Welllllll...
It looks like the FEW OF YOU THAT DID REVIEW liked Mr. Kinir... I wasn't sure if you guys would, but I know I certainly enjoyed him. Most of you voted "Holy crap"... in fact... a total of two voted... ... (sad face)... :(
But since they were so awesome, and have been so loyal, I've given them what they've really wanted...
Naked Jareth.
(Tries to control the screaming crowd)
Know that this is for those three measly reviews that I got...because those people rock... and all of you that didn't review... you suck...
(all but three people start crying)
but If you review this time... a real review, not some sissy small thing...you will officially rock...
(lots of people cry out with joy, realizing that they can, indeed, make a real review!)
I know a lot more people out there read this, I get a lot of views and a lot of subscribers,... but I only get three reviews? Com'on you guys! Starving artist here! (points to self) Your appreciation, and comments are my bread and butter!
I hate to review count, but this really puts a damper on my muse...
Luckily enough, I had already written roughs for this chapter...so this wasn't too hard...
Its pretty long compared to my other chapters and hopefully that will inspire people to review...
keeping my fingers crossed...
I might have to start review counting for the next chapter (you know, where I dangle bait in front of your nose and say, "you have to give me at least 20 reviews or the next chapter ain't coming!")
I'd hate to do that...
please don't make me!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything... Jim Henson's Company and his son does... (may Jim's genius soul rest in piece)... If I get enough money to buy the company out... you'll be the first to know...
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Chapter 8
"Old Memories and Old Friends"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sarah took the letter from the girls hand, barely able to breathe. The girl tilted her head slightly before motioning that Sarah should open the parchment. Sarah looked away from the girl and noticed a large red wax seal keeping the message closed. Sarah ran her fingers along the Small "D" that was imprinted in the wax, before looking at the girl again.
She was gone.
Sarah whipped her head around, looking for the Fire Sprite, but she didn't find her. The only sign that she had ever been there was the long path of bright wet grass that trailed back to a gathering of trees.
"Hello?" Sarah said to no one in particular, not really expecting an answer.
She inched her finger around the seal again.
Sarah sighed and decided that it was better if she opened the letter at her house. So she would have somewhere to sit, and think about the current events.
"Better not to rush things..."
She tucked the message into the same pocket that held Hoggle's note to her.
She pulled the collar of her coat up around her neck, tugging it up as far as it would go. It was late in the afternoon now, though the sun didn't show. And Sarah knew that her family would be waiting for her to get back from her walk anyway.
0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sarah stepped into the house from the raging blizzard. The wind had picked up on the way home and seemed intent on sweeping her off her feet. Large clumps of snow clung to her hair, which was hanging in disarray in front of her face. Struggling slightly, she pushed the door closed with a loud click. She stomped the snow from her boots and rubbed her now gloved hands over her arms.
'Good thing I always keep a pair of spare leather gloves' Sarah thought to herself, 'Though I don't like wearing them much, Remind me to much of...'
Her thoughts trailed as she tore the gloves from her hands as fast as she could, and started to unlace her boots.
Karen came down the hallway toward Sarah. She was still wearing that damned necklace, and still had a silly grin on her face. She was wearing a rather old apron that once belonged to Sarah's late mother. Karen seemed to like wearing Josie's things. It made her feel more like Richard's wife.
"Sarah?" She said sweetly, "Its almost four, where have you been?"
Sarah was unbuttoning her coat and didn't look at Karen when she replied.
"I told you I was going out for a walk, inspiration and what-not."
"Yes, but you've been gone for a couple of hours now..." she stopped, "Inspiration?" Karen asked, "For what?"
"I told you Jim called, right?"
"Yeeesss?" Karen said slowly, waiting for the juicy part.
Sarah gave her a look before continuing.
"Well, he convinced me to do a sequel..."
"What?" Karen's eyes went wide.
Sarah waited for more of a reaction, and was surprised when she didn't get one.
