Chapter Three: The Dance

Adrian lead Jayna through the maze of hallways and stone doors leading from the grand dining room to the grand ballroom. His eyes were never far from Jayna, settling on her breasts, the soft curve of her hip, and the deep forest green of her eyes.

Truthfully, Jayna was uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Though she was neither mousy nor plain, she was slightly heavier than was strictly fashionable for the time. Staring at her under the folds of peach silk, Adrian made Jayna feel uncomfortably naked.

"So, Adrian, where is Eliza? May I see her as I continue on this quest?"

Adrian quirked a brow at her, as if reading her thoughts, and finding something there absurd. "Eliza is well taken care of. Hoggle and Ludo are seeing to her needs, and she has been given her own bedchamber. No need to worry about her."

He paused, as if contemplating the rest of his words before speaking them. "You do look lovely tonight, dear Jayna. My mother and father will greatly enjoy meeting you."

The surprise she was feeling did register on her face. Jayna glanced up to him, her expression one of confusion. "There was no need to go to all the trouble, Adrian. I am here to solve the riddles, and go home."

Before answering her, Adrian led Jayna across the white marble ballroom floor and offered her a seat. Then, very carefully, Adrian spoke in an infuriatingly confident voice. "What would you and Eliza be going home to, Jayna? An empty house alone?"

He stopped, looking deeply into her eyes. "I would give you ladies a family."

Jayna, staring slowly into the hypnotic blue of his eyes nearly agreed. Temptation, she thought, shaking her head slowly to break the spell. He promised me temptations. Well, I'll just keep my guard up.

"Thank you for the generous offer, Adrian, but I just want to free Eliza, and myself, and leave."

Rising from the chair, Adrian motioned toward the handsome couple entering the ballroom. "Good, very good Jayna. You're learning. My parents are here now."

Jayna watched as a lovely, slender woman with Adrian's ebony hair and blue eyes walked with an arm lovingly tucked inside that of a tall man, with Adrian's manner and charm. This must be Jareth, and the woman must be Sarah, Jayna decided upon a closer inspection.

Strange is it seemed, they were exactly how she imagined them while reading the book.

"Mother, Father, I would like to present to you Miss Jayna Grayson." Adrian said formally as he motioned toward her. His voice shook Jayna from her thoughts, turning her attention first to the woman, Sarah Williams.

Sarah smiled warmly, offering Jayna her hand and a dazzling smile. "It's a pleasure, Jayna. I'm Sarah, Dowager Queen of the Goblins."

Jayna, totally in shock at this meeting, did the only polite thing. "It's a pleasure, I'm sure." Then she paused. "Wait a minute. I have to say that I'm dreaming now, lying on Eliza's bedroom floor with a concussion. You are a character in a book I was reading."

Turning his attention away from his son momentarily, Jareth looked at Jayna with an amused expression, his strange eyes dancing in merriment. "Seems she is the spitfire you said she was, son."

Not knowing what else to do, Jayna offered Jareth her hand in one fluid motion. "Pleased to meet you, sir. I'm sure I'll remember you when I wake up." I'll remember Adrian, too, she thought, his eyes, his lips, his seductive smile.

Her statement greatly amused Sarah, who was a sparkling beauty in a soft blue gown, tailored to her slender figure. "Jayna, you'll find that you're never able to wake from some dreams. I wasn't."

Jareth, in a show of tenderness, slowly squeezed Sarah's hand. "Nor did I want you to, love. Shall we dance?'

Sarah nodded enthusiastically, her eyes lighting with love for her husband as he swept her onto the marble floor, as he had done once many years ago.

Adrian and Jayna were left alone, with their thoughts, and with one another. He turned to her, smiling slightly, the expression tugging at the corners of his mouth. "If you must know, I put that book on your shelf. It is a good read, though, isn't it? Mother and Father have an amazing love story. I always did envy them that."

An amused expression flickered across Jayna's face as she listened to the exotic strains of some unknown song playing in the background. "Make your own love story, Adrian. We can't all have fairy tale lives. In fact, I don't believe in fairy tales at all."

Adrian smirked now, gently leading her onto the floor. He gently enveloped her waist with one arm, placing another protectively over her shoulders. Jayna trembled at his closeness, but Adrian persisted with a seductive smile, leaning to whisper softly in her ear. "What do you think this is Jayna? This is your fairy tale. You are the princess of a great castle, with a lover who would be your slave for a kiss. Isn't that what a fairy tale is?"

As they swayed softly to the music, Jayna had to close her eyes, gathering her senses that seemed to flee in the face of such dizzying words and music. "No, Adrian, it's another temptation. I won't fall for it. I won't fall to you."

Adrian smiled again, slowly drawing her closer, bringing his scent fully to her nostrils. He seeped into her every pore. She shivered. "I've always loved a challenge, darling. Always. You'll find your first riddle with your breakfast tomorrow morning. For tonight, Jayna, enjoy yourself."

Against her better judgment, and even her own sanity, Jayna slowly rested her head on Adrian's chest as she watched Jareth and Sarah gleefully twirl about the floor. Mentally, she made a note to herself. She would talk to Sarah alone as soon as she could.