Disclaimer: Do I look rich? I don't own the Labyrinth or anything to do with it.
Well, I'm back. Reviewers to be thanked:
Eleanora Rose: Happily ever after? I ask you; where's the fun in that?
Lhiata: blush gee thanks, but I don't think the shower thing will happen, though the issue will be resolved.
Gertie: No, its not just you. I do introduce millions at a time and there's more for you here. I confuse myself. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about them to much. Their mostly sideline characters.
Jazzy021: Arigato. Give them time.
something in the air: Thanks. Glad you're enjoying it.
Anyana: I have a bag full of twists. I love twists.
PinkCrescendo: If you insist.
Ok. Here we go. Another long one. I own all of the new guests with the possible exception of Cassandra. Any G-Wing fans will notice the uncanny likeness to Relena. I apologise but she just happened.
The formatting gets a little funky in the middle somewhere. I'm not sure what happened but I tried to fix it. Just to warn you.
December 16th
Sarah awoke to a strange feeling. There was a hand squeezing her breast and there was a tongue in her mouth. She opened her eyes and pushed Steve off her.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back kissing her sloppily. "Come on baby."
She pushed him harder. "No Steve. I'm not in the mood."
He scowled at her. "You're never in the mood these days."
She sighed. "Yeah well. Maybe I'm ill. I don't know. I'm having a shower." She grabbed a towel and ran into the bathroom locking the door behind her. She got into the shower and turned up the temperature. She could hear Steve trying the door before giving up and shouting that he was heading down stairs.
Sarah rubbed her forehead. She was so tired of all this shit. She was just going to apologise to Jareth, see if they could get on without trying to kill each other and spend as much time away from Steve as possible. She pulled on a black top. It looked a bit gothic but she was in a dark mood. It was corset like, plain with a square neck line and loose belled sleeves. She put on her jeans and headed out the door. She sat a few spaces down from Steve and looked to the head of the table.
"Morning. Hey, I just want to apologise for yesterday. I was just upset with…everything."
Etáin smiled kindly at her. "That's ok. We were just worried that's all. I can understand how its all a bit overwhelming."
Sarah smiled back gratefully. "Thanks. It is a bit. Hey, has Jareth been down yet. I want to apologise to him too."
Etáin nodded. "That's good. He's eaten already but you might catch him later. The library is a safe bet I think."
Sarah nodded. "I was planning on spending the morning there anyway. Thanks."
Steve's head shot up. "Jareth? Your old 'friend' Jareth?"
Sarah turned to him. "Yeah. Turns out he's coming to this reunion thing too. Weird huh?"
"Yeah, weird." Steve muttered into his breakfast.
Sarah loved this library.
When the sun hit the dome right the room was filled with colours. Sarah was searching one of the bottom shelves when she heard the door open.
She spun around quickly. "Jar…oh. Hey Steve. What's up?"
Steve walked in and closed the door. "That's what I came to ask you."
Sarah cocked her head and feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"
"Come on Hunny." He spat out the last word. Sarah hadn't really ever seen him this angry. "You make instant friends with the weirdos that live here, you don't seem to like me anymore and this old 'friend' of yours just turns up and you don't tell me. What's the deal with that? Why do I feel you're hiding something from me?"
Sarah rolled her eyes. "I have no idea." She threw up a hand and turned to go back to the shelf she was searching but Steve caught her wrist.
"Don't lie to me. What's going on?"
Sarah twisted in his grip but couldn't get free. "Steve let me go. You're hurting me."
"No. Tell me wha…"
"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting anything."
Sarah closed her eyes. No no no no no no. He's not allowed see this. Show him no weakness, remember? She looked over to where Jareth was leaning against the door frame.
"No thank you Jareth. We're fine."
"It really doesn't look like it my dear."
Steve's grip on Sarah's wrist tightened. "Don't call her that you English fag. Stay out of our business." "Steve stop it."
"Shut up Sarah." He shook her slightly and then Jareth was beside them.
"I suggest you let her go."
