Chapter 11.
The with two Kings
Exasperated, and desperate, Miles grabbed the girl, forcing her to face him. "You felt something for me that night! I know you did, why can you not allow that to grow?"
"Because I belong to Jareth, the Goblin King." She stated softly. "And if it were not him, it would be Garrett, not you!"
"Garrett…" spat the Fae. "What is it about that man that … claims your heart?"
"Everything…." She said confidently. "He is the other half of my soul."
Miles dropped his hands as the wall of crystal began to show images. "I didn't require more images."
"This is no longer in your control…." Sarah warned coldly. "You've started a snowball down a hill, and it will end only when we reach the end…."
Miles looked at the images, reflecting on her words as well as the images playing out.
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Sarah came to class on the Monday morning after the Halloween Gala following her usual routine. She arrived before anyone else, switched on the lights in the hall and set up at the desk she occupied. She spread out notes and arguments checking on a question posed the last week, when snickers in the back and the titter of idle chatter disturbed her letting her know she was no longer alone in the lecture hall. Glancing back she was surprised to find that Towage was one of the snickering voices. Towage's eyes met hers with a gleam of what could only be described as triumph. Sarah turned back to her work for the few moments left before Professor King would enter and start the class. William came in dropped the local paper on her spread of papers and nearly crowed.
"You've made the papers, love."He warned with a wicked smile. "Nice shot baby."
Sarah had seen the photographer taking shots of the committee members and others, so she half expected to see a shot of her handing out tags at the reception desk. That was not the case. What the paper had printed was a very large picture of her cavorting on the dance floor, with her very handsome, very exotic, partner…Jareth. The headline read 'Local girl and handsome mystery man'. Sarah put her head on her desk and groaned. "Oh somebody just shoot me now!"
King had just entered the room and didn't even glance her way. "There'll be no firing squads for anyone here, and no excuses if assignments are not handed in. I don't care who was at the Gala." He removed his jacket, moved to the front of the desk and took a seat. "My, my! You all look so rested."He said in a put on voice that dripped with sarcasm.
Sarah whispered "Sadist," under her breath and sat up.
"Today we begin the origins of the lower classes of the Fae realm." He pointed to Towage. "Name at least three." He commanded sharply.
Towage pulled out her notes, swiftly scanning the words she had printed down; "Pixies, Brownies and Gnomes."
"Not a bad choice," Professor King was truly impressed the girl was actually looking things up. "Pratt, give me two more."
William's eyes were daggers aimed at some unseen target; "Trolls and Wraiths."
King smirked, "Dark Pratt, very dark." He went though the class calling on student after student. They named off class after class of Fae; all but the one he was looking for. Finally he walked to stand directly in front of Sarah, winked at her and said. "Say it."
"Goblins, Hobgoblins, Nilbogs, Night goblins, Kobolds, and Imps." Sarah didn't even look at her list.
"Leave anybody out?" King teased pulling her notes toward himself.
"I hope not." She pulled the sheet back and pretended to go over her notes, counted and said the names again under her breath, "No, all present and accounted for, sir."
"What about gremlins?" He challenged curtly turning the page to look it over.
Sarah frowned, "Only if you break the races into the Orc classifications of "Ogres", "Goblins", "Hobgoblins", "Gremlins", "Gorkens" and "Ridgelings". Personally I don't use that set of references. After all the Orc classification only became popular after the publishing of The Ring…Goblins have been around a lot long than that; I prefer the work of Heinrich Heine on the subjet."
King paused, madding a face at the girl, he addressed her as if they were alone in the room. "You don't like gremlins?" He watched as others in the class scrambled for notes.
"Too recent a lore…I suspect they are hybrids like the Hobgoblin." Sarah tapped he chin with the pencil she was holding. "They make their first appearances during 1942."
King looked at the rest of the class, "Are you all getting this, or are we going too fast?" He pointed to Sarah. "That's research! And she's right most lore enthusiast don't consider the gremlin worth bothering with. Good work Williams, again." He looked up at Towage who was snickering with two other girls. "You have something to add to the conversation, Towage?" He had disliked her the first time, this time he found her contemptible and worthless.
Carol blushed. "Sir, we were just …discussing the article in the paper."
King saw Sarah blanch. "Really, what article, in what paper?"
William pulled his copy from his coat pocket. "This one sir," He handed the copy over without ceremony.
King looked at the picture, "Ah, yes… the infamous dance…Pity I missed it. I hear that your performance was one of the highlights of the evening, Williams. So good of you to entertain the crowds; I did however hear the song you performed early on in the evening," Sarah winced on the word pity he noticed. "Excellent picture of you and your dance partner though, very interesting costuming. Pity the pair of you didn't enter the best costume contest; you'd have had it sewn up." He tossed the paper back at William and looked up at Towage. "What does that article have to do with this class?"
