Chapter 10. Dark desires, dark promises

Conner looked up as they entered, and touched Rhiannon's hand. She looked over with a relived look. There two seats together at the table that had been left empty for the pair. Sitting down, Jareth took a long deep drink off his mug. He looked over at Sarah and licked the excess off his lips invitingly, glad the darkness made it hard for the others to see him flirt with the girl. His eyes drank her in as deeply as he had just drunk from the mug. He was tempted to lean over, kiss her and let the chips fall where they may. The expression on Hog's face told him to back off a bit. Jareth laid his arm over the top of Sarah's chair, leaning toward Conner to speak. Enjoying the nearness of the girl with the green eyes sheltered by the darkness of the Millhouse, he tilted his hand on the chair back letting his thumb connect with her back.

Sarah relaxed after a few minutes of being back inside. She began to think he was just playing with her. Teasing her and flirting. She warmed, and felt her skin glow with color each time she thought of the kiss. She wondered what it was he'd said into her open mouth when he'd taken the savage kiss to lengths she'd never know a kiss could go. The one thing she was sure of was she wanted the kiss to happen again. Being with him excited her, like a moth to a flame. Something about him fired defiance in her, and made her want to tease him right back. Twice as they sat there he'd licked his lips teasingly. She wondered what he'd do if she'd leaned over and licked them as well. The thoughts brought a blush to her cheeks.

Both Conner and Jareth stepped away from the table. Rhiannon looked at her wrist, and gasped. "Sarah, it's almost eleven. We have to run if we're going to make curfew." The Irish girl stood up quickly and gathered her cape and witches hat up as she rose.

Sarah looked at Hog; she tapped his hand to get his attention. "Tell them we had to run back to school when they get back, Okay?" The man nodded and waved good bye to them, still grooving to the tune being played. Sarah and Riha waved good bye to Tommy as they headed out the door and out to the dark streets of the little town.

Tony Davis was sitting with the rest of his crowd a block away from the Millhouse. He'd been tossed out of there and told not to come back several years before. He was laughing at the costumed people as they began to wander on back to their little homes. He felt they were fools, and he could not bother wasting time on them. He looked at the two other's with him, "Megan is ok for a schoolgirl." He bragged. "Nothing beats a horny teenaged girl, boys, nothing."

One of the guys noticed the pair of girls coming up the lane at a speedy pace. "Is that them? The witch and the cat?"

Tony looked to where his friend was pointing. "Yeah, now remember, we're just supposed to scare them… rough em up a little…" He motioned the two others to follow him as he began to trail the girls passing him.

Sarah felt the hair on her neck raise up, "We've got company." She said, pulling her cousin closer. "Come on, we have to keep our pace quick. We're almost to the park; we can cut though there and be at the school in no time." Riha nodded, quickening her pace.

At the park Tony motioned for the boys to run ahead and corner the girls. He brought up the rear making sure they were trapped.

Sarah and Riha stopped in the middle of the park, and stared at the assailants. The hair on Sarah's neck was now straight up and she knew they were in real trouble. 'Oh God, we need help…I wish we'd get some.'

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Jareth and Conner returned to the table, laughing over a private joke. Jareth found Conner's humor to be much like his own, and enjoyed the easy company. As they neared the table Conner figured the girls must have gone to the restroom and he took his seat. Jareth looked about. "Where are the girls?"

Hog looked up. "They had to go back to school."

Jareth pulled him out of his seat, "You let them leave here, alone?" There was something in his voice, a strained alarm.

Realizing his mistake, Hog slapped himself on the forehead. "Damn…they couldn't have gotten far, they just left."

"Come on…" Jareth ordered, zipping up the leather jacket. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"I'm coming too." Conner said.

"Fine, ride with Hog." Jareth moved quickly to his bike. "Which way would they take?"

Conner thought quickly. "The park, it's the shortest route. And I'll bet they are trying to make curfew."

