Chapter 21. The King's conspirators
It was quiet in the chamber of the King, too quiet. He opened his stormy mismatched eyes just in time to witness the Healer being carried off by the Harpy. A dull throbbing at his temple had been present since he'd been dragged into the nightmares. Even with the curtains drawn he felt as if there were far too much light pouring into his space. Turning his head his eyes drifted to the orb that had seemed to drawn no attention, he mused his own condition must have been far more interesting to the unknowing eyes of all who had visited him.
His lips were dry, and his throat felt painful, as painful as when the little witches had placed the restraining collar upon him. Frowning he reached his hand out, taking the orb off its pedestal. It was co lukewarm in his hands, not cold, but not as warm as it had been in the past. His touch seemed to cause a chain reaction and again he was faced with nightmarish creatures. He dropped the orb quickly, drawing another orb with difficulty from the air. Looking into it's depths he commanded; "Sarah," expecting to see the girl. Instead he was seeing a flurry of reactions to the crumpled creature on the stone floor of the tower room. He watched slightly incoherently not clear on what was going on. He watched as the Baron picked the fallen girl up off the floor, placing her on the cot. He listened to the conversations, and heard the explanations that were given. Still the throbbing in his temples beat on and on, as he lowered the orb.
A little while later, when the healer returned to the King's chamber he found the man lying in the bed with eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. Ghillie Dhu moved toward the bed, and the hand of the king not holding a crystal orb rose up and motioned the healer to take a seat at the far side of the room. Quietly the old man did so. Jareth then looked into the orb again and heard the three discussing what was to be done next.
Daisy looked down at the girl, her face was still ashen, but not as gray as when they'd found her. "This is my fault," she whispered once the Harpy had departed with the Healer. "I should have remembered her…."
"I didn't remember her either," Devon confessed bitterly. "And I have her… friend…" Worriedly he looked at the female Goblin. "We share the fault, you and I…and the King…"
Daisy shook her head, "His majesty is recovering…this is not his fault…"
"Daisy," Devon warned her with a darkening tone. "He was well enough to call for reports less than a day after the attack… Yes he was in bed, but he was aware enough to look after his kingdom… but he forgot this girl…. And I've a sneaking feeling that was on purpose."
"Can you blame him?" Daisy questioned as she watched the girl. "Think of what one has done to him….not just this attack, but the affront she … No… I will not blame him if he did put her to the back of his mind…" She looked about the tower. "It would have been different had we been able to house her in the dungeon like any other prisoner. The dungeon staff would have seen to it she was given nourishment."
"Could have, should have, would have…." Devon observed critically. "Spilt milk..."
"Aye, spilt milk;" Agreed the guard crossing her arms; keeping an eye on the opening watching for her partner's return.
Della swept into the room and folded her wings upon landing gracefully in one sweeping motions. "This looks like a conspiracy meeting." She observed coldly.
"It more or less is," Devon agreed being of the same mind. "For the good of the Kingdom we who rescued the King must be a conspiracy of three…" He pointed to the girl. "Jareth would not want her presence to be known, not just yet…I have no idea of what seeing her will do to whomever has had their memories shifted…Until the King is well enough to deal with her, we three must… I can not use magic to enter the tower...Nor to leave," he glared at the snickering Harpy. "Only a winged one can enter… and right now, that means you." He continued to look at the Harpy. "You will have to be the one who brings meals to her until the King can assign a winged Goblin."
"And should I refuse?" Della growled disagreeable.
"You can not," Daisy interjected. "Your matron took an oath for your entire breed….Like her or not, the girl is the King's possession…his slave…his chattel and you are foresworn to protect what belongs to the King, including her."
Arrogance and superiority shone in Harpy eyes as she regarded the Goblin. "Runt, sometimes you are a bit too smart for your own good."
Devon enjoyed the barbs being tossed; "For now, we three and the healer are the only ones who've seen the girl…. Let us keep it that way until the King presents her to the Kingdom after all she is his to deal with when all is said and done… for all I know he may just decide to let her rot here in this ivory and opal gilded cage." Rising he looked at Daisy. "As you are a commander in the royal guards I expect you'll have a way of fixing the schedules…."
"Who's going to tell the King?" Daisy asked cutting to the chase. "Someone has to."
Devon frowned, "I will."
"Oh let me," mocked the Harpy. "I can just image his…face."
