Chapter 10.

Solea and Cairbre looked at one another; each mouthed the word, not daring to speak it aloud. 'Nephilim'. The Water Sprite placed her long fingers to her delicate throat. Her mouth parted, but words escaped her. Cairbre let the scroll drop from his fingers, he moved quickly to his wives side seeing her distress. Wrapping her in his embrace, they gave comfort to each other.

When he spoke again, it was with bereavement. "No wonder that child has always been drawn to the world of the Fanciful."

"The father knew and never told her." Solea moaned. "How could he let her suffer so? Let her think she was…a freak?"

"He was trying to be…mortal." The Bard shook his head. "He wanted her to be…mortal."

"Husband," The Sprite's concern was written on her face, her features showed it. "What happens now? Sarah is not truly mortal, nor is she a true Fae."

The Bard pulled his wife to sit beside him. "I believe that Sarah has enough of the fabric of magic within her to carry her over into Fae-hood. Perhaps even immortality, in time…She will have to give up the world of man for a time, and be immersed in our world."

"The shattered soul…. The two made one…said there are three Fae Kindred…"She whispered.

The Bard nodded. "The law says that he who discovers the Nephilim offspring may claim it for his own."

Solea shook her head, "He'll lay claim to the little one's won't he?" He husband nodded again. "I fear troubled waters ahead."

"I fear you're right my love."

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The sun had gone down, Sarah had brought tea up to Karen. Her stepmother lay on her bed, red eyed and spent. Sarah was glad Marge was there to hold Karen's hand. It gave her peace to have the little ones cuddled in with her. Sarah offered to make her some soup. Marge nodded, signaling the girl.

Sarah had taken the soup tray up and brought the little ones down to feed. She was finishing clearing the supper dishes when Marge came down.

"She wants the little ones again." Marge sighed.

"Go ahead and take them up…they've eaten and it will be good for them to be with Karen." She put the last of the dishes in the washer. "I'm going to see if Daddy needs anything."

Sarah went down the hall and tapped on her father's den door. No answer came, she tapped again. Slowly opening the door, she peeked in the room. "Daddy?" There was only one light on in the room. The room itself was filled with shadows and foreboding.

Seated at the desk, he looked up at her as if he had never seen her before. "Yes?"

"I was wondering if you'd like something to eat, Daddy." She kept her voice subdued. "You haven't had anything since you got in." She stepped closer. "Is there anything I can get for you, or do for you, Daddy?"

He shook his head, and watched as she turned to go. Her hand reached for the door and he said. "When did you meet the Goblin King?" His voice was quiet, like a thunderbolt.

Sarah turned eyes full of shock, and guilt. "The who?" She gasped.

Robert glared at her, the way he glared at other lawyers in court. "The Goblin King, Sarah. When did you meet him?"

"Almost three years ago, Daddy." She looked down, knowing what his next question was bound to be.

"How?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she sought a way to answer. "Does it matter?"

Robert looked away from her, "What have you brought down on our heads you foolish girl?"

Sarah wanted to shrink down to the size of a gnat. "Daddy…I…"

"Shut up!" he snapped. "Let me tell you about your friend…. He is a Fae…A Royal Fae…They are petty and vengeful and care only for themselves and their own kind." The anger had turned to loathing and disgust. "You brought him into our lives and we will never be the same…Do you know what he does? Do you care you stupid selfish…."

Gasping for air, Sarah ran from the den. She ran up the stairs and locked herself in her room. She had seen her father angry before, but never had she seen it aimed at her. She looked at her room, her safe haven, and relaxed. He would cool down, she hoped.

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Angus raised his head he had heard the movement. He sniffed the air, it was them the two made one. With sluggish movements, he exited the Wyrn; "Ye seek something, Quinn?"

The dark side nodded. "Aye, old master…" Quinn took a seat on a rock formation. "I seek counsel."

Angus hunkered down and got comfortable. "I see…on what?" He was use to Jareth coming out and hemming and hawing until he was ready to speak, so he expected Quinn to be much the same.

"How to handle Sarah William's father, he is Nephilim." Quinn said effortlessly.

Angus blinked. "Are ye sure?"

Nodding Quinn began to tap his chin. "Oh yes, I confronted the man."

Whistling low, the old dragon shook his head. "Indeed…" Then a grim grin formed on the lips of the dragon.

The Fae caught sight of the grin, "What is that look for?"

"Well, now Laddie…. You can not object to the other half's selection anymore, can ye?"

"I've already accepted that Jareth and his Sarah are…fated," Quinn said though clenched teeth. "I've accepted it! Do I have to make a proclamation for every one to understand that I've accepted it?

"Grudgingly." Angus pointed out. "But now that ye know she is of a kindred…. How do you feel about her?"

Quinn stared off into space. "My feelings don't matter."

"If they did…how would you feel about the girl now, Quinnie?" The dragon watched and waited.

"I don't know." He rubbed his forehead. "On the one hand I did try to stop them from completing the bond…. On the other hand I made it possible for them to bond…I don't know, Angus…I don't know… now there's…more stress…And Jareth…He's not doing well…"

"The merge does not go well?" The old dragon asked.

"The merge does not go…at all…." Quinn leapt to the ground. "I don't know what more I can do…I gave him the strength! I gave up everything! And he's…not fighting!"

The dragon looked uneasy, "Laddie, I'm no healer…."

Quinn raised a hand, "I know, I don't expect you to be…I've suggested we take Talbot up on his suggestions…but His Nibs won't hear of it." Quinn sighed, "The merge is not our problem right now…Robert Williams is."

"Knowingly keeping his family hidden from the Courts must have been quite a task..." the old one mused. "Not to mention dangerous."

