Chapter Six
As the Pain Sweeps Through
Author's Note: This chapter I dedicate to Sightlessmuse because she got some seriously wonderful reviews!
"Maybe I'll teach you to really fly one day," he offered and Piper smiled shyly but didn't say a word. He swiped her mind again, slowly taking it all in. Such a bright child, full of ideas and opinions. She wasn't afraid to voice them either, no way, she would willingly throw them out at you. Something in her was different, different than anyone he'd ever met. A willingness to sacrifice herself for people close to her, and the willingness to take care of herself. A pure indescribable joy but also a deep black pit of sorrow. Everything she had was opposed by the exact opposite. Sweet and sour mixed together to create a twang of human imagination that couldn't be topped by any other man, nor fae.
"I think I know why animals don't worship God," she started and Jareth smirked, her she went again.
"Whys that?" he asked, eager to see what she thought.
"I think it's because they don't have the time," she sighed "there to busy trying to survive that they can't sit down and pray, or have church because in the middle of service, they'd get eaten." She paused a moment. "I think that's why I don't either."
"Because you might get eaten?" Jareth mused.
"In a manner of speaking," she mumbled and he's eyes grew. Had she been… he closed his eyes, damn humans. You didn't see fae going around molesting their children, though they did switch them out for human babes quiet often. But that wasn't the point. The point was, that if the girl was HIS he wouldn't had let anything ever harm her. But now she was his… wasn't she? He mentally slapped himself, don't Jareth, he warned you'll make the same mistake you did last time and she'll pull away.
"I wouldn't ever let anything hurt you," he promised and Piper smiled. That was a first. Funny to think Sarah feared this man so, he was possibly the kindest man she'd ever well met. She had something sarcastic in mind, she was going to mutter that she'd say the same thing but she didn't think she could protect him from anything. But instead her body broke down and a few tears slipped out from under her now forcefully shut eyes. Magickally, Jareth closed the library door and took the girl into his arms. She held still, feeling as if he would possibly take advantage of her. Every other man would've, this she knew, but Jareth merely held her hushing her, telling her that it'd be alright. Somehow, she willed to trust him and clasped her arms around him. A little taken aback, yes, he wasn't expecting her to hold onto him so forcefully but perhaps it was because she needed someone. Needed… him, maybe?
"I would've died," she whispered and Jareth just nodded. "He would've killed me and Daniel, mom too maybe if she hadn't run first."
"Talk to me about it," Jareth insisted and set her next to the fire place. He sat on the floor next to her and dried away her tears.
"Mom left when I was five," Piper whispered "she'd started getting hit for coming home late and left soon after it started. But, she couldn't get work and started sleeping with people for money. The judge said it was no way to support me so I was left behind." Jareth watched the young girls eyes shine with tears as another trickled down her cheek. "Dad didn't hit me for the longest time," she said, her eyes far away "he told me he loved his little girl so much. How proud he was of me, me learning all I did." Rage started to show in the lines on her face and in her eyes, the deep hurt that had been inflicted on her. "It started small, just telling me things, how I was, what was wrong with me. It didn't happen much but, then it became more frequent until everything he said to me was about how bad I was. Then mom came back with Daniel and everything went good for a few days. But then she left again, she said that I…" her voice trailed off.
"She said I," she choked "I had become so barren and dead that she didn't want to end up like me. That dad had killed my soul or something and how terrible it was. So dad started hitting Daniel. And he'd cry and cry, never stopping. Then dad went on a trip and we stayed with my grandpa for a while. I think I was about fourteen since it was right after we got Daniel. And grandpa Toby told me this great story about my great aunt and how she overcame all this… this stuff just so she could get him back. And I thought," her eyes lit up "oh, how I wish to be like that. To be able to stand up to anything, so brave like her to get my brother back." She paused for a while.
"But the villain," she smirked as she wiped her face with her arm "I'm afraid wasn't up to par. At least, not for me. He didn't seem the Darth Vader type. He didn't kill anyone, he didn't hurt Toby, he didn't even TRY to keep the girl. It just seemed that he did whatever he was asked. But how scared Sarah sounded through the story, how… captivated she was by this, Goblin King made me feel like I could handle anything. All the way up until I went back home. And so I forgot," she whispered "and didn't bother trying to call or dream or wish or pray. I just lived, if you could call it living. But I always kept what Sarah did in my heart, how she'd give up anything for her brother, so I did too…."
"What'd you give?" Jareth whispered. Pipers' eyes gleamed thoughtfully, what hadn't she given up? Her food, her bed, her shelter? Her nights, her prayers, her every waking moment? But there was something else too. She'd taken things from the boy. She'd taken his beatings, his screams, his pain. His hunger and frustration, his nightmares. Her father had done something unforgivable, though it seemed that somehow she got past it all.