Devon snapped at her, "Della, that's not funny…"
"It wasn't meant to be you prancing bag of hot air…" The Harpy snapped in return coarsely.
Placing her fingers in her lips the way she'd seen the King do, Daisy whistled sharply getting both to quiet down. "I suggest we all speak to him, and I suggest we do it soon."
Della shrugged, "Runt's right," she conceded.
"I hate the idea of disturbing him right now…he had a bad night." Devon contended softly.
"Hers was worse," Daisy observed and held up a hand to forestall any other comments. "I say we go to the King now… the girl will be alright for a short time. I need to make arrangements for the guards to shift in rotation. Birdie, you and I are going to be doing double duty here…and making reports to both the Baron here and the King." She motioned them both to the window. "Take the Baron down and then come for me... Come on! Move!"
"Bossy little runt," Della sniped as she flung an arm about the Baron unceremoniously. "You just love lording your rank over me, don't you runt?
"Move or be fricasseed you sorry excuse for a hen." Daisy shoved her toward the opening. When the pair was gone she took one long look at the girl in the cot over her shoulder. "Damn if history does not repeat…perhaps… this time we can change..." She stood in the opening and leapt into the waiting talons of the Harpy.
The King lowered the orb once more and waited, he didn't have long to wait. He looked over at the Healer, not ready to speak to him until he'd dealt with the three self proclaimed King's conspirators. He was able to raise himself up on the pillows that were there to brace his back. The chamber door opened, and three individuals marched in. One Harpy looking haughty one Goblin looking contrite and one Fae looking very vexed; Jareth raised his hand to bid them to come closer.
Before the King or the Baron could speak, Daisy moved swiftly forward, bent her knee and lowered her head. "Sire, I have failed you… do to my stupidity your prisoner nearly died…"
Jareth watched as his cousin rushed forward, not about to allow the Goblin to take the heat. "That's not exactly true…it's as much my fault as hers….we were so concerned with you that we forgot all about the girl in the tower…" Devon stated standing beside the bent and kneeling female Goblin.
Ghillie Dhu watched the king with interest, wondering what his reactions would be to the confession, and the confessors.
Jareth the Goblin King turned and looked at the Harpy who was standing apart from the contrite pair. "And what say you, Harpy?" He asked in a raspy voice.
"Not my problem," she sauntered forward with a casual gait, totally unaffected and unashamed. "I did what I was told to do, no more, no less."
Amused that the Harpy did not feel any responsibility, nor did she feel guilt, Jareth snickered. "Don't change Della, not ever." He turned his attentions to the pair willing to take blame, motioning the healer to come forward. "Will the… girl… live?"
Ghillie Dhu crossed his arms over his chest, "The young woman, while in very poor condition will live…"
Jareth glared at the healer, not partial to having his words redirected. "You may tend to her medical needs… with exception to the wounds that have been given her on my direction." He looked at Devon and Daisy. "Who remembered the girl?"
Daisy looked at Devon, who shamefaced whispered. "Miss Cystennin."
"Who?" The King asked racking his brain for the face that went with that so Welsh name.
"The little red haired witch you… gave to me…" Devon said with a deep swallow. "She asked me to see how the girl was fairing…."
"I see," Jareth's face was worn, and the frown didn't set well with his handsome features.
Devon sighed deeply, "Cousin I take the responsibility…"
Jareth shook his head, "No,"
Daisy squared her shoulders, "I sire, take…"
"NO," Jareth said even stronger. "No, you won't Daisy… if anyone is at fault here its Sarah Williams…"
Ghillie Dhu gasped in shock and anger. "You would blame the victim…."
"Victim my ass!" Snapped the bedridden King; "Had she not declared this war, I would never have been left in a condition where I could not…" He growled, stopped speaking to regain his composure. "I will not have my guards or my cousin accepting the blame for this." He looked at the two. "You remembered her, and acted quickly to prevent her escaping me even by means of death. For that I am grateful." He raised the crystal orb he'd been watching them in. "You were wrong, there are more than just the four of you who know the girl is here…. You forgot Joachim…. He was in the dungeon with us…"
Daisy shifted uncomfortably at the mention of who knew the girl was there. "Sire… there may… be more…"
Jareth, Devon and the healer all looked at the Goblin guard; her partner stared off in space. Jareth seeing the noncommittal reaction called the Harpy on it. "Della, is the Matron… aware?"
"She may have made some mention…." Della stalled.
