Chapter Five – Late Night Exploits
Jessie slept for two days until she woke with an uncontainable hunger, the bloodlust. Not thinking as clearly as she usually did, she left her room. She stayed in the shadows of Hillcrest and stalked a drunkard who came out of a bar stumbling like a man just off a ship.
When he turned down a deserted road, he barely had time to register his attack. Jessie seized him by the back of his coat and drug him into an alley. His screams were silenced by Jessie's hand. Without a single word of remorse she tore into his neck drinking the fresh hot blood.
The salty rich taste of fae blood emitted a low groan from Jessie. She had been living off of small rodents since she had gotten into the Labyrinth. Actual blood from a more sophisticated being was one hundred times better.
When she had her fill Jessie broke the drunk's neck and allowed him to fall into a heap. Her skin tingled as it started to rejuvenate and fix itself.
"Now to get cleaned up" Jessie whispered to herself.
Returning to her room, Jessie filled her tub with steaming water and even allowed herself to enjoy the aroma of the complimentary bath salts, which were lavender scented. She reclined against the tub and closed her eyes. She had left the window open and she could hear the noises from the pub, the crickets, and the growing sound of horses.
It took a minute to register the sound, but she was immediately sitting up in the tub. She quietly listened, as the horses grew closer.
"Jareth" Jessie whispered. She stood up and climbed out of the tub. She pulled on her robe and went out to the bedroom to dress. Just as she opened her bag a white owl landed on her open windowsill.
"You look like you're about to leave" Jareth said changing into his elven form.
"I might be" Jessie said tartly. Jareth took a few steps towards her. He was wearing light grey suede, which appeared almost white in the moonlight. Jessie went back to pulling out clothes, to wear, from her bag.
"We need you to come back" Jareth said. Jessie gave a loud 'hmph' and continued pulling out things to wear.
"What's the matter? Your goblins can't handle actual work?" Jessie quipped.
"Stop and look at me" Jareth said. Jessie turned away from him and started putting a pair of socks on. The king made a disapproving sound and forcefully turned her around. "I'm tired of this." He pulled her up face to face with him. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Jareth sighed and looked her square in the eyes. "I was worried about you."
"Who are you kidding?" Jessie whispered harshly. "You barely worry about anything other then your power and yourself."
"I was worried about you" Jareth said in a firmer tone. He didn't loosen his grip as he went on. "When I found Aftiel at the north gate, I thought the worst."
"Aftiel is alive?" Jessie asked. Jareth nodded.
"He's been hysterical since I've found him" Jareth replied. He set Jessie on the floor and moved his hands to hold her face. "I was truly worried about you."
Jessie turned her head away and ran a hand through her hair. "Right." She put her socks on and stood up. "Worried that Goblin City would turn into one big bar fight."
"Damn you" Jareth said. He pulled her to him and gave her a quick kiss. She had a surprised looked on her face when he pulled away from her. "I missed you. With the desert sun I wasn't even sure if you were alive."
Jessie pushed Jareth away and picked up her clothes. She headed towards the bathroom.
"Where are you going?" Jareth asked.
"I'm going to change" Jessie said in an angry voice. She turned around before closing the bathroom door. "Please don't do that again."
It only took her a few minutes to dress. She came out of the bathroom in an unchecked poet's shirt, tight black pants, and her usual riding boots. Jareth was sitting next to her things on the bed.
"So what do you want?" Jessie asked shoving the rest of her things into her bag.
"I know what you intended" Jareth said leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I told Sir Mirya and she refused your rank. No one else knows that you turned over your rank."
"Are they idiots?" Jessie asked.
"We've kept it a secret" Jareth replied. He pulled out the emblem from a pouch on his belt. He held it out to her. "I brought it to you." Jessie took it and ran her fingers over it. "No one wants you to leave. There are new squires, new students at the magic and medical schools, and, quite frankly, they need you. They need you to help train them."
Jessie pocketed the emblem.
"So you just expect me to go back?" Jessie asked. Jareth stood up and paced while she closed her bag. "I'm not going back yet."
"You have resp—" Jareth said.
