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They Say That Blood is Thicker

He lead her to a large double door townhouse. It looked a little out of place, but it blended right in with the beat up siding and the boarded up windows the rest of the neighborhood bared. As he reached for the door she became very nervous and reached for his free hand. She squeezed his hand and bit her lip to keep herself from yelling at him to stop. He looked back at her a moment with a smiled then opened the doors.


From where she was standing it looked as dark and destroyed as the rest of the block. He tugged on her hand, and as soon as she stood in the doorway the world lit up and she was now standing a lovely Victorian parlor. Her fear melted away. It was busy with people navigating hallways, or others sitting on sofas people chatting away. Their appearance ranged from everyday people to what you would expect out of the Underground crowd. A few looked over in interest, some smiled, and others whispered. Sarah blushed, if walking the streets she didn't feel out of place wearing only a t-shirt and bed hair before, she did now.

"Sorry" she whispered and released Jareth's hand to tug on the bottom of her shirt.

"We should be safe now" he muttered quietly, perhaps to himself.

"Oh, your Highness" a pretty woman dressed in Victorian garb hopped up from behind a desk and practically ran over to greet them.

She curtsied quickly.

"My apologies" she greeted, "I wasn't told to expect you"

"It was no mistake on your part" Jareth said, "Our visit is last minute. Allow me to introduce you to Lady Sarah. This is Anya, assistant, and I dare say closest friend of my sisters"

Anya was a pretty young girl with curly blonde hair pulled back and a practically perfect pallor complexion.

"Nice to meet you" Sarah said.

"It is a pleasure Lady Sarah" Anya curtsied to her as well.

"I mean not to cut pleasantries, but I urgently seek audience with my sister"

"Absolutely I will take you to her now" she turned and lead the way through candlelit halls.

The corridor was long, narrow, and lined with doors.

Once they were out of earshot of anyone Anya turned to Jareth, "By the gods, what are you doing here? Communication is rough as it is" Anya chided in hushed tones dropping all formalities, "And why are you dragging along a mortal girl in her pjs?" she tilted her head to Sarah, "Don't worry m'lady I shall make arrangements for you"

"Anya, I would have not have come if my reasons were not sound" Jareth asserted.

They then stopped in front of a door. Anya went to reach for the handle but was stopped by muffled sounds of angry groans, and what was mostly like the toppling of furniture.

"Uh, Jareth your sister is having a meeting with someone at the moment. It'd be best if I spoke to her prior your meeting" Anya looked down the hall and spotted a girl taking sheets out of one of the rooms, "Libby" she called out to her.

"Yes miss?" the girl answered obediently.

"Could you please take his Highness and Lady Sarah to freshen up? Find an outfit suitable to Lady Sarah as well" she instructed.

"Of course miss. Follow me please"

They walked only a few doors down and were guided into a room.

"Here you are" the girl said.

It was a beautiful room decked out victorian style, like the rest of the house. It seemed to be a room entirely designated for dress making and getting dressed. Jareth lounged on one of the sofas that were perched in front of what would be a modern day room divider

"Is this one house?" Sarah asked studying the oversized room.

"All the buildings you saw outside are connected. We're merely a few homes over from the one you entered" the servant girl answered and turned to the Goblin King, "Your Highness, how would you wish me to dress her?

"I really just need jeans" Sarah said.

But the girl seemed to ignore her and began taking measurements of her waist and height.

"Nonsense" Jareth smiled assuringly, "Something a bit more Underground acceptable. I trust your judgment"

"As you wish" the girls said leaving the room.

"I really don't feel like dressing up at the moment" Sarah said calmly yet firmly.

"Trust me that this is all necessary"

"I'm sure" Sarah said with raised eyebrows.

The servant girl walked back in with a few other ladies following her carrying clothing. Without a word, they guided Sarah behind the divider and began undressing her. It was slightly uncomfortable at first, but any bit silence was taken up by Libby, the original servant girl, instructing the others.

"Hold onto the post" Libby ordered as she placed an underbust over Sarah's head.

Sarah took hold of the post in the middle of the room. Each breath was pulled from her as they tightened the corset. As they finished tying her up two others began fixing her hair. They took a gel-like substance to her hair which made it almost instantly curly and then put it up in a loose bun. As they finished that bit someone else began fixing her makeup and lacing up her boots. It seemed like they had dressed her in record time.

"She looks fantastic. Thank you, ladies" Jareth said as they revealed her.

