Chapter Two: An Ethereal Masterpiece
The large rambling estate, which was very obviously their destination, appeared
suddenly from behind thick trees and underbrush. The woods seemed almost afraid to
come any nearer to the mansion. However, in actuality they had probably been cut down
so as to leave the house in a clearing. The ground was covered in patchy grass, which
grew short, and sparingly as far as Sarah could see. Though most of her view was cut off
by waves of hills.
The house itself was quite monstrous, if not a bit mysterious as well. It was
surrounded on all sides by an overdone, black iron fence. Surely this was the impenetrable
fortress, for each thick metal bar was tipped in a fine spear head, as if warning all who
dared consider scaling the gates. However, no matter how uninviting the protective
barrier was, the mansion as a whole was lovely in its old-world style.
Sarah's eyes took in the quaint brick work, and the tracing green ivy that ran over
the entire front of the house. It spoke of elegance to an extreme. She could picture tea
time, being a very regular occurrence in a place such as this. As she watched, the chimney
still spewed forth a rather large amount of snaking gray smoke into the still overcast sky.
The front door was much larger than it should have been, reaching near to twelve feet
from base to top, and had been carved from the most lush piece of rich dark wood she had
ever seen.
Surrounding the estate on all sides was a garden of mass proportions. This was
where the ivy had originated, and from whence it had escaped to take the house as its
prisoner. Still, there was no overgrown quality to the lovely gardens, instead they were
quite orderly and well-cared for. Each plant was meticulously groomed and trimmed to
perfection, so that each solitary bloom stood out as a masterpiece to be observed and
admired.
A cobbled driveway led up to the house, and ended before a garage that, by
obvious proportions, was as large as Sarah's house. Directly before the wooden doors of
the garage, sat an exquisite black carriage, making the entire scene seem like something
from the distant past. She could nearly imagine seeing young women, done up in ornate
ballgowns, sighing over some passing gentlemen as they entertained friends in one of their
many lavish parties. Sarah could not hold in the sigh that the romantic atmosphere
brought to her smiling lips.
It was like a dream come true, to be there at long last. This was where she had
always belonged, to live in a land that was more fairy tale than true. She rested her chin in
her hands and continued to gaze at the house as it drew nearer and nearer. All the while
she took the time to practice her entrance, and exactly what she would say to the man who
had given her all this by simply accepting her as an actress. Sarah was quite worried that
she would be speechless when finally able to confront him.
The car pulled to a gradual stop just outside the gates, giving Sarah even more
time to worry about what they would think of her. She had only to look at the house, and
the carriage, and everything else that made this place so very regal, to understand that she
really did not fit in at all. Actually the closest she had every come to nobility, was, in fact,
defeating the arrogant Goblin King.
"Like that counted for much," Sarah whispered to herself, already hating the way
her voice was shaking in anticipation and fear.
The tinted window, that had since then cut her off from any conversation with the
driver, the same man who had met her at the airport, suddenly came to life and lowered
halfway down. Sarah nearly jumped in shock at the sudden movement, but quickly
composed herself and peered over the darkened glass in attempts to hear what the driver
wanted to tell her.
"Here we are, Miss, Fontridge Manor," the driver said, obviously suspecting that
Sarah had slept the whole way, instead of gazing at the passing scenery.
She raised herself up higher still, so as to actually see the older man that now only
slightly turned enough to utter those few words to her. He was currently waiting for the
enormous gate, ordained with intricate spiraling black metal designs that formed the
initials of the estate: F and M, to open. She cleared her throat, perhaps to get the driver's
attention, but he made no move indicating that he had heard her at all.
"Thank you," Sarah stated, although her discouragement was evident in her voice.
The man nodded slightly, but never once turned or spoke another word. Instead,
he cut any other conversation off rapidly by raising the window back to its rightful place.
Sarah was alone again, and slumped back into the leather seat. It had been a comfortable
way to travel, however the company was not the best. She could only hope that there
would be more talkative people waiting to meet her in the estate. Sarah was determined
to make everything work.
A faint creaking sound broke through the general silence that had encompassed the
car the entire ride to Fontridge Manor. Sarah straightened up and watched as the gate
swung open, seemingly of its own accord. It struck her in a way that she wished it had
not. However, immediately a picture of a large metal door, gigantic even when compared
to the size of some in this estate, closing by itself, came to mind. She was helpless to
recall her time spent in the Labyrinth again, even though it had been the furthest thought
from her mind.
The car immediately started up again, and bumped rather uncomfortably over the
cobbled driveway. The trip had been utterly smooth as glass until that point, but the bit of
annoyance didn't matter. She was at her new home, and could at last be rid of the
choking blanket of silence that still covered the interior of the car in its tightening grips.
For the final time, the car pulled to a stop. Only this time around the engine was
abruptly cut off, and Sarah heard the driver quickly make his way out. The next instant
her own door swung open, revealing the well-groomed man, still silent. She found herself
less interested in him after the 'exciting' talks they had shared.
