11. Changing of the heart

Sarah awoke the next morning. She felt Jareth's arms still around her. He must be exhausted from yesterday, she thought to herself and smiled. Slowly she turned her head over to him. His blue eyes were open. "Did you sleep at all?" She asked.

He let out a small smile, "Of course, just trying remember where's the nearest phoenix is." He let her go and rolled over to his other side. He sat up and rubbed his eyes as Sarah watched him. His skin was clear from any scars or blemishes. He stood up as Sarah smiled staring at his butt. He slept nude. He took a black robe off the edge of the bed and put it on. He turned to her and saw her smile, "What is it?"

"Nothing." She shook her head.

He shrugged and started to head to the bathroom. He was in heavy thought about the flame bird. He was trying to remember where they were.

Sarah bit her lip and blurted out, "Nice ass." Then she started to laugh and covered her head with the covers.

Jareth jerked his head and watched her for a moment. He shook his head, "So, that's where your mind is this morning." She pulled the covers off her head. He gave her a sly grin as he leaned on the doorway. "Didn't have enough last night?"

She sat up and changed subjects. "What do you need from a phoenix? A feather? Some ashes?"

He looked over to the table and their breakfast appeared. He said nothing and went to his chair and sat down. He really didn't want to tell her. He grabbed a piece of bread and spread some butter on it.

"Jareth?" Sarah said sternly. She got up and put on her robe. She went to the table and stood at his side.

He ignored her as he poured some juice and set it down.

She placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. "Jareth."

He took a peach from the fruit bowl and held it out to her. "Peach?"

"Don't make me say the words." She said as she glared at him.

"Go ahead then." He placed his hands on the table. He knew it wouldn't work.

Sarah nodded once, "Fine. You have no power over me." She thought she would have gone back home, but she was still there in their chambers.

"They don't work anymore when the book is gone from your house." He told her. Jareth motioned for her to sit down and he watched her take her seat. "What I have to get is a pint of blood from the bird."

Sarah jumped in her chair and exclaimed, "What? That's gross."

Jareth smiled at her, "It may be, but it will help you become immortal. The unicorn, dragon, phoenix, demon, and me are immortal. The goblin tooth is because you rule them."

"Why a pint?" she asked. "A phoenix dies and the comes back from it's ashes."

He took a sip of juice and set it down. "It never really dies, my dear. Its blood is the main ingredient for the potion." He watched her think about what he said.

They said nothing else till after Jareth got dressed in his blue pants, white shirt and brown leather coat combo. "I will be back soon as I can."

Sarah watched him disappear. She always thought he looked so sexy in that outfit. Maybe he wears that, because he knew I liked it, she thought. She got dressed in the same combo that he wore, but held the jacket in her hand. She went to the throne room and sat down with a deep sigh. She stared out into the window as the goblins laughed and carried on. She didn't see Cinda emerging out of her light.

"Where's the king?"

Sarah jerked her head and saw Cinda standing there with her wings out. "What do you want with him?" She stood up and walked over to the fae.

"I heard that he messed with a unicorn and my dragon, Goblin Queen." She went around Sarah in a circle and looked at her outfit in disgust. "You two, always match?"

Sarah clenched her fists. She wanted to punch the mean faerie in the face so badly. They were still surrounded by the goblins. Sarah didn't bother telling them to leave. "You have a problem with that?"

Cinda jerked her head up and laugh. "Oh, the human attitude never changes." She turned her head and heard footsteps coming up from the stairs. She saw a dwarf, Sir Didymus, and a monster coming toward Sarah. The dwarf stopped where he was. She could sense that he was frightened. "Oh, dear, here comes the cavalry."

"Cinda, get out of my castle!" Sarah bellowed and pointed to the door. "I have had enough of your shit."

"Ooooohhhhhh!" said the goblins in a low voice. Some were hoping to witness a good catfight.

Cinda's eyes turned red and she pressed her body against Sarah's. "The next time I see you or your, sweet Jareth in my Labyrinth, I will have you both killed on sight." The fae flew up in the room and disappeared in a white light.

"I could have stopped her, Sarah." Sir Didymus said encouraging.

She smiled at him. "Thank you."

"That vixen just came to mess with you, Sarah." Said Hoggle as he came up to her. "I heard she did that a lot with Jareth."

She sat warily down and sighed heavily. "I hope he's okay." She looked over to his empty throne.

"Where did he go now?" Asked Hoggle.

"To find a phoenix." Sarah turned her head and saw their eyes widened. "What? Is it tough to find?"

Sir Didymus nodded once, "Yes, milady. He will have to go over a thousand miles from here to find one. They are a very rare bird. What does he need?"

"A pint of blood." She answered. She stood up quickly and headed to the wall. She pulled the torch and waited for the door to open. She ran down the hall as her friends followed her. She went through the door and then said, "It's not real, Sir Didymus." She went over to the table and looked at the items.

