okay, i know i took even longer between this chapter and the last, but not by choice. i signed in all ready to upload---and FF.net was kind of dead :( i hope they get their problems straightened out soon. i would hate for this site to disappear permanently. *shudders* anyway, the 'R' rating is definitely more evident in this chapter, and this is quite a loooong chapter (compared to the previous ones). it's also unedited, so expect mistakes. i think that's everything. Oh! about halfway through i make a reference to Alice's Adventures Underground/Alice in Wonderland, it shouldn't be too hard to spot ^_~
Title: Twice Upon A Time
Author: Loki
Rating: R, mostly for language.
Disclaimer: all standard ones apply.
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Chapter Four: A Kiss Is A Kiss
"Well, if this isn't a surprise." She shoved Jareth's covers away and sat up. She glanced around the room, finding it oddly quiet. Not just that---still. When he was there, she could very nearly feel his presence humming in the air. It's just the way he carries himself. See, no magic. He wasn't there. She cocked her head a moment and wondered where he could possibly be. Oh no, I am not going to think that way. I am not! I don't care why he's not here! She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and tried to straighten some of the wrinkles out of her jeans. The gowns had to go, she wasn't taking that chance anymore. Besides, you don't appear before the opposite sex in your nightclothes. Even if he is the Goblin King, especially because he is the Goblin King.
Light was coming in, pale and turning something so common as dust into showers of diamantine glitter. Sarah combed the tangles out of her hair with her fingers and approached the tall window. As yet she had not seen the view, there had been no time. She had been too busy defending herself and her virtue. That word stuck in her throat all wrong, like a bitter laugh. Too odd. Still too odd. Placing her hands on smooth stone she leaned out far enough to get a taste of exactly where she was. The stone was strangely cool beneathe her hand and the wind came in lazy currents, weaving through her hair and carrying the sound of distant chimes. She was several stories from the ground, but heights had never bothered her. Just below, kneeling at the foot of the castle was the Goblin City. Empty when she had came to it, it was now busy with whatever life goblins had. She watched it in quiet fascination a moment then cast her eyes farther, out over the Labyrinth. From the window she could see things that she had somehow missed. Dangers, but gardens too. And pools that tossed light back like mirrors. Everything seemed at ends in harmony. Just like its King, she mused silently.
Sarah perched expertly upon the ledge, unconcerned with the dangerous drop laid out before her. She studied the little creatures that scurried---skipped and tripped, picked themselves up and laughed at their good fortune. What *do* goblins do? They seem happy enough . . .She pushed herself out of the window and began to wander about the room. Without Jareth there she seemed at a loss for what to do. You're just getting too used to arguing with him. Not a good sign, old girl. Her absent hand trailed over the door, the curious one that she supposed led to any number of hidden secrets. Well. She twisted the knob and pulled with all her might. It was surprisingly light, wrenched open and nearly sent her tumbling back. But she straightened and peered cautiously in, ready to bolt if anything so much as glanced in her direction.
"Oh my." She didn't think such a room could exist in such a castle. She was so pissed off at Jareth for the appreciation she felt welling up. Clear water poured from the hands of a beautiful crystal statue into a pool seemingly lined in the same crystal. Stepping into the room and closer she suddenly realized that it was some kind of bath. She could see the drain nestled subtly in the bottom, carrying away the water even as the crystal woman draped in her crystal sari continued to pour. It looked delicious, to say the least. She was going to hurt Jareth for possessing such beauty. I want to touch it. Without further thought Sarah began tracing her fingers over the woman's cool features, her hands shook slightly and she felt a whispering pain rise into her throat from some place more mythic. It was so beautiful, and she hated being so affected.
The water bubbled in mild tides. She turned her attention to it next. It looked cool and soothing and sweet, if appearances could be measured in such ways. She trailed her fingertips through it and found it was oddly warm. She glanced around but could not find out how this was. I want to feel it. But the opposite wall was proving to be rather bothersome. A long mirror was set, it seemed, in the very stone. Its mere presence unnerved her something fierce, for mirrors were always realms of magic in so many faerie tales. Why should she believe it any different here? She hurried into the adjoining room and returned with the sheet tucked into her arms. It took some work but she finally managed to cover the reflective glass, pushing the ends of the sheet into the very stone grooves that the mirror was cradled in. She stood and studied it a moment with her hands loose on her hips. No corner peaked through, all was well.
