Chapter 12.Enchantment under the Chandeliers

The Savile Club, in the heart of Mayfair, was one of the most prestigious private clubs in Britain. Established in 1868 and occupying a very fine 18th Century house, its distinguished history has made it famous within Britain's literary, academic and artistic circles. It was here the prestigious RoyalSociety of London was hosting the Crystal Holiday Ball. The sizeable old Brook Street house was the perfect setting for the gala affair. It was here that London's elite would gather to wish each other a Happy Holiday.

Sarah could not help but be impressed as they walked into the Club, French interiors and elegant salons would impress even the die hard. Sarah followed her mother and Jeremy with wide eyes and excitement. The grand staircase, leading to the Grand Ballroom made Sarah feel like she were back in time, she began to understand how the heroine of many of the novels she'd read over the year must have felt coming to her first ball.

Adorned with a lighthearted manifestation of the Louis XVI style, the room flooded with daylight from tall windows at both ends and at night the venerable chandeliers donated to the club by member, Sir William Orpen glittered in the profusion of mirrors. It was a glorious room of splendor in blue and white. The delicately vaulted ceiling, sprung floor and painted limewood walls give this room a wonderful acoustic. The Ballroom in conjunction with the Dining Room and the old staircase has been much sought after for film locations and Sarah could easily understand why. She recalled her mother and Jeremy having been part of a BBC period film that had used this Club for some of the scenes.

Having left their outerwear in the coat room on the lower level, they ascended the stairs, Jeremy with each of the ladies on his arm a striking trio. The white and blue winding staircase snaking elegantly upward, Sarah shimmered in her gown covered in tiny crystals and silvery threads. She heard more than one breath catch in a throat, and the whisper of 'who is that' rung in her ears. The delicate little lace and crystal mask that Jeremy had given her, hide her face from most. She schooled her face and put on her most poised countenance, think of it as a play, she told herself. Jeremy led them to the reception line where they were greeted by the host and hostess for the evening, a Lord and Lady Somerset. They took their places in a line and when the Guests of honor, Prince Charles and his lovely wife the Princess Diana entered. Sarah curtseyed and showed respect as did everyone else in the line.

Prince Charles paused, looked at Sarah and remarked to his wife. "She's charming, is she not?"

Princess Diana looked at the younger girl, smiled softly and agreed. "Very."

Sarah rose to her feet when they had moved on down the line and looked at her mother, Linda winked proudly.

Jeremy was giving Sarah some of the history of the historical building and the club it housed when they were joined by Mark Davis. "Well, you made it!" He said smugly.

Sarah found herself bristling at his brashness, but kept her feelings to herself.

Mark, in a black mask, looked at Sarah and smiled. "You look lovely this evening, Sarah."

"Thank you." She hoped the coolness in her tone would stop him from trying to engage her in further conversation. She failed miserably.

Mark turned to Linda, "You don't mind if I dance with this pretty little maid you've brought into this den of iniquity do you?" Before either Linda or Jeremy could protest or do anything that would not cause a scene the man gripped Sarah's wrist and led her to the dance floor. He smiled at the girl who was porker stiff in his arms. "Oh come now Sarah, relax… you'll have a much better time if you do."

"I doubt it," she mouthed. She remained stiff in his arms and resisting all his attempts to engage her in conversation. The song playing came to an end and the dancers on the floor stopped and politely clapped their hands. Sarah hoped that the man would be gracious enough to escort her back to her mother and Jeremy but he had other ideas.

"You are such a divine dancer, I'm sure you won't mind having another with me…" He started to move toward her.

"I'm afraid the next dance is spoken for." A voice said from behind Sarah, "Miss Williams mother has given her permission for me to have this dance."

Sarah heard the voice, but had not really paid attention to the sound of the voice. She was too relieved at having been rescued from the odious man whose face was now nearly murderous. She gathered what composure she could and spoke with poise. "Thank you Mr. Davis… please excuse me as I am spoken for." She turned to the new partner and accepted his hand as he moved to dance her lightly away from the man staring at both of them with daggers in his eyes; "Who ever you are, thank you!" She said timidly. "That rescue was so timely."

The man who was masterfully leading he about the floor, smiled softly. "My pleasure." He said gently.

Relaxing, and her feet moved with more skill and poise. Around the room people commented on the handsome couple in the center of the ballroom floor. The handsome man in the stylish tux with the golden hair, dancing with the vision of beauty in white became the talk of the room. He swept her past Lords and Ladies, even past the Prince and Princess. She was like a graceful swan in his arms and he seemed to be taking great pride in showing her off to the world.

Linda was dancing with Jeremy, "Who is that dancing with Sarah?" she asked seeing the handsome man dance with Sarah as if they'd been partnered for a life time. "They move so well together."

Jeremy didn't look, he knew who it was. "Oh I'm sure it's some young lord…" he tried not to think of what was happening.

"I don't recall seeing him before," Linda commented. "I would remember someone like that."

