Glancing over her shoulder more from habit that worry she slipped out of the courtyard and into the hedge maze. She wasn't going anywhere this time, Hoggle was off visiting his sister and the rest of her friends were otherwise occupied. Leaving her with a date concerning a lovely bench, the sun, and her latest book, one on the actual history of the Labyrinth. She also had a not so small friend to play with.
FLASHBACK
Finding the little alcove had been a pleasant surprise. As long as she stayed away from the vine covered wall, the type of vines being deadly, she was safe. The vines would hold onto anything they could snare, thankfully she was in the habit of carrying a pocketknife with her when she went on her mini expeditions.
Hearing the sound of something struggling she picked up her pace and turned the last corner sharply. What she saw stunned her, not too much got tangled in the vines, but by the looks of it a cat the size of a dog was caught. It spotted her with deep blue eyes and hissed. The sound was cut short by a tightening vine.
It was here her heart and good sense had an argument. She recognized the feline from one of the many books she had read. This cat was no where near full growth. It was only the size of a dog, not even bigger than Merlin. The feline's species was notoriously dangerous and among the deadliest creatures in the underground, they were also somewhat rarely seen, well perhaps seen and spoken of later.
But she couldn't leave to poor thing to die like this. Heart winning as per usual she flicked open her blade and decided to release the hind legs first, right after she dealt with the one strangling the poor creature. Taking care not to hurt the feline she quickly sliced through the first vine. Without thought she worked on the others. When she finished the last one she lept backwards, her jump was cut short by a plant hold on her ankle. She was about to handle it herself when a large paw landed on it and took care of the job for her. Pulling her foot free of danger she looked to the black furred creature. She didn't move quickly after her foot was brought closer to her body, she was now in the presence of something that even as a young as it was, could easily kill her. Holding her breath she froze when the Ka-Sha approached her. She blinked in stunned shock when it licked her cheek. Smiling after it nudged her face she raised her hand and scratched his ears. It was the start of an odd friendship; she never did go for normal.
END FLASHBACK
Finding her beloved bench she sprawled over it without a care of who may see her. She didn't look from her pages when a furred head brushed against the fingers of her dangling hand. Instead she scratched the offered head with diligent fingers while she read with the other. She knew he was perfectly content to lay under her hand and let her scratch him. When he grew board of it he would initiate play time. A chapter later she found herself knocked to the cobblestones and looking up to a supremely smug cat. Being the docile creature she was she of course pounced on him and soon rolled around in a struggle that was all play. In the end she was pinned, two large paws on her shoulder and the rest the hind two caging her hips. "Ok you win." Poking his nose she pushed the feline aside. "I let you of course." Her nose was in the air and when she turned her face to look at her playmate, she met eyes with one that was not the creature she had just wrestled with. Eyes going round she looked into the angry gaze of a very large, full grown, Ka-Sha. 'Shit.'
Raishi looked to his damn and knew she was challenging his human friend. Only his mortal female lacked the knowledge of what was going on and was remaining still out of fear. If she ran his mother would pounce, if she screamed his mother would bite. She stayed still and his mother observed.
:Friend mother! Not huntress!: He liked this human, she didn't fear him and had helped him when he was sure he would have died. She was quiet mostly, always looking at the musty paper, but she was not afraid. That was not to say she didn't fear, she was smart enough to fear things, just not live under such fear. There was a male scent on her all the time, sometimes musky sometimes not. There was a male courting her, he knew that much. She never spoke of that male; of course he had never hinted that he could communicate with her. He was still learning about her.
His human female remained still when his dam took in her scent. There would be no escape from his damn if she were to try and escape. :Smells of Fae. She is the one you visit?: His mother already knew, the dark haired girl was forcing her body to appear relaxed as she was circled by his mother. He was proud of his human, her scent told all, she was afraid. But she was also curious.
"The mom? Hi, I'm Sarah." The hand with no claws was held out, it turned to wiggle fingers he loved so much. His mother instead nuzzled the palm.
:My cub says that you saved him, I am indebted to you.: Sarah's mouth parted to show her not-so-sharp teeth.
"You can talk?" Her face colored and he wondered if she were becoming ill. Humans weren't normally that color, especially not his pale one. Moon tinted eyes turned to him and narrowed. "You are so going to get it." She had never used that tone on him and his ears turned back before he knew it. Instinctively he knew his mother was amused. And here he had worried over their not getting along. Maybe he should have worried that they would.
:He had to have my approval before revealing this, no mortal has ever heard our voice and lived to tell of it.:
His mortal grinned. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Cats can't talk." He snorted.
If she had never been given a que she would have picked up that hint. "I won't tell anyone." Looking to her young friend's mother she decided that she never wanted to get one of these cats angry. She was the size of a motorcycle. And her little human body would not be a match for this creature. Why was she always meeting dangerous creatures? Looking to her male friend she narrowed her eyes. "And your name would be?"
:Raishi.: His ears were still lowered, smart male, then they turned upward. :Friends?: She laughed, he was too cute for words and she didn't care all that much, he was good company.
Hours late she was rushing through the halls of the castle, smiling at the goblins she passed she was distracted for a moment as she turned the corner. Sadly since her head had been facing the other direction she was going she walked right into a body. Catching herself before falling she apologized to the painfully thin creature in front of her. Taking in the boy little older than herself she smiled warmly. Right now she was in such a good mood she would smile at Karen, though with that woman she may not keep the mood for more than an instant. "Sorry, wasn't looking where I was going." She held out her hand. "I'm Sarah." He looked to her hand then her, his cheeks were somewhat hollow and he looked jittery. "Were you wished away?" He shook his head, barely meeting her gaze. Bending at the waist she looked up so she could meet his eyes, they were a bland shade of brown, not much going on behind the wheel. "What's your name?"
