Chapter 9. It's about Power

Sarah pulled her suitcase out of her father's car's trunk and mused at how much had changed. Daniels and Browning were both gone, and the board of regents had requested Talbot to return in charge of the school. A new research team headed by a Doctor Danvers; who seemed to know her father already, was in charge at the clinic and they seemed to be making progress with most of the girls. Gone was the prison feeling that had been so prevalent during the reign of Daniels and Browning's terror. Girls waved happily at each other upon arrival. Things had taken a turn for the better after Daniels and Browning had left. She had turned seventeen in New York City on a visit to her mother, who like her father and Karen and Toby remained the only beings she seemed to be able to withstand touching her. Even her mother's off and on again beau Jeremy gave her the willies when he stood too close, a fact that had not gone unnoticed by Jeremy. He'd a long relationship with Sarah and felt awkward and embarrassed that the gentle days of teasing the girl were gone forever.

Sarah saw Lilith and Bryn coming her way; she fought the urge to stiffen as they moved in on her. Lilith sensed the stiffening and stepped back a pace. "Hey," she greeted her friends warmly. "How are you two?" She saw her father smile at the pair and she tried to relax.

"Fantastic," Bryn said happily. "I got all the courses I requested, including the two over at the university. Did you get them as well?" She seemed genuinely happy that Sarah did indeed get the courses she'd wanted.

Lilith looked conspiratorially at her. "Wait until you see Marge," she grinned like a loon.

Bryn nodded wildly, "Sarah you're not going to believe it."

"Good God, what did she do?" Sarah asked worried about the girl who had seemed so lost the last year.

"Well, you've got no one to blame but yourself," Lilith teased easily as she pointed to someone coming across the quad. "There she is now." Sarah gasped and she added. "Feeling a bit like Doctor Frankenstein?"

Coming across the lawns of the quad, striding with confidence was a tall blond girl with a soft smile. "Sarah, welcome back."

"Marge," Sarah blinked not believing her eyes… the caterpillar had turned into a butterfly. Gone was the severe pulled back long hair braided across her head making her look like something out of a Viking opera; now her now hair was cut in a style that was modern and very becoming to her pretty face. Her face had light touches of makeup, and she looked like a different girl all together. "What did you do?"

Shyly the tall girl preened. "I took your advice… I went to one of those make over things at the local mall. What do you think, really?"

"I'm floored," Sarah gasped. "You're gorgeous!"

Robert cleared his throat to remind his daughter he was still there. "Let's get the stuff to your room before you girls start the reunion."

Sarah grabbed a case. "Let's have dinner in the main hall…tell the others I'm back," she called to her friends. Lilith watched her go wistfully before turning with Bryn and Marge to gather Sarah's crew. "See Dad," Sarah said lugging the case up the stairs. "I told you I'll be fine."

"I know that things here are better," he argued as he followed her past the monitor who was a new face also. "But you're not." He dropped her case in the new room she'd been assigned in the new dorm building that was for senior classmen at the school. "Oh my, this is nice." He commented. "And what a view," he said looking out her large window.

Sarah looked at him, "You're just jealous that you're not surrounded by a bevy of beauties like this school boasts." She teased indelicately, she found herself thinking of him less and less as her father and more and more as an intellectual equal.

"One beauty at a time is my speed," he replied smartly. "Your mother was a handful and you know how well I handled that….Karen; well … she's great but…" He shrugged.

Sarah pouted; "What am I chopped liver?"

Robert blushed slightly as he did so often these days when speaking to his nearly grown up daughter. "You're something else." He said carefully.

Sarah looked at him with slightly lowered lids, "I make you nervous, don't I?"

"Yeah, you could say that," he admitted freely. "You make me very nervous, Sarah… for Gods sake…you're my daughter, and we sometimes talk like we're not related at all."

She looked at him, and her thoughts were unfathomable. "Sometimes… I wish there was just one other person I could touch… hold and…." She turned her back on him. "Don't worry Dad, I remember who you are."

Robert found himself biting his tongue yet again. He'd been feeling this growing gap between them since she'd left to spend time in New York City. "Sarah," He pleaded with her.

Sarah looked at him questioningly. "Did I ever tell you thank you?" She shifted gears as swiftly as she could. "Hey you'd better get back on the road… I've got to unpack and get my dinner." She pushed him toward the door. "No long goodbyes, remember?" He gave her a hug and quickly ended it. She waved to him from her dorm window as he got into his car.

Finishing her unpacking at record speed, Sarah then pulled on the school blazer and moved swiftly down the stairs to join her friends and followers on the quad. There on the beautifully manicured lawn was more than a dozen girls waiting for her. Each girl greeting her excitedly and gathering close without touching the girl in the center of their company; Sarah listened to each one tell of their adventures over the summer as if it were the most important thing she had to do.