Jeremy spun her the other way and smiled, "You're not supposed to look at anyone but me." He teased.

Linda giggled, "Jeremy, jealous?"

His steppes faltered for a moment, "I could be."

Linda placed a hand to his face. "Dearest, my heart is true… can you say the same?"

Blue eyes lowered, "No…." He was ashamed and wanted to explain. "Linda…."

"No," she whispered in a sad sob. "Don't."

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At the end of the number the man dancing with Sarah escorted her back to the table she had been sitting at originally with her mother. He bowed to her and thanked her for the dance. Sarah watched him move away, thinking how his movement reminded her of someone… but she could not think of who, try as she may she could not place the mannerisms.

Linda, her face hiding the pain she was feeling, was glad to take a seat beside Sarah. "You looked very nice out there." She said to her daughter.

"Thank you for sending him to my rescue." Sarah commented.

Linda looked at the masked girl with quizzical eyes that showed though her own mask. "I didn't send him over, where did you get the idea that I had?"

"He said…" Sarah felt her heart begin to pound. "He said you gave him permission… he interrupted that hideous man…that Mark Davis…but if you didn't… how did he know who I was? He called me Miss Williams."

Linda hushed the girl with a gloved hand, she turned cheerily to Jeremy and he bent toward her. "Do be a dear and get some punch for Sarah and I, we are as parched as a desert." When the actor moved toward the dinning room where a refreshment table was set up, Linda stood up and motioned Sarah to follow her. Sarah could read the urgency in her mother's body language. She moved swiftly to keep up with the woman's long strides. They had almost made it to the grand staircase when Mark Davis Blocked their path.

"Not leavening are you?" He looked at them, his dark eyes filled with hideous images. "The night has just begun…"

Linda, always a quick on her feet thinker, snorted. "No, we're just off to the power room downstairs… the one up here is…full."

Mark looked toward the direction of the powder room and nodded, "Allow me to escort you both down there."

Sarah wanted to shove him out of the way, but Linda, seeing the trap looked at him with a face that was as innocent as a new rose. "Why Mark, how thoughtful of you," she placed a hand on his sleeve and allowed him to move down the staircase with them, but she firmly placed herself in the center keeping Sarah on her other side out of the man's clutches.

Once in the safety of the powder room she turned to Sarah. "We're stuck…"

"Mom, what's wrong?" Sarah knelt down as her mother took a seat in the sitting room of the ladies power room. "Why is it so urgent we leave?"

"Sarah, think…" She then used her index finger to make a sign in the palm of her daughter's hand. Sarah looked down at her hand and the finger making a motion that no one else in the room would ever notice. Her Granny had taught her the secret language passed down for generations when she was but a little girl. Her mother had made the sign for one word, FAE. As if all the air had been sucked out of her lungs in one motion, Sarah sat on the carpeted floor and fought to remember how to breathe.

Linda placed a gloved hand under her daughter's chin, "We have to find a way out of here."

Sarah nodded.

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Returning to the table, Jeremy found the ladies gone. He looked about, saw the line at the rest room and figured they'd gone down to the rooms on the main floor. He took a seat and tired to look interested in the festivities. He felt the movement behind him before he heard the words whispered in his ear.

"Are you wearing them?" the voice growled sensually.

Jeremy's head snapped around and he looked eye to eye with mismatched eyes. "You." He whispered.

"I love that reaction," snickered the King as he hulled the man from his seat, "But we don't have time for pleasantries. Your friend Davis has our pair of quail trapped in the ladies room beneath us. I say we go rescue them."

"Davis?" Jeremy moved with the man who was guiding his elbow toward the stairs. "What the hell is Davis trying to do?" Jareth gave the actor a hard look and Jeremy protested. "He wouldn't!" However even he knew better and made his steps down the stairs quicken.

Jeremy saw Davis standing like a sentinel over the ladies room door. He felt the hand of the Fae release and heard the words, "Go…I'll be here if you need me, but I don't want Sarah to know I'm here…not just yet."

Linda and Sarah came out of the room followed by three other ladies who walked past them hurriedly. Linda was just about to say something to Davis when Jeremy called out. "There you are!" he smiled and came forward with hands extended to Linda. "I was thinking I'd lost you both." He teased.

Linda took the hands, her eyes hiding her fears;"No, of course not."

Sarah, feeling as if the room were closing about her, wondered if they would notice if she ran out into the night. She never got the chance to test her theory. Davis clamped a hand on her wrist and said in a cold and cutting voice. "I believe this is my dance, is it not …Sarah?"

Jeremy looked at Linda, his eyes filled with regret and sorrow, he mouthed the word, sorry to the woman. Linda nodded, and they turned to follow Sarah and Davis back up the stairs. Helplessly they watched as the man dragged the girl onto the dance floor and swept her around the room. Linda winced, knowing she could not make a scene. Jeremy watched horirfed as the odious Davis pressed his body closer to that of the young girl.

