Penelope brought her foul mood to the table.
Sarah attempted to lift her spirits, but her friend would not have it. The insult about her faith was clinging to her. Never had she considered herself to be superstitious or even extremely religious in that she never wore a cross or read a Bible daily, but she had faith. "I'll come out and eat, and meet this mysterious man you have with you. What's his name again?" As soon as she had her answer, she went back to expressing her offense. Her friend knew that talking about it would be better than letting her ball it up inside. By the end of lunch she would feel better.
Jareth watched the two friends interacting. The daughter didn't have the same level of exotic beauty as her mother; she had more of a scholarly look to her with glasses that perpetually were sliding down her nose. She had also inherited the tan Hispanic skin from her father. The two of them seemed to be discussing an issue that teetered between two subjects and opinions and facts. "What I cannot comprehend is how suddenly studying a topic is considered a sin?" she asked out loud to whoever at the table would listen. She saw Jareth raise his eye brow contemplatively. "You look like an intelligent man Mr. King. Are you familiar with mythology?"
Sarah coughed awkwardly and reached for her water.
He glanced at the coughing woman. "Yes I am."
"Would you consider it to be an important part of the human race, a part of our history?"
"You mean do I consider it a vital matter to study?"
She nodded.
"Yes I do think so."
"Regardless of religion?"
He considered his reply carefully. Something had obviously irked this young woman. "Perhaps it would be beneficial for me to know the circumstances that led to this onset?"
"A member of the local church insulted Penelope's faith," answered Sarah for her friend. "All because she is taking a mythology course."
"That is interesting."
"There are those," started Senora Valdez from her place at the head of the table. "that would live out their life in a happy existence ignorant of what they cannot see."
"Very interesting. Tell me, this individual, do they believe in the Bible?"
"Yes," answered Penelope.
"So then we can assume that they also believe in angels and demons?"
"Well, yes I would assume so."
"Have they ever seen one?"
The table went quiet.
Penelope finally spoke. "So what exactly is your point?"
"Simply this: I find it mildly amusing and even a little hypocritical that an individual would whole heartedly believe in what one cannot see based on religion, but would not apply the same logic to other circumstances in life."
"Senor King, are you suggesting that creatures of myth, of lore, fantasy are real?" asked Senora Valdez placing her hands on the table.
"Rather I am saying that if the divine creator, God, had power enough to create and maintain an entire universe filled with life of every sort, then why assume that we are his only effort?"
Sarah leaned back in her chair. This was a topic she had never considered before. Jareth was actually suggesting that they were all created by a single God, and equal in his sight.
"But those who are called fae," Penelope was saying. "possess powers that surpass nature, that are inhuman."
"So do angels and demons." It was Mrs. Valdez who had spoken. Jareth nodded with approval.
"Oh mama!" exclaimed her daughter in exasperation. "Can you honestly picture Jesus Christ talking to a fairy? There are some who would say that the fairies are those who turned their back on God and denied salvation, cursed to live forever."
Jareth tensed ever so slightly at the young woman's tone. He took a drink from his wine glass before answering. "Having the same creator doesn't necessarily imply the same plan of salvation. Consider that the Gentiles were not the chosen people," he was struggling to hold his voice schooled. "they had their own laws to live by."
"Senor King I had never thought about things this way."
"Sounds like an argument for the existence of little green men," murmured Penelope annoyed. "My faith is my faith," she then went on standing up and taking her plate to the kitchen. "and no one should have the right to question it."
"Agreed," said Sarah. She heard Jareth sigh. Reaching under the table she patted his leg before clearing her own plate.
Later in the afternoon, having had desert and coffee the group dispersed to different parts of the house. Mrs. Valdez went into her study. Penelope sat in the living room finishing a chapter in one of her research books. Sarah wandered out back into the side yard where there was a pool. Sitting on the edge she dangled her feet in the cool water. The conversation from earlier still ran through her head. She had not been raised with much religion; an acknowledgement of a high power, but no more. It hadn't been until her encounter in the Underground that she even believed in the things that the eye could not easily discern. Then it wasn't until Penelope and her mother came along her junior year of high school that she began showing any sensitivity.
Jareth lingered some where close behind her. His mood had turned cool since lunch. He came and sat down beside her. "Interesting conversation at lunch," she commented lightly.
"Hmmm."
She regarded him for a moment. "What's wrong?"
"I tire of humans constantly tainting the name of the fae." His tone was irritated. "You heard what Penelope said, 'there are some who would say that the fairies are those who turned their back on God and denied salvation, cursed to live forever.' Our existence isn't cursed!"
"Not every one is willing to accept what they cannot see or what is not familiar to them. There are those who would deny the existence of a supreme being."
"Yes, and I should think God as well would tire of hearing that."
"You know," she started after a pause, wiggling her feet in the water. "even to me the whole thing seems odd." He didn't say anything. She went on. "I mean there isn't really anything written about two different creations trying to come together."
"'For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge I shall lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God,'" he quoted. She recognized it from the Book of Ruth. "It can be done."
"Yes, but where do we live?" she pressed. She thought about goblins and such and nearly shivered. "If I remember anything from the books I have read a fae must return home every once in a while."
"Yes. My kind can stay away for longer periods of time, but yes, I must return to the Underground on occasion not just for my health, but the sake of my kingdom as well."
"And what about humans?" she asked quietly. "How do they far living in the Underground?"
He smiled at her. "They far very well. In that respect your kind is superior to the fae- adaptation comes easier for you." His eyes went dreamy. In his mind he was seeing her moving through some forest, perhaps chasing a pixie. Her courtly dress, following the curves of her hip and breasts, blending in with the colors of the flowers. How he wanted to take her home with him to the Underground. Or at the very least take her back to the condo. He inquired if she was ready to leave.
"Sure. Let me dry my feet off and tell everyone goodbye." They went inside.
He took her back to the condo. Right before dinner she realized that her time of month had begun. It was the first time she had ever had to tell a man that sex was out of the question and the reason. She felt awkward. He understood and shrugged. Having eaten they lounged on the couch together. The symptoms of her period came on rapidly, making her sleepy, and she started to doze off, leaning against him. Gently he helped her to her feet, up the stairs, and into bed. At eight-thirty the two of them lay spooned together, breathing quietly.
