A/N: Yes I have to put an author's note on every chapter. Stop asking silly
questions. Thanks for all the great reviews and advice. I will be
explaining who Sebal (pronounced "Seeball") is later and in depth. I
promise. If you can guess who I named him after, you get bonus points. I'll
give you a hint, we can't post stories based on her works. Postings will be
slower since I've just started my last semester in college.
Disclaimer: Everything still applies. Again with the silly questions.
Chapter 3: Doing what needs to be done
Sarah could feel someone's eyes on her. Jolting from sleep, the sensation of being watched disappeared immediately. Despite the heat and sweat that slicked her skin, Sarah burrowed under her coverlet. Every now and then since she was fifteen Sarah had felt like someone was watching her. It was never for a long time or very often but the feeling was so eerie, so invasive she always remembered when it happened. Flipping resolutely onto her stomach, she slipped back into her dreams.
She was in the frou-frou dress again. Twirling around the grand ballroom, glitter and smoke obscuring her vision. The masks of the partiers grinning at her, their intentions were obvious and lewd. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw him. Surrounded by beautiful women, he was imposing and sensuous in the same breath. She moved closer to him as if drawn by magnets. Standing before him, his strangely mismatched eyes sweeping over her body, assessing, undressing. Sarah woke to the sound of her alarm clock clamoring in her ear. The same dream again. Would it never finish? Sarah had lost count of the number of times she'd had this dream. It always ended the same way; him watching her watching him. She'd given up trying to deny her adventure so many years ago. She would drive herself crazy if she tried. Dragging herself from bed, Sarah ran through a cold shower and dressed quickly for work. Once again going to another day of incessant torture. A deep sigh sent her on her way.
About an hour later things started on their daily downward turn. First, it was her supervisor berating her over the placement of her nametag. Now she was up to her elbows in dirty water, cleaning up after another old person's leftovers. Hot tears pricked her eyes and old words surfaced. Words of hatred, disdain, distrust; feelings that had been long buried bubbled to the surface. This time was the end, her breaking point, and her last straw. She watched detached as the mop fell from her hands and clattered loudly to the floor. Turning on her heel, Sarah walked out of the hospital and out her life all together. She could hear her boss' loud voice following her out the door. She waived a hand negligently in response.
At home, Sarah luxuriated in the hot water coming from the showerhead. This cleansing ritual was washing away the façade and brought the old Sarah back to the surface. The buried curiosity, impetuousness, creativity, and strength broke through the mask that she had painstakingly built over the past years. Dressing in a short denim skirt and a red silk tank top that clung to her like a second skin, Sarah faced her mirror. Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath, she spoke the words, " I wish the Goblin King would come and take me away, right now!"
In the darkness a face smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~
At first Jareth couldn't believe what he was hearing. The voice was so familiar. The warm tones that were full of strength calling on him, the call pulling on his heart and soul. It took only an instant to flash from his throne to Sarah's bedroom. It was only after he'd transported that he realized his mistake. He had not prepared himself for seeing her again. His crystals offered protection, a barrier that kept things impersonal and kept him safe. Sarah, in the flesh, was overwhelming. He watched her pupils dilate in surprise. Jareth could not help but look at her. She had changed so much over the eight intervening years and not just physically. She looked older, wiser, and more comfortable in her own skin. And my what nice skin, he thought, as his eyes traveled up her slim, bare legs and over her body to rest on her face. She didn't look quite so young anymore. Jareth was more than content to keep staring but the sound of Sarah clearing her throat brought him back to reality.
"I'm surprised you came."
"I'm surprised you called."
The silence dominated the small space after their first words in nearly a decade. Jareth broke the tension and resuming his haughty manner spoke.
"Why did you summon me?"
"Do I really need a reason?"
"Yes or I won't take you."
"See there your problem Goblinman," Jareth growled at this comment but Sarah continued cheekily. "You know the rules as well if not better than me. You have to take me whether you like it or not."
"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Jareth asked, the concern in his voice surprising Sarah.
"No I just don't want to be here anymore. Anywhere in the Underground has to be better than this."
This comment brought that light into Jareth's eyes and a slightly menacing smile crept over his face.
"Ok then, let's go," he said in a deceptively gentle voice.
"It's that easy?" Sarah asked incredulously.
"That easy."
"Let me get my bag."
"Sure, take your time."
Sarah looped a duffle bag filled with some necessities over her shoulder and calmly grasped the Goblin King's outstretched hand. Right before they transported back to the underground Sarah shut her eyes not wanting to know what she would see next.
Only darkness greeted Sarah when the dizzying sensation of transportation had stopped.
"So you think that anywhere in the underground is better than aboveground," Jareth voice whispered softly in her ear. "Well let's see how some quality time in my oubliette makes you feel."
