Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is not owned by me… I think… therefore I am…?
Summary: Princess Sarah of Sylvan lived a quiet life, day after day, the same routine. When a demon, a fae, the same species that had slaughtered her mother years before, drops in front of her, her routine shatters. But if he thinks she's just gonna roll over and let him kill her, he's got another thing coming.
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Of Demons and Goblin Kings
By Kadasa Mori
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Chapter 4
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When Kitsune's voice woke her up, Sarah instantly felt that today… was going to be a good day. She frowned into her pillow. She never felt that way… when it was a good day on her inner "Good Day Meter", it usually meant that her father was going on vacation with the evil stepmother and she'd have the entire week to do whatever she wanted… but she knew her father wasn't leaving for some time with the new baby… which meant… what?
"Sarah? Did you hear me?"
"Hm?"
"I said your Father requests you for dinner tonight." Sarah frowned. "He says that there are suitors coming from a nearby castle to meet you."
Sarah scowled. Well… there goes that good day meter. Time to make a new one.
Kitsune sat on the edge of the bed beside her. "I know how much you hate it, but can you please try tonight? If you don't try then…well…"
"I know Kit… I'll try. Promise."
Kitsune smiled. "Thanks." She hugged the brunette then pulled back, hands on her hips. "Now! Get up and get ready!!!"
Sarah giggled. "All right! All right. As you command Lady Fox."
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Sarah smiled as she entered the stable an hour later. "Good morning Miss Bella!" she chirped happily. Bella whinnied. "Of course we're going for a ride! After we brush you out of course! I mean look at these tangles! You can't be allowed in public after these! No siree!"
"Pri-" She squeaked spinning quickly and slamming a hand over whomever spoke. Her eyes widened as they locked onto angry dark ones, the blond haired demon growling against her palm.
She swallowed then continued as normal, releasing him and turning to Bella. "I mean what if the neighboring horses saw you! They'd die of laughter! Then we'd have a war on our hands just because you had tangles."
Bella whinnied in laughter as Sarah hooked the harness on, pulling her into the walkway and tying her off. She motioned for Jareth to hide in the stall, which he did, looking suspicious. A moment later a guard walked out of the side room and back towards the castle.
Sarah waited another few moments before turning to him. "You can come out now."
He frowned. "What was that about?"
"That was my daily guard. They hide in the stable. As long as the routine's the same every day, they don't care about anything else." She grinned and gave him the victory sign. "Meaning they won't bother me for the rest of the day and I can basically do whatever I want."
He raised an eyebrow then leaned against the wall behind him. "Must get repetitive."
"Not really. I need to brush Bella out anyway." She flicked the horse lightly. "Every day there are new tangles! Goodness!" Bella nickered and batted at her arm before settling more comfortably, Sarah smiling and easing the brush over her side. "I do need these quiet moments though. Right?" She turned and frowned. Something hit the top of her head and she pulled a piece of straw from her hair, looking up. He was reclining in the rafters. She scowled at him then turned to hide the emerging giggle, continuing brushing Bella.
"So what's new in your life Miss Bella?" Bella nickered. "Ah. Sounds serious. Don't hurt yourself thinking too hard. I mean your tiny brain can only take so much." Bella snorted and leaned against her. "Okay! Okay. You're too heavy for me to hold up!" After a moment, Bella snorted once again. "Huh? Oh. Nope. You?" The horse shook her head. "Yeah. I was wondering when I'd be told I could see him. Guess not for awhile huh?"
"See whom?"
She jolted and looked up then frowned before looking straight and yelping, finding him on the other side of Bella. "Oh… erm… my baby brother." He looked back up at her quickly. "His name's Tobias. Awful name, so I'm calling him Toby. He was born four days ago and I-"
"You still haven't seen him yet he's your brother..."
"Well… half brother to be precise. And Karen doesn't like me and Dad never wanted a girl so I guess I could say I've been pretty much abandoned." He frowned when her grin brightened. "But that only means I have free roam now!" She gave him the victory sign once again then tossed Bella's brush back into its bin. "So Miss Bella, shall we go to our secret spot today?"
