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~*~*~
A bloodcurdling roar filled the darkness. Something hit one of the walls of the chamber, shattering irreparably. Glass rained down.
The Dark Lord was not happy.
"How?" the Dark Lord screamed. His voice fed upon its echoes, traveling throughout his underground caves. It soon sounded like the wail of an inhuman demon.
He threw another plate across the room, smashing it against a wall. His imps and orgs cringed and shrieked.
"How did this happen!? How could they have known?" He toppled his throne in anger. "I was so careful!"
A Goblin, the Dark Lord's spy, cowered.
"What good are you now?" he demanded of the immobile Dark Seeing Opal. "You're nothing! None of you are! Get out! NOW!"
It seemed that none of his army of misfits could obey fast enough, tripping, shoving, and battering their way out of the crude door.
The Goblin turned with them, but a dry hand snagged onto its collar.
"Where do you think you're going?" the Dark Lord ground, his sour breath blasting the Goblin.
"Nowheres, sir." It swallowed audibly.
"I've been foolish." He released his hold and paced away. "Yes. I believed that she was here because of Jareth. Jareth wanted her nearby--or perhaps she wished herself here. It does not matter now. What does is that now the Overlords know of my plan. Jareth must've known all along. We must act quickly, or our chance will pass." He stopped pacing and looked at the Goblin. "I want to know everything. You hear me? Everything. Whenever she steps outside the castle. Whenever she is alone. If she is planning to travel." He paused. "And what of that little Human? Wasn't she holding a little girl at some point or another?"
"I--uh--"
"I wasn't asking you, idiot. You'll know if I ask you something. You just run along, and you find out all you can. Be my eyes and ears."
After the terrified Goblin fled, the Dark Lord flittered a swirl of magic through the room, making it right. The throne was uprighted, the fragments of plates dissolved.
He caressed the Dark Seeing Opal, his eyes glinting wickedly.
"I'll still watch you, Jareth. And when you make some fatal mistake that puts Sarah into my hands, you'll wish you were never king."
~
Something had been bugging Sarah from the moment she woke up. It was like a gnat buzzing around her head, not giving her a moment's peace. The bad thing was, she didn't have a clue as to what that something was; almost knowing, but not--it can be very irritating as it tickles the back of your mind, like a feather. That was how she felt.
She tried to push it out of her head, but it wouldn't go all the way, and it sure didn't go quietly. "But I'm important!" it seemed to be yelling at her.
Intent on having a good day, she promised herself to not let it bother her. She dallied in her bath, allowing the steam and hot water to their jobs. Afterwards, she slapped on some sweet-scented cream that she had found by the large black marble tub. For some reason, it made her feel unspeakably, almost ridiculously female.
When she finally emerged from the bathroom, glowing, moist, and more relaxed, she was surprised to discover Jareth sitting in her chair, a giggling Tessika in his lap. They looked up at her, both at the same time, with equal expressions of mirth on their faces. Sarah nearly gasped at the resemblance between the two: same eyebrows, same eyes, same nose, same chin.
How could I have been so blind? And right on the heels of that: They look so perfect. She could be happy here. God, when am I going to tell her about him?
"This man's funny, Mommy," Tessika was saying.
Sarah gave her a distracted smile. "Yeah, he's pretty funny-looking, isn't he?"
Jareth shot her a mock glare.
"And he can do the neatest things, too!" In her excitement, the girl jumped off Jareth's lap and ran to Sarah. "Show Mommy how you make butterflies," she demanded.
"I see you have your mother's sense of authority," he said wryly, the eyebrow lifting.
"Her father's," Sarah whispered, her hand on Tessika's head.
Jareth looked at her suddenly, then snapped his fingers. "Jolie."
It was then that Sarah noticed two Goblins standing side by side by the door, one being her servant.
Jolie scurried up. "Aye, sir?"
"Go and bathe Tessika. Get her ready for today." Jareth's eyes never left Sarah's. "Anything special you want her dressed in?"
"Yellow." Sarah's voice seem to be be coming from worlds away. His eyes, so intense, so magnetic, filled her vision. "She looks pretty in yellow."
"Aye, my lady." Jolie led the girl away; Tessika, already used to and fond of the Goblin, went willingly enough.
"Nobbik, you're dismissed." Jareth's voice was like a whip crack.
