Chapter 38: What No One Knew...
Kaitlyn dangled helplessly, suspended only by Demona's magic which held her by the throat. Finally, she was dropped to the polished floor like a rag doll. She gasped, and waited for air to fill her lungs. She had forgotten how much her sister hated to be mocked...
"Well?" Demona raised an impatient eyebrow and raised her hand to her sister once more. "What news have you?"
"It's about your son," She managed, although her dry and crushed throat ached. "Damian... He's run off with someone."
"Oh, and who might that be?" The Queen now wore an odd smirk on her face.
"Steph. You know, that warrior girl? Well he rescued her from Jareth's dungeon, and-"
"I already know that."
"You do? But how?"
"I know all, Kaitlyn. Dare not underestimate me. Ever. Now begone with you."
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Sarah wasted no time in rushing straight to her room. She passed Sindel on the way, but she had nothing to say to the girl. She would thank her for helping them with the trial later. Right now she just wanted to be alone. Sindel watched her go into the room that she and Jareth shared, and it made Sarah wonder if the pretty maidservant really did eavesdrop on her King or not. Deciding she didn't care if the wench did hear everything she had to say, she slammed the door so loud she was sure Jareth had to hear it down in the dining room!
That was when she noticed a small black box sitting on her bed. She immediately knew exactly what was in the box. It was the same one Jareth had tried to give her earlier that same day. Why did he bother with romantic gestures like that when they both knew they had no other choice than to get married? It made no sense! Hesitantly, she opened the letter, written on pink paper in red ink.
"Sarah," The beautiful script said. "I know that you did not hesitate to reject my offer today. I can't say that I truly blame you, under the circumstances. One would think that I really did not intend to wed you. But what no one knew... Was that you have always had my heart, my sweet. I know it may be wrong, but that has been my intention all along; to make you my Queen. Regardless of whether you ever accept or not, I would still like for you to have this ring. Married or not, it will always symbolize my undying love for you. I am truly sorry for all that I have put you through, Sarah.
Love, Jareth"
She stood there for a long moment in awe, before opening the box that she had been to afraid to open earlier. When she had first seen it, she had thought it was a trick. Now Sarah thought that maybe he had meant it. Or maybe he was a desperate man doing his best to save his own life by marrying someone to avoid being killed for lying to an Elven Judge. The latter sounded more like it, when Sarah read the letter again. Yes, that had to be it.
"So pretty..." She could not help but murmur when she first laid eyes on the ring.
It was set in what looked like silver, but could very well be white gold for all she knew. The ring held a large but beautiful diamond in a princess cut. Several other smaller diamonds were tucked neatly beneath it in two entangled rows on each side of the larger one. It was simple, yet elegant. 'Just like him...' Her mind whispered.
She had to try it on, just for a moment. Sarah walked to the mirror to examine what it would have looked like, had she said yes. It didn't really look right with her right red and black dress. In fact, she thought it more her former taste, back when she was a spoiled teenager. Well, she was still a teenager, and no longer spoiled. Sarah liked the ring he had chosen for her. She crawled into bed, and decided to call it a night. She had been through enough for one day. And sitting in her room, reminiscing over what could have been, was not going to help. Not bothering to change clothes, Sarah laid down and closed her eyes. She left the note where it was, as well as the empty box.
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When Jareth entered his bedchamber, he had almost forgotten that he now shared it with someone. He didn't even bother to change clothes, he just leapt into his own bed without a care. He knew it was still filled with broken glass, and other things, but he felt he deserved it. Crystal shards pierced his skin, and soap and salt rubbed into the wounds, painfully. And still the Goblin King did not move. No, he snuggled further into his stone and glass bed. After drowning his sorrows, he was far too drunk to care anyway.
The sound of something crunching on the far side of the room caused Sarah to stir. She was pulled out of her dreamless sleep to find Jareth lying in nhis own bed, half asleep and half drunk, if his goofy smile was anything to go by.
"What are you doing?" She startled him, and he reacted with a jolt.
"I was trying to sleep, you know," He eyed her with such sarcasm she was caught offguard at first. She smelled the alcohol on his hot breath as it neared her face. "And the way I see it... I deserve to sleep on a bed of broken glass for being such a lousy suitor for you. I really am pitiful, aren't I?"
"Jareth, get real. That's just the alcohol talking. You're not bad, you just..."
"I just what, Sarah?"
"I don't really know exactly," And then she did a strange thing. Her emerald eyes flashed with what looked and felt like regret, and she flopped painfully down beside him. "If you feel like you really deserve it then I guess I do too."
"Sarah, no! Get off of here, you'll hurt yourself!"
"It's only glass, not poison... I deserve to be here just as much as you."
