A.N.-I'm glad you all like it so far^_^_^
Dedication-Demi, Deborah Krier, Dawn, Kate, Melissa Davis, Monkey_girl, Seeking Serenity, and Lady Shiva. Thanx for the reviews!^_^_^_^
In the end, Sarah couldn't tell her father and stepmother the truth. Besides, what were the chances of them believing that a magical Goblin King had taken their son and turned him into a Goblin? Chances were more likely they'd slap her into a mental institution. In the end, she'd said that a burglar had broken in and hit her over the head and kidnapped Toby.
They bought it, along with the police who began a full-scale search for Toby. But Sarah knew they'd never find her adorable baby brother. He was gone. At first her stepmother had not believed Sarah's story, but when she saw the bruise on Sarah's head and that the handles on the windows in their bedroom where broken open, she'd been forced to believe her.
Sarah didn't know where the bruise had come from. It wasn't too big, but nor was it small. Maybe it had come from when she'd slipped and fell in the Oubliette while wandering about. It was on the side of her head, just below the temple, just small enough to be hidden by her long black hair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Night Later~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sarah walked briskly down the sidewalk. Her dark eyes glanced about, paranoid. She knew Jareth was going to come for her soon. She could feel it. In her left hand she carried a small bag holding some groceries Karen had sent her to get. Before, Sarah would have rudely refused, but now she took the opportunity just to get away from the accusing looks that came from both her father and stepmother.
She knew they blamed her. But then why shouldn't they? Her story about Toby being kidnapped wasn't a complete falsehood, she'd merely...twisted the truth a little.
That's when she heard it. She stopped dead in her tracks. It sounded like the rustling of feathers.
Then she felt it, warm breath on the side of her neck. "Hello Sarah, did you miss me?"
Sarah jerked away as she whirled around to face The Goblin King in all his glory. "Jareth! Stay away from me. I mean it..." She began to back away slowly. How had he gotten into the real world? She'd thought she had a few weeks or months. Apparently she'd underestimated him, and now she had to pay.
Jareth stepped toward her, matching her every step backward. He stared into the depths of the eyes that had defied him like no other. She couldn't hide her true emotions from him. He saw fear in her eyes. But then, why shouldn't she fear him? "Frightened, Sarah?"
Sarah swallowed hard. "God, why can't you just leave me alone!" Her voice came out in a whimper. She cursed herself inwardly for showing her fear of him. She didn't want him to have the pleasure of knowing she feared him as much as she hated him.
He tilted his head as he walked toward her. "You played the game, Sarah. You lost. You belong to me. But unfortunately, I can't take you back to the Underground until you say the words yourself or someone wishes you away." His voice and eyes held their usual mocking. Sarah was more frightened than she'd ever been in her entire life, but her old confidence was swiftly returning to her.
"What do you mean?" she asked quietly, firmly. Suddenly she felt her back hit a tree. Jareth stepped up to her, placing his hands on either side of her head. His body was so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. She could feel his warm, sweet breath on her. With surprising gentleness he reached out, his gloved hand trailing up her neck. She shivered involuntarily at the touch.
"Your dear Step-Mother's not all that fond of you. What if the book should somehow fall into her hands…?" He let the sentence hang in the air. His lips where curled up into a cruel smirk as Sarah gasped in horror. "You played my game and by my rules, Sarah. You can't escape me." Sarah tried to move slightly away from his burning touch, but he merely leaned closer, trapping her more tightly between the tree and his body. "Somehow you managed to escape, Sarah, and I will have my revenge for your running. I'm going to make your life," he leaned closer to her, his lips gently touching her earlobe as he spoke, "a living hell."
Her fear and confidence decided quickly to take each other's side, for she shoved Jareth away with all her strength. Surprisingly Jareth moved easily, perhaps not expecting her to do that. Sarah wasted no time taking off in a full scale run toward her house.
Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum and her legs and chest felt as though they where on fire. Fear fueled her and she ran faster then she'd ever thought possible. She felt a small smile come onto her face as her home came into view. She craned her neck over her shoulder as she looked for the shape of the infamous Goblin King. She didn't see him, but she could hear the 'clickety click' of his boots on the concrete.