She whinnied and Sarah led her out of the barn. Before she got into the open, she climbed on bareback and arranged her skirt to look as though it hid a saddle.
"I have to admit princess," Jareth announced, leaning against the wall watching her. "You are quite intelligent even though you don't look it."
She scowled at him then stuck her nose in the air. "Don't call me princess. Let's go Bella."
He chuckled, taking a step back and disappearing. Once they got into the trees and out of sight of the castle, he reappeared, walking along the branches above her head. "So… this child, your 'Toby'… is he the heir?"
"Aye. Poor brat." She sighed heavily. "Dad will want him to rule instead of me. Luckily I don't have to go through the training he does, poor kid."
Jareth snorted. "Quite boring I take it?"
"I heard it's worse than death."
He winced. "Ouch."
"I know. The princess from a neighboring kingdom tried to stab her eye out just to keep herself from dying of boredom."
His eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"No." He scowled. "Just trying to elaborate the boring-ness of it."
"Well I got it the first time, so thanks."
"No problem." Humming to herself, she ducked under the oncoming branch and reached up, grabbing two apples. "Want one?"
He hopped down beside her, taking the offered apple and walking beside the horse. "Thanks."
"Like I said, no problem." She pulled out a dagger and began slicing pieces off, reaching down to Bella and handing them to the mare who happily munched them.
He was quiet for a moment, bouncing the apple in his gloved hand before turning to her. "Are you serious about doing this every day?"
She blinked at him then nodded. "Every day for the past… hm… I'm seventeen right? So the last six years." He just stared at her. "What?"
He shook his head with a soft sigh. "I believe I'd go insane."
She gave him a cheery smile, eyes shutting with it. "It's what keeps me going."
"How?"
She just smiled brightly and tapped Bella's sides. "Come on Bella! We're almost there."
He frowned after her then shook his head with a sigh and hopped into the trees, disappearing as he moved quickly and reappeared at the tree he'd first met her at, leaning against the bark. Bella turned the corner and Sarah recoiled slightly in surprise. She collected herself a moment later, obviously having remembered he was a demon.
"Is is cool to move that fast?" she asked as she slid down off the horse. "Does the world slow down around you?"
He shrugged. "I can't compare it to your movements because I've never been human."
She grinned and grabbed his wrist, tugging him after her. "Come on. I'll show you how fast I can run." He raised an eyebrow as she tugged him around the clearing. As they came to a stop, she released his wrist and panted. "How… was… that?"
"That was fast?"
She looked up. "Was that a statement or a question?"
"A question… for that was quite slow…"
She scowled and crossed her arms. "Now I know I'm not the fastest runner in the land, but I'd say that was pretty fast for a human! How much faster can a demon move than that?"
He cocked his head then disappeared. She blinked then shrieked, arms wrapping tightly around his neck as he picked her up bridal style, then was bounding up through the tree to the highest limbs that could support him. He set her down beside him and she clung to his shirt tightly, eyes wide and staring at the tiny horse far below them.
"Does that answer your question?" he asked in slight boredom.
She nodded quickly then turned with a gasp. "Wow… I've never been able to see so far…" He chuckled. "There's the castle… and I can just see the tip of the bell tower…" She grinned brightly then poked his arm. "Where do you live?"
He swung his arm around, pointing to the far off mountains. "Way that way…"
Her eyes widened. "Through the swamp?"
"Sort of… Just beyond it, but to the side."
"Wow… do you have a house here?" He cocked his head in confusion. "I mean, you've come to see me the past few days. It's a long ways from here to there."
"No. I return to my home every night."
"How?!"
He shrugged and wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her from the branch and free falling to the ground. She inhaled sharply, arms wrapping tightly around his neck once more only to land lightly on the grass. Bella whinnied and was at her side in an instant, nibbling at her hair and clothes. Sarah recovered herself then giggled and pat the mare's nose. "S'ok Bella. I'm fine."
As she began blabbing on to her horse about what she'd seen, Jareth frowned mentally. He'd never recalled a time where he willingly gave so much information away for free. If he accidentally told her something she wasn't supposed to know… he may have to kill her.