Yet, she still smiled and allowed him to help her from the car, though Sarah was
quite capable of completing the easy task of her own accord. She didn't mind being
treated so well, for she had never been spoiled since then, and had decided that this would
probably be her only chance at the good life.
"Thank you once again, for the enjoyable ride," she silently hoped that the trace of
sarcasm had not been as evident as it had sounded to herself.
If the driver had noticed anything, he properly ignored it all and continued with his
required duties. With a bit of a rush he securely closed Sarah's door once she had left the
car and went to retrieve her luggage. He was well-trained, that much had to be said for
the silent gentleman. She really wanted to tell him not to be so hasty, for she did not mind
in the least how quickly or slowly he brought her bags back.
Nonetheless, the driver hurried back to her and then motioned towards the front of
the house, perhaps as a way to hurry Sarah along. She was nearly content to marvel over
the exterior of the mansion, and not take the final steps that would mean everything for
her future. There was far too much stress suddenly resting on her shoulders.
With a gulp she strode over to the large, unnerving door and brought a shaking
hand up to the lovely golden knocker that rested directly at eye level. It had been crafted
into a lion's head, holding the large polished ring firmly in its open mouth, fangs keeping it
in place.
"Had to be a knocker," she muttered under her breath as another image from the
labyrinth flashed into her overactive mind.
Sarah shook the thought aside and firmly knocked the ring against the door several
times. The sound echoed through the vast mansion, making the entire experience more
eerie than it ought to have been. She quickly dropped the ring and clasped her hands
together. Sarah stepped away from the door, and near to the driver, who still held her
bags in his hands.
There was no sound to answer the door, and Sarah very nearly allowed herself to
believe that it was possible for no one to be home in such an expansive place. She made
as to try the knocker once more, in hopes that it would be heard this time around. She
didn't really know how someone, perhaps on the other side of the mansion, could hear
such an insignificant and tiny sound. Nonetheless, the next moment, just as her doubt had
reached an overwhelming level, the door suddenly swung open to reveal a woman, dressed
in a casual gray uniform.
Sarah swallowed deeply and attempted to introduce herself to the lady. However,
all she managed to do was raise her still-shaking hand to waist level before rough hands
grasped her arm to lead, or rather haul her through the large door. She tumbled in, nearly
losing her balance twice as her feet caught on a certain rug conveniently placed before the
door.
"You'd be the new girl, I assume," the woman replied as she set Sarah walking
into the room that laid directly ahead.
"Yes, ye...," her voice broke off into a series of awe-struck gasps.
Sarah gazed at the room in which she now stood , and could have simply fainted
dead away. The glorious walls were of supple, rich wood, that reached some twenty feet
overhead. They were ordained with tapestries of such ornate and intricate detailed work,
that Sarah found herself dizzy as she tried to look at the lovely things. Built into the far
wall was a fireplace, nearly large enough to fit a full-size person in its depths, and
surrounding it was the most amazing black marble, polished to perfection, as everything
seemed to be. Even the furniture, crafted from fine velvets and silks and done so in royal
maroon and navy colors, seemed to belong to another time era entirely. She could have
walked back in time the moment she had stepped through the door, just by looking at the
exquisite antiques and fine craftsmanship.
Sarah spun around to look at the gruff woman, obviously a maid if her uniform
told anything about her occupation. Not even the scowl she wore on her face could
dampen Sarah's elated mood. She was in her dream, living out a fairy story that she
thought would never come true, at least not before she had been long dead and gone.
After all, she had believed herself to be dead only a few short years earlier.
"If you mind, Miss," the maid responded and gestured down one of the several
hallways that joined up at this central point.
Sarah sobered up rather quickly, but did not allow her happiness to melt away.
She could act serious even while another part of her wished to be let free, to simply
explore this massive house, that could serve for hours and hours of entertainment. Even
as she walked down the dimly lit corridor, Sarah snatched glances at other passages that
were found in this amazing mansion.
"It's so amazing!" Sarah uttered still in shock from all that she had seen, and was
to witness in the time to come.
The woman guided Sarah ever onward, down one twist and around another turn.
It came to feel so very long, that Sarah believed that they had circled the entire mansion at
least once, and perhaps even twice. However, she had yet to see anything that was even
remotely familiar. As these thoughts passed through her vivid mind, a shimmering light
suddenly pooled around her, and Sarah lifted her eyes to the new scenery.
They had paused in a large circular outlet, in which the hallway had ended. The
ceiling itself was no longer as strikingly high, as it had been in the front room. However,
it still stretched some ten or fifteen feet overhead. Instead of the wood that had since then
been the main substance of which the walls were made, stone now formed this room.
Forged into the very walls were lovely carvings, some as large as the Sarah herself, while
others no bigger than her hand. They depicted every fantasy creature about which Sarah
had ever managed to read. Each one caught the light, streaming from a single white bulb
in the center of the ceiling, and almost came to life. Sarah could very nearly imagine each
and every one breaking through from the rock, to become real in their world.
