Chapter 32. Principals on trial
Sarah awoke in the night with a start; her entire body seemed to be reacting to some unseen force. "Oh my God, what is that?"
Jareth too had awakened startled; he looked at her and whispered. "You heard?"
"More like felt it in every fiber of my being," Sarah looked at the King; "So what was that?"
"That is a summons," he said quietly, with a strange respectful dread in his usually cocky voice. "Why you felt it is a mystery…one that will have to wait." He rose from the bed and with a flick of his wrist they were both dressed. "We don't have time for pleasantries or any other conversation… Squeek! Squeek!" he called out softly looking about the shadows of the room. "Squeek come to me." Somewhere on the other side of the room, where the shadows began to move a dark body came out of nowhere and rushed toward the King. "There you are, go swiftly tell the Baron I need to speak with him, and be discreet…he may be occupied."
Sarah sat on the edge of the bed, "Is there anything I can do?"
"Just cooperate," Jareth said as Della and Daisy entered the room. "There's been a summons." He informed the guards. "I'll be returning the Tagaan to the Goblin castle before I leave."
Devon entered the King's chambers looking very sleepy. "What's the matter?"
"A summons," Jareth said pulling his gloves over his fingers. "We are leaving now; I'll leave you to police the departure of the staff. I'm taking only the guards and my…" He pointed to Sarah; "my Tagaan," the King looked agitated. "Please give our apologies to the High King… and thank him for a lovely evening." Extending a hand to Sarah he waited for her to join him. Once she'd placed her hand in his, the guards flanked them and they were gone.
Devon stood in the dimly lit room, hearing the scrambling sounds of little Goblins making swiftly to follow their King. "I'll do my best," he said to the empty room. He was certain that the King's own valet had also arisen upon the sounding of the summons. "Rondo," he called out in a sleepy voice. "Rondo!"
The King's valet entered the chamber nodding. "Here my lord," he answered rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Rondo, the King has been summoned, kindly begin to pack. We will leave shortly after breakfast." He wandered to the door. "I'm going back to bed."
"Yes, my lord." Rondo bowed as the Baron exited his cousins' rooms.
Moments after they had vanished from the isle of Avalon, the Goblin King and Sarah along with the two guards appeared in the heart of the Goblin castle. Jareth found the forces of Goblins already gathering ready to follow their master to the mortal realms and seek the wished away child. "Prepare to leave," Jareth ordered them before turning to Sarah. He took her hands into his own. "I'll return as soon as I can." He looked as if he wanted to say more.
Sarah nodded, and watched as he and the horde of nightmarish creatures moved to what she'd thought was only a garish looking stained glass window. The King was the first to step though the glass and vanish on the other side, followed by the horde. Sarah whispered under her breath, "Rhaan taklaan." Goblin for be safe.
Daisy looked at the once mortal girl and gave her an understanding grin; "Donatien?" When the girl nodded the Goblin guard looked at her with approval.
Della moved threateningly toward Sarah, "Time to go back to the tower, girly girl." She reached out her hand. Shock registered on her Harpy features when Daisy prevented her from grabbing the girl.
"No," Daisy said with ease.
"The King is away on a summons," Della snapped. "We can't have this one roaming about freely, can we?"
"Did he order her returned to the tower?" challenged the witty Goblin woman. The Harpy stared at her for a moment before say he had not. "Then I would say it's alright for her to be in out of the tower for now, had he wanted her taken back there, he'd have ordered it." Daisy bowed to the Tagaan, "Would you care for a tour?"
Dressed once more in the wine colored velvet revealing gown, Sarah nodded. "But it's so late…" she reasoned. "Won't we wake everyone?"
Daisy giggled. "Not if we are quiet, and stay to the main floor here." She waved the mortal to follow. "You've seen this room, but you've yet to see the grandeur of our castle…"
Della blocked the path now, just as Daisy had blocked her. "He may not have ordered her returned to the tower, but he didn't hand over the keys to the palace, either." The Harpy glared at the girl. "He left her here, so here she should remain."
Sarah interceded. "Why don't I just return to the west wing rooms… I can rest there until the King returns… how long does a summons take?"
Daisy seemed perturbed with the Harpy. "He didn't order her held in this room under guard…" she argued. "How can she serve the King if she does not know the palace…"
"All she has to do is spread those long creamy legs of hers and the King will be happy." Della countered. "She's a sex slave, nothing more…"
"I thought you said you read the glyphs…" Daisy growled.
