Warning: There is sexual content within this chapter. It may make some people feel uncomfortable.
I own nothing. I am writing this for shits and giggles.
~The Iron Parable~
The nighttime air is chilly as Sarah slips on her coat around her provocatively shaped black dress. Shoving the cigarette tightly between her lips, she struggles to light the lighter with her cold hands. It flickers and flickers, but Sarah has no luck in getting the damn thing to light. She harshly sighs as she continues with no luck.
"May I?" A deep voice calls out just out of reach to her left. Her eyes grow at the sudden sound. She looks towards the direction only to see a darkened alley that is gently lit up by the light pole far into the street. With fear setting in, she is ready to book it back inside until she sees the spark of a flame that is followed by the silhouette of a tall man. He takes a few steps closer towards her, just close enough to light the cigarette that is stuck to her lipstick. She has a hard time recognizing who this stranger is, regardless of the light radiating from the flame in his hand. "No lady should ever light her own cigarette." 'An Accent?' The gentleman joins her for a smoke after the tip of her cigarette glows a bright red.
"That voice..." She watches him light his own, still unable to see any clear facial features. She wearily stays as far from the stranger as she can.
"Aah, yes." He exhales a cloud of smoke. His voice deepens with the quietest chuckle. "I get that quite a lot."
"You're-" Her eyes strain as she swears she has heard this voice before, but she can't figure it out. Who does she know with an accent like that, unless... "You're related to the evil M's, aren't you?" Her voice fades from fear and into displeasure.
"Evil M's?" He repeats to make sure he heard correctly.
"Monty and Michelle?" She takes a drag.
"Yes." The word comes up short. "I am, indeed and unfortunately, related to those heathens." He scoffs at their names. "I curse the day they were born. The mere action of my coming to see them causes enough rage within me to torture them with nothing but the shirt off their backs..." Unknowing to Sarah, he turns towards her. "Though," his voice takes a more provocative turn, "I suppose that my coming here is not all that terrible." He says closing the distance between them.
"Oh yeah," Sarah's grins in a nonchalant reply. This reaction causes him to stand erect. "You're the Buddhist Monk- no no..." she snaps in the air trying to remember other ridiculous aliases, "you're the secret agent from Wales- shit, no- you're the ancient dystopian musician from the lost city of atlantis- or umm..."
"The owner of my own club looking into stealing all of Monty and Michelle's talent." He adds his own little fabricated story. He understands her sarcasm.
"Good one," her voice falls flat, "I heard some things, but I didn't think you were gonna be that bad." She takes another drag as she starts to pace the ground. "I mean why? You lookin' to get your green-card or somethin'?"
"Word travels fast around here," His voice remains the same.
"And yet, no one warned you about me." Sarah asks as she starts to stroll around the alley. "Man, they must really have it out for you."
He inhales. "You hold quite the name for yourself, Ms. Sarah Williams." Her name rolls off of his tongue. Hearing him speak her name causes her to pause her movements. The hair on her neck starts to stand on end. 'God, where have I heard that voice...' This sensation catches her off guard a little.
She clears her throat. "Well, if you know who I am then that makes you the stupidest man I've met," she takes another drag to calm herself, "and I've met a lot of stupid men."
"Or I just might be the smartest." His silhouette shrugs flicking his ash into a nearby puddle.
Sarah unknowingly follows his action. "Look, you're new here, and- I dunno maybe you've been hit in the head by one too many waitresses," another long drag is taken by Sarah, "but I'll let you off with a warning. I am not on the market, and this place is not a buffet. Neither me nor my girls are free reign for anyone to just pick up and take home. We are hard workers that do what we need to do to survive. So leave my girls alone, and don't even consider coming on to me. Do you understand?" The demand in her voice causes more gears to roll in his head.
He steadily changes the subject. "I actually came out here to ask you a question regarding my relatives and proprietors of this... lovely place." He slowly looks to the brick building to their side.
