Gray

The next day...

Sarah opened her eyes to the gray and dreary morning. The sun's rays peering strongly through her window but she couldn't feel its warmth, couldn't see the light. She threw off the bed covers with a sigh, watching as a few remaining flecks of confetti floated about the room. Nothing would ever be the same, the world had lost its color.

"There is a difference between dreaming magic and knowing magic. When you dream you don't realise what your missing, not really" She feels the tears forming as her whispered words hang in the air. Fighting them back, " Grow up silly girl!"

She dresses quickly and hurries down for breakfast. Noticing the bowl of fresh fruit, more importantly the peach sitting at the top. Was that there yesterday? Could it be...? With an unsure hand she grabs the fruit, trembling as she brings it to her mouth she closes her eyes and takes a bite,

and... nothing. Her eyes open and all she can see is the same room, the same house, the same gray and dreary world.

One year later...

"Sarah. Sarah? Sarah!" Karen becoming irritated with her stepdaughters preoccupation shouts into the girls ear, startling her out of her daze. "I thought that you had put this useless day dreaming out of your head these last few months. Get your head out of the clouds and pay attention!"

" Yes, yes I know. You and father taking Toby for the week end , me home alone , no parties, no boys..."

" I would never accuse you of having a boy over. Lord knows at the age of eighteen I would almost be happy just so I know you noticed one"

" Whatever. Go! Have fun! I will be perfectly happy to curl up with a nice book and Merlin." Sarah knelt down and ruffling the dog's fur. "Your all the boy I need isn't that right ol' boy?" Her step mother leaned forward to give her a quick hug before rushing out to the car with toby and her husband. Sarah was still amazed at how well they got along when she wasn't stuffing Karen into the villain slot. Sarah knew what real villians looked like now and her step mother wasn't close. Villains had dreamy eyes and concieted smirks that make the whole room light up.. "Shut up! Listening to inner voices is what got me there in the first place" Was it really a bad thing? "YES!"

" I wish... Jareth.." NO! Sheclsoes her mouth hard enough to hurt. I will NOT finish that Sentence, I wont even finish that thought! She made sure the door was locked then headed up to her room for a book and some peace. If only I had no memory like Toby, would my world be color again? More then likely I would still have nothing but then I just wouldnt know why. Sarah pushed open her bed room door, took one look in the room and fainted.

The Goblin King ruched forward and caught her as her knees gave way. He had heard her half wish and was unable to resist the temptation, expecting to find the strong triumphant woman-child that had defeated him, refusing her dreams, resfusing him even! He wanted to see her smug face mocking him. He wanted to have her fuel that hate he tried so hard to cling to, fuel the need for vengeance. Instead he picks up this broken thing that has stolen her place. Deep purple circles under her eyes are made more prominent by the paleness of her face. He picks her up trying not to notice how light she has become. Laying her down on her bed he just stares, taking in the shock. "Why refuse me and everything i offered just to return to the mortal world and let yourself wither away? I would have given you your dreams and you deny me for this!"

"You.Don't.Know.My.Dreams." Jareth masked his face to show no emotion. He gazed at her through unreadable eyes, silent and unmoveable. She jumped off her bed. Something inside Sarah snapped. HOW DARE HE? Showing up here after all these months looking so calm, She had won! He was defeated! She was so wrapped up in her anger she didnt notice Jareth disappear from infront of her and reappear from behind. He leaned in, beathing her scent, almsot brushing his mouth against her ear, she felt more then heard as he breathed his question across her flesh. Both of them noticing the slight sway and she fought for control. Both noticing the goosbumps as she realised how close they stood.

"And what do you dream my Sarah?"

" Sad little king of a sad little world, still no idea of why you had no power over me." Sarah stepped back trying to block out the sensations he always seemed to provoke. Trying to pretend to be unaffected. Denying that with him here she saw color. Venom laced her voice as she ranted on. " Still playing games with a girl. Offering the fanciful notionings of the child who went into the Labrynth to the woman who came out? Valentine evenings and happily ever afters? YOU offer me water when I dream of wine, a snack when my heart yearns for the feast. You offer Cinderella's ball when I need a dance that never ends. You offer Juliet's brief tragic kiss when I long for a first kiss that lasts eternity. The king of my dreams would be able to show me what forever means. You are not him, you only make riddles and play games. I won my brother and lost everything, go away little king I have nothing left for you to win." Sarah closed her eyes in surrender willing him to leave, or herself to fade away into nothing, which ever comes first. " Jareth why are you here? I didn't summon you."

He held up his hand as a crystal materialized. She sees herself just moments earlier ..I wish... Jareth.." Why i came at your call of course. Do I not always do only as you ask?" his mocking face drawing nearer has he leans in. Froze she makes no move as his mouth comes so close. a breath might push them together." Afraid? Your trembling. No thats not it is it?" His nostrils flare as he inhales, like a predator, an inhuman gesture. Tracking his quarry "I can smell the desire. I can hear your heart beat. I can see the flush in your skin. I have no power over you? Are you lying to me or yourself?" Sarah backed up, eyes wide, shaking her head side to side "You still deny me. I could bend you over this bed right now and do as I will but in the end, even after that, you would still deny me! I will not play this game of cat and mouse for ever my Sarah. I have given you every thing you you have ever asked of me. I told you once that I move the stars for no one.. but I have for you. What in all the wrongs you seem to believe heaped upon you, what was ever not done FOR you?"

"Toby.."

" You wished for me to take the boy. I , bound by your very whim took him away as you requested. You wished for adventure. I opened my kingdom to you, sent you companions to keep you safe and show you the way. You wished for romance. I send you a dance filled dream .. the belle of the ball. You wished the boy returned. I had him home and in his cradle before your feet touched ground after your leap of faith. You wished for love. I offered my heart and my soul. Now you wish for a womans dreams? Yet you are still too much of a child to realise that was my offer. I don't even know why I bothered coming at all .. I heard my name on your lips and had.. hoped.." He trailed off staring out the window refusing to meet her eyes.

Sarah stood in shock. He sent her friends to help her? He returned Toby before she had won? Was this true or just another trick to distract her from the goal. Goal? Did she even know what the goal was this time? Was she unjustly casting him as the villain much as she had done with karen?

"I hated myself the next morning." She doesn't pay attention to the tears on her face, they are so common she would notice it more if she weren't crying. " I woke up and I realised.. I had nothing. I go to school and wait for the bell to ring. I come home and wait for sleep to take me. I dream of dancing but even then I am simply waiting to wake up so i can start it all over again. I eat and it tastes like dust. I open my eyes and its all pointless, I close my eyes and I remember why I don't care any more. I saw a world no mortal should have seen. We are not ment to live magic because it makes dreaming of it impossible." She straightened her shoulders and her eyes took on that determined gleam that had been missing since that fateful evening. Her choice was made. " I don't belong here any more."

Jareth strode forward with an other worldly speed and gathered her into his arms. His mouth came crashing down over hers as he willed all the passion, all the desire he had felt for so long into one moment. One kiss. He held her close molding her body to him and still .. not close enough. His mouth devoured her trying to take some part of Sarah into him as he left a part in her. She was his and he would never let go.

Sarah clung to his shirt letting him overwhelm her senses. Running her hands along his chest where the shirt gaped open, she slowly brought them around his neck. Holding on for dear life as her knees buckled and she fell into him, she tore her mouth away from hsi to whisper in hsi ear. " I wish the Goblin King would take me away right now"

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The End

review or flame all critique is helpful k thanks