Tess awoke on her couch. The television had been left on and the callous light from it made her squint. She groaned and sat up. She wasn't a huge fan of falling asleep on her couch, not when there was a bed in the other room. Tess stretched her neck. She picked up her crumb encrusted plate and the container that once held chocolate cake. She took them to the kitchen and returned to the living room. She turned off the television and looked at the small red book on her coffee table. It had been left for her shortly after the pizza had arrived.
She sat back down on her couch and picked up the book, just to look at it. It was a book, a simple paperback book. It was fairly well-worn, indicating that it had been read through many times over. She turned the end table lamp on for light. Tess opened the cover, hoping for a name written inside, but there was nothing.
There was a knock on her front door. Tess closed the book and listened. Another knock. Tess slid the book into her robe pocket and went to look through her peephole. She flipped the switch for the porch light and stood on tip-toe to peer out of the peephole. The person was standing with their back to the door. All she saw was a head of brown hair…and a feather.
"Creepy" Tess whispered to herself. Another knock. Tess swallowed and loudly asked "What do you want?"
"Tess, I need to get that book back" Aaron called out to her through the door. "Do NOT open it."
"How do you know where I live, Aaron?" Tess asked. She looked around and grabbed a short knife that she often took with her on long hikes. She unsheathed it and took a deep breath.
"Tess" Aaron called out. Against her better judgment, she unlocked the door and opened it up. She held the knife up, firmly, between her and Aaron.
"You followed me" Tess said angrily. Aaron looked at the blade for an instant, but didn't really seem to care.
"The red book" Aaron said. "Please don't open it. Just give it back and I'll leave."
"What?" Tess asked. Her anger faded to an annoyed tone. She tilted her head slightly and let her free hand reach for the pocket with the book. "It's not acceptable for you to be here, Aaron." There was a flash of white in the sky and Tess noticed the small white owl outside. "Another owl? Geez."
Aaron looked behind him and spared no time pushing Tess into the house, stepping inside, and shutting the door. He locked the door and leaned against it.
"Don't go out there" Aaron ordered. Tess, somewhat mortified, stepped up and poked Aaron in the abdomen with the knife, enough so he would know that it was there.
"I want you to take your stupid book and leave" Tess growled at him. Aaron was fast and he demonstrated by pushing Tess and her knife back nearly in one smooth movement.
"Not now, Tess" Aaron replied. He peeked through the peephole and looked around, as if he was looking for something in particular.
"Who's out there?" Tess asked. She pulled the red book out from her robe pocket and held it out to Aaron. "Look, I don't want to get in the middle of your drama. Just take the book and go."
Aaron reached for the book, but his fingers couldn't get closer than two inches from the cover. He groaned and furrowed his brow. "You read something in the book."
"Just the title page" Tess said. "I was to see if it had a name penciled in it, you know, to see if it belonged to anybody." There was a knock at the door. "Ugh. This is insane."
"It's HIM" Aaron said with a touch a fear. "Until you say the words, he can't enter without permission."
"Enter without permission?" Tess repeated. She used the hand with the knife, pointer finger out, to poke Aaron angrily in the chest. "What the FUCK is going on? Whoever that is CANNOT come in here! I DON'T EVEN WANT YOU IN HERE! GET OUT!" Aaron caught her wrist and wrenched the knife out of her hand, tossing it behind her. He jerked her forward, giving her an angry look with his golden amber eyes. "This is a goddamn home invasion and I won't stand for it."
"This is not a home invasion" Aaron replied. There was another knock on the door. "All I can do right now is take you away from him, and from here, but he will try to find us."
"You're not making sense" Tess said sharply. "Who is that out there? What do they want? What do you want?"
Aaron grabbed her hand that held the little book. "He is in here and he has come because of me."
"Oh great" Tess said with an eye roll. "Guess I'm all caught up now." She stepped back and pulled out of his hold, which had loosened. "Maybe I should read this book if it's the cause of problems, then I'd have some clue as to what is going on."
"In this case, ignorance is bliss" Aaron said. Tess stepped back and hit the switch for the living room lights. Tess nervously chewed on her bottom lip. Aaron was handsome, overly crazy and probably psychotic, but handsome. "Tess, please."
"No" Tess said firmly. "I'm going to put a stop to this." She put the book in her pocket. She waved her hand side to side at Aaron. "Step aside and watch how this is done."
Aaron crossed his arms. Tess stepped up to him and literally pushed him aside. She unlocked the door and opened it slightly. A tall, lithe figure with a wild mop of blonde hair, dressed all in black stood on her porch. She opened the door a little more.
"You cannot come inside" Tess said firmly. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"That is not the kindest of greetings" The blonde man said with a smirk.
"Yeah? No shit" Tess replied. "Look, I don't know what you want or what is up with this book, but you need to leave. Right now."
"As you wish" The blonde said stepping down from the porch. The smile remained on his face and became haunting. "I will be back."
"Go. Away" Tess ordered. She shut the door before he could reply and locked it. She turned to Aaron. "That is how it's done. Is he dangerous?"
