Looking around Sarah just barely stopped a pile of books from tipping over. Glaring at the tiny goblin that had run into the stack she soon dropped him out the door. She had never been known for her patience, why start now? 'I would kill for some aspirin right about now.' She mentally groaned. Headaches had been plaguing her since the first day of real work. She had discovered the old files of the last librarian and had been using them to reorganize the entire place. Each sheet would tell the color, then what was written in the book and finally who/what had written it. She had gone through the entire pile(s) and organized according to author. She had even finished making the index cards that could be used when looking for books in a normal library. 'Good thing I worked at the library last summer. It served a purpose other than giving me pocket money and getting me away from Karen.' Sitting down she covered her eyes. Any bit of light or noise made her wince, she was beginning to compare her pain to that Zeus must have suffered when Athena came a' knocking. The silence was nice, but short, the chimes of the evil clock told her she had to meet his royal pain in the ass for dinner yet another night. True she was treated better than she had her first night but that was a far cry from making her happy, thankfully though, Jareth had kept his advances subtle and for the most part let her be.
She knew the cause of her migraines, but was unable to do anything about it. 'I knew I should have worn my glasses that day.' She cursed herself for the millionth time that hour for having not worn her reading glasses that day a month ago. But just because she was in pain and at his mercy now did not mean it would stay that way. She was doing her assigned task, but also working on her escape. It had formed not long ago when she had come across the rules of the Labyrinth. Jareth could only take unwanted children. Or ones wished away by stupid sisters, brothers, babysitters, people, etc. 'But if I escape he won't be able to get me back.' There had been a reference, light and unclear, about how she could escape. And being the sneaky hellcat she was she had no intention of a bad reference stopping her. There were hundreds of books in that chamber, one had to have the explanations she needed! Lowering her eyes she looked to her clogs, she still couldn't believe they had made it through the Labyrinth. They hadn't fallen off once. 'Though I usually wore these shoes and ran in them all the time, I guess practice and luck is the reason.'
She still didn't understand why he made her eat with him. The first night she had refused to go, choosing to stay hidden in the books than be around him, and since she had ignored his summons he had come to fetch her himself. No one had been happy at that, not that she cared if she angered him. She would have much rather starved than dine with him but the goblin guards posted at the doors to the library decided that if she wouldn't come on her own they would have to force her. After near a week of gaining bruises every night she stopped fighting and just left on her own, but not necessarily on time or speedily.
She wore her own clothes every chance she got, Jareth seemed not to like them but they came back each time they were put aside to be washed so she assumed he would let her keep them until they went bare. Just because they ate together did not mean she spoke with him. She would answer his questions on the progress of her project but anything else she would refuse to answer. For the most part she pretended his seat was empty, and dinner was a silent affair
Rubbing her eyes she tried to dull the pain that beat behind them. She raised an eyebrow at the sound of a second voice in the dining room but didn't much care. The talker would most likely keep Jareth from staring at her all the time. Most unnerving when one was trying to eat.
Opening the door to the dinning chamber she winced at the bright light as it hit her eyes, that, and the chipmunk chatter that was already grating on her nerves.
A flood of gratitude filled him at the site of Sarah. Mandala had come for a surprise visit. OR rather she had come over to try and weasel her way into his life, a slut if there ever was one. It was rumored that nearly all her power had come from the men that she had bedded. With a casual glance he noted Sarah's choice of dress. She was downed in her clothes. And by hers he meant the ones he allowed her to keep around. She moved slowly and seemed to be tired, silently she served herself but did eat somewhat faster than she normally did. 'If only I could escape so easily.' Mandala seemed to somehow eat and keep the endless flow of gossip going and soon her attention was turned to the third party at the table.
"I must say Jareth, I didn't know you kept a pet." Mandala all but cooed, trying to once again call his rapt attention to her, something she had never possessed in the first place. "Quite a plain little thing, wherever did you find it?" He caught the cold look sent to the female fae from the mortal and Sarah's eating pace quickened but other than that no reaction was given. He was a little disappointed at the subdued mortal but soon it left him when he took note of how much she was eating, which in truth was very little. "I'm surprised you let it eat at the table though." The jabber-box beside him continued. "I say mortal, do you speak, have you no manners?" Sarah continued to ignore the older woman. "Stupid rude thing."
