AN:Okay first things first, thanks to all the readers that review big hugs,
thank you guys. And Scattered Logic--cheers for all the brilliant beta
reading and for pointing out what you did. And heaps of thanks to, Cormack,
Hooded Crow and again Scattered Logic for all the moral support and praise.
You guys rock! And if anyone out there hasn't read their stories you don't
know what you're missing!!!
That done I'll explain why this chapter took so long. First-This chapter and the next have been written for a while but I didn't want to send them out till I'd written the epilogue. But I'm having loads of trouble writing that so I thought that if I sent this out, and the next chap tomorrow maybe I'd get the kick up the bum that I need. Your reviews will help!!!
Also due to all the controversy surrounding ratings at the moment, the next chapter will be rated 'R' and the story will be archived there. Sorry for the inconvenience this causes anyone too young to read 'R' rated materiel.
Oh well here's the chapter, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Are you kidding?
Mine
Preparation
Jareth stood in Sarah's chamber. In his hand he held a crystal, for the last hour he'd been trying to see her, but to no avail.
Going over what Thea had told him, he shuddered. Taren and Rupart's nefarious acts had been going on for the past couple of years, right under his nose, and he'd never noticed. He felt like a fool.
When he'd asked Thea why no one had told him sooner, she had answered that all the serving staff was afraid of Taren. And that Taren had let it be known to all that she was the King's mistress, and that she would make sure that he would never believe whoever it was that told.
He recalled Sarah's words from last night while they had been arguing. What had Taren told her that would make her say that?
"Jareth!" He could hear Sarah's scream clearly, as if she were standing in the same room.
She sounded scared.
He brought up the crystal and focused on it. There was still nothing there.
The crystal flew across the room, shattering on impact when it hit the stone wall.
Jareth forced himself to calm down. The last thing he needed to do now was lose his temper. He had to find a way to get to Sarah.
And from the sound of her scream he didn't have much time.
Sarah slowly opened her eyes, her head hurt. She tried to bring her hand up to her eyes, and found she couldn't move it.
Her wrists were tied to the sides of the chair.
Opening her mouth to scream, she realized her mouth hurt. Probing around with her tongue, she felt that the inside of her cheek was cut.
It must have happened when Rupart had hit her, she thought.
Licking her dry lips, she could taste blood--his from where she'd bitten him or hers from her mouth, she didn't know.
Raising her eyes, she found Taren watching her.
"So you're finally awake." Taren walked over to stand just at the side of Sarah. "As you can see, we've tied you down. Just your arms though. It's not like you can do any damage with your feet." Taren sneered down at Sarah's stomach, then at her legs. "I doubt you can lift them very far," she mocked.
Sarah experimented, Taren was right she couldn't lift her legs far; her stomach was too big and got in the way.
Sarah opened her mouth to ask Taren what they were going to do with her? But no sound came out. Panicked, she tried again, nothing.
Taren watched as Sarah tried to speak. She began to laugh.
Rupart walked in, his arms full of wood. "Whatcha laughing at?"
Taren pointed at Sarah. "Have you ever seen anything so funny? She looks just like a goldfish." Taren laughed even harder.
Rupart looked confused. "What's a goldfish?"
Taren stopped laughing and looked at him, her expression serious. "That's right, you don't remember, do you?"
Turning to Sarah, she said, "It's no use trying to speak, I've taken your voice." At Sarah's look, "Don't worry you can have it back in a day or two," turning back to the table to finish cutting up herbs with a small knife. She added, "It was a simple spell, no more than a charm really, so it doesn't last long." Taren sounded pleased with herself.
Sarah was frightened; there is something about having no voice. She felt weakened by it.
Taren and Rupart were across the room talking quietly to each other. Then Rupart walked toward her, drawing his sword as he came closer. Sarah started to fight the ropes that bound her. She was so frightened she thought she might pass out again.
Rupart laughed and placed the sword's tip against her throat; he let it rest there for a few minutes before taking it away again.
"As much as I'd love to see you bleed a little, we need you alive for a little while longer. What would we do with no bait?"
He then took what looked like string out of his pocket, and proceeded to wrap it around the hilt of the sword. Walking past Sarah, he walked out of the hut. Sarah could hear him banging around outside. A noise from the roof made her look up, directly above her head was a small hole. Through the hole came the tip of the sword, quickly followed by the hilt. The sword lowered until the tip was about four feet above her head. Sarah shrank down in her chair, afraid that the sword would fall. Some more bangs from the roof, and seconds later, Rupart walked in rubbing his hands.
"Well then Taren, what do think?" Rupart walked over to Taren and pulled her arm so she looked round.
Taking a good look, she walked around Sarah's chair, nodding her head. "That's amazing, I can't see the string at all! It helps that it's dark in here. You did tie the string securely, didn't you?"
Rupart gave Taren a long look.