"No!" Jessie yelled. "Right now, I am trying to stay away from the knights, the goblins, and you! You can't expect me to work non-stop for all these years without taking some personal time!"
"Your personal time will be allotted soon!" Jareth yelled back.
"It will be allotted now!" Jessie said. Jareth stalked around Jessie until he had her backed up into the corner of the room.
"Listen up, sweetie" Jareth growled into her ear. "We are spending the night here. You will come back with us tomorrow if you want any type of vacation whatsoever. You will train these squires. Once they are knighted, we will go on vacation. I won't have you go to the Modsognir, that's already been taken care of. I'll take you anywhere you want to go. I promised that."
"I quit" Jessie said. "You can take my emblem back. I don't want to be a knight anymore. I don't think I can handle it."
Jareth moved her chin so he was looking into her eyes. "You're a strong woman. You can handle anything." His hand moved back to cup her neck. "It won't take long to train these men. I've watched them they are all quite good. Do this. Do this for me."
"Do this for you?" Jessie questioned. "What do you get out of this?"
"I get you" Jareth said as if it was obvious. Jessie snorted and crossed her arms.
"I think you're getting gypped on the deal" Jessie said. Jareth gave her a big smile.
"I think I'm getting the best part" Jareth said. He leaned forward so his cheek was next to hers. "You see, while you are back, training your troops, I plan on courting you."
"What?" Jessie asked disbelievingly. She tried moving away, but Jareth kept her in place. He stepped in and kissed her once again.
"I'm staying here all night" Jareth said. "I don't want you running off again."
"You ass---!" Jessie said. The sound of her voice cut out when Jareth raised his hand, the results being his own magical mute button. Jessie stopped her ranting and soundlessly screamed. Jareth used to do that when her temper rose as a teenager. He took a spot on the bed and watched Jessie pace from the bathroom to the bedroom and back again.
"Darling, when you're done why don't you come to bed?" Jareth called to her. She slammed the bathroom door shut as a response. The king simply chuckled and conjured up the novel he was in the middle of reading.
Jareth tried waking Jessie up early the next morning. She had spent the night sleeping in a wicker chair near the window. Jessie mumbled something and went back to sleeping in an uncomfortable position that would result in a painful neck-ache. Jareth sighed and picked her up. He placed her on the bed and went about the room getting her things packed away.
Three hours later, Jareth shook Jessie until she awoke.
"We need to get going if we're going to make it to Crossroad Junction" Jareth said. Jessie turned away from him.
"I'm paid up for another two days" Jessie said. "Can't we just stay here for two days?"
"Get out of the bed or I'll drop you into a tub of ice cold water" Jareth said. "I've already packed your things. Change clothes and get ready. We're leaving in twenty minutes."
Jareth left the room and Jessie rolled onto her back. She was very used to keeping strange hours, but those strange hours were always between dusk and dawn. Forcing herself to roll off of the bed, she stood after falling to her hands and knees on the cool floor.
She quickly dressed in the clothes the king had laid out for her, which was very similar to what he was wearing; black tights, black vest, and white poet's shirt. He had even pulled out a pair of black gloves. Jessie finished by putting on her cape, scarf, and weapons.
Outside, a group of seven squires were waiting along with Jareth on horses. A stable boy held the reins to a saddled horse. He gave them to Jessie after she mounted the horse.
"Thank you for being timely" Jareth said. Jessie put on her sunglasses and fixed her emblem back into its place on her belt.
"Lets move" Jessie growled. "I don't like the sun too much."
Jessie didn't wait for the others. She had her horse go into a full gallop towards the south road.
The further the company rode into the Fiery Forest, the darker it became. The trees canopied enough to block most of the sunlight. Sounds came from the woods that were foreign in the Goblin City.
Sir Jessie and the king rode point while the squires followed.
"There only needs to be one person riding point" Jessie said.
"I thought we could talk" Jareth replied. A howl emerged from the forest causing the horses to respond in a spooked tone. "What the hell is that?"
"Halt!" Jessie said with a raised hand. The riders all stopped. Jessie drew her sword. The squires followed her example. "Everyone, en guard!"
The forest was disturbingly quiet, except for the distant sound of twigs breaking.
