Chapter 10 : Running Away

I lost my breath, my body went rigid. Eros was standing not over four feet away from me. I could feel the window sill bite into my hips as I pressed away from him. His face was lit up with a sinister gleam.

"What's wrong, my dear, cat got your tongue?" His voice was laced with malice. He took a step towards me. I gasped and started shaking. Goosebumps spread quickly over my skin.

I wanted to open my mouth to scream for help, but I'm afraid if I do all that will come out will be a terrified whimper.

Suddenly, before I could even respond, he was in front of me. I was a statue, unable to move away. He had trapped me against the window sill. He trailed his hand against my cheek. My breathing went rapid as panic set in.

There was no one to save me. Tessabeth could not defend me against this being. She would probably be hurt in the process. The only person I know who can fight off Eros is Jareth.

"Oh my, aren't you shaking quite a lot? Are you that excited to see me?" He leaned in, his words hot and wet against my ear. "Shall we continue where we left off?"

I could feel myself scream inside No! No! No! Eros was going to hurt me again. I'm not sure my psyche can bare anymore abuse.

Eros snaked his arm around me, his tone still hushed. "That brooding king is indisposed as we speak; wrapped in between his fiancé's legs, tangled in passion. All the while, we shall have our fun here – uninterrupted." My throat felt restricted. No matter how much I did yell, Jareth would not hear me because he was getting his jollies off with this man's sister. Anger tinged my fear. "Now, say something, something arousing." All I could do was stare at him. I'm sure my eyes reflected my horror and he didn't seem to care for that. "Fine, I shall get a voice out of you one way or another." He quickly flung me onto the bed. "Whether it be through pleasure or pain."

My mind went blank.

No thoughts filled my mind. No feelings were felt. No memory was kept.

I was utterly a blank vessel.

"Sarah! Sarah!" I heard someone cry as someone held me in their arms.

I opened my eyes, my body felt weak. I murmured a groan from having been woken up. "Who are you?" I asked as my eyes met a man with a golden mane and fancy clothes.

His face went slack. "Do you not remember me?"

I looked at this man and felt a fuzzy tingle in my mind, but no memory resurfaced. I shook my head, fear beginning to fill me. Where was I?

"Tessabeth, get me a towel to clean her up. I think she is in shock," the man asked a furry dog person. Now this has to be some weird dream. Definitely a dream.

I looked at my surroundings. I was in a bedroom, but it was dark. I looked down at myself and stared in terror. I was covered in blood. Red, thick blood.

"Am I going to die?" I asked, making my knowledge of the blood on me known.

This man shook his head. "No. That isn't your blood."

I wanted to immediately ask whose it was, but the dog creature came back with towels and a bucket of water. Her eyes were filled with tears as she began talking fast. "I didn't know that he was here. I could have done something. I'm sorry your Majesty. I'm sorry, so sorry. I failed you. I didn't protect her."

The golden haired man looked at her and calmed her down. "Hush now. You should leave her to me. Her leg has been healed and I don't see any physical harm as of yet. I think she's just emotionally distraught. Leave us here so I can clean her up. You have done all you can, thank you." The dog person nodded and left.

This man grabbed a towel and wrung it in the bucket and started to wipe my face with it. I was confused. This dream was really crazy.

"Why am I here?" I asked once he was done cleaning my face.

The sorrow in his eyes was palpable, the pain so raw. Why have I felt like I've seen this face before?

"You've suffered a shock and have lost your memory. I'm afraid it is my fault."

"Did I hurt someone? Is that why there is blood on me?"

He looked at the blood stained towel and then at me. "Yes." He grabbed a new towel and began soaking it in water. "Someone tried to hurt you and you hurt him."

I let this man continue to clean me. "So, is this man still alive?"

"I don't know. He was not here when I arrived." He looked at my clothes. "I'm going to have to take off these in order to clean you fully."

I raised my eyebrows. "Isn't there a shower around here? I think I can take over from here anyways. I mean, I'm not hurt from what I can tell."

The man nodded and stood up and went to the door. He turned before he touched the doorknob. "Do you remember who you are?"

I thought about that. Did I know who I was? Yes. "I'm Sarah."

He gave me a smile. It was breathtaking. "That's good." He started to open the door.

I had to ask. "What is your name, sir?"

"Jareth. Just Jareth." With that, he left.

I slowly got to my feet and felt immensely guilty. That man, Jareth, felt like I should know him. Hell, even my fuzzy tingly mind was telling me to remember him. I started to strip off my clothes, suddenly wondering what I had done to the owner of this blood. The window was wide open and blew a harsh breeze against my skin. I went to close it and noticed a blood trail over the sill. Whoever I had injured went out this way.

I slammed the window shut and locked it. Whoever this person was, I didn't want them coming back – that was for sure.

