Darklady: Hello everyone . . . I'm sorry that this took soo long.
Ly: You've no reason to be sorry.
Sarah: Of course . . . you had no choice but to wait to post.
Darklady: True . . . My beta went out a town for a while and then neither of us really had the time.
Gabby: Where did she go?
Jareth: I don't really see how that is any of our business, but she went to visit some friends . . .
Gabby: (whispers to Sarah) Does he always have somekind of bug up his ass . . .
Sarah: (whispers back to Gabby) No your just lucky . . . he likes you.
Gabby: If that's liking me . . . I'd hate to see what he'd say if he loved me . . .
Sarah: He'd give you a poisoned peach, shove into and oubliette, throw into the bog of eternal stench, and then slowly torture the man that raped and tried to murder you and the woman that planned it all.
Ly: Makes up for all the bad stuff doesn't it . . .
Darklady: No not really . . . I'm sure Jareth could still screw up pretty big. (glances to Ly) But then again you know that don't you? Anyway everyone . . . please forgive the long pause in the chapters . . . and do enjoy this one.
Chapter 17: When It All Falls Apart
Robert moved slowly away from Karen, his normally pleasant face a mask of tortured purple rage. Grabbing his wife by both shoulders Robert forced her to face him. His blue eyes were the color of the deepest ocean stirring as a storm raged above it.
"You hired your brother to kill my daughter?!" He yelled, showering his wife with rage.
"Of course I did." Karen admitted carelessly, unabashed of who heard her flippant tone. "Do you…DID you really expect me to raise that waste of flesh as MY daughter? Why should I be forced to raise her when her own mother didn't want her?" Someone might have taken her for an hysteric, but for the simple way she spoke…as though it were a casual bit of conversation. Robert looked to his daughter, a mixture of shock, fear, and disbelief in his eyes.
Robert moved, as if in a daze, to his daughter's side, lifting his son from her arms. The babe in turn gripped his father tightly, as though waiting for his world to fall further to ruin. Toby looked back to his sister and frowned, something terrible was about to happen. Sarah, however, smiled at her younger brother, recognizing the fear in the small boy's eyes. There was at least something she could do to ease his fear.
Taking the kitten from her shoulder, Sarah handed her to Toby, smiling
reassuringly, "Don't worry little man, she'll keep you safe."
Toby smiled at his sister and the kitten in turn, thankful for the comfort both gave him. There was something strange about the kitty, but Toby wasn't up to pondering over the oddity at the moment and merely sighed as the kitten settled itself. With the kitten safely nestled in his arms, Toby turned back to his mother as his father began to speak.
"Karen, I have no idea what would cause you to think I wished my daughter dead, but I'm sure that by the time the police have finished with you I I'll know more than I ever hoped too," Robert said with obvious displeasure. Toby, who as Sarah had often said was must to smart for his age, sat in his father's arms shocked by what his mother had said.
"Robert are you honestly going to tell me that our lives wouldn't be better without that little mistake hanging around?" Karen took a single step toward her husband and son. "Tell me that our lives wouldn't be better if her slut of a mother had taken Sarah with her when she left. Or better yet, that the little snot hadn't come back that very night when she ran away." Toby watched in horror as his mother spoke so venomously about his sister.
Toby was slightly surprised when the woman who could only be identified as Sarah's mother moved to stand before his own. Just studying their body language, Toby knew both women were evenly matched in rage and aggression. Something about the way Sarah's mother stood however, tall and defensive, told him that his mother would do best to keep her mouth shut.
"I don't know who the hell you think you are, but I can assure you MY daughter is a waste of neither time, space, nor flesh!" Miss Williams growled to the new Mrs. Williams. Toby looked to his sister and watched as pride began to glow in her hazel gaze, at her mother's heartfelt words. Toby found himself turning back to the older women however, as his mother snorted.
"Who the hell do you think you're kidding Linda? You told her at FIVEthat she was the biggest mistake of your life, going SO far as to say you wished she'd never been born!" Karen spat back, her eyes daring Linda to say anything more.
"Karen you dumb bitch, where the FUCK are you? Can you hear me you fucking cunt?!" Karen felt her face glow red with rage and hurt at her brother's cruel words.
