Sarah could feel her body falling, but she could see nothing. For a moment she felt icy cold, then her senses returned and she landed in the middle of a crowded ballroom. Dancers whirled as if in slow motion around the floor, but Sarah brushed past them with the greatest of ease. She still wore her red and black gown. The silk layers swirled about her feet as she crossed the room.
Then she turned, and Jareth was there. He wore tight black jeans and a t-shirt, just what he always wore when they met for evenings out on the town. It was how she remembered him most. His hair was long though, the same way it had been in all his photo shoots and concerts, and of course, back when he ruled the labyrinth.
He rushed toward her, taking her in his arms and just holding her. The other dancers slowly faded away until they were alone together. Sarah grasped him tightly and felt a surge of emotions rush through her. Finally, he pushed her away enough to see into her face.
"Sarah, how did you do it?"
"I don't know. It just happened." He reached out and touched her collarbone, fingers brushing the silver chain and the crystal bauble. "I wished for it. When night falls, I can see you, there, in the crystal."
"It's the power you had from before. The power I gave you. Though I am gone from this realm, traces of it still echo here."
Sarah buried her face in his shoulder, suppressing the desire to cry. "Don't say that- that you are gone from this realm. It sounds like you are dead," she half sobbed into his shoulder. "I can't bear that thought." She was surprised at how easily she expressed herself.
Jareth stroked her hair. She could almost taste his love surrounding her, and the fact that it had been there all along comforted her more than anything.
Jareth began to speak again. "I've been camped out in the forest trying to find the best approach. The fieries have been helping me. It seems few are content with Etan's reign here and would gladly help to reinstate me to the throne."
Sarah cringed with guilt.
"However, there is this problem of his followers. He keeps them close at hand. The wasteland will be difficult to cross without being noticed. Until we can slip through unnoticed, we cannot risk anything."
"What is the wasteland? Where is it?"
"These are the troubles we face. It appears to stretch for an infinite expanse, but at other times it seems very small. No matter how we approach it, it is impossible to cross."
Sarah straightened. Her hands still clung to the thin cotton shirt. "But surely you understand it? Didn't you build this labyrinth?"
"Its path each king may change, but its nature is intrinsically linked to the magic of the land. I may be able to wind through it, but to tamper with it is beyond anyone's skill."
"So no one understands the wasteland? Then how could anyone cross it? I crossed it," she began, "But, I floated halfway there in your crystal."
"And then what happened?"
Sarah thought. "I found that goblin who took me into the junk cave. But it was my bedroom. I said it was all junk, and it fell away. Then I was at the gates to the castle. I don't know exactly. It was all a blur. I was still dizzy from the peach." She leaned against him. "What if we are floating back to the castle right now? What if we're there right now?"
"If only we were. But I am afraid that you will not have the magical power to bring us back to the castle. No one has that power now."
They were silent for a time, then Jareth began to dance with her slowly. "Besides, you're there now anyway. The only thing traveling in this crystal is our minds. I'm afraid the magic in the labyrinth has dwindled too much for this crystal to hold much more than thoughts and wishes."
Sarah couldn't understand how she could feel so much without even her body to sense it. "How long will it take you to solve the labyrinth?" she said quickly, trying to distract herself from the numb sensation creeping about her legs.
"I do not know."
"I'm scared Jareth," she said suddenly. "I'm afraid of what Etan is capable of." She swallowed. "I've never been scared like this before in my life." Tears slipped unwillingly down her cheeks.
Jareth touched her cheek, smearing the tears across her skin. "I will be here for you," he said softly.
"I'm not afraid for myself," her voice wavered. "I'm afraid for you." Jareth was still. He cupped her cheek with one hand, smiling reassuringly. For once it wasn't the smile of triumph or sarcasm, but a genuine smile of benevolence. Sarah gripped his shoulders tightly, "Don't pretend you are invincible, Jareth. He's strong too."
"I never doubted it. He's beaten me once before, he could easily beat me again," he replied calmly.
"Then why do you seem so sure of yourself?"
"Because I've learned that even though I can be beaten, I can still win in the end."
Sarah gave a watery laugh. Slowly, a tingling sensation began to spread through her body.
"I love you Sarah," Jareth said through the ringing in her ears. He was beginning to shimmer as the crystal broke apart.
Sarah tried to call back to him, but no sound escaped her lips. She felt as though she were choking. Everything faded away to black. Her vision came back quickly and she seemed to land with a thud back against the stone of the window seat. As her head spun, she could only watch in a daze as the crystal that showed Jareth rolled off her lap and dropped down far, far below to the pathway. It looked almost like it was floating, its smooth surface betraying no hint of the tumultuous fall. She heard it bounce on the grass: THUD, thud.
She slid off the sill and looked down at it, nestled on the pathway. She could just see the silver white gleam as the moons caught in its reflection.
"Sarah" she heard the deep voice of Etan through the door.
"Yes?" she cried out startled. How long had he been at the door?
He swept open the door and strode into the center of her room. "Why didn't you answer me?" he said, a trace of his infallible anger.
"Oh, I- dozed off," she said quickly. "What is it?"