"Fuck off."
"I think not."
Steve let out a cry and stumbled back clutching his nose. He looked at his hand and when he saw no blood he laughed. "Heh, couldn't even break my nose. Fag. Come on Sarah."
But she stayed where she was. "No. You go calm down. I'll talk to you later."
Steve scowled. "Fine."
The door slammed behind him and Sarah flinched. She sighed and rubbed her neck sitting down on one of the sofas. "Oh god."
She looked up at Jareth who was still standing there. She felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "Why did you do that?"
"Which? Help you or punch him?"
She shrugged "Both."
"He was hurting you. He shouldn't have."
She looked up at him again. She looked sad. It struck Jareth as odd. He had seen her angry, upset, frustrated but never really sad. It didn't look right on her.
"Thank you. I'm…I'm sorry for calling you an egotistical, obnoxious, overdressed, oblivious prat. You're not oblivious."
Jareth laughed. "Hmm, well I'm sorry for calling you a foolish, selfish, ignorant little girl. You're not so little."
Sarah laughed as well. She held out her hand. "Truce?"
He took it. "Truce. And glad of it. I didn't want to spend my whole holiday avoiding you." Jareth felt a small jolt as the others had when he grabbed Sarah's hand but decided not to mention it for now. Sarah pulled him forward.
"Sit down. I'm getting neck strain."
He sat down beside her. "This is odd."
She grinned. "It is a bit. Isn't it. Hey, look what I found."
She threw a slim red volume to him and he caught it. He flipped trough the pages and stopped. "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered…"
"I have made my way here to the goblin city." She finished making a grand gesture with her hand. "Gods. I was such a fool back then."
Jareth shook his head. "Don't be one now then. We were both playing our parts. You were the head strong heroine who had to save her brother; I was the villain of the piece. It was a game. It's the past. Forget it."
"That's very big of you."
"Well, I always have been generous."
She slapped his shoulder. "Well that settles it. I always knew you were a liar."
"Sarah, you wound me."
"Uh huh. I'm sure. So…how have you been for the last eleven years?"
"I live in a castle filled with mindless goblins. What do you think?"
"Right. Well, had any good contestants recently?"
"Not really. You're a hard act to follow."
Sarah smiled. "Well, I do try. Tell me something."
"Anything, within reason."
"That's a double negative. Do you really turn the children you take into goblins?"
"No it isn't. It depends."
"Well it's highly contradictory then. What do you mean?"
"Well, for one, not everyone who is wished away is a child. Some are annoying relations, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends. You name it, it's been wished away."
"Well, ok. What happens then?"
"Some unknown power decides. I certainly couldn't be bothered. If the person is particularly vile they become a goblin of some variety. If they are ridiculously pure, they usually become elves. Anyone in between becomes something fitting. If you are really hyper active, I believe you become a firey. Almost everything you came across on your little journey used to be someone that got wished away."
"You mean Ludo, Hoggle, Didymus, the blue worm? Everyone?"
"Even the door knockers. The only original inhabitants are those god forsaken fairies and a few animals. Unicorns, centaurs and such. The Fae came down afterwards and then…well I'm sure there's a history book in here some where."
"Ahh, but finding it is the challenge."
"Indeed."
Sarah pulled back and looked hard at Jareth.
He eyed her uncomfortably. "What?"
"It just strange, that's all. Look at us. Talking like we really are old friends."
He smiled wolfishly at her. "Old acquaintances. New friends perhaps?"
She nodded eagerly. "That works for me."
This is how Jareth and Sarah spent the rest of the day. Fairly amicably.
I said fairly.
"Here, have a peach." He said spitefully Sarah slapped the fruit from his hand. "That is not funny Jareth!"
"Well, you need to learn to forgive and forget."
"Forgive and forget? You kidnapped my brother."
"But not before you asked. I take it back. You are still spoilt and selfish." He bit out.
"You sonuva…wait. We're doing it again."
Jareth who had been heading for the door stopped. "Hmm. It appears that old habits die hard."