Della spun on her. "We don't speak of such things before outsiders."
Both guards looked at the young woman in the wine colored gown. One looked with a gloat, the other with sorrow for any hurt the mortal would feel. "She's not an outsider."
"She is a slave," Della said with contempt. "Her only purpose in the castle is please the King."
Tiring of the banter, Sarah took a seat on the steps below the King's Goblin Throne. "She's right Captain, I am a slave, and a prisoner of war…"
"You are much more than that," Daisy countered again, this time to the human. "You are the one person to reach the castle beyond the Goblin City."
"Fat lot of good it did me," mused Sarah. "Oh I won back the baby…" she rested her elbows on the stair behind her. "At the cost of my dreams…" she gave a mirthless scoff. "Look at me now… a slave. I don't look like some champion."
"You did declare a war," Daisy said taking a seat beside her. "You didn't think of the consequences, you just went and declared war."
"It wasn't supposed to be a war…it was supposed to be a trial…" Sarah said defensively. "All I wanted was my dreams back."
Della laughed at her maliciously, "I told you mortals weren't very smart, runt!"
Daisy looked at her partner with restraint. "The ignorance of the other two witches I can understand," she returned her gaze to the face of the human. "It is yours that disturbs me the most. You already had knowledge of us, of our King…"
Sarah, still leaning back on her elbows gave one the impression she was just sitting about relaxing. She shrugged. "So I knew of the King, so what?"
"Surely you understood the laws you three were braking." The Goblin woman spoke as if she were discussing something with an equal. "I was lead to believe you were aware of Eschant laws, and the way they applied to all magic users."
"I was so hell bent on getting my dreams back," Sarah mused softly. "I think I was willing to over look them."
"Stupid," mused the mocking Harpy.
"Let's see how well you do when something is taken from you like…oh say your wings." Sarah snapped.
Eyes narrowing, and teeth suddenly bared, the Harpy glared at Sarah. "Is that a threat?"
Daisy cleared her throat, and both looked at her. "I suggest we not make threats back and forth ladies. No sense in wasting breath."
Della crossed her arms and shifted her stance; "The runt is right."
Sarah breathed out a long cleansing breath. "I suppose." She looked about the throne room. "This room looks different from the way it was the last time I saw it." She pointed to the stairs. "Everything looks like a cleaning crew came through here."
Della blinked, "She made it this far?"
"And beyond," Daisy nodded. "She made it to the puzzle room."
"I'll be," Della quipped. "Who would have thought a mortal could be so… dedicated."
The girl in the wine colored gown sniffed lightly. "My brother was at stake, don't Harpies have family ties?"
"Flock ties," corrected the Harpy. "But it's different."
"Of course it is," mused Sarah. "I was given a mission… thirteen hours in which to solve an unsolvable puzzle…"
"Not unsolvable," countered Daisy with a gleam. "Merely difficult."
"Impenetrable unknowable impossible more like it," Sarah said taking to her feet. "I was in the Labyrinth, remember?"
The Goblin woman still seated smiled at the mortal. "And what did you learn?"
Sarah looked taken aback by the question. "What did I learn?" she repeated then became pensive. "Everything is possible, and nothing is as it seems…"
"Is that all?" Della snarled; "A fledgling knows that."
"Never take anything for granted," Sarah added flashing a sneer of her own at the Harpy.
"Big deal," the Harpy gloated.
Daisy began to finger the hilt of her sword. "Anything else?"
Thinking carefully Sarah was not sure what it was the Goblin was seeking an answer to. "Words have power?"
Daisy nodded, but was not satisfied; "And?"
Racking her brain now, Sarah placed a hand up to her brow. "I don't know… what is it you think I've missed?"
"Principals'," Daisy suggested as she stood up.
"Principals'? Whose?" Sarah asked.
"Goblin principals."
Sarah laughed scornfully. "You're kidding."
Della looked at the Goblin Guard and shook her head, "No she's not."
Daisy looked at Sarah with compassion, "I understand your reluctance to see it from a perspective other than your own. I too would be reluctant," she said quietly. "But you have to understand… Our King was charged with a duty… and he carries it out despite the burden it places on his soul."
Burden to his soul," scoffed Sarah with contempt. "What burden? You mean he'll admit to stealing children in the night?"
"Hardly," Daisy stood up to the girl who was her height and build. "He's not the one who wishes them away."
