Your Eyes Can Be So Cruel
Chapter 9: No Power Over Me.
I stood at the bottom of the stairs, just staring. Sarah's words repeating in my head.
You're pathetic…
Yet, there was a voice in the back of my head that kept telling me to hurry up and help Jareth. So I listened to it, and ran up the stairs.
How you turn my word
You precious thing.
I got to the top and looked around. There were staircases and doorways everywhere and going every which way, making it impossible to tell what was up and what was down. I felt a tug on my dress and looked down to see Toby smiling happily up at me. I smiled back and started to lead him up and down staircases, while Sarah tried so desperately to catch up.
You starve and
Near exhausting.
When I glanced up, Jareth was walking toward Sarah.
Everything I've done
I've done for you.
I move the stars for no one.
One minute he was there, and the next he wasn't. Eventually I gave up leading Toby around, it was terribly exhausting. So I tossed a crystal and he followed that on his own.
You've run so long
You've come so far.
I stopped and watched as Jareth walked toward Sarah once again, a crystal in his hand.
Your eyes can be so cruel…
Just as I can be so cruel…
Though I do believe in you…
Yes, I do…
Live without the sunlight.
Love without your heartbeat.
I…I can't live…
Within you…
Jareth faded as he sang the last line. He was gone, or at least he was somewhere where he could watch Sarah run around, trying to catch Toby, and yelling his name. Every once in a while you could hear Jareth's voice faintly echo through the room. I can't live within you…Sarah was right above Toby, and there was no way down, so she jumped. I heard a sigh, and everything began to crumble.
When I opened my eyes all I saw were ruins. The cladding stones were mostly gone, grass growing the in the gaps they left. The turret roofs had collapsed and brambles reached for the throat of the tower. I looked down, my dress had changed to white with a lining of silver and black and I was barefoot. Sarah was in front of me, looking around as I had. I stepped to one side as I saw Jareth come out of a shadowy archway behind Sarah, who turned around. Jareth was wearing a white, threadbare cloak, his face looked older, drawn, and there was a trace of grey in his blonde hair. Jareth stood there, looking at her.
"Give me the child." Sarah said, taking a step towards him. Jareth paused.
"Sarah – beware. I have been generous until now, but I can be cruel."
"Generous?" Sarah said with a surprised look on her face. "What have you done that's generous?"
"Everything." His voice sounded almost hurt as he walked around her. "You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me. I was frightening." He stopped walking around her and gestured in the air. "I Have reordered time, I have turned the world upside down and I have done it all for you." He tilted his head to the side and looked at her. "I am exhausted from living up to your expectations."
"My expectations…what about their expectations!?" Sarah said, pointing to me. "Your people expect you to be a great king and be wise and strong, but you give it all up for one person who can beat you. You're so blind you can't even see the one person who really loves you!" Sarah turned her head to look at me and Jareth's blue eyes followed her gaze. I couldn't help but raise my copper eyes to look into his.
"I knew…" he mumbled. "I knew she loved me…"
"Yet, you don't care."
"Sarah, please, look at what I'm offering you. "He held up a crystal. "Your dreams."
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City. To take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours-"
"Sarah – I ask for so little, just believe in me, and you can have everything you want…everything you have ever dreamed of…"
"– and my kingdom is as great." I watched as Sarah kept walking towards him and soon she was right in front of him. He knew…I thought. He knew all this time and he still…
"My kingdom is as great…damn."
"Sarah…just fear me," he told her in a gentle voice. "Love me, do as I say, and I…I will be your slave." Jareth stretched his hand out to Sarah, his fingers barely brushing her cheek. She didn't move.
"My kingdom is as great…" I saw the crystal spinning in her eyes. She leaned up, her lips just touching Jareth's.
"You have no power over me…" She whispered.
"No!" I screamed, racing towards Jareth. The clock began to strike and Jareth disappeared. We both heard his voice whispering, wanting, and echoing.
"Sarah…Sarah…" The clock continued to strike and with a last, slow flutter, the cloak lay still on the ground.
And here marks the end of the story. Not =P There's still the epilogue! What is to happen to our dear Elizabeth? Whose life shall be lost? Who shall return!? -cue dramatic music and exit-