"Yeah. I guess." When he turned she saw the wicked grin on his face and rolled her eyes.
"Damn it Jareth. Would you please stop trying to provoke me?"
"Oh but it's so entertaining."
She looked at him incredulously. "I bet you won't think it's so funny when we're standing in a pile of ash." She grabbed a book from a pile she had selected.
"What do you mean?"
She glanced up at him. "Hmm? Oh, this." She flicked her wrist as she had done for Ionnina and the whole room was bathed in the flickering light of nearly fifty candles. Sarah started when she felt Jareth gloved hand close around her wrist which was still held high.
He pulled her closer. "Put them out."
"But…"
"Please."
Sarah waved her free hand and the room was plunged in to darkness which she hadn't noticed earlier. Obviously Jareth hadn't either. She couldn't see him but she could sense him. Hear his breathing and feel the warmth that radiated off him. He hummed with power, the same power she had sensed in Tara. Older than life and powerful beyond belief. His grip on her wrist loosened and his thumb travelled over her palm, tracing the lines it found there. She closed her eyes in the darkness as her breathing slowed. Jareth could hear her relax under his slight touch. He could feel the untapped power within her but he was distracted by the smoothness of her skin and her soft touch.
He reluctantly let her go. "It…appears you are full of surprises."
She gulped softly as she stepped away. "Yes well…"
She turned slammed into a foot stool and cursed loudly in a range of languages. She could hear Jareth laughing quietly behind her. "Stop laughing at my pain you bastard."
"I didn't know you could speak Russian."
"Well you learn something new every day."
"Quite. Well would you be so kind as to light some of the lower candles."
"Anything for you Jareth." She ground out scathingly.
He looked at her when the flames flickered into existence. His eyes still sparkled with laughter. "I shall hold you to that."
"You just try…oh shit. Look at the time."
"That really is pathetic Sarah."
"No, really. Look at the time. We need to go."
She grabbed his arm and dragged him out the door. "Dinner is in fifteen minutes and a girl just has to powder her nose."
Jareth freed himself of her grip and straightened his shirt. "Well, I suppose I should change." She paused and looked him over. He still had his flowing poets shirt on but he wore loose black trousers today which were covered in dust from the books they had dredged up from the darkest corners of the library.
"I don't know. Their not much for the formal here I've noticed."
"Yes but we have more new guests and some of them are…"
"What?"
"Elitist I suppose."
"Oh, I shudder with anticipation."
Jareth laughed. "I assure you, you are not alone. But they were just as much a part of the war as the rest of us."
She headed up a small back stairs and reached a corner. "I guess I'll see you at dinner."
"I will see you then."
"Hey Jareth." He stopped and turned back to her. "I…Thanks. Today was great. I'm glad we got everything settled. Just stop trying to get me angry."
He nodded, his eyes amused and began on down the corridor. "And no more peaches." She could hear his laughter down the corridor though she could no longer see him.
Sarah brushed out her long dark hair. She had decided to wear it loose for once. She kept her jeans but swapped her gothic top for a black silk wrap around kimono type. She tied a silver scarf/sash around her waist and headed out the door. Steve was nowhere in sight so she assumed he had already gone to dinner. Sarah rounded a corner and stopped.
Jareth was leaning against a wall his eyes closed. She looked over him suspiciously. He was back in his usual clothes.
"You were waiting for me."
He cracked an eyelid and his gaze slid to her. "That sounds like an accusation. I was waiting. Whether I was waiting for you or not remains to be seen."
She raised an eyebrow. "Well, were you?"
He pushed himself off the wall and turned to her. "Yes. Shall we?"
He motioned in the direction on the main stairs. "Let's."
They walked side by side down the winding corridors. "So tell me about the new arrivals. I get a quick run down from Ionnina but that's usually about their love life."
"What do you think of the others?"
"Loki's nice, when he not playing some prank. Maui is really quiet. The complete opposite of his mother, who I love. She's quirky and she likes Gershwin."
"You're easily won over."
