DISCLAIMER: I don't own Labyrinth or the characters associated with it.
WARNING: My muse went on holiday and apparently had a VERY good time, because when he came back, the chapter I was planning to write changed – A LOT. As such, parts of this chapter are dark….VERY VERY DARK. It contains consensual & non-consensual violence, sex, questionable language and a variety of dark acts that might squick some of my more sensitive readers. Dark Sarah and Dark Jareth abound.
You were warned – no complaints will be entertained if you ignore the warning. If you prefer things a bit less 'dark' wait for the next chapter, which will have a 'lighter' flavor of lemon. :)
Ch. 10: Blood Debts and Sacrifices
After finally finding her release, Fionn had settled Janae onto his lap. He had seemed inordinately pleased with her response to him, given the public situation and was looking forward to seeing how much further he could push her once they were alone.
Janae watched from hooded blue eyes as Jareth spoke quietly to Sarah, smiling at the far away look in Sarah's eyes. She finally found her space, Janae thought happily. Ever since Janae had introduced Sarah to kink, her friend had tried desperately to experience subspace. Turns out all she needed was Jareth and a cane, Janae chuckled to herself.
When both girls had been released from their bonds, they were instructed to sit on the bench and remain there as Fionn and Jareth stepped away to make arrangements for them to retire to the suite downstairs. Although Janae had found her headspace early in the session, given her ability to put herself into subspace, it was easy for her to pull herself out quickly upon release. Peeking at her friend, sitting blindfolded beside her on the bench, Janae grinned. It was probably good that she was at least mostly out of her headspace, since Sarah was still sunk deeply in hers. Admit it. The girl is off with the fairies – or at least one particular Fae, she thought with a soft giggle. Purring contentedly, Janae relaxed, letting her eyes fall shut as she relived the earlier parts of the evening.
Feeling a sharp tug on the chains still attached to her nipples and piercing, Janae smiled, a lascivious sigh escaped her parted lips as her eyes slitted open. The sigh turned to a growl and her smile faded at the sight of someone who was clearly not Fionn manipulating the clamps.
"What the fuck, Alex?" she snarled, her voice rising as she attempted to slap his hand away from her.
"Hmm…what have we here," Brian asked, his eyes shining with wicked glee as he roughly twined his fingers through the ring at the front of Sarah's collar and jerked her head forward. "Little Owl took a collar, when she already had been claimed by another. I'm sure Derrick will be more than happy to deal with her when we deliver her to him."
"You're a fuckwit, Brian! Derrick doesn't own shit, not then and certainly not now. So get your fucking hands off her!" Janae snapped viciously, moving to slap him.
Alex grabbed her wrist tightly, twisting it painfully to the side with an audible pop that made her yelp painfully. Striking quickly, he slapped her, knocking her head back sharply.
Brian yanked Sarah from the bench, thrusting her to the floor before him. Elbowing Alex, he grinned wickedly. "Maybe we should remind her about what happened the last time she fought us."
Lost in the haze of her own headspace, Sarah vaguely registered what was happening. Grunting, she strained away from Brian, realizing that with the gag, she couldn't call out to Jareth and the collar bound her magic from harming anyone. Realizing she had to try, Sarah reached out, pulling at the tendrils of magic that Fionn and Jareth had left in the area, trying to pull them into herself. She was working to mold the magic to her needs when she felt the subtle change in the air around them – a low purr rumbling from her chest at the knowledge – He was here.
The skin on the back of Alex's neck began to crawl painfully. Looking up he saw a tall figure that seemed to fill the space behind them. The other man appeared to tower above him, his eyes jet back and foreboding. Alex cringed as the man's face broke into a slow smile that spoke of a cruelty that he dared not even imagine. Catching slow movement out of the corner of his eye, he realized the tall blonde man was not alone, as a darker man stepped from the shadows, his eyes glittering like black jewels. Alex shivered at the sensation of evil that now rolled through the space. Gulping deeply he backed away from Janae, trying to distance himself from both her and Brian.
A cold voice sliced through the air, "If you value your life I suggest you let her go. Now."
"Fuck off, asshole," Brian said, whirling around to glare at the man who dared intrude upon him. Brian frowned as wild-haired blonde emerged from the shadows. His lips twisted into a malicious sneer as he shook his head at Brian.
Taking a step toward Brian, Jareth's eyes snapped dangerously, "She," he hissed poisonously, gesturing at Sarah, "Belongs to me, in all ways."
Stepping further into the space, Fionn growled as he pulled Janae to stand behind him. "And this one is mine."
Brian jerked harshly upon Sarah's collar, ignoring the way in which the tall blonde man's eyes narrowed tightly as he looked at the girl kneeling on the floor. "Who the hell are you?" Brian demanded.