The other Goblin scurried out of the room, eager to obey. So eager, in fact, that he smacked his head a good one on the doorjamb on the way out.
Sarah burst into merry laughter. The Fae merely smiled and cocked his head to the side quizzically.
"Something wrong, Sarah?"
"No."
"You looked a little pale." He stood slowly up.
"I just realized how perfect it would be for me to stay here."
A frown marred his face. "And that bothers you?"
"No." She shook her head and smiled. "Surprisingly."
A look of intensity passed over his face. Before Sarah could blink, he had closed the space between them. She swallowed and held the top of her robe.
"I have a complaint hearing to preside over this morning," he murmured, gently touching her white hands. "But I do have a few minutes to spare before I have to leave."
"Jareth, not here. Not now." She took a step back.
He stepped closer. "Then when?"
She backed into the wall, not saying anything.
"You have thought about what I said?"
"Yes," she replied.
"And what did you conclude?" He was obviously enjoying her discomfort as he leaned closer. "Mm. You smell like a flower garden."
Why is he still intimidating me? I'm not young anymore. She lifted her chin. I'm a woman, and he has feelings for me. He said so. I have power over him. I can manipulate him just as easily.
It was Jareth who stumbled back when Sarah advanced.
"You'll see," she purred, letting her hands relax.
"Just remember that it is you who is holding us back," he said, a bit uncertainly.
"I will. I just hope that you know how to show a lady a good time." Abruptly she turned, headed toward her bed.
He followed her form appreciatively. "Sarah?"
Mischievous eyes sparkled over her shoulder. "Yeah?"
"You're the devil." He breathed a shaky sigh.
"Anything special you want me to wear?" God, it was great making him squirm.
He vanished, only to appear with his lips less then an inch from hers. "Something green." And he disappeared again.
"Dammit!" Sarah flopped back on the bed, a patch of sunlight spotlighting her. Why is he always doing that?
She had to admit that she'd enjoyed when the scales had tipped, giving the power to her. So he won that battle. This was going to be a fun day.
~
Just to piss him off, Sarah wore a summery pink-and-white checked dress; it ended just past her knees. A ball of excitement twisted in her stomach. She didn't know what she was so excited about, but she had an idea. Perhaps it was the prospect of seeing the setting of her childhood fantasies and perhaps old friends again was making her fidgety; or maybe the idea of spending all day with Jareth, and seeing Tessie and him interact, was the real reason. Either way, she was nervous as hell, and was passing it on to Tessika. As a result, the girl was edgy and rather cranky.
"Tessika, *stop*!" Sarah commanded, exasperated, as the girl knocked over the table by the fireplace for the fourth time in the last five minutes. "Just come sit by me. Quit running around."
Tessika stopped at Sarah's firm, irritated voice. Very rarely was she yelled at, and now her lip trembled.
A wave of guilt, as usual, hit Sarah, and she groaned. "Oh, come here, honey. I'm sorry."
"I'm bored, Mommy," Tessika said, pouting. She walked willingly into her mother's outstretched arms.
"I know, sweetie." She laid her head on top of Tessika's, their dark hair mingling. "Why don't you go play with your toys?"
"I don't wanna." The whining tone in the child's voice signaled an oncoming tantrum. Sarah knew that she had to find something to distract her before Tessika exploded, possibly in front of Jareth.
A sudden, but gentle breeze ruffled the curtains of the window. Tilting her head to the side, Sarah frowned. Did she just hear some music? Another breeze blew into the room, and this time there was no mistake; a gentle, lilting tune, riding the wind, reached Sarah's ears. It was a sweet melody-the ache of it tugged on her heart. The draw of it was undeniable. Suddenly, she found that she *had* to discover where that music was coming from, *who* was playing it.
"If Jareth comes by, tell him I took Tessika outside for a while," Sarah told Jolie, standing up, holding Tessika's small hand.
"Yes'm." The Goblin stood to attention at the side of the room. "Do yer knows how to gets outside?"
"I'll figure it out." She felt impatient, that she had to rush before the musician stopped playing. "You do want to go outside, don't you, Tessie?"
The girl nodded; her head was tilted, ever so much like Sarah's, as if she were listening to something. Oddly enough, she seemed to know her way pretty well to a door that led outside the castle. Sarah was mildly surprised as Tessika led her around one corner, then another, then through an ebony door. Sunlight, warm and welcome, spread across her body as they pushed open the door. She leaned her head back, willing her body to relax and enjoy the sensation.
