Chapter Twenty-eight
When Sarah opened the door to her room she was surprised to find it dark. "Toby?" She felt her cheeks warm up, she had been overwhelmed by a feeling of déjà vu. For a moment she thought she was back in her father and step-mother's room, Toby had stopped crying all of a sudden plunging the room into a deathly silence. The darkness began to envelop her, before she could panic the candles burst into light. "Thank you," she whispered to Jareth knowing that he was watching her. She blew out a few candles so she could adjust to the darkness, she was able to sleep in the darkness now with only a single candle for comfort. "Hoggle, where are you?" But silence was her only answer. Where had he gone? Was he okay? She sat on the edge of her bed and bit her lip, part of her was glad he wasn't there to see her state of undress beneath Jareth's jacket. But a larger part of her was worried. Where was he? He had been so grief stricken...he wouldn't have just left all of a sudden, would he? She laid her head down on the pillow and gave a startled gasp as something crinkled beneath her head, sitting up she turned around to find a piece of parchment lying on top of her pillow.
Dear Sarah,
I gone back home, I'm sory I been stayin with ye for so long. Ye ryte Sir Diddymus wouldn't want me moping all the time. I need to be doing my work, moving on.
Hoggle
His writing was messy and barely legible, the paper was splotched with thick tears and Sarah felt her heart twist. Had she pushed Hoggle away? She would give him a few days to himself before seeking him out and making sure he was alright. Jareth will be pleased, she thought thinking back to their earlier conversation. It never occurred to her that Jareth would be the reason for Hoggle's abrupt departure, why should it? Exhausted she set the parchment on a bedside cabinet and walked into her dressing room, she shedded Jareth's jacket and her torn clothes. She shivered and looked around for her nightgown; she found it in her bedroom with Ambrose curled on top.
"C'mon you, shift." She laughed pushing the puppy off and slipping the gown over her head. Blowing out the candles she slipped beneath the duvet and patted a small spot for Ambrose to jump up on. At home she had never been allowed to have Merlin on the bed with her, she was thankful Jareth hadn't enforced such a rule. Ambrose brought her comfort during the night, the sound of his breathing made her feel safe – she wasn't alone, and she knew that although he was only a puppy he would protect her. She stared at the candle flickering on her bedside table and thought about what had happened in the dining room. Her body still yearned for him, would it really have been so bad to give in to him? Biting her lip she focused on the candle, finally she blew it out, lay down and let herself drift off to sleep while thinking of Jareth.
Unable to get the image of Sarah, her breasts exposed lying on the dining room table and panting in need of him, Jareth had sought out Lizzie. She was easy to manipulate, he simply had to think of her and she would wish to see him. Jareth lowered his mouth to hers and closed his eyes, picturing that she was Sarah made this easier for him to do. His nose wrinkled in disgust, her flat was a hovel and smelt of stale take-aways, expired milk and rotten eggs. For a fleeting second he thought about getting her to wish to come to the Labyrinth – but then he would be stuck with her there. All he wanted was a release; as soon as they were done he could get back to the Labyrinth and go to bed. He tore off Lizzie's t-shirt and bra, her breasts were small compared to Sarah's and he pushed her back against the wall.
"Slow down," she laughed arching her back so her nipples brushed the front of his shirt, she let out a small purr and reached down for Jareth's groin. "It's not like you have anywhere to –"
"Shut up," Jareth growled. It was harder to imagine she was Sarah with that whinging voice! Sighing huffily Lizzie dropped to her knees, that wasn't exactly what Jareth had meant but it worked out quite well. Now with his eyes closed, his nose pinched shut and silence he could picture it was Sarah tending to his needs. He left her without another word, as soon as he was in his own chambers he shed the rest of his clothing to take a long bath and wash every trace of Lizzie off his skin. The wedding was drawing close, the dress was almost complete, and he was sure that by the time they were wed Sarah would truly love him. He picked up a crystal and watched her sleeping, her arms were thrown above her head, her lips parted slightly, her chest rising and falling rapidly and her cheeks were flushed. Jareth smiled, she was clearly dreaming about him. How would she react if he paid a visit to her chambers and re-enacted the dream for her?
Don't push your luck, he told himself. He had to move carefully with Sarah, one wrong move and it would be back to the beginning for the both of them. While he found their arguing exciting at some points, he was growing weary of it too.
The next morning Jareth woke up early and set a breakfast tray for three up. He knocked on Sarah's door and carefully opened the door with his foot. "Sarah?" She was curled up tightly beneath the duvet with Ambrose sleeping beside her head, their backs facing each other. He set the tray down carefully and gently shook her awake. She first opened one eye, closed it, then opened both in shock.