However, despite the amazing designs in the walls, there was something else that
overshadowed even the most intricate carving. A massive statue took over the majority of
the space, carved from fine, bone-white material, though Sarah could not entirely tell what
the substance was at her vantage point. It was a man, tall and exceptionally handsome in
every aspect of his figure. In his hand was a sword, that was held high overhead, as if
ready to claim some villain's life. His hair drifted off, in some ever present gust of air, that
had caught the model just so as the sculptor worked in this ethereal medium. It flowed
around his head, wild and untamed, the direct opposite when compared to the
well-groomed uniform that adorned the statue's body.
Sarah ignored the gentle, yet persistent tugs on her sleeve. She found herself
unable to go on, at least not until she had seen this man's face. A statue of such
importance, that it received an entire room to itself, and also was granted with a single
white spotlight, would certainly be worth a moment of precious time. It seemed that it
would nearly be a sin to leave such a work of art without taking in all of its beauty.
"It's so fantastic," Sarah whispered, feeling that to speak any louder would
definitely be a sacrilege.
The maid sighed behind her, and muttered some words under her breath. Sarah
heard nothing, for her entire attention rested solely on this figure, which had somehow
struck her as being slightly familiar. It was strange that the feelings of deja-vu should
suddenly leap atop her at this time, in a place she certainly had never been, and had only
dreamed of visiting. Still, she could not shake the feeling that this had happened before,
and perhaps that she had seen all of this at another time.
She shivered despite the strange warmth that surrounded the statue. As she drew
nearer, she could almost feel the temperature change to that of sunny, spring weather.
Sarah wrapped her arms around herself and continued on, taking each step with a certain
anxiety that felt as if it might burst at any time.
"Please, we haven't got all day," the woman demanded, and reached to grab hold
of Sarah once again.
Sarah easily avoided the half-hearted attempt to rush her along and scowled at the
maid. After all, she was the guest here, and deserved to be treated politely. Everyone
seemed to be in a rush. She turned back to the statue and took the final few steps to stand
directly before it.
Her breath caught in her throat, and Sarah felt her vision blur momentarily. She
took several shaking steps away from the image that had suddenly appeared before her.
Her very world threatened to pull apart at the seams, and leave her alone in blackness as
consciousness slipped further and further away from her grasping hands.
The sight could not be, but it had existed. It was something that technically just
should not appear in a mansion, in England, far away from any frightening experiences she
had had as a young teenager. This was her new start, not a return to the past. Still, Sarah
could not deny, nor make the face fade away to something that would not be familiar.
It was Jareth. She could not dispute the fact that the Goblin King somehow had a
statue in this mansion where she would be remaining for quite some time. Fate was cruel,
and her life suddenly felt as if it had been pulled back into the times of fantasy and a cursed
leather-bound book.
Sarah looked up once again and saw his eyes, those that she had witnessed so
many times, gazing right back at her. His face was cold, and set, nearly cruel in the artist's
depiction. Yet, upon his mouth was the slightest smirk, making one believe that this man
could have very well been sly, conniving, pretty much everything Jareth was in reality.
Two powerful hands gripped Sarah shoulder's painfully and drew her from her
dazed state. She looked at the maid with a dumb stupor, that still hung over her entire
mind. There was no way to explain it, and so she was helpless to mentally stutter in
uncertainty filled with scores of questions. Surely she seemed mad, and that was evident
in the way the stern woman stared her dead in the eye and tried to get through the dulled
look in Sarah's gaze.
"Miss, are you well?" the woman questioned, all the while shaking Sarah to bring
her back to the real world.
Sarah slowly drew her hand to her head and rubbed it. The best thing she could do
would be to leave the room entirely, and put as much distance between herself and the
statue as possible. She could not be near it any longer, in fear that the darker events in her
past might very well resurface with 'him.' She pushed herself away from the maid and
stumbled through the door that had been opened and waiting for her.
Sarah pulled the heavy wooden door closed behind herself, forgetting entirely
about the flustered woman that was left in the circular room along with that haunting
statue. She instead leaned against the smooth, polished surface of the door and closed her
burning eyes, trying in vain to hide from horrid anxiety that washed over her in choking
waves.
"Sarah?" a refined voice questioned from somewhere further in the room she had
been using as refuge.
Her eyes immediately snapped open in shock. The voice, though she did know
better, actually had sounded a bit like a certain Goblin King. Perhaps it had been the
wrong choice to go somewhere, where every last person held the same accent as Jareth.
Though, there was something about him that was strangely different from the normal
British sound. Sarah shook the thoughts from her mind and focused on the person who
had spoken.
Her gaze instantly met with that of a man, extraordinarily debonair and quite
handsome as well. He had light, almost tawny colored hair, and amazing green eyes that
shimmered in the lamp light. He seemed like someone who should perhaps always wear a
suite, yet he was dressed casually, in jeans and a plain hunter sweater.
She forced herself away from the support offered by the sturdy door, and nearer to
the desk. There was no need to make this stranger believe that she was crazy. Yet, at that
moment Sarah herself was beginning to doubt her sanity once again.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I don't know who you are," Sarah responded with a warm,
strained smile.