Sarah eyes him very carefully. "Information?" the word slowly escapes her lips. The word causes anger to stir within her. "Oh," she hums in distaste, "I know what's going on here." Her voice takes a more negative turn.
"I just need to ask a question or two, then-"
"I'm sure you do." She says as she drops her cigarette butt to the ground to stomp it out with a tall black stiletto. She prepares herself to leave.
"You've been around a while, have you not?" He asks as he lingers his last drag.
"What's it to ya?" She crosses her arms.
"How long have you known my dearest cousins?" He says leaning up against the brick wall.
"I don't answer any questions without my lawyer present." She sighs. He watches as her silhouette flips her hair. "I don't understand why all you magazine interviewers always forget that little rule." She turns to talk away.
"Magazine interviewer?" He repeats in confusion. "I... am related to-"
"Yeah, yeah. That's the same story Monty gave to us." she twirls back around, "but I don't buy anything that comes out of that liar's mouth. And I sure as hell do not trust some sleaze that I've just met in a fuckin' back alley." She motions to the mysterious man. Instead of trying to fight her assumptions, he decides to let her continue for his own observation. "You, some distant cousin of Monty's, suddenly shows up out of nowhere as our new bartender. You're obviously trying to talk to everyone you can find for any information. You will say anything to get an answer and stop at nothing until you get what you want." She shrugs, plainly seeing through him. "This isn't the first time Montgomery has done something like this. Magazine interviewer or cousin, either way, there is little on your side that gives me any desire to trust you." Again, she turns to walk away from him.
"You seem pretty sure of yourself." He says.
She scoffs. "I've been doing this shit for almost five years. I have been wrapped up in enough paparazzi bullshit that I can set every tabloid on fire within a twenty mile radius." She waves him away. "You want answers, then go talk to some waitress looking for her five minutes of fame." She continues to the door. "Go dig up your dirt in someone else's yard. No dogs are allowed here."
He smiles mischievously as he watches her hips sway from side to side. "You have no idea who I am, do you?"
"No, and I don't care."
"They won't let you out of their contract, right?" His sudden question causes her to freeze in her stance.
'What did he say?'
She slowly turns around. "How do you-"
"What is that saying again?" The man stands tall in the shadows. "You scratch my back..."
Sarah quickly comes to the realization. "You were the man in the office..." She wonders what all this could mean. "Michelina wouldn't want to talk to a tabloid..."
"The offer stands, should you choose to accept it." He drops his cigarette as he releases smoke from his lips. "Let me know when you change your mind." This is the last thing the man says before he walks away from her. She looks towards this strange man as he doesn't even look back. She is still in deep thought as she slowly opens the back door into the club.
Sarah is glad to be back within the light and in view of other people. She rolls her eyes as she replay's all of what just happened outside. Regardless of her smooth exit, she is having a hard time digesting all of it, from the questions, right down to his voice. She is especially curious as to why his voice sounded so damn familiar to her. Everything in her mind puzzles her and keeps her distracted as she puts her coat back up.
"-Shouldn't you be givin' these to Sarah?-"
'What?' Sarah hears her name from the other side of the coats.
"-Plans have changed. Sarah has become... unavailable, and I believe that you can do it.-" Monty's voice is heard.
"-But we're not using handcuffs in the routine for the bartender.-" That's Constance's voice.
"-Well, you are now... And do not lose these. You need to put these particular ones on him. Do you understand?-" 'What the hell?'
"-Why can't I just use any of the one's in the prop box?-"
"-Because these..." Monty pauses. "Just use these particular one's. Okay?-"
"-But-I-"
"-Constance. Don't worry. It's all in good fun.-" Sarah doesn't like the sound in his voice.
"-O-okay... If you're sure.-"
"-He's just gonna die from all the excitement.-" 'What?'
"-Very funny-."