"SHUT UP MITCH!!" She yelled back to the disembodied voice.
Jareth knew that Toby was slipping swiftly into confusion. The boy had never seen his mother act this way. He'd never heard her speak of his older sister with such obvious distain and though Jareth did honestly fell sorry for the discomfort of both siblings, he wouldn't lie and say he wasn't glad for it. He had known when he came up with this plan that the two would suffer, but it had to be done. He could only sit and watch as events played out and give comfort where he could.
He couldn't force himself, no matter how much he wished he could, not to find the scene amusing. He had hoped that Karen would reveal her horrible nature, but never dreamed of a better setting. Karen Williams stood in the middle of 20 people, voice her plans to kill her step daughter and arguing with a man no one had seen in at least two days. 'Oh yes this is indeed too delicious.' Jareth thought with wicked glee. Even in his amusement Jareth found himself promising to take on the political duties of the Kingdom for a full week. His mind shuddering at his worst punishment.
Looking to Sarah again however, he raised it to two weeks. Wrapping his arm around Sarah, he noticed as his arm rested where Alex had been, that something in Karen shifted…snapped into place. Jareth recognized the look in the woman's eyes, desperation. Frowning he pulled Sarah further into the shelter of his arms.
"I'm here." He whispered soothingly, into her ear.
"I'm glad." Was Sarah's only reply, before Karen began to speak again.
"What the hell are you doing here any way?" The woman asked, impatience dripping from her voice.
"I came for my daughter's birthday." Linda admitted through clenched teeth, holding onto her control by a frazzled rope. Karen paused for a moment, seeming to just realize her surroundings and the people included.
"Who the hell would want to celebrate that thing's birth?" Karen asked with a dark chuckle. Never noticing Jareth's or Linda's eyes flash.
"That's ENOUGH Karen." Robert roared from beside his daughter.
"I'll decide when it's enough, ROBERT." Karen shot back to her husband, her brown eyes dancing with dangerous flames. "Who in their right mind would throw you a party anyway, Sarah?" Karen asked, unaware that the question had been asked and answered some time ago.
"I WOULD!" James shouted, with more strength than Jareth thought the young man possessed. Glancing towards the boy Jareth couldn't help but notice how much James eye's looked like the soft green of the Great Lake during a horrible storm, with waves crashing and lightning piercing the sky. Karen looked quickly to James and growled as she made for Sarah.
Toby watched as his mother stalked toward his sister, anger rippling off her in near tangible waves, like his breakfast off the walls when he was angry. Toby watched as Sarah pushed herself away from Jareth, reluctantly willing to give up the feeling of safety and strength the Goblin King gave. Karen stopped directly before Sarah, her face mere inches way from the younger female's.
"What did I tell you the last time I found that queer in my home?!" She spat, pointing to Sarah's closest and dearest friend. "I do not want him in my home, infecting Toby with his filth!" Karen proclaimed, staring at James as she spoke. Her eyes filled with immeasurable hatred, her hatred for James only matched or rather beaten by her hatred for Sarah.
Toby watched as his sister fought a silent battle, one that was over before it had begun. For a moment she stood perfect still, 'The calm before the storm.' Toby thought. In slow motion Toby watched as his sister's hand, which had brought him so much comfort, clenched into a fist. In silent amazement he watched as Sarah leaned back as Karen turned her gaze from James to her step daughter. His sister's fist meeting Karen's right eye with enough force to throw the older woman off balance and send her crashing to the floor.
"Don't you EVER speak about ANY of my friends like that again," Sarah growled as Karen looked up with shocked clouded eyes. In his arms the kitten began to hiss and claw towards Karen, showing her own displeasure without hurting the babe that held her.
Toby wasn't surprised to see so many pleased faces at his mother's fall, but the applause and cheers came as one. Behind his sister her friend stood smiling with his thanks, while his father tried without success to suppress a chuckle. Behind Karen stood Linda, beaming proudly at her daughter as if saying 'That's my girl'. From the way Sarah was holding her hand it was throbbing with pain, but when Toby looked into his sister's eyes he understood that is was a good hurt.