"If the matron knows, the flock knows," Jareth deliberated aloud. "Who else knows…." He looked at Daisy. "Who else knows?"
"A better question would be who does not," Daisy sidestepped the issue.
The dawning of understanding struck the king, he leaned forward. "The three traitors don't know…and don't remember…Nor do any of the Fae who were mind shifted…"
"That's about the size of it," Daisy admitted softly.
Devon raised a brow, "Jareth, how many Fae did you… mind shift?"
"Every last one who was present in the Kingdom during the girls Run in the Labyrinth, including our dear Rosalind." Jareth said coldly. "Anyone who could have made a report to the High King or the Fae court…." He turned to the Healer. "Ghillie Dhu, is there a potion I can take that will give me the stamina I need to move about the kingdom? I've a feeling that we are under a watchful eye… and my being bedridden at this time is not something I wish to explain. Recovering from a hangover can not cover as much time as my recovering needs…"
The old man pulled on his long white beard, "I recall an elixir that was once used…" his face was lined with the wrinkles of his age. "However it does have draw backs…it may be used once…"
"Brew it," ordered the King.
The old healer paused. "And the young woman, what do you intend to do about her?"
"She's my business," Jareth stated with a nasty tone lacing his words. "What I do about her does not concern you."
"As you say," the old one bowed and swept from the room.
"Pompous… if he were not the finest healer…I'd have sent him packing back to Oberon in a heart beat," vowed the disgruntled king. He turned to Daisy. "The Goblins?"
"Hold to their oaths," she assured him.
He glared at Della, "And the Harpies?"
"Couldn't care less…" she lied.
"Della," Jareth snapped his fingers to bring her to attention. "What is the Matron's stance on the issue of Sarah Williams?"
The Harpy sneered. "Matron says, she is Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan, the price of peace with the above, whether she knows it or not." Della paraphrased the Matron's words. "The flock will protect the King and his bonded slave; as we have sworn to do." She guardedly added; "Where we agree with the King or not."
Jareth looked at the three, two willing participants and one ruffled feathered Harpy. "I'm sure the kingdom will be a buzz about the woman in the tower soon enough. We need to cover our tracks…. There must be no mention of the attack on my person when I bring the girl forth for the Kingdom to catch a glimpse of."
"You intend to display your…trophy?" Devon asked taking a seat on his cousin's bed. "Is that wise?"
"Once she's had some proper training," Jareth answered with a dark almost menacing glint in his stormy eyes. "Do you not wish to display your little trophy, cousin?"
"No," Devon admitted quickly. "Right now I want to keep the young lady under lock and key."
"How goes your…indoctrination of the little witch?" Asked the King. "Have you made any…headway with her?"
"I'm treating her as my guest," Devon said feeling defensive.
"You mean to tell me you have not…"
"No," snapped the Baron harshly. "Nor will I until she is… willing."
Della tossed back her head a laughed. "The Lord Devon, Baron of the Goblin Kingdom showing signs of being a gentleman… and to a mortal." Her icy words were laced with scorn. "Now I've heard everything."
Daisy, still on her bent knee looked at Della with sorrowfulness. Knowing a Harpy could not begin to understand the depths of commitment the Baron was showing. Daisy understood more about the two Fae, and the changes in them due to living in the land of the Labyrinth for so long. She looked at the King, gently she brought him back to the subject at hand. "Sire, the girl in the tower?"
Jareth accepted the shift and turned his attention from teasing his cousin to the Goblin who was keeping things more on tact. "Yes, the girl…Daisy, you were willing in the tower to take responsibility for her… are you still willing?" When the guard nodded, he continued. "I will then have you and this one," he pointed to Della; "Take care of the girl, nurse her back to relative health. Force feed the bitch if need be, but don't let her die of neglect."
Della protested, "I don't see that as such a calamitous event, my King."
"What you see or don't see is of no consequence, Harpy… you've been given your orders. Now go." He motioned Devon to stay put while the guards made their exits. He looked his cousin in the eye. "I am not ready for my possessing the girl to be made common knowledge, not just yet."
Devon nodded; turning away he took notice of the framed ink-on-canvas artwork on the wall. "Where did that come from? I don't remember that piece, and I was under the impression I knew all your art work in here since you renovated."
"Spoils of war," Jareth gave a haughty smile to the memory of ordering Daisy to take it off the wall in a room Sarah used Above. He settled into the pillows, "I take such comfort from my plunder."