"Took you eleven years. Umm, Persephone is nice when you get her going and Orpheus and Eurydice are kind of like your cool aunt and uncle."
Jareth smirked. "That all sounds about right. I'm afraid your about to meet a quite different bunch."
"Uh oh."
"Hmm. Well, there's Sogoro and his wife Kagero. I doubt they will even talk to you. No offence." "None taken. Id rather have warning. Please go on."
"There is their daughter Yukio. She's pretty wild. She'll like you I think."
"Nice to know."
"Then there's King Akhenaten and his mistress Bentreshyte. They will probably warm to you but what ever you do, don't mention his wife or ask if she's his wife. In fact best to avoid the topic of marriage with them all together."
"Got it. Anyone else?" She asked as they descended the main stairs.
"Oh, I've saved the best for last, there's also…"
"Jareth!"
Sarah could see Jareth slip on his Goblin King 'fight face' as she mentally referred to it when the shrill voice pierced the air. As they reached the bottom of the stairs something the most hideous shade of pink appeared and attached itself to Jareth's side.
"Jareth, dear. It has simply been too long."
"Cassandra."
Sarah could hear the strain in his voice but, what eventually turned out to be a girl behind the haze of pink, seemed quite oblivious to his annoyance. It also seemed that when she began to talk, she didn't stop.
"I mean, we live so close and we never see each other. You are always caught up in affairs of state. Such a pity. This break must be such a relief for you. And now I'm here too. Perfect. I had no idea you would actually be her this year but I am immensely happy about it. We really do need to spend more time together. You shall escort me to dinner wont you? Because I…"
Jareth interrupted her brusquely. "I do apologise Princess but I am already escorting this young lady to dinner."
Cassandra took a step back and looked over Sarah with a sneer on her face. She drew herself up with an imperious look on her face and held out her had. It was also encased in pink.
"Princess Cassandra of the Algarian planes. You are?"
Sarah shook her hand heartily, a fake smile plastered on her face. "Sarah Williams."
Oh, a mortal.
The unguarded mental voice was heard by all in the hall way including Sarah. The disgust it contained was evident and it felt like a slap in the face. She shot a small glance at Jareth but his face remained cold and indifferent. She knew he was just staying diplomatic by not defending her but it still stung somewhat.
Jareth turned towards the dining room and held his arm out to Sarah. "Shall we?" Sarah took his arm and Cassandra threw her a withering look before casting around for another man to latch on to.
"Maui. Darling. You, all alone? Well no longer."
Sarah saw the quiet man grimace and felt sorry for him but somehow, she was willing to make him a sacrifice for her own sanity. The pink monstrosity and her victim moved ahead of herself and Jareth and she suddenly found herself being pulled to a halt.
She looked at Jareth questioningly. "Sorry about that." He was looking at the floor boards and she had to duck under his layer of hair to see his eyes.
"For what? Candyfloss girl over there? No need. I know you're just trying to avoid a confrontation right?" He nodded slowly, standing up straight again.
"Well, that's fine then. Maybe if you used those tactics with me, we'd get on better."
He gave her a small grin and they entered the dining room.
Etáin looked up from her seat and grinned at the pair. "Nice to see you two have made up." She called down the room. "Hope my library is still standing."
There was a ripple of laughter from the residential end of the table. Sarah smiled at her friends as she took her seat between Steve and Ionnina.
"It is. Of course I suggest you remove any sharp or breakable objects from the room. He's still an annoying prick."
Jareth took a seat across from her, as far away from Cassandra as possible. "Yes well she's still a sneaky little liar. I wouldn't trust her if I were you."
"We don't." More laughter.
"Ok, you crazy kids, settle down and dig in."
Ionnina winked at Sarah as they began their meal. Steve scowled at Jareth and placed his hand on Sarah's thigh underneath the table. She sighed and piled steaming pasta onto her plate.
It was going to be a long night.