'Finally!' He thought as the silverware was slammed to the table. 'A reaction.' Some part of him was worried, she had shown no defiance yet this day and he knew that not to be in the nature of a human, especially this one.
"Certainly no manners." Mandala murmured sounding pleased.
"If you must know I am ignoring you. I find the way you speak of me repulsive, rude, and most of all purposely ignorant.." Sarah couldn't help it. This woman had been insulting her from the moment she walked in. Her voice split through her headache only making it worse. Plus she spoke as if she were too stupid to understand she was being quite bluntly insulted. "I evidently have more manners that you, brains as well. I am not it, nor a thing I am a person. I'm a girl, as in female, I knew you were insulting me I was trying to ignore you. I admit, I failed. Lady, I don't know who you think you are but quite trying to catch up on the beauty sleep, its not helping trust me. Try something new, like thinking, careful though, don't hurt yourself. Finally I am not a pet nor shall I ever be one. After saying thus I should think the reason why I wish to not associate with you painfully clear. Goodnight." With that she got up and left for her room. Sleep being the only thing on her mind, that, and silence. What she did not see was the highly entertained king fighting down the urge to laugh.
With eyes amused and mouth twitching he watched her leave. Hard presses to keep his amusement from showing he recovered his mask just as Mandala began to seethe in rage. Sarah had most definitely stated her opinion of herself. "Well." The humiliated woman questioned."
"Well what?" He replied acting the innocent, he knew she wanted him to have Sarah punished. Soon after she retired to, 'Recover from my ghastly encounter.' With out warning he appeared in Sarah's bedroom, having yet to move he was a little surprised when she spoke.
"Whoever it is unless you have morphine go away." He voice muffled by the pillow resting on her face he knew she couldn't see him.
'More what?' He thought while sitting at the side of the bed. A look around he found the room to have not one candle, nor the fire, lit. 'Is she well?' Slipping one gloved hand under her feathered, light shield he checked to see if she had a fever. She started and the pillow went into flight, but once she saw him she froze.
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
It was painful to think past her throbbing head but she somehow managed to accomplish it. It didn't take all her intellect to figure out what could happen with him, and her, alone, in her room. Pushing his hand away from her face she soon found it held in his unmoving grip. "Let go." She growled still trying to free herself.
"You're ill."
"Am not." She whined, blinked, then spoke. "I'm fine, I have a headache, that's all."
"You've lost weight." Of course of all the males she knew he would be the only one to notice.
"What do you care?" She hissed knowing he spoke the truth. She had taken to using a scarf as a belt.
Jareth ignored her rebuke and pulled her from the bed. Within a blink of an eye light washed into the room. She was even thinner than he originally thought and he frowned as he took her in. When his gaze returned to her face he saw how she covered her eyes, she wasn't even fighting him. She had said her head hurt. Dimming the lights he pulled her free hand away, holding both wrists with one hand, he rested his palm over her almond-ash eyes. Pushing into her mind with, he felt the pressure of her pain. Eyes widening minutely he wondered how she could still speak with the kind of pain she must be feeling. No wonder she had exploded her temper so violently earlier. However as painful as it was for her it was something easily fixed for him. With a twist of magic, he dissipated the pressure. He did not miss the visible relaxation of her stance once the pain was gone. It was only then did she actually look at him.
"Th-thank you." She whispered softly, he felt her pull back but he had yet to release her hands so she could not go far. "Could you let go of me now?" Instead of granting her request he pulled her near, her eyes widened and he grinned wolfishly.
"Nothing comes at a free of price dear Sarah." He whispered in her ear, just before claiming her lips. When he pulled back she glared daggers at him. But remained silent, letting go of her wrists she soon put some distance between them.
"I will escape you Goblin King." She swore not breaking eye contact with him. "I promise you that."
"Dear Sarah you shall never escape me. You are mine as you always will be and always should have." Once said he left the room, thinking of what she had said. For all the child she had been when finding her way through his Labyrinth he knew this much of her at least, she was not one to make idle threats or bluff.
Well what do you all think? Shall I have her escape soon? She will you know, gets home gets captured…OOOPPPSSS didn't mean to tell you that. (Actually I did I just want to torture you all for a bit) REVIEWS PLEASE I LOVE READING THEM. YES I DO read them get loads of laughs from them too. Oh well such is life, bye
~BUM~