Danvers watched from his office window, he'd come out of seclusion to step in when both Daniels and Browning had been removed. Talbot was seated in this office having a relaxing cup of tea with the Director of the clinic. Danvers tapped on the window pane lightly. "That Williams girl is quite the little organizer."

"She's got a talent for getting people to do what she wants them to," Talbot agreed. "She just has something about her."

Still watching the group on the lawn the Doctor mused. "Look at who is gathered to her though; it's the girls who are the most difficult cases. Yet to look at them now, surrounding her like this, you'd think these were your run of the mill teenagers." Turning from the window he looked at his counterpart. "She's gotten farther with some of them than we have."

"She understands their problems," offered Talbot wolfishly. "She sees things from their perspective."

Danvers took a seat at his desk, raising his own tea cup to his lips. "She should, her own issues are not dissimilar from theirs." He found her file at the top of the pile on his desk and skimmed over a few points. "Is she really taking part in the college credit courses?"

Talbot nodded enthusiastically. "She had some of the highest testing scores…" He placed his cup on the desk. "It's just two courses for now, and she's really beyond the course we offer…I think being off campus and going over to the college for one day a week will do her good." He smirked. "After all it's been months since she took a hockey stick to anyone." Both men chuckled.

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Jareth had guests; some welcomed some not so much. In the nine months since his declaration at the High King's court, he'd been forced to entertain far more than he'd intended to. This group today was a matter of trade accords. He entered the Great Hall for the audience with the members of the trade partners accompanied by his Harpy guards. Devon was already in the hall awaiting him. Taking his seat he expectantly held out his hand for the scroll that Devon was holding. "What's the first item of business today?"

Devon pointed to a group of Elves, "I believe the mineral union from the northern boarders is up first."

"Their speaker's name?"

"Alwyn Goldendoor," Devon whispered carefully, then motioned the group of tall elves forward.

"Elder Goldendoor," Jareth addressed him carefully, being respectful but not fawning. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of your acquaintance before," The Goblin King looked at the tall elder who didn't look happy.

"I wish I could say this audience was over a pleasantry, Sire;" Apologized the tall handsome featured elf that was at the head of the miners union. His eyes were almost black they were so dark, and his face was like alabaster. He was beautiful to look at, but his expression was not happy. "I fear I come with bad news, Sire." He moved forward with a scroll, handed it to Devon and then stood back quietly.

While Devon unrolled the scroll movement toward the back of the groups assembled drew Jareth's attention. Quickly he diverted his attentions back to the union and the scroll that was now being handed to him by Devon. "Thank you my Lord Baron." He said then whispered. "She's back again."

Devon nodded, "I see." He shrugged. "You want me to have her thrown out?"

"No, we'll hear her out, again." Jareth waved the Baron back and began to read the scroll. "Goldendoor," he addressed the elder. "How long have your shipments gone though the Talagon lands?"

"Nearly six centuries Sire," the elder sighed. "This is the first time we've been refused passage."

Jareth nodded, "Devon, get me the map, I think I've a solution to this problem and another at the same time." Devon sent for the map, while Jareth looked up at the Elf Elder. "You were right to come to me, Goldendoor." He commended the union leader. "Thank you for being so considerate and conscientious."

Goldendoor's shoulders seemed a bit hunched over, a bit defeated. "I fear it is too little, Sire."

Understanding the man's feelings and experience, Jareth still reached out a glimmer of hope. "We shall see." Devon set the map up for the King to study. "I thought so, come forward Goldendoor." As the union leader approached the King pointed to a narrow strip of land between Talagon's holding and the lands of a lower Fae Lord Grphiff. It was a strip of land belonging to a group of dwarfs of the Snowdon clan. "The Snowdon's have been complaining about the lack of material that comes through their corridor. They have been cut off from other suppliers by Talagon, as well."

Goldendoor frowned. "We don't have a trade treaty with them."

"Ah," said the Goblin King slyly. "But I have and one with your union as well… I can be the go between."

Devon was ready with a scroll in hand, "Sire."

"Thank you," he looked over the materials needed by the Snowdon clan. "They would take raw material from you, and export it as well as products they make."

Goldendoor nodded, "I can see that would be acceptable to all, Sire."

"Devon will direct you to where you need to sign a new accord, and we'll get things moving." Jareth handed the scroll to Goldendoor and bid him well.