"-And remember, Michelle and I still want to discuss your promotion, say... tomorrow for lunch?-"
"-I am still so honored that I am even being considered.-"
"-That makes me happy to hear. Now scoot. You don't wanna be late. This number will be next-" he says as he walks away. This news starts to drive Sarah's mind. She does not like what she just heard and feels compelled to do something. She sees him as he starts to walk towards the door and she makes the decision to follow him. Following his footsteps, she waits until they are out in the hall before she speaks.
"Hey, Monty," Sarah calls to him. He is less than pleased to see Sarah.
"I do not wish to speak to you right now." He sighs. "You granted your own damn wish. You are free to leave for the night. You will not be doing the finale."
"Well, you wanted me to do it so damn bad before, why the sudden change of heart?"
"Look here, missy," Monty's tone darkens which throws Sarah off guard. "I get enough disrespect from pompous and stupid family who think they're better than me. I am as sure as hell am not going to stand it from some big mouthed little bitch whom I know I am far better than." Sarah quietly gulps. "You are free to leave. Get the hell out of my building and you may come back when you have a better attitude."
Sarah's courage stays with her. "Monty, you know that all of us will stop giving you attitude as soon as you learn how to respect us, you deluded nymphomaniac-"
Sarah is cut off by the sudden invasion of privacy as Monty shoves her body up against the door with a harsh slam. Sarah's caught in surprise as she squeals in fear. He looks to her with darkened eyes as she sees a slight grin grow on his face. His eyes travel down to her breasts as his grin grows larger. Sarah stays still, afraid to move from his grasp. Suddenly, he slowly moves his hand down into her bra, copping a feel and a squeeze. Sarah gasps in horror as she can feels his finger nails rake across her nipple as his hand comes back up with the money that he had given her earlier in the evening. This causes an even more frightened gasp from deep within Sarah's throat. She squirms in surprise, shoving his arm back to him and hitting his arm along the way. Her jaw drops to the ground at the audacity.
*SLAP*
Sarah blindly slaps Monty's face out of instinct. The sound is echoed through the walls of the hall. No alibis are around to see this episode, so no one is around to react to such a scene. His eyes are on fire.
"Don't..." Sarah's heart drops and her stomach turns in knots. "Don't you fucking touch me again." Her words surprise even her.
Monty grabs her arm up with hatred as he forcibly holds her chin. "You..." his grip on her arm tightens, causing slight pain in her arm. She tries to pull away, but his grip is far stronger. His eyes flicker back and forth from one of her eyes to the other. She can see that he has many thoughts flying through his mind. But instead of saying anything else, he lets go of her arm and walks away in rage.
Sarah sits in continued shock...
What.
The.
Fuck.
She can't even move... Montgomery- he can be an ass, but... he... That was scary. Sarah holds herself as she closes her eyes. She is having a hard time keeping her composure. 'Calm down, calm down, calm down, calm down, calm down-' Sarah tries to console herself. She curses her mind as one little tear slips from her eye. 'No time, Sarah. There's work to do. You can deal with this later. Deal with it later.' She deeply exhales as she opens her eyes to flutter away the tears.
He has been acting really fucking strange since this... guy arrived. And the handcuffs? Why is he making Constance use handcuffs? And why does it have to be those handcuffs? And why is he making Sarah leave? What is up his sleeve? What is he trying to accomplish. What's so special about those handcuffs unless...
'No-' Are these people actually related? Could there really be something going on? Sarah knows that Monty wants this guy to be humiliated, but how far is he going? Is there that much animosity between these people? Was that guy telling the truth outside? Is this a real situation?
Is... Is Monty trying to... hurt this guy?
But with handcuffs? How the hell can someone be hurt by handcuffs?
Unless...
Sarah runs back into the dressing room to look for Constance.
"Constance!" She calls into the room
"What?" She calls from one of the mirrors.
"Hey," Sarah says upon jogging to the blonde dancer. "Hey, thanks for being such a good sport and offering to accept my place in the finale," She forces a smile on her face, still shaken up by what just happened, "but everything's fine now and I can do it."