Left with her mouth agape, Sarah staggered back, nearly toppling into the empty pit that was in the center of the circular space. "That's not fair."
"Life is not fair." Daisy countered smoothly, totally unaffected by Sarah's out burst.
"I didn't mean it, and he knew I didn't…." She defensively countered hotly.
"That's what they all say," Della yawned bored to tears.
Daisy looked at Sarah as if looking at an equal. "Take a moment to consider our position," she suggested. "Have you ever once considered the Goblin prospective?"
"No," Sarah admitted quietly. "I never gave it a thought."
"Of course not," Daisy said without malice. "Did you think of what you asked of subjects of this Kingdom?"
"What I asked?" Sarah began to feel a noose tightening on her soul.
"You asked them to help you… and betray their own King." Daisy pointed out without being unkind.
"Treason," growled Della.
"No, I never…" Sarah covered her mouth. "Sir Didymus?"
"And the gardener…" Daisy watched the girl's reaction. "To name only two… there were more. Did you consider what their actions cost them?"
"No," Sarah said shamed of her lack of concern. "I didn't."
"Consider the consequences now," suggested the Harpy.
Daisy watched as Sarah frowned. "I'm so sorry."
"Of course you are." The Goblin said, "But have you learned anything?" Sarah stared at the guard and she sighed. "What are Goblin Principals? Ask yourself that sometime…." She looked suddenly alert. "They come."
Sarah looked at the portal the King and his forces had stepped through. It was vibrating and the horde of goblins rushed in with a child no older than four. The little girl looked confused and worried, then seeing Sarah let out a giggle.
"Booful," she said clapping her hands.
Sarah looked at the horde; they parted to give her free access to the child. Della was about to move between Sarah and the child when Daisy prevented her. Sarah smiled at the the little girl and said. "Hello cutie, what's your name?"
"Tina…" the child bravely moved toward the young woman taking a seat on the stair below the throne. "What's yours?"
Sarah smiled at the child, "You can call me Tagaan," she pulled the little girl in torn jammies onto her lap. She looked over at Daisy. "When will the King return?"
"Once he's set the runner on its way," Daisy smiled softly at the child on the lap of the only person to finish the Labyrinth. She was rewarded with a toothless grin. "He'll want to inspect the child then."
Sarah stiffened, "I beg your pardon?" The child shifted and looked up at her, hearing the irritation in Sarah's tone. Sarah soothed the child before looking to Daisy for an explanation.
"All children are given an inspection," the Goblin woman said softly, calmly, so as not to disturb the child once more. She looked at Sarah with an expression that begged the mortal to see the reason in her statement. Seeing only resentment and anger, she went on more directly. "Some have needs that must be met, injuries that must be seen to, or traumas to quell."
Sarah looked at the little girl wiggling in her lap; the child didn't seem to meet any of those suggested state of being. She appeared to be a perfectly normal, happy little girl. A surge of protectiveness rushed through Sarah and she wrapped her arms about the child; "Then what?"
Della looked at the woman with the child on her lap with baleful eyes. "That's not your worry." She said a bit threateningly, she looked at the child then turned to Daisy. "I hunger, and must hunt to feed."
Daisy nodded and gave the Harpy leave to seek a meal in the wild. She noticed the way Sarah shielded the child from Della's gaze and found it amusingly poignant. "The Harpy is out of sorts when she does not feed, and on Avalon she's not allowed to hunt." Daisy said before barking orders to the lower ranking Goblins of the horde.
"Do I want to know what she feeds on?" Sarah asked coddling the wiggling child.
"Pretty much the same thing that you and I feed on… lamb, chickens, fish when she feels like getting a talon wet, beef…. She just likes her meat a bit fresher than you or I." Daisy teased gently, eyes full of merriment and mischief.
Shuddering at the mental picture that evoked, Sarah changed the subject back to the child. "What happens when the King returns?"
Daisy looked at the child, gauged her attention and said carefully. "The runner is set off, the King will check the progress of the run, and the child here in the castle will be taken care of."
"If the run is…unsuccessful?" Sarah asked looking down at the child who was now fingering the pattern on Sarah's gown.
Daisy didn't answer; she turned to the portal and bowed. "The King comes."