The man rose from his seat and shook Sarah's hand firmly in his own. He was
possibly in his early thirties, but still Sarah was helpless to not feel a strange alluring
attraction to him. She suppressed a sigh, and quickly sat in the chair that was then offered
to her.
"At last there is a face to put to the name. I was curious as to how Linda's
daughter would look," the man responded, a bright smile passing over his features as he
spoke.
Sarah blushed and looked down at her tightly, interlocked hands. She was not
accustomed to any of this lifestyle. There would be time in the future to grow more
comfortable, and that was all she could tell herself to boost her courage. After all, she did
not have time to be shy, considering that all too soon she would be working with quite a
few strange people, and would have to get used to them quickly.
She raised her eyes, and found them locked with the man's. For just a moment,
they remained that way, until Sarah averted her gaze to the bookshelf that lined the wall
directly behind this stranger. Familiar feelings washed over her, those that had not been
truly felt since her time spent in a land filled with slightly warped fairy tales, and an
entirely seductive Goblin King.
"Forgive me for being rude, I've forgotten that you still don't know me. I'm Peter
King, and I sent for you to replace an actress who had suddenly taken quite ill," he
remarked.
A light dawned in Sarah's shimmering chestnut eyes. She could not have felt more
dimwitted than she had at that moment. This man had been considered her savior in her
imagination for several weeks. In fact, the moment she had heard of the opportunity, this
stranger had transformed into a figure only slightly less amazing than a God. Now she sat
before him, and was speechless.
"An actress that cannot utter a single word, great," Sarah thought in her flustered
state.
However, she could not force her frozen vocal chords to obey her commands of
speech. She was helpless to sit there and gape, in awe and stunned silence, as Peter
watched this new addition with a sort of scrutinizing worry. Sarah could have very well
been caught in a whirlpool of images and catches of intelligent conversation that simply
spun about in her over-active mind, refusing to do anything except taunt her.
With a burst of hope, a single figure broke through the chaos. A perfectly sculpted
ethereal, white masterpiece, the same that she had seen in the hallway, shone as if a ray of
guiding light instead of the blight on humanity she had originally taken the statue to be.
Yet, it certainly did offer a topic of conversation that would break the unnerving silence,
and perhaps convince Peter that Sarah herself was not entirely crazy, and had not been a
bad decision.
"I noticed that statue in the hallway," the words burst from her mouth, a bit to
rushed to sound normal, but at least it had been something. She could work with it from
there.
At the mention of the artwork, Peter immediately rose to his feet. A strange,
knowing smile passed over his features as he walked casually towards the still closed door.
He meant to open it, to perhaps point out certain details in the statue that Sarah had not
noticed in her horror of revelation, when at last she had seen the true identity of the
masterpiece. She yearned to scream, to grab him back and prevent the final steps that
would lead to her inescapable breakdown. However, it was too late.
"It is my pride and joy," Peter declared, and flung the large door aside so that the
image of perfection crafted into purity made solid, was shown.
Sarah glanced at it, but only for the briefest moment. She did not want to seem
rude, especially after being the fool to bring up the statue in the first place. If she had
been thinking correctly then perhaps this entire topic would have remained hidden away by
the blanket of silence.
Peter was obviously not satisfied with her half-hearted interest. He paused at the
door and fixed Sarah with his stern gaze. After all, she had shown interest, and now
seemed only yearning to leave this entire estate as soon as possible. She smiled in
response to his unspoken questions and rose to gradually force herself back to the damn
thing.
"No one knows who it is, or from whence it came. I discovered it one day in the
old ruins, and since then it has remained in the room, surrounded by fantasy. It truly
appears to be one of the Fae," Peter stated as he ran a hand across the rough base upon
which it stood.
Sarah gazed at the wild, flowing mane of hair, frozen in one spot for all of eternity.
It seemed wrong for such a one as Jareth to be inanimate, though she knew very well that
the Goblin King himself certainly was very active at that moment. He probably would
have adored the statue, considering his massive ego.
Sarah tried in vain to avoid the statue's gaze, though was unable to stop herself
from peering upwards and into the regal face. Once again she felt her heart sink, and her
breath catch short several times. Sarah backed from the masterpiece, for the second time
that day, in utter and complete horror. This time she was certain that consciousness
would escape her, and she would simply pass out on the ground, in front of Peter.
However, she had every reason to faint. For the statue had changed, had altered
severely from its original appearance. Jareth was still the figure, but his face was far more
youthful, and not hardened by the trials of ruling a kingdom. In fact, instead of the
taunting grin he had earlier displayed, now he held a seriousness that would only be
evident in well-brought up youths.
"Sarah!" a voice called.
The next instant there were hands on her shoulders, trying to shake her back to
reality. It was by far too late to save her from the comforts of darkness, where nothing
hurts. She would be safe there, far from the knowing gaze of certain fantasy creations that
continued to haunt her life.
As she drifted away, and felt herself fall into strong arms, a name laid poised on
her paled lips. It floated forth, and covered her every thought as the nothingness
destroyed all else, leaving her alone.