"Oh," Constance dramatically drops her eyeliner pen, "now you want the solo?" She looks to Sarah. "Now that you know that anyone else can take your place you wanna keep the limelight?" She says shaking her head as she looks back into the mirror. "No way Sarah, this is my finale, and I'm going to perform it."
"Constance, listen to me, I just-"
"No, Sarah. I don't care. You backed out, I got the part and I'm gonna do it."
"Wait wait... just hear me out..." Sarah says to capture her attention. "I... I wanna to get fired, okay?"
"Huh?"
"They'll never promote me, and they just won't let me go. He doesn't want me doing this number tonight. I don't know why, but he doesn't. That's why he gave it to you."
"Then what was all that bullshit about promotion, promotion, promotion?"
If you let me do this tonight, it will be a major blow to Monty if he sees me up there instead of you. If this happens, I am sure to get let go."
"No!" Constance shakes her head in disagreement. "This is my chance to shine. I want that promotion. We all do. It's do or die, Sarah. And I am taking what's mine."
"Constance-"
"Can't you listen? Or can you only hear the sound of your own voice?" Constance irritation starts to show. "The answer is no!" The sass is really out of Constance's character. Everyone wants to get a promotion tonight. Sarah does, too- well... she did. But not at the expense of a person.
'Not tonight, sister. This is more important than a promotion.' Sarah peeks around the area to find them. It doesn't take long to see the cuffs halfway stuffed in Constance's bag under her feet. Keeping their place in mind, Sarah observes the open prop closet that stands next to Constance's seat.
"Alright ladies, time to to rally up the hog!" Lola says as the other girls follow her out, leaving Sarah and Constance alone. Constance stands to ready herself to leave. Sarah looks to her, slowly inhaling. A tinge of regret rings in the back of Sarah's mind. She can't believe that she is about to do this. Taking a significant risk, Sarah uses every muscle in her body to shove Constance off of her feet and into the closet.
"Sarah!" Constance screeches as she falls in. "What the fuck are you-"
"I'm sorry Constance!" She slams the double doors shut. "I have to do this! Someone is in danger." Sarah slips a broom through the holes of the handles. "I'll be back."
"You are such a bitch!" Constance beats on the other side of the door. "SARAH!"
"I'm sorry, Constance!" Sarah says as the beating continues.
She immediately starts to analyze the iron cuffs. She looks in the rings, the chains, the key holes, everywhere. She sniffs them for any kind of poison, she pulls them up to the light to see if she can see anything obscure, but she doesn't see anything. Visually, these are just an ordinary pair of handcuffs. The only strange thing is that they're real and have a chain about half a foot long, so they're obviously made for a more pleasurable experience. Gross.
She looks to the cuffs with a grossed out face as she slowly pulls them from her face. What's so special about these? What is Monty up to?
Sarah quickly sheds her black dress to show a provocative purple strapped lingerie suit underneath. She whips her hair once or twice to gain some body, and tosses the handcuffs on top of Constance's makeup before walking out to the floor. All of the girls see Sarah and stand in awe.
"Where's Constance?" Lola whispers to Sarah at the far end of stage right.
"She's not available right now. I am taking her place." Sarah says moving on.
"What?" Lola looks towards the side of the stage, wondering what happened.
"Oh, man." Sarah whispers to herself. "This is stupid, Sarah. This is really stupid. Things are really falling apart around here, and you are just slowly making it worse..." The spotlight shines on Sarah causing the audience to practically go blind with the brightness of her sexy form fitting bodysuit. Endless whistles and cheers fill the audience as her catwalk demands the floor. She smiles vigorously towards the front row as she sees her victim sitting in an armchair facing the audience at center stage. The applause doesn't end as she grows closer and closer to the tall thin man, with short blonde hair and a blindfold around his eyes. She can only see the back of his head and maybe a cheekbone, but yet has she been able to see his ugly mug.
"That persuasive little sphinx." Monty whispers under his breath as he leans his back up against the bar. "I knew she'd find a way."