Pushing the door closed she took her inspection further, walked around the statue and found what was just in her head. A silver tray ornamented with small crystal decanters of what she guessed were soaps and shampoos. They smelled heavenly of netherworld flowers and more exotic fruits, citrus and ginger spice. Was that a hint of lavender? She placed the tray down beside the sparkling pool, the crystal vessels casting rainbow-like shadows on the white stone. She couldn't believe what she was about to do, but had known she would as soon as the warm water had trickled over her fingers. She removed her clothes and folded them neatly before placing them against the door, which was a safe distance from the bath. She slipped into the water, under it and felt all her muscles unwinding to greet it. The bath was big enough that she could stretch every limb and not touch sides, deep enough that she could rest on her knees and have water up to her waist. She did none of these things, relaxed back and studied the crystal statue.
Perhaps an hour passed, perhaps not. She groped for the scented 'shampoos' and chose one of an exceptionally pleasing shade of amber. Its aroma was just as agreeable, a mixture of what she guessed was honeysuckle and roses. She rinsed her hair and watched with simple wonder as the sullied water was carried away and replaced in a constant cycle. She could have stayed there hours, but it wasn't to be. With a decided push she stepped out of the water and watched it stream from her body. She didn't have a towel, but she would make do. She grasped an edge of the sheet and quickly draped it around her. It trailed the floor and revealed the mirror, but she felt safe. She was wrapped several times within its folds and completely concealed. Of course, that left the problem of getting dressed with the mirror bare and beautiful against the wall. No problem. She picked up her clothes, pulled the sheet over her as a sort of tent and carefully began pulling them on. Distantly she wished she had another change. They weren't dirty, but that wasn't the point. Clothes in place and the silver tray back where it was before, she stood before the mirror and herself.
"Now how does this work," she smiled slightly. "Mirror mirror on the wall . . ." She stared silently for long moments, not bothering to continue, then turned on her heel and went back into the room. She made certain to close the door behind her and inspected the chamber critically. Besides the damp sheet that was wrapped and folded haphazardly in her arms, all was the same. She had half-expected his majesty to make an appearance while she indulged in his bath. Oh gods, if this is his room than that *is* his bath. I want my own bed now! I don't want to wake up in his anymore!
She laid the sheet upon the floor beside the bed and sat down. Again the thought came: where is he? What's taking so long? And---why should I care? Well, I don't. She ran her fingers through her wet hair once more. For Jareth's room it didn't seem lived in, but she supposed he had a study and a library for that, etc. It was nice enough, and she loved the view. But she was getting bored waiting for the minutes to pass. Some seduction! It was in her understanding that seducing someone meant interacting with them, on some level at least. She stood and paced from one end to the next. She wanted to know where he was, why he wasn't bothering her. Stop that! Stop that now! The last thing you need is a relieved sigh when he finally does appear. She ceased her agitated pace and swept to the window. The scenery had not changed, she did not know why she had expected it too. I have to do something. I have to get out of this room. And just like that the decision was made. She didn't even bother being cautious as she approached the door. She flung it open and stepped into the dim corridor, glancing one way and then another. Queen, huh? Let's see my Kingdom then. One way darkened, one way dimmed. I'll take the dark way because it seems more forbidding, and I've learned that the Labyrinth likes its games. Just like its King, she mused yet again.
"Maybe I was wrong," she said twenty minutes later. The dark hadn't given way at any point. It seemed to stretch on and on forever. There were doors that led to rooms, doors that were locked, even a door that had opened into another set of doors. She had left that one quickly alone, a soft light had pulsed menacingly around its edges. Her curiosity DID have limits.
Soon the corridor came to a stop before four doors. She glanced between them, but they all faced her the same. Each had what looked to be an odd 7 seven carved into the very wood, not in patient strokes, but sharp, erratic ones. "Curiouser and curiouser," she absently echoed the words of yet another girl lost in a world of magic. Come to think of it . . .that too was called the Underground.