"Almost every night daddy would come home from the bar," she said looking at the floor. "He'd come home and open the door to my room, and most of the time I'd be lying there on the mattress next to Daniel, halfway asleep by then." Jareth looked at her forcefully and the only word running through his mind was how… how could this happen? To HER? This sweet little girl, no, this beautiful young woman. How could a man, her father, hurt her like this.
"I," she choked and cleared her throat "I never let him touch Daniel. Never once after I heard the story." Jareth didn't move. "He'd always ask though," she breathed "wondering when I'd crack and tell him to take the boy and give me one night of sleep. But I never did. I'd always find the strength to get up off of that mattress and follow him into the back room." Jareth watched as tears poured down her face. "I couldn't let him," she said smiling a bit "never. Because, I always thought, when we get older I may not be able to say, well I ran the Labyrinth and went through hours of hell to get him back, but I could say that I'd give anything for him." Jareth opened his mouth to say something when he stopped… someone was summoning him.
"Not now," he growled impatiently and formed a crystal in his hand. He paused a moment as he looked into the crystal orb. Piper noticed his shocked expression as well and strained to see what he was ogling at. "Sarah," he murmured and Piper's eyes widened.
"Nu uh," she said a smile creeping across her face. "Aunty Sarah is NOT calling you… is she?"
"Well she's the only one there," he growled and quickly snapped his fingers and Sarah appeared.
"Piper!" she shouted and embraced the girl like no other. "Piper your father has been looking all over for you and Daniel. He's been calling everyone, getting the police involved…"
"How'd you know I was here?" Piper squeaked.
"Two things," Sarah said pulling away, still grasping the girl's shoulders "one, I found the book in your room and two… your father mentioned something about being attacked by a man in… drag. I just put two and two together."
"Ahem," Jareth cleared his throat "must I change my wardrobe? It seems I'm being constantly accused of being homosexual."
"You," she growled and the fifty six year old woman rose to her feet "how DARE you steal my niece from her father! I ought to-"
"Steal?!" he raged.
"Here we go," Piper murmured.
"I did not such thing!" Jareth roared. "I saved her if anything."
"Saved?!" the woman answered "by taking her from everything she's come to know and love?"
"Love?" Jareth hissed "don't speak to me of love woman. You know nothing of it!"
"Guys…" Piper murmured.
"I know plenty," Sarah said as a matter o factly "more than your heartlessness could ever know."
"Hey people?" Piper tried again.
"I have never been so-" Jareth started his face red with either anger or embarrassment.
"SHUT UP WOULD YA?!" Piper screeched and both opposing forces stopped and looked at her. "God damn," Piper chastened "I've never seen two grown adults argue so much in my life."
"Young lady," Sarah said shaking her finger "you'd better not curse. You may be Underground but I am still your aunt and will gladly take you over my knee and-"
"I'm sixteen," she reminded her.
"I don't care if you're forty!" Sarah snapped "you will not cuss, is that understood?"
"Stop changing the subject," Piper mused "now is there a reason that you're here?"
"A reason?" Sarah seemed taken aback "what more reason do I need than to bring you home?"
"Home?" Jareth replied "she has no home. Her father-"
"Thank you, Sire," Piper said cutting him off, ending with a slightly less harsh tone. Jareth glanced at her but kept his mouth shut, there were just some things he shouldn't interfere with and this was one of them. Two of the most stubborn people from Aboveground were about to engage in an argument and Jareth did NOT want to get in the middle. "Aunty," Piper said choosing her words carefully "I'm not going home." Ooo… bad choice.
"Yes," Sarah snapped "you are. Now come on." Sarah grabbed Piper's hand and lead her down the hall. Jareth followed behind them, keeping quiet for the time.
"You're not helping much," Piper growled at him and he smirked.
"Oh," he nodded "you wanted help?"
"Be gentle," Piper said, though she wasn't sure if it was an order or a plea. Jareth formed a light bubble in his hand and blew it across the room. Oh that's helpful she thought to herself but she watched as the bubble grew. It slowly incased both Piper and Sarah and became very solid. Jareth stood before the large prison and watched Sarah scream as Piper jadedly drummed her fingers against the crystal wall. She was not amused with his game. "That's gentle?"
"Well its better than tossing both of you somewhere," he growled "isn't it?" Piper watched as Sarah beat against the walls and shouted unfulfilling threats.
"I'm not so sure," she said dryly.
Moonjava: Aw!! Thank you! Your so kind!
Rosakara13: I shall.
Sightlessmuse: Thank you for putting more than four words! Yay! Peaches for you!
Hippie99: SO happy you liked it!
LadyAniviel: Thank you. And Sarah… she's gonna be pretty interesting let me tell ya.
Acantha Mardivey: AWW! :hugs:: you reviewed even though you already read it!! You rock!
