~Chapter 2: Into the deep~
Two rings.
"Hello?" A young boys voice answered as expected.
"Hey kid, told you I'd call." Sarah said happily, pleased that she'd gotten the time difference right.
"Sarah! What time is it there?! It's 8 in the morning here!" Toby' voice dropped down an octave, as if to make a difference to the rest of the conversation, "Karen and Dad are still in bed, but I've been setting my alarm for 7am everyday."
"Really? On a non school day? My, very impressive." Sarah just enjoyed chatting nonsense with Toby. He could be talking about planes, insects, trees, the person he has a crush on, fairies or even his dreams and she'd still listen.
"Don't wanna' waste the day, that's what you said!" Toby chirped happily down the phone and Sarah heard a slurp.
iFive bucks that's a can of cola and Karen' going to give me an earful next time for getting him hooked on the stuff. /i
"Anyway, it's good to hear from you squirt. I just wanted to let you know I got myself settled in. And to answer your question, it's just after lunchtime here. I'm about to make the garden look beautiful."
Sarah heard an excitable gasp from Toby down the phone and stood up to peer out at said garden.
"Are you going to use the lights and stuff I made for you?" Toby asked hopefully, but Sarah could picture him bobbing up and down in his seat, being careful so as not to spill the cola.
"You know I will, I love them." Sarah had prepared her small box to take with her: Garden tools, seeds, mini plant pots (with the dirt already in them) and of course, said fairy lights with beautiful paper patterns cut out to make shapes. It was truly something she adored, as he had spend a week getting his finger cut on bits of plastic and gluing the paper together and painting and then wrapping it in a nice box for her to take before she went.
She half listened to Toby' excited rambling' about seeing about air mail from home when she caught sight of a familiar figure outside the window.
The cat that had been there before.
And this time, Sarah could clearly make out a scrunched up face with a black shadow, almost like an eye patch, over one side of the cat' face.
She felt a shudder as if someone had trailed fingertips up her spine and she let out a soft sound of surprise.
"Sarah? Are you ok?" Toby halted mid rambling, obviously concerned by her sudden, startled noise.
"I'm fine, just cold." She wasn't really lying, it was only the beginning of spring here and the weather was still trying to make up it's mind. Cold or warm. Wet or dry. Wind or fog.
"Ok...So, want me to ask dad and mum if we can send you some stuff over?"
Sarah bit her lip, wanting to ask for all sorts, specifically themselves, but stopped herself, not wanting to get Toby' hopes up or make him believe she hated her new life in London.
Her new life away from home and family.
"I'm fine. Just tell them I love them," she meant that truly, "and you kiddo, you look after yourself for me ok?"
"Ok," Toby' voice sounded the same as when he pulled his 'sticking out lower lip sad face, "Hey Sarah...I miss you."
Sarah sighed but put on a happy tone.
"I miss you to. But you'll be visiting in Summer soon enough, ok? And I'll be back after that for Christmas. I pinky swore, remember?"
"Yeah...sooooooooooo, are you gonna' send me something?" Toby' voice went from instead 'puppy dog sadness' to 'excited little puppy' curiosity.
Sarah spent the rest of the phone call reassuring and promising Toby she would send him more stuff (mostly english sweets and foods).
When she had eventually hung up, she stretched out her arms and realised she'd spent half an hour just talking to Toby.
Just like old times.
Shaking her head off of melancholy wantings, she eagerly picked up her box of things, scooper up her bottled water and made her way down into her garden.
Just the right size.
Opening one door with her bottle clasped hand (pleased that multi-tasking meant she had excellent balancing skills) she gently nudged the other one open with her foot, wanting her house to be fresh and cool on such a nice day. Sunny and yet with that unmistakable breeze that meant it wouldn't last that long.
'But rain helps things grow.'
She looked up at the wall where the cat had been, but was silently relieved she didn't have a cat watching her every moment.
She already had a voyeur owl, she didn't need another stalker animal.
A little but hurriedly, wanting to clear her mind, she set her things carefully out on the small white (well, dirt white) table before her, untangling the wires of the lights carefully. Wanting to keep them away from the elements, she found a snug little archway above her back gate, covered in a thick weave of ivy.
She knew she'd only light them in the evenings or at parties, but she knew the paper would be protected, especially with a little of her own magic. She knew she could always call in a favour with Hoggle, borrowing some magic from his fairies.
Then, after cleaning away a few spaces she got to work.
She used an old, broken trowel to dig up the weeds in the cracks in the path, being careful when little insects run out around her, Sarah apologising for disturbing their homes, before placing the weed killed ever so lightly so it wouldn't grow back.
She sweeped up the debris, glad for the relief of bending her back for such a long period of time and commented on how old she felt (giggling to herself when an image of a ruffled Jareth popped into her head).
She then rearranged her garden to her liking, moving statues to the farthest corners to create space and using her plant pots in the small, circular garden that had been built out of stones. She did appreciate it, but maybe, when she had time, she'd convert it into a small koi pond, then have the flowers surrounding it. She could imagine herself happily feeding her fish, reading and writing and just relaxing in the lovely sunshine. And maybe have her friends round. And Jareth, if he was good.
Eventually, after tidying away her tools back in the box and sticking them underneath the large wooden steps that lead down into the garden from her patio doors, she observed her work and smugly stood with her hands on her hips.
"And that, is how you get a job done properly."
She turned and waltzed back inside, rewarding herself with a cup of apple juice in Toby' home made mug.
She reached for a book and made her way back outside, to find the cat back and watching her, almost as if to mock her.
