Hello, readers! Next chapter. Please let me know what you think, even if you think it sucks. I assure you, I'm probably harder on my writing than you can be. Besides, I love hearing from you!
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Labyrinth'
Whispers in the Night
As the door closed with a click behind the Goblin King, green eyes spied the elongating shadows that spread across the floor of her room. They shifted out to the open window and observed the darkening sky. Pale, weak lights began to flicker into existence. A long yawn stretched the young woman's mouth as she raised her arms above her head. Sleep, she concluded, definitely sounds appealing.
Lowering her arms and pulling out the elastic band that held her hair back, Sarah ran her fingers through her long locks, massaging her sore scalp. She slipped the band around her wrist and padded across the room to the dresser on the other side. Opening it, she frowned—as was custom—at the gaudy dresses that adorned the inside. Quickly finding the one thing she need, she pulled out the thin, feather light nightgown and shut the door.
Jareth had been right about the chilly nights and this thin slip of fabric hardly helped. Sure she had a robe draped over her bed made from a thicker material, but it certainly did not aid in keeping heat near the body. Her green eyes flickered over to the blazing fire and a smile of thanks curled her lips. She walked to her bed and laid the night dress on it. Gingerly, she sat on the edge of the bed and began untying her shoes.
She wasn't one to except gifts, but she had decided that it would be better to sleep in something different from what she wore during the day. She also had to marvel and give thanks for the fact that someone came and washed her clothes, laying them out fresh on her bed each morning. However, she never saw a goblin enter or leave her room, never heard one in her presence while she was in here. Her room would be cleaned, a bed made, the water basin filled and food brought and cleaned away, but a soul would never present itself. Sarah briefly wondered if that fact stemmed from an order from Jareth.
Smiling lightly, she slipped off her shoes and socks and stood up. Grasping the hem of her shirt, she pulled it off and tossed it over the footboard. Next, she unbuttoned her jeans and peeled them from her legs; they soon landed next to her shirt. She reached out a hand and let it slid along the smooth material of the nightgown. Just as she was about to put it on, a thought struck. Out of fear of getting it back, she hadn't yet removed her bra to be washed. Realizing it needed to be cleaned and now trusting that it would be returned safely, she reached behind her and undid the clasp, and soon, it, too, landed next to her other clothes.
She shivered lightly as goosebumps flowered up her legs and arms and across her stomach. Reaching out, she snatched the nightgown from the bed and slipped it over her head. The thin material fell softly around her hips and shoulders and cascaded off the swell of her bosom until it lightly brushed her skin mid-calf. With smile at her accentuated features, she pulled the covers down and slipped underneath them. She pulled the smooth sheets over her shoulders and up under her chin. Curling on her side, she shut her eyes and began to slow her breathing, her mind replaying all the words Jareth had spoken to her.
Her settling mind was sprung alert by a rush of wind underneath wings. Jolting up in bed, her eyes scanned her room. Her heart slowing in relief until her eyes fell on a tall figure leaning against the window. Its beating seized as the figure pooled out from the shadows as if it was one of them.
"W-who are you?" Sarah stumbled out, cursing the terrified tone in her voice.
A hard laugh filled the room. "Do you really not remember me?" came a sorrowful voice. "You wound me."
The young woman's fingers clenched around the sheets the covered her lower body. God, no, please, she prayed, hoping against reason that it wasn't who she feared the moment the figure burned into her eyes.
A sigh pierced the silence. "Since you seem to have forgotten my face, I'd hate to refuse you the memory."
Green eyes widened as the figure stepped further away from the shadows and into the soft light of the fire. His eyes burned intently as they gazed towards her.
Opening her mouth to call for help, her voice immediately seized as a gloved, long-fingered hand clamped around her neck. Her small hands flew to it and attempted to pull the suffocating force away. Her attempts elicited a chuckle from Orgath as his grip tightened.
"Stop struggling. You might bruise that beautiful skin," he hissed as a finger from his free hand traced her arm.
Sarah's body fell limp, and the lips of the creature across from her twisted into a smile. Slowly, the hold on her throat loosened until he flung his hand away and she collapsed onto the bed.
Choking past the soreness, she spluttered out in full confidence, "Jareth's going to kill you for this."
"I'm not afraid of him. He can do nothing to me, and likewise, I nothing to him. For what is done to one is done to the other," he said with blazing eyes.
"Your dear king knows what needs to be done if he wants me gone," Orgath sneered, "but he's too afraid. He's too weak to do anything. "
The young woman pushed herself up to her knees and met his puncturing, mismatched gaze with her unfaltering one. "You underestimate him," she laughed. Taking a moment, she gathered the saliva in her mouth and sent it at his face.
With a soft splat, it met its mark. The creature's face contorted as he wiped the slime from his face. "You bitch," he hissed.
Sarah suddenly felt an iron grip on her wrists as she tumbled backwards onto her bed. Hot breath poured into her ear as a heavy weight settled over her body. "Do not underestimate me. Perhaps your king cares for virtue and charity, but I do not."
Searing lips scorched her neck. Gasping in pain, her body arched against the man on her; the thin nightgown allowing her to easily feel the contours of his body as he could probably hers. His mouth raked across the bare expanse of her chest above the neck of the gown. Silently she cursed as she felt her body betray her mental disgust as it arched into his touches; desire burning her blood as it pulsed through every vessel overpowering her.
Slowly, his hands loosened their grip and traced a chilling path down her arms and sides as he slowly sat up, straddling her hips. Letting out a harsh yell of protest, Sarah threw her upper body forward and pounded fiercely on his exposed chest.