"Okay, which door reveals the beautiful maid, and which harbours the tiger?" She went to each door and listened. One held the songs of birds. Another whispered of fierce winds. Yet another muffled feral growls. And the last was silence beyond all else. The birds sounded heavenly, the silence---promising. But she swiftly dismissed both. Too sweet, too convenient. The safest path is probably the most dangerous. Which would make the most dangerous . . .She had already moved to stand between the winds and the growls. The problem was, they were both equally frightening. She turned one way and then the other. She tried to imagine the fierce beast that should accompany such snarls, the feel of heated claws ripping through her gut, but it was the wind that kept sucking her back. As a child, Sarah had once seen a tornado---miles, and now years away, but still one of her most distinct memories. She didn't know why it had so terrified her. Maybe it had been nature's reassertion. Maybe it had been the exact moment she had realized her mortality, and how utterly small she really was in the world. She still dreamed of that whirling, roaring wind, one of her two personal nightmares. The other? As odd as wandering about lost in a hotel that never seemed to end.
The growls appeared to fade, as did her fear of them. She grasped the knob of the Gale, and with one final deep breath, wrenched it open. Immediately the wind swept out in a fury of noise and pulled her in, she screamed. Screamed as the winds swallowed her. "Jareth!"
Just as suddenly she was standing in the centre of Jareth's chamber. The abruptness of the change sent her off-balance and tumbling back, but before she could slip to the floor someone's arms tightened around her waist. She knew it was Jareth, she knew it was his arms and his breast that she had basically fallen into.
"You little idiot!" he shouted, sounding so much like the Jareth of The Game that it was nearly a comfort. His arms were tight---she almost couldn't breathe. And, as if he couldn't quite understand it himself, he let her go. Backed away. He regained his composure much quicker than she did. She watched the anger and impatience flicker in his eyes as he waited for her to come to terms with all that had happened in the last minute or so. With weak legs she stumbled to the bed and fell upon it, stared at the ceiling and remembered how to breathe. Okay, it's just an irate Goblin King, nothing special. Right. She wasn't certain if an explanation would work, maybe it would be safer if she just crawled under the bed and refused to come out?
"You can't expect me to sit up here for hours and be content with it!" When confronted with someone who truly possesses powerful magic---it always pays to piss them off. Sarah inwardly groaned. Why did he always bring the worst in her out?
"And you can't just wander about and open any door that takes your fancy! Sarah, there are forbidden magics at work here that CANNOT be played with!"
She stared for what seemed like a pinch of eternity. "I'm sorry," she said finally, as his eyes widened. Sarah hated apologizing, and the idea of ever having to apologize to him was particularly distressing. But he had seemed so shaken, so upset. Besides, an apology was needed. Not to mention that disbelief on his face is quite refreshing.
He shrugged, turned and moved to stand before the window. "No harm done," he shot a meaningful glance at her, "this time." She watched him cross his arms over his breast and the light brought glowing contours to his hair and velvet sapphire coat. It seemed so soft, she wondered distantly if that were truly so. You could find out, came a foreign thought that had somehow made a home in her. I could not! But the damage was already done. She wanted to run her fingers over his sleeve, just to find out.
She didn't. That was far too dangerous. But the continuing silence was beginning to press in on her. She had to break it. "Where have you been?"
He turned only halfway from the window and to her, arms still clasped over his breast and the ever-present pendant clearly visible where the lace parted. He smiled, and that smile conveyed all those things she hadn't thought of. All those things such an inquiry implied.
"Why," his eyebrows rose over mockingly bright eyes, "As King I do have duties, you know."
"Oh? And here I thought your duties consisted of stealing babies and tormenting young girls."
He laughed softly, his lips curving in amusement. Strangely, he didn't seem to be laughing at her. "Sarah Sarah," his voice came low and pleasant, "I haven't tormented you yet." If that was a threat, it sure didn't feel like one. At least not of violence. She swallowed and didn't care if he noticed or nary. The Goblin King had made promises of seducing her---she felt she had every right to be nervous. I can be as uncool as I want! And with that she mentally stamped her foot.
"Okay," she stammered, I have something to say, I really do. "There are a few things we have to get straight."
His head tilted to the side much the same way as a curious puppy's, but a second more and he smirked, did away with such delusions of harmlessness. "Is that so?"
