Chapter 3 - Loving the Alien!

******

Saturday night arrived and Hilarity had no one to go to the celebration with who
would successfully allow her to avoid the advances of a certain rebounding Troll
King. All of her friends had politely declined for some reason. It wasn't surprising
really seeing as they didn't like the idea of being temporarily stuck in a technology free
environment. Over the years Hilarity and Trin had just got used to it. She was also
suspicious that her friends did not want to be accused to taking sides now that she and
Danny were no longer an item.

"I'll go with you, if you like." Her cousin suggested.

"Well you can come but Knossos already knows who you are. I need to bring someone
who can give the impression of affection without any real emotional attachment.
Someone who'll do as they're told."

Just then, Thomas skulked into the living room, cautiously curled up on the sofa next
to
Hilarity and rubbed his head against her shoulder affectionately. Trin looked at the
strange creature and an evil little idea flashed across his brain. His cousin seemed to
read his mind and glared at him.

"No Trin. That would be cruel."

"Why not? He trusts you and does as he's told. Plus, they'll be plenty of booze, he'll
enjoy himself."

"It just sounds so morally wrong to send an emotionally disturbed alien into that kind
of environment."

"Well it's your decision. Hope you enjoy being approached by a Darkness lookalike."
All hints of doubt quickly disappeared from his cousin's face "Morals? Moi? Get
real!"

Half an hour later, Hilarity was adjusting the tie on Thomas's new suit that she had
just bought him. She had been in a bit of a rush and had got the size wrong so now her
pet alien (who was dangerously skinny anyway) seemed to be wearing a small tent.

"Hey, lock up your daughters everyone!" Trin joked with a hint of sarcasm. He had
always thought of Thomas as a bit of an oxygen thief.

"Don't worry, kiddo. It's only for one night." She said to her pet comfortingly. Thomas
just
looked at her blankly as he always did. With a sigh she handed him his emergency hip
flask and a portable TV. With the reading of a few magic words, the three of them
vanished.

******

The party was very much the same as all of Jareth's other parties. The hall was filled
with aristocrats in all their finery but there still seemed to be a hint of depravity in the
air. Hilarity tried not draw attention to herself and after congratulating Sarah on her
good news she hovered next to the performing minstrels and clapped politely after
every song, always keeping a watchful eye on Thomas. Trin, on the other hand, was
having a wail of a time. He had successfully pulled and whizzed around the room with
his new dancing partner. And there on the other side of the room was what she had
been fearing. Oh Crap! It was Knossos! And he was heading in her direction!
"Oh, why must I attract the losers?" she sighed and put on a suitably fake grin.

"Ah, Hilarity. What a pleasant surprise." said Knossos making the most of his natural
charm, which was smaller than flu virus.

"I've never been one for surprises." she said bluntly.

"Now, I can see you're probably still upset about that whole invasion thing and I'd like
to apologise. I should never have intimidated you."

"Apology accepted." Hilarity replied, never being one to hold a grudge.

"May I have this dance, then?" Hilarity shook her head and walked away. She
quickened her pace when she found that he was following her. She grabbed Thomas
by the sleeve and they began to spin around the dance floor. Thomas's expression
changed when she placed his arm around her waist. For the first time in the six years
she had known him, he was actually smiling. She kept the dance slow, taking his
terrible motion sickness into consideration and grinned back at the strange creature in
the badly fitting suit in front of her. Maybe he was improving. She didn't know
anything about Thomas but it pained her to see him being so sad and self destructive.
Maybe he just needed a good party to cheer him up. She snapped out of her thoughts
when Knossos tapped on her shoulder and demanded to cut in.

"No you may not!" she cried as he half led, half dragged her away from her partner
"Tom, you fool, defend my honour!" it was too late, her nemesis was already leading
her in a swift polka. The alien just stood in the middle of the room watching them. His
smile had disappeared and he never took his eyes off Hilarity. She had awakened long
forgotten memories in the dark recesses of his mind. Something wonderful that he
struggled to recollect along with something painful which he had tried so hard to
escape from through his vices.

The dance ended and Hilarity glared at her abductor. "You only get to do that once,
dude!" she growled. During her last stay in the castle she had undergone a strange
metamorphosis spell that had turned her into the ideal Goblin leader. The leader was
none other than Jareth himself so she had technically become him for about a day
saving the Labyrinth in the process. Since then she had inherited some of her friends
traits which only appeared when she was experiencing a particularly strong emotion.
Sometimes it was only a minor detail like a walk or a typically Jareth-like remark but
it still shook up a lot of people, including Danny. This time her eyes changed colour
from their usual cheerful purple to a cold mismatched stare. It seemed to do the trick
because Knossos was quickly repulsed and made his excuses and left. Thomas crept
up to her side and slipped his skeletal hand into hers. Hmm...maybe it wasn't the party
that cheered him up...