"What is it?" One of the squires asked. Another howl, closer and louder, came from the woods.
"It's Ce Sith" Jessie replied. "They travel in packs of three while hunting. Be ready."
The group prepared themselves for the appearance of the legendary beasts. There was not a single sound for nearly thirty seconds, though it seemed longer. A bush moved and a flock of songbirds flew into the sky.
The Ce Sith jumped out of the woods blocking both ends of the road. The cow-sized dogs had fur that was so green it was nearly black. Their eyes were a golden yellow and their teeth were as sharp as any blade. Their tails awkwardly swished back and forth. The Ce Sith, with their overly long tails, usually allowed them to become matted into the hair on their backs.
The three Ce Sith slowly closed in around the group.
"Fight!" Jessie ordered. The knights charged the three beasts at once. Even Jareth was fighting. Jessie dismounted and walked straight up to one of the Ce Sith. Two squires were trying to kill it with their swords, but their fear was getting the best of them.
The beast looked at Jessie and growled. Jessie growled back and with one motion sliced its head off. The two squires remained still for a second.
"That" Jessie said. "Is how it's done."
"We could use some help!" Jareth called. The other two Ce Sith were trying to take out the horses.
"Your majesty, take the others away from here!" Jessie called. "I'll deal with this."
"You're mad!" Jareth yelled. Jessie walked over to the ce sith.
"It's an order!" Jessie bellowed. The squires dropped back while Jessie stood before the two ce sith. The two beasts were trying to grasp what was going on. Jessie pulled out a dagger and readied herself.
"Everyone back 300 meters" Jareth said. The squires followed his orders just as the ce sith decided to attack.
Jessie stabbed the smaller one through the neck while being knocked over by the larger beast. She turned over just before feeling the sharp teeth bite into her shoulder. She let out a blood-curling scream and tried to kick the animal off of her.
The ce sith shook its head and with it, her shoulder. Gripping her sword, she ran the blade through the beast's stomach. The ce sith howled and moved off of her. The beasts stumbled around until it fell over. The smaller beast was lying on its side trying to gasp for air. Blood spurted out from the neck wound.
Jessie moved to retrieve her dagger. The animal cried as the dagger was pulled from its neck. Jessie stuck the dagger deep into the ce sith's head, killing it. The other ce sith looked dead, but the chest still filled with air. Jessie moved to stand near its head. The beast snapped at her as best as it could.
"Bastard" Jessie said. She sunk down next to the beast, plunging the dagger into the animal's head as well. Jareth and the squires returned as Jessie wiped her blades clean and drew her cloak fully around herself.
"Are you alright?" Jareth asked. Jessie repositioned her scarf and mounted her horse.
"Sure" Jessie said. The ce sith released a poison with their bite, like a snake. Jessie could feel it. It burned.
"Are you bleeding?" Jareth asked. Jessie signaled for the group to move. "I asked if you are bleeding."
"It's just a scratch" Jessie replied.
"Right. Well let me know if that scratch starts to burn" Jareth said. "You know how deadly the poison of theirs is."
"Yep" Jessie said.
"I'm riding point" Jareth replied. He took off for the head of the group. Once he was gone, Jessie touched her shoulder and felt a hard form in her flesh. She gripped it and pulled out a large tooth.
Two hours later, the team pulled up alongside a caravan of travelers. There were four covered wagons, numerous tents, and horses tethered to trees. The group was mainly composed of dark elves and dwarves.
"We'll camp here tonight" Jareth ordered. "Place your horses together."
He waited for all seven squires and for Sir Jessie to come around the bend. The last squire was accounted for, but Jessie was not. Jareth walked his horse towards the bend, just as the sound of slow walking hooves sounded.
"Jessie?" Jareth called. The horse came around the bend with its rider collapsed against the back of the horse's neck. The horse shifted and Jessie fell off of the saddle. The horse dragged her along by her foot, which was caught in a stirrup. "Jessie!" Jareth rode over and quickly stopped the horse. He dismounted and pulled Jessie free from the saddle. Two squires quickly joined him at his side. "Take the horses."