The wind seemed to pick up around her. Forcing her back toward the way she'd come. The wind was wild and untamed as it struck out at her. Finally she slipped and fell down hard on her knees and hands. Grunting in pain she pushed herself back up, only to see a pair of black boots right in front of her. Slowly she raised her eyes to meet the mismatched ones of Jareth. Slowly she stood. It was then she recalled something he'd said to her near when she'd nearly beaten him.
["Sarah, beware. I have been generous up until now, but I can be cruel."]
Yes, he was cruel. Cautiously, she stood. She glanced over her shoulder at her home. She returned her gaze to Jareth who took a step toward her. Her fear took over, and she screamed at him, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!" She kicked at him, missing completely.
Jareth raised an elegant eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected such a childish act from a girl he admired so for her defiance and confidence. "But our game has merely just begun," he said calmly.
Sarah swallowed hard, grasping at anything to keep her calm. "I refuse to play any of your games Jareth. As you said earlier I have to wish myself back into the Underground, or you can't take me."
He smiled wickedly, "Oh, my dear Sarah, I can make you want to. You'll be begging me..."
Sarah let out a terrified cry and bolted toward her house, slamming the door behind her. Jareth walked after her letting out a small, almost delighted sigh. Oh, how he did enjoy the hunt!
She sat down on the couch, tears flowing freely. She'd never been so terrified in her entire life. At that moment the door unlocked by itself and Jareth walked in.
"You didn't really think that would stop me, did you?" he asked, his tone as mocking as always. "Besides, we were having a delightful conversation before you so rudely ran away."
Sarah backed away toward the stairs, turning and racing up to her room. "GO AWAY!"
Smirking slightly, the Goblin King made himself disappear then reappear in the doorway just after the frightened girl raced in. He shut the door calmly. "Now, where were we? Oh yes, I was about to start making your life hell."
"You have no power over me!" Sarah said desperately, hoping against hope that he would disappear at those words, but he did not.
He raised an eyebrow consideringly. "You didn't really believe that would work, did you? It would have in the Labyrinth within the 13 hours that we were playing a game." He made a small crystal appear in his hands. Didn't she know his power by now? One would think she would. She'd been around him long enough. Sarah lifted her chin, forcing back her fear and filling herself with that familiar defiance and confidence. "Ah yes, that confidence of yours. You were truly a match for me, Sarah, truly. It's time to begin a new game." He stepped closer to her. Amusement lit his eyes when she didn't retreat in fear.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, suddenly realizing something. "What do you mean? How did you get here anyway? No one called you." She realized then, that she had called him before during their first encounter.
He smirked, amused. "You don't think I have to be called to come into your realm, do you? I can come here anytime I wish."
"SARAH! Are you in there!" Sarah's eyes switched to her door as she heard her father outside it.
He bared his teeth into something that was definitely not a smile. "The game's begun, Sarah. Let's see if its such a 'piece of cake' this time." With that he disappeared in a flash of glitter. She sat down numbly on her bed as her father entered.
"Sarah?"
Sarah glanced up at her father. "Yes?" thinking he'd probably heard the whole incident between her and Goblin King.
Karen walked up behind him, "We've decided that maybe we need to all spend a little time apart from one another, which is why I… We have decided to send you to live with some relatives, the Parkers. They live in Roswell, New Mexico. It's just until you finish school."
Sarah stared, her mouth agape. "You're sending me away?" she said, her voice soft and full of hurt. Though she realized partly that this could be good thing since Jare- The Goblin King was after her.
Her father shook his head slightly, "No, we just think we all need to spend a little more time apart."
Sarah stared down dejectedly. They were sending her away. To Roswell, New Mexico. To live with people she'd never even met before. It was like her entire world was falling down.
["As the world falls down..."] Sarah shook her head slightly as Jareth's song entered her mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~When Sarah arrives In Roswell~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sarah held her suitcase securely in one hand. Karen had brought her here, given her directions, then driven off like a bat outta hell. Giving her that 'I-hate-you-look' with every mile of the way. She was obviously happy to be rid of Sarah. She and Sarah had never really gotten along; Sarah had always been a reminder to the woman that she was not the first. She'd barely given Sarah time to pack. Sarah brought only a change of clothes, a journal, her Music Box, The Labyrinth, and the pendant of Jareth's. She found she could leave nothing so closely tied to the Labyrinth behind.