She nodded thoughtlessly, studying the wall beyond his head before forcing her gaze back to him. Now, Sarah, we have to work up some anger. Indignation too. That's right, here we go. "What was that this morning," she hissed. And what's that?! That doesn't sound like anger at all! Try harder! She opened her mouth and called up as many insulting tones as she could---
"If I am to seduce you, Sarah, then we will have to spend some amount of time together. Though I do agree, things did not go quite as planned," he paused, eyes moving over her face. "You have given me a week of your time, but you are not giving me a chance."
"I didn't agree to be agreeable, Jareth."
"True."
"And I don't appreciate you just dropping in whenever . . .you . . .want?" Sarah had very good reason to lose track of her words. Jareth stepped forward and they all flitted away on mercurial wings. "What are you doing," the syllables came from her mouth, but they might as well have been separate from her.
Jareth circled around her, but she did not turn to keep him in her line of view. Instead she stood and stared at the space he had previously occupied, as if it made more sense. He stopped somewhere behind her and picked up a lock of her hair, kissed it. "You have been in my bath, Sarah."
He made it sound like a bad thing, but bad as in full of so many possibilities. Sarah spun around and slapped his hand away. "So?" And then softer, "How can you tell?"
He smiled at that, truly a gift if the eyes hadn't been so wild. He grasped her shoulders and turned her about, despite her obvious resistance, and urged her to one empty wall. She stared at it a moment in confusion then tried to step away. She didn't like this game---not when she didn't know what it was about. He pushed her back and lifted his hand through the air, as he did something appeared. It was as if a veil had been lifted; the vision of the wall peeled back and standing before her was a looking glass. One of immense beauty and antique design, gold frame, high polish, gold and silver.
"How did you . . .?"
"A spell of concealment. There are several cast all over the castle." He spoke as if it was nothing, common, an everyday occurrence. That was part of the Labyrinth's charm, she supposed. Here she was something unique and strange. In her own world she had to shout to be noticed, and sometimes not even that worked.
"Oh. I didn't know that." She felt a touch weak suddenly, but quickly quelled it. She couldn't forget where she was, and with who.
"You asked me how I could tell. Well, take a look for yourself," he waved at the mirror and Sarah followed. She looked exactly the same, near as she could tell . . .or did she? She peered closer at herself. Oh, it was there all right, subtle, but there. A fine gloss, flecks of gold. She thought it was glitter laced over her dark hair, touches of it here and there on her skin, but she soon realized that it wasn't. She stared hard at herself, trying so fervently to decipher what she saw.
She was so caught up that the next second barred her breath. She had blinked and found her reflection accompanied by Jareth. He had swept her hair aside and was kissing the bare skin of her throat, his hands splayed over her waist. Sarah gasped. Too much had happened in that space of a blink. Too much Too much. She couldn't remember when it began, but it was already hurtling on. His arms tightened about her waist, pulling her even to the heat of his body behind her. He took a step back, taking her with him. The veil of the wall fell into place, but it wasn't important anymore.
"What are you doing?" Her breath was coming in tight, little pants. She couldn't seem to get it to slow.
"Oh, come now, Sarah," he spoke huskily against the flesh of her shoulder, "I know you're not that naïve."
"The mirror . . .You tricked me!"
"If you will not give me a chance---then I must steal it when I can."
"No!" she thrashed with all her might. They were gaining on that huge, canopied bed and she was suddenly more afraid of it than anything she had ever faced. No No NO! She wasn't afraid of it---she was afraid of what would happen if he managed to spread her out on it. Time seemed to sink away as the image surfaced in her mind, of all that could be---of passions and elation and endless dreams. No! She drowned that illusion as soon as it formed, could not tell from where it had came. Certainly not her. She had never thought such things!
Jareth was gone. So sudden, so unexpectedly that she nearly stumbled the last couple of feet to the bed herself. Oh, he was gone from her but not the room, that much she could tell. She re-captured her breath, and only after did she raise her waspish eyes to him. He, of course, was unconcerned. He stood before the window and the light edged him. One hand was upon the table and he leaned upon that hand. Casual, elegant, amused---she felt some feral beast expanding in her veins, just dying to burst forth and claw that condescending smile from his face. Perhaps some of its glare peeked through her eyes, his free hand raised and swept the gold hair back from his neck. He was taunting her.