"Unfathomably" Aaron replied. He moved to look out the peephole.
"I'll call the cops" Tess said looking around for her phone.
"He's gone" Aaron reported. Tess's face ached and all she wanted was sleep. She turned to Aaron and put a hand on her hip.
"Now for you" Tess said. Aaron looked down at her and smiled. She looked tired and her hair was messy. He liked how frumpy she looked in her grey bathrobe. He let her poke him in the chest. "What do you want?"
How was one to explain one's self to a woman such as this? Aaron could think of nothing to tell her other than the truth, so that is what he went with. "To protect you while you sleep."
"You followed me home" Tess accused. "You sent me some demon book!"
"Yes" Aaron replied. "It is only a magical book, not a demon book."
"That makes it all better" Tess quipped. She was grumpy, but she couldn't feel bad for snapping at him. She pulled out the book and moved away from Aaron. He followed her into the living room and took a seat in a side chair while she nestled up on the couch. "All this bullshit over some book."
"Yes" Aaron said with a nod. Tess looked up at him and thought about the owl from earlier. She shook her head and opened the book.
It was a quick read, taking Tess perhaps an hour and a half to get through. She didn't exactly time herself. During that time, Aaron hadn't moved from his chair. He simply sat there and either watched her or looked out the window from his seat. She announced her completion of the book by plopping it down on the coffee table.
"So…" Tess said reflecting on the book. "He, Jareth, is after you?"
"Not exactly after me" Aaron replied. "Perhaps more along the lines of 'payback for breaking the rules'…again."
Tess nodded and yawned. "The Goblin King can turn into an owl in that story."
"Yes, he can" Aaron replied. Tess watched as he absently scratched at his dark sideburns. The time felt like it was passing slowly, but she figured that it was due to realizations coming to a head.
"You're that owl, aren't you?" Tess asked. "The one from the botanical gardens."
"It's just a form I can take" Aaron whispered. He was staring intently at her now with his owlish amber eyes. Tess couldn't tell how she felt. Her brain simply told her that she was tired. She just sat there looking at him, his features, his strange clothes, everything.
"I don't think I can deal with this right now" Tess said softly. She stood up and moved to stand next to his chair. "I will allow you to stay here, on the couch, until morning. No owl droppings and no owl pellets. Got it?"
"Absolutely" Aaron replied. He remained in the chair, even when she turned the main lights out. For a moment she wondered if she was being a complete idiot, but her brain made some kind of logic out of Aaron not making any moves and wanting to protect her…blah blah blah. She picked up her knife and went to her bedroom without a word.
Tess slept poorly which was no big surprise. She had slept in her pajamas and robe with the knife under her pillow and with constant thoughts about the stranger in her living room. She sat up and switched her pajama pants for a pair of tan equestrian-style trousers. She listened and slid her robe off. She was trying to be stealthy; the last thing she wanted was this man in her bedroom. She pulled out a simple black t-shirt and bra, which she quickly changed into. She grabbed a cardigan and headed for the bathroom.
After peeing, Tess quietly made her way into the living room. Aaron was standing at the window.
"Someone out there?" Tess asked.
"Just watching things" Aaron said distantly. He stepped away from the window and turned to face her. "You didn't sleep very long."
"Of course I didn't" Tess said in a grumpy tone. She moved towards the kitchen. "I have a stranger in my house."
Tess entered the kitchen and pulled a bag of coffee from the fridge. She went through her usual process of grinding some beans and getting a pot of coffee ready. As the coffee pot whirred to life, she went to slip her black boots on. Aaron watched her and then followed her back into the kitchen.
"I'm really not a stranger" Aaron replied. "You must have seen me around."
"I met you last night" Tess replied firmly. She pulled two cups from a cabinet and poured coffee into them. She handed a mug to Aaron. "Were you up all night?"
"I was" Aaron replied. He sipped at the drink and succumbed to its charming flavor. "I believe we should leave soon."
"Leave? What are you talking about?" Tess asked. She sipped her coffee. "I'm not going anywhere."
Aaron's hand slipped to his belt, opening a pouch, and retrieving a small gold token. He placed it on the counter between them. Aaron raised his eyebrows in a silent gesture for her to look at the item.
"What is it?" Tess asked. She reached out and looked at both sides. It was simply a coin; though not one she was familiar with. "It's a coin."
"I'm glad you have accepted my gift" Aaron said with a small smile.
"Gift?" Tess asked with a sip of coffee. "Why did you say it that way?" She sipped her coffee and then looked at her cup. There were crushed leaves floating around. "What's in my cup?"
Aaron set his cup down and stepped closer to Tess. "I'm sorry, Tess. Just a little sleight of hand." He moved the cup from her hand, placing it on the counter. She wobbled a little, putting a hand to her head. She stepped back, away from Aaron. She felt faint. "Don't fight it, Tess."
It took a few more seconds and she began to slump. Aaron caught her and they left the human world.
NOTE: Jareth will definitely make a strong appearance in the next chapter! Promise!