Chapter 7 – Second Chance Dreams

Jareth popped back into his private rooms cursing. He had played his hand too soon, totally blowing his chance to get through to her. It will be night soon in the aboveground then he would have another shot.

He couldn't help but think she was still beautiful as ever with the alabaster face, luminescent hazel eyes and long silky dark hair. Her only physical imperfection was the soft smattering of freckles which give her a rather endearing quality. "I'm definitely walking a dangerous line with these thoughts" He muttered to himself.

What to do now? He was going to have to find some way to tantalize her or risk getting thrown out of her dreams again, and then he would never get a chance to have his say. What is happening to her dreams? He had a growing suspicion just what was at the bottom of this and if he was right the only way to restore her dreams would be to bring her back to the Labyrinth.

Deciding to head to his study to get some more paperwork done Jareth walked down the hallway. Ida approached him heading toward her and Braxton's own private apartments no doubt.

She stopped him by putting a hand on his arm "No more twisted words, tell her the straight forward truth, Jareth. It is the only way you will gain her trust." Ida predicted letting go and walking away.

Jareth smiled and called. "Thank you, I just may do that."

Ida had a unique ability to just know things out of the blue. She hated the talent knowing things she didn't want to know, sorting out truths and such. Jareth found the ability handy and used it to his best advantage. Her talents had never lead him wrong, indeed more times then not they had prevented negotiations from falling apart and other kingly disasters.

Sarah wound up hauling Tessa around the rest of the afternoon. Poor thing, the thunder scared the daylights out of her. The storm wasn't showing any mercy by letting up either.

She fixed sandwiches for dinner being in no mood to cook. Of course dragging Toby away from his gaming was tantamount to dragging a starved dog away from his bone so she and Tessa ate in the kitchen and then she brought a sandwich upstairs to Toby.

She shuffled about her evening chores only half way paying attention. She couldn't get Jareth off her mind. She saw him from a whole new perspective and a slightly naughtier one too. She could see why her 14 year old self fell so hard for him. He still had that otherworldly ethereal beauty about; him with sculpted checks, lithe muscular form, captivating eyes and ahem a very nicely sized package judging by his bulge. Of course she mused there were oddities too like the shark like pointed teeth, sculpted upsweeping eyebrows, shaded eyelids, the mismatched eyes and the wild blonde hair. These features definitely weren't human but were alluring; coupled with his aura of power and magic, he was absolutely captivating.

A lightening bolt struck close by making Sarah jump and Tessa scream. Sarah immediately went to comfort the toddler; half way there the lights flickered and finally sputtered out.

"Toby, where do Daddy and Karen keep the flashlights?" she called upstairs.

"In the Kitchen, second drawer from the right of the stove," He called back.

"Thanks Tobes!"

She headed into the kitchen and after fumbling around in the dark managed to locate the drawer. Picking up the flashlight, Sarah noticed the house had gone quiet. Why isn't she crying? Tessa! Oh my god Tessa! She thought, her heart going into her throat. If the Goblin King has hurt one hair on her head, I don't care how gorgeous he is, I'm going to rip him from limb to limb.

Running as fast as she dared go in the unlit house, she made it back to the family room. The flashlight beam fell on Toby sitting on the couch hugging Tessa to him trying to comfort her. She so needed to get a grip, one lousy dream and she was seeing evil plots where there were none.

"Oh good, you found it." Toby said, looking up. "Sarah, are you okay? Gesh sis, it's just a power outage it isn't like the boogieman is coming to get us."

If only he knew the truth, she thought ruefully.

Jareth felt the warmth of the dream crystal in his pocket. Immediately, he vanished from the study into Sarah's dream.

"My, my, my, isn't this familiar." He said looking around.

Sarah's hazel eyes looked up at him. "You're here. How can that be? I banished you."

"No Sarah, you kicked me out of the dream if you had banished me, I wouldn't have been able to come back." Seeing a spark of determination enter her eye he continued quickly "Wait Sarah! I promise no more twisted words. I am here to level with you as I believe you Abovegrounders say."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Have I ever lied? I may have tricked and ruthlessly taken advantage but I have never lied."

She gave him a studying look, finally saying, "True."

"Very well then let us start with you. Have you figured out anything more?"

Sarah stared thoughtfully at him. "I started having the non existent dreams after I got my brother back but beyond that…" She shrugged

"That is pretty much what I expected to hear. I believe this has everything to do with your labyrinth run and the unusual circumstances of it."

"You mean because I won."

"Yes and no Sarah, you were never supposed to run the labyrinth in the first place"

With hands on hips she glared, "If you think I was just going to hand over my brother without a peep think again!"

"You weren't supposed to have the book in the first place." He said thourghly exasperated.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the book wasn't supposed to be there. We send the book off several times a year to families whose children are being neglected and/or abused. Your family wasn't one of them."

"Are you telling me this was all a big mistake?" She said incredulously, with each word spoken the volume of her voice getting louder. "Why on Earth did you make me run the Labyrinth then!"

"Because by that point I had no choice, once the Labyrinth hears the wish the magic is already set in motion. There is no going back once the wisher holding the book makes the wish."

"That is so unfair!" Sarah huffed stomping her foot in rather childish tantrum.

Jareth smiled and arched an eyebrow. Now that was the old Sarah he knew. "You say that so often. Did you find a basis for comparison yet?"

"Well I know it isn't you! You wouldn't know fair if it slapped you in the face!"

Jareth sighed, "Sarah I did not come here to argue with you. I came here to find your dreams. Don't you want your dreams back?"

"Of course, I do."

"Then it would be best if we cooperated instead of going at each other like adversaries."

"I suppose your right." She said reluctantly. "What do we need to do?"

"Your dreams were taken in the Labyrinth and they need to be found in the Labyrinth."

"I can't pick up and leave spur of the moment. I'm an adult now with adult responsibilities. You just can't ask me to leave a ten year old and three year old alone, unsupervised."

"Then we will take them with us."

"No way! How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you want just decide to keep us once you get us there?"

Jareth stared her in the eye. "You have my word the three of you will be returned aboveground unharmed."

"And returned at any time I request it." Sarah demanded.

"Very well, if we must tack that on." Jareth said bitingly trying to hold back his fury. Who did this commoner think she was?

"Yes we must." Sarah said mulishly.

"All you have to say is I wish the goblin king would take me and my charges away for a visit but to be returned on demand, right now."

"I wish the goblin king would take me and my charges away for a visit but to be returned on demand, right now." Sarah repeated softly.