"To the Labyrinth," Sarah added, not quite sure if Karen got what she was implying.
"Yes, I know what the sequel is for, but I didn't know you needed the money."
Sarah shook the coat over the welcome mat, trying to get the dripping snow from the crevices.
"Money, Karen?" Sarah said, "I don't need money, I'm set for life."
'But that's all that ever matters to you, isn't it Karen?' Sarah seethed to herself.
"So this is just for giggles then?"
"..More like shits and giggles..." Sarah said under her breath.
Karen had obviously heard her but didn't reply.
'Must be mulling over the idea of me doubling my finances.' Sarah mused.
Sarah hung the coat on rack and carried her boots over to Karen.
"Would you mind putting those in front of the fire for me? To dry them off... I assumed you had one going with the weather and all." Sarah said, offering the boots to Karen.
Karen wiped her hands absentmindedly on the apron before taking the boots and quietly replying, "Sure thing Sweetie."
Sarah watched Karen turn and head towards the living room when she suddenly remembered her reason for rushing home.
"Karen?" She asked suddenly.
Karen turned to Sarah and gave her a look, "Yes?"
"When is dinner going to be ready?" She asked kindly, "I need some time in my room to myself..." she realized how suspicious that sounded and quickly added, "...to start working on good ol' Labyrinth number two... you know... brainstorming and all that..."
She had sounded rushed but hoped that it would suffice.
"Of course Sweetie." Karen smiled, "The ham and duck will both be ready in about two hours, if you get some extra time I'll need a hand with dessert."
Sarah smiled, realizing that Karen was trying to be nice. You could tell between genuine effort and fake love when it came to Karen.
"If I get writer's block, I'll come straight down." She assured her.
Karen nodded and disappeared into the living room. As soon as Karen was gone from sight, Sarah dashed to her coat that was hanging from the rack and pulled out the crystal, the note, and the message.
She pulled all of the items close to her chest, ignoring the tingling feeling coming from the crystal and ran up the stairs.
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Sarah sat in front of her vanity. She had checked the lock on the door and the window, before placing all of the items on the painted surface. She had also left the notebook from earlier on her vanity not daring to touch it again. She looked at the sad looking rubber chicken that was laying next to her array of Christmas gifts on her bed, its tiny painted face staring up at her. On instinct she picked it up and gave it a squeeze. The small high-pitched groan it let out was somehow stress relieving. With the chicken in one hand, she picked up the parchment from Sir Didymus and popped open the seal.
My Dearest Lady Sarah,
It has been too long since I have last seen and talked to thee. Both I, my steed, and my Brother Ludo have missed thee greatly. I have not been able to contact thee until now. In the time that thy companionship has been absent, I have been able to become a part of the Fire Sprite people. They are a most excitable group and are my dear friends.
Brother Ludo has been led charge of the Nectareous Bog, with I as his overseer. I am saddened to report that Brother Ludo continues to have phantom stench-like smells when we are on duty, but I plan to have him at an apothecary as soon as possible.
I am writing to inform you that there are matters of the heart and mind which are putting you in danger. My lady must be careful. Though I do not know how, a series of powerful curses have been placed upon you and have already begun to unravel. Though I do not know what these curses will bring upon you it is best to stay away from mirrors, as they seem to be a key part in the spells.
The Goblin King has been enraged and I suspect that My lady is involved. There is also an ancient curse that His Majesty himself has seemed to have triggered. I fear for my King's life as well. He talks nothing but of a girl (he will not name her), he is turning himself mad.
Things have also begun that are beyond normal comprehension. I will not detail further for fear of destruction.
I must warn you Lady Sarah: Do not make wishes. Do not call upon us. Do not approach mirrors or reflective surfaces unless they be covered. Do not tell anyone of what thy knows. Do not continue to anger the King. Most of all, I beg of thee, do not call upon the Mighty King, Heaven knows what he might try to do to thee in his present state.