"I go by many names and titles," Jareth said, the quiet menace in his voice washing over Brian and Alex like ice water. "However, the title you should most be concerned with at this point in your miserable excuse for a life is the Lord of Blood Rites and," Jareth gestured toward Fionn, "my brother here is the Sovereign of Nightmares."
Janae looked up in surprise. No one had ever mentioned that Fionn was anything more than a Crown Prince. Catching view of him in profile, Janae shivered at the dark visage that greeted her. Even without magic, she could sense the darkness now roiling within him and shuddered, a whispered prayer never to have that darkness directed at her.
"Huh wha… those aren't titles or names," stuttered Brian in confusion, gasping while his fingers spasmed painfully as they were pried open by an invisible force, releasing his hold on Sarah's collar.
Once Sarah had been freed, Jareth's hand flashed out, gripping Brian by the throat and jerking him forward until his feet barely touched the ground. With his nose inches from Brian's, Jareth whispered with deadly coldness, "Oh… believe me, they are quite rightful titles. And before tonight is through you will understand just how true they are." Jareth's fingers pressed tighter around Brian's neck. Turning red as he gasped for air, Brian grasped frantically at Jareth's hand.
"Daring to touch that which belongs to me was bad enough, but I happen to know that you played a key role in a certain incident several weeks ago that concerned my Sarah. For that you owe us a debt of blood, one I will take great pleasure in seeing extracted from you – drop by agonizing drop," Jareth said slowly, biting each word out with forceful intent, making sure Brian understood the full impact of what was being said.
Without breaking his grip upon Brian's throat, Jareth turned and looked at Fionn over his shoulder. "I will see that this one is prepared for what must be done. You take care of the other and prepare the girls. The debt will be repaid… tonight."
And with that, Jareth and Brian vanished.
Fionn paced restlessly outside the bathing chambers of his rooms in Jareth's castle. They had not planned to return to the Underground for several more days, but given the nature of what must be done to resolve the blood debt, the group was forced to return earlier. Dealing with Brian's friend had been easier, as he had not been directly involved in the assault on Sarah, although he was punished for touching Janae. While Janae did not officially belong to Fionn, he had every intention of remedying that issue at the first available opportunity and had no qualms about punishing the man for striking one who did not belong to him.
Fionn's eyes flashed cruelly remembering the look on the other man's face when he had thrown the black crystal at him, knowing that Andrew would soon be living out his worst nightmare – to be completely at the mercy of another. While his punishment would only last several weeks, it would be more than enough to ensure that he would never dare strike anyone again when he was returned Aboveground.
Brian on the other hand, was in for a more diabolical punishment, one that would leave him bleeding, broken and begging. In the meantime, it was up to Fionn to prepare the girls for what must be done, in particular, he had to make sure that Sarah was ready for her role and that wasn't an easy thing to do given her current headspace.
"Janae, you need to hurry," he ordered urgently through the partially open door of the bath chamber. "We mustn't keep the King waiting on this matter. Sarah has her part to play, as do I."
He could hear splashing inside and soft murmuring as Janae and Sarah followed his instructions for how to prepare themselves.
Fionn knew that he was asking a lot of them, as neither of them understood what Jareth meant when he said that he was the Lord of Blood Rites. The headspace they were still in from the play at the club made his job that much more difficult as they were both docile and far too 'spaced out' as the mortals would term it. In the end, he used their natural inclination toward obedience while in this headspace to his advantage.
Upon returning to his rooms, he issued several quiet orders, his voice low and sharp. He knew Sarah would react immediately as she was still much deeper in her headspace than Janae, but at the first hint of a command from his lips, Janae's eyes went glassy and she obeyed without further question. Fionn smiled longingly at the memory of having her kneeling pliantly at his feet. While she had such fire, there was something so damned pleasing about her obedience…. Save that thought for after the rite – then explore the limits to which she is willing to go, soothed his inner-self with a purr of anticipation.
While they knelt at his feet Fionn explained what they needed to do. Janae's role was simple, bathe Sarah and prepare her physically to assist Jareth. Unfortunately, Fionn was forbidden to tell Sarah what she was going to be required to do. As queen, this was both a part of her trials, but also an ancient part of the queen-making ritual. Since there had only ever been one Goblin Queen a thousand years before, no one really knew what would happen, only that it was required of her.
Seeing the door to the bath open, Fionn was pulled from his reverie. His face was grim as he looked at Sarah, knowing that what was to come would push her to the brink of who she was, forcing her to accept her own darkness while at the same time breaking down any remaining stubbornness she had regarding absolute obedience to both king and the kingdom.
