Chapter Five

In the Flesh

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All three appeared in the mirror.

'I've found it, his crystal. I've found it,' said Sarah in a rush.

'Well done, Sarah!' said Hoggle grinned.

'Yes, well met, my lady,' Sir Didimus agreed.

'Sawa, Sawa!' cheered Ludo.

'But what will I do with it? Should I smash it, or will there be bad luck repercussions, like if you break a mirror? Should I throw it out? Should I give it to one of you to give back to him?' Sarah closed her eyes and buried her head in her arms. 'I mean, I just want to get back to my normal life. Now-'

'Um Sarah,' Hoggle interrupted as the air in Sarah's room shivered.

'-let me tell you', Sarah didn't hear and continued her babbling, 'it is soooo annoying when you're in physics learning about integers and-'

'My lady,' Sir Didimus sounded worried.

' –someone with a morality problem starts yelling in your head at the volume of a heavy metal concert,' Sarah finished with a sigh.

'I shouldn't think that you were so fond of integers that you wouldn't refuse having a little distraction.'

Sarah's jaw clenched. 'He's right behind me, isn't he?' said Sarah dryly.

Hoggle and the others didn't need to answer.

Sarah opened her eyes and stood up, facing the man who stood next to her bookcase.

The man was the Goblin King, in the flesh. He had platinum hair cut at odd angles, thin lips and mismatched eyes- one blue and one green. He was not overly muscular, but he wasn't skinny either- lean and powerful.

Jareth was decked out in his black finery; a black high-collared cloak with blue glitter stuck on, a black shirt with a leather vest over it inscribed with his design (the sickle shaped pendant with a gold carving at its centre), black tights, black gloves and black boots.

Sarah swallowed anxiously. ' I believe you left something of yours behind,' she said. She would have preferred saying something like: 'What the hell are you doing here? I didn't call you! Get lost!' but she was too intimidated.

Jareth grinned at her. 'Yes I did.' He turned to the mirror in agitation when he heard Hoggle's deserving snigger. 'Leave us!'

Sarah's three friends scuttled away, Hoggle with a defeated look.

Sarah swallowed again now that she had no backup. She waved her hand vaguely at the crystal still sticking out of Lancelot's back. 'So are you just here to pick it up, or…' she trailed off hopelessly.

'Or what,' Jareth teased.

'I don't know…' Sarah was terrified, she just couldn't help it. She was sure that Jareth could sense her fear, like a dog can sense fear.

'So, Sarah,' Jareth began, walking toward her, 'how have you been?' Of course, he knew exactly how she'd been – exactly how close he'd been to being forgotten by the only one he had ever loved- not that she knew that.

Sarah retreated backward, away from Jareth. 'Um…Fine.'

''Fine'? Well, that's good.'

Sarah tripped over her schoolbag and fell, sprawled, over her bed. She collected herself and edged away from Jareth who was still advancing toward her. She cringed against the bed head, watching the Goblin King.

Jareth stood next to the bed and rested his arm lightly against the bed head. He reached down to Sarah.

Sarah flinched and squeezed her eyes shut; calling on the childish logic: If I can't see it, it's not there. This logic is usually used against monsters, but Sarah thought it appropriate to use in this instance.

When Sarah opened her eyes, Jareth was over the other side of the room.

He had seen how frightened she was, how she recoiled from him. As much as he wanted to touch her: Jareth knew that if he did, she would become more afraid of him than ever.

Sarah looked away from him, and her eyes rested on herself - or, more accurately, her clothes. Shit! She swore inwardly. Since she had been homebound today, she hadn't bothered to change out of her flimsy, frilly white nightgown. The slip was almost see-through and Sarah expected that Jareth was enjoying every minute of seeing her practically naked.

Sarah bit the inside of her cheek. 'Why are you here?' she asked more bravely than she felt. She carried on without giving him a chance to speak. 'Why have you been enchanting my mind? Do you take some kind of perverse pleasure in tormenting me?' Sarah stood up and rolled her shoulders back, fixing her nightgown so that it didn't cling to her chest. 'Why are you here?'

Jareth smiled. This was the Sarah that he had fallen in love with- strong-willed and fiery; not frightened and cringing. 'Isn't it obvious?' he asked with his warm almost-British accent. He stepped over to her, standing right in front of her, his breath tickling her face, he was so close. 'I want,' he purred softly, making Sarah's pulse race and her face grow hot, 'you'

'What do you mean?' whispered Sarah.

Jareth smiled affectionately at her, admiring her innocence. 'How can I make it any simpler? I want you, I need you. Come back with me, Sarah.'

This was not what Sarah had expected. Not at all. 'Why should I?' she asked.

Jareth was getting very annoyed now. It was not easy for him to lay open his soul, and Sarah was just not comprehending what he was saying. He took a step back from her and balled his hands into fists, trying to keep his temper under control. Too late.

'Because! What can your Angus,' he spoke the name like a curse, ' give you that I cannot ten-fold! What does he feel for you that I do not a thousand times over!'

Sarah was completely numb now. Is he saying what I think he's saying? She

thought. 'He surprises me with a kiss when I'm upset. He goes and sees, he even pays to see, chic flicks with me at the movies. He doesn't think that I look like a beetroot when I cry. He loves me!' Sarah insisted.

'So do I!' Jareth roared.

Sarah took a step back and Jareth instantly regretted his harsh words. She drew away from him.

'Sarah,' he said pleadingly.

Sarah continued to back away.

'Sarah, don't be like this,' he said.

She shook her head.

Jareth stepped forward. 'Sarah, don't do this. Come back with me,' he offered her his hand. 'You can see your friends anytime you wish.'

'Hey, Sarah! I saw Karen at the store and she said that you were alone so I thought…'

Sarah looked around Jareth. Angus was standing in the doorframe watching the Goblin King advance on his retreating girlfriend. Angus's dark eyes also noted the fact that Sarah was in nothing but a nightdress and that Jareth was forcing her towards the bed.

Sarah pushed past the startled Jareth and flew into the sanctuary of Angus's arms.

Angus really didn't know what to make of the guy he had found in his girlfriend's bedroom in garb so outlandish that he ought to have been in a Broadway musical, so he just held on to Sarah as though she would break at any moment.

Jareth's brow creased in defeat. 'Fine, you have chosen him, and turned me down a second time. I will not ask again, but I bear no grudge against you. And remember: if you should ever change your mind,' here, he pointed to the crystal sticking out of Lancelot's back, 'all you need to do is call.'

He vanished in a puff of glitter.

Sarah buried her head in her hands while Angus stared at the spot where the Goblin King had stood, too astonished to speak.

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