"How did you know how to get here?" Sarah asked, looked around. They were in a garden of sorts, fenced in by a tall brick wall; she couldn't remember seeing a garden before, but surely a garden wasn't unusual for a castle?
Tessie's hand left hers as the girl ran, frolicking, enjoying the sun as much as Sarah was. "Kitty takes me here to play."
"Kitty? You mean Jareth's sister?"
Confused, Tessika stopped and looked at her mother. "Jareth?"
"The man that was making butterflies." Your father.
"Oh, *him*! I guess they're brother and sister--they look like it."
Christ, even a five-year-old can see the obvious things that I overlook, Sarah thought. The breeze whispered by, playing with the dark locks of Sarah's hair; there was the music, teasingly soft. But not so far away now.
Mindful of Tessika, Sarah followed the music. Her feet seemed to move of their own accord. She let them, entranced by the aching notes. Rounding a corner of the castle, she caught her breath as the breeze whipped around her, the music suddenly louder.
And there was the musician.
At first, she thought it was Jareth sitting up on the garden wall, leaning on the castle. But Jareth was slimmer, and had blue eyes. This man, clearly a Fae, lowered the delicate silver pipe he had been playing and smiled. His eyes, one gray, one a vivacious green, sparkled as the sunlight played with his dark blond hair. He was dressed entirely in shades of pale green and deep gray.
"Hello."
"Hello." She folded her hands and looked up at him expectantly.
He tilted his head, so much like Jareth. "You do not fear me?"
"I don't think I could ever 'fear' a brother of Jareth's."
"Is it that obvious?"
She laughed at his mock dismayed frown. "Yeah, I'm afraid so. But don't worry, it isn't *so* bad."
Hopping lithely off the wall, he laughed a little with her. "I'm Antony." The flute disappeared with a whirl of his hand.
"I guessed as much. I'm Sarah."
"I know," he replied. Tilted his head again to the side, this time in curiosity. "So you're the mortal that beat his unbeatable Labyrinth, broke his unbreakable heart, and mothered his child."
She sighed. "Yes again. One more and you get a prize."
"A kiss, perhaps?" Antony asked, grinning wickedly. The question was posed both to charm the lovely Human and quirk the Goblin King standing behind her, holding the hand of a child.
"Are all you Faes so seductive, or just the ones related to Jareth?"
"I'm sure you will find out. I hear that Aidian and Kit are hosting a Masquerade for you." He sidled closer. "Perhaps you'll need a date?"
"Perhaps you need a cold shower," a voice from behind Sarah spoke.
"Perhaps I do," Antony said agreeably.
"Oh, there you are," Sarah said, turning.
"No, Sarah, there *you* are. I have been looking for you." Jareth crossed his arms. Tessie clung to her father's legs, staring untrustingly at Antony; she was never one for strangers.
"I got tired of waiting." Sarah mimicked his movements.
"Yes, and I was held up."
Jareth had been sitting on his throne, listening to and solving the many complaints of his subjects, when a small group of terrified Goblins came bustling in. They had run all the way from the west, and were now panting and babbling. Apparently, whatever they had to tell him was important. He told them to wait, and went to cancel his plans with Sarah.
For a moment, he hesitated telling her for what he had sought her out for. After all, she looked so feminine and pretty, green dress or not, and he had been looking forward to a day getting to know both her and his daughter. But you're the King, he told himself. And you do have the rest of your life to get to know them. The matter demanded his attention now and would not wait.
"What is it?" Sarah asked.
"I'm afraid I'll have to cancel our plans for today."
"Oh." Her shoulders fell a little.
"There is this certain . . . matter that requires my immediate attention. I really am sorry. A day with you and Tessika--" He stopped and shook his head. "I apologize."
"It's okay. We'll just explore the castle or something, right, Tessie?"
"Okay." But even optimistic Tessika looked put out at the prospect of another day cooped up in the castle.
Antony stepped in. "I can take them to explore the Underground, Jareth."
Jareth laughed. "You don't have the slightest idea how to find your way through the Labyrinth."
"I didn't say the 'Labyrinth', did I, brother?" He was a little flushed. "Besides, if we want to talk about embarrassing incidences involving the Labyrinth, we could always bring up the time when--"
"Yes, Antony, why don't you take them for a little tour?" Jareth interrupted. "Show them the Crystal Lake."