"Yes sire" They said. Jareth checked Jessie's forehead before catching the sight of dark crimson stains along her shirt. He pushed her cloak aside and gasped at the sight. Her entire arm was soaked in blood. Blood was still oozing from the wounds.
The king picked her up and hurried to where the squires were.
"Find a doctor" Jareth ordered. The squires made a makeshift bed and started a fire. Jareth removed her cloak and shirt. The large bite marks had left some of the skin torn. Jareth looked up towards the sunny sky. "Build a tent around us! NOW!"
The squires quickly followed the order, though they did not understand. By the time the tent was up, a doctor had been found. The small dark elf hurried into the tent and knelt next to Jessie.
"Aye! What happened here?" The elf asked. He quickly dug around in his medical bag.
"We ran into three Ce Sith" Jareth said. "One of them bit her."
"How long ago?" The elf asked. He handed Jareth a rag. "Apply pressure to the wounds, please."
"Two, maybe three hours ago" Jareth said.
"And, who are you, sir?" The elf asked.
"I am King Jareth" Jareth said. "She's one of my best knights."
"King Jareth?" The elf said with disbelief. "I am Dr. Hamilton Marsh."
"I don't care who you are" Jareth snapped. "Fix her!"
The doctor quickly started getting to work. He called for a handful of herbs and flowers and quickly made them into a concoction. He sent everyone out of the tent.
"My lord" A young squire named Hershey said. Jareth stopped his pacing and glared at the young human boy. "We were wondering how it goes. It's been nearly an hour."
"Hershey" Jareth said with stress obviously quavering his voice. "Focus on getting some food cooked or something. Okay? I'll let you all know how she is, when I know."
"Yes sire" Hershey said. He made to say something else, but stopped himself.
"What?" Jareth asked.
"Is…Is this how all knights are expected to act?" Hershey asked.
"No" Jareth replied. "This is how she acts. She's reckless, stubborn, and prefers to do things her way."
"If she is wrong in her ways, then why is she an elder?" Hershey asked.
"She's good at what she does" Jareth said. A thick log had been set outside of the tent as a makeshift seat. Jareth took a deep breath and sat down. "And, she's usually right. Go get to work."
"Yes sire" Hershey said. Jareth watched as the sun started to disappear behind the trees. The whole forest seemed covered in a deep, dark blue. The doctor came out of the tent wiping his hands on a clean white rag.
"Your highness" Dr. Marsh said. "I believe she will be fine."
"The poison—" Jareth said standing up.
Dr. Marsh held up his hand. "The poison ran through her system, but I made an antiserum that should take care of the poison. She needs water and food."
"She's Ama'suvari" Jareth said. "Does she need blood?"
"Ama'suvari?" Dr. Marsh repeated. "Out here? Traveling during the day?"
"Doctor, please" Jareth said. "Does she need blood?"
"Yes" Dr. Marsh said. "She needs blood more then water and food right now. Perhaps one of the travelers here has caught a deer or something."
"Please, check doctor" Jareth said. "I will stay with her."
The doctor nodded and left the tent. Jareth disappeared into the tent. Jessie was still unconscious. The doctor had bandaged her shoulder and had covered her with a wool blanket. Jareth knelt beside her and pushed her hair from her face.
"You stubborn bitch" Jareth said. "You almost got yourself killed."
Jessie's head twitched. Jareth picked up a cool, moist rag and placed it on her head. Jessie's eyes fluttered open.
"How are you feeling?" Jareth asked. Jessie swallowed and slowly turned to look at Jareth.
"Peachy" Jessie croaked. Jareth rolled his eyes.
"We're looking for something for you to…'eat'" Jareth said. "The doctor is looking for a deer or some other animal." Jareth brushed his fingers over her cheek. "You almost died."
"I know" Jessie said in a whisper. Jessie moved her hand to cover Jareth's. She brushed her lips over his wrist.
"Jessie" Jareth whispered.
"You smell…fresh" Jessie whispered. She flicked her tongue across his wrist. Jareth jerked his hand away from her. The entrance to the tent was flung open and the doctor walked in with a rabbit. Jessie let out a low groan and moved quick enough to surprise the doctor. Without waiting for the doctor or king to leave, Jessie sunk her fangs into the animal and fell to her knees.
