Author's Notes: As always, the feedback is much appreciated. Responses to reviews after the chapter. The excerpt from Sarah's book is a slightly modified article from Wikipedia.

Chapter Four

Sarah.

"A wyvern is a winged reptilian legendary creature often found in ancient heraldry. It is similar to a dragon, but it differs in that it has only two legs, cannot breathe fire, and has a barbed or snake-like tail. Occasionally, it is said to be smaller than a dragon or to be able to breathe fire. In heraldry, it represents pestilence, conquest, or other such ideas. Another mythical creature that is similar to the wyvern is the cockatrice. Variants of the wyvern include-"

"Wyverns, is it, my dear?"

A voice in her ear, so unexpected and startling that Sarah jumped a foot in the air, the book slipping from her grasp. As she watched it plummet down the long shaft below her, she noticed idly that she had not come down from her jump and now floated a foot higher than she had previously been. A moment later the book reached the floor with a low, echoing thump and Sarah raised her eyes to the man standing before her.

Alryn was smiling at her, that horrible feral grin that revealed his sharp teeth and hid his sinister thoughts. He had changed from his formal clothes into robes of deep, dark purple, which made his already pale skin appear translucent.

Sarah swallowed, endeavoring to regain the serene composure she had faced him with previously. "I was curious," she said finally, pleased at the steadiness of her tone.

"Oh, really?" Alryn drawled. His eyes were entrancing, so clear and white and first glance, but the longer one stared, the darker they seemed to appear. Or was it her mind playing tricks on her? "Perhaps you would like a closer look?" He held out his hand to her in a courtly gesture and Sarah took it without thinking. It wasn't until they had descended to the ground level and almost reached the library doors that she realized what had happened.

"Wait!" She pulled her arm free of Alryn's grasp, hesitating. "I... I wanted to do some reading..."

Alryn smiled at her again, and she again felt herself drawn into his eyes. She wasn't aware of leaning towards him until he lifted a hand and gently caressed her cheek. "So beautiful," he murmured, his hand trailing down her neck and along her collarbone. His touch stirred fire within her and her eyes widened in shock as she realized she couldn't pull away from him. "No surprise that Jareth claimed you as his own."

Another kind of fire rose in Sarah and she glared at the Dryn with angry eyes. He hissed as if burned and drew his hand back, studying her gaze. She found that she could move again and did so, deliberately stepping away and turning her face away from him. "Jareth didn't claim me, Alryn. I claimed him." Her voice was like cold stone.

"Lord Alryn," he corrected. "And King Jareth at that, or perhaps you think you're beyond such trivialities with him?" He stepped towards her. "And perhaps you wish to be with me also?" he purred.

Sarah raised a hand to him. "Stop," she ordered, half-commanding, half- pleading. Alryn didn't miss the worry in her voice and awarded her a sly smile before taking the hand she had lifted against him.

"Come, Sarah. Come see the egg. That's all I ask of you." He gently pulled her towards the door as he spoke, turning to look back at her as he pushed it open. Involuntarily, she met his eyes again and felt his powerful gaze boring into her. "I promise."

Sarah was lost. She knew it. A part of her mind pleaded with her, screamed for help, for Jareth, for anyone to save her. Yet her body moved of its own accord, taking Alryn's arm, smiling prettily at him. Was that really her, giggling like a brainless idiot at the inconsequential things the Dryn murmured in her ear? She moved in a deep fog, scarcely aware of her own actions or surroundings.

They were headed towards his chambers, she knew. What could she do? What could she do...

But I'll be there for you, As the world falls down...

She wanted to scream, but not a sound escaped her lips. Jareth, where are you?

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Jareth.

He returned late in the night, long after he expected Sarah to be asleep. To his surprise, she sat waiting for him, a single candle illuminating her face. He landed on the balcony and, after returning to his human form, entered the room silently, studying her in the darkness. She was curled within the folds of a thick, cream-colored bathrobe and her dark hair was shimmering and damp, smelling of scented soap.