"Yes, it's secure. I tied it to the main beam." He turned, took a fistful of Taren's hair and pulled it cruelly, yanking her toward him. Leaning down, he mashed his lips against hers. Taren put her arms around him and the kiss deepened. Rupart started running his hands up and down Taren's body while she gave little moans of pleasure.
Sarah looked away sickened, searching for something that would help her escape.
She was terrified. If she was bait that could only mean that the trap was for Jareth. As much as she wanted to indulge herself with a fit of hysterics, she knew she had to find a way out of this before Jareth came.
But then again, the way she'd left things the night before, what if he didn't come at all? Would they kill her if he didn't come?
The tears she had been successfully holding back came now. Bowing her head, she let them fall. If they killed her, her baby would die as well.
The thought clutched at her heart.
Then there was the thought that they might keep her here until she'd had her baby, thinking that would draw Jareth better than she could.
How would they treat the child? Suppose he cried too much and annoyed them? What would they do with him?
Thought after horrible thought flew through her mind, each one worse than the last--possible scenarios of what Taren and her equally crazy lover would do to her son.
Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and gave her head a sharp shake, trying to shake away the images of newspaper articles about battered children.
She had to be strong and find a way to escape.
Jareth would come, she told herself. If not for her, then for the baby. And when he did come and she was free, she would beg him to forgive her.
Forgive her for believing Taren's lies. Forgive her for leaving. She had so many things to make up for. And she would she would do anything he wanted if only he'd walk through the door.
Sarah bit her lip and tried to stop her tears. Now was not the time to panic or immerse herself in self pity. Now was time to think of a way to help Jareth when he got here.
Thinking of all the action movies she'd ever seen, she ran through the usual escape list.
She couldn't topple the chair over with her hands tied; she had no way to break her fall.
She couldn't cut the ropes, there was nothing to cut them with, she had no secreted knife stashed in her sleeve.
Plus, in all the action films she'd seen, none of the heroes or heroines had been nine months pregnant.
Sarah looked back at the kissing couple in time to see Taren pull away.
"We've no time for this now. I think it's time our guest joined us." Taren gave Rupart a wide smile.
Taren turned back and gathered a handful of herbs; she stood in front of a lit candle, and quoted.
Let all eyes be opened. Let everyone see. Gone is the mist hiding us. So mote it be.
So saying, she threw the herbs at the candle flame. A flash of light, and the candle went out.
Rupart walked over to a shadowy corner, and nodded to Taren.
She gave a squeal of excitement and called in a singsong voice. "Jareth oh Jareth."
Jareth examined the tracks in the mud; satisfied he was still on course, he changed back into his owl form.
Just then he heard his name being called.
Swooping down, the owl vanished.
Inside the hut, the three people waited.
AN:Look for the next part tomorrow. Rated 'R'
That done I'll explain why this chapter took so long. First-This chapter and the next have been written for a while but I didn't want to send them out till I'd written the epilogue. But I'm having loads of trouble writing that so I thought that if I sent this out, and the next chap tomorrow maybe I'd get the kick up the bum that I need. Your reviews will help!!!
Also due to all the controversy surrounding ratings at the moment, the next chapter will be rated 'R' and the story will be archived there. Sorry for the inconvenience this causes anyone too young to read 'R' rated materiel.
Oh well here's the chapter, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Are you kidding?
Mine
Preparation
Jareth stood in Sarah's chamber. In his hand he held a crystal, for the last hour he'd been trying to see her, but to no avail.
Going over what Thea had told him, he shuddered. Taren and Rupart's nefarious acts had been going on for the past couple of years, right under his nose, and he'd never noticed. He felt like a fool.
When he'd asked Thea why no one had told him sooner, she had answered that all the serving staff was afraid of Taren. And that Taren had let it be known to all that she was the King's mistress, and that she would make sure that he would never believe whoever it was that told.
He recalled Sarah's words from last night while they had been arguing. What had Taren told her that would make her say that?
"Jareth!" He could hear Sarah's scream clearly, as if she were standing in the same room.
She sounded scared.
He brought up the crystal and focused on it. There was still nothing there.
The crystal flew across the room, shattering on impact when it hit the stone wall.
Jareth forced himself to calm down. The last thing he needed to do now was lose his temper. He had to find a way to get to Sarah.
And from the sound of her scream he didn't have much time.
Sarah slowly opened her eyes, her head hurt. She tried to bring her hand up to her eyes, and found she couldn't move it.
Her wrists were tied to the sides of the chair.
Opening her mouth to scream, she realized her mouth hurt. Probing around with her tongue, she felt that the inside of her cheek was cut.
It must have happened when Rupart had hit her, she thought.
Licking her dry lips, she could taste blood--his from where she'd bitten him or hers from her mouth, she didn't know.
Raising her eyes, she found Taren watching her.
"So you're finally awake." Taren walked over to stand just at the side of Sarah. "As you can see, we've tied you down. Just your arms though. It's not like you can do any damage with your feet." Taren sneered down at Sarah's stomach, then at her legs. "I doubt you can lift them very far," she mocked.