Carol swallowed, "Nothing sir, sorry sir," she stammered nervously.
King looked round the class, they were waiting for the other shoe to fall off. "On Wednesday I want reports from each of you. I want you to tell me what the purposes of the lower classes of the Fae are. You have your assignments…be gone…" he watched as they began to shuffle off. "William's, a moment of your time, if you please." He walked back to his desk, not looking at her, and his voice had been…dry.
William leaned down. "Want me to stay?"He placed a hand on her desk, a small sign of support.
"No, I'm fine." Sarah shooed him off. "Go, have that cigarette that's hanging over your ear before you go bonkers."
King looked at her upon her approach. "Heinrich Heine? He's so …German." The grimace on King's face was comical as he took a seat on his desk.
"I'm trying to find a copy of any thing by Wirt Sikes. I'm told the Welsh and the Celts have some lore about the hierarchy of the Goblin Realm." Sarah showed him a printed out list of her resources. "That's the one I need, and even Emrys could not get me a copy."
"That paper you're doing, is it on the Goblins?" King looked at her notes and the list of resources she was using.
"Yes." Her voice was strong and full of optimism.
"You may be out of luck with this title by Sikes." King let one foot dangling off the desk move ever so slightly until it connected with the side of her leg. Slowly he flexed his foot, brushing her with a slow gentle stroke. He managed to keep his face composed, though his eyes were full of dark mischief.
Sarah stood still a moment then looked at him. "Not fair." She mouthed.
"I know." He mouthed back as he pretended to look at the list of books. Meanwhile his foot continued to stroke, "Williams we are having one of our discussion groups on Friday evening. Are you free to join us?" He handed the page back to her. "We'll be discussing the push for modern literature verses Classical. I think you may find it fascinating to hear the other's opinions."
"Yes, Professor King, I happen to be free this Friday. Thank you for including me." She said in a professional tone. "Will it be the usual crowd?"
"Yes, and Lawson had promised to make an effort to be there and on time." King drew his foot back. "Good luck with your research."
"Thank you, sir." She returned to her desk, gathered up her belongings and exited without even looking back. When she exited the building William was waiting on her.
"So, are you in trouble?"
"For what?" She asked with a smile, "Oh you mean the dance? Come on, everyone knew it was part of the show, didn't they?"
"I'd love to have seen the practice sessions you and that 'partner' of yours had." Teased William. "Celia would call that 'hot and heavy'."
"How is dear Celia?" She asked as he walked her the distance to the parking lot.
"Long-suffering, that's how she is." He smiled, thinking of his lady. "She's coming over you know, for Christmas." He seemed happy at the thought.
"Oh really? We must plan something special! I really want to meet her…She does know about me doesn't she?"
William could not help the guilt on his face. "Yes, I told her about you. And she thinks you're a saint to put up with me." He stuffed hands into his coat pockets. "She read me the riot act for the stunt at the concert."
Sarah stopped, "You tell her everything?"
He shrugged, "I've no secrets from my bird. She knows it's a rake she's taken up with. She also knows she owns my very soul, that I'm her slave."
Distant words rang in her ears, 'Just fear me and love me', he had told her in a gentle voice, ' do as I say, and I ... I will be your slave.' Sarah looked at William. "You love her, don't you?"
"I thought I just said that." He gave her a quizzical glance. "You okay?"
Sarah nodded. "I'm fine." She looked at her watch, "I'm running late. I'll see you."
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Miles looked at the girl; her face was alive with passion and love. She could barely take her eyes off the face of the professor, his voice caused her pulse to jump and he could smell the change in her pheromones. He drew back, placed his hand to his lips and pondered. The images shifted again, and he was not in high spirits nor was he ecstatically blissful over the next set of images….
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Toby was quieter than usual on the ride home, and he kept looking at Sarah with a strange concern in his young eyes. As soon as they got home, he raced to his room, not even stopping to ask about a snack. Almost as quickly, he returned to Sarah's side, and shoved a handful of owl feathers into his sister's hands. "Keep these with you!" His void held an authority far beyond his years.
Karen looked at Sarah when Toby had gone from the room. "What was that about?"
"I don't know," Sarah said honestly. "And no, I don't know where he's getting all the feathers."
Karen fretted. "You don't think he's gone and harmed a bird do you?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, he'd never harm anything!" She was sure of it. "I think he must have found where some bird molted. He's been spending a lot of time in the woods of lately."
Karen picked up one of the feathers in Sarah's hands. "Why owl feathers?"
Robert was standing in the kitchen door. "Celtic tradition has it that they protect the virtues of a maiden." He crossed the room to kiss his wife. "He must have gotten it out of the book of Celtic traditions my mother sent him for his last birthday."