A step forward and she noticed him, eyes wide in the darkness as she strained to see. "Jareth?" There was fear in her voice. Fear of him? Fear for him? He couldn't read her expression in the dim light. He stepped into the small pool of candlelight and she stood, reaching for him. He took her into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Sarah curled against him, the soft skin of her cheek caressing his neck.

"Sarah..." he breathed, intoxicated by her, by her scent, by her touch, by everything that made her who she was. "Is something wrong, Sarah?"

"Not anymore," she whispered, arms twining about his neck as she pulled his head down into a fierce kiss. She let the robe slide to the floor and his hands moved hungrily across her heated skin. Fingers like ice caressed his face, his neck, his shoulders, any exposed skin that Sarah could reach. "I want you," she whispered in his ear. The contrast of her warm body and cold fingers almost made him gasp, but she covered his mouth again with a long kiss. His fingers tangled in her hair as he pulled her hard against him, eliciting a low moan from her throat.

He loved her, he admitted it, in all of her innocence. As a temptress, he found her completely irresistible.

They barely made it to the bedroom.

-break-

Waking came slowly the next morning. Light filtered into the room through the dark curtains, falling in patches on the bed. Jareth found himself feeling supremely, deliciously pleased. Finding Sarah curled in his arms, he kissed her softly, watching her eyes flutter as she awakened. He opened his mouth to tell her he loved her, he would always be there for her, and he would do anything to protect her from the Dryn...and then he saw the mark.

Where the sunlight fell on her face, she frowned and twisted away from it, her hair falling back as she did so to reveal the twinned scars like the bite of a snake. Or the bite of a Dryn. Jareth's words caught in his throat.

As the world falls down...

The peaceful atmosphere shattered around him as he rapidly pieced together what must have happened. Alryn's threat, his own absence, Sarah alone and unaware of the Dryns' abilities. Her mood the previous night, the way her body had burned while her fingers were frozen, and just now, how she had turned away from the sun.

Was it already too late?

Sarah opened her eyes, smiled up at him, unaware of his dark thoughts and she snuggled closer against him. "I'm a little chilly," she murmured against his chest. He stroked her hair as she shivered against him.

"Sarah," he tilted her chin so she was looking up at him. "You saw Alryn yesterday. What happened?" He touched her neck. "How did you get this mark?"

"What?" She touched the scar and her eyes clouded momentarily. "What...I- You told me not to go near the Dryn. I went to the library after you left. I didn't see Alryn after that." She frowned. "No, that's not right. I did see him. Didn't I?"

Jareth sighed and she turned worried eyes on him. "What's going on? What do you know that you're not telling me?" With each word, hysteria built in her voice.

"Shhh, calm down, Sarah. It's nothing to worry about." He tried to pull her into his arms but she pushed him away, searching his face.

"What's nothing to worry about? I feel strange...why?!"

"He's marked you, Sarah. It's the first bond to the Dryn." She stared at him, mouth open in confusion and shock. Jareth threw back the covers. "Get dressed. We have a lot to talk about and there isn't much time."

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Responses to reviews:

if-666: Jareth, well...he was just told by someone whom he can't disobey that Sarah's going to be taken from him. He may love her, but it's his kingdom and other kingdoms at risk if he defies the Dryn. Can he really sacrifice all those people just for one person? I suppose we'll find out, ey? ;-)

draegon-fire: I hope I can keep you guessing! There's nothing I like less than a predictable story (well, barring the ones with typos and bad grammar and such). I didn't initially have any idea what I would do with the wyvern idea, but now I think I've got an inkling of how it can be quite interesting to the story. I hope you keep reading and enjoying!

Desdemona321: Thanks, I'm a little proud of my library. ) J.K. Rowling was great inspiration! Glad you're enjoying the story.

To everyone that commented saying they enjoyed, I hope my story will continue to interest you. ) Please keep reading!