I Apologize for the contents of this letter,
Sincerely,
Sir Didymus of the Royal Crown
and Sir Ludo of the Brothers in Arms
P.S. Sir Ludo Sends his warmest Greetings.
Sarah read, and re-read the letter. It became more confusing every time...
Squeezing the rubber chicken rather impatiently, she tucked all of the items into the drawer on her vanity. She proceeded to squeeze the poor thing over and over again, staring at herself in the mirror.
'Okay,' She thought to herself, 'Curses have been triggered... well,... fuck... '
Putting the chicken down she plopped her head into her hands and stared at her tired looking face. Suddenly realizing that she was very close to a very reflective surface, she jumped. She quickly grabbed one of the old runner quilts from the end of her bed and tossed it over the vanity mirror. It looked quite silly, and she felt a little stupid for not realizing that there was a mirror there sooner. She had been way too distracted with everything that had happened today.
She berated herself and picked up the rubber chicken again, running the contents of the letter through her mind.
Running her free hand through her hair, she let out a final sigh before Karen's voice rang throughout the hallways.
"Sa-rah!" She bellowed, her voice sounding desperate, "If it's not too much trouble, I could use an extra hand!"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Kinir hated clothing.
Really.
Plain and simple.
"I hate clothing." he repeated to himself with finality.
He had been standing there naked, staring into the wardrobe, for very long time now and he still didn't know what he wanted to wear. Nearly 50 complete sets of tunics, suits, and formal attire lined the inside of the cherry wood structure, creating a rainbow of colors and textures.
Centuries he had been without any form of attire, and now clothing seemed like a complete waste of time.
He turned to the floor length mirror that Jareth had provided for him in his room. Staring at himself he loudly proclaimed, "Who would want to cover this magnificent body!"
He ran his fingers through his hair slowly, and sighed, keeping his eyes on the naked reflection in the mirror.
"It has been too long gorgeous!" He finally said to himself, "How long has it been since you've been able to look at yourself in a mirror and admire what-..."
... mirror...
"Wait-" He said to himself, his panic rising, "W-What in Hell's name is he thinking?!" He shouted.
Fear rising in the pit of his stomach he backed away slowly from the mirror, poised at any moment for an untold danger.
He stopped when his knees hit the edge of the large cherry wood bed and awoke him from his thoughts. Jareth must have put a Protection spell on it somewhere. Yes... Jareth wasn't a complete idiot.
"That's it" he said victoriously, and he walked toward the mirror again.
He stared at it intently.
Placing his hand on the surface cautiously, he closed his eyes.
Nothing.
There was nothing.
He sensed no sort of Protection or Ward spell.
His brother must have done something to protect it, him, and everything.
But there was nothing.
Kinir started to search frantically across the mirror for any visible sign of a spell. A marking, some glitter, a jewel, ...anything!
He was in the middle of searching the lower part of the mirror when there was a knock on the door.
"Sir William? I've broughts some things from da Kings sir. Tis a gifts 'e says." The small female voice was familiar, but Kinir couldn't quite place it.
He stood up straight to answer.
"William? There is no-" he stopped short and cursed himself for forgetting, "Of course, just bring them in..." He bent down again to search the lower frame of the mirror.
Kinir heard the door creak open and a small voice squeek.
"Sirs, I-I'm... s-sorry...I ams.." She stuttered.
He stood up and turned to her. It was a Dwarf, and a small one at that. Her hair was dirty blond and was tied down in a messy bun. Her simple clothes were worn, tattered, and soiled. Her skirt was hitched up on one side to make it easier to walk and work. It was obvious that this Dwarf was a maid or personal servant. Her leathery face was pointed directly toward her small slippered feet. Her hands twitched nervously at her side and redness had crept into her entire face. Her green eyes were freshly red from crying.
Kinir made his way to the small creature, recognition written clearly on his face.
"Gressin," He said, his voice kind and gentle, "You look a mess...What the heaven's could be wrong? You look scared out of your wits!"
