Thank you for everyone who reviewed this story. Its actually getting fun to write.
"What in the hell was that Sarah?" James cried, trying to control his anger. Never did he think that she loved someone other than him. Never!
Sarah looked at James and sighed. What she said to the reporter was the absolute truth and she had never felt so good saying those feelings she'd been keeping in since she was 15.
The tense moment of silence was interrupted by the ringing of a phone. Sarah peeked at the caller I.D. and quickly picked it up.
"Honey? Sarah?" a voice cried in happiness.
"Yes mom, it's me. How are you?" Sarah replied, relieved that she didn't have to face James right now.
"Oh honey, i'm great. Where are you right now?" Karen asked.
"I'm at home. James is with me," Sarah replied, taking a seat on the couch.
"We watched you darling, you looked so beautiful on that carpet," Karen replied eagerly.
"Thanks mom. It was an experience even though I didn't win anything," Sarah hesitantly replied.
"Who the heck is Jareth?" her father's voice bluntly asked in the background.
"Robert darling, don't be so frank. However, Sarah I am intrigued and surprised that you've never mentioned him before. From the way you described him, he seems like a magnificent man. And I couldn't help but chuckle at James's expression when he heard your answer," said Karen.
Sarah switched the phone to the other ear and stared nervously across the room at James who sat in a chair, face red and fists clutched together. He looked at Sarah openly and she couldn't help but squirm underneath his gaze.
"Well uhm mom...I actually meant to say James...I had a mix up of names, you know how that goes?" Sarah replied lamely. She knew that was one ass of an excuse but she couldn't think straight underneath James's stare.
"Alright honey I understand, but I expect answers when you get back home. And Toby wants to talk to you for a second," Karen said, handing the phone to Sarah's brother.
"Hi Sarah!" cried Toby excitedly.
"Hey Tobes. How are you?" Sarah asked happily.
"Great. I can't wait till you come back. You looked really cool up there and I told all my friends you were an actress, they were so jealous. Can I ask you something though?" Toby asked.
"Anything little man," Sarah replied playfully.
"Remember that story you told me when I was younger. The one about the king who fell in love with the girl?" Toby asked.
A cold shiver went down Sarah's spine as she recalled telling Toby the story of the Labyrinth. She took the book with her to make sure Toby wouldn't accidentally say or read anything in the book outloud.
"Yes. What about it?" Sarah nervously replied.
"Did the girl love the king back?" Toby whispered as if it was a secret just between the two of them.
Sarah suddenly felt very dizzy as she remembered her encounter with the Goblin King ten years ago. A sudden vision of her in a dress went through her mind as she searched the ball for him. She turned and turned, searching for him, catching small glimpses of him before disappearing. She didn't give up looking for him as she walked in the beautiful ballroom. She finally saw him and looked away blushing as two beautiful fae women draped themselves over him. Turning to leave, she felt the touch of his arm as he pulled her into his embrace. His mismatched eyes gazed at her intensely but his touch was as soft as a feather as they twirled around the enchanted ballroom.
There were two things Sarah finally realized as she met Jareth's mesmerizing stare. One was that he was singing to her. She heard the song and her heart wanted to jump out of her chest and fiercely connect with Jareth's. The second and most important thing was that she did, in fact love Jareth.
"Sarah! Hello? Sarah!" Toby shrieked into the phone.
Sarah jumped at the sound of his voice and carefully replied,"Yes Toby. She did fall in love with the king. But she's not in love with him anymore. She realized that in the end, when she chose her brother over the king, that he'd hate her and want revenge on her if they ever met again."
There was a calm silence before Toby replied with certainty,"Sarah, I think you-I mean the girl in the story did the right thing in the end."
Sarah felt tears flowing down her face as she calmly swiped at them.
"Thank you Toby," Sarah finally replied.
"Your welcome Sarah. I love you," he said.
"I love you to Toby," Sarah replied, trying to keep her voice firm.
She hung up the phone and with a new found confidence, stared back at James.
"Sarah," James began slowly, "I just want some answers."
Standing up, Sarah walked to her room and retreived a little red book that captured her imagination throughout all her teen years.
Sitting down in front of James, Sarah started, "There once was a girl who had to take care of her baby brother every night."
**********
A faint knocking could be heard on the other side of the door as Jareth yelled, "Come in."
The goblin maid quickly shuffled into Jareth's chambers, carrying different colored fabrics.
"Which one your majesty?" the maid questioned, thrusting different colors of velvets, silks, and cottons in on his lap.
Jareth thoughtfully took a look at them and decided, "The red and lavender I want in her room. The white and black...put them in her bottom drawers."