"Aww, is my little Montgomery losing against a little human girl? And you tried so hard." Michelle says leaning into him. She chuckles at his expense.
"I decided to play with her a little bit, tonight. I wanted to see how far she would go for a promotion. She did exactly as I expected." Montgomery smiles. "I could hear her listening."
"I, for one, am exceedingly excited to see where this is going." She grabs her drink and goes to find a place to sit.
"Aye, same here, my dear." He shrugs, with a grin knowing that he lost this gaming round, without a care. "Same here."
Sarah firmly stands behind the bartender as she winks to the crowd. The music starts and she lays her hands upon his shoulders and squeezes them tightly. The audience can see the surprised smile creep on his face and their laughs echo the room. Oh, so slowly does she glide her hands down... down... down. Her hands feel the softness of his cotton shirt as they slither from his neck down his abdomen. This causes various sounds to grow in the audience as she travels down his upper thighs, eventually letting her lips to reach his ear.
"Follow my lead and you won't get hurt." There is warning in her voice, regardless of the playful look on her face.
"Ms. Williams," His voice is extremely pleased, but he remains still. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Shut up." Her voice is venomous as she smiles to the audience. Steadily, she brings her hands up again.
"Not that I exactly mind this change in events, but might I ask what my captor is doing?" He asks as her hands travel back up his torso and then his neck again.
"Saving you. Now. Shut. Up." She holds his throat in a playful threat.
"That is quite the statement." His brows raise. "Am I in danger, Ms. Williams?" She doesn't answer, but he is feeling plucky. "You are clearly not a fan of me. Why not just let me perish?"
"Not everything is as always as it seems, here." She says as the audience reacts to the many actions on stage. The hair on Jareth's body starts to stand on end, feeling a certain sensation; a sensation that he knows all too well.
He chuckles in regards to her statement. Her hands never leave his shoulders. "I thought you said you hated your job," his brow perks at this new sensation. He can feel her fingers gliding against his neck as she tightens the fabric around his head. This action causes slight arousal on his end, "yet, you seem to be enjoying yourself." His laughter angers her.
"I'm a fantastic actress," she hisses.
"Is that what this is?"
"If you're so smart, then why would "the smartest man I ever met" knowingly walk into a trap?" She squeezes the knot of the blindfold tighter than necessary as she pulls away from him and grabs his right arm.
His chuckle continues. "You still have no idea who I am." He comments as she tightly grasps his bare hand.
"I know enough." She finishes as she shoves his head down as his chin hits his chest causing his hair covers his face. She then strides to his side as she hugs his arm around her. Looking to the audience, she slowly snakes his bare hand upon her hip. His hand is large and... soft as she firmly grips it, and slowly guides his hand from her lower hip up to her lower abdomen. Pulling it up, another dancer comes over to slip a pink glittery glove on his steady hand. Sarah drops it in an instant, like the tease that she has become. The audience chuckles. He follows her physical command as she repeats the process on the opposite side, with another dancer successfully slipping the other glove on his hand.
As the music continues, Sarah lightly pushes her index finger to her lips for a secret towards the audience as a third dancer pulls up an embarrassing headpiece that is made to look like pig ears and slips them on his head. All of the girls play to the many eyes out on the floor as they run to the sorry sucker dressed as a pig with many giggles. As Sarah moves out of the way, the girls man-handle him with fast paced movements. In the large group, he is slowly enveloped within the half dozen girls that seem to swallow him whole. While Sarah continues to play to the audience, he is suddenly plopped onto the floor with nothing but his shoes, underwear, pink gloves, the headband, and a pig snout wrapped around his nose. Showing this disgrace towards the audience, they start to buckle in uncontrollable laughter.
Sarah comes up behind this man and places her high heeled foot on the square of his back in a victory stance, pinning him to the floor. As the applause starts to grow, Sarah feels someone slap something on her left wrist. Whipping her head down, she sees that Constance is cuffing her! Not only that, but Lola also sits next to her as she cuffs the bartender, forcing them to be bound together.