"Jareth."
The large rambling estate, which was very obviously their destination, appeared
suddenly from behind thick trees and underbrush. The woods seemed almost afraid to
come any nearer to the mansion. However, in actuality they had probably been cut down
so as to leave the house in a clearing. The ground was covered in patchy grass, which
grew short, and sparingly as far as Sarah could see. Though most of her view was cut off
by waves of hills.
The house itself was quite monstrous, if not a bit mysterious as well. It was
surrounded on all sides by an overdone, black iron fence. Surely this was the impenetrable
fortress, for each thick metal bar was tipped in a fine spear head, as if warning all who
dared consider scaling the gates. However, no matter how uninviting the protective
barrier was, the mansion as a whole was lovely in its old-world style.
Sarah's eyes took in the quaint brick work, and the tracing green ivy that ran over
the entire front of the house. It spoke of elegance to an extreme. She could picture tea
time, being a very regular occurrence in a place such as this. As she watched, the chimney
still spewed forth a rather large amount of snaking gray smoke into the still overcast sky.
The front door was much larger than it should have been, reaching near to twelve feet
from base to top, and had been carved from the most lush piece of rich dark wood she had
ever seen.
Surrounding the estate on all sides was a garden of mass proportions. This was
where the ivy had originated, and from whence it had escaped to take the house as its
prisoner. Still, there was no overgrown quality to the lovely gardens, instead they were
quite orderly and well-cared for. Each plant was meticulously groomed and trimmed to
perfection, so that each solitary bloom stood out as a masterpiece to be observed and
admired.
A cobbled driveway led up to the house, and ended before a garage that, by
obvious proportions, was as large as Sarah's house. Directly before the wooden doors of
the garage, sat an exquisite black carriage, making the entire scene seem like something
from the distant past. She could nearly imagine seeing young women, done up in ornate
ballgowns, sighing over some passing gentlemen as they entertained friends in one of their
many lavish parties. Sarah could not hold in the sigh that the romantic atmosphere
brought to her smiling lips.
It was like a dream come true, to be there at long last. This was where she had
always belonged, to live in a land that was more fairy tale than true. She rested her chin in
her hands and continued to gaze at the house as it drew nearer and nearer. All the while
she took the time to practice her entrance, and exactly what she would say to the man who
had given her all this by simply accepting her as an actress. Sarah was quite worried that
she would be speechless when finally able to confront him.
The car pulled to a gradual stop just outside the gates, giving Sarah even more
time to worry about what they would think of her. She had only to look at the house, and
the carriage, and everything else that made this place so very regal, to understand that she
really did not fit in at all. Actually the closest she had every come to nobility, was, in fact,
defeating the arrogant Goblin King.
"Like that counted for much," Sarah whispered to herself, already hating the way
her voice was shaking in anticipation and fear.
The tinted window, that had since then cut her off from any conversation with the
driver, the same man who had met her at the airport, suddenly came to life and lowered
halfway down. Sarah nearly jumped in shock at the sudden movement, but quickly
composed herself and peered over the darkened glass in attempts to hear what the driver
wanted to tell her.
"Here we are, Miss, Fontridge Manor," the driver said, obviously suspecting that
Sarah had slept the whole way, instead of gazing at the passing scenery.
She raised herself up higher still, so as to actually see the older man that now only
slightly turned enough to utter those few words to her. He was currently waiting for the
enormous gate, ordained with intricate spiraling black metal designs that formed the
initials of the estate: F and M, to open. She cleared her throat, perhaps to get the driver's
attention, but he made no move indicating that he had heard her at all.
"Thank you," Sarah stated, although her discouragement was evident in her voice.
The man nodded slightly, but never once turned or spoke another word. Instead,
he cut any other conversation off rapidly by raising the window back to its rightful place.
Sarah was alone again, and slumped back into the leather seat. It had been a comfortable
way to travel, however the company was not the best. She could only hope that there
would be more talkative people waiting to meet her in the estate. Sarah was determined
to make everything work.
A faint creaking sound broke through the general silence that had encompassed the
car the entire ride to Fontridge Manor. Sarah straightened up and watched as the gate
swung open, seemingly of its own accord. It struck her in a way that she wished it had
not. However, immediately a picture of a large metal door, gigantic even when compared
to the size of some in this estate, closing by itself, came to mind. She was helpless to
recall her time spent in the Labyrinth again, even though it had been the furthest thought
from her mind.
The car immediately started up again, and bumped rather uncomfortably over the
cobbled driveway. The trip had been utterly smooth as glass until that point, but the bit of
annoyance didn't matter. She was at her new home, and could at last be rid of the
choking blanket of silence that still covered the interior of the car in its tightening grips.
For the final time, the car pulled to a stop. Only this time around the engine was
abruptly cut off, and Sarah heard the driver quickly make his way out. The next instant
her own door swung open, revealing the well-groomed man, still silent. She found herself
less interested in him after the 'exciting' talks they had shared.