"I want to see my friends," Sarah said.
"I don't know. Antony here doesn't have much tolerance to the Bog of Eternal Stench."
"Yes, but you can't find the Cliffs of Infinity for the life of you!"
"Did you know that Antony has an overwhelming fear of Fieries?"
"Jareth doesn't have the psychic ability of an apple!"
Seeing that this could go on awhile, Sarah gave Jareth a little push. "Go on, then. We'll be back in time for dinner."
Jareth glowered a little, but nodded. "Take care of them." He disappeared.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Jesus. You two are worse then my brother and I were."
~
Jareth appeared in his throne room, adding an explosion of light and glitter to accompany his entrance. When around his subjects, he always went the extra mile to provoke fear. It worked. The small group of Goblins gathered there cowered together in a small nest in the center of the room.
"This had better be good," he told them, striding to his throne.
One particularly round, short Goblin nodded eagerly. "Yes, your Majesty, it's good--"
"Then start. I don't have all the time of day." After settling himself into a comfortable position, he looked expectantly at them.
The group fought among itself for a moment, trying to pick someone that would tell their story. Finally, that same round Goblin was shoved forward, knees wobbling.
Jareth raised his eyebrows, almost in an encouraging manner.
"I'm Pople," the Goblin offered.
"Hello, Polo. Begin your story."
"Ah--ya sees--er--"
"You were at your home," Jareth offered helpfully.
"Aye, your majesty." Once again, Pople nodded. "We were's all at our homes, and it was dark out. The air had a funny feel to it's, all uneasy, ya sees. I's was in bed, and all's of a sudden, I hear's some shrieking, so's I look's out the window, and I see's all these dark shapes on horseback and foot."
"What species were they? Trolls? Mermen?"
Pople hesitated. "Uh, aye an' no, your majesty."
"Care to elaborate that?"
"They's were from all walks o' life!" he exclaimed. His friends nodded their agreement. "They's were Trolls an' Goblins an' Elves an' Fairies--"
"I get the point."
"Only there weren't's no Humans."
"I guessed as much." Humans were rarely found outside of their Third Realm, and Jareth knew he would have felt them.
"And they's was all . . . funny-looking."
"How so?"
Pople shrugged a little. "They's was dressed all dark, but was all pale on's the skin."
Another Goblin stepped up. "And they's had scars, or funny ears. Stuff like's that."
"Misfits, I take it?"
They nodded.
Shifting on his throne, Jareth was surprised to find that he was unsettled. Misfits from all species overrunning the landscape and driving innocent Goblins from their homes? *His* subjects? The Goblin Kingdom shared the Fourth Realm with the Elves. Why didn't this shadowy horde attack them? He shook his head and formed a crystal.
"You did the right thing," he said, tossing the crystal at Pople. By the time Pople caught it, it had morphed into a golden badge. "Stay here, in my city, at some inn. Show that crest, and you will not get charged. I may need to question you again."
"Thank yer, majesty." The Goblins tripped over each other trying to get out the door.
Jareth leaned back in his throne and covered his face, suddenly feeling very old and tired. It was times like these when he regretted accepting the throne. First Sarah in danger, now this. Perhaps the two were connected. He sighed. The situation needed to be checked out, but he didn't want to leave Sarah here. Nor would it do to bring her with him, right possibly into the thick of things. Damn. Another chest-heaving sigh. I suppose I could leave her and Tessika with Father and Mother, or even William and Alexandra. However, leaving them with people they do not know will not help me get on their good side. Kit and Aidian would be the safest bet. If only it were closer.
The Shapeshifter Kingdom was three Realms over. Transporting would tire Sarah and Tessika out terribly, and to take "the long way," as he called it, would take weeks.
But suppose that since the Masquerade is approaching, I could just leave them in their care for a few days? If the situation requires extra attention, Sarah will have to attempt the ball on her own, but she will be safe. She won't like it, but she will understand. Ideally.
Having organized the details for such a trip, he decided to tell her over dinner tonight.
His conscience reared up-it was going to be horrible for her without him there. Before he could squash it back down, it reminded him of the one last secret that he was hiding.
Yes, when was he going to tell her of the heart-wrenching decision she must make?
That would be the hardest thing of all.