"You hurt her and die." His eyes narrowed. The fox had been completely serious. She wouldn't waste time sending an army after him. She'd come with her bare claws and rip him to pieces, savoring every shred.
"Jareth!"
He shook himself from his thoughts and focused on the brunette in front of him, hands on her hips and looking irritated. "What troubles you princess?"
"Don't call me that-and I've been talking to you for the past few minutes and you haven't heard a word have you?!"
"Of course I have."
"What did I say?"
"It matters not."
She crossed her arms across her chest and sent him a dull look. "In other words, you have no clue?"
"Precisely."
She scowled. "You're horrid."
"I'm a demon my dear. Of course I'm horrid."
The scowl on her face tried to stay in place but she turned quickly to hide the emerging smile. "So! What shall we do today Bella?"
The horse nickered and turned, tugging on the strap of the saddlebag. Sarah giggled. "All right, all right. I will doodle today."
"Doodle?" the demon asked, already picking out a spot to lounge on.
"Yes. I find myself to be quite good at it, if I do say so myself."
"You did say so."
"Then I must be good at it."
He rolled his eyes and flopped onto the ground, elegantly of course for a fae never simply flopped onto the ground. Sarah, however, did, taking her usual spot at the base of her tree, pulling her knees up to use as a table for the booklet of doodles and blank pages she had.
"Hm… what do you draw?"
"Lots of stuff. I usually draw Bella when I come out here… once there was a family of deer grazing so I drew them… I drew Kitsune once without her noticing. It came out pretty well I think. Wanna see?"
"Sure." She crawled over and flipped to the page, holding the book out. He took it and raised an eyebrow. "This is quite good…"
"I told you I was good."
He chuckled, handing her back the book. "So you did princess."
"Don't call me that. What should I draw?"
He pointed to the grass between them. "This blade of grass." She frowned and he waited for her to complain but she never did, only moving back and lying on her stomach to study the grass. He raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously-"
"Shhh… focusing…"
"Hm." He shook his head lightly and folded his arms under his head, shutting his eyes and enjoying the shade on his face, sun on the lower half of his body and the summer wind. He felt himself drifting off before he knew it, wondering why he trusted this human not to stab him in the heart while he lay there defenseless. Maybe he was just tired.
When a squeal echoed through his consciousness he jolted awake, sitting up quickly and looking around. Sarah was beside the river, water sprinkled across her side where Bella had flicked it towards her. The brunette scowled at the horse. "Bella!" she pouted. "That was not nice." The horse nickered, swallowed a mouthful of water then spit some at her. Sarah squealed again. "Horsie germs!!!! Waaaahhhh!!!"
"Good job Miss Bella."
Sarah shrieked and spun, Jareth walking over rubbing his head. A grin alit her features nearly as quickly as she'd turned. "Hi! Sorry for waking you. Have a nice nap?"
He nodded slowly. "How long was I out?"
She shrugged. "I was gonna wake you for lunch but you looked so peaceful I didn't dare try. I saved some food for you."
"Thank you."
"No problem!" He took the offered sandwich and apple and sat beside her, watching the river flow by. He must have been really tired if he hadn't reacted to the brunette getting up and walking off.
Sarah smiled, watching Bella trot through the water, bending every once in a while to take a sip and shake some of the spray off. She pulled out her book and watched for another moment before the quill touched the paper and her hand moved, eyes flickering between the horse and the page.
Jareth watched as an almost imperceptible change fell over the young princess. This was yet another side to her, but this side was real, like the anger she held in first days of meeting him or the weary smile she'd sent him earlier talking about routine.
Bella shook again and Sarah scowled. "Bella! Stop moving!" The mare sent her a dull look but did as she asked. Sarah bit on the corner of her bottom lip, eyes scanning over the page in concentration.
He leaned back and waited. It only took a few more minutes but she finally set the quill down and looked up at the mare. "Thanks Bella. That's good enough."
Nickering, Bella trotted over and climbed onto the bank, shaking the water off before trotting to Sarah. The brunette held the book up towards her and she whinnied, tail swishing. Sarah grinned. "Thanks." She turned to Jareth and showed him.