"The Crash Down..." She glanced around before finally seeing it. Taking a deep breath she walked inside, hoping her so-called cousin, Liz Parker, would be there.
Liz and Maria sat silently in the booth with the 4 aliens. They all looked up at the sound of someone entering the diner. They all stared at her in shook. Was that her? Was that Sarah Williams? The girl was stunning even at the age of 15. Her long hair as black as a raven's wing, it fell down over her small shoulders like a river. Her skin was a pale perfect white and petal smooth. Her eyes were an amazing deep chocolate brown, but strangely, they seemed to hold sadness within them.
Putting on a small smile, Sarah walked over toward the table.
"Are you Liz Parker?" she asked nervously, hoping she wasn't about to make a fool of herself.
Liz gave her a wide smile, "Yes, you must be Sarah." Sarah nodded as Liz stepped out of the booth, taking Sarah's suitcase into her hands. "I'll go put your stuff up in my room, we'll be sharing. You sit down and mingle with Maria and the others."
She was gone before Sarah could even say a word. Slowly she sat down, casting them all a nervous smile.
"Well," the one with short black hair started to say. He had a serious face with piercing dark eyes, "I'm Max Evens, and this is my sister Isabel." He pointed across from him. His sister was beautiful, there was no denying that with her long blonde hair and dark eyes, like Max's. "And this," he pointed to the guy on the right of him, "is Michael." He was good-looking in a bad boy kind of way. "And this is," he pointed to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl next to him, "is Tess." He pointed to the girl sitting next to Sarah. "And that is Maria."
Sarah gave them all a shy little smile. "Hello, its very nice to meet you all." She paused then said, "So, what's it like living in Roswell?"
Maria grinned. "Well it's actually pretty boring, not that many aliens stop in to say hello." They all laughed at her little joke, though Sarah realized, Max, Tess, Michael and Isabel seemed to force their laughter.
Sarah laughed a little. "Really? I've never really believed in that stuff. I mean, I think there's other life aside from our own somewhere…maybe not in our own universe but somewhere."
Max smiled slightly. "Maybe. But what makes you think they aren't just abducting cows or something right now?"
Sarah brushed a stray strand of dark hair behind her shoulder as she responded. "Maybe they are. But the research they would get from it would most likely be faulty. I mean if they wanted to learn more about Humans, why take a species that is so different from a human being?
Max cocked an eyebrow. "So you think they're just abducting humans all the time?"
Sarah stared him in the eye. "I don't know. I would hope they would be a little different from our own species, with whom if you're even suspected of being an alien you get thrown into some government project. But then, I guess you and I won't ever really know, will we?"
Max nodded, somewhat stiffly. "Maybe not."
"So, Sarah, how long are you staying in Roswell?" Maria asked, trying to turn the subject away from Aliens.
Sarah turned to face to Maria. "Until I finish school."
She nodded, "Oh." That's when she noticed something glinting around her neck. "Where did you get that?"
Sarah looked down, lifting the pendant up slightly from her neck. "T-this? It's nothing, just something a friend gave me before I left." She let it fall back under her T-shirt.
"Oh."
Sarah turned just in time to see Liz walk back in. "Hey, I left your stuff on the spare bed. If you want, you can start working in the diner with me and Maria."
Sarah nodded, "Sure, I'd like that."
Liz smiled. "Great."
Sarah finally thought that things where going to change for her. Maybe here, in this town of Roswell she could start over. Chances were that Jareth would never find her and she would be safe. Despite this, she knew she would never forget her baby brother Toby. Little did Sarah know that her small little secure world she had only just found was soon going to come crashing down around her and that the people she'd just met where not at all that they seemed. But then there was already something that Sarah thought was a little strange about them.
But who was she to pass judgment? She wasn't all that normal either.