She watched from the back of the line, impressed with how smoothly this young King was able to keep things running; and in the face of problems with the fool Talagon. Tanya felt a tingle go through her as she watched the man with the petitioners. This was her fifth journey here to the Goblin Kingdom on business for her father and yet the King had not invited her to so much as tea. She would take the reigns this time, she promised herself. This time she would not leave this court without an invitation to come back for a personal visit. As her time to speak to the King drew near she felt energized and thrilled, and knew it would put color into her pale cheeks. She stepped forward and handed her scroll to Devon before curtseying to the King.

"Lady Tanya," He murmured. "How nice to see you, yet again."

She noted the hint of sarcasm but chose to ignore it and turn it around. "Kind of you to allow me to come again with our… tribulations Sire." She made a cute little pout and said. "We don't mean to trouble you…"

"Not at all," he said aloud but to himself he thought 'in a pigs eye'. Without turning he held his hand out for the scroll and opened it to read the latest complaints from her father. "I see." He looked up at her tossed the scroll into a pile of discards and said. "No."

She blinked, "I beg your pardon?" Her voice echoed the surprise in her voice.

"I said no, forget it, no way…Next!" he waved her on.

Devon fought the urge to snicker as the Fae girl moved on in shock. She turned and moved back. "Why not? The request is not unreasonable."

Jareth smiled a wickedly indulgent smile. "If you really want to know, it's because I don't need to be bribed with a bit of skirt." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. "I would suggest your father find his balls, put them back on and come see me himself instead of sending his leggy wench of a daughter to do his dirty work for him. Good day."

Tanya gulped back the words that were springing to her lips from her mind. She dipped quickly, turned and exited with what grace she could muster.

Under his breath Devon whispered as he handed the next scroll to his cousin. "Another one bites the dust."

"Hardly," was the sardonic reply from the King. "That one is plotting to be Queen. We've hardly heard the last from her… she'll be back…" He opened the scroll and read. "This is not about me…it's about power."

Tanya's lower lip trembled with anger and outrage. How dare he speak to her that way before the other petitioners? How dare he call her a leggy wench? How dare he refuse her father's request? She was seething with resentment and rage when she reached her carriage. "Take me home," she ordered her coachman. "Father will know how to deal with him."

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Oberon's court was not holding an audience, but many courtiers were gathered in the palace hoping to have a word with the High King. Life in the Avalonian court was a pageantry of pleasantries and manipulations. Tanya arrived on her father's arm; Duke Winderspire's face bespoke the rage that was seething in his heart. He stormed past the Fae milling about, his daughter in tow.

Tatiana looked up from the game board that was set between herself and the High King. "Darling," her voice was a little breathless and very quiet. "Were you expecting Winderspire?"

Oberon looked toward the direction his wife indicated and heaved a heavy sigh. "No, and he looks upset." He moved the game piece and murmured; "Your move, dear."

The High Queen had already locked on her most serene look, and as the Duke approached she gazed at him in mild and pleasant surprise. "Winderspire, how lovely to see you…"

The Duke bowed deeply to the Queen took her hand and fawned over it exaggeratedly. "My Queen, it is always a pleasure to see you…." He turned to the High King and gave him a curt bow. "My King I come with a grievance."

Draping an arm over the back of his chair, Oberon looked at the Duke with questioning eyes. "Really? What ever could be wrong?"

"You boy King has insulted my daughter, Tanya…" He motioned toward the girl who pouted looking very put out. "I will not tolerate it, Sire."

Exchanging knowing glances, the King and Queen motioned the attendants that were gathered near them to be off. The Queen set her face to being passive, as her husband stood up. "You say some one had offended your daughter? How and when?"

The Duke clasped hands behind his back, thinking he'd the upper hand and was about to bring down someone he considered beneath him. "I sent my daughter as an emissary to the Goblin King, as I have done before… and he insulted her before the rest of his petitioners. He made a lewd suggestion, and offered insult to me as well as denying my humble request."

"Ah I see," Oberon crossed his arms giving himself the appearance of one who was in control. "You've a problem with the Goblin King… I had wondered who it was you were referring to as 'Boy King', and although King Jareth is young, he's not really a boy, now is he?" Oberon watched the chinks in Winderspire's armor begin to crack.

"He insulted my daughter!" The Duke fumed.

"What exactly did he say?" Oberon asked, wondering what could have sent the irritated Duke rushing to Avalon.

"He refused a simple request, and when asked why he said," the Duke moved closer and spoke to the High King in a low whisper then moved back.