~*~*~
A bloodcurdling roar filled the darkness. Something hit one of the walls of the chamber, shattering irreparably. Glass rained down.
The Dark Lord was not happy.
"How?" the Dark Lord screamed. His voice fed upon its echoes, traveling throughout his underground caves. It soon sounded like the wail of an inhuman demon.
He threw another plate across the room, smashing it against a wall. His imps and orgs cringed and shrieked.
"How did this happen!? How could they have known?" He toppled his throne in anger. "I was so careful!"
A Goblin, the Dark Lord's spy, cowered.
"What good are you now?" he demanded of the immobile Dark Seeing Opal. "You're nothing! None of you are! Get out! NOW!"
It seemed that none of his army of misfits could obey fast enough, tripping, shoving, and battering their way out of the crude door.
The Goblin turned with them, but a dry hand snagged onto its collar.
"Where do you think you're going?" the Dark Lord ground, his sour breath blasting the Goblin.
"Nowheres, sir." It swallowed audibly.
"I've been foolish." He released his hold and paced away. "Yes. I believed that she was here because of Jareth. Jareth wanted her nearby--or perhaps she wished herself here. It does not matter now. What does is that now the Overlords know of my plan. Jareth must've known all along. We must act quickly, or our chance will pass." He stopped pacing and looked at the Goblin. "I want to know everything. You hear me? Everything. Whenever she steps outside the castle. Whenever she is alone. If she is planning to travel." He paused. "And what of that little Human? Wasn't she holding a little girl at some point or another?"
"I--uh--"
"I wasn't asking you, idiot. You'll know if I ask you something. You just run along, and you find out all you can. Be my eyes and ears."
After the terrified Goblin fled, the Dark Lord flittered a swirl of magic through the room, making it right. The throne was uprighted, the fragments of plates dissolved.
He caressed the Dark Seeing Opal, his eyes glinting wickedly.
"I'll still watch you, Jareth. And when you make some fatal mistake that puts Sarah into my hands, you'll wish you were never king."
~
Something had been bugging Sarah from the moment she woke up. It was like a gnat buzzing around her head, not giving her a moment's peace. The bad thing was, she didn't have a clue as to what that something was; almost knowing, but not--it can be very irritating as it tickles the back of your mind, like a feather. That was how she felt.
She tried to push it out of her head, but it wouldn't go all the way, and it sure didn't go quietly. "But I'm important!" it seemed to be yelling at her.
Intent on having a good day, she promised herself to not let it bother her. She dallied in her bath, allowing the steam and hot water to their jobs. Afterwards, she slapped on some sweet-scented cream that she had found by the large black marble tub. For some reason, it made her feel unspeakably, almost ridiculously female.
When she finally emerged from the bathroom, glowing, moist, and more relaxed, she was surprised to discover Jareth sitting in her chair, a giggling Tessika in his lap. They looked up at her, both at the same time, with equal expressions of mirth on their faces. Sarah nearly gasped at the resemblance between the two: same eyebrows, same eyes, same nose, same chin.
How could I have been so blind? And right on the heels of that: They look so perfect. She could be happy here. God, when am I going to tell her about him?
"This man's funny, Mommy," Tessika was saying.
Sarah gave her a distracted smile. "Yeah, he's pretty funny-looking, isn't he?"
Jareth shot her a mock glare.
"And he can do the neatest things, too!" In her excitement, the girl jumped off Jareth's lap and ran to Sarah. "Show Mommy how you make butterflies," she demanded.
"I see you have your mother's sense of authority," he said wryly, the eyebrow lifting.
"Her father's," Sarah whispered, her hand on Tessika's head.
Jareth looked at her suddenly, then snapped his fingers. "Jolie."
It was then that Sarah noticed two Goblins standing side by side by the door, one being her servant.
Jolie scurried up. "Aye, sir?"
"Go and bathe Tessika. Get her ready for today." Jareth's eyes never left Sarah's. "Anything special you want her dressed in?"
"Yellow." Sarah's voice seem to be be coming from worlds away. His eyes, so intense, so magnetic, filled her vision. "She looks pretty in yellow."
"Aye, my lady." Jolie led the girl away; Tessika, already used to and fond of the Goblin, went willingly enough.
"Nobbik, you're dismissed." Jareth's voice was like a whip crack.