"Jareth!" She bolted upright sending Ambrose skittering from the bed and barking wildly. Jareth clicked his fingers and Ambrose fell silent. "Sorry, you startled me."
"I wanted to bring you some breakfast," Jareth picked up the tray and settled it across her legs. "Where is Hoggle?" He gestured to the third setting and Sarah handed him a letter, Jareth read it despite knowing what it's contents said, he had been the one to put it there after all.
"I am sure he will be fine," Jareth poured her some juice and she took a grateful sip. "Getting back in to a routine will do him some good," Sarah forced a smile and nodded, "it is not your fault Sarah – you have been generous letting him stay with you."
"But...he's grieving. He's never made friends in the Labyrinth, he's kept to himself for years..." Tears poured down her cheeks and Jareth moved the tray aside so he could take her in his arms and comfort her gently. "I can see why," she sobbed into his shirt, "I miss him Jareth! I haven't seen him for so long...I should have visited him more often," she wept hard into his shirt and Jareth rocked her back and forth allowing her grief to flow.
"I wish...I wish I could live in the Labyrinth..."
Jareth sighed angrily and continued to hold on to Sarah. "I will be back soon," he promised wishing he didn't have to leave her. He kissed her cheeks and gently wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief. "I will not be long, I promise." Sarah nodded and accepted the handkerchief as he kissed her once more and departed.
He found himself standing in Lizzie's flat and he glared at the girl, it was only then that the words she had spoken struck him. "You fool," he hissed at her striding towards her and wrapping his hands around her neck. Her eyes bulged from her head in fear and she began scratching at him desperately. "You want to live in the Labyrinth?" He hissed at her.
"I want to be with you!" She gasped finally prying his hands from her neck, as she dropped to the floor she found herself in dirt rather than the sitting room of her apartment. She stood up and looked around. "It looks exactly the same..."
"Of course it does," Jareth snapped. "You have thirteen hours to get through the Labyrinth, and believe me this time you do not want to fail."
"Jareth – wait!" She pleaded reaching out to grab his hand, "please! I just want to be with you!" He turned and saw tears streaming down her face, the sight infuriated him. With Sarah he was overwhelmed with the urge to comfort her, to make her smile. But with Lizzie he was blinded by anger, he just wanted to strangle her. "When you come to visit me...that's the only time I feel worth something! Please..." Jareth shook his head, what had he done?
"Thirteen hours," he hissed, "you had better get started." He turned and disappeared to return to Sarah. She had gotten dressed and was sitting on the floor staring at the empty fireplace. She looked up when she heard his footsteps and smiled weakly at him. "That..." Jareth shook his head unsure of what to say, he couldn't lie to her – he had to tell her it was Lizzie. "Do you remember a few years ago? The two kids?"
"Lizzie and Jake?" Her voice caught and she nodded. "What about them?"
"That was Lizzie...I think she is a bit unhinged, she wished to live in the Labyrinth." He shook his head in astonishment. "Sarah...I do not want you going near her," he sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "There is no child involved in this...and I fear she may harm you." Surprisingly Sarah put up no fight, Jareth sunk into deep thought. How could he get rid of Lizzie? He was pissed off, Lizzie had been a good form of release – even if she did repel him. His marriage to Sarah was still months off, he could not be celibate...he needed a source of release. A small smile crossed his lips and he kissed Sarah on the cheek, he had an idea of how to solve the problem of Lizzie in the Labyrinth, but also ensure he had someone to call upon when he needed a release.
He didn't have long to wait.
"Jareth...please help me."
Sarah looked up as the sound of a sobbing girl filled the room. She stood up and picked a book of the settee, Jareth kissed her on the cheek and left her and Ambrose.
"Jareth!" Lizzie's face brightened at the sight of him, she was still sitting on the hill that led down to the front gate. Her shorts were covered in dirt but she didn't seem to care. "I'm sorry...I know I shouldn't have wished to come here...I just want to be close to you."
"I know you do," Jareth smiled and pulled her to her feet. "Do you really want to live in the Labyrinth? To be close to me."
"Yes," Lizzie breathed closing her eyes and tilting her head up so Jareth could kiss her. He rolled his eyes.
"Then wish for it, wish to be close to me. To be mine."
"I wish I was yours Jareth, I wish I could be close enough to touch you," she breathed slipping her hands up his shirt and over his chest.
"You fool," Jareth whispered into her ear and as she pulled back startled he laughed. Lizzie gave a cry of pain and dropped to her knees, but before she could hit the floor she had disappeared. In her place was a small crystal. Jareth stooped to pick it up and peered into the crystal, inside he could see a small figure desperately beating against the smooth surface. "The Labyrinth is not what it seems Lizzie." He taunted her, "you should have learnt that last time."
