Chapter 4

Jennifer had awaken before Sireth. She watched him while he slept. He looked younger now that he was relaxed in sleep, without the weight of his guilt over how he'd treated her when they'd met to strain and age his features, or the fear that some darkness inside him would rise to the surface.

She couldn't stop herself from reaching out and tracing his face. He woke up and fixed his gaze immediately to hers, with intense, mismatched eyes. She marvelled at how very dark blue one was and how bright green the other, reminding her again that she had come from a very different world than he.

"I haven't seen Reineth around lately," Sireth said, his face already taking on the stain of worry.

"I'm sure he's fine. He's been hanging out with your sister."

"Well, I'm glad they're getting along again. It seemed like they were drifting apart."

"Don't worry about them."

"I know. Reineth's going to be a lot better than I was. I can't seem to stop myself from snapping at him when he goofs off because I know my tricks then were no laughing matter."

"He's going to be fine," Jennifer reassured him.

"I know, but it's so hard when magic can be so deadly. I remember myself at his age and it was like a different person was inside me . . ."

"You're right. It was a different person. I saw you struggling, fighting with something inside. I knew it wasn't you. At least not who you really were, not who you were meant to be."

"Well, I couldn't have won that fight without you. I'm glad you could see there was something more. Did you ever regret the day I found you?"

"No," she said with absolute conviction and he couldn't help but believe her.

"Come here." He pulled her into him. "You must be insane not to have," he smiled, and she wished he would do it more often. It set her heart on fire. He started to sing.

"I'm lazy,

You crazy, girl

Stay by my side

I'm scared you'll

Meet someone

In whom you'll confide

No, no, no

Life's still a dream

You're love's amazing

Since I found you

My life's amazing

I pledge you'll

Never be blue

There's too much at stake to be down

My nightmare

Rooted here watching you go

Divine in both our lives

Life's still a dream

You're love's amazing, amazing

Since I found you

My life's a roll

Go, go, go

And it's amazing

It's amazing . . ."

At that moment Jennifer vowed she would do whatever it took to stop Sireth from torturing himself any longer. Her face now so close to his, their eyes locked. Hers showing no doubt, a strength that said they were equal and that they were both part of the same piece, that they were meant to be together and Jennifer wouldn't have it any other way. And love. Sireth marvelled how he could see all this in her eyes just before she kissed him.

Her hands stroking his face then travelled to tangle in his hair as she kissed him passionately. His hands rubbed her back, pressing her closer to him, like she was his only salvation. He breathed her into his soul. He would never get enough. He broke away from her mouth to kiss a trail down her neck to her breasts. He took one into his mouth and she gasped as she arched her back to give him better access, holding his head to her. His hands travelled to her now restless hips as he rolled her beneath him, holding them firmly pinned to the mattress.

She gave a cry of protest when his mouth left her breast and he gazed down at her in challenge. Though something in Sireth would like nothing more than to just take her as fast and as hard as he could, he wouldn't. Jennifer saw him questioning her. Is this what she wanted? Did she really want to spend the rest of her life with him, still knowing that there was a darkness that would always be a part of him?

The answer was "Yes," she whispered, reaching up to stroke his chest, then travelling down to his flat belly, which quivered as she scraped lower with her nails. She barely brushed him with her fingers, but it made his body tighten with need. Her hands now on his hips, urged him down to her and he didn't resist. He entered her so slowly, Jennifer wanted to scream. Finally he was in and they started to move in rhythm. Then as her nails dug into his shoulders, she screamed her release and he followed soon after.

As Sireth lay contented with his arms wrapped tight around her, Jennifer thought this was the perfect way to spend a morning.

L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L

"Jareth, I'm going to see how our guest is doing today." Sarah told Jareth as they left their chambers the next morning.

"Alright, I'll go ask some questions."

Jareth strode into the throne room with an air about him that said he wasn't in a good mood and if anyone disobeyed him or stepped out of line, they'd be sorry they ever did. All the goblins in the room were suddenly on the alert. Jareth got right to the point. "Last night a young girl was found in the hedge area of the Labyrinth, gagged and hands tied. She was in bad shape. Now, does any one of you know how she could have gotten here and in the state we found her in, hm? Because as far as I know we're not in the habit of taking children that have been wished away anymore, especially teenagers. And if any of you did take a child, of course you would bring it to my attention straight away."

