Threats and Promises

By: Amber Dawn Lee

Edited By: Stacie

Inspired by: A party I had once

Chapter Nine

Whatever Jareth had given me made me awfully exhausted and I soon fell into a dreamless, peaceful sleep. I slept most the day actually, which I was glad of when I woke what was around 5 O' clock. Jareth was sitting on the floor besides my makeshift bed with some sort of ashen notebook in his hands. He wasn't aware that I was awake, so I took it as an opportunity to see what he was doing. In his hand was a black charcoal pencil, which he repetitively put behind his ear. He'd do this, fidget with whatever it was he was drawing and then pull the pencil back out again. He did this so much that he was beginning to get black streaks on his cheek.

"Sleep well?" he said without looking up. I didn't answer but then it felt as if I didn't need to, as if he already knew I'd slept well and only said it to acknowledge my waking. His eyes darted across the page; they looked so deep and intense that I couldn't draw away from them. He sketched some more and looked up, grinning at my awed state.

"What are you drawing?" I asked in a lighthearted voice. He looked back at the notebook and continued sketching as if I had never asked.

"Nothing," he said after a while "just larking about." He brushed it a little with his hand and then scratched his forehead. Deep gray marks migrated across his brow, standing out against his light complexion.

"Can I see?" I asked propping myself up on an elbow, trying to ignore the newly formed lines on his face.

"You want to?" he mumbled, obviously absorbed by his work. His eyes fixated on whatever he was creating. He looked up for a brief moment and went back to the page, then he noticed how intently I was watching him and looked up. "Hum?"

"Are you not paying attention?" I teased and he shook his head slowly, eyes drifting back to the paper and then to me, as if longing to keep drawing.

"I apologize," he said warmly "I just get so engrossed sometimes that I have no idea what's happening around me."

"I do that sometimes," I admitted "when I write I mean. I'll start writing at eight O' clock one night and won't realize that it's time for school in the morning." He tilted his head slightly and his brow moved together, scrunching the charcoal lines into crisscross patterns much like a tic-tack-toe board.

"When do you sleep?" he asked in a worried tone his eyes now fully on me as if the drawing was forgotten.

"Geometry," I teased and he raised an eyebrow "most of the time I'll go to bed early the next night, though I've been known to stay awake for days on end." He took the notebook and closed it suddenly and set it to the side. Leaning forward his eyes seemed to bare through my body and into my soul.

"Would you let me read any of it?" he asked simply. I looked away a moment, thinking. Would I let him read anything of mine? Most of it WAS about his Labyrinth (lord knows he doesn't need a bigger head).

"Some of it," I admitted "other things," I paused "I'm not sure if I'd want you to read." He nodded and grabbed the pallid notebook from its dusty resting spot and sat on the side of my interim bed. He opened the first page with nimble fingers and smoothed it over. A man with raven black hair peered back at me. His eyes clearly focused on an object of great desire, though it seemed as if it was directly behind you. Over most of his face was an autumn colored mask, which he held in his pale slender fingers. Jareth turned the page.

The next was a crystal ball, perfectly shaped and formed, obviously solid as could possibly be. In it was what looked to be a human man crouched down with his head on his knees. His arms were wrapped around his knees, gripping as if he was in immense anguish. In the bottom left-hand corner of the drawing was the title scrawled out in perfect handwriting: Heartbroken.

"How sad," I whispered in a soft voice and he's head whipped around as if shocked.

"Why is it sad?" he asked soullessly "he is as he should be." I looked in disbelief at Jareth who seemed to be testing me at that very moment.

"No one should be brokenhearted," I said quietly "never." He turned the next page quickly but I caught him before he could close the book. I looked up at myself, deep smoky eyes, awed expression, and pale complexion. I looked up at him but he was looking away.

"Its not done," he mumbled in a low voice. I looked at it again and then back to him.

"I like it," I smiled "you're very good."

