Unearthly Love Part Two by The Fae Gatekeeper of Dreams
The crystal ball rang with magic as he continued to stare. She
had turned into a storyteller of sorts, creating tales to escape the torture
of her abusive childhood and the many foster homes that never loved her.
Now she worked as a nanny in a wealthly family and although the adults
were cold and harsh, she found delight in the children she cared for. At
night she would look upon the youths as she shared the same innocence and
would weave tales of fairy princes, forebidden castles, and beautiful fair
maidens.
Yet no matter how many times she described beautiful women, few were
as beautiful as she and Jareth knew this as he watched her. Her red hair
swayed around her face in waves of fire that enhanced her smile, bringing
light to even the darkest room. And her eyes, oh yes those deep blue eyes
that revealed intense emotion in even the shortest tale she told. He had
to have her.
And it was interesting she was hired to take care of children.
Yes children. Most of the goblins here were children at one time. Stolen from those who didn't seem to care anymore about their well being but stolen nonetheless. No one could ever be happy to be denied to grow and learn and just remain stupid all their lives. But there was someone else he actually allowed to grow and learn instead of remaining a young inexperienced fool. It was the last piece of his wife he had, and even though he never showed love for him, he felt happiness in his ability to control him.
"Jerin!" he called as he sat on his thrown in the dirty, disorganized throne room, "Come!"
In moment a tall man appeared. Almost a carbon copy of his father Jerin held an emotionless yet handsome face and walked with a calm, confident stride. His eyebrows were not arched however but his eyes were just as blue as he addressed Jareth, "Yes?"
Jareth stood from his throne, "I need more...servants." he glanced around the gray and brown walled room noting there were few goblins about.
"Very well." his son responded, "Any 'servant' you had in mind?"
Jareth smiled sensing the obedience of his son. The only question he asked was to please the goblin king offering a preference. He walked closer, the black cloak about him swirling as he moved, "There is a rich family with a nanny. The nanny is a storyteller. I want you to get her attention for me yet don't let her know. To do this just steal one of the youths for me. I'll do the rest later."
Jerin nodded, "Seems easy enough. Show me where."
Jareth held up a crystal ball and Jerin looked into it. There they saw a small room with a sleeping child. "Just watch the room my son and you'll be there. You know how to get back."
Jerin nodded and wrapped the white cloak around his body as he disappeared. How much he looked like his father. Even the clothes he wore were of different colors but magically shifted and swirled around him with every step. He did not have the wisdom of his father and therefore cowered before him constantly. Yet deep inside he had the same power.
Slowly but surely he faded into the room. It didn't seem as glamorous as the crystal ball showed but he wasn't here for the scenery, he was here for a child. Walking over to a crib nearby he found one. Sure there might be more in the house but this one would be fine for now. He picked the baby up in his arms.
The child awoke instantly and began to cry. Jerin was not expecting this but began to concentrate on his father's throne room in his mind, knowing that would bring him there soon. But what he really wasn't expecting was for footsteps to be heard so quickly outside the door and in an instant see the most incredible sight he ever saw.
The door flew open and there was the storyteller of Jareth's dreams. Her long red hair framing a face full of worry and concern. When she saw the tall man holding the child she gasped in shock. Jerin was so astounded upon seeing her he could not move. It was something about her beyond her beauty. It was her eyes, eyes that radiated an innocence he'd never seen before. How many times Jareth stole innocence from so many people Jerin could not count. It was her expression of woe she carried that made him freeze, how could he do anything to harm this enchanting woman?
She stepped closer into the light, "Who are you?" she asked, "Please put he baby down."
Jerin stood there still in awe yet remembering his father muttered, "I need him."
"No..no you don't." she shuddered evident intense fear was stirring within. She felt as if she was the weak helpless one in the situation, yet it was he who was actually weak. He bit his lower lip as she continued to speak, "Anything...take anything. Me instead. I don't know who you are but please leave him."
"I...will." he replied and walked over to put the baby back in the crib. "I...couldn't do anything to hurt you. What is your name?"
She looked at him strangely but asked no questions and smiled with relief as he put the child down. "Estella. And thank you very much."
"Estella.." he muttered as a tear fell from his eye as he became
even more entranced by her presence. But her presence did not remain as
he began to see the room around him fading away.