"Well hello again today," she calmly found herself sauntering to her chair and table, "I have no food for you here. And I know you can understand, so if you wish to stay, please do not stare: It's very rude."
She watched as the cat seemed to tilt it's head as if observing her before it settled down, as if to sleep.
She decided to read anyway and eventually, lost her way in her story.
Dark knights.
Long lost loves.
A damsel in distress.
It wasn't until the first pitter patters of light rain began did she look up from her book.
Standing to attention, she dusted off of her lap and turned to make her way inside before remembering her friend. Turning to see if her friend was still there, she noted bot a hair or whisker could be seen.
"Must of been bored."
Sarah shut herself back inside for the rest of the evening before calling her agent and making plans for herself to actually do some exploring tomorrow.
Checking her phone for messages, her email and at last, the local telephone book to call up and arrange tours of museums close by, she eventually curled up in her bed.
She hadn't meant to fall asleep, truly, but as she lay her head on the pillow and heard the rain begin to hammer down louder outside, she felt herself being pulled into a comfortable lull.
i"Ah man, even the cat gets into my dreams." Sarah said grumpily.
Indeed, as soon as her eyes had shut and opened again, she had been faced with the cat on the wall.
"I'm sorry, but you invited me in my dear." The cat meowed at her, almost delighted at his own smugness.
"Oh so you do talk," she folded her arms and scrutinised him with her gaze.
"Only here my dear. But I unfortunately cannot stay, must dash and all," and although the cat only had one eye, Sarah could still tell he winked at her, "will be seeing you again VERY soon."
As the cat turned and dashed off into a red puff of smoke, Sarah sighed.
"Cryptic cats. Great, what next?"
"Sarah."
She turned around and found herself back in her newly decorated dream garden. Everything exaggerated and over sized. Small fireflies buzzing about and illuminating everything around her red. Her statues now pulling grotesque faces at her. Her back gate now hidden behind what seemed to be a thick hallway of ivy.
"Sarah, turn back."
Jareth's voice urged her. Urged her away.
"Sarah, help us please." The twinkling little voices urged her forward and she stepped closer.
"Sarah, wake up girl."
She shrugged off the sound of his smooth voice and continued.
Her hand reached out and she almost touched the door.
"Sarah wake up, or I shall have to kiss you."
Hold the phone-/i
Sarah' eyes flew open and she met the gaze of a grinning Jareth.
"Hello precious." Jareth hovered a few feet over her face.
"Off. Now." Sarah' hands came up to his shoulders when he began to lower himself closer to her.
"You're such a bore Sarah dear girl, can't you ever...what's the term you use...loosen up?" Jareth chuckled darkly but allowed Sarah to lightly push him back into a seated position as she herself sat up.
"What do you want Jareth?" She pulled up at her covers only to realise she hadn't any on. She was still in her work clothes and covered in dirt from her earlier activities.
"Do I need a reason to see you, sweet girl?" Jareth's gloved hand came up to her face and she didn't flinch away. She just stared at him with sleepy/angry eyes.
"When you come into my bedroom, uninvited, then yes, you do need a reason." She wasn't fooled by his charms. Again.
Jareth just smiled and bared his sharp teeth to her.
Like a hungry wolf.
"My dear girl, when you leave your window open on such a night, how could I not take it as an invitation?"
Sarah glared at him and quickly flicked her gaze over to the open window.
"Well, for one thing, I didn't leave it open and two, if I did, it was because I had fallen asleep."
"My Sarah, how clumsy of you? Surely anyone could have broken in? Well then, because I was so deeply concerned, I came to prove a point that anyone could have come in here through that window and taken advantage of you as you slept."
'Bullshit.' She snarled to herself.
"Only if they could fly Jareth. And your the only one I know capable of both flight and taking advantage of the situation Jareth."
Jareth arched his eyebrow and cupped her chin, pulling her forward a little.
"My now, if that isn't an invitation-"
Sarah lightly patted his wrist away and tried to steer his mind onto something else.
"You always wake me from my dreams. And I know you can see them. What is it about that door? Will it reveal my darker side or some other deep meaning like me figuring out what a massive ass you are?"
Jareth' eye twitched but he retained his cool façade.
"Sarah darling, you've told me that many times without having to open so damned door in your silly little dreams."
"Well then, let me get back to sleep and see for myself."
She met Jareth' eyes defiantly and felt his hand snake back up to stroke her cheek tenderly again.
"My dear, I can give you something much, much better to dream about."
Sarah didn't have time to think or retort back. Jareth had grabbed her and she lost immediately lost in his whirlwind kissing.
It wasn't the first time he'd done it.
On many occasions he'd taken his opportunity, whether it be to surprise her, comfort her or just shut her up.
And it always worked.
She couldn't fight it.
She gripped the covers as his tongue did wondrous things to her, turning her insides to jelly.
As soon as it had begun, it was over and Sarah felt him pull back.
However, when she opened her eyes, he was no longer in front of her. Frantically searching around to see if she'd been dreaming, she watched him swoop elegantly out into the night.
"Majestic pompous ass."
Jareth hoots in the distance as retaliation.
Sarah lay down to sleep, allowing the window to stay open, knowing that no one except he would enter it. And he wouldn't again, not tonight.
As she drifted off yet again, this time with a smile on her face and her covers pulled up to her chin, she didn't bother to look under her pillow.
And why should she?
She never expected anything to be beneath it.
Let alone a stone that was used in ancient rituals as a form of strong protection.
A protector from bad dreams.
