Disclaimer: See chapter 1 and as always please don't flame.
Chapter 9: Key to the Labyrinth
"Just great! Just bloody great! A romantic night, fire works and what does he do? He falls asleep on me and now he's worry that I'll flunk some test," Sarah moaned standing, throwing the wrap at him. "I'm going to bed. Good Night!"
She marched off towards the motel, when she was grabbed from behind, spun around. Pulling her into his embrace, Jareth kissed her.
o0o0o0o0o
Summer went by fast for Sarah after that. Jareth popped in when she least expected it. Between the teasing, bullying and down right flirting, she was able to finish her small children's book she had written and her studies on the Labyrinth.
During breakfast, Cory would sit and chat with her about Fae life, what it was like growing up in Fae High Court.
Of course, Sarah did try to get to know her mother. Linda, however, saw in Sarah herself many years ago. To put it bluntly, Linda was jealous of her daughter. 'It has to be the reason behind all the snide remarks. Of course, she never does it when Cory or Jareth are around. Oh no! She's all peaches and cream when they are around,' Sarah thought, one day while filing away some paperwork.
During the nights when Linda was holding court in the ball room of the motel that hosted the cast parties could be entertaining. Linda never realized that both Fae men were toying with her. No one told Linda she was making a fool out of herself. 'That wouldn't be kosher.' Sarah shrugged. Personally, she had better things to do that watch her mother play to her subjects.
Sarah could be found outside studying the stars, most nights. A couple of the younger male cast members tried to hit on Sarah but were soon discouraged by Jareth qnd that evil glare of his. Sarah wasn't quite sure what the Goblin King did to them but the interest faded. She didn't know if she should be furious or flatterered.
o0o0o0o0o
Early August rolled around, no one for sure knew what started the argument, but they all saw the conclusion.
The slap echoed through the theatre. Everyone paused, as if frozen in time.
Sarah stepped back from her mother, rubbing her cheek. Linda glared at her daughter for making her lose control. Sarah straightened her spine and walked away.
"Well! What are you all looking at?" Linda screamed. "I'm going to my dressing room!"
Sarah walked to the old oak tree that had sheltered her all summer. She walked up to it with her fist clenched. With a scream of frustration and pain, she pounded her fist against its rough bark.
Raising her fist for a second knock out punch on the poor defenseless tree, her hand was caught. She was spun around and she was slammed backwards against the bark of the tree. Her hazel eyes widen as she beheld the angry eyes of the Goblin King.
His hand gently touched the growing bruise on her cheek. Her mother's hand print burned a purplish red stain against her pale skin. She gazed up into his cold cruel face.
"Ja. . .Jareth?" she whispered.
Tears started to form. 'I will NOT cry. I will NOT cry,' she thought, closing her eyes as he pulled her into his embrace. His hand slowly moved up to play in her hair.
"Sarah. Sarah. My pet. She isn't worth your tears," he purred softly as he held her close.. "Come, I've come with a gift. A reward for all your hard work."
He smelled of smoke and box hedgewood and leather as she buried her face in his shoulder. She muttered almost brokenly, "She was never my mother was she? She was just the person that gave birth to me, then left me."
"Shhhhhh, my Sarah. Come don't you want to see your gift?"
"What is it?" she pulled back a bit but not out of his arms.
She watched as he formed a crystal. "This, my dear Sarah. It is a gift just for you."
Curious, she held out her hand. The crystal shattered and a silvery gold chain with a golden key charm fell into her hand. As she examined the necklace, she realized two important things, one it was very exquisite and the other it was probably very expensive.
Stepping out of his arms, looking first at the necklace, then up at him, she said, "Jareth. What? This is way too expensive."
"Now Sarah. Hear me out before you say anything. This necklace is a key to the Labyrinth. It'll tell anyone within it's walls that you are under my protection."
Looking puzzled, Sarah said, "Go on. What's the catch?"
"Why Sarah. There is no catch. However," he smirked. "Along with the necklace, I'm offering you a week within the Labyrinth to explore it to your heart's content."
"WHAT?"