By the handcuffs Sarah tossed!
Sarah's eyes bulge to an unrecognizable degree before she remembers that there is a show on. She stands, looks to the audience and says "This little piggy is going home with me."
The curtain draws to a close with ample applause from the entire room, including Montgomery and Michelina.
The hair on Jareth's body stands again as he feels a sudden change within his body chemistry. He feels a strange sensation that sends an electric shock up his spine and all throughout his body. Things are morphing; shifting. Human props fade away from his body as his classic clothing appears on the king that that sits on the floor, minus a shirt, of course.
This can't be good...
"What the fuck are you doing?!" Sarah whips to the girls and their sneering grins of satisfaction.
"That's for fucking with Constance's big chance." Lola's eyes squint in Sarah's direction, walking away from the scene.
"You wanted to get fired," Constance points to the man that moves as if his stomach is about to burst. "I thought I'd help you a little bit."
Sarah doesn't notice any change in the bartender. She tries to get to her friend. "Wait- Constance-"
"Save it for someone who cares, Sarah."
She tries to follow, "Ugh, Constance, you have no idea what the hell is going on here." Her body forces to a stop, as the other body tries to stand. "This guy was in danger!" She points to Lola. "Do you have any idea what you have just done?!" Sarah shouts to the stage. Everyone sees what happened to the bartender as he slowly stands.
One of the dancers points to Jareth's new form. "Umm, Sarah-"
"This is bigger than some stupid solo. I didn't do this for just any stupid reason-"
"Sarah-"
"This is such a mess."
"Sarah!"
"What?!" A dancer points to the man behind her. They all just stare at the fae. All other color drains from their faces as they see the transformation. All of the girls, including Lola and Constance come to a halt as they stare at the shirtless man cuffed to Sarah.
Sarah turns around...
She doesn't see a man with short blonde hair in a pig costume like she expected.
She sees someone completely different.
Someone... completely...
He's-
"Oh God-"
She remembers... him.
Her eyes grow with the drop of her jaw.
"Sarah." His grin floods many memories back into her head. "It's been a while." She stands completely at a loss for words. Her eyes dart all throughout the area trying to think of something- anything- before she quickly glances down to his bare torso. Everything the girls did to him- gloves, headband, taking his clothes away- completely vanished. Like magic. He stands With unruly hair, tight breeches, riding boots, but still no shirt. "Aah," his smile never leaves, "like what you see, do you?"
'Jesus Christ. That voice.' "You..."
"I appreciate what I can see, as well." He says as he observes her body in the tight purple jumpsuit, complete with a low cut down her breasts.
She immediately recalls all of what she had done to him on stage. The touching, and the promiscuity. The blushing! Her her face grows a dark shade of red. She spins back around, avoiding his gaze, mentally screaming as loud as mentally possible.
"Well, look at what we have here?" Michelle's voice is heard in the distance.
"This is quite the Kodak moment, isn't it?" Monty's voice is suddenly heard. They both stand guard at the doorway blatantly judging the two who are tied together. Sarah sees Monty and her eyes automatically turn dark. "Ms. Williams, I see that you have been formally and intimately introduced to our cousin, Jareth," he points to the tall blonde man.
"Umm... Uh-" Sarah tries to speak. But she is too surprised.
"We seem to be in a little predicament." Jareth takes the lead in her absent voice, lifting up the handcuff linked to his right arm.
The twins slowly look to one another as they fight a smile. "Might the two of you join us in the office for a moment?" Michelina asks as she turns to head the party out of the wings of the stage.
"After you," Jareth says, gently guiding the way with his cuffed hand. Sarah can't bare to really look anyone in the eyes, but slightly nods as she... kind of leads the way.
I have a constant feeling that this chapter is a little all over the place, and I apologize for that. But I did my best, and the end result is pretty good in my eyes. I hope you enjoyed, as well.