On the whole, dinner was not as bad as Sarah had anticipated. Her conversation was confined to that circle of people whom she knew liked her. The new arrivals stuck mainly to the other end of the table. Lord Sogoro and Lady Kagero spoke mainly to each other while Yukio sat in the corner like a sulking teenager.
Sarah watched the three with amusement.
She could remember when she acted the same way towards her father and Karen. Not that Karen didn't deserve it though. The two Egyptian Fae, whose names Sarah couldn't for the life of her remember, seemed nice enough but subdued and Cassandra was latching on to anyone she seemed to deem worthy of her stimulating conversation.
So far Maui had managed to escape with the help of his formidable mother and she had cornered Loki. Cassandra's shrill laughter shook Sarah out of her musings just in time to see a few people flinch.
She glanced at Steve, who had been suspiciously quiet all meal. She had attempted remove his hand on several occasions but alas, he was persistent. Jareth grabbed a jug near Sarah's hand and glanced at her. "Sarah?"
"Hmm? What?"
"Why have you drawn a face in your dessert?" Sarah glanced down. It appeared she had absently scrawled a smiley face in her chocolate sauce. She grinned sheepishly. "Its happy to see me. Unlike some people."
Another cackle of laughter.
Cyros frowned. "Ignore her, my dear."
Ionnina nodded and grabbed Sarah's hand. "Yes. She's a fool. She's only here because her mother couldn't be bothered turning up herself. Cassandra believes herself to be far more important than she actually is."
There were a few surreptitious nods around their end of the table. Nadír leaned forward and grabbed a plate from in front of Steve. "Yes. And unfortunately her mother fosters this self importance. She has become insufferable to many."
Etáin took the large plate of fruit from her husband. "Cant we just ask her to leave? Cause an unfortunate accident?"
Sarah and Ionnina giggled as the men smirked at the thought.
Cyros grinned at his friend. "Not that we haven't all fantasised about it, my dear Etáin, but do you really think her mother would appreciate it?"
Etáin looked down the table. "Yes. Do you think she wouldn't?" There was more laughter as the meal ended.
Steve looked at Sarah. "Who are they talking about?"
She sighed at him. "We were talking about…never mind. It doesn't matter."
"Right."
The guests rose and Etáin stood at the door.. "I think we shall go to the music room again. Does everyone agree?" There was a murmur of accent and she opened the great double door. Sarah moved towards the doors and Jareth but Cassandra latched onto him first.
"Jareth, my dear. You simply must sing for us tonight."
Sarah paused beside Andre who was beginning to clear the table. "Andre. Do you need any help?" Andre nodded gratefully. Sarah started to stack some of the plates and she heard Cassandra and Jareth pass by.
"Oh, so she is hired help. Yes, that would explain a lot. How generous of you to escort one of the lower classes to dinner."
There was a clatter as Sarah dropped a knife. Deep breaths. You will not set the table cloth on fire. You will not set the table cloth on fire.
Andre frowned at the girl and put a calming hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Um, Sarah?"
"Yes Andre?"
"Your hand." She glanced down to see the angry red flames singing the edge of a napkin. She willed them to die and looked at the cook.
"I am so sorry."
"It's alright. Happens to the best of us."
Sarah sat on the stone counter top as Andre closed the dishwasher door. "Guess the Fae utilise modern technology as well."
"Its cheaper than hiring ten kitchen hands. We all chip in and the work gets done."
"Ahh, if only my students would figure that strategy out."
"What do you teach?"
"English. You can imagine how hard it is to explain verb declensions to fifteen year olds who don't even read."
Andre let out a hearty laugh. "I can imagine. Drink?" He held up a bottle of whiskey.
"Love one."
About an hour later Cian appeared in the kitchen. "Hey. Looks like there's more of a party going on here then there is upstairs. What you two been doing?"
Sarah grinned at the youth and the thought struck her that he was probably older than her by at least a few centuries. "We've just been chatting. What's going on upstairs?"
Cian grimaced. "All you can hear is the bubblegum princess' talking and talking and…"
"Talking?"