It was very pretty, Bella standing knee deep in the water, the trees and sky behind her, staring at the sky. Jareth nodded. "Very good."
A brilliant smile covered her face. "Thanks." She closed the book and got to her feet, walking over and putting it back into the saddlebag. She walked back over but didn't retake her seat, staring up at the sky.
Something wasn't right… "Is something the matter princess?"
"No… just wishing I could stay here forever…"
A frown instantly developed on his features. One, she hadn't scolded him and two… that was a depressed sounding statement. "Princess? What's wrong?"
She turned to him with a brilliant grin. "This day is gorgeous. Wouldn't it be incredible to have every day like this? Beautiful, sunny and wonderful."
His eyes narrowed. "Hm…"
She sighed with a bright smile and stretched. "Well, I should be getting back."
"But it's not near dinner."
"No but I have plans tonight I must keep unfortunately. Somewhat depressing that I cannot enjoy this beautiful afternoon more." Bella nickered and nibbled her hair. Sarah giggled. "Yes Bella. I promise an apple when we get back."
Jareth frowned as she patted the horse but got to his feet, brushing several crumbs from himself as he did. "Well I must get back home then if I'm unable to enjoy your brilliant company this evening."
She smirked at him. "I'm sorry your evening will be so dull without my constant companionship."
He chuckled. "Aye princess."
"Don't call me princess."
"Aye princess."
She pouted then turned and stomped off. "Come on Bella! Let's leave the annoying fae here!" Jareth raised an eyebrow then turned to the horse who glanced at him with a dull look, sighed and trotted after the brunette. He shook his head and followed after the pair, falling into step beside the girl.
She had hooked her hands behind her back, staring up through the trees at the still perfect sky. He walked beside her, watching the path instead because she wasn't.
"Can you fly Jareth?"
He blinked and turned to her with a look of 'what the hell?' "Um… no… why?"
She shrugged. "I just think it'd be cool to fly."
"You mean be free."
She looked at him in confusion. "Huh?"
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Princess you've been very odd today."
"How so?"
"First you spout depressing sentences, then you wish to be free-"
"I wished to fly. There's a difference."
"There is not. Freedom is flying from captivity. You've been committing the same routine daily for seven years. You want to fly away from it."
Her eyes flashed. "I do not! I like routine! Without routine we'd fall apart!"
"Not the routine you're used to. Yours is a prison. You have to perform it."
"I do not! I-"
She stopped dead as his hand lashed out, grabbing her upper arm. She stared at him, wide eyed in confusion. He motioned to the ground. "Watch your step."
She looked down and stepped over the root that would've sent her sprawled out on the ground. "…thanks…"
"Hm…" There was a tenseness in the air, her shoulders tightening and fingers worrying the edge of her sleeve. He glanced in her direction then let loose a sigh. "For a princess you sure are clumsy…"
She stiffened then turned and scowled. "I am not!"
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not!"
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not!"
"Miss Bella?" She whinnied in agreement.
"Bella!!! You traitor!" She seemed to shrug and nibbled on the edge of Jareth's shirt. He pulled an apple out of nowhere and held it out to the mare who munched down on it. Sarah gasped and pointed. "You're bribing her!"
He shrugged. "Ain't illegal."
"It is during an 'are/are not' war!"
"You named the war?"
"Yes. I'm always having them with my friend so we decided to name them."
He stared at her for a moment then turned forward again. "Okay. Forget clumsy, you're just weird."
"I am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not!"
"Bella?" She whinnied. "Are so."
"BELLA!!!"
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Sarah sighed as she got ready for bed that night. The suitors had been awful. They were the same middle aged, boring as hell, not really nice to look at men that her father had been trying to marry her off to. They weren't even rich! It was like he wasn't even trying!
She winced. Though that may have been from the fact she declined every marriage invitation from all the cute rich guys during the first two years… Nah.
Grabbing her hair brush, she began brushing her long hair, shutting her eyes and focusing only on the strokes through the silky strands. Brush… brush… brush… brush… br-knot! Her eyes watered and scowled at the offending nest in her hair. After a few painful minutes, she got the knot out and returned to her brushing. Once every strand was glistening, she put the brush away and shook her head, long locks falling in a straight curtain to her waist. She ran a hand and wondered what her mother might've said about her long hair. Hopefully something about how pretty it was.