She said the first thing that came to mind, vehement, hateful . . .bruised pride and confusion. "Fuck you, Jareth!"
He smiled innocently. "Be mindful of your words, Sarah. They have a way of turning on you."
She opened her mouth to bite off more hateful insults, but it quickly snapped closed. All the many colours of what he had said sank in. She blushed, which she recognized as not a good sign. Okay, we can admit that he's attractive, in a completely 'I'm-only-looking-and-not-interested' sort of way. She instantly felt cheated. She had always heard that admitting something would make it 'all better', insert a healthy dose of sarcasm. They lied. Obviously. She didn't feel better, if possible she felt worse. Dread. Yeah, that's what it's called.
He held his arm out to her and didn't try to pull back down his mask of innocence, didn't try to appear sincere. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the dangerous part. Let me rephrase that, he seems to think *I* enjoy it. His arm dropped when she made no move to even acknowledge him.
"Well, if you are content in this room . . ." he shrugged.
She twitched mentally. "No, no. I'll go." I'll go anywhere, even with you---as long as you take me out of the goddamn room!
He took her hand up with a smile, tucked it into the crook of his arm. "Then let us be off, my Queen."
"Um," she held back as he tried to urge her toward the door, "Where exactly are we going?"
"Are you hungry?"
She was, but there was no way she was going to eat anything he gave her. "No."
"Such a liar, but as you wish."
"Where are we going, Jareth," she persisted stubbornly, ignoring the fact that he had just called her a liar. It was the truth, what *could* she really say about it.
"Wait and see," was all he said, then pulled her along despite her reluctance. They took the way that dimmed and within minutes a wide stone staircase sprawled out before them. She was just a little pink in the face at that point, but Jareth paid her no heed and continued leading her along. The stair sparkled here and there, Sarah watched in fascination as what she thought was a goblin went scampering across the floor below. It was gone as soon as they reached the newel but she could distinctly recall the feather in its hat bobbing. I will never get used to this place.
The castle looked much cleaner than she remembered, but she knew she had seen so little of it, and paid attention to less. Soon, though, it became clear that a tour of the castle was NOT in order. Jareth 'escorted' her out of his odd fortress, ignoring the fact that she was perfectly able to walk on her own and did not need to be pulled around by her hand. She kept telling him this too, but was quick to discern that she was wasting her breath.
The Goblin City? No, that didn't seem their destination either. Sarah did make an effort to see as much of it as she could. She looked this way and that as Jareth pushed onward and chattering goblins ran, even dove to stay out of *their* way. They cast fearful, respecting eyes up to their oblivious King, but curious eyes to her.
"Jareth," she stopped suddenly and forced him to stop too or let go. He stopped. "Where are we going?"
"What, and ruin the surprise?" He smiled at her mischievously, tried to pull her along at his side. "I think not."
She wrestled her arm free then crossed them both over her breast. She knew that her tone was going to amuse him ten times to hell, but she carried through with it anyway. "Then I refuse to go."
He shrugged, "Then I suppose we'll just have to," as he was speaking he raised his hand through the air. Sarah, having seen that particular show more times than she cared to---shot forward and grasped his wrist before he could finish it. For one moment he looked truly surprised, and his surprise surprised her. She forced it into a tight box.
"If I blink and we're not standing exactly where we are now . . .I AM GOING TO KICK YOU!"
His mouth twitched and she was swift to realize that he was trying not to laugh. "Then don't blink." His hand dropped loosely to his side. But it had happened already. There came a feeling as if the ground was shifting beneath her feet. Within a fraction of a second, the time it would take to blink if she had bothered, the scenery went rushing by so quick that it was nothingness and colours. Just as quickly it stopped. Vertigo swept over Sarah and her knees gave out, but that didn't keep her from seeing Jareth's grin as she fell into his arms. Unwillingly, of course. He steadied her against him, unaffected by his own magic. "But I must warn you, it goes by more smoothly if you do blink." His arm loosened about her waist, but did not retreat. What was helpful only moments before had twisted into a situation more dangerous. His free hand raised and he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, leaned forward intently.