"Ah," Oberon tapped his long noble nose with his index finger before saying quietly to the man, "I suggest you find those balls and put them on." When the Duke gasped the High King addressed him curtly. "See here, Windy… I grow tired of your constant demands, I'm sure the Goblin King has also grown tired of such nitpicking…" He looked over at the girl. "If your daughter was insulted then it was more your fault than that of the Goblin King's. Now be so good as to go away." Oberon took his seat again and waved the pair off. He watched as they departed trying to keep a disinterested expression on his features. He did grant himself one exemption, a long serious look at the young lady in question. Covering his lower face he began to snicker wickedly.

Once she was sure they were along again, the Queen asked; "What's so funny?"

"Jareth called Tanya a leggy wench." He moved his game piece again. "Told her to tell her father to find his balls and put them back on and come see him himself."

The Queen gave in to the giggles, "Oh that's wicked." She moved a piece on the board.

"That's Jareth," the King sighed. "I fear we've not heard the last of this."

Long fingers closed in on those of the High King, "I've heard from some of my attendants that the mother of that girl has aspirations…"

Oberon understood her qualms, "I assure you my dear, that girl will never wear the Goblin Queen's crown."

"They are crafty," she warned coolly. "Perhaps you should warn our…boy King."

"Boy King," scoffed the High King as he moved yet another piece on the board. He looked over at his wife, "I'll send word to Jareth that I'd like a private audience… warning him may not be a bad idea."

She patted his fingers and smiled softly. "This isn't about Jareth you know, it's about Power."

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Of the sixty girls that had closed out the school year as juniors, only forty had returned as seniors. Of those only fifteen had opted to take the extra classes over at the university. Talbot had arranged for a bus to pick them up on Friday's after lunch so they could be driven over to the other campus and then returned when the classes were finished.

As Sarah stepped off the bus at the Universities campus, she felt a bit like a fish out of water. Although the campus at St. Ambrose was good sized, it was not nearly as large as this campus and there were only girls attending St. Ambrose. Here there were both male and female students, and none but the girls from St. Ambrose were in a uniform.

Lilith quickly removed her blazer, tied it around her waist and began to open buttons on her blouse and then roll her knee socks down to her ankles. She looked at Sarah, motioning her to do the same. Bryn rolled her eyes but took off her blazer. "Come on," she said with a playful urgency. "We don't want to scare off any of the boys."

Sarah frowned. "I'm here to take classes," she reminded the dark haired girl who was looking about the campus excitedly. "I'm not here looking for stud muffins."

"I am," Lilith bragged as she looked at the map that was to get her to the right building for her class. "I'll meet you at the student union when class is over!" she dashed off.

Bryn, who was taking the same classes as Sarah sighed. "Don't be too hard on her, Sarah. She can't help herself."

"I'm not trying to be harsh," Sarah muttered a bit miffed.

"I know." Bryn shrugged. "Lilith's last beau dumped her when she got sent to St. Ambrose, and over the summer her folks had her on a really short leash."

Sarah took the explanation and stored the information. "What about you Bryn?" Sarah questioned softly her companion. "Are you looking to make a love connection here?"

Bryn giggled at the comment, "No," she shook her head emphatically. "I'm more interested in getting stated on a degree… see I don't really want to depend on the kindness of others especially a man…" her words hardened and her tone became abrasive.

Sarah looked at her, "Daniels hurt you, didn't he?" It was instinctive, but she could not stop herself once the thought had lodged. "That bastard hurt you… does Lilith know?"

Bryn's mossy green eyes looked into Sarah's emerald green eyes. "No, and you're not to tell her." The girl with long red hair was firm. "I don't know how you know, but I'm not going to deny it."

"That sick bastard," Darkness flashed on the girls face. "I wish we could get even."

Bryn moved back a step, "Sarah, be careful what you wish for…." She knew the other cringed when touched, but she had no choice. She yanked Sarah back and motioned toward the arch they had been approaching. "Never demand something from the universe unless you are really serious about accepting the responsibility for it. See those symbols? Asking for or demanding or even just wishing for something under them is…" She saw Sarah's face change and she paused. "You know about magic, don't you?"

"Some…" Sarah admitted. "It's all foggy… messed up and mixed up in my head… but yes… I know some…"

"I thought so," Bryn confessed feeling like a weight was being lifted. "Lilith and I have been practicing for over a year…we've been dying to ask you to join us."

"Practicing?" Sarah seemed distracted then suddenly focused. "Bryn, let's talk about this after class… we're going to be late." She looked up at the arch as they passed through it. "I want to know… but later…"

Bryn and Sarah exited the building they had been in for the two classes Over her shoulder Sarah looked up to the arch and the symbol that was in the center of the arch, a ring of oak leaves with an eye in the opening in the center. "What is that?"

"It's a symbol of the Oak King," Bryn related. "Dagda, the Celtic earth God, the lord of the Greenwood."