Sarah stood in the doorway flanked by Janae, her hair hanging down her back in a heavy rope of intricately woven braids. As instructed, Janae had bathed Sarah, then oiled her body. The oil was thick with the heady scent of dragonsblood. From the neck down, every inch of her body had been massaged with the oil, the powdered dragonsblood tinting her skin a blood red so dark it was burgundy. A swath of red silk was twisted around her torso, crossing in the front to cover her breasts, before ending as a tie behind her neck. Around her waist was a thin leather cord holding a drape of red silk in front of her, and a matching one behind. Sarah peered down and blushed, since there was no material covering the sides of her hips, with each movement the drapes fluttered exposing her to anyone that wanted to look.
"I really would prefer to wear the Goblin Queen's regalia…it covers far more than this get up," grumbled Sarah petulantly as she continued to tug at the thin wisps of material.
"Be that as it may, this is what Jareth has indicated you to wear, therefore that is what you will wear," Fionn said, his voice quiet and firm. Looking at Janae, he pointed toward a chair, "Janae, you will stay here. Bathe, eat, sleep, I don't care, but do not move from this room until I return."
"Like hell I will!" Janae snapped, her blue eyes flashing sharply at Fionn. "If Brian and Derrick are going to pay some debt, then damn-it I want to be a part of it. Or at least witness it."
Fionn glowered at Janae's defiance. At any other time, he would have reveled in addressing her attitude, but at this point he had other obligations. "Either stay here willingly Janae, or I will chain you to the wall and leave you here anyway…."
"But…" she opened her mouth to protest and was silenced by Jareth's sudden presence in the room. He appeared without warning, dressed from head to toe in blood red leather that was so dark it was almost black. His hair was streaked with matching luminous hints of red and black. When he looked at her, Janae shivered – his eyes were nearly black, small pinpoints set in an angular face that hinted at danger and pain unlike anything she could even imagine.
"She may come with us, Fionn. It seems only fair since Derrick wronged her as well," Jareth said, his voice stern and sharp as it rung through the room. Looking at Janae, his gaze narrowed threateningly, "However, know this girl, if you so much as make a move or sound other than to breathe while in view of the rite, I will have you transported to my private dungeons to await punishment. And believe me when I say, that a true punishment at my hand is something you do not want to experience. Not now. Not ever. Have I made myself clear?"
Janae nodded, her blue eyes wide at the steely threat Jareth directed at her. "Abundantly," she squeaked when her voice finally agreed to work.
Frowning, Sarah moved toward Jareth, feeling her breath catch at the sight of him. His stance, while straight as always, was suddenly frightening, the cold look in his eyes reminding her of her first meeting with him. She felt her heart seem to falter in her chest as she tried to remind herself that he was, despite the past, her husband and King, and while he could and did instill fear in her at times, he would never truly harm her – at least she hoped he would keep that promise.
"Jareth, I don't understand any of this. Could we please slow down and someone explain what is going on?" she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice as she felt her throat try to close over rather than allow her to speak to him.
Closing the gap between them, Jareth lifted the golden sigil hanging from Sarah's collar. Lightly caressing the sigil with gloved fingertips, he paused to look at her, his dark eyes commanding her gaze.
"Sarah, what were the two things you swore to me when you agreed to be mine?" he asked, his words soft yet intense, as if the answer was in some way important.
"To obey and trust you," she replied, her green eyes anxiously searching his for some reassurance that she had no reason to fear him and finding none, just more suspicion that fear was indeed the appropriate response.
Jareth nodded, his eyes boring into hers, "To whom does the Queen belong and submit to in all ways and matters?"
"The King." Sarah nibbled her lower lip, worrying it as she waited for him to make some sense.
She wanted to lash out, to scream that he was scaring her, but knew instinctively that to do so would make matters far worse. She had tasted his lash once for disobedience and knew without a doubt, there were worse things than fear when it came to Jareth.
"Tonight I am asking you to fulfill your promises to me – obey me and trust me. As my Queen, you are mine to command. Mine to use as I see fit. Mine to punish as needed. In short, you belong to me and what I demand of you, you must do, whether you see the point or not."
Sarah nodded, struggling with the sudden sure feeling she had that she was most definitely not going to like whatever was about to happen.
Jareth looked at Sarah, seeing the fear filtering through her eyes as he watched her struggle against the impulse to speak out. He could see the muscles in her jaw twitch as she clamped her lips shut tightly against the questions and frustration that she longed to unleash. She is learning, he thought. And before this night is out, she will be one step closer to truly earning the right to wear the Goblin Queen's crown.