"Sir..." She gulped, tried to find her voice and started again, "Sir Williams is without any clothin', sirs."
Kinir looked at her a moment and then looked down at himself.
"Ah... yes." He said, seething, "Clothing."
'She must have caught an eyeful when she came in, poor girl.' He thought silently to himself.
"Look, Gressin." He said, trying to look her in the eyes and finding it impossible, "I can't seem to decide what to wear... I'm dreadful with colors. Would you mind choosing something for me?"
Her eyes flicked to the open wardrobe and then back to her feet.
"Yesir..." She said quietly and made her way over to the wardrobe.
"Thank you, dear girl." He gave her back a caring smile and sat down on the green sheeted bed to wait.
"Williams, sir?" She said as her hands sorted through the hanging articles.
"Yes Gressin?" Kinir suddenly wished that he had thought of a better name than William. It just didn't seem to fit...
"How do ya knows Gressin's name sir?" Her voice was stuttering and she paused in her searching.
"Thats easy, dear girl, you told me." He smiled.
"No sirs, if ya'd excuse me, I didn't." She pressed her hands together in nervousness. Her back still facing Kinir in refusal to look at him.
Kinir frowned, 'Well this is a predicament.'
Deciding to tell her some truth, he cleared his throat, "We knew each other once Gressin. A very long time ago."
"I remebas everyone I meets sir... And I ain't never met no Williams. 'cept a girl once...she defeated... we don'ts talk 'bout it 'ere" Her hands started their work again and began to pull articles from the wardrobe and place them on the chair near the mirror.
"I'm William. Not Williams." He corrected, "Sometimes we forget faces and names, Gressin."
"No sir." She said, "I ain't never forgot one name. I ain't never forgot one face." She finished her work and closed the wardrobe.
"I never said it would be on purpose that we forget, Gressin. Or the ability of our memory would be to blame."
Gressin looked him in the eye for a quick moment.
"Sir, I-" She stopped, pain on her face and a crimson blush, "I ain't rememba nothin'."
She lowered her head again, and gestured toward the clothing draped over the chair.
"I am done sirs."
"Thank you Gressin."
She nodded, obviously still a little disturbed by the fact that this man knew her name, and that he was completely naked.
Kinir looked at the outfit she had prepared and smiled. A midnight black pair of tight trousers was matched with a poets shirt of the same color. She also had laid out a rather dashing dark red leather vest, and sash belt. A pair of red trimmed leather boots lay near the chair as well.
'Even if the girl doesn't remember me, at least she remembers my tastes' He noted happily.
"Gressin," he said as he was getting dressed.
"Yesir?"
"I have a rather important question."
"Yesir."
Gressin was able to look at him now because he had managed to get his trousers on and was proceeding to pull the shirt over his head.
"That mirror over there." His head was still covered by the shirt he was pulling on, so he gestured rather awkwardly with his hand, "What in Hell's name is it doing here without any sort of Protection spell? Doesn't it seem a bit dangerous?"
"Mirror sir?" she questioned, "Oh, ya mean da Looking Glass!"
Kinir's shirt was on and he was buttoning up the vest, admiring the embroidery-like stitching as he was doing so. He watched the small Dwarf walk over to the "Looking Glass" and rap it with her knuckles.
A loud ring was emitted and for a moment the entire room was filled with a heavenly vibration, before she stopped it by placing her small hand flat against the reflective surface.
"Good heavens," Kinir whispered, his fingers had stopped in the middle of buttoning, "What was that?"
"Crystal, sir." She said proudly, "Made completely o' crystal. No danger. King 'vented 'em himself 'bout fifty years ago. Kings guests was complainin' 'bout how dey couldn't look at demselves."
Kinir had started buttoning again, and walked closer to the Looking Glass to fix the open collar of the shirt atop the vest.
"Crystal?" Kinir let out a low whistle, eying himself in the mirror, "Jareth always was one with expensive fancies. Must have cost him a fortune. How many of them did he get."