"My pleasure your Highness, we will leave you and Anya will retrieve you" with that she closed the door behind her.

Sarah stood in front of the mirror for a moment. She had on a long white dress that had been pinned up in the front to reveal a pair of tight brown shorts and lace thigh highs along with a pair of lace-up boots. And around the dresses center was a brown leather underbust.

"How do you find underground fashion?"

"Hmm," she said picking at her hair, "Odd. I think I like it. I don't know how I'd feel about wearing a corset on a daily basis"

Sarah plopped down, rather unladylike, on the sofa next to him. Then resting her head in her hands she sighed.

"Jareth, I have work in a few hours"

"What is it you do?" he asked.

"I'm a writer, but I work at a little bookstore as well. I sell books and coffee"

He didn't say anything.

"I won't be going to work tomorrow, will I?"

"Probably not love"

"I keep thinking that I'll wake up and this will all be a silly dream.. or maybe I'll just be homeless wandering the streets"

"I don't mean to disappoint, but I don't believe either to be likely" he smiled.

"What do I have to do to get home? Run another Labyrinth"

"No. Well, I mean perhaps metaphorically. At the moment, your home is not safe to you"

She studied his face, his eyes showed only honesty and maybe some stress. If she couldn't return home yet she had to accept it. At least for now.

"I have a roommate as well. Is it safe at the apartment for her?"

"That has already been taken care of" he assured, "I sent you each a voicemail from your mothers. I assume you chose not to listen to yours. If you had you've been told to come home to your parents house, as your roommate did. I would've probably then sent you to another country Aboveground and you wouldn't be here."

Sarah thought a moment back to Karen's voicemail.

"Stepmother" Sarah quietly corrected, "Karen is my stepmother...I'm sorry if I've been short with you. This has been a lot to take in" she said, "you existing is a lot to take in. You do exist, right?"

He smiled in amusement.

Anya peeked her head in the room, "Follow me, please"

They followed her back down the hall.

"You look rather lovely, M'lady" she complimented

Sarah was about to thank her, but all attention was drawn to the man exiting out of the door they were approaching.

"Leave, you chauvinist trash!" came from the room.

This was followed by was seemed to be a flying teapot that headed towards the fleeing man, but he managed to just barely dodge it before it shattered against the wall. They yelled at each other in a language Sarah was unfamiliar with as he hurried away down the hall.

"Yes... so... Libby!" Anya called for the servant girl who came rushing around the corner and then she turned to the pair, "You two can head in then my apologies" she said holding her aching head.

Sarah stepped over the broken glass and followed Jareth into a study. The room was rather dark. The only light came from a fireplace and a few candles on her desk. To the sides of the fireplace were bookshelves and in front small sitting area. What the bookshelves held was interesting. Books, of course, but also jars of once living things. Many things Sarah had never seen before, those struck her curiosity, the ones she was familiar with were the ones that disturbed her. The Back center of the room in front of a large heavily curtained window was the beautiful desk along with two chair perched at its front. Standing by said desk was a young girl not much older in appearance than Sarah, yet far more intimidating. Her hair was dark and in a very messy updo. She wore a dress made from was looked like black silks and latex but somehow it was still designed in an extremely lovely victorian manner. Her complexion was ghostly pale and it looked lovely with her practically perfect features.

"Dear brother" the woman greeted her voice held a bit of edge, lovely and light, yet sharp and angry, "I wasn't expecting you so soon. Did daddy tell you to come and talk to me?"

"Layla, this is Sarah Williams. Sarah, this is my sister" he said ignoring her question.

"Sarah Williams? Interesting... What a pretty thing for a mortal. Sit."

Sarah raised her eyebrow unsure if she was receiving a compliment or if his sister was making some weird prejudice comment so she just smiled and said, "Pleasure" and sat down in one of the chairs.

"I didn't know you kept playthings, Jareth" she said picking at her lacy sleeves.

Sarah exhaled sharply through her nose, "I am no ones plaything"

Layla smirked wickedly eyeing up Sarah.

"Sarah is no 'plaything' I assure you" Jareth returned the smirk then took a seat as well.

"My apologies"

"You're all dressed up" Jareth sound a bit skeptical, "Who was it you were just speaking to? Where's Doyle?"