"Dagda," Sarah repeated quietly as they walked away from the building. Sarah pointed to another symbol over another archway; "And that one?"

"That's a Wheat ring; it's the symbol of Cerridwin the Celtic Goddess of the harvest…" She smiled softly. "That's my Goddess."

"Your Goddess?" Sarah questioned as she awakened to the possibilities. "I suppose she's all goodness and light,"

"Hardly," Bryn scoffed. "Celtic Gods and Goddesses are warriors."

Sarah spotted another symbol in a doors archway. "That one, that thing that looks like a ring of Holly…"

"That's the symbol of the Holly King, the other aspect of the Oak King..." Bryn followed the excited Sarah.

Sarah moved quickly to an arch in the center of the quad, there was no building, just the arch. The three symbols were joined in an intertwined manner. "What's that?"

"Power portal," Bryn said studying the arches sweep up ward. "The three are joined, and who ever enterers the portal and knows how to demand power can receive it." As Sarah took a step forward Bryn put out her hand. "NO, you're not ready … not yet."

Sarah looked at her, "I am."

"No, you need to learn…prepare and dedicate yourself, but by Samhain you'll be ready." Bryn promised. "Let's find Lilith, she'll want to know."

Know, what?" Sarah asked as she turned from the arch.

Bryn seemed quietly in charge. "Know that you're ready to take the next step… to join us in a circle. She said we should meet at the student union, that's over by the parking lot our bus will be in." She pointed toward the east, and turned to walk.

They were not surprised to see Lilith, but Sarah was a bit surprised to find her sitting in the lap of a gruff looking bearded youth in a from fitting leather outfit. She envied Lilith the ability to enjoy the company and touch of the swarthy youth. His hands moved over Lilith's bottom as he whispered something suggestive in her ear, and her eyes closed in amusement as she delighted in his suggestions. She waved at the pair as they approached. "Sarah, Bryn come meet Bear," she squirmed on his lap and he chuckled darkly; "My new boyfriend." She announced.

Sarah took a seat opposite them, "Hello, Bear."

The man with thick dark waves of hair cut in a roguish style smiled at both the new girls joining them. "Hello," he kept his hands on the girl squirming on his lap. His dark Aegean blue eyes gave his heritage as a Greek away quickly. "Sit still," he warned playfully. "Or your friends will be shocked." He slipped his hand up her ribs to cup her breast.

Bryn cleared her throat and looked away discreetly. Sarah didn't bother. "You take classes here?" She asked sounding a bit flat.

"Yep," he said looking at her with an arrogance that was unmistakable.

"He's in my Greek histories class." Lilith volunteered.

The young man kept moving his hand over the girl knowing just where and how to touch her. "So you two go to that fancy reform school as well?" He asked in a voice that clearly was not judging.

Sarah nodded, and said quietly. "I have anger management issues."

Pausing in his manhandling of the Greek girl, he slowly smiled. "You're the girl who beat the shit out of the goons… aren't you?" He didn't wait for denial or admission. "I was one of the ambulance drivers that night… man you wailed on them something beautiful, princess."

Sarah snickered. "That I did."

He extended his free hand out to her, and murmured. "Pax."

Lilith sat upright in his grip, "Bear, no, Sarah doesn't like to be touched." She warned softly. "It's no insult…it's…"

"Its fine," he said pulling his hand back. "Just know that my hand had been offered."

Liking this brash young man, Sarah leaned forward on the table and smiled; "And accepted."

Bear smiled wider, "I think we're going to have a hell of a good time, girls." He nuzzled Lilith again. "I've got some pals that I think you babes would love."

Sarah was the one who noticed the bus driver looking for them; "Time to get back to the salt minds."

Bear gave Lilith a long lingering deep kiss. "Next time, hot pants." He promised something unspoken.

"God yes," she answered darkly.

Bryn and Sarah bid him good bye and moved toward the bus without waiting for Lilith. As the three boarded the bus and took their assigned seats everyone was exchanging information on how the classes had gone. Bryn turned to the aroused Lilith and whispered. "Sarah's in."

Lilith leaned toward the girl sitting on the other side of Bryn. "Really? That's great! We can start training you right away."

"Am I a performing dog or pony?" Sarah teased lightly.

Lilith settled down and looked at her, "Sarah about what happened just now… it doesn't mean anything…it's just… animal magnetism. If I had to choose between you and Bear, I'd choose you…."

"That may not be a wise choice," Sarah warned trying not to judge. "I love you for saying it, but I do understand the attraction in a stud like Bear. I don't blame you for wanting to be… held and touched… loved…"

"It's not love Sarah," Lilith said defensively. "Its substitution, I'd much rather…" She smiled wistfully but let the thought drop. "What peaked your interest in joining the circle?" she asked changing the subject."