Jareth crouched down so that he was eye level with one of the goblins. His chin resting on his hand as if he was calculating, but at the same time unconcerned. "Isn't that the rules here?"

The goblin gulped. "Yes, your highness."

"Then why do you look so nervous?"

"Me? I'm always nervous, your majesty."

"I see." Jareth said as he stood up. "Let everyone know that if they know anything, they had better come to me, because when I find out they were lying, it will be straight into the Bog of Eternal Stench, or worse."

L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L

Sarah knocked on the door, then went into the room. Janine was awake, watching Toby sleeping in the chair beside the bed. "Hello, I'm Sarah, Toby's sister. What's your name?"

"Janine." Sarah . . . That name sounded familiar too. She wished she could remember.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thanks to your brother."

"You must be starving. I'll get you something to eat and a nice warm bath would probably feel nice about now." She went over to Toby. "Come on Toby. If you stay there much longer you'll regret it.

He stretched. "Oh," he groaned. He had such a kink in his back after sleeping in that chair all night.

"Come on, Janine's going to take a bath and I'm going to get her some food. Why don't you come too and then you can see what Jareth's found out. I'll be back soon," she told Janine as she shoved Toby out the door.

L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L

"Crystal, I wanted to talk to you," Jareth said as he knocked on her door.

Oh, no, he found out! Great! She tried to look as if she'd been awake for awhile. She'd overslept after last night. She opened the door and he sat down on the bed with her.

"Your mother told me that you were telling her you wanted to go Aboveground. It's probably hard for you to talk about it with me, but I know how you feel. It was very hard for me to wait for your mother. And I had to wait a lot longer than you will."

"Will you take me there?" Crystal asked hopefully.

"We will soon."

"How soon?"

"In a couple of years at least."

"In a couple of years?!"

"We want you to just enjoy being a kid -"

"What if I don't want to be a kid anymore?"

"You'll have forever to be with him once you find him. We don't want to give you up just yet. We didn't get the chance to see Sireth grow up."

"I know, but . . ." she almost told him she'd already been Aboveground, but she couldn't.

"I know its hard, but it really means a lot to your mother." He regarded Crystal for a moment who now sat with bowed head. Then he started to sing.

"My love wherever you are

Whatever you are, don't lose faith

I know it's gonna happen someday

To you

Please wait, please wait

Wait, don't lose faith

You say that the day never arrives

And it's never seemed so far away

But I know it's gonna happen someday

To you

Please wait, please wait

Wait, don't lose faith

Please wait, please wait

Please, don't lose faith

Don't lose faith

You say that the day never arrives

And it seems so far away

But I know it's gonna happen someday

Someday to you

To you

Please wait, please wait

Please wait"

Crystal was looking at him with tear filled eyes. She threw her arms around her dad and he hugged her close.

L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L

"Boss! Boss!" Some goblins from castle met up with the taller goblin in the Labyrinth.

"Shut up you idiots! I told you never to call me that. The only person that you're supposed to view as your leader is Jareth."

"Duh, but I thought you were our boss too."

The tall goblin clonked the dumb one on the head. "I am, but no one else is supposed to know that."

"Oh."

"Now what were you running here to tell me?"

"Uh," he scratched his head. "I forgot."

"We came to tell you that they found the girl," another one answered.

"Who did?"

"The Goblin King."

"What? If I want anything done right, I have to do it myself! What did he say?"

"He wants anyone with any information about her to tell what they know or else it's straight into the Bog of Eternal Stench, or worse," the goblin gulped.

"Are you gonna tell Jareth what happened?" another one asked.

"What do you think he'll do to us if he finds out what we did? Did he mention that?"

"No he left that part out."

"Well you can bet it will be even worse than the 'or worse' part he already mentioned. We'll just have to stay away from the castle now until we can figure out what to do."