There was a roar of engines and then the four bikes pulled out of the lot and headed to the park.

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Sarah glared at the three young men, "What do you want?" she demanded.

"Just to have a little fun," Tony said from behind them. "I heard you two would be lots of fun. Isn't that right boys?"

"Right," agreed one as he grabbed at Sarah's forearm and pulled her roughly away from Riha.

"Come here witchy." Ordered the other; reaching for Riha who struggled to be free.

"Leave her alone." Sarah shouted taking a swipe at the young man gripping her arm. The long nails on the gloves of her costume connected with the man's face leaving a long red mark where skin was tore swiftly away.

"Be nice, Kitty," The man said unaffected by the girls defensive attack. "Or I'll have to declaw you." He dug his fingers in deeper into Sarah's arm and she yelped in pain.

"Shut her up." Tony ordered as a hand went over Sarah's mouth. "I want to hear the witch scream." He dug his fingers into Riha's arms and began to shake her, "Scream witch, beg for mercy."

Sarah kicked the man holding her, and nearly toppled him. "This fuckin' bitch is trying to bust me up, man." He yelped when Sarah bit hard into the flesh of is hand. The other man who'd turned Riha over to Tony now was helping to hold Sarah, who was wildly kicking and struggling to be free.

Riha refused to cry out, thinking of how her Uncle's had suffered when there was trouble in Belfast. She would not give satisfaction to the man trying to break her spirit. Instead she spit in his face. Tony, enraged at being spit upon, throttled her and shoved her to the ground. There was a sickening sound of something cracking. Riha's face lost all color and she gasped. The men looked down and one said 'oh shit.' They let go of Sarah who moved toward her cousin swiftly, using her body to shield the Irish girl from any more assaults. Tony turned, hearing the roar of the bikes entering the park.

"God damn it, let's get out of here!" Tony commanded and the three headed out of the park.

The bikes came to a halt, and Jareth was the first to reach the girls. "You idiot!" He snapped at Sarah. "What did you think you were doing?"

"Getting back before curfew," She said looking at her cousin. "They hurt her."

Jareth looked down at the girl laying deathly white on the ground. He could see the ankle was at an unnatural angel. Kneeling down he looked closer without trying to hurt the girl further by moving it about. "I think it's broken."He motioned Hog. "Go find a phone and call for an ambulance. We'll stay here with the girls."

Conner was kneeling next to the girl. "Will she be alright?" he looked at Jareth with concern.

Jareth took off his jacket and placed it over the girl. "She's badly hurt, Conner." He said honestly. "It looks like a bad break to me." He looked over at Sarah. "We'll get help. Hog will get the ambulance here quickly."

Sarah nodded. "She must have fainted from the shock and pain."

Hog returned, "The ambulance is on its way, boss."

Riha began to moan softly, she wakened to waves of pain like red hot pokers in her ankle. She cried out, and let her tears fall.

Sarah took her hand. "Riha, help is coming." She assured her cousin. She knew each moment must seem like an hour passing to the injured girl. She wished the ambulance would get there already.

The paramedics in the ambulance studied the injury, and bound it up to transport the girl to the local hospital. Sarah road in the ambulance to the hospital with her cousin the four bikes followed like an honor guard. In the emergency room Sarah thought to herself how comical they must appear, four bikes, Robin Hood and a sexy little black cat. Sarah paced after having given the nurse all the information needed. The nurse had said she would contact the school and someone from there would be joining them. Sarah would have liked to have been in the examine room with Riha, but she'd been told to wait in the waiting area with the others.

Conner watched Sarah pace back and forth. She only stopped when a doctor came out to speak to her.

"Your cousin's ankle is broken in two places." The man in the white coat explained. "It's a bad but it could be much worse… no ligaments or tendons have been torn. We're setting her bones now and she'll be in a cast for six to eight weeks." The doctor excused himself and he returned to the injured girl.