Leaning close to her, Jareth's lips lightly brushed against Sarah's as a gloved hand caressed her jaw. "Understand this well, Sarah mine, you will be under my command in what must be done. You will either obey willingly or will be made to obey unwillingly. Should you choose the path of resistance, then you will not only be forced through this, but punished afterward. I warn you, do not make this any harder than it has to be by being stubborn and willful."
Sighing, Jareth's eyes softened momentarily, a look of wistfulness tinged with regret flashing through them, before his cold façade returned.
"Precious, as I am the Lord of Blood Debts, so too are you the Lady of Blood Sacrifice. Brian and Derrick acted against not just you, but the crown and kingdom. As such, a blood debt is owed. The only one who can initiate the debt and collect it fully is the Lady of Sacrifice – something the Goblin Kingdom has not had in nigh on a thousand years."
Jareth stood up straight, his thumb tenderly sliding over Sarah's lips as he looked at her once more.
"The role of the Lady of Sacrifice is not easy, nor pleasant, but it is something that must be done. As such, you may consider this yet another part of your trials as you must demonstrate control of magic while letting go of everything that holds you back."
"Are you ready to go, Pet?" he enquired softly as he looked at her, her head bowed as she tried to take in everything he had said.
With a timid shake of her head, Sarah whispered, "No."
Jareth's lips twisted into a shadow of a smile, he always wanted her to be honest and at this moment, he knew without a doubt that she was being truthful.
"Your honesty is noted, Pet and will not be treated as disobedience. Let me rephrase the question, are you willing to do what must be done?"
"Willing?" Sarah asked. "Not really. But since you have made it clear I have no real choice, then I'd just as soon get whatever this is over and done with," she declared, her green eyes flickering amber as she looked at him with her jaw set so tightly it quivered beneath the skin.
It wasn't the answer Jareth wanted, but it would do. Glancing at Fionn he nodded, watching as his brother conjured a blood red crystal and with a flick of his wrist, turned it into a black goblet. Fionn handed the goblet carefully to Jareth who held it carefully, the familiar weight of the heavy goblet resting in his cupped hands. The goblet itself was cut from a single piece of obsidian, now filled with a black liquid that shimmered in the depths of the glass. Swirling the contents of the goblet, Jareth raised it to his lips and drank deeply, feeling the warmth course through him unleashing a torrent of power that seemed to burn underneath his skin.
When Jareth lowered the goblet, Sarah gasped softly, his lips were stained deep red and his eyes seemed to glow. She paused when he held the goblet to her lips, fighting the urge to clamp her lips shut and shake her head as Toby often did when she had to give him medicine. Sniffing at the rim, she shuddered, whatever the liquid was it was not something she recognized. It smelled faintly of red wine and exotic spices, tinged with petrichor and fall leaves. Sarah took a deep breath before allowing Jareth to tip a large draught of the viscous liquid into her mouth. Grimacing she shut her eyes tightly and swallowed, tasting wine that had strong coppery overtones. While it did not taste bad, it did taste somehow…off. Like wine that had gone so far past rancid it was drinkable again, yet tasted musty and ancient.
Opening her eyes she trembled seeing that Jareth was now surrounded by a faint red haze. She looked at Fionn and Janae as Fionn drank from the glass, watching fascinated as he too began to be surrounded by a red haze. Her eyes fell shut as a sharp jolt of magic seemed to manifest inside her, making her grab Jareth's arm to steady herself as her knees threatened to buckle. Just as soon as the quick burst of magic hit her, it eased, rushing through her entire body. Although the electric feeling slithered through her whole body, balls of energy seemed to burn brightly in her belly, chest and head.
Sarah gave a low growl, tugging restlessly at the wisps of silk that were now teasing her unbearably. She wanted nothing more than to rip them away so they would cease their torment. Seeing the magic begin to affect Sarah, Jareth stilled her hands with his own, knowing full well the way the silk would be affecting the skin now sensitized by the potion. Holding Sarah's hands in his, Jareth watched as Fionn took a second mouthful of the liquid, then bending, kissed Janae, ensuring that she would only get a small dose - enough to understand the power of what was being done, and hopefully enough to survive the power Fionn would unleash upon her when the rite was finished.
With a snarl of his own, Jareth pulled Sarah roughly to him, the feel of the leather against her skin making her wriggle and claw at the breastplate he wore. Seeing the feral lust creeping into her eyes, he claimed her lips forcefully as he translocatated them to the lower dungeons.
Brian was confused.
Seriously.
Completely.
And utterly confused.