"Okay," Sarah said quickly, pushing free. Her heart was thudding wildly in the back of her throat and it, unfortunately, had nothing to do with the vertigo. "Let's see where you've magiced us this time." Her words came high and breathless, to her escalating embarrassment. Not far, the castle and Goblin City were still very close, but they were now standing on the bank of some crystal clear lake. Trees towered behind them and the sun dancing off the water made her want to approach it. All the tension seemed to drain out of her body and she knew it wasn't natural. At least, not where she was from.
"What's that?" She pointed to something moving just off the shore. A flashing gold, a hint of silver.
"Koi," Jareth answered from her side. It was a bland answer; he seemed to have dropped his games for the moment.
"That can't be right. Koi come from my realm, Ashley's mom has several in her pond."
He smirked at her, as if to say 'game on'. "Are you so certain that they belong in your realm?"
"They don't," she asked simply. So simply that Jareth seemed to be disappointed.
He shrugged, knelt at the edge of the water and swept his gloved fingers through it. "Our worlds share many things, Sarah." He stared up at her, trying to add emphasis to what he was saying. It didn't slip past her.
But she sighed and cast her gaze out over the water, to where the Koi wove around each other in dashes of silver and gold. Their beauty did nothing to dispel the despair she was now feeling. She didn't know why. "Jareth," she said finally, after they had remained so long in silence. "When this week is up nothing will have changed. I want you to understand that."
"Things are already changing," he said without luster. "You desire me. Of that much I am certain."
"You fascinate me . . .and I suppose I find that desirable. But it isn't enough for what you're asking. Have you even thought of all that I would have to give up?" she forced the words out though they made her uneasy. It was one of those odd moments where he actually seemed to be hearing her. Not just hearing, but listening. It was too rare to waste.
"Have you thought of all that you would gain," his eyes were upon her, she could just feel them willing her to look at him. "It's not as if I'm asking you to stop being you. I don't want that."
"What do you want then," she asked.
"I want a chance. Not to change your opinion of me, but to expand it. I am cruel, arrogant, fickle---I have no delusions about how I am perceived. But you cannot sum up my whole being with just those three words," he paused. "I think you could love me, Sarah, if you only gave yourself a chance."
Though she was standing utterly still she felt her pulse raise into her throat. If they had been arguing she would have had so many responses at her command. But they weren't arguing, they were talking. She and the Goblin King were having a quiet---if not so pleasant---discussion. That limited what she could say since she didn't want to be accused of breaking their cease-fire. She finally gave it up, gave up the whole shaky conversation. "Is this what you wanted to show me?"
He took a breath, but did not try to force the issue. He wouldn't have gotten anywhere she was willing to go. "No. No, follow me." He stood and swept his hands through the air, once again inviting her to walk with him. All his amusement, all scheming flashes in his eyes and suggestive smiles---all of it gone. Just Jareth staring out of those mismatched eyes. No, not even that. Fickle, indeed. Sarah didn't fight this time, took his arm quietly and let him lead her.
But even that bit of cooperation she could only take so far. When he seemingly took a step into the crystal water her hand slipped away from his velveteen sleeve and fell to her side. "You want me to go into the water," she asked with just an edge of sarcasm. He turned with a mild smile, careful, and backed up once more. Sarah gasped as he rose over the water on what appeared to be a transparent stair.
"What . . .how are your doing that?"
"I am . . .does it matter how." Her wide eyes seemed to bring some of his humour back. "I know you, Sarah. You want to see the other side," he offered his gloved hand as she stood utterly dumbfounded upon the bank. "And I want to show you."
She was shaking her head back and forth, lips slightly parted as she stared at his boots, at him standing on the very air. She had tried so hard to accustom herself to all that this realm entailed: magic, illusions, macabre masquerades and poisoned beauty. She thought she had finally come to understand it. That not all walls were real, that innocence could have teeth and any path could vanish over the horizon. To see the ease with which Jareth settled into his sorcery sent all her understandings askew.
Jareth frowned at her continuing silence, the way she remained utterly still but seemed to sway with the breeze. He stepped back down and took her by the elbow. "You have nothing to fear, Sarah. This I swear."