Sarah didn't have time to feel relief; coming down the hall looking like a steamroller was Mr. Gregory and a police officer. Mr. Gregory was looking at Sarah, taking little notice of the men in her company.

"Miss Williams, what is the meaning of this? " He demanded looking as if he'd been woken from a sound sleep.

"We were on our way back to the school, cutting across the park when we were attacked." Sarah began to explain to the Headmaster.

The officer standing behind him looked at the girls costume with a skeptical eye. "You were attacked? Are you sure your fun and games didn't get out of hand, little girl?"

"We were not with the men who attacked us!" Sarah protested. "We were at the party…"

"Was there drinking at this party?" The officer asked stepping closer to sniff her breath.

"Coffee and cider," Sarah snapped furiously. "We were at the Millhouse coffee house! There's no liquor served there."

The officer backed off. "Ok, so you were at Millers….go on." He was taking notes.

"We cut though the park, we wanted to be back on the school's ground before curfew." Sarah explained. "We were half way though the park and these three hooligans surrounded us."

"I see." The officer kept writing, "And do you think you could pick them out in a line up?"

"Of course I could." Sarah stated. "All you have to do is pick up Tony Davis and his two sidekicks, I'll be glad to pick them out."

The officer stopped writing and looked at the girl in shock. "Tony Davis, are you sure girl?"

Mr. Gregory turned Sarah to face him. "How do you know Tony Davis?" His features were not worried, they were nervous and vexed.

"He was on one of the tree service crews when the school year started… and he was pointed out to me as being Megan's boy friend…" Sarah explained. "Some one later told me what his name is… and Yes." She looked at the officer. "I'm sure it was him. He's the one who broke my cousin's ankle."

The officer looked at the Headmaster and both me looked alarmed. Jareth stepped forward. "Is there a problem here? The young lady has identified her assailant, very clearly."

Mr. Gregory looked angry at being interrupted, but his jaw dropped when his eyes focused on Jareth's face. "Mr. King, what are you doing here?"

"The girls were with us." Jareth said. "They left Millers before we could offer them an escort back to the school grounds."

Quickly the officer stepped in, "Did you witness the assault?" he was almost hopeful.

"No, the men scattered when they heard us pulling into the park." Jareth said. "Is there a problem here?"

Mr. Gregory motioned Jareth aside. "Tony Davis is Chief Davis' son, Mr. King." He said softly. "That young man has been terrorizing the community for years. His father has a habit of overlooking the trouble and somehow pays for the damages to keep things quiet."

The officer who'd joined them nodded. "Look, we don't like it, but we're stuck. I can file this report…but I'll tell you this…it will never see the light of day. Old man Davis has a knack for keeping things like this quiet."

The blond man with mismatched eyes growled, "And what if the girl had been raped, or killed… would this just get covered up?"

Shame faced, the officer looked at the man. "I'd hate to speculate on such an occurrence."

Jareth looked at the girl pacing again. "Is she in any danger?"

"I doubt it." The officer said. "Most likely Tony and his thug pals were tanked up and looking to have some fun."

"Assaulting two little girls isn't fun…it's …" Jareth stopped, before his anger got the better of him.

Mr. Gregory turned to the officer. "Report this…. The Williams girl's father is a lawyer; most likely he'll want charges brought up… That idiot picked the wrong girls to mess with this time."

"This time?" Jareth looked at both men. "This time? You mean this has happened before?"

The officer shook his head. "No one's ever gotten a broken bone before." His voice was tight. "Mostly there have only been bruised egos."

Jareth looked at both the Headmaster and the officer in disbelief. "And his father stands by and does nothing?"

"He sent the kid away for awhile." The officer admitted quietly. "But he came back even meaner than before he went away."

Jareth looked past the men to the girl pacing. "I want him and his companions brought up on charges. I want the girls to be safe. With a mad dog like that on the loose no one is safe."

The officer closed his note book. "I'll do what I can Mr. King."