He did not seem wholly satisfied with her answer, but went on. "I thought you might fancy a walk in the moonlight."
She opened her mouth to protest, but could see it was pointless. He was already taking her hand and all but dragging her to the door. They made their way swiftly to the gardens and out into the silver and blue aura of the moonlit grounds. She allowed him to wrap one arm around her waist, the other outstretched as though to lead her. She swallowed thickly as they passed by the trail that led under her window. She could see the crystal in the grass, waiting like a lie to be discovered.
Thankfully, they turned to walk around the other side of the garden.
"I apologize if I've been harsh the past few days," he began. Sarah shifted about uneasily. "I've been alone for so long. It is rare I have another human with whom I might converse." She tensed as his hand moved slightly along her side, "and you are so beautiful." He steered her along another path and she had the uncomfortable sensation that she could not control where they went at all.
"Thank you," her voice was choked with fear as they moved into the darker corner of the garden. "Let's walk over there by the fountains," she suggested desperately. "I do love the fountain garden."
He directed her back over toward the stone basins, and, she realized too late, closer to the pathway with the crystal. "I've been here in the Underground so long, and with no one to call a friend. Or, a bride." Sarah's body became numb until she could no longer feel the gentle breezes.
"A bride?" she actually turned to look at him, her shocked expression affecting no emotion from Etan's cruel face.
"Yes, Little Princess, in time I will come to call you my bride, and you will call me your king."
Sarah tried desperately to control her expression as his eyes raked her body. She felt the uncomfortable sensation that she was exposed. He smirked. She tried to jerk her hands from his to cover her body. He held them firm.
"Please," she began painfully.
"Please what?" he teased, relishing at her vain struggling.
"Let me go, you're hurting me," she said, finally wrenching her hands from his and clutched them close to her body, sheltering herself from his penetrating glare. He began to walk once more, staring straight ahead, jaw squared and eyes expressionless. Sarah followed in wary trepidation. After a time, he spoke. "You know, I won't put up with this much longer."
"You're not exactly giving me motive to like you."
Her eyes widened as they rounded the bend and she saw quite plainly the shimmering crystal.
Etan whirled around to face her, his back to the path. "You fail to note that I have little patience for persuasion. If you do not choose to love me, then I will make you love me."
Sarah could see the crystal, bright as ever, just over his shoulder. He began to turn around, but in one desperate movement, she caught his wrist and whirled him back around and glued her lips to his. He kissed her back, surprised at her sudden burst of affection.
"That's more like it," he murmured between their lips before plunging back in to ravage her mouth with his. Hands eagerly felt her body, pressing into every contour within reach. She had never been kissed quite so… rapaciously. She felt a detached affection for his appreciation, but simultaneously wanted to cry. He pushed her against a fountain to the side of the path and water soaked the many layers of her dress, clinging to her lower back and thighs. "I knew," he said between biting kisses, "that you," she tasted blood on her lips, "would come around eventually." He sucked her bleeding lip, disgusting and infatuating her. His ravenous kisses moved down to her neck. She shuddered when his teeth touched her skin. Suddenly he stopped, frozen.
Sarah opened her eyes, unaware that she had even closed them. His teeth were still on her neck, poised as though to nip her. He pulled away, leaving her sitting on the stone edge of the fountain, water running down her calves.
All at once she realized what was happening. He moved as though in slow motion to the crystal. It gleamed as he lifted it up and twisted it. He glared at it, then up to the window. He whirled around, rage burning his features.
"Oh yes, now I understand," he hissed. His cape billowed as he stormed toward her. She cringed backward toward the fountain. "I understand everything now. Thought you might try a little magic? Thought you might try to find him?" Sarah's heart was beating so hard that she felt her chest jolting with each pulse. Etan lifted the crystal to her eyes, showing a very blurred, faint image of Jareth. It was impossible to see where he was. "Where is he, then?"
Sarah grinned triumphantly and looked into his eyes.
"Where is he?" he demanded, but her gaze held firm. In a sudden burst of color, she was knocked to the ground. Her face smarted where he had hit her, the other cheek pressed firmly into the damp earth. She felt her hair being pulled as he wound his fingers in and drew her up on her knees to face him, head back as though he were going to slit her throat. "Where?" he barked.
"You will never find him," she said, her voice weak from straining against all the senses that barraged her mind. He flung her to the ground, her head beating against the stone base of the fountain. The moonlit grass spun momentarily. She could taste more blood than before.
Etan drew her back up and forced his lips onto hers, lapping her blood and biting harder. "You will tell me eventually, but for now I will let you think things over in your room." She felt something cold break over her, and then she was sprawled on the floor of her chamber. Exhausted, she pushed up onto her feet and staggered to the window. Below, Etan stared up at her. He raised Jareth's crystal and crumbled it between his fingers, throwing the shattered remains to the ground bitterly.
Sarah felt dizzy suddenly and dropped back to her knees, then passed out on the floor.
………………………………...
Author's note: Sorry it's been so long, readers. School has had me rather distracted. I'm working on a new chapter right now, but it's an important one and I want to do it right. Happy Valentine's day!