Chapter 9. Ghosts, witches and Goblins

Karen was at the station to meet them, and she wrapped consoling arms about Riha. Sarah had never taken notice before of how nurturing Karen could be. She felt ashamed for the way she'd treated her stepmother once more. The woman ushered them down to the car, and tossed their laundry bags into the trunk before settling Toby into his car seat.

Once they arrived at the house, Karen took the girls up to the bedroom going though blankets and bedding she'd pulled for Riha's inspection. The items that were chosen were set into a box to go back to school on Sunday. They had just finished up when they heard Robert arrive at the front door.

"Pizza man!" he shouted as he entered the house. "Pizza man is here."

Sarah looked at Karen, "Pizza?"

Nodding her stepmother laughed lightly. "I thought we'd give you girls a treat."

Robert greeted the girls affectionately as they entered the kitchen and set the table for dinner. He winked at his wife when she joined them. "Have you told the girls yet?"

"No," she said. "I was waiting for you."

"Told us what?" Sarah looked at her parents.

"We've an unexpected engagement this weekend." Robert sighed. "We have to attend a dinner and concert at the Country Club. So you girls get to play babysitter."

Sarah felt a thrill race in her veins; it was the first time her parents were trusting her with Toby in so long. "That's great." She picked up the little boy who was also excited about being with his sister and cousin. "We're going to have a great time Toby-man."

Karen hugged Robert and whispered in his ear. "I told you there was nothing to worry over."

Robert nodded, "You were right." He took his seat and held out his plate. "Ok, ladies, let's get to eating that pizza before it gets cold."

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Jareth watched the poet on the stage, and sipped his coffee. He could feel Hog's stare and was choosing to ignore it for now. He was aware that sooner or later he was going to have to allow his friend to vent, but for now he just wanted to remember the soft eyed girl who was so timid accepting a mint.

Hog could not let it sit, "Are you stupid or just crazy?" He asked over his mug of coffee, finding the poet on stage boring.

"Neither." Jareth sighed quietly. "Hog, all I did was offer the girl a mint. It's not against the law to talk to a girl and offer her a mint."

"She's jail bait, man…. There are women all over town who'd be more than happy to scratch any itch you may have." Hog snapped. "Don't tell me none of them interest you."

"I offered the girl a mint," Jareth repeated. "Nothing more. We had some quite conversation while I was waiting for you and she was waiting for her cousin."

The two red haired men sat quietly, watching the volley.

"How do you know the other is her cousin?" Blue eyes bulged.

"Tommy told me last week," Jareth put his feet up lazily. "I asked who the girls were."

One of the silent men now snickered. "You asked about the girls?"

Nodding Jareth declined to answer, not wanting to admit that he was really only asking about the little green eyed vixen.

"Stay out of this, Shames." Hog snapped at the man with the white mustache.

The smallest of the four men twitched and snarled right back. "I don't have to."

The largest of the men sat smiling and watching.

Hog put his mug down loudly. "Don't encourage him!" he warned the little man. "He's libel to get all our asses tossed in the can!" Turning his attention back to the blond man, he growled. "You're not going to stalk a teenager! I won't have it."

"I'm not stalking her… she happened to be sitting there." Jareth snickered. "Look, it's a small town, we're bound to see her now and again."

"Just keep your mitts off her!" Hog warned. "We don't need trouble here."

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Karen was in the foyer waiting for Robert, and checking her attire in the mirror. Sarah stood in the door to the parlor. "You look fabulous; there won't be another partner's wife who looks nearly as good." She assured her stepmother.

Karen clutched her purse and sighed. "Call me overly cautious… but I'm a nervous wreak about this dinner."

"It's a piece of cake!" Sarah said then froze trying to remember the last time she'd used that phrase. She looked at Karen and smiled. "Who could resist you and Daddy?"

Riha, holding Toby in her arms agreed. "You make quite the statement in that pink. It's very positive."

Looking in the mirror again, Karen asked. "Are you sure?"

"Oh relax." Sarah commanded. "You're fine."

Robert came down the stairs looking more dashing than ever. "Fine, you're better than fine…" he kissed his wife as he joined her in the foyer. "You're one of a kind."

Both girls blushed at the open show of affection.