Toby, even though barely two years old, wondered how Karen's future black eye was any comparison to the marks she and her brother had left on his sister. Sarah would forever wear the scars that his mother and uncle had created for her. While Karen would walk away without a single healing mark…in Toby's mind that seemed wrong. His mind was pulled from his thoughts as Karen screamed again at her absent
brother.
"Shut the hell up Mitch! If you had done what I told you 7 years ago, she'd be DEAD! But no you had to rape her and never finish the job you agreed too!" Karen screeched from her place on the floor.
Sarah looked quickly to Jesi and Jareth as she felt powerful magic fill the room. It was angry and extremely dangerous, but under complete control, though it swirled around the room like a careful breeze. Jesi shook her head at the silently asked question, as did Jareth, though both seemed perfectly calm about the magic that was filling the room. Rin pulled into Sarah's mind, her mood dark and outraged.
'Only give me the word and I shall gladly crush her like the insect she is!' Rin's usually lyrical voice was harsh and raw with her anger.
'Labyrinth calm down.' Sarah whispered, using the being's full name in a soothing and commanding manor.
'How can YOU be so damned calm? She sits there and openly shouts her plans for you death and RAPE!' Rin growled, a wave of anger crashing through Sarah as the powerful being spoke.
'You know damn well I'm just as pleased as you are about this, but Karen Elizabeth Matthews Williams is someone I promised myself I would NEVER become and hurting her…KILLING her would make me just as evil as she is.' For a short time Sarah heard nothing, felt nothing. Then suddenly Rin calmed, not by any truly noticeable amount, but enough to pull her magic from the room.
'Karen is not a woman…BEING…that I wish to be compared too.' Rin finally said, sounding both upset and amused by the idea.
Toby watched as Karen growled as she glared about the room. He could tell she was in pain from his sister's forceful hit and something told him her pride was just as bruised. He couldn't help but laugh himself, as his father continued chuckling causing both the babe and kitten he held to bounce. As Karen's gaze lingered on that of her husband and son, Toby looked quickly to Sarah and began to call to her.
As Sarah turned and smiled at him, Toby felt all his fear and worry melt away. He had always felt safe with is sister, even when she was angry. The night when she had wished him away, he knew she hadn't really meant too. Paying so much attention to his sister's comforting face he never saw his mother stand behind her, even smiled when Sarah made a funny noise, only to frown a moment later. Karen pulled Sarah's hair until the girl's ear was directly beside the older woman's mouth as she growled.
"Stay away from my son you little stain!" Toby began to scream, his small body knowing no other way to react to his overwhelming feelings of rage and anguish.
"Karen, you're upsetting Toby…STOP!" Robert said, none to calmly.
"MY son will grow to hate this waste of time, if I have to beat him within an inch of his life." Karen growled, more to Sarah than her husband.
Sarah listened to her step mother, putting up no fight UNTIL she threatened Toby. Sarah's eyes quickly locked with that of her little brother's, watching his short life pass before their eyes. The night he was born, his first smile, first laugh, first step, first word. Then she saw that night three days ago, the night she had wished him to the goblins. She remembered their time in the Underground, the friends they had made, the tests she had faced to get to him. She had refused her dreams, refused Jareth for the boy in her father's arms, and she would be damned if all that was for NOTHING!!
Reaching behind her head and grabbing Karen's wrist, Sarah dragged her abnormally sharp nails across tender flesh, drawing both blood and a pained hiss from Karen. Grabbing Karen's wrist as the older woman tried to pull away, with a firm grip Sarah twisted until Karen's arm was behind her back. As Karen struggled against Sarah's controlled restraint, the girl twisted the arm just a bit further, telling her step mother quietly to STOP struggling if she valued the use of her right arm.
"How dare you…HOW DARE YOU threaten Toby, YOUR OWN SON!!" Karen turned as much as Sarah's hold would allow and spat towards the girls feet.
"If he ever pretends to show pity for a worthless creature like you, he deserves worse than a beating!" Karen tried to twist around while Sarah absorbed her latest statement, but found her plan shut down quickly as four strong arms wrapped around her.
Sarah watched in a slight daze as Jareth and Mr. Wagner restrained Karen. Jareth looked down at Karen amused, like she was a spoiled child that suddenly realized it had lost its power. Glancing up towards Sarah, Jareth gave her a smirk that made her heart beat faster and her stomach flip. And while Jareth was pleasantly calm and collected Mr. Wagner was royally ticked and was no where NEAR shy of being a bit rough.