I piled my bloody clothes on top of each other on the floor and then began bathing myself with the rest of the clean towels. I searched the room and found some clean jeans and shirts. They were my size, which made me even more confused, but I disregarded it. I was going commando though, and braless. However, I think that is the least of my worries at this moment.

I would have sat on the bed, but it was bloodied. There was only one reason why some type of lethal action would take place in the bedroom, well at least one real popular reason. Someone tried to do something to me that I certainly didn't like. Hell, maybe they did more than try.

Searching my mind for clues as to why I was in this place was a stupid battle. There was a wall in my mind that refused to let me penetrate it for answers. All I can remember was my family and friends. Last thing I remember was driving in the rain to my fiancés apartment. I was so excited to see him. I wonder what happened between then and now. I searched everywhere for my cell phone, but couldn't find it.

A light knock came at the door and Jareth's silky voice floated to my ears. "Sarah, are you decent?"

I told him I was and he slowly opened the door. He was definitely a fine piece of ass. His clothing style was a bit off, like he walked out of a Shakespeare play and into my life.

"How did I get here?" I asked as I took a towel and tried to get the blood out of my crusted hair.

He frowned and that confused me even more. "I'm afraid it is my doing that has kept you in my world. I'm sorry for all of the hurt that has fallen upon you during your stay here. I wish I could turn back time and stop –" He paused and then left off his sentence.

"Where's Josh?"

"Josh? You mean that man that –" He stopped again. He looked like he wasn't sure what to tell me.

"The man that? Do you know Josh?"

Jareth leaned against the doorframe. "I met him briefly before you came here."

The distaste in his voice was obvious. "Do you not like Josh, I take it?"

Jareth relaxed his face. "Do you remember anything that happened when I came to visit Josh and you?" I shook my head.

"All I remember was driving to his apartment on a rainy day. Why is that all that I remember?"

"I'm not too sure as to how you came to lose your memory. I have an idea, but I'm not confident enough to rely on it. Until you remember anything about recent events, I don't think I should tell you anyways."

I frowned at that. I asked him, "You said that you were the reason I am here. Why is that?"

"You and I have a history, a history you can't recall now. Josh did something unforgivable and you called for my help and I took you here to keep you safe. Unfortunately, I overestimated my power in keeping that promise."

A history? With this guy? That was crazy. I think I would remember some hot stud like this in my life. However, given my memory loss, this could be possible. Why, though, is he dressed like some British aristocrat? Plus, why was there a talking dog in the other room? Didn't I label this whole experience a dream?

I pinched myself to make sure. My skin turned read and I gasped at how hard I pinched.

Jareth walked towards me, worry in his eyes. "What's the matter? Why did you do that?"

I rubbed my arm. "Just making sure whether or not I am dreaming."

He gave a thin smile. "I assure you, Sarah, this is no dream."

I sighed. "Is there a good reason I would forget you? It seems like something in my mind is trying to get me to remember you, but it hurts a bit to try to."

Sorrow again filled his facial expression. These emotions of his hurt me. I didn't like to see his face pained. His beautiful face should never show such emotions, even for me. I put my hand on his cheek and he became startled by my action. "Don't worry about me. I'm a tough girl."

"You touch me so easily and don't treat me with malice. I'm being selfish by allowing your condition to fill me with a small amount of happiness."

"Am I supposed to hate you, Jareth? What have you done to make me feel that way?"

He sighed as I removed my hand from him. "Such a simple question, however, the answer is more complicated that you think."

"Can you try to explain? I feel like I know you, but I don't remember anything of you."

He thought about it and then asked me, "Do you remember anything about a certain night when you were young? You were babysitting your little brother and wished him away, due to your teenage angst."

I often got angry about my step-mother forcing me to watch over Toby. I've gotten peace about that since I grew up and realized I was being a brat. This night he says could have been any night I had to watch over Toby. "I don't recall anything in particular. I'm sorry."

"It is all fine. Please don't push yourself to remember me. I don't deserve an ounce of your memory for what I have done."

"Jareth, am I safe to be around you?"

Sadness again tinged his face and I immediately felt guilty again for causing him to look sad. However, by the way he talked, I wasn't sure I should trust him. "To be honest, I'm not sure you can be safe around me."

I was about to ask more questions, but then a shrill voice came from another room.

"Where is Jareth? How can he leave me like that! Where is my fiancé! Shut up you stupid dog!" Into the room came a gorgeous woman with flowing, long, blonde hair. She was wrapped in a robe that was tied around her tightly. She looked at Jareth and then once her eyes laid on me she went berserk.

"You left me to see this human? Are you serious? I should stomp out her life!"

I was definitely frightened by this woman's threat. I started to angle myself so Jareth was in front of my line of sight of the woman.