Robert looked at the girls. "Ok, you know the drill, no men, no booze no drugs."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Damn and I had the dealers all lined up with the pimps."

Karen laughed, "Oh Sarah."

The teenager waved them to the door. "Go, have a good time… Impress the hell out of the senior partners…We'll be fine."

Karen kissed both girls and the boy. "There's stew in the Crockpot, it should be ready in an hour." She reminded Sarah. "Put Toby down about eight or so… and for heavens' sake Sarah, no scary stories. Or he'll have nightmares all night long."

Robert opened the front door, "Karen, the taxi…" he pointed.

The two teen girls and the little boy waved them off. Merlin the dog sat on the front porch as if he were a sentinel. Sarah took a seat on the porch beside the old sheep dog and smiled up at her cousin who was sitting in the rattan loveseat with Toby. "I thought they'd never get out of here."

"Is she always so nervous about being in public?" Riha asked.

Sarah wondered, "You know, I never took much notice of it before… but yes… I think she is."

"Pity," Riha said hugging the little boy. "She's got so much to offer."

"You think so?" Sarah leaned against the post on the porch.

"Of course." The Irish girl said firmly. "She's a good woman, you're lucky to have such fine women to model your self after."

Sarah buried her face in the long hair of her dog. "I suppose I am."

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Savory stew and crusty bread with fresh cut cheese made a wonderful meal for the girls and the little boy. Sarah served icy cold apple cider in tall glasses to each of them and a smaller easier to manage cup for the boy. They had a candle on the table to pretend they were eating somewhere important. During the meal, Riha spoke of her Uncle's house in the Irish countryside, and of meals in a cottage near a stream.

With diner finished and the dishes washed up and put away, the girls escorted the boy up to his nursery bedroom. He was washed and changed into pajama's and placed into his bed.

"I want a story!" he pouted as the girls were about to leave him.

Riha laughed. "He wants a story."

Sarah moved to the book shelf and asked which book he wanted. "Red riding hood?" he shook his head no. "St. George and the Dragon?" again he refused. "Ok, which one?"

Toby pointed to a book that was lying on his night stand. "That one!"

Sarah looked at the book, its red leather cover with gold gilded letters sent a shock wave though her. "Toby…where did you get this?"

The little boy snuggled down into his bed. "Your room."

Sarah frowned. "No, that's not possible." She knew the book, but could not remember the story. "Toby…"

Riha took the book from Sarah's hand and opened a page. "It's yours alright, a gift from your mother." She showed Sarah the opening page with its woodcutting print.

Sarah looked away from the book, "No, Toby…that book is too old for you." Her voice was hard for a brief moment, then softened. "How about a nice story about fairies in a garden."

Toby's blue eyes went wild for a moment. "I want goblins!" he growled darkly.

Riha snickered not understanding why the brother and sister seemed at such odds. "Oh let me tell you a story about the goblins." She sat on the bed and patted the boy's legs.

Sarah didn't really listen to the tale her cousin wove, she was fidgeting holding the little book.

Toby drifted off to sleep as Riha told him a comical tale of goblins and farmers in Ireland. They quietly exited the room, shutting the door behind them so the little one would not be disturbed. Crossing the hall they entered Sarah's room where Sarah took a seat on her bed.
"Riha, I don't remember this book…and I'm afraid to read it."

The Irish girl took the book and set it aside, "Then don't read it for now, darlin'."

Sarah sighed and hugged her cousin. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too." Riha hugged back.

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Karen and Robert were going though the items in the truck with a check list. Being the ultimate list keeper, Karen even had quizzed Sarah on what items were being depleted in her little kitchenette. Sarah laughed, "Hey is there room for our laundry?"

Karen looked at her and laughed. "Very funny."

Robert moved a box and groaned. "It's gonna be a tight fit, perhaps we should rent a trailer." Karen playfully swatted him.

Sarah leaned on the side of the car, "So is it alright for me to stay on Campus the weekend before Halloween?" She'd asked them at breakfast and was told they needed to look at their calendar.

Karen looked up at Robert, "I don't see why not… there is going to be all kinds of events in Brighton for that weekend it's a big deal there, you know."

