Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, although I'd happily snog Jareth within an inch of his life given half a chance. :)
Warning: Mature content. This story includes adult themes, sexual references and consensual violence. If these things offend you, do not read any further.
THE TIES THAT BIND
Ch. 3
Recap:
Slumping forward, Sarah rubbed her eyes with weary fingers, "It sucks, feeling as if you are in love with a phantom that will never know what you are saving for him. Y'know?"
Jareth's eyes closed as a wave of guilt swept over him, his fingers gripping the arm of the sofa in an effort to keep himself from sweeping her into his arms, and claiming the gift that was rightfully his, by her own admission.
Shaking herself slightly, she peered up at him again and smiled weakly, "I'm sorry for dumping all of this on you. You must find me terribly boring. But, aside from Siobhan, you are the first person who ever asked."
Blushing she shut her eyes, turning away from him. "At least you understand about the gift and why it was important to put forth a challenge to try to discourage those who wanted to claim me. It isn't as easy as a mere claim of possession, the person who makes that claim has to really understand what it is they are claiming and what it means. If not then…I'll be lost forever..." she said, whispering, "which is a lot longer than I've been told if it is with the wrong person or wrong motive."
A sinister voice from the hall interrupted her reverie. "It doesn't matter now, by rights you are mine to claim," Derick snarled, sauntering into the room.
Spinning to face him, Sarah rose from the footstool. He advanced on her forcing her to step back. Jareth watched silently as she drew herself up and purposely stepped toward Derick, reaching out and punctuating her statement with sharp pokes of her fingers.
"You. Have no. Power. Over me. And trust me when I say that stronger and more powerful men than you have tried to make that claim," came her angry retort. "So give up."
Jareth's eyes widened at her statement, a malicious smile edging over his sharp features as he watched the other man's reaction.
"It is an impossible challenge."
"No it isn't. It just requires someone to take the time to try to understand what it is I am searching for – and pain for the sake of pain isn't it. I am not a masochist, you narrow-minded, arrogant asshat."
Jareth bit his lip to keep from laughing as he watched Sarah call Derick out in no uncertain terms.
"Then why the hell are you here, Sarah?" Derick spat at her.
Her bravado failed briefly and her voice faltered. Turning her back on Derick, she closed her eyes, raising her face toward the ceiling. A single tear slid slowly down her cheek before she opened glistening eyes and looked at the soothing countenance of the masked man, with eyes that seemed to peer through him while speaking directly to his heart.
"Atonement."
"What?" Derick asked, laughing. "Don't be absurd."
"As I said before, you will never understand, Derick. I want, need, crave atonement and forgiveness for past wrongs, from the one person who does have power over me." With a sad sigh she whispered so softly that Derick didn't hear, "or at least they would if they knew how I felt."
Jareth looked at her softly , having heard her whispered comment.
"Look you insolent bitch, I've had about enough of this. You will submit to me or so help me…" Derick reached out and grabbed Sarah by the hair, yanking her back toward him.
In one swift movement Jareth was up and across the room, grabbing Derick's wrist he twisted it sharply causing him to release Sarah, who collapsed on the floor, knowing that if he twisted just a fraction further, it would snap. With a sharp thud, Jareth lifted Derick and pinned him to the wall, fixing him with a steely glare he growled menacingly, "Do not lay a hand on her. She is not yours and it is not seemly to even consider harming one who does not belong to you. I suggest you leave and do not come back – ever."
The threat of the last word hung heavily over the room, before Jareth dropped Derick, watching him coldly as he slid to the floor, before returning to his seat on the sofa.
From her vantage point on the floor Sarah shivered. Something about the stranger unnerved her, he seemed so familiar almost reminding her of….but no, it couldn't be him.
"You have no claim to the little whore, so what do you care?" shouted Derick. "You can't talk to me like that anyway."
"But I can," Siobhan interjected as she returned. "Derick, I have warned you about your behavior previously. Since you refuse to listen, I am banishing you for the next 6 months. Am I understood?"
Derick looked at her, face red with anger he advanced on Siobhan, until the hand of the large man behind her stopped him. Looking up at the man, Derick backed down.
"Clear your gear out of your locker and leave. Max will see you out."
Max slipped through the door, taking Derick's arm silently and guiding him out of the room.
Smiling up at the large man, Siobhan motioned toward another chair, "Thank you for your help Rastas."
The large man smiled back, merry brown eyes sparkling from his bearded face as he took the offered chair, pulling Sarah back onto the footstool with a big hug.
"I couldn't leave tonight without checking on my favorite girl," he said, looking at Sarah. "How is the tattoo healing, Sarah?"
Turning her back toward Rastas she replied with a playful smirk, "Check for yourself."
Rastas leaned toward Sarah and began to loosen the laces on the back of her corset, while Siobhan stood over his shoulder and motioned for Jareth to join them peering at the creamy skin of Sarah's back as it was revealed. What Jareth saw made his heart pound and his breath catch in his throat. Etched finely in ink above her left hip was the image of a white owl, carrying a crystal in its talons. She had willingly marked herself with his image.
"You do fine work Rastas, the design is lovely," Sarah said softly, her voice quivering with emotion. "The image is very special to me. Thank you."