"He has none, and if he does he knows better than to think of himself with it." Quickly straightening she nearly collided with the first male. Turning sharply she saw the man that had been with Jareth the week before. She felt a mask of caution appear on her face as his eyes traveled her form. Her clothes, even the ones provided by Jareth, were becoming a little tight; it seemed she had hit a growth spurt. All that was left that fit her were her dancing outfits. Mick had anticipated her growing and as always the fabric was made to stretch. "Leave us pet." She felt her mood take a turn at the strangers tone, when the first one left she frowned slightly. Looking to the Fae she tried to figure out why he looked familiar.
"Don't frown darling you'll gain wrinkles."
"Yes well I wouldn't mind them so I'll continue doing as I please." Already she was wishing for Jareth, at least he didn't make her skin crawl, tingle maybe, but not crawl.
"You must be the King's pet, my sister was right, you need training. It's a wonder his majesty keeps you." Oh, so he was chatterbox's brother. Is she hadn't already wanted nothing to do with him she would have now.
"Yes well, I like me the way I am and as it will forever be, your opinion means nothing to me." Smiling haughtily she turned to hunt out a certain book in the library. She needed to learn more about the public knowledge of the Ka-Sha. She also wanted to know how right and wrong the writer was. Instead she felt herself being shoved roughly against the stone wall.
"It would favor you pet to obey me." Before she could hear more of his little speech of domination she sent her heal up and let it collide with the one weakness all two legged males shared. Mick would be so proud of her, that is after he killed this fop. Whoever said all gays were wimps had never met her friends, they were down right deadly when pushed to the limit. Sending a kick to his side as he moaned on the floor she smiled cruelly then took to running. Deciding that the safest place would be the bedroom, who would dare enter Jareth's room, she made good time.
When he found Sarah that night he knew something was bothering her. She was reading from a book of some creatures that prowled his land. Her hair was damp and reflected water in the fire light. When he finished bathing he found her wincing as she stretched.
"Sore?"
"A bit, been using muscles that I've forgotten existed, they're plenty happy to remind me right now though." Her hands joined behind her and rose halfway up her back; she bent down and then straightened before turning side to side. It was painfully obvious that the movements were painful, thinking of her actions from before he approached her and soon had her laying face down on the bed before she was aware of his intent. She tried to push up but he quickly straddled her from behind and pressed his palms to her shoulders.
"Relax Sarah, for this once I mean nothing more than returning your favor." Her face turned and he saw her suspicion, fear, and mistrust. He knew who was to blame for her fear, himself; he hadn't thought of that when he'd touched her. He regretted the actions now even though he wished to see more of her delicate skin.
Slowly he pressed his fingers into her stiff muscles, he was not as skilled as she but he was sure he could mimic what he didn't know. Slowly he coaxed her into relaxation and her head was being supported by her crossed arms. A flick of his wrist and her shirt was gone, folded at her side. She tensed and looked to him trembling, he made a soothing sound in the back of his throat and continued to tend to her bared back, she was not wearing anything to bind her breasts it seemed, all the better for him.
He sensed her falling asleep, and fighting the relaxation he was bringing to her body. But she was still afraid. "What? My clothes, Jareth please."
"You may redress when I'm done Sarah, I'm not going to touch you intimately this night. I promise this to you." He continued his actions and she eventually fell back to the relaxed state. Once she was balanced on the border of dreams and awareness he vanished her skirt, leaving her beneath him in only her modern underclothes. He had spoken truth, he wasn't going to bring his passion to her this night, but he was going to arrange it so that she would be more vulnerable to her own desires.
Sarah was many things. She fire and ice, ferocious and vulnerable. She was so many apposing forces and balance in them all at the same time. She was frightened though, she trusted few with her affections. The ones she should never have doubted having abandoned or thrown her affections back with scorn. She was a diamond in the rough, and he intended to see how bright she shown. He doubted he would ever tire of her, he didn't want her to change, or be broken as others wished of their women.
Once she was asleep he smiled, their deal was still in affect, she would not be able to sleep in the bed with more than what she was in now unless he revoked his spell over her. She was bound to his word, there was no room to maneuver out of the intent of his command this time. Soon he slipped between the sheets beside her, she wouldn't want him to touch her. Now more so than ever.
He was going to have to move slowly with her, she was timid and skittish with her emotions. Most likely the only fresh love in her life would be the babe. Her other friends and even her pet dog, predating the time of her closing off her heart. He was going to be careful as he maneuvered through the cracks and chinks that surrounded her emotions.
There was no doubt in his mind that she was worth the effort and patience this would take. She was worth more effort than he was sure even she thought.
As he readied for bed in his guest chamber the thought of the King's pet filled his mind. Her clothes had been tight and still managed to tempt his imagination. His sister wanted the king, maybe he would help her. His payment could begin with the mouthy mortal, she would be so fun to break and remold to a way he enjoyed. The willful ones were always fun to break, he would shatter her first though. Why the king allowed her to roam and speak as she did he didn't know, but he didn't approve.
Dramatic music that tells of dark things to come would be played here. Well? I know took long enough ya ya. Well I wrote didn't I?
BUM