Sarah experimented, Taren was right she couldn't lift her legs far; her stomach was too big and got in the way.
Sarah opened her mouth to ask Taren what they were going to do with her? But no sound came out. Panicked, she tried again, nothing.
Taren watched as Sarah tried to speak. She began to laugh.
Rupart walked in, his arms full of wood. "Whatcha laughing at?"
Taren pointed at Sarah. "Have you ever seen anything so funny? She looks just like a goldfish." Taren laughed even harder.
Rupart looked confused. "What's a goldfish?"
Taren stopped laughing and looked at him, her expression serious. "That's right, you don't remember, do you?"
Turning to Sarah, she said, "It's no use trying to speak, I've taken your voice." At Sarah's look, "Don't worry you can have it back in a day or two," turning back to the table to finish cutting up herbs with a small knife. She added, "It was a simple spell, no more than a charm really, so it doesn't last long." Taren sounded pleased with herself.
Sarah was frightened; there is something about having no voice. She felt weakened by it.
Taren and Rupart were across the room talking quietly to each other. Then Rupart walked toward her, drawing his sword as he came closer. Sarah started to fight the ropes that bound her. She was so frightened she thought she might pass out again.
Rupart laughed and placed the sword's tip against her throat; he let it rest there for a few minutes before taking it away again.
"As much as I'd love to see you bleed a little, we need you alive for a little while longer. What would we do with no bait?"
He then took what looked like string out of his pocket, and proceeded to wrap it around the hilt of the sword. Walking past Sarah, he walked out of the hut. Sarah could hear him banging around outside. A noise from the roof made her look up, directly above her head was a small hole. Through the hole came the tip of the sword, quickly followed by the hilt. The sword lowered until the tip was about four feet above her head. Sarah shrank down in her chair, afraid that the sword would fall. Some more bangs from the roof, and seconds later, Rupart walked in rubbing his hands.
"Well then Taren, what do think?" Rupart walked over to Taren and pulled her arm so she looked round.
Taking a good look, she walked around Sarah's chair, nodding her head. "That's amazing, I can't see the string at all! It helps that it's dark in here. You did tie the string securely, didn't you?"
Rupart gave Taren a long look.
"Yes, it's secure. I tied it to the main beam." He turned, took a fistful of Taren's hair and pulled it cruelly, yanking her toward him. Leaning down, he mashed his lips against hers. Taren put her arms around him and the kiss deepened. Rupart started running his hands up and down Taren's body while she gave little moans of pleasure.
Sarah looked away sickened, searching for something that would help her escape.
She was terrified. If she was bait that could only mean that the trap was for Jareth. As much as she wanted to indulge herself with a fit of hysterics, she knew she had to find a way out of this before Jareth came.
But then again, the way she'd left things the night before, what if he didn't come at all? Would they kill her if he didn't come?
The tears she had been successfully holding back came now. Bowing her head, she let them fall. If they killed her, her baby would die as well.
The thought clutched at her heart.
Then there was the thought that they might keep her here until she'd had her baby, thinking that would draw Jareth better than she could.
How would they treat the child? Suppose he cried too much and annoyed them? What would they do with him?
Thought after horrible thought flew through her mind, each one worse than the last--possible scenarios of what Taren and her equally crazy lover would do to her son.
Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and gave her head a sharp shake, trying to shake away the images of newspaper articles about battered children.
She had to be strong and find a way to escape.
Jareth would come, she told herself. If not for her, then for the baby. And when he did come and she was free, she would beg him to forgive her.
Forgive her for believing Taren's lies. Forgive her for leaving. She had so many things to make up for. And she would she would do anything he wanted if only he'd walk through the door.
Sarah bit her lip and tried to stop her tears. Now was not the time to panic or immerse herself in self pity. Now was time to think of a way to help Jareth when he got here.
Thinking of all the action movies she'd ever seen, she ran through the usual escape list.
She couldn't topple the chair over with her hands tied; she had no way to break her fall.
She couldn't cut the ropes, there was nothing to cut them with, she had no secreted knife stashed in her sleeve.
Plus, in all the action films she'd seen, none of the heroes or heroines had been nine months pregnant.
Sarah looked back at the kissing couple in time to see Taren pull away.
"We've no time for this now. I think it's time our guest joined us." Taren gave Rupart a wide smile.
Taren turned back and gathered a handful of herbs; she stood in front of a lit candle, and quoted.
Let all eyes be opened. Let everyone see. Gone is the mist hiding us. So mote it be.
So saying, she threw the herbs at the candle flame. A flash of light, and the candle went out.
Rupart walked over to a shadowy corner, and nodded to Taren.
She gave a squeal of excitement and called in a singsong voice. "Jareth oh Jareth."
Jareth examined the tracks in the mud; satisfied he was still on course, he changed back into his owl form.
Just then he heard his name being called.
Swooping down, the owl vanished.
Inside the hut, the three people waited.
AN:Look for the next part tomorrow. Rated 'R'