Her relatively weak attempts created a small smirk on Orgath's face. With ease he snatched her hands in one of his as he tsk, his face drawing closer. His warm, intoxicating breath cascaded over her nose and lips as he whispered, "Come, Sarah. There's no need to fight me. Just give in."
"No!" she cried in protest.
Her vehement declaration only broadened the smirk as he threw her hands to the side and wrapped his hands around her waist. The young woman's body stilled at the feel of his cool fingers on her fevered skin. Ever so slowly they began to push and massage the tender skin so easily accessible through the thin fabric. At an aching and tantalizingly lazy speed, his fingers migrated upwards, higher and higher, massaging every part of her as they went.
Sarah's brain went numb. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. Her eyes shifted downwards and watched as a darkness slowly inked from his fingers, staining her dress for a moment before seeping through to her skin. Fear assailed her heart and clenched her muscles. So this is what it's like, she pondered. Being conscious of the fact that you're going to be raped and every inch of your body betraying you. The young woman shut her eyes and prepared herself, waiting eagerly for it to all be over.
A small moan escaped her lips as his fingers cupped her breasts. His thumbs lazily traced circles around the tender and sensitive flesh, and she truly began to regret her clothing choice. Sticky, warm breath pooled over her neck and brushed her ear as a dark voice whispered, "There you are, Sarah. Give in. Give in to the fear. Give in to the anger that follows. Embrace it, Sarah."
His lips seared the creamy skin of her jawline as he dragged them towards her mouth. She felt the scorching pieces of flesh hovering, nearly brushing against her own. A hot murmur brought them even closer as he said, "Virgin lips no more. Say good-bye."
Her entire body tightened in expectation but immediately loosened as a loud bang echoed through her room. Her green eyes flew open and arched towards her door where a familiar figure stood silhouetted. The intrusive fingers and heavy weight that pinned her body left, and she thankfully collapsed onto her bed.
"What did you do to her?" came a low, threateningly feral voice.
"Dear Jareth, such a killjoy. I was only having a little fun."
A strangled gasped filled the air. Sarah clambered up and made out the highlighted figure of Jareth's fingers curled around the neck of the shadowed figure of Orgath. She stumbled from the bed and reached out for the robe that hung from the post of the headboard. Quickly wrapping it around herself, she watched the ongoing scene transfixed.
"You will not lay a finger on her," the Goblin King hissed.
"And who's going to make me," the black creature choked out with a laugh. "You?"
His only response was a deep throated growl and tightened fingers on his neck.
"Careful there," he spat out, "I've got a fragile neck."
The young woman let out a muffled scream as she clamped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes widened as Orgath's form began to darken and pull together, shifting and stretching. In the blink of an eye, Jareth's fingers her curled around the neck of a crow.
The lithe man let out a cry as he tossed the bird across the room. It tumbled on the floor before righting itself. Its beady eyes trained on his opponent as it stretched out its wings and let a grating squawk pass its beak.
"If you wish battle in that form, I shall meet you on a level playfield," Jareth hissed as his own body pooled together and shifted, stretching into the form of a barn owl. With a piercing hoot, he flapped his wings and rushed at the crow.
The crow let out a squawk of laughter as it shot towards with window with the owl close on his tail.
The young woman tripped over her feet in her haste to make it to the window. Fumbling with the robe as she pulled it tighter around her body, she slid to a stop at the window. She braced herself and peered out into the night. Her eyes searched desperately for the two birds.
Small rays of moonlight aided her quested as she spot two winged forms struggling over the city. They crashed. They clawed. They separated only to dive into each other again. Heart wrenching cries were carried back on the wind to Sarah's ears.
Gnawing her lip with worry, the brunette sent out a silent prayer that Jareth would be alright. She'd hate to see him die because of her own stupidity. A small gasp fell from her lips as the white owl tumbled from the sky, its wings jostled back and forth on the wind.
The crow let out one more piercing squawk before flapping into the darkness. The owl barely managed to right itself before smashing into the tiled roofs of the Goblin City. With unsteady flaps, it slowly made its way back to the castle.
Ready to leave the window to meet Jareth at the gate, Sarah watched in wide-eyed surprise as the owl struggled upwards towards her window. Quickly stepping out of its way, the bloodied owl fell through the window and collapsed on the floor. After a few attempts, the bird managed to right itself and soon Jareth stood before her. His clothes barely hung on to his quivering frame. It appeared the only thing keeping the shreds of fabric on his body was the blood that dripped from multiple gashes and glued the fabric to his pale skin.
"Oh, God," Sarah stumbled out as she rushed to him. Her hands scavenge his body as she peeled back his clothes to reveal the mars on his skin. "Y-you've got to get these cleaned before—"
His gloved hands seized her as he pulled her from him. "Nonsense. These are nothing. They will be healed before the night is over. Are you alright?" he asked, his mismatched eyes searching her.
Sarah nodded. "Yeah. Just a little scared."
A sigh of relief passed the king's thin lips. "Good. Come with me. You're staying in my room from now on."
"Excuse me? I don't think—"
"After tonight, I will not have it any other way. I assure you that will not attempt to take advantage of you as Orgath," Jareth said firmly.
Green eyes met his and searched desperately and found nothing but honesty and sincerity. Nodding softly, she pulled her hands from his and wrapped his arm over her shoulders. "Then let me help you back," she reasoned.
His lips twitched upwards as he nodded. "Sounds acceptable."