As the conversation went on Sarah noticed that next to the glass of red wine on her desk were claw marks. Sarah glanced at the woman's nails not surprised to find them frighteningly pointed and painted a deep purple. Then she looked up to find a chandelier. Though unlike the other chandeliers she'd seen throughout the house this one's candle holders were made out of fetal skulls.

"Out. The man is a friend I'm doing business with I wouldn't worry yourself with it" she said going to go sit behind a desk, "What brings you here brother?"

"We were being tailed by what I assume to be a shadow creature. Perhaps others"

"Oh, so you thought that you'd find me? You've been dragging your demons this way since childhood" she condescended.

"Come now, sister. This is only because you are the devil" Jareth said toying with a crystal he had fabricated..

"Perhaps" she smiled a moment then fell back into a scowl, "but I don't understand why you're still here. I have enough troubles as it is trying to run my kingdom from Above. So unless you're here to tell me that I'm allowed back down you're really just being a bother"

"What if I were to offer you an opportunity to return?"Jareth haphazardly suggested.

"That's what I was waiting for. What kind of string are attached?" she questioned tapping her nails on the desk, "This wouldn't have anything to do with the words of war I hear buzzing around"

"So you have caught word?"

"I live Aboveground, not under a rock" her features suddenly lightened, "So it's actually happening. Exciting isn't it?"

"I feel so, but probably not in the same sense you're speaking of" Jareth said pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Jareth is a brilliant warrior, Sarah. I'm not entirely sure of your relation, so you may not be familiar with his innate ability react under pressure, but I digress. What is this 'opportunity'?"

"You've been invited to join our council, and if you decide to do so you will be free to return below with no travel restrictions. I can't even remember the last time you were allowed to travel freely"

"I take it this is father's war council? I am uninterested" she confessed simply, "I'm sure someone else can offer me an equally, if not more interesting, proposal"

"You're not one to blindly accept a different proposal without considering their motive" he said with tension in his voice.

"Don't try to make me sound dim. I have excellent tactics they will benefit myself and whoever I side with" she teased.

"Don't toy with me, Layla. What is it you want?" His said through teeth clenched now becoming tired of her games.

"I want to be immediately appointed as head tactician" she demanded, "I'm allowed on battlegrounds whenever I please, and I want to be granted immunity from banishment for 500 years-"

"200" he countered.

"400"

"300"

"Fine for 300 years!" she settled, "Along with what you previously offered of course"

Jareth sat in silence stilling his crystal for a moment while resting his hand on his chin, "I accept these terms"

"Wait," she said now in deep thought herself, "I'm not entirely sure if I want to get my kingdom involved. Perhaps Doyle should be here"

Jareth let out an exasperated sigh.

"Do you smell that?" Layla asked standing up, "...Burning"

The door swung open. It was Anya her assistant.

"Pardon my intrusion. There is a fire and so far we have spotted several intruders" she announced out of breath.

"WHAT?" Layla yelled slamming her fist on her desk in a fit of rage.

Sarah's eyes fell on her teeth. Precisely two very long and pointed canines that she was sure weren't there a minute ago. She started to piece together that the glass of red wine that was sitting on her desk probably wasn't wine. Sarah's fists were practically white for squeezing the arm of her chair in an attempt to get ahold of herself. What did she expect when dealing with those from the Underground.

Jareth stood up and offered a hand to Sarah. Sarah accepted immediately more than ready to leave.

"How dare they!" Layla growled and then she began to laugh.

A deep laugh that slowly turned into a childish giggle. She covered her face a moment, then her posture and voice became completely foreign to the angry and formal ruler Sarah had first met.

"Okay, okay, okay I'll join the war club" she squeaked, "It will be fun. I shall tell Doyle. He can come too" she sounded like an excited seven-year-old and reminded Sarah a bit of Toby's antics, "You can meet him Sarah. He's my husband. And brother, if I find out that this little fire here was to push me into joining you I'll make you sorry" she promised with a giggle.

"Your Highness!" Anya snapped.

"Okay, I'll see you guys later I have to go take care of this"

"Wait" Jareth said grabbing her arm to stop her.

His crystal that melted into a sheet of paper.

"Sign it" he insisted handing her a quill he plucked off her desk.

She did, "Done. Now get the hell off my property" she squeaked sweetly then ran off.


A/N:I may be a minute before I post the next chapter(unless I get it done today), although it is written it just needs looked over a few more times. Class work has been melting my brain so it's been hard to get around to it. Yeah as always please feel free to makes suggestions and review :3