Sarah didn't bother standing, the child had settled and she wanted to keep her as calm as she could. She looked at the window that once more vibrated; Jareth stepped through it as if it didn't exist. He saw instantly that Daisy had cleared out the unneeded horde and sent them to other duties. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he passed her. "Thank you Captain." He moved past the bowed guard toward the throne where Sarah sat on the steps with the child, Tina. "Well, munchkin," Jareth addressed the child in as soothing a tone as Sarah had ever heard. "What is your name?"
"Tina," she said in a babyish voice, peeping out from under Sarah's protective arms. "What's yours?"
Smiling all the way to his eyes, Jareth winked at the babyish girl. "I'm King Jareth… and this is my castle."
Tina's eyes opened wide as did her little mouth. "Is she your Queen?" She pointed to Sarah in awe.
A flicker of sadness showed in the eyes of the Goblin King, quickly suppressed by other needs and cares. "No, I don't have a Queen." Sarah's own guilt flickered in her green eyes. Jareth looked at Sarah and held his hands out expectantly. He watched the battle that raged in her as she decided whether or not to turn the child over to the Goblin King. Knowing there was no real choice she held the girl out to him, watching as he let the child think he was playing a game with her when all the while he was seeing if she was of sound body and mind. "Well my fine little lady," he said walking across the floor with the child in his arms. "What shall we do with you?"
Sarah stood up and followed the King as he walked about the room; she was keeping a close eye on the child. "Don't jostle her so," she whispered.
Holding her up high over his head, Jareth teased the baby. "She likes being jostled, don't you Tina my love?" Tina laughed and wiggled, Jareth looked at Sarah with an 'I told you so' gleam in his eyes. "Now how about a nice game?" he sat the girl down on the floor of the throne room and placed a ball before her.
Sarah watched pensively as the child played, she looked over at Jareth whose mask had shifted and was looking sad. "What is it?" she asked softly placing a hand on the King's arm. "Is there a problem with the challenger?"
"There is no challenger." Jareth's voice was filled with lamentations.
"What do you mean there's no challenger?" Sarah turned her back so the child could not see the upset on her features. "Who wished the poor baby away?"
"Her step father," Jareth stated darkly. "The oaf didn't like having to share the child's mother…."
"Oh no," moaned Sarah in as quiet a breath as she'd ever taken. "What happens now?" She suddenly remembered something Jareth had said on the windswept hillside and placed her self between him and the child. "I will not let you turn her into a Goblin…"
Amused the Goblin King cocked his head to one side, placed his hands to his hip line and scoffed at her in the same haughty tone he'd used on her that first night. "Oh you won't, will you?" he was totally amused by the situation. He took a step toward her, and his demeanor told Sarah he was more dangerous than she could imagine or begin to know. "And just how would you stop me if that were my design and intent?" His lips pressed firmly together and he regarded her with a rather condescending gaze. "Just what are you prepared to do to stop me?" he taunted before snickering wickedly. "You're no match for me," he paused nearly saying her name as he had that night long ago. He stopped his advance, looking at her smugly.
Sarah looked over her shoulder at the little girl playing with a ball that was magically changing colors and keeping the child fascinated. "Don't turn her," Sarah's voice held determination and resentment.
"I have no intentions on turning the child," Jareth sighed. "She will be given to a wonderful family of wood elves to raise."
"You would allow her to be fostered?" Sarah took an involuntary step forward. "Why?"
"Because it's the right thing to do… turning a child is a last resort my Tagaan," He stated crossing his arms and becoming defensive on his own. "Only when a child's spirit or body is beyond healing… then and only then do I use the magic to turn."
Closing her eyes, feeling a wild mixture of relive and shame, Sarah shuddered and sighed. "I didn't know." She looked at him suddenly concerned. "And Toby? Would you have fostered him out?"
"No," Jareth said cocking a brow up in a challenging expression. "I intended to raise him as my own."
"You what?" Sarah staggered back one step before remembering the child on the floor and pulling herself up short.
Jareth took hold of her arm to shore up her stance. "I was going to raise him as mine." He repeated darkly.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, glaring at the man who was glaring right back; "Over my dead body."
"I could have arranged that." He growled.
Daisy watched the pair, unhappy that they were once more at odds. She would have liked to have locked the pair in the tower room with the scrolls and threaten to not let them out until each and every scroll had been read and digested.
Sarah looked over her shoulder to be sure the child was not picking up on the adult tensions. "You're still that same smug, arrogant bastard." She muttered toward the King.
"And you are still that same brat." He countered.
"Fuck you," she mouthed.