I wish I could believe you, I really do. She sighed, shifted on her feet and mindlessly studied some of the closer trees. They had very broad, spade shaped leaves. And they moved on the wind, seemed to sound more like the distant twinkling of chimes than the organic rustle she had come to expect. Of course they would, it's absurd to think that leaves sound like leaves . . .Jareth's fingers moved oh so slightly over her arm, bringing her attention back to him.
"I swear."
"Fine, Jareth," she didn't like the sincerity in his voice, so she answered it with annoyance and indifference, a neat trick if you can pull it off. "Lead, but if I fall I'm taking you with me. Remember that."
He laughed, so pleasant. "Of course, of course. I would expect no less." She linked her arm through his and followed him to the edge of the water. He was ready to go but she held back a moment to catch her breath, inclined a foot. The air WAS solid beneathe her, but she did not feel any better about it.
"Don't look down," he instructed, "and pretend that this is any staircase you might have to climb."
"Won't work," she remarked shakily.
"No, I didn't think it would."
They went slow, step by step, with Sarah practically clinging to his arm. Somehow she believed she wouldn't fall, that if Jareth had plans of hurting her---it wouldn't be in this way. She believed it . . .she just couldn't get her head to understand it. People, no matter how imaginative, did not walk on air. Well, invisible stairs. She wasn't clear on how far they were going, but they were well over the water when she forced Jareth to stop and let her re-learn how to breathe. He said nothing, watched the distant horizon and the sun-sprinkled water as she tried to look at nothing. Eventually they resumed. Jareth seemed patient, a trait she would never have thought possible for him. Watch yourself, girl, soon you'll start believing it.
The clouds rose up before them and Sarah felt dizziness spin over her again. The last she had seen clouds so close she had been 'safe' in a metal bird on her way to Seattle. She loved to fly just as much as she loved heights, but this . . .this was no comfort. Were they going above the clouds? Maybe they'd touch the face of the stars? They stopped at the edge of the cloud and Sarah finally managed to force her eyes up. She couldn't remember what she had been looking at before, but she mentally stumbled at what appeared to be a tall gold-frame gate planted in the very cloud.
"You have got to be kidding," it was the first thing that broke through the surprise. She was always so eloquent in his company. He stepped through the arched gate, his hand slipping down until his fingers wrapped around hers. She squeezed them tightly, she was standing alone upon the air and she found it just a little unsettling. This was a big leap of faith on her part, more than he deserved, but she closed her eyes and stepped through. The mists curled about her ankles, scattered and wrapped and crept away. Sarah shivered at their icy caresses. But she screamed when Jareth used her captured hand to twirl her about.
"Open your eyes, Sarah."
The 'ground' didn't lurch beneathe her feet, in fact, she stood upon a bed of pale lavender-grey rose petals. This had not been the picture shown to her while standing on the other side, a rose garden in the sky. Many more gates identical to the first with rose-laced trellises edged the platform. The sterling flowers seemed in constant bloom. She watched them open, the petals unfold and fall, and begin again. The platform was covered in layers of pale grey petals; there was no ground or cloud visible beneathe their silken carpet. She approached some of the lattice and traced several of the leaves cautiously. The roses bloomed on indifferent to her. It was beautiful, spectacular, and unusual. Jareth stayed back and off to the side, eyes following her movements. Sarah knew he was judging her reaction, had brought her here to simply inspire warm and agreeable emotions. Sarah knew this and didn't care, smiled just the same.
"I know that asking 'how' would be pointless---but why? Why these gardens in the sky," she knelt and sprinkled handfuls of grey petals between her fingers. She looked up at him then. "Why?"
Jareth picked one of the roses and as soon as it broke from the vine its unfolding ceased, it froze in a state of half-bloom. He twirled it slowly between his gloved fingers then moved to stand over her. "Would you like to see why?"
She chewed her lip a moment then nodded. Her curiosity did have an end---that didn't mean it was an easy one to reach. Jareth made a slight gesture with the rose and instantly a wind came and pulled at the lengths of her hair. The petals scattered on the breeze and she watched in wonder as they drifted down over the lake and trees. "It's raining," she cried with excitement. She ran to the edge and came to a stop against one of the gates, her arm wrapping around a gold rail. Sure enough the small shower of petals fell over the Underground as crystalline drops of rain. She turned back to him with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, "This is amazing!"