"My son may be playing for the other team, but at least he has his family and friends. You Karen, are a sick woman who is about to lose everything she lied, cheated, and tried to kill for." Peter whispered, just loud enough for Sarah to hear. Peter than turned to Sarah and nodded, speaking again this time loud enough for everyone to hear. "The police are on the way, Officer Andrews is coming over personally. Said he had a present for Sarah too." Peter smiled as he heard Karen growl at the name.
Officer Jonathan Andrews had been a close friend of the Wagner's since he was a rookie on the force. Now the Deputy Chief…they were a close family. He had been the one to respond to the call the first time Mitch had attacked Sarah. He had been expecting Karen not to believe the evidence against her brother, but had expected more of her husband. Johnny had been quite…put out…to learn that Mr. Williams, the brilliant and highly successful lawyer refused to listen to the facts. Without even speaking to him Sarah was absolutely sure that the good officer was whistling Dixie.
"Don't think that BOY is going to save you Sarah!" Karen screeched.
"Karen you dumb bitch, why didn't you just kill Sarah yourself!?" Karen's mind echoed with her brother's voice. It was a moment before she asked herself the same question. 'Why don't I kill her myself?' Karen found herself holding back a smile of wicked glee.
Toby watched as Karen suddenly gave up fighting against Mr. Wagner. Her eyes he noticed, danced about the room searching for something. Following her pleased gaze, his blue eyes locked on to a cake knife on the table beside where his sister now stood catching her breath. His first thought had been…'CAKE??', but as the look in the older woman's eyes flashing deadly he became worried.
His small body surged with the need to warn them all, but all it could do was cry and point, "Jareff! Jareff!" Toby heard himself whine. He saw the look of triumph wash over Karen's pale face and found himself crying harder as Jareth started to pull away from Mr. Wagner. As Jareth released his hold on Karen, Toby screamed again shaking his head and struggling to be free of his father's hold. Jareth came over then, glancing over towards Sarah before turning his full attention back to Toby.
"What's the matter chap?" Jareth asked, his voice calm and soothing. Toby watched in silent horror as the Goblin King only moved farther away from Sarah.
Glancing towards Mr. Wagner and Karen, Toby knew he was too late. As Mr. Wagner turned to speak with his wife, Karen pulled fully out of his grasp, using the man's momentary distraction to her advantage. He watched in slow motion as his mother made her way towards Sarah. Watching as she lunged for the knife and kept moving towards his sister. Jareth and his father couldn't understand his cry of warning, only looking to Sarah as they heard her grunt of pain and shock.
As all three males stared at the two Williams women, Toby felt all their hearts jump to their throats. Karen Williams sat above Sarah, her legs straddling the younger one. One hand holding both of Sarah's hands above her head and the other pressing the knife into her throat. Even with her back to him, Toby knew Karen was smiling with pure twisted delight.
Jareth moved then, his fear and worry making him less careful and precise in his movements. Toby jumped a bit when Karen's head turned, her face completely different from his mother's. Her blonde hair seemed to sizzle with anger, her brown eyes alight with deadly desire, and her lips curled back in a snarl. "Back up pretty BOY! Or I'll rip her throat open right now!" Jareth stopped his movements immediately. Toby noticed his father however seemed confused, couldn't he see Jareth? Robert moved to such an angle that he could see both Karen's and Sarah's faces. Toby kept his eyes open, making sure to take in everything about the two.
Toby gazed as the two most important people in his life, his heart crying out as his mother paused above his sister. He could see the knife digging into Sarah's pale throat, watching as a few beads of blood appeared on pristine flesh. His body gave a scream as the kitten in his arms cried out, both frightened for the pinned girl. Toby held tighter to the small creature in his arms, finding comfort in his sister's pet.
As Toby studied Karen, waiting for her to make her next move, he saw a man flicker beside her. The man he recognized as his Uncle Mitch, began to pound on Karen's head trying to get her attention. "Karen you dumb BITCH, you should have taken care of Sarah yourself! But NO you had to bring me into it, didn't you?! Can't you do ANYTHING for yourself??" Mitch yelled, disappearing as the last word died. He had seen the same thing happen a few times tonight, even heard his uncle's cruel words toward his mother, but now he finally understood.