Turning to look at the King, Devon cocked a brow; "Ah, but will you plunder your…spoils?"
"Will you?" Jareth questioned just as transparently.
The Baron lounged back and smiled cryptically. "I've already informed Miss Cystennin that I intend to bed her. I've made no secret of my intentions."
"Blatant honesty. What a novel tool in wooing a woman…" Jareth teased. "I don't think I shall bother…." He closed his eyes thinking of the many ways he planned on exacting his pound of flesh from the mortal. "I think I'll just rely on brute force." The King chuckled as some evil thought crossed his mind. "However, business before pleasure, I will need you here at the palace for the remainder of this week, leave your little plaything under lock and key."
"Jareth," Devon protested. "I had plans."
"Cancel them;" Stated the King frostily.
Devon fell back on his cousin's bed and groaned. "There goes a lovely picnic."
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Robert and Errol felt like spare tires trying to lend a hand as the women packed up. The belongings of the two girls were crated into boxes by loving hands while the men took Toby for a long walk. Linda looked about the room and frowned. "Karen, that ink drawing Li Po did for Sarah is missing."
Karen looked about; "You're right…It should be right here…Robert hung it for her, I remember that clear as day…. Linda who would take a thing like that? I mean outside of being pretty…it really didn't have much value. Is anything else missing?"
Joanna Cystennin looked around the room. "A lot of things are missing, things that most would not consider valuable, or would even take notice of… Bryn kept a box of crystals. I know because I was with her when she packed them and I don't see them anywhere." She moved to the book shelf, and frowned. "Some of Bryn's folk lore books are gone as well." She looked at Linda with confusion. "Who would want to steal a book on fairies?"
Hearing the other mother's question, Linda opened the drawer in the night stand next to her daughter's bed. It was empty, the book that Linda knew Sarah kept under lock and key was gone. Linda looked at Karen, "What was it Toby kept saying last night?"
Jeremy answered from where he was leaning on the door frame. "He said someone had taken Sarah and Bryn away…someone not of this world."
Karen looked on the verge of tears; "Poor boy, missing his sister so, he just can not accept that she's…."
Jeremy was looking at Linda his eyes darkening with an unspoken warning. "He also said he was going to get them back." He said quietly.
Joanna moved forward, "Toby said not of this world?" Turning to Linda she asked. "Isn't that an odd way for a child of five to speak?"
"He's an odd child," Linda said before Karen could protest, she added; "He's always be a bit unusual… what my mother calls…fay anam. … Fairy souled…" The actress pondered for a moment. "But to say not of this world, Karen even I think that's peculiar."
"I'd keep an eye on him were I you." Warned Joanna fighting the urge to bolt from the room; "I don't think we've heard the last of any of this."
Linda walked over to Jeremy, "I want to know everything you two said to one another." She demanded softly.
"Not here," Jeremy mouthed, looking over her shoulder at Karen. "Later."
Linda looked at Karen and nodded, then went on with the task of clearing things up. Joanna was making notes of the items she'd found to be missing from her daughter's belongings. Karen found nothing missing of Sarah's, but was not aware of the items Linda had been sending to her daughter. Linda was making notes of her own, not sure who she'd ask for answers.
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Robert and Errol sat in the sun, pulling their jackets a bit tighter for a chill had settled in. Toby was tossing stones into the little pond that was part of the campus's grounds. He kept muttering to himself, and the men let him. The men in mourning were not aware if the watchful eyes that were focused on the boy.
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Hugging Karen one more time before she got into the car, Linda promised that both she and Jeremy would make it to the house for thanksgiving and yes, they needed to stay strong together right now. She leaned in the window of the back seat, was going to kiss the boy good bye when she noticed how he kept staring at Jeremy. "Toby, if you need us…for any reason…" Toby looked at his sister's mother, nodded and leaned up to kiss her on the cheek. As he did he whispered to her to be careful. Linda pulled back from the window and looked at the boy, for a moment he looked…strange, and not of this earth. She blinked and in that time what ever she'd seen had disappeared.
Errol and Joanna had given both Karen and Linda their address and phone number. Linda waved both cars off before turning to Jeremy who pointed to his car. She followed him and once they were on the road she turned to him. "Okay, we're off the campus… I don't know why you felt you could not speak there…"
"Linda, think about the things that are missing…the crystals, the books, candles, incense….Hell that Ink thing Li Po did… all of them are things that have mystical connections… and if you had been looking at some of the building markings like I was, you would not want to have this conversation there either." He snapped with annoyance, and then quickly apologized.