"Yeah. She tried to get Jareth to sing but he wasn't having none of it. She wouldn't allow anyone else to though. It's a real drag. My mum sent me to find you. Says we need some controversy. Oh, and also your boyfriend's getting antsy."
Sarah made a face. "Oh yeah. Forgot about him. Well," she hopped off the counter. "Let's go see if we can't stir the shit some."
The music room was relatively quiet when the three entered despite the amount of people that were there. Sarah spied Yukio sulking in a corner when she walked in and grinned slightly. Her parents were talking in hushed tones to Eurydice and Orpheus. Steve was sitting on one of the settees with Fiona who seemed to be the only other person he even remotely got on with. Andre detached himself from the group and went to speak with Etáin and Cian joined Fiona and Steve. Sarah turned and found herself face to face with a very beautiful woman. Her black hair was in smooth braids and wore a white dress of silk, though it wasn't quite period. Sarah recognised her as the Egyptian woman.
"I'm sorry. I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Sarah Williams."
The woman smiled softly and took her hand. "Bentreshyte of the planes of thunder. It nice to meet you." Sarah found Bentreshyte to be friendly if not very quiet. Her lover soon joined the conversation and she was amused to find that he had a love of music, particularly Bob Dylan.
It seemed the Fae were not as far removed from Aboveground as many of them would have liked her to think.
She spoke once again to Loki and Persephone who had become more comfortable in their surroundings. Persephone expressed a wish to take them both to her original land of Greece.
"It is truly wondrous there."
Loki pulled a strange face, causing the two women to laugh. "No thank you. All that heat? I like my home up north. After the first snow fall, now that is when you see true magik."
After a while she found herself on a sofa speaking quietly with Maui. It appeared they had more in common then she had previously thought.
"I was head strong and foolish in my youth. It is evident in some of the tales I appear in. The last of which, I attempt to vanquish Death and fail."
Sarah gave him a questioning look. "But, you're immortal."
"True, I believe the story stemmed from when I attempted to take on one of the great enemies in the war single handed. I lost but it was not my life that was sacrificed, it was that of my fathers. I shall never forgive myself for that."
Sarah gave him a small smile. "Well, I've made some pretty stupid mistakes in my life. I was so lucky not to loose my brother."
Maui smiled back. "Yes. You were truly the stronger will in that battle."
"Oh, I don't know."
She glanced over to where Jareth was standing, Cassandra talking at him. "Do you think she has to stop to breath, or is that her magik? Talking?"
Maui gave a small smirk. "I have a feeling she doesn't posses much of any power. Shall we try to save our blonde friend or leave him in his misery?"
"We probably should attempt to rescue him shouldn't we?"
"Not before you sing again my dear." A voice sounded from behind them and Maui rolled his eyes. "Mother, are you determined to make a show of the poor woman?"
Taranga shook her head. "Indeed I am not. She has a gift and besides this room is dead. It needs a spark like one of our budding flame here."
Sarah looked surprised but smiled in agreement. "Alright. Do you have any request you majesty?"
The woman shook her wild head of hair and laughed. "Do call me Taranga my dear. I tire of formalities. No, no requests. Surprise us all."
The room went silent as they heard Taranga's request. Sarah nodded to Etáin. "Do you have a guitar?" Nadír pulled out a case from a cupboard. "It's a little out of tune."
"I wouldn't worry." Sarah sat on a stool by the piano and began to tune the guitar, glancing up to see where everyone was. There were two sofas directly in front of her. One held Etáin, Nadír, Ionnina and Cyros. The other held Cassandra, Jareth, Steve and Fiona while Cian sat on a stool beside them. Taranga sat in an over stuffed arm chair while Maui stood behind her. Everyone else sat on the other sofas and chairs scattered around the room but all attention was focused on Sarah.
She took a deep breath. "Um, this song is by Ani DiFranco, one of my favourite artists. You probably won't recognise it but its about, well, you'll see."
Sarah began to pluck the strings and started to sing.
