Chapter 7: Blast (of glitter) From the Past

              Jareth sat up straight.  Someone had just wished to see him.  He conjured a crystal and was shocked to see Sarah's pale tear streaked face looking back at him.

              Sarah had walked to the bedroom to sit at her vanity.  She sighed, and sat down.  She summoned her courage and gazed reluctantly into the wood framed mirror.  "I wish to see Jareth right now!"  She half expected it not to work.  She figured that he hated her for some reason, and wouldn't answer her call.  That's why when his chiseled features and mismatched eyes stared back at her, she was at a loss for words.  "Sarah, long time no see.  My, my, you don't look very well," Jareth said, in his ever cocky manner.  "Jareth, don't toy with me.  I want Jadyn back.  Do you think this is funny?  Stealing a baby from her mother while her back is turned?"  Sarah asked, nerves on edge.  "Why, Sarah, I assure you I have no idea what your talking about," Jareth replied.  "Oh, I think you do.  Why did you take her Jareth?  I know she's your daughter, too, but all you were was a sperm donor.  If you wanted to see her all you had to do was ask.  Please, bring her back, please."  "Sarah, I swear to you, I do not have her."  "Jareth, if you didn't take her, then who did?"  "I didn't even know she was missing, Sarah."  That was only partially ture.  He did know she was missing, or kidnapped, but that was all he knew.  "Sarah, please, tell me what happened.  I swear to you I did not take her," Jareth said earnestly.  Sarah wanted to believe him, but it was hard when someone you trusted betrayed you.  "Jareth, how can I believe anything you say?"

                  "Sarah, Sarah, dear dear, Sarah.  I suppose I haven't given you much reason to believe me.  I am sorry for what I did to you.  You were, after all, bearing my child, my heir, and I turned my back on you," Jareth admitted, while the beginnings of tears formed in his eyes.  "Jareth, I know your sorry, but that doesn't excuse all the pain you caused me.  Do you expect me to forgive you just because you say you're "sorry"?  Well, you're wrong.  It will take some time before I can get over it.  Understood?"  Jareth sighed and wished he could take back everything he did.  But, he of all people understood the most, that life just doesn't work like that.  Of course, he coud reorder time, but he suspected Sarah would eventually see through the spell.  "All righ, Sarah.  I have no idea how she came to be missing, but I will help you look because she's my daughter, too.  Tell me what she looks like."  "Here, this is the most recent picture I have of her," Sarah said, as she handed him a picture of Jadyn taken at her parents house a week ago.  Sarah's hand passed through the reflective surface of the mirror, which began to ripple like the pond, and then came in contact with Jareth's hand.  He took the picture and stared at it, deep in thought.  There was silence for a good while, and Jareth finally look up, tears streaming down his creamy white chiseled cheeks.  "Oh Sarah, she looks so much like you and I."

                    Ms. Shricher wrapped Jadyn in a pink knitted blanket and placed a white lace bonnet snugly on her head.  She then placed Jadyn in a plastic baby carrier and handed the carrier to Vernon Martin.  "Here, take her right away.  Mr. Thompson said he wanted her there for the transfer at noon."  "Right," Vernon replied, and hurried away quickly.  As he walked down the steps of the building, he found that he had been holding his breath.  And took in a sharp intake of breath.  He didn't know whether it was from Ms. Shricher's prescence, or the stench of hundreds of dirty diapers and baby food.  He never did like the smell of baby food.  He placed the carrier gently in the back seat of his red and black 94' Corsica, and sat down at the wheel.  For a moment he debated on taking the baby back to her real mother, but thought better of it.  Vernon's job paid well, but at a heavy price.  The price of his conscience.  He knew this baby would be placed with loving parents, but who could love her better than her real ones?  Too late now, he was almost halfway to the destination point.  He was really getting too old for this.  He was almost 50, and he decided this would be his last drop, then he would get a real job.  One that wasn't so stressful and illegal. 

                     In a flash of glitter and wind, the Goblin King materialized in Sarah's bedroom.  Sarah gasped alound, not expecting him to make an appearance.  She stood, as he sat down on her bed.  "Jareth,I..."  "You, what?"  "I wasn't expecting you here.  I have friends over and we're discussing how to get Jadyn back."  "That's such a nice name, where did you ever come up with it?"  "Stop changing the subject, Jareth.  You should leave now so I can discuss with them how to get her back."  "Sarah," Jareth said, as he stood and sauntered closer to her, "did you forget that I am a Goblin King.  All you had to do ask me to find her."  "Oh, then, will you help me find her?"  Jareth gazed at her liquid green eyes, and knew he couldn't say no, but he had to something to get her to come back to the Underground with him.  He wanted her and Jadyn to live with him, as his wife and daughter.  But, how was he going to tell Sarah, the queen of stubbornness that?

                    "I'll help you, but only on one condition.  When, we do find her, you must return to the Underground."  "Oh no, anything but that.  Jareth, I don't want to live there, and I don't want Jadyn to either."  "Sarah, as much as you want her to live a "normal" life, you must understand that she is the heir to the throne of the Goblin King.  Even if she was to remain here with you, one day she would find out her true roots.  If she's anything like you, Sarah, you know she would.  Why not let her find out sooner?"  "I'll think about it."  "Then, I'll think about helping you.  Let me know when you reach a decision."  With that, Jareth faded into nothing.  "Oh, damn him.  He knew I couldn't go back there."