Placing a hand on his sleeve, Linda soothed him. "Its okay baby, we're all on edge…"
"Toby is right." Jeremy said pulling the car over to the side of the highway. He looked haggard and worried, and was not thinking about his appearance. "Toby was right."
"Right about what?" Linda gasped.
The man who had been her partner on stage and screen looked at her with more guilt than she'd ever seen on his face. "I think he's right, someone took the girls away…from here… from this world…." He took hold of her hands. "I fear some of our answers lie where they… were last. That blasted asylum the police told us about."
"But I don't know where that asylum is…"Linda began, and then halted. "Do you?"
Jeremy pulled the car back on the highway, and turned at the first crossover he found. "I asked and yes, I have directions…."
Linda looked at the road ahead, as they passed the college once more. "Why didn't you say anything? Don't you think you should have said something to Robert?"
"Oh right, I'm supposed to say to Robert, hey I think the kid is on to something!" the handsome actor made his point loudly and unsympathetically. "I can just see old Robert's face on that one…NO, no Linda. This is not something we can discuss with them, right now… and most assuredly not on that campus…in fact I say that while we investigate at the asylum, we not say a word about our suspicions…"
"What are our suspicions?" she spread her hands out before her. "Give me a clue as to what you're thinking…."
"Darling," he said boldly. "Do you remember that little dinner we had with your mum about two years ago, you were telling her about Sarah's dreamless state?"
The actress remembered very well, it was not something she was likely to forget. "Mom said Sarah was the victim of a … Fae prank. That a dream stealing creature had attacked her for revenge…." Speaking the words aloud did two things, made them sound crazier than they had originally; nevertheless it also gave them validity. She looked at Jeremy, "I see why you didn't want to discuss this with Robert…it sounds nuts."
"It would be too, if I didn't know better." Jeremy looked at Linda with remorse. "I'm not sure, but I may have brought this on you…."
"Don't talk like that," begged the woman. "We've been all through this. My leaving Robert was not your fault…"
"Linda, you'd have stuck it out had I not appeared in your life." The words were spoken in a crisp English accent. "You'd have played the wife and mother to the hilt, and without me to show you what you were missing, you might even have believed yourself happy and fulfilled." He reached out one hand, drew hers to his lips. "I can even forgive you refusing to marry me, because of what my presence has done to your life, my darling." Lightly he placed his lips to her fingers. "We make magic you and I for good reason, and you know it Linda… you are going to have to acknowledge and make a clean breast of it sooner or later, why not now?"
"Yes, I know you're different…" She said enjoying the jolt of electricity that was always present when he touched her. "I've known all along…"
Jeremy smiled as he drove. "That was not so hard, now was it… so say the rest and it will be out in the open."
"You beguiled me," she whispered dreamily. "And I allowed you to."
"Finish it," he commanded. "Say it all."
"I know who and what you are," She put her head on his shoulder, "You are Jeremy Danann Eden, and you are…Kathrin." She swallowed the tears that were threatening to break free.
Jeremy turned slightly and kissed her forehead as he'd done often enough. "That which binds us, will never set us free." He warned. "You don't have to marry me, but you'll never be loved by another, Linda… you are mine. We are bound to each other as surely as if we'd exchanged vows in a church. And because of it, we may have endangered your daughter."
Huddling to him, more for strength than for comfort, Linda groaned. "We've been so careful!"
"Have we love?" He asked softly, not truly believing that they had. "Think of all we've done with Sarah… of the gifts we've given her over the years…" He was mentally tallying up what all they'd given to Sarah over the years. "Had I the least idea that a Fae would go after your daughter…."
"One went after me," she reminded him quietly.
"That does not count, not entirely…I'm only part Fae… Kathrin I may be, but I live on the mundane Plane." He objected. "I didn't use Fae tricks to get to you…not that I wouldn't have… I just didn't need to… your soul was already searching for me..."
"Alright, so we're both bad…" She sighed. "I left a husband and young daughter for the pleasures…and you…"
"I beguiled you….knowing you were already married… if I had just left it at an affair…loved you and left you behind, but no…I could not do even that." He mumbled softly, and then placed his hand on her knee. "Hell, I'd do it again."