You give me that look that's like laughing
With liquid in your mouth
Like you're choosing between choking
And spitting it all out
Like your trying to fight gravity on a planet that insists
That love is like falling and falling is like this
Jareth watched as Sarah played, quite mesmerised by her voice and her playing. Her fingers moved expertly over the instrument. Sarah could feel his eyes on her burning into her. She looked up and their eyes locked.
Feels like reckless driving when we're talking
It's fun while it lasts and its faster than walking
But no ones going to sympathise when we crash
They'll say you hit what you head for and you get what you ask
And we'll say we didn't know
No we didn't even try
One minute there was road beneath us
And the next just sky
Sarah's heart was pounding. She wondered did he hear what she was trying to say. She also wondered whether or not she was crazy. They'd only been friendly for a day.
And what about Steve? Was this fair on any of them?
She didn't know, but she sure as hell knew what she was feeling and she hoped he felt the same. Her eyes were still locked with Jareth's as she continued to play.
I'm sorry I cant help you
I cannot keep you safe
Sorry I cant help myself
So don't look at me that way
We cant fight gravity on planet that insists
That love is like falling and falling is like
That love is like falling and falling is like this
Its like this
Its like this.
Jareth tore his eyes away from hers as the room broke into applause. He hoped she knew what she was saying to him. It was possible she didn't even realise the effect her every action had on him. This was crazy. He knew this. They had known each other, really, less than a day and yet all he wanted to do was to sweep her up and take her somewhere far away where he could have her all to himself. Cassandra moved uncomfortably next to him as much of the room complimented Sarah on her performance.
"Yes well, it was quaint I suppose. For someone as undereducated as a mortal."
Jareth suppressed a growl and turned away from her only to be faced with Steve who had a huge grin on his face. "She was singing that to me. Did you see? Did you see how she was looking over here the whole time? She loves me, I know it."
"You are an imbecile, you do realise that, don't you?" The words had slipped from Jareth's mouth before he had realised he even said them. He regretted it, but he meant it. Steve spun around and glared at him.
"What did you just call me, you makeup wearing freak?"
Well, you started it, might as well finish the job.
"I said, you are an imbecile. You do no what that is don't you?"
Steve took a step towards him. "Don't you dare insult me you fucker. You're just jealous. I see the way you look at my girlfriend and you better stop or I'll kick your scrawny ass."
"I seriously doubt that you Neanderthal. You couldn't treat Sarah right even if you took a class. You are the most boorish, uncivilised and stupid man I have ever met."
"You son of a bitch."
Steve swung his fist at Jareth's head, who easily ducked it. He rose his hand and was about to send the idiot to the Bog when Sarah appeared between the men, her face dark.
"What the hell do you two think you are doing?"
She grabbed Jareth's wrist as he had done hers in the library but not nearly as gently. She glared up at him as she felt the power he was attempting to call up.
"You. You should know better. I don't know what the fuck you are trying to do but you better stop or so help me…"
Steve laughed. "Yeah, you tell him baby."
Sarah turned on him. "And you. Oh…Steve, I actually want to kill you right now. Do you know that? I can't believe you." She took a step back, raking her fingers through her hair. "Either of you."
Steve frowned. "Yeah well he started it. He called me a …"
Sarah held up her hand. "Dear lord do you hear yourself? You sound like one of my kids. Seriously, both of you, I've seen more maturity among twelve year olds."
Steve started to speak again but she stopped him. "Don't, just…just head upstairs. I'll follow you up in a minute. Go." Steve's frown deepened but he left the room slamming the door behind him. She turned to Jareth.
"Jareth I…I can't even speak to you right now. You should know better." She repeated but her voice was calmer. She let go of his wrist and turned to the rest of the room. "Um, I'm very sorry about that everyone. I will see you all in the morning. Enjoy the rest of the evening." She slipped out of the room then quietly.
The room began to hum with chatter as Jareth sighed and leaned against a chair. "Well, you've really done it this time."
"Shut up Cyros."
"I'm going after her, but I seriously suggest you work on an apology. You started it and you humiliated her in an already hostile room."
