Chapter 14: In the City
"Look I would just like to apologized for being so rude to you." He stated looking out the window. I just opened my eyes more and had a shocked look on my face. Did he just say that? He turned to me, and was not smiling but frowning.
"I really mean it Nicolle. I have been thinking back on my actions, and it is not how I should behave around you."
"Well…thank…" I was starting to say, when he came over and kissed me. Stoking my arm, he pulled me close. I lost my footing and began to fall backwards. I was trying to scream but his mouth was closed over mine and I could not. I pushed him away. By this time the comforter was off of me and on the floor.
"Get away!" I yelled. Picking up the blanket and wrapping it around me again.
"Oh why do you cover yourself up, when I am around you?" He asked looking down at me. He took his gloved hand and slid the blanket over and caressed my breast. I gasped and slapped him across the face.
"You, bastard!" I ran to the other side of the bed and leaned against the wall. He looked to me and began laughing hysterically.
"What the hell is so funny?" I asked, glancing at him.
"Oh you are to amusing Nicolle really."
"What? What did I do that is so amusing?" But he did not the question instead he just spoke about what I was going to do today. And then he told me that he was going to return in a few minutes, to get me, and bring me to my chores. I nodded my head at him. And he left the room, closing the door behind him. I thought about his apology and thought that it was a complete lie. He was just saying that to distract me. God I really hated him. My anger just grew every minute I was with him.
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A week later:
"Shido I really miss Nicolle and I wonder what she is doing right now." Steph told Shido who was sitting on the bed, pulling on his boots.
"Well Steph to tell you the true me too. And I also wonder what is going on with her. I hope that she is okay and that nothing has happened to her. But there is nothing that we can do."
"Sure there is Shido."
"But you hear Jareth. If we try to do anything again he will kill you. And I do not want that to happen." He said looking intently into Steph's eyes.
"I know you don't and I appreciate it very much. But if I die trying to save everyone else then so be it. I will not let this get out of hand Shido. I cannot." She stated kneeling down beside him and rubbing his knee. Shido leaned over and kissed her forehead. Smiling back at him Steph got up and resumed getting dressed.
"Well what do you want to do today then Steph?"
"I am not sure. We will have to figure something out, you know and it will have to be soon." Shido and Steph decided to go to the market. When they arrived there they were looking at all of the products and deciding on what to buy. The goblins were not leaving them alone. They were begging Shido and Steph to buy something of theirs, guaranteeing them that it was the best they could buy. But Shido and Steph just kept on walking. They bumped into Nicolle's parents. Steph saw the whistles hanging on the cart.
"Well good day Sir." Shido said, bowing to Mr. Sage.
"Well good morning Sir could I interest you in a whistle?" Mr. Sage asked.
"Well do you mind if we just look around?" Shido inquired.
"Not at all, please help yourself to anything. And if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them for you."
"Really?" Shido stated, turning to look him directly in the eyes. He watched as Mr. Sage stepped backwards, once he saw Shido's cat eyes glow. "What is it?" Shido smirked showing a fang. Steph approached Shido and slapped him on the chest.
"Stop it you are frightening him." She explained.
"Good that is what he disserves." Shido said angrily. Mr. Sage looked to Steph and said.
"What is he talking about? Why is he acting that way?"
"I have a question for you Mr. Sage. Why did you give your only daughter to the King of the Goblins?" When Shido asked this, all noises that were made in the market square, stopped, uttering complete silence. All eyes were on Mr. Sage.
"I ah…I ah…" He trembled. But then took a deep breath and then stood his ground. "This is none of you business! Why do you ask me this question? I do not have to speak to you…" He saw that again Shido's eyes glowed, and his fangs showed even more. This truly frightened Mr. Sage.
"Silence!" There was a voice from the air. All eyes glared to the sky, worried and confused. They did not notice that the King was now standing in between Shido and Mr. Sage.
"What are you doing here Shido?" He asked, poking him in the shoulder with is riding crop. Shido looked straight into the King's eyes.
"What do you think I am doing here? I am shopping, just like everyone else."
"I see. Then why were you asking Mr. Sage about Nicolle?" He asked with an interested look on his face. Steph stepped forward, curtseying to the King.
"He meant no harm Your Highness." She stated, still looking to the ground.
"Really!"
"Yes, Your Highness. We were truly just shopping. It is just that we are concerned about Nicolle." When she said this Mr. Sage looked at Steph and then to the King.
"What? Why should you be concerned about her? What have you done?" He inquired looking to the King again with a concerned look on his face.
"You have nothing to worry about, Mr. Sage. Like I told you before she is perfectly fine. She is content with me. She could not be any happier."
"Liar!" Shido yelled.
"You dare to intervene!" The King yelled. Shido stepped back. Steph took his arm and pulled him close to her. She was afraid that something was going to happen to him.
"Come on Shido let's just go."
"Yes I think that would be the wise thing to do." The King stated, taking a crystal and twirling it around his fingers, watching it closely.
"That's okay Jareth we will just leave on our own thank you. We do not need your assistance." Shido stated, pondering that Jareth was going to use the crystal to rid of them.
"Well then I suggest you go then." The Goblin King smirked. Taking the crystal and balancing it on the tip of his index finger looking into it.
"Yes Your Highness." Steph said curtseying again, before turning around and walking in the other direction. She then looked behind her, to see Shido still standing there. She ran over to him and grabbed his arm, pulling him with her. And they left the city together. Jareth disappeared, and the city of goblins turned back to what they were doing. Mr. Sage just stood there watching Shido and Steph leaving. He gritted his teeth, and walked back behind his cart. He picked up the whistle that he was working on and began carving again; waiting for some passerbys.
"I can't believe him. Why did he have to get all upset like that?" Shido said stroking Steph hand as the continued to walk.
"Shido, you are a stranger to him, and walking up to him, yelling asking why he rid of his daughter to the King…I would have yelled back at you too. You don't think that it would have been difficult to decide whether to do that or not. And what if he did not want to give her up, but had no choice. Hum? What of that?"
"I…I…did not think of that." Shido whispered looking to the ground.
"Oh Shido don't worry about it." She smiled, pulling their linked hands up and kissing the top of his hand. Shido smiled at her.
"Thank you." He stated simply. And from that moment, till the time they got back to the cottage they did not say a word to one another. Back at the cottage, Shido was sitting at the table, while Steph was making something for them to eat. She walked over to the table and put a bowl of warm, cow blood in front of Shido.
"There you go." She smiled.
"Thank you." He watched as she sat down beside him and began eating her potato soup. "Do you want to try some Steph?" He said lifting his spoon up and over to Steph.
"Oh not thank you. I have this, thanks." She smiled, a little disgusted.
"You're sure now." He questioned.
"Oh yes I am sure thanks." She said gently pushing his hand, holding the spoon back over to him.
"Okay, you do not know what you are missing."
"You're right." She said taking a bite of bread. She looked to Shido who was now laughing. He loved teasing her. She hated it. They spent the day in the cottage, in front of the fire place. Eating and drinking. It was good quality time that they could spend together. And the night fell on them and they went to bed, sleeping till late the next morning.