He chuckled as he stepped around her to lean against the oak tree, watching her. "Well, you didn't think I would allow you to read and study about the Labyrinth and not allow you a chance to put that knowledge to the test? Did you?"
"JARETH!" Sarah squealed as she hugged him. Laughing, he pulled her closer and kissed her.
"You leave as soon as you get packed," he said, breaking off the kiss. "I'll be in Corin's office."
o0o0o0o0o
Cory was in his office going over last minute prep work before the last performance of the season when his office door was banged open and Jareth strolled in. Only someone who has known his cousin as well has he had over the countless centuries who know that the Goblin King was highly pissed.
"Now Cousin," Corindel said, coming around his desk. "Tonight's the last performance. She's not worth. . ."
Jareth snarled as he sat in one of the over sized chair, putting his feet up on the desk. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put her into the Bog for what she did?"
"How's Sarah?" Cory decided to change the subject, leaning against his desk, folding his arms.
"She's packing. I'm taking her to the Labyrinth. Away from here," Jareth commented, as he slapped himself with his riding crop.
"You think that's wise, Cousin?" Cory asked. He could almost feel the heat of his cousin's anger rolling off of him. "You know several members of Uncle's Court has been watching you closely lately."
"I hope I'm not intruding, Gentlemen? I would like to speak to you about Sarah," came Linda's voice from the door.
Jareth snarled under his breathe, refusing to rise from his seat. Corin shot him a glance before saying, "Why no, Linda darling. Come on in."
Linda smiled. "Gentlemen. I take it you heard about Sarah's and mine's little argument? I wish apologize for my behavior but I see she isn't here. I so do not want Sarah's last days here to be unpleasant. But maybe it would be for the best if she return home to her father soon."
Jareth looked at her, then at Cory. "Sarah will be leaving with me as soon as she's finished packing," he said, slapping his leg with the riding crop.
"Now cousin. She and her mother should part on friendly terms."
Jareth shrugged as Sarah walked in. "My suitcases are at the front desk. Hello Linda."
Cory watched Jareth out of the corner of his eye, making sure his formidable cousin didn't do anything magical to the actress. The girl, he noted, was pale and sported an angry bruise on the side of her face. Anger also filled him. The argument was over nothing. Linda was suppose to be the adult, not some spoiled brat.
"So now, I'm Linda. All summer I was Mom or Mother," the older woman said. Her hazel eyes narrowed in anger, ready to take up the argument. Jareth unfolded himself from his lazy position. Standing tall, he sneered at Linda only to be stopped by Sarah who came to stand by him.
"Ready my pet?" he asked, fingering the necklace she wore, looking into the girl's eyes.
Cory almost did a double take at the necklace. He is glad now that he got a chance to get to know Sarah this summer. Ignoring Linda, he watched as Sarah smiled, holding out her hand to his cousin. "Ready, Jareth," she said softly as the Goblin King waltzed the two of them out of the office.
o0o0o0o0o
Dear Jareth,
There comes a point in a person's life when they finally see their parents as human beings and not some glorified super being. Today, I saw my mother who I idolized as something less then human. She is a vain, narrow-minded, single-focused person. She crushed the last of my dream of wanting to be just like her. I pray I never become like her.
Thank you for the shoulder and support you've shown me. What did I do to deserve it? Why did you do it?
I will never take off the necklace you gave it. It is beautiful beyond compare. I'm pretty sure it's very valuable and ancient. I can't help wondering why you gave it to me? What's the catch? Jareth, with you, there is always a catch.
Tomorrow, I get to explore the Labyrinth.
o0o0o0o0o
Ymir: Thanks for the review. Jareth has moved on to saying "my pet" or "my love" to Sarah now. You got to remember Sarah has given Jareth a bit of her inner self when she gave him her journal. He's going to treat her as if she was the most precious object in his world. He also is Fae and she is after all just coming into adulthood. Like any true gardener, you don't prune the roses when they come onto flowering. You could do damage to the bush. I'm glad you are liking the story. Keep reviewing.
LadyA and Danika: Hey, if I had a tired fae using my lap as a pillow, I would be drooling too.
Until next time. --GF