One minute he was at the club, preparing to dispense a bit of on the fly justice to that jumped up, goody-two-shoes bitch Sarah, the next thing he knew he was being threatened by someone who claimed ownership of her and said he was some sort of Lord something-or-other. Then he found himself in what had to be a dungeon, stripped naked and chained to a whipping post next to Derrick, who he hadn't seen in nearly a month.
Finding Derrick was also in the hands of the madman who claimed he owned Sarah wasn't the worst part. No, the worst part was seeing the bruises, welts and whip tracks on Derrick's body. Someone had gone to town on him and Brian had a sinking suspicion he knew who.
The last thing the blonde guy said when he left them there was that he would be back soon, and they would learn the true meaning of pain, at which point Derrick - tough, cock-sure Derrick who had terrorized subbie sluts at the club for the last four years, actually cried.
Oh shit. This is soooo not good, thought Brian as he watched Derrick cower against the whipping post he was chained to.
If this guy can bring Derrick down this far, I'm completely and utterly… he thought. Fucked, finished his inner-voice with a shudder.
Sarah did not so much melt into Jareth's kiss, as she fought actively to devour him right back, her lips parting hungrily as her tongue flitted against his, teasing and tasting him. Growling, she pressed tighter to him, rubbing her skin against the embossed leather he wore, the feel of the leather seeming to both sooth the intense itch that suffused her body, while it inflamed her further. She wasn't sure what was happening to her, but she knew it had something to do with whatever he had her drink and at the moment, she didn't care, so long as he did something to ease her torment.
Arriving in the dungeon, Jareth released her lips, and thrust her roughly to the stone floor, holding her in a kneeling position at his feet with a hand twisted tightly into the braided rope of hair hanging down her back. She snarled, and attempted to claw at his leg as he held her firm. This was not what she wanted.
Seeing Sarah struggling to throw off his hand as she lashed out at his legs, Jareth smiled darkly. He had drunk of the potion every time there was a need to perform the blood sacrifice and rites, but as there had been no Lady to assist, he had no idea how it would affect her and the results were… to say the least, impressive.
Gone was the often inhibited Sarah, replaced with a clawing, snarling woman who knew only base lust and want. With an audible growl, Jareth twisted her hair sharply, fighting back his own response to the potion and the magic it unleashed. Despite his years of working with magic and power, it took him a moment to still the urge to take her on the floor of the dungeon, particularly as she dug her nails into the tender skin of his hip, scoring him deep enough to draw blood.
He nodded at the red robed figures who stepped from the shadows at the edge of the room and pushed her brusquely toward them.
"Restrain and strip her," he ordered, ignoring Sarah's shriek of outrage as she struggled against them.
"NO!" she raged, thrashing as the hooded figures that surrounded her. "I won't! You can't do this! JARETH!"
Jareth watched acolytes of the Blood Order drag the clawing, fighting Sarah toward a whipping post several feet in front of Derrick and Brian. She lashed out violently, throwing off their hands and managing to make it nearly to the door before another robed figure caught her, bringing her bodily to the floor with a loud grunt as she kicked him in the groin. Two others appeared from the shadows to drag her back to the whipping post. In the end, it took six of them to restrain her long enough to secure her to the post and required binding her hands to the top and her ankles to the rings at the foot of it. Without a word, the acolytes stripped her of the silk that had been tormenting her skin, leaving her writhing and snarling, her eyes flashing red as she snapped her teeth in Derrick and Brian's direction, howling her defiance.
With a quick stride Jareth approached her, pulling her head up to face him as he hissed, "Willing or unwilling, you will play your part."
Sarah's mind screamed that which her mouth refused to utter - FUCK YOU!
Only a feral snarl escaped her lips as she snapped back at him, "I'll swear you'll regret this!"
Pursing his lips, Jareth's eyes narrowed as he regarded the snarling, spitting woman before him, his words deadly in their coldness as he replied, "Unwilling then. So be it."
Flipping his cloak off, Jareth handed it to another acolyte, moving toward Fionn and Janae, noticing the angry sneer on her freckled face at his treatment of Sarah – she didn't understand and he didn't have time to explain. Tipping Janae's face upward to look at him with a single gloved finger, Jareth reissued his threat.
"Not one word, or you will regret it for a very long time."
Fionn nodded, his hand tightly gripping the collar around Janae's neck, "You just see to the Lady and those suffering the debt. Leave Janae to me."
Janae gnashed her teeth at both Fionn and Jareth, her nails digging into Fionn's gloved hand as he held onto her collar. What the fuck has gotten into me, she wondered briefly, before the thought was washed away with the desire inflict pain on Fionn or anyone else who came near her.