Yet, she still smiled and allowed him to help her from the car, though Sarah was
quite capable of completing the easy task of her own accord. She didn't mind being
treated so well, for she had never been spoiled since then, and had decided that this would
probably be her only chance at the good life.
"Thank you once again, for the enjoyable ride," she silently hoped that the trace of
sarcasm had not been as evident as it had sounded to herself.
If the driver had noticed anything, he properly ignored it all and continued with his
required duties. With a bit of a rush he securely closed Sarah's door once she had left the
car and went to retrieve her luggage. He was well-trained, that much had to be said for
the silent gentleman. She really wanted to tell him not to be so hasty, for she did not mind
in the least how quickly or slowly he brought her bags back.
Nonetheless, the driver hurried back to her and then motioned towards the front of
the house, perhaps as a way to hurry Sarah along. She was nearly content to marvel over
the exterior of the mansion, and not take the final steps that would mean everything for
her future. There was far too much stress suddenly resting on her shoulders.
With a gulp she strode over to the large, unnerving door and brought a shaking
hand up to the lovely golden knocker that rested directly at eye level. It had been crafted
into a lion's head, holding the large polished ring firmly in its open mouth, fangs keeping it
in place.
"Had to be a knocker," she muttered under her breath as another image from the
labyrinth flashed into her overactive mind.
Sarah shook the thought aside and firmly knocked the ring against the door several
times. The sound echoed through the vast mansion, making the entire experience more
eerie than it ought to have been. She quickly dropped the ring and clasped her hands
together. Sarah stepped away from the door, and near to the driver, who still held her
bags in his hands.
There was no sound to answer the door, and Sarah very nearly allowed herself to
believe that it was possible for no one to be home in such an expansive place. She made
as to try the knocker once more, in hopes that it would be heard this time around. She
didn't really know how someone, perhaps on the other side of the mansion, could hear
such an insignificant and tiny sound. Nonetheless, the next moment, just as her doubt had
reached an overwhelming level, the door suddenly swung open to reveal a woman, dressed
in a casual gray uniform.
Sarah swallowed deeply and attempted to introduce herself to the lady. However,
all she managed to do was raise her still-shaking hand to waist level before rough hands
grasped her arm to lead, or rather haul her through the large door. She tumbled in, nearly
losing her balance twice as her feet caught on a certain rug conveniently placed before the
door.
"You'd be the new girl, I assume," the woman replied as she set Sarah walking
into the room that laid directly ahead.
"Yes, ye...," her voice broke off into a series of awe-struck gasps.
Sarah gazed at the room in which she now stood , and could have simply fainted
dead away. The glorious walls were of supple, rich wood, that reached some twenty feet
overhead. They were ordained with tapestries of such ornate and intricate detailed work,
that Sarah found herself dizzy as she tried to look at the lovely things. Built into the far
wall was a fireplace, nearly large enough to fit a full-size person in its depths, and
surrounding it was the most amazing black marble, polished to perfection, as everything
seemed to be. Even the furniture, crafted from fine velvets and silks and done so in royal
maroon and navy colors, seemed to belong to another time era entirely. She could have
walked back in time the moment she had stepped through the door, just by looking at the
exquisite antiques and fine craftsmanship.
Sarah spun around to look at the gruff woman, obviously a maid if her uniform
told anything about her occupation. Not even the scowl she wore on her face could
dampen Sarah's elated mood. She was in her dream, living out a fairy story that she
thought would never come true, at least not before she had been long dead and gone.
After all, she had believed herself to be dead only a few short years earlier.
"If you mind, Miss," the maid responded and gestured down one of the several
hallways that joined up at this central point.
Sarah sobered up rather quickly, but did not allow her happiness to melt away.
She could act serious even while another part of her wished to be let free, to simply
explore this massive house, that could serve for hours and hours of entertainment. Even
as she walked down the dimly lit corridor, Sarah snatched glances at other passages that
were found in this amazing mansion.
"It's so amazing!" Sarah uttered still in shock from all that she had seen, and was
to witness in the time to come.
The woman guided Sarah ever onward, down one twist and around another turn.
It came to feel so very long, that Sarah believed that they had circled the entire mansion at
least once, and perhaps even twice. However, she had yet to see anything that was even
remotely familiar. As these thoughts passed through her vivid mind, a shimmering light
suddenly pooled around her, and Sarah lifted her eyes to the new scenery.
They had paused in a large circular outlet, in which the hallway had ended. The
ceiling itself was no longer as strikingly high, as it had been in the front room. However,
it still stretched some ten or fifteen feet overhead. Instead of the wood that had since then
been the main substance of which the walls were made, stone now formed this room.
Forged into the very walls were lovely carvings, some as large as the Sarah herself, while
others no bigger than her hand. They depicted every fantasy creature about which Sarah
had ever managed to read. Each one caught the light, streaming from a single white bulb
in the center of the ceiling, and almost came to life. Sarah could very nearly imagine each
and every one breaking through from the rock, to become real in their world.
