Hi everyone, sorry that it's been a while since I posted but life has a nasty way of getting in the way. Hey, every free time I get I'm working on these stories of mine, promise. Well I like to thank all that have reviewed and for all of you that are being patient with me. I promise it will be worth the wait. When I get that nasty writers block I go back and look over my reviews and it always brings a happy smile to my face. You guys are the best and keep me going. I'll stop babling now and let you get to the story. Enjoy!
To What May Come
Ch.22
Cool silk caressed softly across her skin as she stirred, moving her legs she relaxed in a feeling of luxury. Turning from her side, she laid on her back allowing her arm to move up, her hand resting against the soft plump pillows above her head. This was heaven and she never wanted to open her eyes. Large warm hands caressing her cheek gently stirred her eyes from their closure. Looking up, a feeling of panic overwhelmed her as she saw to whom this touch emanated from.
Fayla tried to push herself up from lying down but Varden had her pinned to the bed with his power. She whimpered from the knowledge that she was at his mercy and her inability to fight his holding on her. The bastard before her had murdered her husband; tears bordered her deep green eyes.
Gently, he wiped away the lone tear that escaped from her now closed lids, "Such beauty, cry not my lovely; we will be one soon enough. I've waited for so long to have you in my bed."
Varden leaned forward pressing his lips hungrily to hers as he slid his hands around her small waist pulling her towards him so that he could deepen that kiss. Hissing out in pain, he pulled back suddenly, the taste of blood in his mouth.
She cringed back as his hand flew back ready to strike but the blow did not come. Instead of being struck as she had fully expected, she heard him laugh darkly.
"By the powers, you make my blood burn for you! I've forgotten that fiery spirit of yours. Oh, how I've missed it!" Varden rose from the bed as he walked around to the other side of it, watching her every move as she struggled against his hold. She was only succeeding in making herself weaker.
"I remember when you melted within my touch and looked forward to our rendezvous. So much passion within you then!" his eyes darkened as he continued on, sitting on the other side of her, "Then HE came along and took you from me. I could have given you everything and yet you turned away from ME!"
Fayla flinched at the intensity of his last statement, her eyes ablaze with anger, "Yes you could have, everything but love. I was a possession to you nothing more. You're an evil monster unable to love!"
Gently, he caressed her cheek, tracing the smooth contours of her face before roughly grabbing her by the chin forcing her eyes to meet with his, "If I were the monster you claim me to be, I would ravage you here and now!"
Roughly releasing his grasp of her chin, he rose from the bed once again, only this time he paced before the bed, "For years because of you and that damned king of yours, I have been banished from my place amongst the court. I have suffered alienation, deprived of what should be mine, and had to hide away until I could increase my powers to return."
Fayla watched with dread as he paced before her, watched as he stopped his pace and leaned against the bedpost, "And still I hold this hunger for YOU. Is that not love?"
She shook her head in return, "If you love me then set me free."
Varden's lips slowly edged into a feral grin, "Nice try, my precious, but I have not waited this long for this opportunity just to let you go."
She could only close her eyes in response, a silent sob escaping her lips. How she wished she never had met this dark Fae! She was so young then, how could she have known what he truly was. His station and his looks had fogged her judgment and only when during his courtship of her did she see his true form.
Gaylon had been her savior, her soul mate. When she first laid eyes on him she knew that they were meant for one another. She had tried to break things off with Varden, but he would not hear of it, so she went to the Goblin King. Oh, if only Lady Elizabeth had not introduced her to him! But Elizabeth was as blinded as she was to his charms.
Mesmerized by the steady rise and fall of her chest, he licked his lips hungrily. He could easily take her, but he wanted to make their union special and besides, he would have plenty of time once his plans had fallen through. It was only a matter of time.
Varden grinned as an idea formed in his head; she would surely appreciate this gift. Approaching her form, he sat beside her on the soft mattress of the bed his eyes fixed on her lips, her skin.