"Anytime," he mouthed back eyes dancing with evil intent. Sarah pulled her arm free of his grip, intending to turn and tend to the child. His arms went about her waist pulling her violently against him, preventing any movement. "Stay put," he warned as his lips moved down to her shoulder. "When the elves have taken their charge, you and I have unfinished business."
"If I had a shard of iron I'd end this business with you here and now," She gritted through clenched teeth.
His fingers dung into her flesh, and he growled in her ear. "Just remember sweetheart, you have to be close enough to strike, and I will take you with me."
Sarah in the midst of the anger and cutting words suddenly notices that her breathing was labored, his scent had become heady and both of them were reacting to something that seemed to drive them on. She looked down at the child, and then over her shoulder at the King. She hated him in that moment, and wanted him at the same time. His face mirrored hers, and they were both taken aback. Jareth released her from his seeking embrace, and moved to the throne where he sat sulking until the Elves came for the child. He painted on a pleasant face for the child's sake, but once Tina was carried off by her new fostering parents, the mask dropped and he looked at her with contemptuous eyes.
"Captain," he addressed the Goblin woman who was aware of the tensions in the room. "my Tagaan will accompany me to my rooms…. You came come for her in an hour.. no make that two hours… and then you may return her to the tower." He stepped down from the dais, and glared at Sarah. "Come my Tagaan."
Daisy watched as they vanished from the throne room, she was aware that Philo was lurking in the shadows. "It does not go well?" He questioned.
"It does not," she shrugged. "One can not rush these things… but he's hell bent on making her suffer for all her deeds… and she's hell bent on resisting him…." Daisy sighed. "Call Donatien, and Lutin, and Joachim; I wish to call a meeting… in the scribes rooms."
"As you wish Captain," Philo moved away.
Daisy looked at the throne and frowned, there was too much at stake to worry about hurt feelings and bruised egos. Every Hobgoblin, and Hobgoblin Halfling knew the tales, and the consequences of what could happen if there were no measures taken. He had started on the right path, and several times had moved further with direction. Yet each time Daisy felt the King was heading toward the truth, something drove him to repeat the past. She looked at the Goblin Throne with a measure of self-reproach and culpability. She was about to take measures that could not be turned back once the steps were taken. She placed a hand on the side arm of the Throne, making a silent vow. With every drop of Hobgoblin blood that surged through her veins she would make sure this King didn't meet the same fate as Zoltarie. Even if she had to sit on him he was going to read the rest of those damned scrolls.
Della found Daisy on her way to the Scribes rooms; "Where are we off to runt?"
Daisy looked at the Harpy and made a spilt second decision, "Della, if you had understood what the glyphs said you'd know the dangers we face here."
Feeling fed, and more aggressive, the Harpy gripped the shoulder of her partner. "Listen Runt," she growled showing her teeth. "Those glyphs are private,"
"Those glyphs are history…" Daisy corrected the larger guard. "And I don't want history to repeat itself… you took an oath to protect the King as well…. You should be more interested in how those glyphs play a part in this little soap opera we are staring in."
Della frowned and snorted; "What's a soap opera?"
Daisy, amused by the Harpy's sudden shifting of gears, sighed. "It's a form of entertainment that the mortals are fond of. An ongoing saga of life, just more broadly portrayed."
"Ah," Della twitched her wings. "I'll remember that." She saw the scribes rooms and the Scribe awaiting them. "A meeting of the minds?"
"A meeting of principals," Daisy said hooking an arm into that of the Harpy. "Goblin principals…"
"I'm not a Goblin," protested the Harpy sharply.
"For all intents and purposes, yes you are…. You are a subject of this Kingdom… no mater what your native race is…"
"I doubt others will share your view." Della interjected.
"Others don't matter here, you and I are the guards the King has chosen to protect his Tagaan," Daisy paused before the door of the chamber. "Enter here, and become what your predecessor was not… become Goblin."
"My predecessor?" Della shook her head.
"She who failed in protecting the first Tagaan of the Goblin King Zoltarie." The Captain stated firmly; "Just as my predecessor failed."
Della looked at the assembled members about a great table in the central chamber of the Scribe. "Everyone else here is Hobgoblin," she remarked.
"WE are Goblin," Daisy corrected. "We don't define ourselves by our native race, but by our citizenship."
Della mused; "Goblin principal?"
Daisy shook her head. "Enter and bring your race into the Kingdom," she urged.