Jessie dropped the rabbit when she finished and rolled onto her back. She could hear the sound of blood rushing in her ears. The bite on her shoulder scabbed over in a matter of seconds.
"I need more" Jessie said as if she was out of breath. She moved her hands to button her shirt.
"You should rest right—erk" The doctor said. Jessie was up and had him by the throat in a second.
"I will hunt my own then" Jessie replied. She looked the doctor over. "Though…elf sounds better then rabbit."
"Stop it" Jareth said. Jessie let the doctor go. "If you want something I'll go get it."
"Oh yeah?" Jessie said. She walked over to her things and started putting her things back on. "How a-abou—ugh." She fell to her knees holding her stomach.
"That's the poison leaving your system" The doctor said. Jessie grimaced at the pain shooting through her. Jareth moved to kneel beside her, but the doctor stopped him. "She may lash out from the pain. She needs more blood."
"Then go get another rabbit or something" Jareth said. The doctor ran out of the tent. Jessie just growled at the sudden movement. "You'll be alright."
Jareth watched as Jessie groaned, another bought of pain sweeping her to the floor.
"Get out" Jessie growled. She moved her head and bared her teeth. "Get. Out."
The look she gave Jareth made his eyes widen. He nodded swiftly and moved to stand outside of the tent. The young squires looked over at him in worriment. It was clear that Jareth's favorite knight was in severe pain since the noise she made carried to the end of the caravan.
Doctor Marsh, along with one of the squires, rushed over to Jareth with a deer held between them.
"Donated by a man who wants the noise to stop" Doctor Marsh said. Jareth held the tent open as the limp deer was taken inside.
"Squire!" Jareth called. One of the squires left the others and came over to Jareth. "I want you to stand guard of this tent. No one but Doctor Marsh and I are allowed to go in. Understand….er…..Louis?"
"Duncan, sire" The squire said.
"Duncan" Jareth said. "I also want another squire posted on the back side of the tent. If the elder runs off, I want someone following her. Have the fastest squire ready for that."
"Where will you be if we need you, Sire?" Squire Duncan asked.
"I need to go talk to someone. I'll be back in an hour" Jareth replied. He walked towards the road and quickly changed into a hawk owl.
The hawk owl is the fastest owl Aboveground and in the Underground. Jareth reached his destination in fifteen minutes. Jareth landed before a massive building that stretched high with thick white pillars holding up the roof. Across the doorway was a plaque that read 'Council Hall'.
Jareth pushed the massive doors open and stopped when he noticed that, for once, in the last five years, the Council Hall had people inside. Drawing a feather that was long, white, and tipped with gold, Jareth held it up.
"Penna invenire Aulus vir ac reditus" Jareth whispered. The feather swirled off of his palm as if it was caught in the wind and quickly sped away as if it were an arrow.
It wasn't long before Sir Aulus was running after the feather that fell softly to Jareth's feet.
"Sir Aulus, I need your help" Jareth said.
"I thought you took a group of squires out to find Sir Jessie" Aulus said catching his breath.
"She has gotten herself into much trouble" Jareth replied. "I need to call one of the old gods."
"Perform the batuque?" Aulus whispered. Jareth pulled Aulus down the hall to a grand staircase that led up to the second floor, the floor of magics. "Who--? Which God are you going to call?"
"Alcyoneus" Jareth said. Jareth led the way to a locked door that led to a small hallway of conjuring rooms.
"Alcyoneus? One of the Gigantes?" Aulus asked. Jareth nodded. Aulus pressed his palm against the door and it opened as if it swung freely. "Sire, the Gigantes—"
"I've done it before, Sir Aulus" Jareth said walking into the small hall. "What I need is vial and a cup of water."
"Yes, sire" Aulus said hurrying to get the items. Jareth slid into an empty room and quickly started setting up his conjuring circle using vesta powder and graveyard dirt for his main circle. The rooms already had several items that were continually stocked, like candles, oils, stones, mirrors, and other basic spell craft items.
Jareth set candles up around him and was soon going through his belt pouches to find something of serpentine nature.
Aulus knocked on the door. "Sire, your vial and cup of water."
