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The Same Moon
Chapter 3
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Soft chimes of melody echoed within the fantasy of the crystal ball, and Sarah knew where she was. Could she ever forget? Even after dreaming of the ball constantly, everytime she was here she seemed to forget who she was, where she was, and the defences she had built up for herself.
Enclosed in her crystal ball she was under the mercy of her own subconscious, of her own dreams and desires. Dreams she didn't even know she possessed and desires she had been trying to forget.
Yet again she was the sparkling rose in a bed of thorns. Reflected everywhere were a million mocking faces, whispering, jeering, pointing. The trembling and unsure young woman attempted to avoid the million sneering eyes not at all hidden by disfigured masks which only emphasized their tainted and cruel expressions.
But nothing really mattered, all that she knew was that she had to find him......
The familiar tune played in her ears hauntingly and she pushed with force past a million blocking bodies parading in front of her. Tempting her and laughing at her. Women in bustieres and heavy makeup scorned at her, looking in pity at the innocent figure of the girl. Whilst men pressed their heavy sweaty bodies against Sarah's, whispering crude and vile offers into her ears.
A horrified expression glazed Sarah's face causing laughter to reverberate even louder in her ears. So loudly she feared her ear drums would burst. Clamping her hands to her ears, Sarah pushed past the million corrupting presences, fearing for her soul, and scanned the crowds looking for a face which wore no mask.
While Sarah still frantically searched through the mass of bodies, oblivious to her a million hungry eyes were studying her. Each one intoxicated by the innocence of the radiant young girl, not as young as the first time she had entered the masquerade but still young that it would be all so delicious to defile her, but that was not to be their pleasure.
Glimpsing a familiar flash of glitter and shining blonde hair, like a butterfly trapped in a spider's web, she struggled to free herself from the clamour of bodies fascinated by her fresh allure.
She attempted to escape searching hands which clutched all over her body, all over her long dark hair braided with lace, over her legs, her breasts and her arms. The dress was different to the one she had worn as a fifteen year old, still white, but instead a tight corset laced at the back exposed bare arms and a plunging neckline complemented by a stunning diamond necklace which hung over pale skin. The skirt was still full but not large, and a slit near her right leg exposed white flesh as she ran, managing to escape from the crowd.
Sensing his presence behind her she halted and spun quickly. For a moment their eyes locked and she felt a burning desire in her stomach. The uncomfortable look upon her face dropped, and her lower lip trembled in uncertainty, his stare was so penetrating. But before she could reach him a horde of people gathered around her once more obscuring her view. When she lifted herself higher on her feet to see over the mass of people he was gone.
Sarah slapped away a hand of a man wearing a contorted mask with only horns distinguishable, which, unbeknownst to her, had trailed its way to the top of an exposed thigh. Turning away from Sarah the man laughed, and feeling suddenly embarrassed and uncomfortable she freed herself once more and no longer concerned with her the crowd dispersed.
The music still thumped in a haunting melody seemingly to the beat of her rushing heart, Sarah sighed, fearing she would never find him.
But unknown to her amidst the multitude of couples rubbing against eachother erotically attempting to chide the girl, a figure stood, adoring women clinging to him, hanging on to his every word, whilst he paid them not even a glance. He was concerned only with the figure making it's way slowly towards him.
Sarah hung her head, almost defeated, but when she lifted it she found herself staring straight into the eyes of the Goblin King.
Women lay their heads on his shoulder and held on to his clothing, staring at her in jealousy and contempt, faces distorted with scowls. He parted gracefully from them and the women stepped back. Watching with burning envy as the King guided the hands of the girl, frozen in uncertainty, around his neck then placed his own on her slim waist and they began to sway to the music. Both paid no attention to the jealous eyes of those around them.
His stare was penetrating and at first Sarah ached to look away, it was too exposed but after a while she let herself match it and the King's mouth dropped open slightly in shock and curiosity. He had expected her to be so easily intimidated but she met his eyes with equality and defiance, allowing his lips to curl into a slight smile they continued to dance. The girl's own shocked expression now replaced with confidence and certainty.
Where he had expected her to tremble, she was still, where he had expected her cheeks to redden they remained pale and fresh and where he expected her breathing to quicken when he pressed her body forcefully close to his own, it remained even and composed.
Still perplexed, but nonetheless pleased, he trailed his hands over the intricately laced back of her corset, and over the smooth milky white skin of her shoulders, pushing her further into his body, and was surprised when he felt her hands trailing down from his neck and straying delicately to rest on his chest. She continued to smooth them over every inch of material and the King swallowed. She wasn't meant to be like this, she was meant to be corruptible, innocent, like she was before. But still enjoying the sensation, he allowed her to continue her explorations over his abdomen, and he closed his eyes briefly still revelling at her featherlike touch.