"Power," Sarah stated flatly. "It's about power… and I want it."

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Jareth had felt a disturbance, something he could not name, as he entered his chamber late after the dinner he'd attended in the home of one of his Kingdom's Fae residence. He was surprised to find the orb on the nightstand glowing and swirling with color and movement. He removed his cloak, letting it fall to the floor as he moved toward it. One gloved had reached out to grasp the crystal; he raised it up and murmured softly. "I didn't switch you on," he gazed into the foggy mists and noticed little changes.

Smirking to himself he lay on the bed, and raised the orb to gaze deeply into its depths. "Give me one of her dreams…" he commanded darkly. "Something naughty."

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Several weeks had past, and the three gathered in the privacy of Sarah's room as it had the most room. With white chalk Lilith drew an outline of a circle, with blue she drew the five pointed star, each of the points reaching the circle's outline. In each of the points she drew another symbol. "It goes clockwise," Lilith said reverently. "Spirit, is the top point, followed by water, then fire, and earth and lastly air." She stood up.

Bryn lit four candles in little votive holders, one green, one yellow, one red and one blue. Lastly she put a white candle in the center. "East is yellow, and that goes with air. Red is fire and that goes south, blue is water, and that's west, and the green is earth and north….The white candle is spirit." She looked at Lilith, and picked up a little stick of tightly wrapped leaves tied with a dark cord. "This is sage, and we will cleanse each other with its smoke." She moved the smoldering object about Lilith, passed it to her and let her do the same to her. They both held it as they passed it about Sarah. Bryn then picked up a small bowl with water, and she sprinkled some on Lilith with her hand. Lilith then repeated the motion and both sprinkled water at Sarah.

Lilith turned to Bryn, "How do you enter the circle?"

"With perfect love and perfect trust," Bryn replied. She then asked Lilith, "How do you enter the circle?"

"With perfect love and perfect trust," she smiled as they both turned and asked the same question of Sarah.

"With perfect love and perfect trust," Sarah nodded.

"Sarah you'll be spirit, and Bryn is fire, and I'm earth." Lilith said softly. "Once we've entered the circle, no may leave until the ceremony is finished," she warned when the others nodded, she took a deep breath. "Then let us cast our first circle." She took her place in the point marked Earth. Bryn stepped into Fire, and held out her hands in the same fashion that Lilith's were held. Sarah lightly stepped into Spirit, holding her hands out as well. Lilith nodded and the three began the chant.

"We call upon the ancient power, Guardians of the four quarter towers. Be with us this night and give to us your power. As it is above so be it below. So mote it is."

A gust of wind blew open the window, yet the candles remain lit. Lilith looked more than pleased. "We three call upon the Triple Goddess this holy Mabon Night, bless us and accept us."

Bryn invoked the names of the Goddess and finished with "Bless us and accept us."

Sarah lit the incense that was made for this night's work of anointing and dedicating. "We call upon the maid, the mother and the crone to guide us. Bless us and accept us." The little homemade cone of cinnamon and cloves filled the air with its pungent but pleasant odor. She then nodded to Lilith who was acting as the high priestess for the little group.

Lilith picked up a letter opener that had been sharpened to a fine tip and pricked her finger. She let the blood drop into a little cup. "I give my life's blood as sacrifice to thee oh Great Goddess." She passed the blade and cup to Bryn who after repeating the act passed them on to Sarah.

"I give my life's blood as sacrifice to thee… OH Great mother… Bless us and accept us." Sarah invoked. Another great gust of wind came through the window.

Each then dropped the robe she'd been standing in, standing Naked in the darkness before each other as equals and before the Goddess as vessels. "Bless us and accept us." They repeated once more.

Bryn looked up, "I am fire, I am the south, and I shall take the name Firebird as my circle name and the wolf as my totem. I am the Celtic daughter of Cerridwin, Blessed be."

Lilith looked up and accepted her sisters in circle. "I am Earth and I am the north… I take the name Tara as my circle name and the tiger as my totem; I am the Greek daughter of Persephone, Blessed Be."

Sarah gave it thought, and looked up. "I am Spirit, and I am all abounding. I take the name Pandora as my circle name. I am the dreamless one...Daughter of Danu, Blessed be." Her voice reverberated as she spoke.

Lilith closed her eyes, "As it was,"

"As it is," said Bryn.

"AS it shall be!" Sarah said in a voice that filled the room with electricity.

