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Chapter Nine: "I know the truth and it shocks me"

Darien swung around to face the voice. Sarah, still in his cruel grip, yelped at jolt of pain.

Darien chuckled sinisterly, "You? Darling, you can't do a thing."

Rei raised one delicate eyebrow and smirked. "Since when? For as long as I remember I kicked your ass the Summerlands and back."

Jareth froze. Something was off with Rei, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Something frightfully familiar was glittering in her eyes. Especially since she used an Underground term…

Darien's smirk deepened, "Child, I think you might have lost your head. It was only thanks to Jareth that you are all in one piece."

Rei laughed outright, taking a step closer. "Tut, tut, tut… Darien. It is because of Jareth that YOU are all in one piece."

"Rei…" Sarah asked, perplexed, "what are you talking about?"

"Indeed, girl… what are you talking about?" Darien questioned, equally confused.

"I'm surprised you didn't recognize me…" She smirked, only a few feet away from him. "But then again you were never much in the brain department."

Sarah gasped. During that sentence, Rei's voice had broken. Her slight British tint had turned into a flowing British accent. It had become deeper, powerful, magical…

Darien's head tilted, a flash of reminiscence crossed his eyes. "Wait… I do know you from some where…"

Jareth, however, had stopped breathing. His eyes had grown wide and his mouth stood agape. Her voice, that beautiful voice that had haunted his dreams for hundreds of years…

"Maybe if I did this it would help?" She asked mockingly. One blink and her chocolate brown eyes were sapphire blue.

Darien gasped, "No…"

Rei's smile was sad this time, "Yes…"

The three watched with amazement as Rei changed. Her blond hair changed to blood red, starting from the roots. Her tan skin became unnaturally fair and her soft features schooled into more prominent, drastic lines. The Rei Sarah had known was gone and before her stood a goddess carved out of marble.

Jareth's heart rose to his throat. He couldn't believe it. They told her that she was dead…
"Reishia?"

And suddenly it all made sense. Sarah was surprised she didn't see it before…

:::FLASHBACK:::

** "I've been looking for you!" cried a stranger.

"You have?" asked Sarah, confused as to who this blonde was.

"Yes, you're Sarah right?"

"Yeah, and you are?"

"Reis," the stranger froze. "Rei, Rei Faen. It's nice to meet you." **

** "… I know this might sound bazaar. But I swear it happened. My ring was missing and my clothes were dirty and my room was a mess!" Sarah exclaimed, begging her friend to believe her.

"Don't worry Sarah, I believe you." Rei smiled at her, reassuringly.

Sarah was surprised that she had believed her so easily, but her friends expression was genuine.**

** Rei was washing the dishes with Sarah in their apartment when she hissed and dropped a pan.
Sarah jumped at the sound and glanced over at Rei. "What's wrong?"

Rei smiled at her friend. "It's okay, the water was just to hot." She rubbed her fingers.

Sarah picked up the iron skillet and finished washing the dishes. She never even realized the water was luke warm. **

**"You okay?" Sarah asked, concerned.

"Huh? Oh yes, just thinking about the case and stuff."**

**Rei sighed and went to lean on the bars but jolted away from them.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked, concerned at Rei's sudden movement.

"My back's sore," Rei explained hastily.**

** Darien stalked closer to the cage and Sarah watched as he buckled over.

"Iron," he hissed. **

** "Look at this, Rei. It says that Iron is deadly to magical creatures." Sarah said, looking up from her book. **

** Sarah was sobbing hysterically as she was dragged away from her friend. She glanced over at Rei and that she was paying attention to every step they took almost as if she wanted to know how to get back in.**

**"YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED HER!" Sarah screamed, close to tears. She stopped struggling and turned to Rei. "She's gonna die, Rei… I- I don't want her to die."

Rei held her in a fierce embrace and hushed her. "Sh, we'll get her back. We'll get them all back…"**

::PRESENT::

Jareth however was stuck on only one or two memories.

::FLASHBACK::

** Jareth held Reishia close. They stared up at the stars, her head on his shoulder.
The comfortable silence was broken when Jareth spoke. "Thank you."

"For what, my love?" She said, turning to Jareth.

"For everything."

Reishia smiled, "It's all I have to give."

And she kissed him.**

**Rei looked at Jareth for a moment. "But you've been hurt badly too. And not just by her."

"Well, yes. I suppose everyone has," Jareth started, sitting down next to Rei.

"You loved her?" Rei asked.

"Yes, very much. She was my everything."

"And then?"

"She was taken away, I haven't seen her since. I've never felt so much pain…" Jareth said, remembering.

"And then you met Sarah…"

"Yes, and I fell for her." Jareth sighed.

"And you love them both."

"That is the dilemma," Jareth stopped, realizing he had poured out almost everything to this stranger who seemed so familiar…

"You are very easy to talk to," Jareth said, looking at her. "Do I know you?"

Rei looked at him and stood. "No, I just have one of those faces, I suppose. I get that a lot."

The clock chimed. Thirteen o' clock.

"It's late," Rei said. "I should get some sleep. Good night, rest easy." Rei turned and started to walk away.

"Rei," he called. She turned and looked at him. "Thank you for everything." He turned around to walk to his chambers.

She smiled and said, "It's all I have to give." **

::PRESENT::

Darien threw Sarah aside.

"But I… I KILLED YOU!" Darien growled, enraged.