"Have you ever seen a winter terrace?" He asked the girl darkly.

"No." her answer was cold and stark.

"I really think you should." He insisted.

"No…thank you." She said firmly. The only thing she wanted was for this dance to end.

Mismatched eyes watched, keeping track of where the girl was and just how far the man was going in his quest to conquer her. 'That will never work,' he thought to himself. 'You are only succeeding in alienating the girl.' Jareth knew from the way the man was moving that he was going to press his vantage and soon.

Davis leaned closer, "They have some lovely private rooms here, rooms the members use from time to time…"

"How nice for the members," Sarah answered coldly.

Davis leered at her openly. "I just so happen to be a member." He boasted.

"Why am I not surprised?"

Mark Davis looked down into her eyes and smiled a malicious and cruel smile that made Sarah long for a certain Goblin King's smile. "You don't like me." He snorted.

"Brilliant deduction," she announced. "Now if you are done, I'd like to leave this dance floor."

She would have turned to do just that if the man had not clamped a hand to her elbow and threateningly forced her to move with him. "Make a scene and I'll ruin both your mother and that fool Eden." He warned.

Sarah followed him but clearly was not happy about it.

Jareth came to the table Jeremy had returned Linda to; "Come." He said expecting to be obeyed by both. Both did just as he expected, after exchanging a look, they followed the man in the tux that was leading them toward the rooms used by members. Jeremy wondered where the security people were and why they had not been stopped. The man shoved a door open, and they could clearly see Sarah fighting off the advances of the odious and vulgarly rude Davis. Linda went to move forward, willing to save her daughter at the cost of her own life if need be. The man in the mask ahead of them placed a hand on her shoulder and she dropped into Jeremy's arm. The masked man looked at the actor. "You know what to do… say your right words… or watch as Sarah is ravished."

Jeremy held Linda close, "I…" He paused looking about desperately. "I…"

"Say your right words, and I'll take the child away…" The masked man now knelt beside Jeremy who was collapsed to the floor with Linda in his arms. He looked at Sarah, and thought perhaps he'd have to freeze time seeing how eager Davis was to have her. She cried out and Jeremy looked up at her.

"Sarah…" he sobbed, "I'm sorry…"

The Goblin King, in the Edwardian tux caressed the cheek of the actor, and whispered in his ear. "Say your right words…actor…"

Jeremy sniffed, and sobbingly said. "I wish the goblins would take her away… right now…" He bowed his head, thinking that Linda would never forgive him this transgression. He sobbed into the swooned form of his lover.

Jareth kissed the ear of the actor. "Good boy." He stood up and the lights flickered. Everything went black and Sarah screamed. When the lights came back on Jareth alone stood in the room with Mark Davis. He removed his mask and sneered at the shaken man who was trying to figure out what had just happened. "I think you're in the wrong room, Davis." He said calm and coldly. "I believe this is my room this evening."

Davis, feeling dizzy and disorientated looked about the room with confusion. "What am I doing here?"

Jareth shrugged, "I was about to ask you the same question."

Pulling himself together, Davis snickered. "I must have had too much to drink… so sorry old man… hope I didn't intrude on something."

"Not at all," Jareth smirked back. "My lady is awaiting my arrival at a very special place… I'd never be so tacky as to bring her here for something intimate… Half of London would know about it by morning." He walked the man to the door. "Good night, Davis."

The man, still disoriented, nodded. "Good night, old chap."

Jareth closed the door and locked it for good measure. He leaned on the door and took a deep breath, "I win… I always win…"

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Sarah, who had her hands up in a defensive move, looked about the dark room they were standing in. She saw Jeremy holding her mother, and saw that Davis was gone.

"Where, are we?" Jeremy gasped as he held tighter to Linda who was coming out of her swoon.

Sarah looked at the circular room and stomped a foot. "NO!"

Linda looked up at Jeremy, then over at the girl who looked about to pitch a fit. Jeremy leaned forward and placed his forehead to Linda's. "I'm sorry…" he wept.

Linda placed a hand to his face. "Where?"

"I don't know," he confessed.

"I know!" Shouted Sarah with fury, "I know exactly where we are… we're in the Castle beyond the Goblin City, in the heart of the Labyrinth!" Her face showed more rage than either adult had ever seen. "I know damn well I didn't wish us here… so which of you did this?"

Jeremy shook his head, "I didn't wish us… I wished….you."

Sarah gasped, "You did what?" She looked as if she'd been hit by a truck. "You did what?"

"I had no choice…it was that or let …Davis ravish you…he said…"Jermey stuttered.

"Who said?" Sarah demanded.

"Him… the Keeper of the Night, the Taker of Souls…." Jeremy wailed.

Sarah began to back up, "Keeper of the Night…" she remembered the words and the old stories. And fear etched her face. "oh no… That's just another title of the Goblin King." Something hard prevented her from backing up further. She didn't look, she knew.

"Hello Sarah," he crooned in her ear as an arm snaked about her waist. "Welcome home."