Sensing Janae's deepening reaction to the potion and the power surging through the room, Fionn snapped his fingers and dropped a black crystal in front of her where it burst with a bright flash of red flame. When the flames died down, Janae found herself restrained similarly to Sarah, with the notable addition of a gag. Stepping behind her, he pulled her body back sharply against him, his fingers digging painfully into her hips as he bit down into her shoulder, relishing the feeling of her skin as it gave way to the sharp teeth that drew blood from her.
"Listen well Treasure," he whispered into her ear, ignoring the lascivious way that she ground herself against him. "What you are reacting to is the potion and the magic that swells in this room, magic that will only increase from this moment on. I have restrained you for your own protection, because by the time we move into the full rite, you will be unable to obey Jareth's command and I will not have you give my brother reason to break you, because he will - and will enjoy doing so. If anyone is going to break you my dear, it will be me."
He let his voice trail off as his hands roamed over her hips, one trailing upward to tug harshly at the nipple chains she still wore, while the other traveled downward to press against the wet slickness of her that seemed to throb with heat.
Fionn thrust two fingers into her, his eyes glittering wickedly at the way she dug her nails into the post while arching against him. Flicking his tongue out, he lazily licked at the seeping bite on Janae's shoulder, his dark eyes glistening as he watched Jareth begin the rite.
Without a word, Jareth strode around the trio of figures bound in the middle of the room, his eyes hardening with contempt he studied Brian and Derrick, a muscle in his jaw twitching angrily. Turning his gaze he looked at Sarah as she strained viciously against the chains that held her to the post, her haunted red eyes glaring balefully at him. He didn't need to read her mind to know what she was thinking. At least she is keeping her foul thoughts to her herself, he thought. His lips twisted into a dark sneer as he stopped beside her, a gloved hand entwining into her hair once more, forcing her head upward to expose her neck. Leaning in he whispered softly and commandingly in her ear.
"And now my Lady, it is left to you to begin the rite as you are the one most wronged."
Holding out his right hand, a shimmering black crystal appeared in it. "Look into the crystal and remember. Remember everything," he commanded in velvet tones.
Sarah's eyes clouded as she gazed into the crystal, mesmerized by the swirl of ruby haze that pulled at her memories forcing them to the forefront of her mind. In an instant the rape ricocheted through her head, forcing her to relive the event in a flash. As quickly as the memory was ripped from her mind, it was gone, sealed into the crystal. With a subtle twist of his hand, Jareth conjured a second dark crystal, holding it toward Sarah as he issued his one word command – "Remember."
Again, a memory was pulled forcefully into her conscious thoughts. In mere moments she relived the assault at the club, a small whimper escaping her lips, her enraptured gaze held by the crystal. Just as quickly as it came over her, the memory vanished, to be held in crystal's swirling depths.
Turning from Sarah toward those who abused her, Jareth deftly juggled the crystals across the palm of his hand, their movement creating a soft chiming noise that contrasted sharply with the hellish memories enclosed within. He grinned with wicked glee at the way Derrick cringed away from him, pulling uselessly at the chains that held him fast as he tried desperately to escape Jareth's gaze. Looking at Brian, he saw the concerned confusion that washed over his face at Derrick's behavior. As if reading his mind, Jareth spoke.
"The answer is simple Brian. Derrick shows fear because he knows what I am capable of. He has felt my wrath before. But tonight….tonight he will experience something worse – much worse. And you will share in that pain," drawled Jareth, rancor edging his words.
Before Brian could register what happened, Jareth took one crystal in each hand and smashed them against Derrick and Brian's foreheads, the crystals shattering with a harsh crash, shards slicing into the thin flesh. The memories were unleashed, violently penetrating their minds and pulling them into their own personal nightmare as they lived Sarah's experiences, every word, feeling and thought.
The room was quiet except for the tortured whimpers and groans of Brian and Derrick as they relived Sarah's experiences. Glancing up, Jareth met Fionn's piercing gaze, noting the glazed expression on Janae's face as Fionn continued to tease and torment her flesh. Jareth's eyes blazed with dark intent as he returned his attention to Sarah. With a nod to the robed figures at the edge of the room he gave the order , his voice detached and cold –
"Begin."
At his command, the air in the room was rent with a sudden scream from Sarah as the robed figures began the second phase of the blood rite. Two acolytes flanked her, each swinging a knotted hemp scourge against her back. Each swing left a swath of stinging red stripes upon her flesh, making her cry out repeatedly as she pulled fretfully against the chains that held her against the whipping post. Bright red lines bloomed vibrantly across her back while the lash continued to fall.