"Thank you, Aulus" Jareth said placing the items in the circle with him.
"I also found this" Aulus said taking a dried snake head out of a small leather pouch. Jareth accepted it and waited for Aulus to leave the small room.
Jareth took a deep breath and laid everything where it needed to be. The snake head on a small pile of graveyard dirt, the candles spread evenly around him, the vial and water were on either side of the snake head, and finally Jareth pulled out his small dagger from his belt.
Jareth whispered a chant in Latin and felt the room swell with energy. With a small cut to the wrist, Jareth's blood fell upon the snake head. The only thing left to do was wait.
The room felt like it was choking him even though it was completely empty. Jareth closed his eyes and called the name of who he was trying to reach.
"Alcyoneus!" Jareth said firmly. "I demand that you answer."
There was a hissing sound from the corners of the room. Jareth didn't look up though. He was watching as more blood from his wrist dripped onto the snake head. The dried head seemed to absorb the blood and was soon looking shiny, as if it were still attached to a serpent body. The jaw closed for a second before releasing a sudden ferocious sound, a cross between a hellish scream and a hiss.
"Alcyoneus" Jareth said.
"Why have you called me, Goblin King?" The snake said hissed.
"I am requesting your protection for a short time" Jareth replied.
"My protection" The snake repeated. Strangely, the snake head laughed a deep, guttural laugh. "I remember when you laughed at my protection."
"I need you now, Alcyoneus" Jareth said. "I need help in getting through the Fiery Forest."
The snake head was quiet for a while, almost long enough to make Jareth think that Alcyoneus had left, when the dried eyes filled out to a brilliant yellow.
"You want protection for others, Goblin King" The snake head replied. "I will give you a few drops of venom. Enough for you to use three times. If you do not use it all, return the venom to the mistletoe near your castle."
"Yes" Jareth said.
"Mix the venom with equal amounts of your blood and water" The snake head said. "The mixture will give you what you need. Just drop it onto the earth."
"I understand" Jareth said. He took the vial and the snake head released cream colored venom that filled it a quarter of the way full. "Thank you, Alcyoneus."
"You are in my debt, Goblin King" The snake head said before falling back into its original position and tincture. Jareth did as he had been told and filled the vial with blood and water. He capped it and placed it into his belt pouch. He stood up and opened the door.
Aulus stood in the hallway, waiting.
"Sir Aulus" Jareth said. "Have the room cleaned up. I need to get back before anything else happens."
"May I ask what has happened, m'lord?" Aulus asked.
"It would take too long" Jareth said. He started walking for the door. "I'll be back with the squires and London."
"Yes, sire" Aulus said as he watched Jareth storm off.
The squires had kept a close eye on the pain ridden knight at the camp. Her cries of pain had subsided after she had passed out from the pain. Night had fallen early, as it always did in the Fiery Forest.
Jareth landed on a branch and watched from his owl form, just to see what was going on. Duncan and Hershey were watching the tent. The other squires were cooking food and setting up places to sleep. He flew down to the tent and quickly transformed back to his kingly state.
"Your highness!" Duncan said startled.
"How is she?" Jareth asked.
"She passed out about twenty minutes ago" Duncan said. He scratched at one of his pointy ears and moved aside. Jareth nodded and went inside the tent.
Inside, Jessie had obviously been carried to a makeshift bed. Her weapons were across the small tent, far from her reach. The squires had found a few extra blankets that made up the bed.
Jareth squatted beside the bed and felt Jessie's forehead. She was surprisingly cool.
"London?" Jareth called softly. The dark haired knight made a grumpy noise and turned her head to the side. "London, wake up." Jessie groaned and turned towards him. Jareth pushed her hair from her face. "Hey. How are you feeling?"
"Like shit" Jessie said hoarsely. "I feel cold."
"Want to go sit outside by the fire?" Jareth asked. Jessie nodded. Her eyes widened as Jareth made the simple effort of picking her, and the heavy wool blanket, up.
The crisp air and the soft heat of the fire kept Jessie bundled up in the blanket. The Fiery Forest was known for drastic weather changes and the crisp air hinted at an oncoming storm.