"Five of 'em, sir." she said, "One for ev'ry guest suite."
"Five?" Kinir asked, he had finished the vest and sash belt and was proceeding to put on the rather expensive looking boots, "That's a pretty penny, right there."
Finally done with his ensemble, Kinir stood in front of the mirror again to admire his work.
"You're amazing with colors, Gressin." He said flatteringly, "I could have never have picked out anything better."
"Matchin' yer eyes, dats all sirs."
Kinir smiled at her warmly, which she returned shyly.
"Now," Kinir said, "Where are these gifts you were supposed to bring me."
"Ah!" Gressin managed before darting toward the door yelling, "I lefts dem In da corridor,"
Opening the door, she quickly dashed out and retrieved a cart which held a very large, and heavy looking package. Kinir rushed to the heavy door and held it open for her so that it wouldn't crush the poor thing.
The brown-paper wrapped box was very large and very flat.
He closed the door and inspected it further.
'A painting,' Kinir assumed, 'That devil brother of mine couldn't have-'
He was jarred from his thoughts when a letter was thrust into his hands.
Gressin stood before him, and waited.
Kinir popped open the decorated seal on the envelope and extracted a very elegant looking piece of paper.
It read:
Dearest Brother,
I hope you have found the accommodations favorable, as well as your new maid. Yes, Gressin is yours for your entire stay. I hope you will not drive her completely mad, and try to remember that you are not who you once were, and that she certainly won't remember anything.
I have brought you a painting that I know you have missed for quite sometime. It was never burned as you thought. What sort of brother would I be if I had let that happen?Don't be too cross with me, I know you need it. I have also retrieved your favorite piece of jewelry. Which, I am sure, also holds many memories.
Please do not disturb me until the morning, I have some matters I need to attend to concerning the curse.
Sincerely,
The Goblin King, Jareth
Kinir lifted his eyes to stare at Gressin who was now holding a rather beautiful looking large ruby ring.
"You know you are my charge now?" He asked Gressin, taking the ring and twirling it between his fingers.
Gressin gave a small curtsy before replying, "Yesir."
"Cruel Bastard," He muttered, "Couldn't he have just dropped me in the dungeon?... much more comfortable there..."
Gressin gave him a curious look and asked, "Anything dat I can do fer ya, William sir?"
"Not really," He said sullenly, crumpling the letter in his hand and throwing it on the ground. He slipped the ring on his finger and stared into the crimson depths of the ruby.
"Den I wills take my leave."
"No." Kinir said sharply, obviously in a sour mood,
The scared look on Gressins face made him calm down.
"No, Gressin," He said gentler, "I would like some company if you don't mind. A little bit of conversation as well."
"A-ah." Gressin stuttered nervously, "Yesir."
Kinir sat down on the bed and patted a spot next to him. Gressin struggled a bit, but was able to sit next to him quite comfortably. She fiddled with her fingers and waited for him to talk.
"So Gressin," Kinir said casually, "How is dear old Hoggle these days?"
"Eh?" She lifted her dry red eyes to his and stared at him, shocked, "Yer Jokin'?"
"Of course not! I'm just curious."
"He's dead sirs!"she croaked.
"Dead?" He asked, "No he isn't. Why just this morning, I heard he and the fairies got themselves into some trouble piling up mud outside the Labyrinth walls! He certainly isn't dead."
"Yesir." She started to cry now, "I takes 'em from da Library dis aftanoon! Mi'lord told me ta prepare him for cremations! He ain't got no pulse!"
"Good Heavens," Kinir said calmly, "Believe me when I say that the king himself knows that Hoggle isn't dead, not completely anyway. And a pulse doesn't prove anything. I saw him in his unconscious state and managed to have a conversation with the little devil."
"You sure?" she asked, her eyes hopeful.