Toby watched Karen shake her head trying to clear her brother's words from her mind. Frowning as he saw her tremble with the force of his words. Karen leaned close to Sarah, making sure to keep Robert and Jareth in her peripheral vision.
"You would have done yourself a favor if you had stayed in bed that night. Mitch would have come back and finished everything, raped you a few more times then shoved a knife up into you, BUT NO! You had to run away to that cum suckers house and the cops!" Toby felt his heart stop at his mother's crude words. She'd snapped! Karen smiled above Sarah, something congratulating. "I underestimated you. It took a few years to get the cops off my back, FIVE YEARS! But that's alright, it took me a few years to find Mitch again and a few months to come up with a plan. This one would have worked perfectly." Karen said with a purr. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jareth move, as punishment she forced the knife further into her throat.
"Back off Jareth!" Toby heard an unfamiliar woman say, just as someone's magic pulled the Fae King back.
"That's right Jareth back it up…wouldn't want to have an accident now would we?" Karen said smiling towards the blonde male.
Sarah locked her eyes with Jareth's hoping against all hope that he would understand. Karen thought because she had a knife to her throat, that Sarah was under her control, but she of course was wrong. Behind everyone Sarah had seen Officer Andrews come in, just as Karen slammed her to the ground. Knowing that given enough time Karen would spill her guts, Sarah prayed that everyone would stay calm.
Jareth seemed to understand, as he moved back to stand beside Toby and her father. Sarah's eyes moved from Jareth's to Toby's, his blue eyes dark with fear and upset that only a child could show. 'It'll be alright Tobes, you'll see.' She thought, more for herself that her little brother. Turning back to Karen, Sarah asked.
"And what plan was that Karen?" Sarah watched Karen carefully as she went deadly still on top of her, only the knife at her throat seeming to move. Karen's eyes seemed to be taking in everything about the girl beneath her. Sarah felt her own face bunch in confusion as Karen continued to search. 'Fear, little one. She sees no fear.' Rin stated in her calm musical voice, though Sarah could hear the underlying panic.
Sarah pulled on her talents for the dramatic, and forced her eyes to cloud with fear. Karen relaxed once she saw the emotions, but the tears Sarah shed, seemed to be what the woman was truly waiting for. A wide, crocodile smile lit the older woman's face.
"What are you going to do to me?" Sarah wailed, nearly giving herself away as she repressed the urge to laugh, as Karen drank in the fake cries.
"Kill you of course. If you had done as I planned you'd be dead already. Mitch would have come and made it look like a robbery gone horribly wrong, but now I suppose I'm just going to tear your throat out." Sarah's face fell as tears streamed down her cheeks, choking slightly as Karen forced the cold metal further into her skin.
"Why would Mitch want to kill me?" Sarah's voice getting higher in mock panic.
"God damn it Karen you dumb hump, this is entirely your fault! You should have come up with a better plan, you only had 7 mother fucking years!" Karen closed her eyes tightly, trying to force her brother's booming voice from her mind.
"Fuck you! My plan was perfect! You were supposed to rape her and then ram a knife into her!" Karen opened her eyes and looked down to Sarah. "Had you been home earlier it would have been easier for him. I was going to drug you, so you wouldn't put up so much of a fight, but you HAD to come home late. Stupid bitch, probably out with blondey over there, showing him a REAL good time." From beside them Sarah and Karen heard Jareth growl. Karen noticing his hands turn into tight fists. "Not that good apparently, guess you just didn't practice enough. Too bad he won't get the chance to help you study." Karen added with a chuckle.
"You mean it wasn't Mitch's idea…you wanted him to rape me? You wanted him to KILL me?" Sarah closed her eyes and forced a few more tears to fall as she shook her head. "WHY?" Karen laughed and pushing the knife in a bit harder, drawing half a dozen beads of blood.