"So mote it be," the said together. And placing their hands so the palms faced each other the closed the circle. "We call upon the ancient power, Guardians of the four quarter towers. Be with us this night and give to us your power. As it is above so be it below. So mote it is. We close now our circle and thank you for your gifts of enlightenment." A gust of wind came through the room and the candles went out.

Sarah moved to the wall and flipped the switch that would light the room up once more. She picked up her robe and looked at Lilith. "I could get use to that…"

"What, casting a circle?"

"No," Sarah said softly; "To the rush of power."

Lilith opened a bottle of apple cider, and poured into three wooden goblets. "How long have you been dreamless?" she asked handing the goblet to Sarah who was now sitting on the floor within the still vibrating circle.

"Since the night I wished my little brother away to the Goblins…." Sarah said almost trancelike sipping from the goblet.

Both Bryn and Lilith looked at each other, shock registering in eyes and face. Lilith sat down Hindi styled on the point of Earth. "But Sarah, I've seen your brother in pictures you have from home…" She pointed to a recent shot of Sarah with the little boy in the family's back yard. "If you'd wished him away…"

"I won him back," she sighed deeply closing her eyes on the rush of memory of that night.

Bryn shook her head, "Sarah, that's not possible…"

Lilith drank from her goblet and giggled. "I can just see you besting the Goblins… oh that must have been rich!"

Bryn grabbed the Greek girl by the arm. "Not the Goblins, she bested someone higher… they don't have the power or right to give someone back."

Lilith pulled her arm free and looked at the entranced Sarah. "Who'd you beat?"

Sarah's eyes opened, they looked like a kaleidoscope of color; "The Goblin King."

Bryn moaned and began to curse under her breath, she moved forward on her knees. "Sarah, look at me…" when the green eyes focused she said. "What happened that night, can you tell me?"

"I didn't know it would actually work," Sarah began to retell the tale of the night of the bid storm. Skimming over portions hitting what she felt were the important issues. "And I found Toby in his bed…"

"Did you ever tell anyone this?" Bryn asked in desperation.

"I'm already labeled a trouble maker; you want them to call me nuts as well?" Sarah snapped harshly. "Besides after my friends came to celebrate my victory it was all over… and until now… I'd forgotten most of it… funny right now it seems fresh as when it happened."

Lilith looked at Bryn, her face twisted in apprehension. "This is bad?"

"Worse than bad…" Bryn retorted in a biting tone. "She was not supposed to remember… that's the way it works…"

"The way what works?" Lilith asked knowing that her friend was more into stories and legends and folk history.

"I told you when she arrived there was something powerful and magical about her," Bryn stood up looking down at Sarah sitting in Spirit. "It's the circle… it's effected whatever spell was cast on her."

"Then her dreams will return?"

Bryn shook her head, "No," moving closer to Sarah again she said quietly. "Think… when the creatures you'd befriended left you… and you went to sleep… did you dream?"

"Yes," her voice was soft and awed, "I dreamed someone came to me… kissed me ever so softly… and then… said something…" A sound came from the back of her throat. "He touched me with a crystal orb…" anger, panic and fear collided in the green eyes. "That son of a bitch took my dreams…. I remember now… said he'd live with regret and my dreams…."

"A crystal orb," Bryn fell back. "That bastard."

"What? " Lilith demanded.

"Sarah's dreams were … harvested by a Fae as the price tag for her winning back her brother… nothing is free… and Sarah paid with her dreams…past, present and future."

"That's horrible." Lilith seethed. "It's inhuman!"

"The Goblin King is not human, nor is he a Goblin… he's a royal Fae." Bryn crawled over to the night stand to retrieve a book she'd only that day leant to Sarah. "It's one of the oldest Celtic stories." She handed the book to Lilith after she'd opened it to the correct passage. "If what I know is true, she shouldn't even be alive."

"He meant to kill her?" Lilith gasped at the thought.

"No," Sarah said now standing and pacing. "He meant to drive me insane first… and let me die alone, unable to be touched… I don't think his spell worked right though. My parents can touch me and so can Toby."

"Blood line," Bryn hazarded a guess. "He had not counted on that when he harvested the dreams and sealed them away. They don't think of everything… to vain and confident… it's been their undoing before."

"That arrogant son of a bitch!" Sarah fumed. "Oh if he thinks he's getting away with this… I didn't run his fucking Labyrinth just so he could turn around and steal my dreams!" She paused, thinking quickly. "Wait, I'd forgotten all this, what's to prevent me from forgetting again?"

Bryn pointed to the circle. "You're part of a circle, it's got power, and you're connected to us."

"We won't forget." Lilith promised turning to open a box she'd brought into the room with her. In the box were three silver pendants on fine silver chains, pentagrams like the one on the floor in a circle. "I had these made for us, and since they were in the room when we cast the circle they are now consecrated." She dangled one over Sarah's hand. "I would never cause you pain." She murmured lovingly.