"Perfectly," Kinir responded, "And the only reason to have him cremated is if I'm staying for a very long time... forever actually... And if that's what the Goblin King has in mind, then he and I need to have a talk."
Gressin smiled at the reassuring words, still not believing him.
'My Brother may want to burn my way back. But that wouldn't be too much fun.' He thought.
"The King just likes to make things harder on everyone, Gressin," Kinir said distantly, giving her shoulder a little pat, "Thats the way he works."
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Sarah was full when she finally trudged her way into her room.
Completely stuffed she was, and it felt wonderful.
The duck and ham was enough to feed well more than the four people that attended dinner.
The light conversation wasn't enough to completely distract her from the issues at hand, but it helped to ease the stress a little.
Sarah glanced over to the vanity. The bright patchy quilt sat there innocently, draped over the mirror. She picked up the rubber chicken and started to squeeze it again.
"More like mirror of doom," she giggled.
Oh, she should not have had those three glasses of wine, her cheeks felt hot, and she couldn't exactly work out all the thoughts that were swimming around in her head.
"God," she whispered, "I need a fucking shower."
Giving the rubber chicken another final squeeze she wandered over to the small duffel bag that she had brought with her. She pulled out shampoo, and some toiletries, before walking out of her room.
Of course she failed to notice that by the edge of the quilt lay another piece of parchment, addressed to her... but not like the others had been. This one read:
"Dearest little Sarah, Defeater of my Labyrinth."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The small crystal was being twirled around his fingers on his right hand like second nature. The temptation was too much. He needed to see her, to see how she was handling everything, to see what she was doing. Yet he resisted with all of his might, because the need to see her was outweighed by the consequences that contacting her might cause.
Jareth tore his vision away from the crystal and laid his head on the back of the tub, closing his eyes. His hand still idly played with the crystal ball. His other hand came up and squeezed the bridge of his nose in frustration. He admitted that the hot water from the bath had helped his uneasiness with current events, but it didn't make up for the sleep he desperately needed.
As he thought, Kinir's words came back to him.
"He'd kill millions for her," Jareth mumbled to himself, "He'd kill everyone,... for her...what an idiot... "
He ran the hand that had been on his nose through his hair.
"Yes," he said quietly, "but so would I..."
Drawing within himself, Jareth willed the crystal to disappear. At once the crystal vanished. He stared at the hand that had held it for a minute before letting it flop into the water.
For the last few hours he had tried to contact every sorcerer, sorceress, warlock, wizard, witch, medicine man, medicine woman, fortune teller, seer, or extremely gifted Fae, that he had ever known. Not one of them knew of a way to break the wretched curse. Some had told him that they would look into it, that these things couldn't be rushed. But God knew if he had time to search for answers. No one would be able to pin-point exactly when the effects of the curse would take place, only that it would happen soon.
He sat up slightly, allowing his arms to rest on the sides of the ivory vat.
'Curious,' Jareth mused, 'It's very similar to that darling little aboveground story, "Beauty and the Beast." Except, my Beauty hates me, and I have no rose to tell when my time will come.'
He rubbed his hands up and down his arms absentmindedly. Causing the hot water to cascade along his naked flesh.
'And there certainly isn't a beast on the outside,' He thought vainly, 'Only in my heart.'
A loud knock on the door broke him from his thoughts. Jareth was bathing in one of his personal tub, which was located in one of his master bedrooms. A small dressing screen separated him from the rest of the main room.
The knock came again, louder this time.
Jareth groaned and, opening his eyes, he sensed who was outside of the door.
'Oh dear Spirits help me!' He mentally screamed, 'Please, not her. Not now. Anyone but her. Just get her away.'
Jareth sank back into the tub as far as he could, staying silent, hoping that the woman would leave if no one answered.
The knocking came a third time. It was extremely loud and impatient.
"Your Majesty?" a sugary sweet voice called, "Those creatures told me that Your Royal Highness would be in this room this evening."