Blushing Linda looked away. "Look, isn't that the place?" she pointed to a gate up the road; "Looks like someone's cleaning house."
"I smell a rat." Jeremy pulled his car into the long drive, headed toward the building that seemed to be getting cleared out.
"So do I, a big Greek rat," Linda was glaring at the man directing men carrying items out of the house. "That's the trunk of costumes I sent Sarah. " She announced as she leapt from Jeremy's car. "Care to tell me what you're doing with it?" she glared at Ari.
Snake looked at the other man and whispered some warning to him. Ari moved forward looking at the actress with no hint of remorse. "Sarah was loaning the costumes to us so we could make a music video…I'll be happy to return your property to you, Miss Williams." His sarcasm was brutal and ruthless. His eyes raked over the actress with no consideration for her companion nor sympathy for her loss. "Then again perhaps you'd like to take Sarah's place…." He suggested salaciously.
Jeremy slammed his door, "Malakas," his voice had gone very deep, powerful and dangerous. "Show respect oryou'll be meeting your ancestors quicker than you intended."
Ari looked at the man as if seeing him for the first time, and there was fear in Ari's eyes. "My apologies, Miss Williams," he said if not contritely, swiftly.
Snake moved forward, "Miss Williams, perhaps if you and your…companion would step inside, we can answer what questions you may have."
"This is where my daughter died?" Linda frowned.
Ari pointed to the ruins of a building, still smoldering and belching out black smoke. "There." He said impassively in a monotone drone.
Snake shot him a look that even Ari could not ignore. "Please, come into the house…and we'll talk," he repeated in a consolatory manner. "I'm sure you have many questions."
Jeremy placed his arm about Linda, who could not stop staring at the pillar of smoke. "Linda, don't look." He turned her, "That's not them." He said with conviction. "That's not them."
Snake and Ari exchanged glances, troubled glances. The man and woman entered the house where things were being removed. Snake directed them into a large sitting room, and took a seat with them. Ari, trying to look intimidating, was standing at the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. Snake looked at the woman and asked carefully. "What do you want to know?"
"What was my daughter into?"
"I'm not sure I understand the question," the biker said carefully. "If you're asking if she was on drugs…then no… Sarah and Bryn didn't do drugs, ever."
"No," Linda said coldly. "I know Sarah didn't do drugs…hell, she hated the meds she had to take for her condition…." She leaned forward, her eyes burning like coals. "I am asking what the hell she was into…"
"Magic," Ari supplied the answer cold and stony. "Sarah, Bryn and Lilith were into magic, Goddess worship and witchcraft." He seemed suddenly resentful. "And Lilith is paying the price. The girl was driven mad by whatever she witnessed here that night…." He lowered his arms to his sides, "I blame Sarah for that and for all of this…"
"Easy to blame someone not here to defend themselves," Jeremy growled dangerously. "You are older than the girls… why didn't you stop them?"
"Stop them?" the young Greek went wild. "Try stopping an earth quake, or a volcano…Stop them."
Snake interjected a thought. "They were trying to find a way to redeem Sarah's lost dreams… Bryn told me, they thought they had a ritual that would… help." His voice was reasonable and they all looked at him. "They had been following the year and a day path…studying, practicing, learning all the rites and everything seemed…normal." He explained to the mother who was now looking at him for answers. "Bryn said that she felt that Lilith was beginning to obsess not about helping Sarah but about Sarah herself, and was giving her information that she was not sharing with the circle… I think Lilith got some old books that she shouldn't have."
"Who was teaching them?" Linda asked softly, knowingly.
"No one," Snake said with regret. "Bryn's family is Ban Drui; you do know what that means don't you?"
Linda turned to Jeremy who answered. "They are Welsh descendants of Druistic practitioners."
Nodding Snake turned to look at Ari who was glaring at him, "I tried to tell you, but you were obsessed with Lilith, and would not, or could not hear what I was telling you." He looked back at Linda. "Bryn said that as she and Sarah both came from Celtic roots, their partnering was a natural thing. Lilith is Greek, like Ari and I… and the magic is not as natural a thing to us… I mean we know it's there and we respect it, but…"
"Bryn and Sarah were the focal points." Linda finished for him, with a groan. "I should have taken her to the Gruagach'."
When both the young Greek men looked at the mother in anguish, Jeremy said with authority, "Gruagach' is an old Gaelic word, in the clans the Gruagach' was a seer, and wise woman… one who understood magic and the unseen world."