"Simple, you're in my way. Correction you WERE in my way. After we got married Robert started paying less and less attention to you, believing me every time I said I was handling it." Karen smiled. "He's so gullible, 'I'll go talk to her' or 'It's a girl thing.' HA! Didn't take much to turn Daddy against you, just a good hard fuck. Guess you weren't enough anymore Sarah dearest, and once you're gone for good I won't have to worry anymore." Sarah opened her eyes, careful to keep her true anger behind the created fear.
"Worry about what? I didn't do anything!" Sarah wailed again, trying to ignore the sting at her throat.
"I see the way he looks at you!" Karen spat, her anger coming back full force. "His eyes always fill with a love I've never seen directed towards ME!" Karen leaned down to whisper. "What do you do Sarah? What have you done to make him look at you so?" Sarah shook her head, weakly fighting her human restraints, hoping Andrews had gotten everything he needed, because she wasn't sure how much longer she could act scared.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Sarah said with more anger than fear, her facade slipping.
"Of course you do Sarah." Karen said with a smirk. "You were a very good daughter, weren't you? Always making sure daddy had EVERYTHING he could need or want." Sarah knew that Karen could see as well as feel the change in her step daughter. Gone was the mask of weakness and fear, now showing her true rage and strength.
Sarah pictured what they must look like. Karen straddling her, Karen's left hand holding both of Sarah's above her head. Her right hand held the knife and forced it further into Sarah's exposed and vulnerable flesh. It didn't take much effort to get her hands free of Karen's weak hold. Both finding that Sarah's hold on the older woman's throat considerably stronger as Sarah flipped them so she was now on top.
Sarah relished in the pure shock and fear in Karen's dark caramel eyes, as she squeezed tighter on the woman's throat. It took a moment for both women to remember the weapon still clutched in Karen's right hand. Karen reacting quickly moved to stab Sarah, missing her chest and slicing through Sarah upper arm as the girl dodged the true attack. Hot red blood oozed from the wound as a man pulled Sarah from Karen's throat. "Damn it Jerry, she's hurt! Call the paramedics in, it looks bad!" At the announcement of her injury Jareth was by her side, cursing in a language Sara was sure didn't come from this world.
"Damn that women to the seventh layer of hell for bloodying MY Chosen!" He whispered hotly, as he went about tenderly examining her wounds.
Karen in front of them spat, cursed, and screamed as three officers wrestled her back to the ground and cuffed her. Mitch screaming in her head as she was lifted from the ground. "Karen you fucking whore, get me the fuck out of here!" Karen screamed again.
"Shut the fuck up Mitch!" Officer Andrews finished reading Karen her rights and looked to Sarah, something like hope glittering in his eyes.
"Does she mean her brother?" He asked, that hope in his voice. Sarah nodded but frowned.
"Yeah…but he isn't here. Hasn't been for two days." Sarah looked to her step mother behind him. "I think she's finally flipped her wig."
"Damn you, you little slut! Why couldn't you just DIE!?" Karen spat, trying desperately to reach her step daughter, even as two officers held her back.
There was no warning, no sound or movement to give her away. It was simply one moment Linda Williams was hidden in the mass of people behind her daughter and the next she was hitting Karen. Just as accurately and forceful as Sarah before. Sarah watched in complete shock as her mother was pulled away from Karen, four body building men barely keeping her at bay. "If you EVER speak to my daughter again, you'll be spitting teeth!" Linda vowed, snatching her arms from the men that held her.
Sarah stood speechless as her mother examined the wounds on her neck and heavily bleeding one on her arm. Linda looked up and smiled to her daughter, before turning to one of the men who had been restraining her. "If you don't get those paramedics in here NOW, I'll have your badge on my wall by tomorrows BRUNCH!" Sarah watched in tired amusement as the young officer jumped to do her biding. Sarah even found herself laughing out loud, as her mother turned a truly caring and comforting face back to her. "And what, my dear, do you find so damned funny?" Linda asked with a smile as she pushed a stray hair behind Sarah's ear.
"It's just . . . I'm not used to people caring so much. Well except for James." Sarah admitted, her smile widening as Jareth spoke at her side.
"Best get used to it love, because if those men don't get back with those healers soon the bog will be the least of their worries!" Jareth stated with complete seriousness.
