Heartcrash

Chapter Two:Where Hearts do Fall...

Disclaimer:See chapter One.^_^ Thanks so much, everyone who read my story and reviewed it!It is just sooo wonderful to get good reviews!It's so encouraging!^_^ Oh, and I think I forgot to specify, but if something is in ' ' it is thoughts, and if it is in " " it's spoken.^_^ Please enjoy!^_^

Raina awoke from the dream, green eyes wide. She had never dreamed of one of the Fae in such a way before...and the kiss, so sweet, yet...that look in his eyes had scared her. He'd been...hungry...and she didn't want to know WHAT he'd been hungry for. 'Or don't you?' a voice inside of her asked tauntingly. She closed her eyes. Did she? Didn't she already know...know what he wanted? Did she know what she wanted? She sighed, and sunk back down on the bed. She couldn't force herself to sleep again that night. 'Thank goodness it is Saturday tomorrow...'She thought, trying to forget the dream. But the dream had caught hold, and wouldn't let go, determined to torment her with the odd feeling of reality attached to it.

Jareth opened his eyes to slits, letting them get used to the only slightly brighter gloom of his bechambers. 'What a weak, petty fool I have become.' He spat at himself inwardly, angry. Looking up at the clock, he sighed. 'I still have time to take her away, if I have the courage to face...those...eyes...again.I WILL.' He stood, quickly pulled on a black, slightly shimmery cloak, and turned into the owl. Flying swift as he could, he reached her bedside window easily...But, how to get in? It was one that pushed upwards, curse it, and he couldn't open it from out here. So he tapped on the window with his claws, and waited for her to look at what was making the noise-he knew she lay there, fully awake, unable to sleep, and he knew she would be curious.

Raina heard a tapping at her window. Her eyes widened, and she turned. A tawny-hued...OWL...was at her window! Her eyes adjusted easily to the darkness outside, and without knowing exactly why, she pushed her window up and climbed out of it. Her house was one-story, so there was no danger in doing so...no danger in a physical sense, anyway. What awaited outside, many would have claimed was worse than falling from a window. Staring at the owl, she shivered slightly. Suddenly, the owl changed...and the Goblin King of before stood there, glitter swirling in the air around him. He crossed his arms, a smirk on his face. Raina suddenly became quite aware that she was dressed in a VERY flimsy nightgown...A white one, at that. She instinctively crossed her own arms across her chest. 'Like he'd be looking at ME.' Her mind taunted inwardly.

Jareth laughed softly, then stepped up to her. She looked rather frightened. He felt...pity? No. The Goblin King NEVER felt pity. NEVER. He gave her a half-smile. "Remember our rendezvous earlier? I'd really like to continue it...elsewhere." He raised a finely scupted eyebrow rather suggestively. He wondered again what strange being had taken over him, to make him feel so...strangely full of desire. Yes, it was only desire...Had to be. The voice in his head whispered, 'Just keep telling yourself that...'

Raina's eyes widened again and her mouth opened, but at first no words came out. She wanted to step closer...she wanted to slap him for proposing such a thing...But she did neither of these things. Instead, she whispered, half challengingly. "Whatever you want of me, I cannot go around referring to you as 'The Goblin King' everywhere. It's too long. Besides, you know MY true name, I would know yours before going ANYWHERE with you." But she thought to herself, 'Truthfully,I would just know your name...Names can mean so much...And yours means the world.' The frightened part left in her was shocked. 'WHAT? Why did I think that? Do I even know what I want...?'

Jareth laughed again. His voice was mocking, seductive. "Oh, but RAINA...you wanted to go away? You wished that one of my kind would take you away...And here I am. But, if you must know...I am Jareth." He cursed himself. He had not meant to reveal his true name so suddenly. He smirked at her to make up for it, and spoke in a husky voice. "Besides, I think you DO know what I want of you...Don't you?"

Raina's eyes flashed. Jareth was surprised, but pretended not to notice. When Raina spoke, it was with all the icyness a full-fledged Fae would have. "I might. But I am not just some playtoy, some distraction for you in your misery. I will refuse you any time if that is all you want. I do not want a relationship born of mere lust, I deserve more. YOU deserve more." She whispered the last sentence, in such a soft voice he barely heard her.

He stared at her. Where had she gotten the guts to say that? Did she really think he deserved more? For a moment, he wondered what she thought he deserved. Then, he smiled in spite of himself. "Alright, then. Let's make a deal. You will come with me, live at my Castle in my Labyrinth for...hmmm, a human month's worth of time? I will not touch you...in any inappropriate way, unless you wish it. However, should I require a dance partner, you shall be that." He couldn't believe he'd just done that. Would he be able to keep his promise?

Raina's lip trembled before she replied. "You...won't touch me?" 'Am I really being offerred a chance to live at a castle...with him? And why do I feel that the castle without him would be worthless?'
His lips twitched at the corners. "Unless you tease me a bit too much, inflame my blood too much...I will not touch you. Unless you wish it." 'And whatever God you worship save you if you inflame my blood...I can't control myself once that happens.'

She thought for a moment, then nodded."Alright...But if I am not to tease you, might I know just how far is too far?" She said it almost mischievously.'Why did she want to know that? She felt as if she almost WANTED to go to far...Did she?' Her mind whirled with confusion, but she acted as if nothing was wrong-confusion would make her look weak in the eyes of the Goblin King.

Jareth grinned mysteriously."That, my dear, you shall have to figure out yourself." 'Does she mean she wants to go to far?...No. If I start thinking that, the promise will be broken sooner than she can bat an eye.'

Raina bit her lip, not wanting to say 'It's not fair' to a Fae. They had very little concept of 'fairness' usually. She just rolled her eyes instead and returned with,"Well then, maybe I'll just stay away from you...until you need a dance partner."

Jareth just smirked and whispered."We'll see." He tossed a crystal into the air, and suddenly, it felt like wind was all around them, and Raina closed her eyes tight.

When she opened her eyes, she gasped. In the distance was an amazing maze, stretching out in all directions, and at its center-a castle...She looked at Jareth, who nodded.

Jareth looked in the direction she was staring so raptly at. He grinned."Yes,that's where we're going...I thought you should see it from far away before you see it close up." 'Why did I bring her here first? Habit? Sarah liked it here, on this hill so close to the Veil between her world and mine...but, I can't think of Sarah. She is gone, and I must go on, as I have done countless times before...And I hope I never become so lost in the past that I forget that there is a present, and a future as well.'

She barely nodded. The castle looked...wondrous. For several moments, she and Jareth just stood there, in silence, letting the wind tug at their hair and clothing.

"Well..." Jareth said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence like light searing through the darkness. "Shall we go, then?" He wondered-did he expect her to run? To try and get away from him? And which was he more afraid of-her running or her staying? 'What is happening to me?' he thought as he began to teleport them into the castle...

To be continued in (tentative title...not really sure if I'll call it this or not...)Chapter Three: Thorn's Petals...(The title will make better sense when the chapter's finished...If I use that title...^_^)