Janae was dimly aware of the screams that now echoed through the room. Forcibly dragging her eyes upward, she fought to ignore the teasing pain and rushes of pleasure being inflicted upon her by Fionn. She looked at the three figures in the middle of the room. Fighting through the haze that had settled into her head as the burning need in her belly engulfed her, she saw two red robed figures flogging Sarah. Each time Sarah screamed and arched against the post that held her, Brian and Derrick flinched in pain, adding their own screams and moans to the sounds that filled the air. Fascinated by their reaction, Janae laughed darkly seeing thin red lines and crimson droplets appearing on their backs. Before the haze of base emotions clouded her brain once more, Janae smiled evilly realizing that not only were they reliving everything they had done to Sarah, they were feeling all of the pain she was experiencing now as well.
Jareth swept between the figures to stand in front of Sarah, his steely eyes fixed upon her face as the tears trailed down her flushed cheeks, dripping from her chin onto the dragonsblood tinted skin of her breasts. He was entranced by the pain etched on her face, her eyes shut tightly against the agony that washed over her with each new stroke of the lash. Reaching up with a glove hand, he lightly touched her cheek, a crystal tear shimmering upon her flesh. Silently he turned his hand, watching as the glistening droplet moved along the leather. Jareth brought the finger to his lip, flicking his tongue out to taste her anguish, his eyes falling shut at the sweetness of her torment.
She was stunningly beautiful in her pain. Her breathing hitched in her chest as another strike fell, ripping the scream from her lips as if torn from her very soul. Unable to help himself he captured her lips, swallowing her scream with a wicked purr. Breaking the kiss, he left her breathless and trembling, the chains that bound her clinking as she writhed, her body seeking his with a desperate growl that quickly became another shriek as another strike of the lash fell.
Moving to the side so that Sarah faced Brian and Derrick, Jareth leaned near her ear. Her magic reacted violently to his closeness, making her hiss and strain toward him, begging for his touch, her breath bursting from her swollen lips in harsh pants. Gripping her hair fiercely in his fist, Jareth shook her head to get her attention, his voice quiet and chilling as he spoke to her.
"Look at them Sarah. They did this. Took what did not belong to them. Took something priceless from one who was unwilling. They feel the pain you did then and bleed as you do now. It is up to you to say when the debt of blood has been repaid. How much are you willing to take in order to punish them?"
Jareth watched as her righteous fury boiled to the surface, Sarah's eyes glowing scarlet as she glared at Brian and Derrick.
"More," she snarled, barring her teeth in a feral growl. "They must taste more."
With glittering eyes, Jareth ravaged her mouth, momentarily giving in to the force of the magic that pulled him to her before tearing himself away, his words terrifying in their intensity. "As you wish, my Lady. By my own hand."
Grabbing the nearest acolyte, Jareth snatched up a scourge and took over, the lash slicing through the air before striking her. Despite the existing marks and bloodied stripes, Sarah no longer screamed as the lash fell, but growled savagely. Her eyes were glued to the screaming and shrieking men chained before her, savoring every scream that echoed from their lips.
Jareth lost track of the number of strokes he delivered to her, as time seemed to stand still, suspending those in the room. There was nothing but the lash, Sarah and the continuing anguished cries coming from Brian and Derrick. He was lost to the feel of the magic in and around him, his magic tangling with hers until he could no longer resist the seductive pull of her body, bleeding, battered and beautiful in her sacrifice to the debt that must be paid.
He had to touch her, to revel in the remnants of her torment.
The magic surrounding them was so powerful, he didn't need to do more than think of what he wanted and it was granted. A mere fleeting thought of pressing his chest against the crimson stripes that adorned her creamy flesh, and his leather breastplate and shirt vanished. Without a further thought, he crushed her to him, pulling her back against his bare chest as his hands found her breasts, gripping them possessively as he breathed in the intoxicating scent of dragsonsblood, copper and pain. Hidden deep within the mix of scents was the one he hoped for – her arousal.
Brian opened his eyes as the onslaught of mental images and physical pain eased. Squinting he looked at Derrick, who merely hung limply against the post, shuddering uncontrollably. Brian blinked, turning his gaze to Sarah as she growled at him, her lips turned up in a cruel grin that echoed the smirk on the blonde man's face, as he pressed against her, his hands pinching and squeezing her breasts.
"Why?" Brian choked hoarsely. "You're no better than us…using her for your own fucked up sadistic pleasure."
"Bastard!" hissed Sarah, lunging toward Brian before being pulled up short by the chains that held her fast.
Jareth's hands gripped her tightly. "Quiet, Pet," he ordered sternly, his eyes locked to Brian's with malicious glee.