"Yes your majesty. We have everything set for your Lady Sarah to come and visit," the maid replied happily. In her opinion, it was about time he had the girl come back. She heard of the rumors about how the king had become infatuated with the mortal girl but she realized that ten years later, the king felt an emotion much stronger than love. She just hoped that the king knew how to control his feelings after being away from the girl he loved so much.
"Thank you very much Rita," Jareth finally replied in thought.
Knowing that she could get severely punished for it, Rita couldn't help but ask, "What are your feelings toward the girl?"
She quickly closed her eyes and braced herself for whatever punishment the king would bestow.
"Rita, open your eyes," Jareth calmly said.
Rita stared at the king and suddenly realized that the king was simply talking to her, not yelling or threatening her with punishment.
"What I felt when Sarah was around is a somewhat of a feeling between wanting to shake that pretty little head of hers very fast and throwing her in the nearest closet to ravish her," Jareth replied, smiling at the second idea and wondering if she'd agree to it.
Rita looked at the king in shock, not sure whether to run away in fear or stay and laugh her head off.
"I do not hate nor will I harm her," Jareth said, suddenly getting very serious, "I have been in love with her for a very long time and to hear her say that she loves me back, well that is a feeling that can't be described with words but with actions."
"I love her, Rita. I know she is my soulmate because I felt it ten years ago in that ballroom. Once I get her back here, I am never going to let her go," Jareth finally stated.
Rita felt tears run down her face. Looking oncemore at the king, Rita said,"Be gentle with her and don't scare her off...she is a mortal and is unaware of how strong a fae's love is for their soulmate. And good luck your majesty for we can't wait for the castle to have life again."
Jareth heard the door close and he fell back on his bed, thinking about what had just been said. His plan was a good one in a sense except that he didn't know how he would get her here. He couldn't just simply appear in her life in which he knew she was happily living in. She did speak his name but that wasn't enough for him to do anything drastic. She either had to come to the Underground willingly with him (wish herself away) or she had to get wished away by somebody else. There was always the very small possibility which Jareth truly didn't want to use, where he could take her there against her will.
"Ten years later and I find myself turning the world upside down for you once more precious thing," Jareth sighed out loud.
He stood up from his bed and walked over to the window that overlooked the Labyrinth. It looked the same as ten years ago except more desolate and empty. Hoggle still took care of the gardens for him and the fox still guarded the entrance to the bog. Everyone of his employees had something to do and knew to leave the king alone when he was in his chambers.
Jareth closed his eyes momentarily and then heard a loud and clear voice yell out, "I wish the goblin king would take you away right now." Oh not now, Jareth thought bitterly. Whoever this person was, he wouldn't be nearly as generous as he had been before. With the twirl of a hand, he was dressed in his Goblin King clothes and with one last hand gesture, he disappeared.
**********
"And I have no idea why I said his name but it was a total and complete accident." Sarah finished, staring at James solemnly.
James had listened to Sarah talk about some Labyrinth that she'd gone to and some freaky Goblin King named Jareth who stole her baby brother. He considered half way through the story that she was a serious druggie but looking at Sarah, he couldn't help but somewhat believe her small parts of her story.
"Can I see the book?" James asked impatiently.
Sarah looked at him and sighed. Handing over the red leather book, she studied her boyfriend's face. Disbelief and concern flashed over his features as he somewhat curiously studied the book.
He thought of what she had said about the Goblin King falling in love with the girl and couldn't help but laugh at Sarah for falling in love with someone from her imagination. He tried to keep from laughing as he opened the book and glanced down at the pages.
Sarah was watching him the whole time, noticing the way he tried to cover up his laughs with putting a hand over his mouth. She stared down at her hands, feeling her face start to redden. She didn't know exactly what she expected but so far he hadn't called her crazy so I guess that was good enough.
She looked back up at him as he scanned through the book, amusement dancing all over his face.
"You know Sarah I do love you very much but this all seems well....absolutely ridiculous," he stated, not taking an eye of the book.
Sarah squirmed in her chair, staring at James who finally glanced up at her.
"Do you believe in this book?" James asked, wondering if he could still get her money if she was indeed crazy.
"I-I-well I-no," Sarah finally stated. She didn't want to say no but she couldn't bear it if James didn't want to see her again all because of something she had said.
James nodded his head, staring at the first page.
"So nothing would happen if I said 'I wish the Goblin King would come and take you away right now,' James jokingly asked.
Sarah stared in horror at James, trying not to panic. He didn't just say the words, he didn't just say the words!
The lights went down to a dim as they heard the scratching of goblin's feet scrape over the wooden floor.
James suddenly stood up and walked nervously to Sarah. He realized that maybe it wasn't a good idea for him to say those words. Before either of them could exchange a word, a crisp accent pierced the room, "Hello Sarah."
Thanks for reading the chapter. I think I know where I'll be going from here but it may take awhile.