However, despite the amazing designs in the walls, there was something else that
overshadowed even the most intricate carving. A massive statue took over the majority of
the space, carved from fine, bone-white material, though Sarah could not entirely tell what
the substance was at her vantage point. It was a man, tall and exceptionally handsome in
every aspect of his figure. In his hand was a sword, that was held high overhead, as if
ready to claim some villain's life. His hair drifted off, in some ever present gust of air, that
had caught the model just so as the sculptor worked in this ethereal medium. It flowed
around his head, wild and untamed, the direct opposite when compared to the
well-groomed uniform that adorned the statue's body.
Sarah ignored the gentle, yet persistent tugs on her sleeve. She found herself
unable to go on, at least not until she had seen this man's face. A statue of such
importance, that it received an entire room to itself, and also was granted with a single
white spotlight, would certainly be worth a moment of precious time. It seemed that it
would nearly be a sin to leave such a work of art without taking in all of its beauty.
"It's so fantastic," Sarah whispered, feeling that to speak any louder would
definitely be a sacrilege.
The maid sighed behind her, and muttered some words under her breath. Sarah
heard nothing, for her entire attention rested solely on this figure, which had somehow
struck her as being slightly familiar. It was strange that the feelings of deja-vu should
suddenly leap atop her at this time, in a place she certainly had never been, and had only
dreamed of visiting. Still, she could not shake the feeling that this had happened before,
and perhaps that she had seen all of this at another time.
She shivered despite the strange warmth that surrounded the statue. As she drew
nearer, she could almost feel the temperature change to that of sunny, spring weather.
Sarah wrapped her arms around herself and continued on, taking each step with a certain
anxiety that felt as if it might burst at any time.
"Please, we haven't got all day," the woman demanded, and reached to grab hold
of Sarah once again.
Sarah easily avoided the half-hearted attempt to rush her along and scowled at the
maid. After all, she was the guest here, and deserved to be treated politely. Everyone
seemed to be in a rush. She turned back to the statue and took the final few steps to stand
directly before it.
Her breath caught in her throat, and Sarah felt her vision blur momentarily. She
took several shaking steps away from the image that had suddenly appeared before her.
Her very world threatened to pull apart at the seams, and leave her alone in blackness as
consciousness slipped further and further away from her grasping hands.
The sight could not be, but it had existed. It was something that technically just
should not appear in a mansion, in England, far away from any frightening experiences she
had had as a young teenager. This was her new start, not a return to the past. Still, Sarah
could not deny, nor make the face fade away to something that would not be familiar.
It was Jareth. She could not dispute the fact that the Goblin King somehow had a
statue in this mansion where she would be remaining for quite some time. Fate was cruel,
and her life suddenly felt as if it had been pulled back into the times of fantasy and a cursed
leather-bound book.
Sarah looked up once again and saw his eyes, those that she had witnessed so
many times, gazing right back at her. His face was cold, and set, nearly cruel in the artist's
depiction. Yet, upon his mouth was the slightest smirk, making one believe that this man
could have very well been sly, conniving, pretty much everything Jareth was in reality.
Two powerful hands gripped Sarah shoulder's painfully and drew her from her
dazed state. She looked at the maid with a dumb stupor, that still hung over her entire
mind. There was no way to explain it, and so she was helpless to mentally stutter in
uncertainty filled with scores of questions. Surely she seemed mad, and that was evident
in the way the stern woman stared her dead in the eye and tried to get through the dulled
look in Sarah's gaze.
"Miss, are you well?" the woman questioned, all the while shaking Sarah to bring
her back to the real world.
Sarah slowly drew her hand to her head and rubbed it. The best thing she could do
would be to leave the room entirely, and put as much distance between herself and the
statue as possible. She could not be near it any longer, in fear that the darker events in her
past might very well resurface with 'him.' She pushed herself away from the maid and
stumbled through the door that had been opened and waiting for her.
Sarah pulled the heavy wooden door closed behind herself, forgetting entirely
about the flustered woman that was left in the circular room along with that haunting
statue. She instead leaned against the smooth, polished surface of the door and closed her
burning eyes, trying in vain to hide from horrid anxiety that washed over her in choking
waves.
"Sarah?" a refined voice questioned from somewhere further in the room she had
been using as refuge.
Her eyes immediately snapped open in shock. The voice, though she did know
better, actually had sounded a bit like a certain Goblin King. Perhaps it had been the
wrong choice to go somewhere, where every last person held the same accent as Jareth.
Though, there was something about him that was strangely different from the normal
British sound. Sarah shook the thoughts from her mind and focused on the person who
had spoken.
Her gaze instantly met with that of a man, extraordinarily debonair and quite
handsome as well. He had light, almost tawny colored hair, and amazing green eyes that
shimmered in the lamp light. He seemed like someone who should perhaps always wear a
suite, yet he was dressed casually, in jeans and a plain hunter sweater.
She forced herself away from the support offered by the sturdy door, and nearer to
the desk. There was no need to make this stranger believe that she was crazy. Yet, at that
moment Sarah herself was beginning to doubt her sanity once again.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I don't know who you are," Sarah responded with a warm,
strained smile.