Jareth nodded and moved to where Sarah was pacing.

Mr. Gregory waited until the man was with the girl. "Do you think you can make the charges stick?"

"I can try." The officer said. "I can try." He also looked at the girl in the cat costume. "But I may have miss spoke, that girl may not be as safe as I said she was. Perhaps you could keep her on the school grounds for a while?"

"She's done nothing to warrant me restricting her!" Mr. Gregory snapped. "I don't like punishing the innocent."

"Better restricted then," he looked about the walls of the hospital and didn't finish but turned and left the hall.

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Headmaster Gregory sat waiting for the doctor. The man who'd spoken to Sarah before came out and addressed them all. "I've set the bone, and she's in a cast. I'd like to keep her overnight, just to observe her and to give her a good nights rest. She's in a room now, and we've sedated her. She'll be released tomorrow and I'll have instructions for her then."

"May I see her for a moment?" Sarah asked.

"She won't know you're even there." The doctor stated, but took her hand. "Only for a moment;" He led Sarah to the room that was off the hall where the emergency room was.

A nurse came out of the cubical that Riha had been in and handed the girls personal belongings in a bag to the Headmaster. Mr. Gregory looked uncomfortable holding the girls things. He looked at Jareth, then at Conner. Jareth took the bag off the Headmaster's hands. "I'll see that Miss Williams gets back to her dorm safe and sound."

The Headmaster thought about voicing disapproval, but thought better of it. "Thank you, Mr. King. That's very kind of you."

"Kind nothing, I was planning on escorting them back to the school in the first place. I should have told Sarah… if I had, none of this would have happened." Jareth stated firmly. "I'm taking responsibility for the girl." His voice didn't allow argument.

Mr. Gregory nodded, "I'd best go back to my office and alert Mr. Williams of what's happening. He's taken a keen interest in the McMannon girl since discovering the family connection. I'm sure he'll want to know what's happened. Tell Miss Williams I'll want to speak with her in the morning." The man began to walk slowly down the long hall to the exit.

Jareth turned to Hog. "Find out if we're employing Davis or his companions. If we do, I want them dismissed. I won't have that kind of scum work for King Industries."

"Right Boss," Hog said taking the order seriously.

"Lou," Jareth motioned the large man forward. "I want you to stay here, act as body guard to the McMannon girl."

"Ok." Lou nodded his head and went to the nurses' station to alert them to his being a body guard.

"Shamus," Jareth motioned him closer. "Take Conner here home." He looked at the young man who looked about to protest. "There's nothing more you can do tonight, Conner. You're not family, they are not going to let you see her. Go home, go to bed. I'll call you in the morning to let you know when they are releasing Riha."

Conner smiled slightly, "You love taking control don't you?"

"It's what I do best." Jareth said. "I was born to rule."

Conner placed a hand on the other's shoulder. "I'm glad you're here, I dread to think of what would have happened if you weren't. I'll see you tomorrow, Jareth."

"Good night Conner." The blond man said sending the younger man off with Shamus who was giving verbal support.

Jareth saw Sarah coming down the hall, tears had stained her face. For the first time he noticed the tares in her costume and her tussled appearance. He moved to her side and gathered her into his arms. She clung to him for a moment, shaking with worry. He soothed away her tears and her fears with just a gentle hand to her back. He rested his chin on the top of her head. "It's alright." He said quietly.

Sarah looked up at him. "Thank you for coming after us. If you hadn't shown up…"

The blond man placed his fingertips to her mouth, stilling it. "Don't even think about it." He commanded her. "I'm going to take you back to school now." Handing her the bag, he said. "These are Riha's things… you'll have to bring her fresh clothes tomorrow. I'm going to take you back to school. Mr. Gregory is calling your father to let him know what happened. So expect him to show up tomorrow. And Gregory says he wants words with you come morning."