Smirking wickedly at Brian, Jareth sunk his teeth deeply into the soft flesh where her shoulder and neck met, his dark eyes glittering cruelly. Releasing her flesh he purred as she hissed, arching her body against his despite the chains holding her tight. The feel of her blood and sweat slicked flesh sliding against his chest made him groan, unleashing a torrent of desire unlike anything he had ever felt before. Snarling viciously, he pushed the urge aside, his eyes piercing Brian's as he responded.
"Unlike you, she belongs to me and is therefore mine to use….be it for pleasure or punishment."
"But this…this is just pain," muttered Brian, shivering as he felt the air wash over the bleeding cuts on his back.
"Ah…so you do know the difference between pain for pleasure and punishment," laughed Jareth with wicked delight. "Then let me enlighten you further. Here, in this room, you and Derrick only feel pain and torment, but Sarah feels so much more. She is the sacrifice. Her blood seals your debt, yet in the end, she will not remember pain, only intense pleasure – the one thing you never once thought to give her. That is the difference between us. While I may inflict pain upon her, in the end, it is her pleasure that most pleases me."
Pressing his lips close to Sarah's ear, Jareth sharply nipped at her earlobe before whispering, "Does the blood please you, Pet?"
Sarah jerked fiercely in his arms, snarling as she glared at Brian with glowing red eyes, her mind and body screaming at the conflicting sensations that roared through her - intense pain that cut across her, burning as a fire in her belly at the sight of Brian and Derrick shrieking in agony. "Yes," she hissed, her voice grating as it rasped from her parched lips.
"Feel for the magic, my love and listen to it. Have they paid their debt in full?"
With a low growl, Sarah unleashed her magic toward Brian and Derrick, the force of the magic creating a visible shock wave in the air as it hit them. Derrick whimpered piteously, hanging further in the chains of the post. For his part, Brian merely screamed, the sound high and shrill as the magic pushed through him, like a hot knife piercing his very soul
Sarah laughed, the sound an evil bark that echoed in the stone dungeon.
"No… the magic demands more," declared Sarah, her voice the whisper of many others, like the rustle of dried leaves. "Make them bleeeeeeeeed…Make them scream for meeeeee."
"As my lady commands, so shall it be," Jareth drawled, his voice a darkly seductive purr. "Let the blood of the Lady seal the debt and Her pleasure bind it."
Sarah trembled as Jareth's hands swept lower, a bestial groan slipping from her lips as she arched toward his touch, her thighs parting in invitation. With each new touch of his hands, their magic entwined, igniting the lust that had burned beneath the surface since drinking the viscous black liquid, and it was this lust that now burst forth, demanding to be unleashed. Jareth's hands found her heat, sliding easily against the warmth that heralded her need, taunting and teasing her now willing flesh. Long forgotten was the fact that others could see her naked and in need as her body strained toward Jareth's touch, no thought was left save one – want.
The force of the magic in center of the room spread outward, engulfing Fionn and Janae. As the pulse of magic rushed over them, Fionn slid between Janae and the whipping post, lifting her to wrap her legs around his waist as he continued to thrust his fingers deeply into her. With a flip of his wrist, her gag disappeared, but before he could capture her lips she abruptly sunk her teeth into his shoulder. He grunted in surprised and unbridled lust, as the feral red-head snarled, worrying her teeth in the bite. Lost to the wave of intense blood lust that gripped her, Janae ground her hips frantically against the leather of his pants pulling painfully at the piercing.
Jareth was only dimly aware when the acolytes left the room. Being celibate, the final phase of the blood rite was only for those who could taste of the pleasures of both blood and flesh – And taste he did.
His gloved hands grazed Sarah's sensitized flesh, further stoking the fires of lust burning within her. With every new wave of pleasure that rolled through Sarah's body, phantom lashes fell upon Brian and Derrick, tearing at their flesh with searing heat. Each subsequent burst of pleasure from Sarah caused the lashes to increase in speed and intensity until there was no pause. No respite. No relief. Just a continuous stream of unrelenting and unfathomable agony. Their cries of pain echoed against the stone walls of the dungeon, melding with the cries of pleasure from Sarah and Janae.
Reaching the zenith of pleasure, Sarah and Janae threw back their heads and shrieked as one voice, an otherworldly cry of ecstasy and agony. Responding to the burst of sexual magic from the girls, Jareth and Fionn howled as one, releasing a storm of magical energy that permeated the castle from the tallest tower to the bedrock upon which the castle stood. The culmination of the sexual power that flowed through those in the lower dungeon at that moment shook the very foundations upon which the castle was built.
The rite complete, panting, Jareth glanced momentarily at is brother, his eyes shining vibrantly in the dim light. Then, without another word, the two couples vanished leaving the broken and bloodied bodies of the two men hanging limply in the center of the room.