The other Goblin scurried out of the room, eager to obey. So eager, in fact, that he smacked his head a good one on the doorjamb on the way out.
Sarah burst into merry laughter. The Fae merely smiled and cocked his head to the side quizzically.
"Something wrong, Sarah?"
"No."
"You looked a little pale." He stood slowly up.
"I just realized how perfect it would be for me to stay here."
A frown marred his face. "And that bothers you?"
"No." She shook her head and smiled. "Surprisingly."
A look of intensity passed over his face. Before Sarah could blink, he had closed the space between them. She swallowed and held the top of her robe.
"I have a complaint hearing to preside over this morning," he murmured, gently touching her white hands. "But I do have a few minutes to spare before I have to leave."
"Jareth, not here. Not now." She took a step back.
He stepped closer. "Then when?"
She backed into the wall, not saying anything.
"You have thought about what I said?"
"Yes," she replied.
"And what did you conclude?" He was obviously enjoying her discomfort as he leaned closer. "Mm. You smell like a flower garden."
Why is he still intimidating me? I'm not young anymore. She lifted her chin. I'm a woman, and he has feelings for me. He said so. I have power over him. I can manipulate him just as easily.
It was Jareth who stumbled back when Sarah advanced.
"You'll see," she purred, letting her hands relax.
"Just remember that it is you who is holding us back," he said, a bit uncertainly.
"I will. I just hope that you know how to show a lady a good time." Abruptly she turned, headed toward her bed.
He followed her form appreciatively. "Sarah?"
Mischievous eyes sparkled over her shoulder. "Yeah?"
"You're the devil." He breathed a shaky sigh.
"Anything special you want me to wear?" God, it was great making him squirm.
He vanished, only to appear with his lips less then an inch from hers. "Something green." And he disappeared again.
"Dammit!" Sarah flopped back on the bed, a patch of sunlight spotlighting her. Why is he always doing that?
She had to admit that she'd enjoyed when the scales had tipped, giving the power to her. So he won that battle. This was going to be a fun day.
~
Just to piss him off, Sarah wore a summery pink-and-white checked dress; it ended just past her knees. A ball of excitement twisted in her stomach. She didn't know what she was so excited about, but she had an idea. Perhaps it was the prospect of seeing the setting of her childhood fantasies and perhaps old friends again was making her fidgety; or maybe the idea of spending all day with Jareth, and seeing Tessie and him interact, was the real reason. Either way, she was nervous as hell, and was passing it on to Tessika. As a result, the girl was edgy and rather cranky.
"Tessika, *stop*!" Sarah commanded, exasperated, as the girl knocked over the table by the fireplace for the fourth time in the last five minutes. "Just come sit by me. Quit running around."
Tessika stopped at Sarah's firm, irritated voice. Very rarely was she yelled at, and now her lip trembled.
A wave of guilt, as usual, hit Sarah, and she groaned. "Oh, come here, honey. I'm sorry."
"I'm bored, Mommy," Tessika said, pouting. She walked willingly into her mother's outstretched arms.
"I know, sweetie." She laid her head on top of Tessika's, their dark hair mingling. "Why don't you go play with your toys?"
"I don't wanna." The whining tone in the child's voice signaled an oncoming tantrum. Sarah knew that she had to find something to distract her before Tessika exploded, possibly in front of Jareth.
A sudden, but gentle breeze ruffled the curtains of the window. Tilting her head to the side, Sarah frowned. Did she just hear some music? Another breeze blew into the room, and this time there was no mistake; a gentle, lilting tune, riding the wind, reached Sarah's ears. It was a sweet melody-the ache of it tugged on her heart. The draw of it was undeniable. Suddenly, she found that she *had* to discover where that music was coming from, *who* was playing it.
"If Jareth comes by, tell him I took Tessika outside for a while," Sarah told Jolie, standing up, holding Tessika's small hand.
"Yes'm." The Goblin stood to attention at the side of the room. "Do yer knows how to gets outside?"
"I'll figure it out." She felt impatient, that she had to rush before the musician stopped playing. "You do want to go outside, don't you, Tessie?"
The girl nodded; her head was tilted, ever so much like Sarah's, as if she were listening to something. Oddly enough, she seemed to know her way pretty well to a door that led outside the castle. Sarah was mildly surprised as Tessika led her around one corner, then another, then through an ebony door. Sunlight, warm and welcome, spread across her body as they pushed open the door. She leaned her head back, willing her body to relax and enjoy the sensation.