"I want to see something of yours," he said turning back to me and closing the sketch book. "Can't you remember something?"

"You won't laugh?" I asked and he gave a completely fake solute.

"On my honor," he said and crossed his heart. I sighed and took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn't think I was crazy.

"David kissed me in the spring," I recited "and Luther in the fall," I paused for a long time but his eyes urged me on "but Jareth only looked at me, and never kissed at all. David's kiss was lost in jest, and Luther's lost in play, but the kiss in Jareth's eyes," I paused a moment.

"Well?" he beamed.

"It haunts me night and day," I said quietly. I felt the blush flush though my cheeks and I lowered my head a bit so for him not to see. With his index finger he lifted my face to his, my eyes rising with it. Being forced to look at him I saw the taunt in his eyes, just daring me to kiss him. I tried to turn away but his finger lead me back to my helpless position.

"Does it now?" he breathed, his hot breath clinging to my lips. I felt a lump rise in my throat and the urge to smile followed. Slowly, a shy smile crept onto my face and I turned away.

"It's only a poem," I muttered shyly. What was wrong with me?! Why was I suddenly acting shy and all googly? Hell, I know why, I was falling for him, that's why. He grabbed me by the hand and practically dragged me out of the tent.

"Come on," he whispered and I followed at a moderate pace. It didn't take long but in three minutes time I was standing in front of a medium sized waterfall. It was beautiful; the mist rose up from where the liquid crashed down on the flattened rocks, creating a gauzy rainbow. Thick lush forest surrounded us, as the sound of the rushing water made me swoon.

"How beautiful," I whispered. Looking around, I noticed that Jareth had gone off somewhere. Turning around, I was greeted with a face full of water. I blinked, as if shocked and I pushed him into the good sized pool that'd collected under the waterfall. He went completely under and came back up, soaked. I laughed so hard that I had to kneel on the ground.

"Oh," he growled "you think that's funny?"

"Maybe," I teased and he sloshed out of the water which only made me laugh more. He slipped on his now clingy white button up shirt and set it on a near by rock. In a fit of annoyance he came up behind be and grabbed me in his arms. Sloshing back into the water, I promptly stopped laughing and struggled to get out of his grasp. When he got waste deep I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave in. "Don't," I warned him.

"And why not?" he asked raising an eyebrow and grinning at my helpless stature.

"I can't swim," I admitted and he gazed at me in disbelief.

"Are you joking?" he asked and I shook my head. "You never learned to swim?"

"I tried when I was little," I said "but, I'm scared of water." He gave dry look.

"You?" he asked "afraid?" It seemed odd to me that he thought I feared nothing, which was confusing since I feared a great deal.

"Yeah," I griped "I'm only human. I can't be brave ALL the time. So if you don't mind putting me down…" he lowered me towards the water "NOT HERE!" He chuckled and took a step into deeper water.

"Let's play a game," he smiled and I rubbed my temples.

"Oh no," I sighed.

"Well if you don't want to play I could just set you down right here and-" he started lowering me again.

"Ok," I growled "what game?"

Author's Note: I LOVE Jareth, I really do. If I had a guy that annoying and persistent and with split personalities… well, let's just say I'd be one happy girl. -

LadyAniviel: your very welcome. Yep, well there's a lot more kissing to come!! Don't worry, the celebration will start probably next chapter.

Rosakara13: yeah, split personalities, tight pants and hey, look, he likes to play games… sounds like what happens to every guy I date. -

ItsACrystalNothingMore: Your very welcome. I'm so glad you had fun hop along…er… I mean wheelie, umm.. I mean… dang. Anyways -, glad your doing better.

Moonjava: thanks much, its going to get better I hope.

Amanda: yep, they kinda kissed ::sighs:: Thank you and that'll probably be the next chapter or the one after.

Avalon-blackandgreen: aw, thanx so much. Glad you liked it. MORE TO COME!! -