A.N.-And we stop there today. ^_^I hope this chapter wasn't too dull^_^
Dedication-Demi, Deborah Krier, Dawn, Kate, Melissa Davis, Monkey_girl, Seeking Serenity, and Lady Shiva. Thanx for the reviews!^_^_^_^
In the end, Sarah couldn't tell her father and stepmother the truth. Besides, what were the chances of them believing that a magical Goblin King had taken their son and turned him into a Goblin? Chances were more likely they'd slap her into a mental institution. In the end, she'd said that a burglar had broken in and hit her over the head and kidnapped Toby.
They bought it, along with the police who began a full-scale search for Toby. But Sarah knew they'd never find her adorable baby brother. He was gone. At first her stepmother had not believed Sarah's story, but when she saw the bruise on Sarah's head and that the handles on the windows in their bedroom where broken open, she'd been forced to believe her.
Sarah didn't know where the bruise had come from. It wasn't too big, but nor was it small. Maybe it had come from when she'd slipped and fell in the Oubliette while wandering about. It was on the side of her head, just below the temple, just small enough to be hidden by her long black hair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Night Later~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sarah walked briskly down the sidewalk. Her dark eyes glanced about, paranoid. She knew Jareth was going to come for her soon. She could feel it. In her left hand she carried a small bag holding some groceries Karen had sent her to get. Before, Sarah would have rudely refused, but now she took the opportunity just to get away from the accusing looks that came from both her father and stepmother.
She knew they blamed her. But then why shouldn't they? Her story about Toby being kidnapped wasn't a complete falsehood, she'd merely...twisted the truth a little.
That's when she heard it. She stopped dead in her tracks. It sounded like the rustling of feathers.
Then she felt it, warm breath on the side of her neck. "Hello Sarah, did you miss me?"
Sarah jerked away as she whirled around to face The Goblin King in all his glory. "Jareth! Stay away from me. I mean it..." She began to back away slowly. How had he gotten into the real world? She'd thought she had a few weeks or months. Apparently she'd underestimated him, and now she had to pay.
Jareth stepped toward her, matching her every step backward. He stared into the depths of the eyes that had defied him like no other. She couldn't hide her true emotions from him. He saw fear in her eyes. But then, why shouldn't she fear him? "Frightened, Sarah?"
Sarah swallowed hard. "God, why can't you just leave me alone!" Her voice came out in a whimper. She cursed herself inwardly for showing her fear of him. She didn't want him to have the pleasure of knowing she feared him as much as she hated him.
He tilted his head as he walked toward her. "You played the game, Sarah. You lost. You belong to me. But unfortunately, I can't take you back to the Underground until you say the words yourself or someone wishes you away." His voice and eyes held their usual mocking. Sarah was more frightened than she'd ever been in her entire life, but her old confidence was swiftly returning to her.
"What do you mean?" she asked quietly, firmly. Suddenly she felt her back hit a tree. Jareth stepped up to her, placing his hands on either side of her head. His body was so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. She could feel his warm, sweet breath on her. With surprising gentleness he reached out, his gloved hand trailing up her neck. She shivered involuntarily at the touch.
"Your dear Step-Mother's not all that fond of you. What if the book should somehow fall into her hands…?" He let the sentence hang in the air. His lips where curled up into a cruel smirk as Sarah gasped in horror. "You played my game and by my rules, Sarah. You can't escape me." Sarah tried to move slightly away from his burning touch, but he merely leaned closer, trapping her more tightly between the tree and his body. "Somehow you managed to escape, Sarah, and I will have my revenge for your running. I'm going to make your life," he leaned closer to her, his lips gently touching her earlobe as he spoke, "a living hell."
Her fear and confidence decided quickly to take each other's side, for she shoved Jareth away with all her strength. Surprisingly Jareth moved easily, perhaps not expecting her to do that. Sarah wasted no time taking off in a full scale run toward her house.
Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum and her legs and chest felt as though they where on fire. Fear fueled her and she ran faster then she'd ever thought possible. She felt a small smile come onto her face as her home came into view. She craned her neck over her shoulder as she looked for the shape of the infamous Goblin King. She didn't see him, but she could hear the 'clickety click' of his boots on the concrete.