Hoggle's mouth dropped at the sight. "He's been a busy bee."

Sarah found a book on the table. "This must be the one where the potion is." She searched for it and cursed. "Damn, I can't read this writing."

"Maybe I can." replied Sir Didymus as he hoped on the table. He peered down and said, "Ah, it is in Fae, of course. It's appears to be hand written. Must be the Goblin King's writing. Wonderful penmanship."

"What does it say?" Sarah said impatiently. "Where do the phoenixes live? I don't want him to die just to make me immortal." She felt tears go down her cheeks and lowered her head. "I should have never decided to become immortal. I should wait for someone to wish a child away."

"Sarah." Ludo hummed. He pulled her to him and held her.

"Sarah." Sir Didymus said in a low voice. "I never saw Jareth care about any thing than you. He would do anything for you to be at his side. He needs you just as much as you need him." He looked back down and said. "He's going to the Volcano Labyrinth." He took his hat off. "Oh, my king, please, be safe."

Jareth stood outside of the Volcano Labyrinth. The castle at the center was built in one. There was fire and lava everywhere. The walls were made out of lava that turned cold. He knew that it could change at any time. He would have to find a phoenix soon before the King of the Salamanders sense him there. Jareth didn't have any allies at all. All labyrinths were against each other. They normally stayed to themselves till one decided to do some type of potion or just to have a war out of sheer boredom. He placed a gloved hand on his mouth as he watched the flow of the lava come down on the castle. He only been here once, and wished he didn't have to come back. He took a deep breath and jumped off the ground. He didn't want to walk around and get lost in the maze. He sailed in the hot air slowly as he searched for a phoenix.

The Goblin King heard a chimed sound when he was halfway to the castle. He looked to the left and saw a phoenix sitting in a huge nest. The nest was in a large black tree. He watched the firebird settle down on some eggs. It was the size of a swan. He wasn't going to slash its throat and leave it to die. It would die indefinitely then. He just wanted to cut a vein and that was it.

He formed two crystals. One became a goblet and the other was a dagger. The dagger was the same one he used on Jade. He popped under the nest and waited for the bird to fall asleep. Jareth pulled one leg down through the twigs and made a small cut. The blood filled the goblet and he sealed it with another crystal.

"Let go of my phoenix, Goblin King!" a voice bellowed.

"Damn. I stayed to long." Jareth said to himself. He put the crystal in his pocket and held on to the dagger. He slid quickly down the tree and saw a male faerie standing alone. "Hello, Solaris." Jareth said.

Solaris was very tall and thin. His wings were in the shape of a firefly. His hair was short and red. He had pale skin. His ears were like a human. He wore a red and orange robe over a black jumpsuit. On his head was a gold crown that looked like a flame. "Jareth, I thought I told you to never return." He said and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You did." Jareth replied coldly.

"Why are you here then?" Solaris never sent spies on anyone like Cinda did. He wasn't nosy as she was.

"Just getting an item for a potion." he turned away and felt a hand on his shoulder.

"What potion?"

Jareth turned his head. "None of your business, Solaris." He pushed the hand away.

"When you stepped foot in my realm, it becomes my business." the fae bellowed.

"It's for my new queen." Jareth said. "Now, I need to go."

"Queen?" he stared into Jareth's eyes. "Oh, no. Don't tell me you fell for a mortal."

The Goblin King said as he took a step back. "If you want details, go talk to Cinda."

Solaris's eyes widened. "Her? I don't think so. I have enough of her last time."

Jareth let out a smile at this. "I know. She'll try to hump anything that has two legs and a dick." With that he disappeared as the fire fae laughed.

Sarah sat down by the fireplace and waited for her love. She told the others to leave her alone for a while. She didn't want Jareth to know that she let them in the library. She played with her necklace and sighed.

Jareth appeared by the table and set the dagger down with the goblet. He saw some of Ludo's hair on the floor. "Well, what do we have here?"

Sarah jerked and fell out of her seat. "Ouch!" She stood up and came to him. She saw him pointing to the red fur. "Nothing."

He turned his gaze to her, "Nothing? NOTHING! Tra La La!" He watched her smile go and grab her chest. Then he laughed. "I wondered when you were going to let your pals in here." He kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't ever do that again!" She yelled. "I can't believe you are willing to risk you life for me to become immortal." She took a few steps back.

"Now don't tell me you are changing your mind again." He said. "I got one more item to get and then I have the rest to do." He stretched out his arms and grabbed her by the waist. He pulled her in. "I told you that I will do everything for you."

Sarah didn't know what to think anymore. Everything was going on at once. She was still edgy since Cinda left. She pulled away from him. "I just want to be left alone for awhile, Jareth."

Jareth nodded. "Alright. I guess I would be to after Cinda came back." He saw her open her mouth. "I can hear the goblins talking about it upstairs, Sarah."

Sarah wished she was in the Oubliette and she disappeared.