Smiling at her daydream, Sarah shook herself and searched for her saddlebag, spotting it hiding beneath her dresser. She grabbed it and pulled it out, wanting to find her sketch book. She peered inside and gasped. Pulling out the book she'd thought she'd lost at the river the other day, she smiled brightly, running a finger down its spine. Opening to the front cover, she found a piece of paper stuck there, an elegant flowing script written on it.
- Princess,
Quite the novel you have here. I'm surprised that your brain's not turned to mush from the sheer romantics within it. I assume you think of yourself as the belle and I as the beast? Well, sorry for you, I was born this way. There's no rose and no changing. Such a pity. I would so enjoy enchanted furniture. Can you imagine the look on a guest's face when his silverware leaps up to sing to him? Yes, quite the delightful horrors I could hand out to unsuspecting visitors. I suppose you think the same? You've quite the imagination so I must assume that you've planned out exactly how to scare your guests with singing silverware and dancing desks.
Oh, and yes, I snuck into your room to deliver this. Do not worry. I wasn't seen. And just think. I now know where you reside. I'd lock your doors if I were you.
Your faithful companion,
Jareth –
Sarah snorted. "Faithful my a-"
"Ready for bed Sarah?" The brunette squeaked and jumped, spinning around and hiding the letter behind her back. Kitsune raised an eyebrow then sighed. "I don't wanna know. It's time for bed."
"Yes mother," Sarah pouted. Kitsune smacked her with the pillow and the brunette yelped and hurried to the bathroom. Once there she looked around to try and find a spot to hide the letter. She bit her lip looking in cupboards and under the sink.
"Sarah! Did you drown in there?!"
"Uhhhh…" Shrugging she stuck the letter down her shirt, quickly getting dressed for bed. "Coming Kit!" Racing out she flopped into bed and pouted. "Tuck me in?"
Kitsune rolled her eyes and threw the covers over her head. "Tuck yourself in."
"That's highly impossible my dear lady foxy."
Scowling, her tail swished angrily. "Don't call me foxy."
"I didn't call you foxy. I said you were a foxy."
She smacked her with a pillow. "Sarah!" Laughing the brunette grabbed her own pillow and attacked the other girl. Only when Jenny came in to tell them they were being too loud did the battle end. Kitsune wished her a good night and shut the door quietly behind her.
Sarah waited a few minutes until she was sure the fox was gone before pulling the letter out of her shirt and opening it to read over its contents once more. Smiling, she ran a finger over his name realizing that was something her father could never learn and as such, something he couldn't take away.
With a bright smile, she opened the drawer on her bedside table and pulled out a book she'd not touched in years, something about the rules of the land (something no one would ever open to read) and stuck his letter in between the pages. Setting the book back in the drawer, she closed it up and whispered a "keep it safe" to the table. Laying back, she dreamt of attacking people with vicious bathtubs and silverware.
Oh, and she did decide to keep her good day meter.
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To all readers and reviewers,
Don't wanna write essay. Updating fanfic instead. Sleepy…
Kadasa Mori
Next chapter preview: Chapter 5
Sarah sighed. "Wonder what's for dinner…"
"Food, hopefully."
She shrieked and looked up, Jareth walking in the branches. "You jerk! When did you come back?!"
He shrugged. "Few minutes ago." She scowled. "What?"
"You didn't even say good bye!"
"So?" She glared then looked forward, ignoring him. He scowled and landed beside the horse. "So?" he repeated. "Are hellos and good byes so important to life that if they're not said the entire day is thrown?"
"No! But… but it's polite to tell someone you're leaving!"
He rolled his eyes. "Again with the human courtesies… You mortals are so annoying. Life cannot be correct unless you say the proper hello, use the proper language, wear the proper clothes, use the proper fork." He shuddered. "Ugh. It's so disgusting."
"Well pardon me for being human!" she shouted and he flinched seeing tears. She nudged Bella and the horse took off down the path back towards the castle.
He grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. Damn…