Sarah awoke to a knock on her door. A voice called out, "Ms. Williams, I do believe it's time for you to wake up."
"Ugh...what time is it?" she grumbled as she turned over to look at the clock, forgetting that the curtains around her bed were closed. She sighed and stared at her ceiling. Then, she heard voices conversing outside her door.
"Maxwell, I'll take it from here," a voice said.
"Yes, Sir. I will see you at breakfast then," Maxwell said. Sarah heard footsteps walking away.
"Now, Sarah, I'm giving you three seconds to open this door before I come in. I know you're awake. One…two…," the voice called out, "Three." The door opened and Christian walked into the room. He strode over to the bed and opened the bed curtains without a hesitation.
"Ugh. Christian, you can't just do that to a girl," Sarah groaned as she covered her eyes as they recovered from the sudden surge of light.
"Sarah, breakfast is served in an hour. I just want to make sure you get there on time and that you won't overreact to my family being in their natural forms," he said and shrugged.
Sarah looked over at Christian and just noticed that he looked paler than the normal human and his smirk was sporting the pointy teeth characteristic of the fae.
"I won't overreact," she mumbled.
"You did last night."
"Did not!"
"You fainted. I'd call that overreacting," Christian commented and poked her in the stomach, "Now, go take a shower and get dressed."
"Fine," she consented and stalked off into the bathroom. She started her bath water and stripped off her clothes.
She stepped into the tub and called out to Christian, "Is there a dress code for breakfast?"
"No, there isn't. There's only one for dinner," he answered.
"Good. That dress was such a pain in the ass to get into," she said.
"Aw, but surely the fact that it made you look ravishing can compensate for the trouble, Sarah," he flirted.
"Do you always flirt with women while they're taking a shower or am I just special?"
"You're special for sure," he mumbled from his seat on her bed. Then he called out loudly, "Miss Williams, I would like to inform you that your clothing options are out here. How are you going to get dressed?"
"I'm trusting you to be a gentleman and sit on my bed with the curtains closed while I get dressed. Otherwise I'll just grab my clothes and change in the bathroom. I have the slight inclination that you wouldn't leave even if I asked you to," she answered.
"Well. I did promise my mother that I would make sure you made it on time," he responded.
Sarah finished up in the tub and pulled the plug. She got out and wrapped herself in her towel. She walked to the door and hesitated before calling out, "I'm coming out now. You better have the curtains closed. There will be problems if you don't."
"They're closed. You're fine," Christian rolled over onto his stomach and shut the curtains. He heard the door open and footsteps walk over to the foot of the bed.
"You know, Sarah, most women want me staring at their naked flesh. Then again, I'm usually naked as well, but that's just a minor factor," Christian teased.
"Are you always this flirtatious?"
"Yes. I fail to see the problem," he answered.
"I figured," Sarah chuckled as she pulled on her undergarments and opened her dresser, "What should I wear?"
"Jeans and a nice long sleeved shirt. Women always look good in jeans—especially if they're figure hugging," Christian advised.
"Remind me to never wear yoga pants around you," she said.
"What are yoga pants?" Christian asked. Sarah finished getting dressed and pulled open the bed curtains.
"Yoga pants are things you will hopefully never see me in," she taunted as she went to sit in front of her vanity. She towel-dried her hair and started brushing it.
"Here! Let me do your hair," Christian offered.
"What do you know about doing hair?" Sarah asked.
"Oh please, I help many women with their hair back in the Underground. I fix up the girls before they leave that way no one knows the difference."
"You run a brothel?" Sarah asked wide-eyed as Christian started to braid her hair.
"No. One of my friends runs one. I just help out occasionally when he's swamped or his regular hairdresser cancels. I also help do hair for many of the theatre productions in the Underground's version of Broadway sometimes too. My actual occupation though is running my own bookstore," he answered.
"A bookstore? I would love to come visit it sometimes!" Sarah answered as she turned to look at him.
"Stay still. Otherwise this won't come out right," he chastised, "now, you act as well, don't you?"
"Yes. I was in quite a few productions back in college. I think that door will probably remain closed though," she answered sadly.
"Maybe not. There, you're done," Christian answered as he finished pinning an elaborate braid that turned looped into a flower-like bun, "let's go get breakfast."
So Sarah is working for the Jenkins, this is interesting, Jareth thought. All the more reason to go to the ball, an inner voice added. Jareth sat in his throne as he watched the goblins playing with the twins he had to babysit for another three hours. Sighing he produced a crystal and looked in on the runner. The runner was in the Firey Forest. Hopefully she would get there soon and alleviate the cause of Jareth's headache. He liked children, but two at a time is…ugh. He needed a nap, but he couldn't leave the kids with the goblins that long. Not after what happened last time…he shuddered.
Author's Note: Hey readers! I've got history day next Thursday and a trial on Friday. I'm probably not going to be able to update until after February 7th. But, if I have time, I may update early. I can answer any reviews or PMs on my phone since I get the email and that's quick, but as for updating, that'd be a stretch. I hope all my fellow New Englanders enjoyed their snow days. Boggy and I had some snow fun. That should be published on here later.
Take it away Boggy!
"PLEASE REVIEW," Boggy begs you.