Sarah groaned, "Oh great…"

Encircling her waist he led her toward the exit. "Your old man can't be that bad." He teased. "Mine thinks he's king of the universe!"

"Sounds like we should get them together," Sarah sighed. "I can just see it now, first thing in the morning Daddy, Karen and Toby showing up making my life even more difficult."

"Karen your sister?" Jareth walked the girl toward his bike.

"No, my stepmother," Sarah said lightly. "I don't have a sister, I have a baby brother, Toby."

Tossing her the spare helmet he smiled. "Sounds cozy."

"Sometimes it is… but not now…" she strapped on the helmet. "I so do not need this right now."

Jareth mounted the cycle and motioned her to do the same. She slid on behind him, "You ever ride a cycle before?" She shook her head no, he laughed. "Well hang on." She placed her hands lightly on his waist. "Baby, I mean…" He pulled her hands tightly against his chest. "Hang on!"

Sarah looked at his sideways. "You're enjoying this." She accused.

"Yep." He nodded as he gunned his engine. He didn't speak to her again until they reached the school. "What dorm are you in?"

"I'm not in a dorm, I'm in Bell Hall…" she was about to give directions when he halted the bike sharply.

"No one is in Bell Hall! It's all offices and store rooms." He looked at her with a dark look, as if he'd been lied to.

"Right except for the studio on the second floor," She pointed out.

"They stuck you girls in the haunted studio?" He asked.

"Haunted?" Sarah frowned. "Who said it's haunted?"

Jareth smiled and steered the bike toward Bell hall. He parked the bike toward the back of the building next to one of the dumpsters that was now being filled with rubbish from the renovations.

Sarah got off the bike and removed her helmet. "Who said it's haunted, and how do you know about Bell Hall?"

Jareth pointed to the trailer that had been placed in the parking lot next to Bell Hall. It read 'King Industries'. "I'm Jareth King, remember?"

"King industries? What's that?" she asked blankly.

Jareth laughed, "OH that's rich! Baby King Industries is only the largest company in the state. My father makes the governor look like small time. We're in building and renovations and a dozen other businesses."

"Oh…" she handed the helmet to him and watched as he strapped it back on his bike. "Where did you hear the studio was haunted…I've been in there since the beginning of the school year and never heard a word about it."

"The artist who was staying up there mysteriously disappeared one night. All his things were there, all his canvases' he was working on… but there was no sign of him." The tall lean blond was giving the impression of being only too happy to tell her a ghost story. "For months after it happened they wouldn't let anyone in that building."

Sarah looked skeptical. "Are you trying to scare me?"

Jareth smiled, "Maybe." He teased lightly.

"That's not funny…Mr. King." She turned her back on him, looking up toward the studio windows. "There's no ghost up there…or if there is, he hasn't made himself known to me."

Looking down at her, he smiled. Her shape in the darkness was very pleasing, and the cat costume did little to disguise her curves. In fact it made her womanly shape rather obvious. Moving closer, he placed his hands on her shoulders, palms facing up so the backs of his fingers rested on her. Slowly he let them float over the top of her shoulders, turning them slightly as he reached the end where the curves became forearm. He skimmed the surface of her arms, his hands moved over her with authority. She shivered deliciously under his commanding touch, and he growled softly in the back of his throat. She glanced over her shoulder up at him. Her lips parted her eyes wide with the awakening of deep dark desires, her body alive to his touch. Wordlessly he shepherded her toward the base of the building, where shrubs had gown wildly and now obscured from view anyone or anything that was behind them. He had turned her, placing her back to the bricks so that she now faced him. His hands pressed on the wall, as he leaned dangerously close to her. His face was barely an inch away from hers; flared nostrils took in her scent. His lips brushed hers soft as butterfly wings to a rose petal. The tip of his tongue traced the gently opening lips beneath his. He heard the breath freeze in her throat as she responded to his tantalizing kiss. Smiling he moved to her ear. "You taste like honey."