Linda looked at Jeremy, "I had no idea she was… I mean she never said a word."
"Like mother like daughter," he consoled. "It's in her blood… your own mother practices Goddess worship. Did you really think the girl would not follow the natural path?" He stroked back the hair that was falling into Linda's eyes.
Linda looked at Snake, "I want to see Sarah's room." She stood up. "I want to see it right now."
Ari shook his head, "There's nothing up there we cleared it out."
Jeremy didn't like the Greek young man, doubted anything in this life would ever give him reason to. "Did you find a framed ink on canvas art piece?"
"No," Ari said. "Not up there."
Snake looked at Linda, "I remember Sarah bringing a framed ink drawing… A dragon and a crane," he looked at Ari. "It should be there…on the wall across from her bed. Hell man," he stood up quickly when Ari shook his head. "I'm the one who hung it for her…it's got to be up there!"
"Well it's not." Ari snapped.
Jeremy stood up and turned to Snake. "Take me up there." They moved past Ari who at first didn't appear to wish to move, but stepped aside to allow them to pass. When they were in the hall out side the room that had been Sarah's, Jeremy motioned for the man with him to stand aside while he entered the room. Closing his eyes, letting his inner senses surge forward, Jeremy saw what was unseen. He saw the impressions left by the energy markers of beings not of this plane. Opening his eyes, he moved swiftly from the room as if being chased by some invisible force. He didn't even stop to speak to the man in the hall waiting for him. He moved down the stairs at a clip. "Linda, we must go, now…" He held his hand out to her, practically dragging her out of the house with urgency. He looked at the Greek men, before stepping into his car. "Salt the grounds." He warned darkly. "We'll be in touch with you….to tell you what to do with the costumes…" he strapped himself into the driver's seat, gunned the engine and drove as quickly as he could off the grounds. Once he was at what felt like a safe distance he pulled off the road and looked at Linda. He said one word. "Goblins," Linda roared in frustration. It was a sound that filtered long and far away.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Devon and Jareth both looked up at the disturbance in the fabric of that which protected the FairyLands from the mortal and mundane. Jareth's smile was a little to sinister for Devon's liking. He whispered, "Jareth, who ever just cried out, don't you fear Oberon hearing her?"
"Mortals cry out all the time, cousin. I doubt the High King will bother himself with one more." The Goblin King turned his attentions to the scrolls his cousin had fetched for his attention. "These are done," He shoved them aside. "The healer will be back soon with my elixir, I suggest you see to our afternoon schedule… and perhaps make dinner plans with Rosalind, she's always good for the spectacle.
Devon rose to his feet, gathered up the scrolls and bowed; "As you wish, sire. Dinner in the state dinning hall; whom do you wish to be in attendance?"
Leaning back, feeling fatigued, the King waved him off. "You see to the details, I'm too tired." Closing his eyes, Jareth wore an ominous smile. "Just make it a showy affair."
"As you wish," replied one of the King's conspirators.
Jareth listen, and waited until the Baron had strolled unhurriedly out of the bedchamber. He was alone, opened his eyes and picked up the orb he'd placed under his blanket. The orb was filled with dark fog, and strange colors. "Dream you nightmares, but you won't die, not yet… you won't die." He growled darkly.
"What is that?" A voice full of authorization demanded. Jareth turned, unhappy at finding himself being watched by the all seeing eyes of Ghillie Dhu. For years he'd suspected that the old healer was a spy from the High Courts. However as nothing had been reported to the High King, he could not confirm his suspicions. Now the gray sky eyes glared at the King. "Boy I have asked you a question, what is that?"
With a teasing smile, Jareth watched his face, while he spun the shining crystal around in his fingers."A crystal, nothing more… Except that if you look into it ... it will show you your dreams."
Ghillie Dhu moved forward, eyes glaring, nostrils flaring and fury cloaking him. "What have you done?"
Just for a moment, Jareth had flinched before he snorted, and tossed his mane of blond hair. "Where's my elixir, Healer… The Kingdom has needs, and they are more important than a toy." He placed the orb back on its stand, snapped fingers at the old man and waited.
Ghillie Dhu, being under an oath of allegiance, handed the vial to the King. "You are tampering with things beyond your kin, Jareth."
Downing the contents of the vial, the Goblin King closed his eyes and awaited the results. Feeling the energy he whispered. "Semper vive, live forever…"
The healer watched in silence.