'Did they?' Jareth seethed to himself, 'Remind me which ones, because I think they've been smelling much too nice lately. I think a nice bath in the bog would do them good.'
"Jareth?" she said, dropping the title, "Please Jareth... I just came for a little visit, even though you said that you'd be busy with Kingly duties. Please, I'm so lonely in the Plains, I needed your company Jareth."
"Alice," The Goblin King said slowly, making sure that he sounded just as commanding as he did toward his goblins.
"Alice-Marina, Your Majesty." She corrected from outside of the door, obviously excited that he was talking to her,"My full first name is Alice-Marina."
"You would do well to recognize that correcting a King is very impolite!" Jareth bellowed, making sure that she would be frightened.
"Besides," He continued, "Your first name is Alice, so that is what I always call you by, and yet you always insist to add your second."
"Oh," The voice came, "But Alice is only what my mother and father called me by, and those who have courted me in the past as well. It's just so... intimate, Your Majesty."
Jareth saw what she was doing, and hated himself for falling for the small trap.
"I have always called you Alice, and always will, now-"
"Your Majesty is suggesting that we are in intimate courting terms?" Jareth could hear the gleeful triumph in her voice.
"Not at all, Alice," Jareth said, making sure that his voice didn't sound flustered, "We have known each for centuries, I am simply implying that we are close friends."
"Of course Your Majesty," Alice's reply came, obviously hinting that she didn't believe him.
"And a close friend would be invited into the room to converse, rather than treated like a stray dog," She replied.
Jareth could almost see her lower lip sticking out, and her eyelashes batting.
"Leave me be Alice." Jareth said sullenly, not having the patience, "I'm bathing."
"Oh!" She chirped, "Let me help you wash your back."
Jareth heard the door make several satisfying clicks, indicating that Alice wasn't able to enter the room, even though she was trying to.
"Alice," He said in a warning tone, "Leave me be."
"Fine!" She screamed.
The clicking on the door stopped, and the sound of shoes stomping down the hallway could be heard.
Jareth waited until the sound of her footsteps died before he started to get out of the tub. He shivered slightly as water dripped from his godly form. His feet made soft slapping sounds on the wood as he stepped from the vat.
He reached for the blue towel that was thrown over the top of the changing screen. Pulling the towel around his waist, he created a small covering for himself by tying it off. Then he walked around the dressing screen and pulled another towel from a folded pile to dry his hair with. This was Jareth's master bedroom. Well, One of seven, anyway. This room consisted of Blue's and Blacks complimenting each other so that the entire suite had a very lonely, and depressed feeling. Small white trims and accents were scattered throughout the bedroom's three rooms.
The candles which hung from the wall had all been lit. And the light glittered off of the Kings still wet skin. He fluffed his hair with the towel he had retrieved before throwing it uselessly on the ground.
Jareth walked over to his personal mirror. It was large and oval, made of silver and handmade venetian glass. The frame was made from a dark wood, and was very simplistic. Even though it looked simple, this mirror was beautiful. The last one of it's kind.
This was the last Mirror in all of the Labyrinth that was of Aboveground quality, and it had no Protection.
Running his ungloved right hand along the simple frame, he stared at himself as if something would appear in the mirror's depths. His sharp features were the only things that stared back.
"Gods Sarah..." He whispered, "Why don't you call me? Is it that hard for you, pet?"
Jareth gave the Mirror a final look before removing his towel and blowing out the candles.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Well... There you guys go...
I know it was longer this time, and I'm hoping I'll be able to make every chapter this long.
I also hope you enjoyed the Naked Jareth scene... I know I did...
Even though an evil bitch had to ruin it.
After next week, the chapters will come about once every two weeks because of my schedule change. I'm going to get one more chapter out next week before the change; so don't think I've abandoned you when I get late again! I'm also hoping that every chapter will be this length or longer so that you guys get some hefty reading. :)
I'll get that chapter out next week! That is... if I get enough reviews... (smiles)
R&R guys
Love you,
-S'S