She wanted to hit him, lash out at him in some way but she felt so weak. As he sat beside her yet again her eyes widened as she saw the look within his eyes. What was he up to now?
Tracing her lips with his fingers he lowered towards her ear and huskily whispered, "Before I leave you to attend to my plans, I have a parting gift that I know that you will enjoy. Call it a taste of what is to come."
Heart racing, she had the sinking suspicion she knew what he was about to do. She was able to move slightly away from him, but that was all. The grin on his face sent a cold chill down her spine.
His deep green eyes raked over her now trembling form, studying the curves of her body. The thin red silken sheets and the beige silken nightgown that covered her skin clung so flatteringly against her body. Focussing his power within his hands, he slowly passed over her body a shimmer of purple light consuming her within its wake as it followed his path.
The sensations running through her sent out a cry from her lips as her back arched from the pleasure. Her mind was fogged by the ecstasy raking her body. She didn't want to feel this from him, but her body betrayed her heart. Fayla could not focus as the cloud completely swept over her. As she rose higher and higher, her hands grabbed up the sheets that lay beneath her reach as they tightened into balled fist.
He was fascinated by her response, a wicked gleam within his eyes as he watched her writhe from his power. Finished with his gift, he watched as her body went limp, exhausted from the pleasure he had given. Oh, the things one can learn by studying the black arts!
Satisfied, he vanished from beside her to attend to his plans. Fayla was so exhausted she could not even muster up the strength to cry. Eyes closing as sleep took its hold; she mentally cursed him for the violation he had just administered. She hated herself for the fact that she enjoyed it.
Sarah was so innocent and the thought of that vermin who called himself Varden touching her... A roar escaped his lips as his fists slammed into the stonewall beside him. The pain from the impact bringing him no satisfaction, as his breathing was now labored and he could feel that he had broken a few bones, nothing that a healing spell would not fix.
Jareth bothered not with healing his self-inflicted wound, as the pain was a distraction from the pain within his heart, though it was not much of one. His powers were useless in locating both Sarah and Fayla as Varden's powers were proving to be almost, and he hated to admit it, equal to his own.
He needed something to break through Varden's blocking his powers from seeing where he was hidden. Sarah was alive, of that he was sure. He would have sensed it if she had met that fait, besides, Varden was not that stupid.
Determined in her decision Lady Elizabeth marched down the halls towards where she knew the throne room would be. They had heard no news as to what was being done by the King to get both Lady Sarah and Fayla back and she could not stand by and wait any longer. The more time that was allowed to pass by while they were in that animal's possession the more likely they would not be returned unharmed. He was a sick bastard that should have been put out of everyone's misery a long time ago.
Rounding a corner she almost plowed into Lord Cunningham. Stumbling back slightly, she felt his strong hands catching her gently by the arms, preventing her from falling.
As soon as he saw the expression on her face he knew that she was about to do something without thinking and that could get her into trouble. "Lady Elizabeth, are you all right?"
Elizabeth pulled away from his grasp only to be held tightly into place, "Lord Cunningham, unhand me please."
"Elizabeth, I know that look," he gently spoke to her, his eyes seeking hers and holding them within his gaze, "Do not be foolish."
Her brows rose at this, "Foolish! I assure you, Sir, that I am anything but foolish. His majesty has told us nothing of Fayla and Sarah. They are my friends and I will not stand idly by, doing nothing while that cretin has them!"
Cunningham looked to her with compassion, "It is probably because he is too busy in trying to get them back. I think it best to not disturb him now."
Her determination was quickly dwindling as she saw the logic in his words. Though Cunningham was most probably right, she could not stand idly by and do nothing, "You're probably right, but still I need to do something."
Gently stroking her soft cheek, he knew that she would not deter from her decision, "I will go with you then, we will see his majesty together." Taking her hand in his, they started towards the throne room.