Rastas smiled and relaced Sarah's corset, kissing her cheek as he finished and stood. "You were lovely to work with my dear. And I am happy that I am the only one of the club members who has come close to winning your challenge," he said with a wink. "Especially knowing that it must drive Derick out of his mind."
Jareth looked at Sarah and Rastas, raising an eyebrow in question.
Seeing his look, Sarah patted Rastas' hand. "Rastas came close to winning, because he made me cry. But it wasn't tears of pain, it was tears of joy because he translated what I wanted for the tattoo into reality and for that I am grateful."
"Any time dear one, but for now I must be off. Continue cleaning the tattoo as instructed and contact me immediately if it becomes red and sore."
"Yes Sir."
Siobhan settled back into her chair, nodding as Max returned to silently pour brandy for Jareth and herself. Sarah was used to the routine and didn't think twice about not being offered a drink.
"That, dear girl, is the first time I have heard you address anyone as Sir. Why?" questioned Siobhan, eying the girl with interest.
Shrugging Sarah gingering touched her welted shoulders while considering her response. "Basically, he is kind and came the closest to winning the challenge, without ever actually wanting to win it."
"And no, before you ask Siobhan, he isn't the one I seek."
"But Sarah, if you know who it is you are looking for why don't you tell him?"
Sarah's jade eyes flickered as Jareth watched her. For a brief moment they filled with sadness, his suspicion confirmed as they closed, silent tears slipping over ivory cheeks. The second set of tears he had seen from her in as many hours. Seeing the firey Sarah cry, he felt a felt a pang of emotion course through him, puzzling him. Other runners had cried in front of him, yet he had never reacted like this. Why did this one girl affect him so?
"I can't tell him," Sarah whispered, leaning her head against Siobhan's knee, seeking comfort. "I messed up terribly and I can't go back. Even if I had the courage to beg his forgiveness, I don't even know how to reach him." A soft moan escaped her lips as she buried her face against Siobhan, voice cracking, "He wouldn't want me after that, how could he? I was so cruel, but I didn't understand what I was doing."
Gently, Siobhan reached out to comfort the crying woman in front of her. "Sarah," she soothed. "What could you possibly have done that was so terrible? Surely, he would understand," she asked, peering at Jareth over the top of the distraught girls head.
"He only offered me everything. My very dreams. And I ran…rejected him outright," the girl sighed.
Sarah bit her lip, worrying it with her teeth before peeking up at Siobhan through a veil of tears. "No, I didn't just run, I bolted like a terrified deer. He made me feel things I had never known and that scared me terribly. I didn't even want what he offered, I only…I only…wanted him," she whispered. "And in the end, I as good as killed him, I think. I don't even know, only that he is gone from my life as if he never existed."
Rubbing the tears from her eyes with shaking hands, Sarah blinked stoically at the ceiling before fixing the masked stranger with a piercing glare, then looking back to Siobhan.
"But I was young and stupid – hell, I was only 15 so in a way it was his fault too. What the hell was he thinking setting me up like that?" Sarah sniffed and smiled at Siobhan, gently patting the older woman's hand. "After all, what is said is said and I can't reorder time to fix things, so…" she shrugged and let the sentence die unfinished.
Jareth listened to Sarah's explanation, hiding his surprise at her confession. Could it be true? Was she admitting she was wrong and that she felt something for him. His surprise was short-lived, replaced by a pang of guilt as she used his own words to sadly describe her feelings.
"Look, I need to head out," Sarah said, hugging the older woman before standing. Turning gracefully she held her hand out to the masked man on the sofa, "It was a pleasure to meet you, perhaps next time we meet you'll grace me with the knowledge of your name," she teased. "I apologize again if I offended you in anyway. Someday I'll learn to control my cruel tongue."
A soft chuckle erupted from Jareth's throat as he shook her hand. He saw her shiver slightly as he gripped her hand, lips parting in surprise as he brought her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to it, never taking his eyes from hers. "But it is such a lovely tongue, surely a tongue lashing from one so beautiful would not be so painful."
Raising an eyebrow, Sarah fixed him with a defiant gaze before pulling her hand from his with a mischievous smile, "While my tongue can be both soft and sharp, you, I think, are likely only to experience the sharp side if you continue to make comments like that." Squaring her shoulders she turned on her heel and headed for the door.
"Oh Sarah, are you going to participate in the submissive auction next Friday night?" Siobhan asked. "Remember, the money is for charity and I know many who would happily bid on you."
Closing her eyes, Sarah rubbed her temples to quell the feeling of unease that washed over her.
"Don't worry," Siobhan continued, thinking Sarah was concerned about Derick and others like him, "if someone unworthy bids on you, I'll just override the bid. I'll keep you safe."
"As you wish," Sarah sighed and nodded. "I'll be here. Although why I bother returning, I don't know. I'm not going to find what I'm looking for here."
"Do you have a costume. It is a masked auction."
"Honestly? Like they wouldn't know it is me already? But yes, I have a costume in mind." Pausing to glare at the masked man in the corner. "Well, at least you are prepared already – just a week early," she teased on her way out the door.
"Cheeky wench," was Jareth's muttered reply as he watched the lithe form glide out of the room. Looking at Siobhan he smiled slyly. "I think I shall have to attend the auction as well."