Sarah closed her eyes, tired from both the blood and adrenaline loss. She could hear James talking to his parents, her father calming a very upset Toby, she could even hear her mother threatening another job. She ignored them all however, concentrating on Rin and Jareth's voices and the comfort they brought. So lost in their voices she didn't notice the use of her own, but she must have said something, she concluded as she heard her mother call her father closer. "Who is this Jareth she keeps talking about?" Linda asked, sounding concerned.
"I don't know. She told Karen he was her boyfriend, but I've never met or even heard of the guy before now." Robert answered. Sarah opened her eyes and directed her questioning gaze towards the Goblin King above her. He smiled down at her, something that held both amusement and love.
"Your parents can't see or hear me." Jareth said with a slight chuckle.
"But Karen?" Sarah whispered, just loud enough for Jareth to hear.
"Karen Williams may be your mother by law, but YOUR parents are Robert and Linda Williams." Sarah rolled her eyes, causing Jareth to chuckle again.
"You are so bad, but I think it would be best for them to see you. Before Karen isn't the only one heading for the mental ward." Sarah whispered with mild amusement as she closed her eyes again.
Jareth walked to the kitchen, believing it best to not just suddenly appear to her parents. Moments later he was walking back into the living room, seconds away from sending a few officers to the bog, when he saw a man leaning over Sarah. Jealousy bloomed inside him for a moment, as well as the overwhelming need to protect his injured chosen. Walking closer however he recognized the man for what he was, a healer. So lost in Sarah and the man that was treating her wounds, he almost missed Linda's question. "I'm sorry sir, who are you?" Jareth turned to Linda and smiled his most reassuring smile.
"Jareth King, Miss Williams. I'm quite pleased to meet you." Linda's mouth hung open as she listened to Jareth introduce himself, her eyes dancing over his form. He had changed his appearance to appear closer to his 'mortal' age, but he was still a good 6 years older than his chosen and most parents didn't appreciate the difference in ages. 'If only they knew.' He thought, with a bit of tired amusement.
"You can't be . . . You must be at least 20 years old!" Linda said shocked, Jareth nodded as Sarah turned slightly to wrap her arms around him. Jareth ignored Linda's shocked face and Robert's outraged one, turning his full attention to caring for the young woman in his arms. 'A month! A month of political drivel is what I deserve!' He thought glumly.
The paramedics had said Sarah would be fine. The wound was no where near as deep as they had originally thought. She had lost a bit more blood then they were comfortable with, but said with food and rest she would heal. The party had of course ended and all of the guests, save for James his parent's, Linda and her assistant, had left. Near death experiences and mental breakdowns, were apparently party killers. Now the only people left in the house, were Officer Andrews, the Wagners, the Williams', Miss Mitchell, and Jareth himself.
Karen had been dragged to one of the cars outside, after promising that Sarah would die the whore death she deserved. Jareth found it amusing that such an intelligent woman could come up with such ridiculous threats. Only moments later however, Linda had bruised Karen's other eye, causing Jareth to bite the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing. Jareth had moved Sarah to the couch, and currently sat with her head in his lap. Sitting in an arm chair directly across from the couch, Officer Andrews began asking his questions. The entire process, surprisingly, taking only half an hour. "I know everything after I walked in." Andrew stated with a proud smiled directed towards Sarah. "I see you inherited your mother's gift for acting." Sarah smiled shyly back to the officer as Jareth murmured agreement.
"And the Oscar goes to Sarah Williams for her stunning performance in 'Evil Bitch Say What?'" James said making everyone laugh. Even Jareth, who couldn't understand why anyone would want a man named Oscar.
Toby watched as his father spoke to one of the officers from his place on the floor. He quickly found however the he wasn't anywhere near as interested in them, as he was Jareth and his sister. Toby moved to kneel beside the couch, as Alex climbed carefully to lay on her mother's stomach. Raising his arms Toby gave his silently plea to be held.
Jareth leaned over carefully lifting the boy into his arms. Toby looked to his sister, his arms holding tightly to the Goblin King. Tears glazed his eyes as he fought to pass the words through his stubborn lips. "Sawah hurt?" He asked the tears began to fall from his eyes. Toby felt his heart lighten as Jareth smiled at him, reassuring and filled with love.