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"The boy?" Miles asked without asking.
"The child I wished away, the child that …" she looked at him with eyes that were a dazeling shade of green, glowing with magic beyond magic. "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I fought my way to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back."
Miles looked disturbed, "Yet he… is touched… and moves like one of …us…"
Sarah gazed at the shifting images, "Jareth named Toby his heir before I rescued him…"
Miles absorbed this information as he too looked to see what the crystals would reveal.
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Sarah told Karen she was going for a walk. For a reason she could not quiet fathom she turned and went the opposite direction of the park and her familiar grounds. She walked until there were no more sidewalks, walking then the country lane. She was in no hurry to return home, not as long as Bowen was there. That man's eyes gave her a feeling he knew what she looked like without her clothes on. It was not a pleasant feeling. Now had it been Garrett, or even Miles… She stopped walking as her thoughts turned to Miles. There was something about him that set off alarms in her head. Alarms she should listen to. Alarms she was more and more ignoring. She thought of the way she'd flirted with him at the Gala. Of dancing in his arms and of the way he'd kissed her in the park. What was it he'd said that it could take forever to teach her all the pleasures he was acquainted with? A little smile crossed her lips, as she wondered what some of those pleasures were her thoughts turned to the pleasures his hands could bestow. He had the most beautiful hands she'd ever seen on a mortal male. Long fingers that looked as if they were capable of doing sweet dirty things to a woman… For a brief moment she wanted to be one of the women he did those dirty things to.
She wondered if he'd read the little book that was stashed under her pillow. The smile faded when she looked around her. She had walked so far the houses were fewer and fewer. The street had narrowed to a much smaller width then what the streets in town were. In fact, the only thing out here was one old estate, surrounded by woodlands. There were no streetlights out here, and it was now very dark. "Ok, Sarah, this was a stupid move." She turned to trace her steps back.
"Sarah," the voice in the dark stopped her and she turned toward the sound . The man in the long dark coat smiled at her as if he had been reading her thoughts just prior to her finding how far she'd come. "Good evening." The walking stick tapped on the ground as he walked.
"Miles." She addressed him in what she hoped sounded like a casual tone. Looking at him after her dark thought sent a shockwave of thrill though her, and she could feel the heat rise in her blood.
"Out for one of your nightly sojourns, I see." He approached her at an easy gait. "Although I was under the impression you usual took to the lanes in the park."
"Variety is the spice of life, Miles," she said a little too flippantly. Alarms were going off and she was not only ignoring them, she was shutting them down. "What brings you out to this neck of the woods as it were?"
"Neck of the woods indeed," he mused smiling, pointing to the imposing estate beyond the gate he'd wandered out of. "I live out here,"
"Do you?" Miles stood a few feet away, not trying to reach for her, yet she could feel him on her skin. Part of her was demanding that she mov;e another part was enjoying the sexual electricity that accompanied the man.
"Care to come and see the art collection I mentioned?"
Sarah laughed; it was a lusty sound. "Miles, are you asking me in to see your etchings?"
"So it would seem." He teased right back. "Come, Sarah. Take a chance," he challenged. "Let me show you some of the collection."
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The Fae man could not help himself, he had to take what chances he could not to change things… something was working against him… and he could not fathom what it could be. He focused and sent the suggestive thoughts to his counterpart in the crystal vision.
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His hand went out, enticingly and touched her face with a tenderly crooked finger. "We can start with my art collection and work our way up to other amusements, Sarah."
Sarah shivered, it was a delightful feeling, and she tingled. "What kind of… amusements do you have in mind, Miles?"
Miles smiled she was responding, and she was eager. "I'd like to get you out of the night air first…" He extended his hand to her, "Come Sarah, let me show you my collection…"
Sarah looked at the hand, thinking about taking hold, when her fingers touched something in her pocket. She pulled out her hand and looked at a handful of owl feathers. As if cold water had been poured on her, she looked back up at Miles. "Not tonight, thank you." She walked past him and back down the lane.
"Blast." He uttered lowly, wondering where the damn feathers had come from.
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Sarah looked at the man who was standing just aside of her. "You forgot all about those feathers, didn't you?"
"How did that boy know?"
"Toby is…very… intuitive." She crossed her arms.
The images shifted yet again. This time there was a young woman, a young woman with long red hair. She looked like she walked out of a Celtic fairytale. It was not Sarah who reacted, it was Miles. He gasped, "Mora." His eyes closed and for an instant he could feel her. The soft little threads of bonding were there, and they tingled at his touch. "Mora." He glowered from deep within his soul.
Sarah observed his sudden reaction to the face of the girl he'd marked, however she wisely kept silent.