With a laugh and a blinding flash of light Jareth disappeared and Sarah slumped to the ground and promptly fainted.
Disclaimer: Everything still applies. Again with the silly questions.
Chapter 3: Doing what needs to be done
Sarah could feel someone's eyes on her. Jolting from sleep, the sensation of being watched disappeared immediately. Despite the heat and sweat that slicked her skin, Sarah burrowed under her coverlet. Every now and then since she was fifteen Sarah had felt like someone was watching her. It was never for a long time or very often but the feeling was so eerie, so invasive she always remembered when it happened. Flipping resolutely onto her stomach, she slipped back into her dreams.
She was in the frou-frou dress again. Twirling around the grand ballroom, glitter and smoke obscuring her vision. The masks of the partiers grinning at her, their intentions were obvious and lewd. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw him. Surrounded by beautiful women, he was imposing and sensuous in the same breath. She moved closer to him as if drawn by magnets. Standing before him, his strangely mismatched eyes sweeping over her body, assessing, undressing. Sarah woke to the sound of her alarm clock clamoring in her ear. The same dream again. Would it never finish? Sarah had lost count of the number of times she'd had this dream. It always ended the same way; him watching her watching him. She'd given up trying to deny her adventure so many years ago. She would drive herself crazy if she tried. Dragging herself from bed, Sarah ran through a cold shower and dressed quickly for work. Once again going to another day of incessant torture. A deep sigh sent her on her way.
About an hour later things started on their daily downward turn. First, it was her supervisor berating her over the placement of her nametag. Now she was up to her elbows in dirty water, cleaning up after another old person's leftovers. Hot tears pricked her eyes and old words surfaced. Words of hatred, disdain, distrust; feelings that had been long buried bubbled to the surface. This time was the end, her breaking point, and her last straw. She watched detached as the mop fell from her hands and clattered loudly to the floor. Turning on her heel, Sarah walked out of the hospital and out her life all together. She could hear her boss' loud voice following her out the door. She waived a hand negligently in response.
At home, Sarah luxuriated in the hot water coming from the showerhead. This cleansing ritual was washing away the façade and brought the old Sarah back to the surface. The buried curiosity, impetuousness, creativity, and strength broke through the mask that she had painstakingly built over the past years. Dressing in a short denim skirt and a red silk tank top that clung to her like a second skin, Sarah faced her mirror. Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath, she spoke the words, " I wish the Goblin King would come and take me away, right now!"
In the darkness a face smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~
At first Jareth couldn't believe what he was hearing. The voice was so familiar. The warm tones that were full of strength calling on him, the call pulling on his heart and soul. It took only an instant to flash from his throne to Sarah's bedroom. It was only after he'd transported that he realized his mistake. He had not prepared himself for seeing her again. His crystals offered protection, a barrier that kept things impersonal and kept him safe. Sarah, in the flesh, was overwhelming. He watched her pupils dilate in surprise. Jareth could not help but look at her. She had changed so much over the eight intervening years and not just physically. She looked older, wiser, and more comfortable in her own skin. And my what nice skin, he thought, as his eyes traveled up her slim, bare legs and over her body to rest on her face. She didn't look quite so young anymore. Jareth was more than content to keep staring but the sound of Sarah clearing her throat brought him back to reality.
"I'm surprised you came."
"I'm surprised you called."
The silence dominated the small space after their first words in nearly a decade. Jareth broke the tension and resuming his haughty manner spoke.
"Why did you summon me?"
"Do I really need a reason?"
"Yes or I won't take you."
"See there your problem Goblinman," Jareth growled at this comment but Sarah continued cheekily. "You know the rules as well if not better than me. You have to take me whether you like it or not."
"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Jareth asked, the concern in his voice surprising Sarah.
"No I just don't want to be here anymore. Anywhere in the Underground has to be better than this."
This comment brought that light into Jareth's eyes and a slightly menacing smile crept over his face.
"Ok then, let's go," he said in a deceptively gentle voice.
"It's that easy?" Sarah asked incredulously.
"That easy."
"Let me get my bag."
"Sure, take your time."
Sarah looped a duffle bag filled with some necessities over her shoulder and calmly grasped the Goblin King's outstretched hand. Right before they transported back to the underground Sarah shut her eyes not wanting to know what she would see next.
Only darkness greeted Sarah when the dizzying sensation of transportation had stopped.
"So you think that anywhere in the underground is better than aboveground," Jareth voice whispered softly in her ear. "Well let's see how some quality time in my oubliette makes you feel."
With a laugh and a blinding flash of light Jareth disappeared and Sarah slumped to the ground and promptly fainted.