Sarah's senses were reeling, as if someone had dropped her into a vortex and she was spinning endlessly. She watched like someone in a trance as he placed her arms up to his shoulders. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Don't you know?" He teased, his hands now stroking her as he caressed her closer.

"No." She gulped and swallowed the chill that was gathering in the night air. "And I think….I want you to stop."

He eyed her with skepticism, "Really?"

She wanted to nod, but looking into the mismatched eyes prevented her from responding in any manner.

"I've never met a girl like you before, one whom so desperately needs kissing…Not just any kiss, either." He ignored her dissenting objection and her soft gasps. "So innocent and yet so damned sensual. You are a conundrum. On one hand you're the sexiest little kitten… your body drives me wild…and I would love to teach you the finer arts of sexuality." She gasped and he looked deeply into her eyes. "On the other hand you have this innocent side, this little girl façade."

"It's not a façade." She trembled as he studied her.

Jareth kissed her lightly again. "I'm not a good boy, kitten. I'm dark and I'm dangerous… Far more dangerous than those thugs tonight." He tipped her head back with his chin under hers, and then moved with expertise down the length of her throat. "I'm bad, precious… bad though and though... I'm a bad, bad man."

Sarah felt her arms tighten about his shoulders; her fingers crept up into his long fine hair. Not wanting the moment of this incredible kissing to end. "Why are you telling me this?" She murmured with her head still tipped back.

He pulled back from the line of her throat, leaving off at the hollow. He looked at her, "So you go into this with your eyes wide open, precious." His voice droned, lulling her into his influence. "If you want me, you need to know what you're going to be getting. I'm a man, Sarah. I'm not a pimply faced, snot nosed boy. I'm a man, do you understand? I have a man's needs, and desires."

Sarah nodded, slowly raising her eyes to him. "I'm only seventeen…You can't possibly want… me… I'm too young for you…"

Cupping her face he sighed. "I don't care…you could be fifteen and I doubt I'd care. I'll burn in hell for corrupting you… and enjoy every flame that laps against my soul. I'll boast to the devil himself that it was I who corrupted you. If you're going to get scared and try to run on me..."

Sarah's mind was screaming. "I'm not sure I could even if I wanted to." She admitted.

Jareth felt the tremor of his lips. "Hell it wouldn't do you any good." He admitted darkly. "I'd most likely hunt you down and make you pay a heavy price for trying to escape your fate. I want you, little girl…and what I want I get." He held her at arms length. "So this is fair warning, Sarah. As far as I'm concerned, you're my girl now." His voice deepened, taking on the sound of ownership.

"Your.. girl?" She blinked. "I'm not an object to be owned." She warned.

"No?" He slide a hand to her waist, pulled her against his body. "Well see, baby…we'll see."

"Mr. King…" she went formal pulling away from him.

"Hush." He said placing a finger to her lips. "Don't say things you can't carry out."

Sarah looked down at the finger silencing her argument.

Jareth smiled, it softened the dark passions on his features. "Because you are so incredibly innocent, I'm willing to take my time. Let you get use to the idea. But know this, Kitten; I'm the one who is going to have you, ever." He cupped her face again, tenderly kissing her trembling lips. "A woman has a secret treasure, something not seen, but deep within her. She can give this treasure once, and once only. You are going to give your treasure to me."

"Treasure?" she repeated in a confused voice.

Nodding he pulled her out of the bushes and shrubs, "It's late, precious." He announced. "You've had a hell of a day, and you're head is most likely spinning. Go up to your room, and go to bed. I'll call you in the morning." He walked her toward the door where the watchman was standing. "Good night Sarah." He kissed her forehead and pushed her gently toward the door.

"Good night." She replied moving to the stairs. She heard him talk to the man on guard but didn't hear the words. As she opened her door she wondered when this dream was going to end and she'd wake up. She looked at the bag she was carrying, with Riha's things. This was no dream…it was a nightmare….A living nightmare.