The wind seemed to pick up around her. Forcing her back toward the way she'd come. The wind was wild and untamed as it struck out at her. Finally she slipped and fell down hard on her knees and hands. Grunting in pain she pushed herself back up, only to see a pair of black boots right in front of her. Slowly she raised her eyes to meet the mismatched ones of Jareth. Slowly she stood. It was then she recalled something he'd said to her near when she'd nearly beaten him.
["Sarah, beware. I have been generous up until now, but I can be cruel."]
Yes, he was cruel. Cautiously, she stood. She glanced over her shoulder at her home. She returned her gaze to Jareth who took a step toward her. Her fear took over, and she screamed at him, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!" She kicked at him, missing completely.
Jareth raised an elegant eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected such a childish act from a girl he admired so for her defiance and confidence. "But our game has merely just begun," he said calmly.
Sarah swallowed hard, grasping at anything to keep her calm. "I refuse to play any of your games Jareth. As you said earlier I have to wish myself back into the Underground, or you can't take me."
He smiled wickedly, "Oh, my dear Sarah, I can make you want to. You'll be begging me..."
Sarah let out a terrified cry and bolted toward her house, slamming the door behind her. Jareth walked after her letting out a small, almost delighted sigh. Oh, how he did enjoy the hunt!
She sat down on the couch, tears flowing freely. She'd never been so terrified in her entire life. At that moment the door unlocked by itself and Jareth walked in.
"You didn't really think that would stop me, did you?" he asked, his tone as mocking as always. "Besides, we were having a delightful conversation before you so rudely ran away."
Sarah backed away toward the stairs, turning and racing up to her room. "GO AWAY!"
Smirking slightly, the Goblin King made himself disappear then reappear in the doorway just after the frightened girl raced in. He shut the door calmly. "Now, where were we? Oh yes, I was about to start making your life hell."
"You have no power over me!" Sarah said desperately, hoping against hope that he would disappear at those words, but he did not.
He raised an eyebrow consideringly. "You didn't really believe that would work, did you? It would have in the Labyrinth within the 13 hours that we were playing a game." He made a small crystal appear in his hands. Didn't she know his power by now? One would think she would. She'd been around him long enough. Sarah lifted her chin, forcing back her fear and filling herself with that familiar defiance and confidence. "Ah yes, that confidence of yours. You were truly a match for me, Sarah, truly. It's time to begin a new game." He stepped closer to her. Amusement lit his eyes when she didn't retreat in fear.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, suddenly realizing something. "What do you mean? How did you get here anyway? No one called you." She realized then, that she had called him before during their first encounter.
He smirked, amused. "You don't think I have to be called to come into your realm, do you? I can come here anytime I wish."
"SARAH! Are you in there!" Sarah's eyes switched to her door as she heard her father outside it.
He bared his teeth into something that was definitely not a smile. "The game's begun, Sarah. Let's see if its such a 'piece of cake' this time." With that he disappeared in a flash of glitter. She sat down numbly on her bed as her father entered.
"Sarah?"
Sarah glanced up at her father. "Yes?" thinking he'd probably heard the whole incident between her and Goblin King.
Karen walked up behind him, "We've decided that maybe we need to all spend a little time apart from one another, which is why I… We have decided to send you to live with some relatives, the Parkers. They live in Roswell, New Mexico. It's just until you finish school."
Sarah stared, her mouth agape. "You're sending me away?" she said, her voice soft and full of hurt. Though she realized partly that this could be good thing since Jare- The Goblin King was after her.
Her father shook his head slightly, "No, we just think we all need to spend a little more time apart."
Sarah stared down dejectedly. They were sending her away. To Roswell, New Mexico. To live with people she'd never even met before. It was like her entire world was falling down.
["As the world falls down..."] Sarah shook her head slightly as Jareth's song entered her mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~When Sarah arrives In Roswell~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sarah held her suitcase securely in one hand. Karen had brought her here, given her directions, then driven off like a bat outta hell. Giving her that 'I-hate-you-look' with every mile of the way. She was obviously happy to be rid of Sarah. She and Sarah had never really gotten along; Sarah had always been a reminder to the woman that she was not the first. She'd barely given Sarah time to pack. Sarah brought only a change of clothes, a journal, her Music Box, The Labyrinth, and the pendant of Jareth's. She found she could leave nothing so closely tied to the Labyrinth behind.