Purple eyes looked out over the vast forest before him, the horse shifting nervously underneath him. Leaning forward, he stroked the horse's mane, soothing the animal's startled nerves. The forest was darker than he had remembered and the horse was sensing that darkness. Edward could not wait within the castle and do nothing; he had to find them.
"Edward, we need to be careful here. There is dark magic within this place, its…" Armand could not finish his statement as he could not find the appropriate words to finish it.
Looking towards his friend, Edward nodded in response, "I know, but I will not turn back. I owe her that." Turning his full focus to his friend, he continued, "You can turn back if you wish. I would not hold it against you."
Armand looked to Edward with an expression of disbelief, "Not going to happen! You, my friend, are stuck with me." The dark elf shook his head as he motioned for them to continue on, his light blue eyes searching their surroundings closely.
Having healed his hand, Jareth gazed coldly out of the window of the throne room, his mind searching for a means to break through Varden's shielding that was keeping Sarah and Fayla from him. He had used his crystals, his powers, and had only come close to finding them. If he had only arrived sooner...
The presence of two Fae entering his throne room stirred him from his musings. Turning, he saw that it was Lord Cunningham and Lady Elizabeth, he already knew why they were here, "Now is not really a good time and before you ask, no, I have yet to find them."
Elizabeth frowned, but she would not just leave, there had to be something that she could do, "Your majesty, surely there is something that we can do to help."
Jareth's light brow arched upwards at this, "And what exactly can you do that I have yet not tried? I know your relationship with both Fayla and Sarah and I am thankful of your want to help, but there is nothing that you can do."
Lord Cunningham pulled Elizabeth back as she tried to step forward and whispered in her ear, "He's right, Elizabeth."
Glaring at Cunningham she freed herself from his hold and approached the King, "Please your majesty, I can not just sit by and do nothing." Her eyes met with his, her expression pained, "If only I never introduced him to Fayla maybe…"
Jareth's expression softened, "Lady Elizabeth, none of this is your fault. It is I who should feel responsible. I was too lenient towards him and should have ended his life long ago, but what is in the past is in the past. There is no changing what has already been done."
She was doubtful of his words, if she had only seen through his charms and known what a vile and deceiving Fae that he was. Looking down to the floor she balled her hands into fist. No, they should not blame themselves! If anyone is to blame, it was Varden himself.
Stepping forwards, Jareth placed his hand on her shoulder making her look up at him, "There is something that you could do for me."
She brightened at his words, "Anything!"
His smile was a sad one as he said his words, "His powers have grown and have blocked my every attempt in finding them. I need the Dragon's Scepter."
A gasp left her lips as she stepped away from his grasp, "But, majesty, it can kill any who tries to use it! It's too dangerous. If you were killed, who would be able to find Sarah and Fayla and…"
"I have to take that chance, the longer I wait the more danger they are in. I ask that you take me to it." His eyes held hers begging her silently to do as he asked.
Lord Cunningham stood back watching the whole display, not sure as to what was going on. The Dragon's Scepter was supposed to be myth, told to scare children or to entertain. Stepping forwards, he looked to the two, "But the Scepter is myth."
Elizabeth turned towards Cunningham at the sound of his voice, she had forgotten that he was there, "The more who believe it a myth, the safer it is from being in the wrong hands."
Forming crystal in hand, he looked to Cunningham, "We can discuss this another time. As for the Scepter, time is short."
Swallowing, Elizabeth took the offered crystal, "I am against this, but I don't know what else we can do. I will take you to its hiding place, but before we go…" turning to Cunningham, "please say nothing to anyone about this. Whoever asks for our whereabouts, just tell them that you do not know."
Cunningham stepped forward at this point, "No, I'm going with you."
About to argue Jareth answered, "Very well, but be forewarned, the Dragon Scepter and its location must be kept secret."
Nodding in agreement, he watched as Elizabeth looked from him to the King and then towards the crystal. Cunningham's eyes were drawn towards the crystal as it began to glow. A flash of light illuminated the room and as its glow disappeared, glitter drifted within the air, the throne room empty.