A/N:Thank you to all my reviewers and readers. I love you all!
Haunted
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The Dreamscape was a dark, terrifying dimension. Few were foolish enough to tread there, the place where dreams met reality. It was a place Nuala never thought that she would have to enter, but her son's recent actions had forced her hand. She knew that if something was not done, he was going to destroy this poor human girl.
"I'm surprised to see you here, Nuala," a soft voice echoed around the enchantress. Nuala whirled around to see a figure walking towards her. The newcomer was completely hidden beneath a long black cloak, but Nuala knew immediately who it was. For what kind of mother would not recognize her own daughter?
"What brings you to my dreams this evening?" the cloaked woman demanded.
"My darling, I know that you have sworn off all ties to your former life. But you can no longer deny that what I warned you about is indeed happening."
"Yes, I believe you now. But I can't just disrupt the family's lives. They're all so happy. I think even the girl is starting to warm up to the idea of having a stepmother."
"So be discreet about it," Nuala snapped, "just do something!"
"Why can't you just do it? I swore off my immortal existence for a reason, you know."
"You know my powers are weak aboveground. I can't believe that you've become so selfish in only twelve years!"
"Do not call me selfish!"
"You won't even consider protecting this girl from your brother's wrath! You know what he can do, you know how much danger she's in."
"I do! But I can't reveal myself to her! If she found out that I was Jareth's sister, she would never trust me. And if she doesn't trust me, I can't help her."
"Again, be discreet. Don't make your presence known. And you only have to do it for a few months. Don't forget our laws."
"When has Jareth ever concerned himself with the rules?"
"Even he can't get around this one. Please. Don't let your brother continue to torment her. I visited her dream last night. She can't take much more of his torture."
The cloaked woman sighed, "Very well."
"Thank you. I'll keep watch, just in case you should need back up. Now hurry, penetrate the girl's dreams before your brother gets there."
The younger woman bowed, and turned.
"Oh, wait. When am I going to get to meet my grandson?" Nuala called after her.
"As soon as I figure out how to explain you to my husband," she answered.
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Sarah was pacing about her room. It was nearly one in the morning, but she was afraid to fall asleep. She knew now that Jareth would keep visiting her dreams, until he got what he wanted from her.
A loud knock on her bedroom door brought her out of her stupor. "Sarah, what on earth are you still doing up?" her father called through the door.
"I can't sleep."
"May I come in?"
"Sure," she said, sitting on her bed. The door opened, and father came in, hair tousled and eyes drooping.
"So, Karen said that you two had a little dissagreement this evening," he said, taking a seat beside his daughter, "do you want to talk about it?"
"No. I'll apologize to her tomorrow, okay?" she sighed.
"She also said that you've been having nightmares. Is something bothering you?"
"What, you two don't have anything better to talk about than my personal business?" Sarah snapped.
"Sarah..."
"Dad, why don't you just get out of here? I'm suddenly feeling really tired," she said, jumping off the bed.
"No, Sarah."
"Dad, please..."
A smirk appeared on Robert's lips. He rose and stood before Sarah.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" she asked nervously. Her father's smirk grew, and he stepped closer to his daughter's quivering form.
"Sweet, innocent little Sarah. MY sweet innocent little Sarah," he said, reaching out to stroke her cheek. His gloved fingers felt warm against her cool skin. She stood, terrified at her father's actions.
"Dad, stop. You're scaring me," she said, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
He laughed, a cold wicked sound that sent chills down her spine. She looked up into his eyes, but her heart stopped when she saw that it was not her father's sea green eyes looking back at her with that lust glazed stare, but one icy blue eye, and one a dark brown.
"Jareth..." she gasped. He grinned, and to her horror, her father began to change, his dark hair becoming long and golden, his clothes melting away, and forming into Jareth's signarture white poet's shirt and dove grey tights.
Her eyes shot open. She was laying on her bed, fully clothed, her bedroom light glaring into her eyes. She quickly got up, turned off the light, and jumped back into her bed, shaking with fear.
"Will he ever leave me alone?" she sobbed, her heart feeling heavy.
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"If I hadn't seen it, I never would have believed it."
Jareth turned to see a woman in a cloak standing behind him.
"Well, well, well. I guess mother wasn't bluffing when she said she was going to bring you into this."
"Jareth, of all the horrible things you've done, this is by far the lowest, and most despicable."
"You know nothing of me. That girl is no longer your concern. She belongs to me now."
"What on earth could you possibly want with a fifteen year old human child? Do you plan on adding her to that awful collection of yours? And if I find out that you've been going after her brother, so help me..."
"You haven't changed at all. Still the same noisy brat you always you always were, jealous of her big brother's superiority."
"Stop avoiding my question! What do you want with her?"
"Well, as you know, I'm nearing my second millennium. I need to take a bride to secure my throne." He said, looking down on the woman.
"THAT'S what you want her for? For heaven's sake, Jareth, she's a little girl!"
"She's nearing her sixteenth year. I don't have the option of waiting, sister. Time is of the essence. Don't defy me."
" Jareth, you cannot keep doing this," she snarled at her older brother," You know the consequences that can come from invading ones dreams to often."
"I'll break her soon, don't worry about that."
She shook her head. "She's too stubborn for you Jareth. She'll never bend to your will."
"More ignorance!" Jareth bellowed, " She will be mine. And she'll be mine long before she falls ill from my invasions."
"No, Jareth. I know you too well. You'll keep torturing her for your amusement, and eventually, she'll die. You'll kill her, Jareth."
"Silence. I will not be spoken to in that manner. After all I did for you, after I let you leave the Underground to pursue a romance, I expect more respect from you."
"I am not your inferior."
"Everyone is inferior to me. And the sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be sister."
She growled, and stood before him, drawing herself up to her full height. "Be warned, Jareth. I will not allow you to harm her any longer. If you ever come into her dreams again, you'll feel the full extent of my wrath." And with that, she vanished.
Jareth chuckled to himself quietly. "I look forward to your finest efforts sister dear. But it is you who should beware. I will not stop until Sarah is in my arms..."
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A/N: Yay, an update! Nothing to say really, except REVIEW. Keep me smiling!
love ya!
Reggie