You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
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Chapter 14 – Little Girls That Play With Fire
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It all started out as a joke. A joke that went horribly, horribly wrong…
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…and believe me precious I am no such creature
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We twirled together away from the dancing elves my lamp floated silently after us. Jareth's face was cast in shadows but I could still make out his glittering eyes burning into mine. When we were too far away to hear the music we stopped and I realised that I had no idea where we were. Jareth saw my sudden wariness and I caught sight of his flashing teeth as he smiled.
"Can't you make it brighter? I can't see." There was that flash of teeth again and the lamp lit up. Now that it was brighter I felt even more disoriented. I could see Jareth much more clearly but beyond the ring of light there was only darkness.
"Where are we?" My voice sounded small.
"Still in the forest I assure you love."
"Why is that not reassuring I wonder?"
"You wound me precious..."
"Hardly."
"...don't you trust me?" I threw him a sarcastic look.
"I'd like to see my sister. Can't you poof up a crystal? I'd like to see if she's okay or I would like for you to take me back to the road where I came from." Jareth's eyes were intense as they burned into mine.
"I'm sure you would." I punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Stop it Jareth this isn't funny! It's practically kidnapping." He leered over me.
"I would like to remind you that you came very willingly. As for your sister she's perfectly safe." I huffed.
"Take me back!"
"No." He smirked.
"Fine. I'll just find my own way then. Perhaps I will stop by those elves on my way back." I pushed past him but he seized my upper arm. I couldn't resist smiling but hid it carefully before turning back to face him.
"What?" I asked innocently and met his burning gaze.
"You impossible girl! I will take you back on the path just... wait." For a second he almost looked... lost? Then it was gone. I tried pulling my arm free but his grip didn't loosen.
"I am not a child Jareth and you have already taken enough of my time." His gaze dropped travelling unhurriedly up and down my body. I flushed.
"Indeed you are not a child and if I remember correctly you still owe me for the time I gave back to you." His tongue came out and seductively traced his lower lip. I panicked and yanked my arm out of his grasp.
"No. Wait! I decide when!" His eyes lingered a little too long in places they had no right to be.
"And stop trying to distract me!"
"Oh is that what I'm doing, distracting you?" he moved so I looked him directly in the eyes, an amused smirk was pulling at his lips.
"Do you find me attractive, Katarina?" I tried to avoid his gaze. His voice lowered.
"Do you find me handsome?"
"No!"
"Oh I think you do. I can hear you heart fluttering like a wild bird in a cage when I'm near you." He was whispering now.
"You cannot!" I tried to sound indignant but instead sounded slightly unsure. He chuckled, a deep sound that rose from his chest.
"Go away!"
"I think not. You're just too much fun." He leaned in slightly. My back hit a tree.
"Is that all I am to you – a toy?" I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned.
"Mmh would you like to be more?" His grin became predatory and the light from the lamp gleamed off of his canine teeth. I shuddered and blushed bright red at his suggestive tone.
"N-no that's not what I meant..." My voice trailed off as he tilted his head and leaned in further. I could feel his warm breath on my parted lips and I held my breath. Omg he's going to kiss me! As part of my brain started panicking another little part whispered to my confused mind. And why exactly is that a bad thing? It could be a good thing. Really good... I shivered as I pushed that voice far back in my head.
"Stop..." My voice was barely loud enough to be called a whisper. His eyes captured mine and held them. Then he straightened and took a step back.
"What a pity." I shivered.
"Can I please see my sister?" To my surprise Jareth's expression changed to one of annoyance.
"Fine if you must." He conjured a crystal and tossed it to me. I caught it out of reflex. At first it merely glittered and looked like it was filled with a shimmering fog, but then the fog parted.
As I gazed in the crystal I saw my little sister in the middle of a room filled with what I imagined to be goblins. As I watched her she looked up at the ceiling and yelled.
"I'm boooored!" In front of me the Goblin King groaned and covered his eyes with a gloved hand.
"Does she ever stop complaining? "Get me this, fetch me that. That's dirty. Ew I think I saw a spider!" "I couldn't contain it anymore. The image that formed in my mind of my annoying little sister driving other than me crazy – driving the Goblin King crazy, made me shake with laughter.
"You think it's funny do you hmm?" If I hadn't been so distracted I would have seen his eyes narrowing dangerously but I suddenly felt reckless.
"Yes." I managed to gasp. "That's poetic justice in your face." Another fit of laughter overpowered me and I clutched my stomach and leaned against the tree.
Breathing hard I managed to straighten and push away from the tree. I met Jareth's gaze. His expression was deadly and the smile disappeared from my face. I tried edging away but encountered a section of a wall which definitely hadn't been there before.
"I will not have you laughing at my expense." He growled and backed me up against the wall trapping me between the cold stones and his warm body. That definitively shut me up and I gasped as the air was stolen from me by the non-existing space between us.
"Now," he murmured his breath blowing sweetly in my face, "I think it's time for some pay-back. Don't you?"
He leaned in even further and the candle in the lamp flickered and went out.
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I am now back from holiday and ready to write!
As I am now the very thrilled owner of a copy of The Labyrinth, the novel, I should be inspired to write the next chapter faster! Maybe... :P
Please leave a review to let me know what you think.
"In summer, the song sings itself." – William Carlos Williams