Robert looked at Sarah, and then at Riha, both girls had hopeful gazes. "Oh," he sighed heavily. "Alright, but no shenanigans!" both girls rushed forward to hug him.

Karen laughed, "We've got an hour before we have to get on the road, why don't you two go up to the attic and go though things up there for a costume?" She brushed Sarah's hair over her shoulder. "Your mother has sent all those wonderful things; it's a shame to just see them sit."

The attic was filled with the scent of cedar and moth balls. Dust danced lightly on the sunbeams like little fairies. Sarah turned to her cousin, "Is Halloween a big deal in Ireland?"

"Not like here," she confessed. "It's more about the spiritual side." She looked about the attic, "What a wonderful space this is."

Sarah opened a cedar closet filled with expensive costumes. "What would you like to be? A fairy Queen, a ballerina, a flapper? I've got loads of costumes to pick from."

Riha saw the black dress and reached for it. "A witch." She said lightly.

Sarah handed the dress to her and pulled out the accessories. "There's a cape that goes with that, Mom did a play called Fractured Tale. She played a witch who didn't want to be a witch… she wanted to be a ballerina. It was too funny." Beside the long black dress was another costume that Sarah pulled. "Hey, I can be your cat! Mom was an extra for a season in Cats. We've got everything here right down to rhinestone collar and a really swanky tail."

"A witch and her familiar," Riha teased the other girl. "We're likely to win any prize!"

"Who cares about prizes, I just want to have fun." Sarah said. She placed the items in a travel bag to be packed in the car. "We'll take these now and do whatever alterations we need to at school. Karen gave me her old sewing machine."

Coming down from the attic with their treasures the girls handed the bag over to Robert to pack. He laughed when they told him what they came up with. "Well look out Brighton, the Irish Witch and her cat are on the loose."

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Brighton threw a large splashy harvest festival each year the weekend of or before Halloween. There were costume contests, apple bobbing and a carnival. The weather had taken a warm turn, unusual but welcomed. The Saturday of the festival was warm and sunny, with a light breeze. Shopkeepers set up booths in the town square, and everyone came in costumes.

Sarah had been practicing cat movements for weeks; she'd even asked her mother to send her a tape of the rehearsals of the show she'd been in. On the morning of the festival Sarah felt more than prepared, she felt primed. She had taken on a mindset; she locked Sarah Williams, prim and proper, in a box. Now she was a beautiful exotic and mystifying black cat with huge green eyes and a sensual pout. Linda had sent her a box of stage makeup and accessories, including a cat nose that had black wire whiskers. With each step of putting on the cat-suit, and the leg warmers and the tail, she took on more and more of the mannerisms of the feline she was pretending to be.

"Ye need a good name," Riha said calmly. "We canna be calling ye Sarah…"

Her face make up was startling, and she turned to her cousin, purring. "What would be a good name for a witches cat?"

Looking at her Riha gave it some thought then burst out laughing. "Darlin' you look like Cait Sidhe."

Sarah blinked, "I like the sound of that, what does it mean?"

Her Irish cousin translated quickly. "Cait Sidhe, means Cat of the Fae…it was said to be a large black cat, with almost human eyes… and not a Fairy, but a witch transformed by a spell… She roamed freely over the Scottish Highlands and also in the woods of Ireland."

"Cait Sidhe." Sarah purred. "I like it." She turned to the mirror. "What was to break her spell?"

"None can," The Irish girl became brooding and contemplative. "Gran said that a witch who becomes Cait Sidhe, falls under the power of the darker Sidhe. What your people call, Goblins."

Sarah shivered. "Now she tells me." She muttered. "Too late… my bed is made…" She looked up at her cousin. "Come on, let's go find me some cream." She purred suggestively.

Rhiannon McMannon, the girl from Tara Hill donned her cape and her cap and snapped her fingers, she was followed out the door by the Cait Sidhe, that had one time been Sarah Williams.

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It was exciting in town; everyone was having a wonderful time. Sarah followed Rhiannon about with a suggestive swagger in her gait. Every now and then pausing to use a paw to pretend to groom an ear, or play with a dangling object.

"How perfectly ridiculous," Megan said to Ellen. "And how childish…a witch and her cat."

"Ridiculous," agreed the girl on her first outing since being on probation.