"I get the idea. It wasn't a smart move."
"Oh, it really wasn't."
"I said, shut up."
"Sarah."
Sarah paused half way up the main stairs and saw Cyros jogging towards her. "Sarah, are you alright?" She smiled at the concern that showed in his dark eyes. "Yeah, I suppose. I'm just embarrassed. By both of them. In all honesty, this is the kind of this I would expect from Steve, but Jareth…" She shook her head in disbelief. "And he was the one who started the whole thing. I'm really beginning to think that staying here is a mistake."
Cyros shook his head. "No. Not a mistake. You just need to tread carefully. Tell me, what do you think of Jareth?"
Sarah looked at him for a long time, wondering how to answer. She sat on one of the steps and he joined her. "I'm not really sure to be honest."
"Honesty is the best policy."
"Yeah well, he infuriates me, especially when he does something like that, and he continually tries to provoke me. I can't really call him on his temper. Mine's just as bad."
"I'm surprised you didn't burn either of them. On purpose or by accident."
Sarah chuckled. "Yeah well then what was I supposed to say to Steve. 'Sorry, forgot to tell you about my magik Fire powers.'"
"Good point. But back to Jareth…"
Sarah looked at him suspiciously. "You're digging."
"I wouldn't call it digging. More like rummaging."
"Uh huh. Well, I don't know. I do like him. He makes me laugh, feel comfortable, challenges me. I can't remember the last time I had a debate about Machiavellian theories with Steve, or anyone for that matter. Except maybe my collage professor."
Cyros smiled. "Well, I would think Jareth has similar sentiments considering he lives with Goblins." "Surely there are other people living in that castle."
"Servants. Goblins, the odd dwarf. That's it. Jareth is a powerful force in the Underground, but it's lonely at the top."
"I never really thought of him that way."
"No one really does."
"I'm still mad at him though."
"And so you should be. Well I should get back."
Sarah stood up and stretched. "I should go take care of Steve. I mean Jareth only insulted him and took a swing at him. Arrgh. I am so embarrassed."
Cyros smiled at her kindly "Sarah, everyone knows you had nothing to do with it, except that you stopped it before Jareth sent you companion to the Underground which would have been a disaster." "Right."
"As for the others, ignore them. They are the last people you should pay attention to."
"Hey Cyros?"
"Yes?"
"What's the deal with Cassandra and Jareth?"
"Ahh. Well, apparently Cassandra's mother has told her that Jareth is the prize pick and so Cassandra is attempting too charm him into getting him to propose to her."
Sarah felt a flash of jealousy. "She's kidding herself! Right?"
Cyros laughed. "Indeed. In case you didn't notice he hates the girl. Cant stand her."
"Oh. Ok. No…no other women in his life at the moment?"
"Not that I'm aware of. And Jareth tells me pretty much everything."
"Oh. Right. G'night Cyros."
"Goodnight Sarah. Good luck with Steve."
Cyros watched Sarah as she walked up the stairs. Oh Jareth. You're a lucky man. Any other woman would have killed you by now.
"Ok, why did you try to punch Jareth?" Sarah sat on the bed and watched as Steve paced the room.
"He insulted me. He looks at you funny."
"Ok, insulting you, I can understand but you could have walked away. You're the one always preaching about being so civilised and superior. Demonstrate."
Steve shot her a look. "Fine. I'm sorry for trying to punch that fag but don't expect me to like him."
"I would never expect so much of you." Fortunately Steve missed the remarks true meaning. "But, he looks at me funny?"
Steve nodded. "Yeah. I don't like how he looks at you."
"And just how does he look at me?"
"The same way I look at you."
Sarah swallowed. "Right. Well, how about we get some sleep. It's been a long day."
End Chap.
MRAN:
Well, most of the new guests are mine like I already said, but do you see what I meant by the Relena thing?
The song is "Falling is like this" by the most fab Ani DiFranco and can be found on the "Out of Range" album.
I think that's all for this one. Review if you have any questions. Hell, review anyway.
Slán.