"Persephone, calm down. Can you not see that something nefarious happened here?" He pointed to the bloodied clothes and bed. "Why do you persist in being a pain in my neck? I should turn you and your brother out of my castle and return you to your father. I'm sure he would be happy to know you have failed him."

Persephone, I'm assuming that was her name, gave a sour face. "You wouldn't dare go back on the deal you, yourself, made. Peace in exchange for marriage. That was what you promised! If you go back on that deal will you start war again? Will you come after my people?"

Jareth growled between his teeth. "I might have made an error in my negotiations. I overlooked the fact that your family and people are nothing but trouble. When your father arrives tomorrow I will discuss these matters with him. I'm sure he won't be pleased to find out whose blood this is."

Persephone started to calculate what Jareth had just said to her and then her eyes brightened up with a realization. "Where is my brother? What did this filthy human do to him, or was it your doing?" She started stomping closer to us. "If he has a scratch on him I will have her head!"

"I assure you, he has more than a scratch on him." Jareth blocked her from me. "If you touch a single hair upon her head, I will make sure your father has no heirs left. Do you understand what I'm telling you? Return to your room – now."

She pouted at him and then suddenly was gone with a loud pop. My jaw slacked and fell.

"She disappeared!" I shouted.

Jareth turned to me and started to calm me down. "Don't worry; this is what happens in my world."

"Your world? What does that mean?"

He sighed. "I don't want to shock your system anymore, but you probably should know this." He paused, collecting what he shall say. "We are in the place you like to call the Underground. It is a separate place from your world. The creatures here are greatly different and there are more impossible powers that you couldn't believe could ever exist."

"Well that explains the dog at least," I murmured as I began to process this information. This obviously, as far as I can tell, isn't a dream and I am not in my world. I am here in Jareth's world.

"Sarah, I think I should send you home."

I looked at him, confused as can be still. "Does Josh know where I am?"

"Sarah, I don't think Josh is the best person to see. I would rather take you to your parents."

I furrowed my brows. "I asked if Josh knew where I was and why do you not like Josh?"

Jareth crossed his arms. "He does not know where you are and if you could remember what happened, trust me, you would not want to see him."

I waved my hand in the air to bat at what he just said. "The only reasons I wouldn't want to see my fiancé is if he didn't something stupid like sleeping with another woman or beating me up. Josh would do neither." Jareth went silent and that scared me. My heart sunk into my stomach and I began shaking my head. "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you are just angry at him for some other reason." Still, he was silent. "Jareth! Say something!"

"I'm sorry." His words crushed my heart and tears began falling. What in the world was he telling me. My fiancé has cheated on me? Or did he beat me up? Was it both? Oh no, this didn't sound right, this didn't sound like Josh. My knees began to buckle and Jareth was quick to hold me up. "Sarah, I want to send you back to your parents. Will you allow me to do this?"

"How can I face Josh now? Jareth, I don't know what to do."

He instantly embraced me and started to hush my tears. "Just tell me to send you back and I will. Just tell me to return you to your world and let you return to your life. Just tell me, Sarah. I will do whatever you want me to do."

I hardly knew this man, from what my memories allowed me to know, and yet it felt so right for him to be holding me, comforting me. I didn't want to return to my world not knowing what Josh had done. He had done something unforgivable apparently and I wasn't about to land on top of that with memory loss. Jareth's arms felt so secure and safe, regardless of him saying everything was his fault. I just can't believe he would do anything to harm me. He seemed so attentive.

"Jareth, I want to stay with you."

I went still and I moved so I could see his face. He looked stunned and I mean completely stunned.

"Do you not want to see your family?"

"How can I see them when I don't understand anything that has been happening to me? I don't want to make them sad. You are the only person I know who can accept me right now. Please, let me stay by your side until I remember."

I could feel his heart beat against me and I wondered why he was being to wearing with me. Was he feeling guilty about what had happened to me? I pleaded to him with my eyes.

He looked at me with a heart wrenching expression. "Sarah, I would want nothing more than for you to stay here, but this will only give me hope that I shouldn't have. I don't think I can do this again."

Again? I grabbed his hands into mine and shook my head. "Forget the past for now, I can't even remember it. I want to stay here until I can remember everything." I want to remember this man. I want to know why he looks sad every time he looks at me. "Please, Jareth, do this for me."

He let out an elegant sigh and clutched my hands with more force. "I'll agree to this then, if you wish to stay here so much. You should know I would do anything for you, Sarah."

A/N:

Ok, well that's the new installment. I hadn't planned on Sarah to lose her memory, but she told me to do it and just like Jareth, I cannot deny her requests. I'm actually quite excited for how the story has turned out thus far and can't wait to hear what you readers feel about it.

You are all so amazing and I hope you will enjoy the further chapters!