"Why?"
"For breaking your heart." The awkward silence was then broken by laughter as they both realized how silly they were both being. Jareth offered her his hand and helped her up. They both had various cuts and scrapes, but were otherwise okay.
He spoke words softly as they drifted off to sleep. "I suppose I should clean that up, but I still don't really feel like it..."
"That's okay, we can both share my bed..." She muttered.
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Shortly after he had lost his beloved Princess, Jareth went to an old gypsy fortuneteller. She had lived for a long time in his kingdom, and yet she never seemed to age. There were many tales of this gypsy spell-weaver girl. With hair as black as midnight, and shocking blue eyes that pierced your soul and made you feel as though you were unworthy, her name was Angel Moon.
Dressed in a ritual garb of black and purple satin and silk, she sat by the window of her tent, gazing into her crystal ball as it was lit by the moonlight. She had seen him approaching, and knew of his dilemma, even before he set foot in the gypsie's camp.
"King Jareth, how lovely to see you," She purred, as he drew back from the curtain of her tent warily. "Do not be afraid, I will not harm you. Please, come inside."
Where he had expected an elderly woman, he found this jewel of a girl awaiting him. Her eyes were accented by dark soot-colored patterns, and her black painted lips bore a sinister smirk, yet her eyes looked friendly enough. She sat at a red velvet table, with a traditional crystal ball before her. Something about her seemed so magical, yet so familiar; so wicked, yet so sweet, all at once. She was like an angel and a devil. The perfect mix.
"You come here seeking guidance?" He only nodded. "Very well, then. I shall tell you what you need to know, and only that. Do not ask any more of me."
Her hands passed over the crystal making strange symbols and motions in the air. She whispered things, and what Angel did speak out loud, she spoke in a strange and foreign language. Jareth waited patiently for it to be over, without speaking a word. He would tell no one of his quest to see this fortune teller. His kingdom would think him daft for it.
"That they would. You are right to tell no one," She remarked before continuing with the spell. When she was finished, she spoke slowly and sensually, so he could be sure to understand each and every word that she said. "I will tell you of the prophecy that I have foreseen, Jareth. You will pray for someone to come and help you. You will do everything in your power to bring your Princess back, understand?"
"Yes," Was the only word he chose to speak before motioning for her to finish.
"She will be brought back, but for a price. A very dear one. But you do not care, do you?"
"No, I don't."
"I know. You can bring her back, but she will be very different; darker somehow. You will one day be forced to leave Viamere forever. She will bear you a son, under her false mask of life. But he will be lost to you, too."
It was then that he noticed the large wolf that slept in the corner. It was all curled up, with it's tail covering it's nose and face.
"Her name is Luna, and she is mine," The gypsy supplied, once again reading his thoughts.
He knew she was no ordinary wolf, for she was at least three times the size of an ordinary one. Fortunarely, the fortuneteller's tent was large. The wolf, upon hearing her name, moved her tail and that was when Jareth saw the reason for her name. She had a large white crescent moon shape adorning the middle of her forehead. Luna got up and moved to Angel's side.
"Now, let us continue... Ah, yes. You will one day find your Princes Seraseht, though it will be a long time from now. Thousands of years into the future, you will find her in a small girl called Sarah. Your future looks very bleak. I warn you here and now, history will repeat itself. That is all I have to tell you."
"Are you certain?" He seemed puzzled. Good. "That is all?"
"Yes, that is all. I bid you farewell, Jareth."
'What a strange, strange girl...' He thought, as he walked away from the camp, back toward Viamere, and his castle. He could hear the sound of a wolf's chilling howl just as he left. A shiver went through him.
"You have no idea..." Angel Moon purred solemnly, as she watched him leave. "Future Goblin King..."
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Eventually, Sarah was able to get him into the non-broken glass infested bed, and they both got some much needed sleep. The next morning, Jareth woke up not quite knowing where he was. But when he saw the face of a raven-haired beauty staring back at him, he knew he was right where he belonged. Her makeup had been smudged all over her face while she slept, but still she was a beauty. Sarah opened her eyes only moments after he did. She removed her arm from his shoulder, where she had kept it all night, and blinked back at the Goblin King.
"Don't do that!" She hadn't been too loud, but it was enough to make him wince. "Don't stare at me while I sleep!"
"Sarah, please. Not so loud..." Gloved hands covered his ears. "My head is killing me..."
"Yeah, I'll bet. You had way too much to drink last night."
He eyed the tiny and perfect silver ring on her finger. Jareth could not stop himself from taking her hand in his and admiring the way it suited her so perfectly. "Does this mean you have decided to accept my offer?"