"How did you know how to get here?" Sarah asked, looked around. They were in a garden of sorts, fenced in by a tall brick wall; she couldn't remember seeing a garden before, but surely a garden wasn't unusual for a castle?
Tessie's hand left hers as the girl ran, frolicking, enjoying the sun as much as Sarah was. "Kitty takes me here to play."
"Kitty? You mean Jareth's sister?"
Confused, Tessika stopped and looked at her mother. "Jareth?"
"The man that was making butterflies." Your father.
"Oh, *him*! I guess they're brother and sister--they look like it."
Christ, even a five-year-old can see the obvious things that I overlook, Sarah thought. The breeze whispered by, playing with the dark locks of Sarah's hair; there was the music, teasingly soft. But not so far away now.
Mindful of Tessika, Sarah followed the music. Her feet seemed to move of their own accord. She let them, entranced by the aching notes. Rounding a corner of the castle, she caught her breath as the breeze whipped around her, the music suddenly louder.
And there was the musician.
At first, she thought it was Jareth sitting up on the garden wall, leaning on the castle. But Jareth was slimmer, and had blue eyes. This man, clearly a Fae, lowered the delicate silver pipe he had been playing and smiled. His eyes, one gray, one a vivacious green, sparkled as the sunlight played with his dark blond hair. He was dressed entirely in shades of pale green and deep gray.
"Hello."
"Hello." She folded her hands and looked up at him expectantly.
He tilted his head, so much like Jareth. "You do not fear me?"
"I don't think I could ever 'fear' a brother of Jareth's."
"Is it that obvious?"
She laughed at his mock dismayed frown. "Yeah, I'm afraid so. But don't worry, it isn't *so* bad."
Hopping lithely off the wall, he laughed a little with her. "I'm Antony." The flute disappeared with a whirl of his hand.
"I guessed as much. I'm Sarah."
"I know," he replied. Tilted his head again to the side, this time in curiosity. "So you're the mortal that beat his unbeatable Labyrinth, broke his unbreakable heart, and mothered his child."
She sighed. "Yes again. One more and you get a prize."
"A kiss, perhaps?" Antony asked, grinning wickedly. The question was posed both to charm the lovely Human and quirk the Goblin King standing behind her, holding the hand of a child.
"Are all you Faes so seductive, or just the ones related to Jareth?"
"I'm sure you will find out. I hear that Aidian and Kit are hosting a Masquerade for you." He sidled closer. "Perhaps you'll need a date?"
"Perhaps you need a cold shower," a voice from behind Sarah spoke.
"Perhaps I do," Antony said agreeably.
"Oh, there you are," Sarah said, turning.
"No, Sarah, there *you* are. I have been looking for you." Jareth crossed his arms. Tessie clung to her father's legs, staring untrustingly at Antony; she was never one for strangers.
"I got tired of waiting." Sarah mimicked his movements.
"Yes, and I was held up."
Jareth had been sitting on his throne, listening to and solving the many complaints of his subjects, when a small group of terrified Goblins came bustling in. They had run all the way from the west, and were now panting and babbling. Apparently, whatever they had to tell him was important. He told them to wait, and went to cancel his plans with Sarah.
For a moment, he hesitated telling her for what he had sought her out for. After all, she looked so feminine and pretty, green dress or not, and he had been looking forward to a day getting to know both her and his daughter. But you're the King, he told himself. And you do have the rest of your life to get to know them. The matter demanded his attention now and would not wait.
"What is it?" Sarah asked.
"I'm afraid I'll have to cancel our plans for today."
"Oh." Her shoulders fell a little.
"There is this certain . . . matter that requires my immediate attention. I really am sorry. A day with you and Tessika--" He stopped and shook his head. "I apologize."
"It's okay. We'll just explore the castle or something, right, Tessie?"
"Okay." But even optimistic Tessika looked put out at the prospect of another day cooped up in the castle.
Antony stepped in. "I can take them to explore the Underground, Jareth."
Jareth laughed. "You don't have the slightest idea how to find your way through the Labyrinth."
"I didn't say the 'Labyrinth', did I, brother?" He was a little flushed. "Besides, if we want to talk about embarrassing incidences involving the Labyrinth, we could always bring up the time when--"
"Yes, Antony, why don't you take them for a little tour?" Jareth interrupted. "Show them the Crystal Lake."