A shock. So different to the sensations of before, and Jareth felt a painful ache in his stomach. Throbbing in such frenzy that his whole body shook and he was forced to break the tight embrace, bringing his gloved hands to clutch his stomach. He stepped backwards. Quivering with each step, pain coursing through his body from his abdomen. God it was so strong, so strong, like somebody had stabbed him, his eyes narrowed...
Like somebody had stabbed him.
He brought his leather clad hands way from his stomach, wincing as he felt another jolt of pain, and they were covered in red liquid. Glancing down he saw blood gushing from his wound, seeping through his white shirt onto his glittering blue jacket.
And as he always seemed to feel when he was in this girl's presence. The King felt powerless.
He looked upwards, his breaths now short and long between, shaking his head in disbelief.
She stood there a silver dagger in her right hand, blood dripping from it onto the pearl white of her skirt. A blank, bewildered expression on her beautiful, young face.
He felt his legs collapse beneath him and he landed on his back on the floor. Immediately, like scavengers, a crowd formed around him, leaving a confused and shaking Sarah on the edge to merely stare at the weapon in her hand. Each of his subjects held a similar dagger in their hands and sneered at their King, then plunged their own daggers repeatedly into his body, his legs, his arms, his chest, sparing only his face.
His numerous grunts of pains, only just audible over the music in the background, it's rhythm now slow but still haunting, Sarah broke out of her trance and she dropped the dagger to the ground her body now shaking almost uncontrollably. In what felt like slow motion, she fought her way through the crowds to him, to Jareth. It cleared almost willingly in front of her and a million taunting faces stared at her blankly, then laughed and resumed their dancing.
Left on the floor was a figure, barely moving, eyes shut tightly, blood flowing strongly to form a river which touched at Sarah's feet.
She fell to her knees by his head and felt for a heart beat. It was there. It was faint and almost gone, but it was there and she knew he didn't have long. Tears now flowing freely from her eyes she shook the King by his shoulders, attempting to wake him. After what seemed like an eternity his eyes fluttered opened, and narrowed in an expression before indescribable but now clear. That same look when she had thrown everything he had done for her back in his face, when he had told her that she was cruel.
Betrayal.
Betrayal and hurt. He had given her everything and now she had.....Oh God, she wasn't sure what she had done. But it must have been something because now Jareth was dying from a stab wound inflicted by the dagger that was in her hand.
The cruelty and grave look from his eyes softened somewhat and he attempted to chuckle. A look of irony and bemusement upon his pale face. Sarah was sobbing now and mumbling incoherently.
"I didn't mean to, I, I...I never thought..... "
Her words seemed to make him laugh even more and she saw his face contort in pain at the mere effort. He shook his head trying to capture some breath, but instead he only spluttered more blood, which made Sarah sob even stronger in anguish. His eyes narrowed in confusion.
"I asked for so little," His voice was so faint, a mere whisper, paling in comparison to the strong arrogant tones that usually rang from his voice. Sarah had never seen him so defenceless, so broken, so unable to understand, and it was all because of her. She brought her finger to his lips to stop him from speaking as it only seemed to hurt him further.
Grimacing in pain, the agony eminent on his usually composed and handsome features, he brought up his own trembling hand to capture her own and Sarah allowed him to guide it so that it rested on his abdomen where blood was flowing freely escaping between her fingers.
He swallowed painfully and looked straight at her, his expression blank, as if he was seeing her in a completely different light. His lips parted,
"So cruel," He whispered shaking his head, "So cruel."
And Sarah felt like someone had plunged an unforgiving dagger into her chest as well.
Suddenly his eyes and his whole face twisted in agony and hurt, his mouth open, pleading for air, and then he was gone. His face relaxed and his head rolled to one side. She closed her eyes, this couldn't be happening. Not now, not ever, she shook her head refusing to believe he was gone. Refusing to look at her blood covered dress, refusing to look at the corpse of the once magnificent Goblin King.
In her grief, Sarah heard a loud piercing scream; wild and grief stricken. But, she didn't seem to notice as the intensity and suffering of the scream smashed the crystal walls and the whole ballroom erupted in chaos. But what she did finally notice was that the scream and the pain filled cries were coming from her own lips.
Sarah shot upright from a deep sleep. Her legs were sweaty and wrapped in the silk sheets where she had been twisting and turning in the fitful slumber of sleep.
A dream, a dream, she assured herself. Merely a dream. Surely she was allowed a nightmare after all that she had been through? But Sarah knew that her justifications were half hearted. She felt like someone had just ripped her soul out, her breathing was heavy and her heart still raced.
And for the first time in two years Sarah gave in and allowed herself to cry, anguished sobs ringing out into an empty night.
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