"What? This?" Sarah ulled her hand back and gestured at the ring, then removed it. "No way. I just wanted to see what it would be like..."
"If you had said yes?" His eyes were filled with a dangerous emotion.
"Well, kind of, yeah."
"So why didn't you?"
She decided she'd use his own game against him, just as she had before. "Why didn't I what?"
"Say yes?"
"Say yes to what?"
"Damn it, Sarah! Answer me!" Jareth was quickly losing his patience now.
"Okay, you just seem like... Well, it's hard to explain. But you got us into this problem by telling the Elves that we were engaged. And now the only way to save your own skin is to follow through. And you expect me to believe it's only a coincidence that you ask me to mary you as soon as we return from Viamere? Get real, Jareth."
"Sarah, I-... I'm sorry."
She rolled her eyes. "A likely story. Well, I guess sicne we have nothing more to say to each other, I will be out in the garden."
I will be out in the garden... Visions of a watery grave, and a beautiful cold Princess came flashing through his mind.
"Perhaps you should go for a swim, or enjoy the library instead?" He suggested, wincing at the thought of history repeating itself once again.
"Yeah, I guess I could stand to read for a little while," She eyed him curiously. "But why don't you want me going out into the garden?"
"I do not care what you do, Sarah. You are a Lady now, no longer a servant. And you are free to do as you wish. Just do me one favor?"
"What is that?"
He once again looked at how her mascara and eyeshadow were smeared all over her once pure face. her bright red lipstick made her msile appear half crooked. "Wash your face first..."
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"Thank you," Steph mumbled darkly.
"For what?"
"For getting me out of that hellish dungeon!"
"Yeah, no problem..."
But how could he tell her? Damian had always had feelings for this girl, ever since he had first laid eyes on her. She had been so innocent, runnign through the Labyrinth to save her baby sister. What a pity she had failed... he had pleaded with his Mother not to corrupt her innocence, but she had brainwashed her anyway, and made her into the warrior who stood before him today. Her black hair and lavender eyes enchanted him. The little freckles that dotted her face ade her still look innocent, despite the way she acted towards everyone. 'Sometimes...' He thought. 'Sometimes a cold exterior hides a warm heart.'
"It was a problem, Damian. Don't give me that," She scowled at him. The steel of her gaze matched that of her armor. "How did the dance go? It's a shame that I missed it. I was locked up, as you know."
"I'd forgotten the dance. It seems like it was so long ago... Yes, it went fine. I waited for you all night, but I knew something bad had happened to you. Otherwise you would have come, right?"
"Of course I would have!" Steph put on her cold face to mask her emotion. "I will get that idiot Goblin King if it's the last thing I do! Will you help me fight against him?"
His jet-black locks were tossed about freely in the wind, but they still hung down low over one eye. That was his style. "I will do what I can. But Steph... There's something you should know..."
"Oh?" He seemed to have captured her interest. "And what is that?"
"I uh- well... I had a curse put on me when I was younger by a witch."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Just wait," Damian held up a hand to silence her. "The curse consisted of many things. One of those things was that I would only be a dull, lifeless, empty shell of a person, until I found my one true love. Then I would come to life, so to speak."
"You don't seem so dull and lifeless to me, Damian."
"Yes, that's just it, Steph. I-"
"No, don't. I have to work on plans for taking over the Goblin kingdom. Come on, let's go."
She looked disappointed. And she was. Here he was, pouring his heart out to her, and she was hoping for information that might help her take revenge on Jareth. Damian sighed, and followed her.
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Author's Note: There ya go. Another chapter is FINALLY done. Sorry it took me so long to finish it. This was (I think) a fairly decent chapter. Better than the other one, at least. Hahaha, I love Damian and Steph. They are SO cute! This used to be my favorite fic, until I started Slow Burn, my new favorite! I hope you like this chapter. the next one has lots of J/S fluffiness! Which I know we all secretly (or in some cases, not so secretly) want, right? I hope so! Steph is gonna "take over the kingdom", huh? Well, we'll just see about that! She hasn't really done anything that bad, except kidnap Sarah a few times. And that was only b/c she was under Demona's spell. What are she and Damian (Demona's son, for those of you not paying attention) up to, huh? We'll find out soon (I hope)! Glad I got this chapter up.
Thanks to all of you who reviewed last chapter! I wuvs yous!!!! Muah Anyway, a preview of the next chappie: Um... Sarah goes to Jareth while he is really really busy, and asks him for a favor (you'll see what it is). Meanwhile, Demona tries a different tactic to lure Sarah away from him! Why? B/c she's just mean like that. Jareth recieves a strange letter from King Heredus... And Steph and Damian work on their "plan". It'll be very interesting, you'll see.
-Kaline Reine