Shrugging the younger Fae paced. "I suppose.

"He must care a great deal…I have no doubt whatever he knows or thinks he knows is a hashing of truth and half truths." Angus suggested.

A gloved hand came up, "Don't ask me to reason with him."

"Why not?" asked the dragon.

"Because I don't think he can…you didn't see his eyes Angus! They were wild…he makes the Fireys look sane!" Quinn barked.

The dragon snickered. "Ah Laddie. It canna' be that bad."

Suddenly alarms went off. "Yes, it can!" Quinn rushed back toward the castle.

He looked at Giles face. "He's trying to make a run for it, isn't he?"

Giles nodded. "We've got the house surrounded, Sire. Bann sounded the alarm."

"Open a portal right into the foyer! I'm not giving him another chance." The King said. 'Don't worry, brother, I shall see to it the Consort is safe and sound and here in the Underground before another hour passes.'

The portal opened armed Goblins stood by. The King passed though with the Archer. The woman was arguing with the man, begging him to thing about what he was doing. The man grabbed her forearms and shook her.

"I have thought, it's the only way…we must make a …."He turned when the blast of air from the Underground Kingdom hit him. "No…no…" He put himself between The Goblin king and his family. "NO, you can not take them! I know the law… no one was wished away…not even Sarah. You can not take what freely offered, and none of my family was offered."

The King crossed his arms, looking at the man. Now dressed in full regalia, he looked impressive and the woman behind Robert stared. "Robert, Robert, Robert…I'd have thought a man of law would know better than to try to run from justice."

"Justice?" Robert spat, "You call this justice? You've invaded my house…you were not invited in!"

"Ah but I have a long standing invitation..." Quinn looked over at Sarah who was huddled on the stairs with her siblings. "Don't I Sarah?"

Robert's head snapped to look at his daughter with an accusation written in his features. "What did you do?"

"Daddy…"She whispered.

Karen looked at the man in the strange clothes, then at her husband who was accusing him of invading the house. She was beginning to wonder if she had lost her mind in her grief. She staggered back toward the wall, held onto it on the verge of hysterics.

Quinn looked at Sarah; his expression was concerned toward her. "You will address me, Robert, not the women. They have been though enough stress this night." He looked at Sarah. "Go back to your room. Take the children with you." He looked over at Karen, "Madame, I suggest you go along with Sarah as well. What words your husband and I are about to have are not for your ears."

Sarah held a hand out to Quinn. "Please…don't hurt him."

Karen opened her mouth. "Are you going to hurt us?" She began to edge forward, thinking now of the children and not herself. "Don't hurt my babies!"

Sarah had come down the stairs, Kerry in her arms and Toby at her side. "Please."

The King looked from Robert to Sarah, "What would you have me do, Sarah. He was about to try to abduct you…"

"He's trying to protect us." She said softly. "He does not understand."

Quinn turned to Robert. "Is that it? You do not understand. Did I not make it clear enough?" Robert was shaking, as Quinn began to circle him, Goblin King style. "Well than let me make it crystal clear." The edge in the voice cut like a sword. "Your daughter is the betrothed of the Throne! She is to be a Queen. She is a Mystic of my Kingdom and she is bonded! You can ask her…she herself performed the kiss of marking!" One hand pointed toward the girl. "You are a man of law, and if I'm mistaken you understand our laws as well as the laws of the world of Mortals. You know the law…I now evoke it! I claim the child Toby and the child Claire Kerry as members of my family! They will now be subjects in my kingdom. And you Robert Williams can rot for all I care!" Quinn bent down and picked up Toby. He looked at Giles. "We are going home."

Karen turned ashen. "What is he saying? What does he mean he claims Toby and Claire? Robert, do something…" Robert seemed too shocked to move. Karen shook him, "Robert, do something!"

Sarah stepped in the path of the Goblin King, placed her hand on his sleeve. "Please, no…wait…you can't take her children…she's done nothing to deserve this…She's a good mother…and they need her…Please. No."

Quinn halted, looked at the hand then at her face. "It seems there is nothing I can not refuse you, my dear." He took a breath, and nodded. "This one will cost you. No free pass on this."

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief his anger was abating. "Anything, just don't take the children from Karen…"

Quinn's eyes danced behind Jareth's. "Anything? Well…price to be negotiated at a later date….I have your word?"

"My oath." She said softly.

"Done." He looked at Robert and Karen, feeling pity for the woman and disdain for the man. "Robert Williams because of our great…affection for your daughter we are going to be generous. This is a one-time offer, and will be on the table for only the briefest of time. Against our better judgment, we are willing to offer you a home in the Kingdom. You will live and work at court, doing our bidding. You shall be housed with in our walls, and the children with remain in your care as long as you obey our rules." He looked at Sarah who nodded. "Take it or leave it."

"But my practices…my …clients…" Robert stammered.

Karen looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "I'll take it!" she moved forward to take Toby from the King. "I'll go wherever they go."

Quinn relinquished the boy to the arms of his mother, "Well Robert? I am waiting. Once the women, the children and I pass though the portal…the offer is gone."

Robert hung his head. "I accept."

Quinn opened the portal. "Ladies first." He helped both Karen and Sarah though the portal sent Giles next then grabbed Robert by the collar, "Welcome home, Nephilim." Roughly he shoved the man though and stepped though himself. The interior of the house entered a vacuum; everything that belonged to the family disappeared. The portal appeared briefly again. Quinn calmly walked though the empty interior and opened the door of the garage. "Come on." He looked down at the dog. "Didn't think I'd forget you did you?" Merlin bounded toward Quinn who laughed as he caught the great hairy hound in his arms. "Come on, Merlin. Time to go home."