"The Crash Down..." She glanced around before finally seeing it. Taking a deep breath she walked inside, hoping her so-called cousin, Liz Parker, would be there.
Liz and Maria sat silently in the booth with the 4 aliens. They all looked up at the sound of someone entering the diner. They all stared at her in shook. Was that her? Was that Sarah Williams? The girl was stunning even at the age of 15. Her long hair as black as a raven's wing, it fell down over her small shoulders like a river. Her skin was a pale perfect white and petal smooth. Her eyes were an amazing deep chocolate brown, but strangely, they seemed to hold sadness within them.
Putting on a small smile, Sarah walked over toward the table.
"Are you Liz Parker?" she asked nervously, hoping she wasn't about to make a fool of herself.
Liz gave her a wide smile, "Yes, you must be Sarah." Sarah nodded as Liz stepped out of the booth, taking Sarah's suitcase into her hands. "I'll go put your stuff up in my room, we'll be sharing. You sit down and mingle with Maria and the others."
She was gone before Sarah could even say a word. Slowly she sat down, casting them all a nervous smile.
"Well," the one with short black hair started to say. He had a serious face with piercing dark eyes, "I'm Max Evens, and this is my sister Isabel." He pointed across from him. His sister was beautiful, there was no denying that with her long blonde hair and dark eyes, like Max's. "And this," he pointed to the guy on the right of him, "is Michael." He was good-looking in a bad boy kind of way. "And this is," he pointed to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl next to him, "is Tess." He pointed to the girl sitting next to Sarah. "And that is Maria."
Sarah gave them all a shy little smile. "Hello, its very nice to meet you all." She paused then said, "So, what's it like living in Roswell?"
Maria grinned. "Well it's actually pretty boring, not that many aliens stop in to say hello." They all laughed at her little joke, though Sarah realized, Max, Tess, Michael and Isabel seemed to force their laughter.
Sarah laughed a little. "Really? I've never really believed in that stuff. I mean, I think there's other life aside from our own somewhere…maybe not in our own universe but somewhere."
Max smiled slightly. "Maybe. But what makes you think they aren't just abducting cows or something right now?"
Sarah brushed a stray strand of dark hair behind her shoulder as she responded. "Maybe they are. But the research they would get from it would most likely be faulty. I mean if they wanted to learn more about Humans, why take a species that is so different from a human being?
Max cocked an eyebrow. "So you think they're just abducting humans all the time?"
Sarah stared him in the eye. "I don't know. I would hope they would be a little different from our own species, with whom if you're even suspected of being an alien you get thrown into some government project. But then, I guess you and I won't ever really know, will we?"
Max nodded, somewhat stiffly. "Maybe not."
"So, Sarah, how long are you staying in Roswell?" Maria asked, trying to turn the subject away from Aliens.
Sarah turned to face to Maria. "Until I finish school."
She nodded, "Oh." That's when she noticed something glinting around her neck. "Where did you get that?"
Sarah looked down, lifting the pendant up slightly from her neck. "T-this? It's nothing, just something a friend gave me before I left." She let it fall back under her T-shirt.
"Oh."
Sarah turned just in time to see Liz walk back in. "Hey, I left your stuff on the spare bed. If you want, you can start working in the diner with me and Maria."
Sarah nodded, "Sure, I'd like that."
Liz smiled. "Great."
Sarah finally thought that things where going to change for her. Maybe here, in this town of Roswell she could start over. Chances were that Jareth would never find her and she would be safe. Despite this, she knew she would never forget her baby brother Toby. Little did Sarah know that her small little secure world she had only just found was soon going to come crashing down around her and that the people she'd just met where not at all that they seemed. But then there was already something that Sarah thought was a little strange about them.
But who was she to pass judgment? She wasn't all that normal either.
A.N.-And we stop there today. ^_^I hope this chapter wasn't too dull^_^