The man rose from his seat and shook Sarah's hand firmly in his own. He was
possibly in his early thirties, but still Sarah was helpless to not feel a strange alluring
attraction to him. She suppressed a sigh, and quickly sat in the chair that was then offered
to her.
"At last there is a face to put to the name. I was curious as to how Linda's
daughter would look," the man responded, a bright smile passing over his features as he
spoke.
Sarah blushed and looked down at her tightly, interlocked hands. She was not
accustomed to any of this lifestyle. There would be time in the future to grow more
comfortable, and that was all she could tell herself to boost her courage. After all, she did
not have time to be shy, considering that all too soon she would be working with quite a
few strange people, and would have to get used to them quickly.
She raised her eyes, and found them locked with the man's. For just a moment,
they remained that way, until Sarah averted her gaze to the bookshelf that lined the wall
directly behind this stranger. Familiar feelings washed over her, those that had not been
truly felt since her time spent in a land filled with slightly warped fairy tales, and an
entirely seductive Goblin King.
"Forgive me for being rude, I've forgotten that you still don't know me. I'm Peter
King, and I sent for you to replace an actress who had suddenly taken quite ill," he
remarked.
A light dawned in Sarah's shimmering chestnut eyes. She could not have felt more
dimwitted than she had at that moment. This man had been considered her savior in her
imagination for several weeks. In fact, the moment she had heard of the opportunity, this
stranger had transformed into a figure only slightly less amazing than a God. Now she sat
before him, and was speechless.
"An actress that cannot utter a single word, great," Sarah thought in her flustered
state.
However, she could not force her frozen vocal chords to obey her commands of
speech. She was helpless to sit there and gape, in awe and stunned silence, as Peter
watched this new addition with a sort of scrutinizing worry. Sarah could have very well
been caught in a whirlpool of images and catches of intelligent conversation that simply
spun about in her over-active mind, refusing to do anything except taunt her.
With a burst of hope, a single figure broke through the chaos. A perfectly sculpted
ethereal, white masterpiece, the same that she had seen in the hallway, shone as if a ray of
guiding light instead of the blight on humanity she had originally taken the statue to be.
Yet, it certainly did offer a topic of conversation that would break the unnerving silence,
and perhaps convince Peter that Sarah herself was not entirely crazy, and had not been a
bad decision.
"I noticed that statue in the hallway," the words burst from her mouth, a bit to
rushed to sound normal, but at least it had been something. She could work with it from
there.
At the mention of the artwork, Peter immediately rose to his feet. A strange,
knowing smile passed over his features as he walked casually towards the still closed door.
He meant to open it, to perhaps point out certain details in the statue that Sarah had not
noticed in her horror of revelation, when at last she had seen the true identity of the
masterpiece. She yearned to scream, to grab him back and prevent the final steps that
would lead to her inescapable breakdown. However, it was too late.
"It is my pride and joy," Peter declared, and flung the large door aside so that the
image of perfection crafted into purity made solid, was shown.
Sarah glanced at it, but only for the briefest moment. She did not want to seem
rude, especially after being the fool to bring up the statue in the first place. If she had
been thinking correctly then perhaps this entire topic would have remained hidden away by
the blanket of silence.
Peter was obviously not satisfied with her half-hearted interest. He paused at the
door and fixed Sarah with his stern gaze. After all, she had shown interest, and now
seemed only yearning to leave this entire estate as soon as possible. She smiled in
response to his unspoken questions and rose to gradually force herself back to the damn
thing.
"No one knows who it is, or from whence it came. I discovered it one day in the
old ruins, and since then it has remained in the room, surrounded by fantasy. It truly
appears to be one of the Fae," Peter stated as he ran a hand across the rough base upon
which it stood.
Sarah gazed at the wild, flowing mane of hair, frozen in one spot for all of eternity.
It seemed wrong for such a one as Jareth to be inanimate, though she knew very well that
the Goblin King himself certainly was very active at that moment. He probably would
have adored the statue, considering his massive ego.
Sarah tried in vain to avoid the statue's gaze, though was unable to stop herself
from peering upwards and into the regal face. Once again she felt her heart sink, and her
breath catch short several times. Sarah backed from the masterpiece, for the second time
that day, in utter and complete horror. This time she was certain that consciousness
would escape her, and she would simply pass out on the ground, in front of Peter.
However, she had every reason to faint. For the statue had changed, had altered
severely from its original appearance. Jareth was still the figure, but his face was far more
youthful, and not hardened by the trials of ruling a kingdom. In fact, instead of the
taunting grin he had earlier displayed, now he held a seriousness that would only be
evident in well-brought up youths.
"Sarah!" a voice called.
The next instant there were hands on her shoulders, trying to shake her back to
reality. It was by far too late to save her from the comforts of darkness, where nothing
hurts. She would be safe there, far from the knowing gaze of certain fantasy creations that
continued to haunt her life.
As she drifted away, and felt herself fall into strong arms, a name laid poised on
her paled lips. It floated forth, and covered her every thought as the nothingness
destroyed all else, leaving her alone.
"Jareth."