Rhiannon walked away trying to ignore the pair. Sarah however turned and narrowed her lovely green eyes glaring at them with unwavering stare. Ellen stepped closer to intimidate the girl and Sarah found her back arching as she hissed and swiped at the girl. Ellen jumped back,

"Are you crazy?" She shouted.

Sarah hissed again. Rhiannon snapped her fingers. "Cait Sidhe, attend!" Sarah turned and pranced off on light feet.

Ellen turned to Megan, "Did you see that? She tried to take a swipe at me."

Megan frowned, "She's gone round the bend…time to put them both in their places… Come on, I need to see Tony…He'll be up for a bit of nastiness!"

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Conner saw the pair coming though the stalls. "Mother, look." He pointed to them.

Mrs. Channing looked up, and smiled. "Welcome Samhain crone and to you too, Cait Sidhe." She greeted the pair. "You both look wonderful."

Conner could not take his eyes off Rhiannon, "I'll say."

The girl blushed but Sarah could tell she was happy he'd noticed. "Conner, are ye going to be coming to the Millhouse this evening? Tommy is having his annual bash."

"Yes, I'll be there…" Conner was smiling like a love sick puppy now. "Will you save me a dance?"

"As many as ye like." The Irish girl blushed.

Both Sarah and Mrs. Channing rolled their eyes. "Conner, why don't you run along with the girls and have some fun. I'll see you this evening after the festival is over." Mrs. Channing said at last.

Conner extended a hand to the Irish beauty and she quickly slipped her hand in.

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The sun had slipped behind the horizon and Tommy was greeting the early arrivals at his Millhouse. He was dressed as Bacchus, wine goblet in hand. He looked at the trio coming in and laughed, "Let me guess, you're a witch, he's a archer and you… are some kind of cat."

Rhiannon bowed. "The Crone of Samhain, if you please."

Conner bowed also, "That's Robin of Sherwood you knave."

Tommy turned to look at Sarah who was pretending to groom her ears and ignore them all, when he cleared his throat she looked at him and purred. "Cait Sidhe, darlin'" in an accent very like Rhiannon's, she then turned and rubbed her shoulder against the man.

"Oh for the love of God…" He jumped back. "Go up to the gallery…I'll send some hot mulled cider over."

Sarah bounded up the stairs and took a seat, but found she felt more like moving about. She leaned over the rail to look down on the people coming in.

They came in looking pretty much as they did when ever they came in. Tommy frowned. "Where are your costumes?" he barked. The shortest man opened his jacket and his tee shirt read, 'Fire'. The largest man opened his jacket, his shirt read; 'Earth' Hog opened his to reveal the word. 'Water', and Jareth opened his to reveal 'Wind'. Tommy raised his brows.

"We're the elements." Jareth said with a smirk, "Forces to be reckoned with." He heard some one laugh, and looked up at the gallery. The girl in the cat costume was sitting on the rail laughing at something her companions were saying. "Sarah." He whispered feeling a heat race though his veins. He moved to their usual table and took a seat. Tommy sent over mulled cider to them and he sipped slowly, savoring the flavor and the sound of the girl's laughter.

Conner was telling the girls a story of another bash at the Millhouse and they were enjoying his company. He looked down, "Tommy's gonna start the music, come on girls, let's dance." They ran joyfully down the steps and joined the happy couples on the main floor.

Jareth watched the cat, his lips curling with delight.

"Jail bait." Hog said once more knowing it was a lost cause. "If you get caught, it's jail…"

"If I get caught." The blond teased back. He drained his mug of cider and moved to the dance floor, coming up behind the cat that was moving with feline grace and agility. He nodded to Conner who saw him standing there. Placing his hand on the cat's wrist he spun her round and pulled her into a very sensual dance. Sarah purred as he moved with her across the floor. At the end of the song she laughed as she fell against him.

"Come on and sit with us for a bit." He said to the trio.

Conner warmly greeted the man's companions. "Hog, long time no see man. Lou, how are you?" He nodded to the man with the dramatic mustache. "Shamus." He presented the girls, "This is Miss Rhiannon McMannon, of Tara Hill in Ireland…and her cousin Sarah Willimas."

Sarah's eyes got big, "Cait Sidhe," she said pointing toward herself.