He grinned, seemingly satisfied with the reaction he was finally getting. She leaned back into one of the trellises and smiled, her breast rising and falling just a little bit quicker than normal. The soft petals caressed her face, the cool leaves trembled against her skin, and the sensations only seemed to heighten as Jareth approached her. The lift to her mouth started to slide away, not so obviously, but her eyes followed him. She knew something dangerous when she saw it. His gaze danced over her face and whatever he observed seemed to please him. He raised the rose to her cheek and brushed it lightly down along her jaw.
"This will never change. Time will pass, years will pass and this rose will remain as beautiful as it is this very moment. I give it to you."
His words were so soft that she couldn't think very far beyond them. Her hand raised and wrapped around the offered stem, but he twined his fingers through hers and forced it back into the foliage. The lace of his blouse fluttered against her breast, his sleeve was velvet soft as he pressed near enough that his mouth hovered over hers.
Her breath was moving even quicker through her lungs, her heart pounding faster. He's going to kiss me. He's going to kiss me . . .and I'm going to let him---I want him too! Her eyes studied blindly the gold tresses that moved against his shoulders, she couldn't look at his eyes. You didn't do that. You never did that.
His lips smoothed over hers, light at first but gaining in heat and pressure. For the first moment she blinked steadily and unresponsively, though her heart threatened to choke her. But he fell against her, his free hand weaving into her ebony-brown hair as he tilted her head back and tried to deepen the kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed and she collapsed against the lattice and roses, her mouth moved against his. He hesitated curiously as she met his passion with her own and her indifferent façade slipped away. She pulled her hand free of his and wrapped both arms around his neck, managed to pull him even closer, close enough that she could feel the points of his pendant dig into her flesh. She was falling into the idea, falling into the movements of his hands as they slid over her back and waist. She gasped as soon as she felt the coolness of his gloves slip under her shirt. It was a jolt, such a jolt that she should have spun back into realization. But it didn't come until his hands roamed higher, thumbs playing over her rib cage in an enticing dance. His fingers began tracing the lacey lines of her bra and she caught it, attempted to still his hand but only succeeded in cupping it over her own breast. He seemed content enough with that change---Sarah's discomfort rose to even loftier heights as her heart beat wildly into his palm.
"Back," she hissed breathlessly as Jareth continued to consume her mouth. She could hardly think of the right words as they came. "Back---BACK OFF!"
"No," he replied just as quickly.
She shoved as hard as she could with arms that seemed willing to betray her at any moment, and Jareth finally gave. His hands and warmth slipped away. He spread his arms in mock-surrender, backed away, but the light passing through his eyes spoke of different stories. He wasn't taking kindly to her swift and erratic shifts. His head cocked to the side and his smile was empty and cruel.
"You seem a little flustered, dear Sarah."
She knew exactly how 'flustered' she appeared. Embarrassment rose in a mad fury of emotion and cut off all other, more grounded feelings. "Damn you!" She had meant the rage, but was left only with hurt confusion.
Jareth placed his hands on his hips, the perfect image of a vengeful King. He took very deliberate steps toward her. "You have finally revealed to me, to yourself, the extent of your desires. You can't hide behind your little indifferent mask anymore. You want me, Sarah," he accented each word with another step forward, forcing her back with a predatory pivot to his hips, "and it scares you."
"A kiss is a kiss," she replied steadily, fighting all urges to clap and demand an encore. It wasn't that difficult. "You were pushing it too far. Entirely too far."
"And I have come to the end of my patience with YOU, little girl! I have allowed you to come and go as you please, sent you back whenever your angry little heart demanded it, when all along I could have refused---"
"Oh, I suppose you were being," she felt the black-heat filling her eyes, her next word coming out on the tails of anger, "Generous?"
He screamed---a low guttural growl of frustration. Sarah had never seen Jareth in such a rage. Never. She was too surprised to be afraid. Numbness scattered throughout her body, dulled her senses and kept her calm, kept her from thoughts of darting away from such hostility. She did not need to---Jareth spun away and disappeared without a glance back. Sarah watched him go. Then it made sense.
"Oh no."