"I want to see my friends," Sarah said.
"I don't know. Antony here doesn't have much tolerance to the Bog of Eternal Stench."
"Yes, but you can't find the Cliffs of Infinity for the life of you!"
"Did you know that Antony has an overwhelming fear of Fieries?"
"Jareth doesn't have the psychic ability of an apple!"
Seeing that this could go on awhile, Sarah gave Jareth a little push. "Go on, then. We'll be back in time for dinner."
Jareth glowered a little, but nodded. "Take care of them." He disappeared.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Jesus. You two are worse then my brother and I were."
~
Jareth appeared in his throne room, adding an explosion of light and glitter to accompany his entrance. When around his subjects, he always went the extra mile to provoke fear. It worked. The small group of Goblins gathered there cowered together in a small nest in the center of the room.
"This had better be good," he told them, striding to his throne.
One particularly round, short Goblin nodded eagerly. "Yes, your Majesty, it's good--"
"Then start. I don't have all the time of day." After settling himself into a comfortable position, he looked expectantly at them.
The group fought among itself for a moment, trying to pick someone that would tell their story. Finally, that same round Goblin was shoved forward, knees wobbling.
Jareth raised his eyebrows, almost in an encouraging manner.
"I'm Pople," the Goblin offered.
"Hello, Polo. Begin your story."
"Ah--ya sees--er--"
"You were at your home," Jareth offered helpfully.
"Aye, your majesty." Once again, Pople nodded. "We were's all at our homes, and it was dark out. The air had a funny feel to it's, all uneasy, ya sees. I's was in bed, and all's of a sudden, I hear's some shrieking, so's I look's out the window, and I see's all these dark shapes on horseback and foot."
"What species were they? Trolls? Mermen?"
Pople hesitated. "Uh, aye an' no, your majesty."
"Care to elaborate that?"
"They's were from all walks o' life!" he exclaimed. His friends nodded their agreement. "They's were Trolls an' Goblins an' Elves an' Fairies--"
"I get the point."
"Only there weren't's no Humans."
"I guessed as much." Humans were rarely found outside of their Third Realm, and Jareth knew he would have felt them.
"And they's was all . . . funny-looking."
"How so?"
Pople shrugged a little. "They's was dressed all dark, but was all pale on's the skin."
Another Goblin stepped up. "And they's had scars, or funny ears. Stuff like's that."
"Misfits, I take it?"
They nodded.
Shifting on his throne, Jareth was surprised to find that he was unsettled. Misfits from all species overrunning the landscape and driving innocent Goblins from their homes? *His* subjects? The Goblin Kingdom shared the Fourth Realm with the Elves. Why didn't this shadowy horde attack them? He shook his head and formed a crystal.
"You did the right thing," he said, tossing the crystal at Pople. By the time Pople caught it, it had morphed into a golden badge. "Stay here, in my city, at some inn. Show that crest, and you will not get charged. I may need to question you again."
"Thank yer, majesty." The Goblins tripped over each other trying to get out the door.
Jareth leaned back in his throne and covered his face, suddenly feeling very old and tired. It was times like these when he regretted accepting the throne. First Sarah in danger, now this. Perhaps the two were connected. He sighed. The situation needed to be checked out, but he didn't want to leave Sarah here. Nor would it do to bring her with him, right possibly into the thick of things. Damn. Another chest-heaving sigh. I suppose I could leave her and Tessika with Father and Mother, or even William and Alexandra. However, leaving them with people they do not know will not help me get on their good side. Kit and Aidian would be the safest bet. If only it were closer.
The Shapeshifter Kingdom was three Realms over. Transporting would tire Sarah and Tessika out terribly, and to take "the long way," as he called it, would take weeks.
But suppose that since the Masquerade is approaching, I could just leave them in their care for a few days? If the situation requires extra attention, Sarah will have to attempt the ball on her own, but she will be safe. She won't like it, but she will understand. Ideally.
Having organized the details for such a trip, he decided to tell her over dinner tonight.
His conscience reared up-it was going to be horrible for her without him there. Before he could squash it back down, it reminded him of the one last secret that he was hiding.
Yes, when was he going to tell her of the heart-wrenching decision she must make?
That would be the hardest thing of all.