only as a volunteer to put books away. Sarah had plenty of quiet time in between checking books out for patrons and read the fiction novels she enjoyed so much.
Monday morning came as always and she watched as Toby went through the large double doors of the school. She knew he was getting too old for her to be there every single day making sure he was out of sight before she left. All the other kids were just dropped off or left to wait there until the school opened, but something in Sarah made her extra protective over him.
She sighed and worried about the child who always kept to himself and refuse to make friends. Deep in thought about her troubles and how she was going to continue to cope with all the responsibility adulthood brought, she somehow forgot where she was and allowed her body to automatically move to walk the same path it did every day.
Turning around, not paying attention, she slammed into the embrace of a stranger. She looked up shocked, then lost all reason and reality. She stood there in his arms for quite a while staring up into his eyes, his gaze just as intense as hers. Two women whispered something to each other at the sight. He leaned in, his lips close to hers, everything for her seemed very familiar like it had happened before and the world around her drained away.
She was standing in oblivion and it didn't matter because the only reality she knew was the existence of both of them in that moment. Then reality came back to her with a snap when someone's laugh rang through her head. She felt dizzy and he was the first to break the contact.
"I beg your pardon miss." the clean cut man in a black suit said.
"It's my fault really. I wasn't paying attention as usual." she said.
"Too much on your mind?" he inquired.
"You can sure say that." she rolled her eyes which implied you don't know the half of it.
"Forgive me I'm Jareth Kinglin. My nephew and I have recently moved here. He just started Kindergarten today."
"I'm Sarah and my Toby's in the same grade too."
"Is he your son? Forgive me but you just look so young." he said flatteringly.
"No he's my brother. Our parents were in an accident three years ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Claus has lost his parents as well, and it falls upon me to see him to adulthood."
"That's awful but it's good of you and your wife to take care of him." she said wanting to know if this man who was causing a fluttering in her stomach, was married.
"Oh I'm unmarried." he smiled. " You know my business leaves me with much leisure time and if there is a problem with Claus…..he's having such difficulty adapting to his new life… I would like to be close by. Do you perhaps know of a place where one might volunteer ones time to the community not far from here?"
"Well you asked the right person Mr. Kinglin."
"Jareth, please." he said with a bow of his head.
"We're desperate for help at the library…. if you're interested."
"I am very interested." he said seductively giving her goose bumps.
"W…well I'm heading over there right now. If you like you can start right away."
"That would pleasure me greatly." he said.
Sarah couldn't help but be a bit flustered at the thought of working with him. He had an air of danger and mystery. Something about him made her want to run and it was as strong as the feeling that made her want to stay near him. She took her time showing him around the library and explained how they organized the books.
"So you see Jareth, Mr. Thompson handles the back office, Mrs. Henderson, call her Hedda, puts the books away and helps locate books, she's retired from the job I have now and just can't stay away. She's not very mobile but she insists on doing it, whatever she doesn't finish we do. But mostly I really need your help in checking out books, checking in books and covering for me when I have classes. It's a really easy program to learn. Just a few clicks on the computer. How much were you planning to volunteer?"
"I was planning on week days when the kids are in school. All except for Wednesdays when I have business to attend."
"That's great! What business are you in?" she asked more excitedly then she should have been.
"Investing in children's futures." it wasn't exactly a lie.
"Ok like managing college funds and scholarships?"
"Not exactly." he said.
"Anyway the library closes at four except during exam weeks when we do get extra volunteers, usually from the retirement home to help to stay open later. I'm really glad to have a volunteer that can remember their first name…So have a seat and I'll show you how it's done."
Jareth looked at the machine that almost looked like it was looking back at him and had no clue what to do with it so he waited for her to take the lead.
"Have you used a computer before? We finally got funds to switch from the hand written system."
"I have to say I haven't had much use for them, although our business is also about to switch to a more efficient method of keeping track of our clients. I might as well start learning alternate methods now." he said.
"It's really easy. Well first you scan the card. Then take the mouse." he looked at her and not seeing a mouse assumed the off white object with what looked like a long tail that she pointed to was what she was talking about. "Ok then you click here." she placed her hand on his and showed him the motions. The contact was electric and she pulled away fast. "Um..um… to return a book just click here and scan the bar code. It's as simple as that."
The morning went by fast and by noon Jareth was getting a bit bored as Sarah had been immersed in a book and not talking to him. It was far from the noise of his rambunctious court and the bustling goblin city around the castle.
"Is it always so quiet in here?" he asked looking like an impatient child.
"It gets busiest during the end of year exams. Otherwise not too many people come in here. The high school has it's own library, it'll be mostly college students and the elderly, but expect the middle school on every first Thursday and the elementary school on every second. So feel free to pick out a book, I've read a ton since I've been here."
"Really? What are your reading interests?" he prodded.
"Everything and anything but I especially like fiction and folklore."
"Ah yes folklore. You can say I'm an expert in that area." he said with a secretive smile.
"There's a really good selection. We also have lots of magazine subscriptions if you want to look at those too. Sometimes it's easer then getting wrapped up in a book. I always get upset when someone disturbs me from the best parts."
"Yes it's not quite fair…" he dragged the word fair out. "…to be disturbed when one is so immersed."
"What did you say? I…I mean absolutely. I'm glad you agree." she said scanning her mind for why the word fair stuck in her mind like a record.
Sarah had a pleasant day at the library thanks to Jareth who kept her very good company. At about three fifteen two boys walked in laughing.
"Toby whose your friend?" Sarah asked watching the two boys come into the library from school.
"His name is Claus he's new." Toby said excitedly.
"Oh I see. Well why don't the two of you draw some pictures and we'll close up in about forty five minutes." she left the happy children at a table and started to put away a stack of books.
"My they are getting on well." Jareth said standing next to Sarah as they watched the two mischievous children plotting.
"Yes I'm really glad to because he wont talk to anyone at school. We've been to several doctors and they all say he'll snap out of it soon because he was really young and doesn't remember our parents well, but I've been really worried. This is a very welcome change. I'll bet they're going to be the best of friends… Anyway I'll see you both tomorrow, if I haven't scared you away."
"I don't scare very easily. Come I'll walk you to your car." he said holding the door for her.
"I didn't realize you parked next to me." she said looking at his large black Mercedes with the tinted windows.
"Seems we have the same tastes in automobiles. Until tomorrow, love." he said and something struck her stomach, it was too familiar but she couldn't dwell on it, she had a child that needed dinner.