"I know that," Sarah said thinking she understood the girl's intentions. She placed the necklace on and let the pentagram in the circle dangle between her breasts.

Bryn frowned slightly, reading something more in the way Lilith doted on Sarah. Once more she held back, and worried if she should say anything to either.

Sarah began to pace again. "I want more than my memory back…"

"Your dreams?" asked Lilith softly.

"That goes without saying…" Sarah fumed. "I want more. I want revenge…" She moved about the circle as she spoke. "I want the power to take revenge."

Bryn gasped. "No you don't."

"Yes she does," Lilith said in delighted excitement. "But Sarah… be warned, once you take that step, you can never look back." She poured more cider, one for each of them.

"I don't care…" Sarah said raising her goblet. "It's about power… and I want it!"

"To Power," Lilith simpered.

"Oh dear," Bryn cringed. "To power;" The three drank to the dregs.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Jareth panted and moaned as the dream he'd allowed himself to visit took a decidedly adult turn. The girl was pleasing him as no Fae woman had ever offered. He experienced the release, as the green eyed dream creature licked her lips moving back, looking up at him with wicked delight in her not so innocent eyes.

Jareth sat up in his bed, "Where the hell did that come from?" he hoisted the orb upward and glared. "Where the hell does an innocent get dreams like that?" Glaring at the orb he set it aside, vowing not to touch it again.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Devon found Jareth pacing the old Goblin Throne room, Goblins watching quietly as their King fumed. They all kept back fearfully, but Devon either didn't have the same sense or he was not aware of the dangers. "Jareth?"

The King shot him a harsh glare. "Not now."

Devon looked at one of the Harpies. "How long has he been like this?"

Della crossed her arms, "Since he exited his bedchamber."

Moving back, Devon frowned. "He was fine when I left him last evening after the Marbon feast."

"Well he's not fine now," the Harpy groused. "And I don't think this has to do with the feast…He…smells… different."

Devon looked at the Harpy. "In what manner?"

"Like he's been with a woman." The other Harpy sighed.

Looking toward one of the Goblins he asked without words, one by one they shook their heads in the negative. Devon looked at the Harpies, "I don't see how, he's not even gone whoring with me the last few times."

"I know what I know." Declared the Harpy; "He's been satisfied."

Devon watched his cousin pace. "He does not look satisfied now."

Jareth stopped pacing to roar, "I will not be spoken of as if I'm not in the room!" The roar had felt good, and his tensions receded.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Nearly two months had passed, Sarah looked at the archway and at each of the girls she'd taken as sister. "Once we do this…" Bryn had warned. "There's no going back."

Sarah looked at the symbol and walked to the arch with Bryn on one side, Lilith on the other. "I claim the power!" Each said as they entered the arch.

Bear was leaning on a tree watching. "God help whoever pissed them off." He said to a comrade standing with him; "Especially that little dark haired green eyed witch."

Snake, his friend nodded. "Yeah, she's a force."

Bear snickered. "She's the one with power," he pointed to the dark campus. "She's the one who figured out how to get off campus and get here without setting off every alarm in the state. You'd think there'd been more people out on a Sunday night, wouldn't you?"

Snake shrugged, "I just want them to get done so we can get them back before anyone notices."

"They entered the arch at the stroke of Midnight, and it's now the start of the witches feast." Bear watched the girls emerge from the arch. "It's done, go get the car stated." He waited for the girls in the long robes. "You owe me," he said to Lilith pointedly. "I will collect."

"Not a problem," she promised.

He looked at Sarah. "I hope you found what you wanted, and that it was worth the risks."

Sarah walked with them back to Snake's car. "I got just what I wanted…it's about Power, Bear... Who has it, who can hold it, and who can claim it."

Bear held the door open for them, blocking Sarah before she could enter. "Be careful what you wish for little girl, what's said is said…they say… and the Gods…play nasty jokes."

Sarah tasted something foul in her throat, but swallowed it back. "Don't worry Bear, I know what I'm doing."

He closed the door and grinned; "Famous last words." He slid into the front seat, and gave Snake the go ahead to leave the university parking lot and head back to St. Ambrose. He turned to look at the three little witches sitting in the back seat. His eyes met with Lilith's, a debt was a debt, and he always collected his. He looked at the girl with red hair, and understood her worry and wished he could tell her it would all be fine, but he knew better. Lastly he looked at Sarah, knowing no good would come of this nights work. That thought somehow amused him and he turned back to look out the front window of the car. "I've a feeling this is the beginning of a very interesting relationship ladies."