Della contemplated the consequences, wished she'd had time to seek the council of the Mother of the Flock. She looked at the expectant faces within the chamber and nodded. "WE of the Flock are in." She moved into the chamber. "So what's this about?"
"Let us begin," Daisy said moving to the head of the table.
Jareth watched the orb even as he forced himself upon the girl once more. It fascinated him that the orb reacted to his taking of the girl with such interesting changes of color and patterns. As his hands moved over the girl, the orb reacted. He looked from orb to the clenched eyes of the woman. She had no idea of how close her dreams were. Perhaps it was that fact that drove him on, and spurred him to demonstrate his mastery to her. Perhaps it was her reactions and the arching of her back, which thrilled his blood. Perhaps it was because it was a heady and exhilarating just being within her, or maybe it was the spicy musky scent she gave off. What ever it was he found himself emptying his seed deep into her, totally uncaring as to whether or not she was ripe. He wanted her, and that was all that mattered, after all… he had her dreams.
Exhausted he collapsed over her, breathing heavily into her ear and responding to the same from her. "Still wish to drive an iron spike into my heart, wench?"
"Too tired," she gasped for breath before he savagely took her mouth.
Jareth sighed, leaned up and looked at the orb on the nightstand, and smiled. The woman under him shifted and felt delicious, and her orb reflected the satisfied tingles she must be experiencing along with the anger at experiencing them. "And satisfied," he said looking down at her face. "Bask in the after glow," he urged. "What will it cost you?"
"Pride," she whispered, not aware she'd said it aloud.
Jareth smirked, fully intending to take that from her as well. However before he could say some smart aleck remark, and totally render the moment ruined, he looked at her more carefully. Even though she was his enemy now, and had waged an ill-conceived war upon him, she was still the only being in the universe he had ever sung Fae Song to. Quietly he rolled over, off Sarah, and pulled her to his side, spooning into her. He could see the changes in the orb, but as her back was to it she could not.
"What will become of Tina?" she murmured into his chest.
"She will grow up as a citizen of my Kingdom, and will live a full life." Jareth promised.
"And her mother," nothing could hide or disguise the feeling of having made a horrid mistake from Sarah's voice.
"Her mother is not an issue," Jareth informed her softly. "It was the step father who wished her away…"
"But she's her mother's child…" Sarah looked up at him, "I didn't think of Karen when I wished Toby away, I was too concerned with my own feelings of self… Later, when my eyes were not so blind, I saw that …. Karen loves her son… How can you take a child from a mother who does not even know what her husband is doing to her?"
"I can, because I must." He said without emotion. "What would happen to some of the wished away if I didn't take them?"
"But you don't take all the wished away and unwanted…" Sarah argued boldly.
"No, I don't…" he admitted. "Those that I take are taken for a reason."
Sarah sat up looking at him with an icy aloofness, "I think that stinks."
Sitting up beside her he smirked, "So do I."
"Then why do it?" she challenged.
Gripping her throat in one hand he growled. "It's part of the job description." Brutally he pulled her face to his. "Shut up, Tagaan, I tire of conversation."
Sarah pushed him away, and rolled off his bed; "Job description?" She challenged. "Next thing you'll be telling me you're a paragon of principals."
"Paragon," he mused darkly reaching over and taking the orb with her dreams off its stand; "That's stretching it even for me."
Sarah opened her mouth to argue when she noticed the orb in his hand. "What is that?" she asked feeling disoriented at seeing the orb.
"It's a crystal…nothing more," he mused darkly passing it over his hand as he had the night she had lost her dreams.
Sarah staggered back, swallowing hard; remember the rest of his speech from that first night. "You bastard." She looked at him and not the orb. "You fucking bastard."
Jareth smiled. "Our time grows short," he placed the orb on the nightstand in full view. "If you're a good girl and please me, I may even allow you to touch it." Rage began to build a fire, fueled with fury and the memory of what living without dreams had been like. Sarah flew across the space at him with her hand outstretched, ready to choke the life out of him. Jareth knew he had pushed her past the point of endurance, and easily flipped her on to her front, pinning her to the bed. "That's it, Tagaan," he growled at her from behind, his hands pinning her down. "Fight me… rage at me… fire me…" he felt aroused by her rage and soon was demonstrating his arousal to her full force. Her screams and curses music to his ears.
Daisy and Della approached the King's chamber at the appointed hour. Hearing the cursing and screams, they pulled back respectfully, and waited. Della smirking each time she heard the cries of the human; Daisy frowned.