"Sarah is just tired Toby, with a little rest she'll be right as rain." Jareth admitted honestly. Toby believed the King, and nestled himself safely between his sister's head and the Goblin King's chest.
Toby watched as his father went outside with the officer, calling over his should that he would be right back. Sarah nodded and found Toby's head up by her own. "I'll keep an eye on Tobes Dad." She called opening her eyes and sitting up slowly, Alex moving to her lap. Toby looked to his sister again and found he couldn't help but sob.
He'd never seen her look so dead. Her hazel eyes were tired, like a fire place as the flames sputtered and hissed. His skin was bruised and had bits of her dried blood on her neck and arm. Her hair was a wild mess of tangles about her face. As he cried he felt someone pull his from Jareth's arm, instantly he knew it was Sarah.
She held him close, lightly stroking his hair back as she whispered that everything was alright. His tears slowly stopping as she began to rock and sing. It was a silly song, something that had no real words, only notes and sounds, but it soothed in a way that no words ever could. He heard in the back of his sleepy mind, two other voices join Sarah's. Toby wished he could open eyes he hadn't let fall, but the refused. He could identify one of the voice's as Linda's, Sarah's mother sounding a deeper slightly nasal version of her daughter's voice. The second voice however, was a complete mystery to him. It sounded trained and more folk like than Sarah's pop voice. Both voices mixed together perfectly, wrapping around the babe like a blanket that would keep out the fiercest cold. Smiling Toby let his mind shut down, succumbing to his young body's need for rest, content in his sister's protective hold.
Jareth watched as the three women sang Toby to sleep, their voice's coming together to make a sirens song. It was funny, he thought, that each woman knew the song and had assigned themselves each a part. Sarah having started the tune took the lead, with Linda as the back and Gabrielle as the whimsical middle. The song ended and Jareth couldn't blame the boy for falling asleep, had he not a few things to take care of himself, he would have gladly joined the lad in slumber.
As the room fell into comfortable conversation, Jareth excused himself, as Robert Williams came back into the house and motioned for Jareth to follow. 'This should prove to be quite amusing.' Jareth thought as he followed Robert up the stairs to the master bedroom. When the door closed Jareth and Robert remained quiet for a few moments, taking the other in.
Robert Williams was a tall man, as least 6'1, as he almost reached Jareth's height but not quite. It was clear where Toby got his eyes from as Robert's baby blue orbs danced over Jareth's face. Robert's face was kind, normally, hold the comforting look of a father in his slightly weathered face. His voice, as he spoke his next words was deep and protective, holding no room for argument. "Alright son, you've got 30 seconds to tell me what you're doing with my daughter, before I shove your rotting corpse were worms won't even find you."
'Amusing indeed.' Jareth thought with a smirk.
Letting his personal glamour fall Jareth watched as Robert's enraged face turned to one of shock. Gone was the neatly slicked back hair that was held restrained by a leather strap at the base of his skull. Gone were the Aboveground clothes and the face that seemed abnormally normal. Before Robert Williams stood the Goblin King, in all his arrogantly royal glory.
Jareth: I am not arrogant . . .
Darklady/Sarah/Gabby: Compared to what?
Darklady: Actually now that I think about it . . . (points covertly towards Ly) I can name someone else a bit more arrogant.
Ly: I rescent that comment.
Sarah: Rescent it all you want Ly, everyone here knows that it's true. Including yourself.
Disembodied Voice: I must agree whole heartedly.
Ly/Jareth (gaze about the room looking for the voice that is disturbing them so)
Sarah/Gabby: Who the hell is that?
Darklady: (smiles evilly to them all) A new friend . . . don't worry girls . . . this male has a brain. He was trained well by his wife.
Disembodied Voice: Though I would love nothing more than to disagree with that comment . . . I know it to be true.
Darklady: See what I mean? Well anyway guys . . . what did you think? I tried to make it funny but serious, dramatic but light, insightful but not soo rushed. Leave a quick review and tell me what you think Ks? Hope to hear from you . . .
OH and just as a note. I lost the notebook that I was writing my story in. I had, had 15 pages of chapter 18 finished . . . but seeing as I lost the notebook I have to start over so I'm not exactly sure when I'll be getting it out . . . but I do hope it will be soon.
Hang on everyone we're almost done.