Jareth laughed, "Of course." He motioned a waiter over and ordered more cider.

A hard hitting rock song came on and Jareth pulled Sarah back to the dance floor, leaving Conner and Rhiannon sitting with the three other bikers. When the song ended, and the floor got more crowded, Jareth pulled Sarah by the hand toward the entrance. "Let's get some air; it's getting stuffy in here." They exited into the cooling night air, and Sarah threw back her head to enjoy the breeze.

"That's a bit of heaven." She said, giving a teasing glance to the man. "Don't you think so?"

"Could be heaven, could be hell." He said in a low dark growl. He moved away from the door, down along the building toward the water wheel that was now run by a motor when the river was not high enough to power it. Sarah followed him into the shadows, before she thought better of the situation.

He found a dark spot, away from where they could be easily viewed. He backed her up against a wall, when she gave a startled protest he leaned closer and purred in her ear. Her reaction had been unexpected, she purred back as he pressed closer. "Here, kitty, kitty." He whispered, in a terrifying and tantalizing drone.

Sarah swiftly placed one of her clawed gloves at his chest, open to her as the leathers he wore like armor was wide open. "Careful, this cat has sharp little claws."

Jareth looked down at one nail pointed into his chest. "Now, Cait Sidhe, is that any way to treat your master?"

"Cait Sidhe, has no master," she purred and blinked at him with long dark lashes.

Jareth groaned, enjoying the painful ache building within him. "Oh precious of course she does." He leaned closer and growled. Sarah closed her eyes and purred as his cheek touched hers, rubbing slowly. "Careful Kitty, you're playing with fire."

Sarah pushed him back, "No, fire is inside, I'm playing in the wind." She teased, moving away from the wall and into the dark parking lot. "Besides everyone knows the only thing that can tame a Cait Sidhe, is a Dark Sidhe Lord,"

"Kitty," he called her closer to where his bike was parked. "Do you have any idea of what I'm called by those who know me well?"

"I can image," she teased playfully.

"No, you can't." He teased back, pointing to his bike. "Read that."

Sarah moved closer to the bike and read the words on the gas tank. "Goblin King?" she turned and looked at him.

He nodded, "When I started hanging with the boys, my father called us a group of Goblins. When I graduated college he gave me the bike and dubbed me their King…Now," He pulled the started girl into a tight embrace. "Guess what that makes me?"

Sarah whispered. "A Dark Sidhe Lord?" her voice came out more like a squeaky noise.

He smiled, "Damn right." His face softened. "Are you still without a boy friend, kitten?" Not thinking clearly she nodded. He placed his cheek to hers and whispered in her ear. "Good." He caressed her cheek with his. When she shivered, he looked at her. "Cold, baby?"

Feeling her face on fire she could only shake her head no.

Jareth eased up on his grip. "You like danger, don't you baby? You know I'm dangerous and you like it."

Sarah's lips parted to protest, but not even a squeak came out this time. She looked at him, his eyes, his nose…those lips….

"Know what I think, pretty kitty?" he took her face into cupped hands. "I think you want to be kiss… no….need to be kissed…. I think you want me to kiss you."

"No…" she whispered alarmed at the heat building between them. "I…don't….."

Jareth sniffed her scent, she was driving him wild and he was fighting to maintain control. "Yes, you do."

Sarah looked at his lips, he was right; she wanted him to kiss her. "I…don't….know…"

Jareth paused. "So innocent…it's intoxicating." He cocked his head to one side and brushed his lips lightly across hers. He leaned back, "Like it?" she nodded. "Want more?" He was backing her into the darkness again, this time she didn't fight him or protest. She nodded again, he raised her left hand to his shoulder, and then her right and lifting her off the ground pressed up against her. "This little piggy went to market." He kissed her cheek, "This little piggy stayed home." He growled as she kissed her nose. "This little piggy's coming to your house.. to …" His mouth took hers with savage hunger. Dark words were growled into her mouth as his tongue laid claim to the warm moist recesses of her tender mouth. He moved to her ear and growled, "All night long."

Sarah's breathing was ragged; she looked at him and gulped.

He beat back the building fire in his veins. "Our friends will be missing us….we'd better go back in."