Chapter one: in which cats can talk
She filled the glass up before popping the pill into the mouth. She took a swig of water then the other pill. She gulped the nasty down and wiped her ruby lips. "Hopefully that'll make me sleep like a log and keep the bad dreams at bay at least for a while." She sighed, running a hand through her still shower damp tresses. She yawned, already feeling the effects of the medication.
"Hmm, come on Gwen..." The girl named Jade murmured to a black cat with yellow eyes. It meowed at her, running for the bedroom of the small apartment. "Yeah, yeah, yeah! Get in your spot already, silly kitty~" The sleepy woman yawned, her green eyes blurry.
No time to read tonight before these pills take effect.
She barely had time to pull the covers up and lay her head down before her heavy lids closed for the night. Gwen looked at Jade before closing her eyes too, but not in sleep.
The tall window on the other side of the room blew open with a fierce wind, but the wind died down quickly and a man stepped silently into the moonlit room. His clothing looked like something was that was cut from the sky; stars and all.
Gwen shot up, fur bristling on her back as she yowled and clawed the air at the intruder. A masked face turned the cursing cat, glaring. "Quiet Gwenilyn!" He ordered, his voice holding a authority to it.
"Forgive me sire, I thought to keep up appearances. She might have woken up." The cat sat on its haunches, head bowed in shame.
"Never mind that, you know why I come this night?"
"Yes, but Jareth won't like it. He's already claimed her for his own." Gwen murmured, concern edging her voice.
"Aye, but not before I did if you remember correctly." He stepped closer to the still sleeping girl, marveling at how the noise didn't wake her. Her pale face was paler in the moonlight that crept from the open window. She looked peaceful, not unlike the girl who he danced with most nights.
Yes, Jareth had claimed her, but only after Jetamas did, but Jareth hadn't bothered with her in some time now. Jetamas had first seen her and wanted her for his own because she'd been a beauty even when she was a mere child.
"Sleep well, sweet Jade and when you wake you will be in the place of your dreams." He caressed her cheek with one gloved hand before picking her up softly into his arms.
"What will I tell King Jareth?" The cat's eyes were wide with fright for herself and concern for Jade.
"That you went to sleep with her and woke up to find her gone. You did well in your task from beginning to end. You will not remember this meeting Gwenilyn." He touched the cat's forehead with two fingers, still holding the sleeping girl in his arms. Gwen fell over in sleep, worry still on her face.
"I'm sure that Jareth will not punish you too severly." He murmured as Jade stirred in his arms.
She opened her green eyes and looked up to a masked face with blurry eyes. She gasped slightly and frowned in confusion. "Damn pills, I thought that I wouldn't dream. Got to get new pills next time, thought I wouldn't you tonight." She said sleepily, reaching out to his mask.
He shook his head, smiling under the mask. He pushed her hand back down her chest gently. "Not tonight, princess, you won't see my face yet. No matter how great your curiosity~" He touched her forehead as he did Gwen's and she went back into sleep peacefully.
"Maybe not ever, sweetling." He said, stepping out through the window, it closing behind with a click.
No matter how much he wanted her to see, she never could.