Disclaimer: If you've gotten this far in you'll know if I own it or not :)
Last Time:
"When did you start feeling lonely?"
"After I left you…" She winced and brought a hand to her forehead. "I left your office then-ow!" She grabbed her head and her legs crumpled, Jareth beside her in an instant, grabbing her before she hit the floor.
"What's wrong?" he asked quickly.
"I don't know!" She rubbed her head. "It hurts!" She looked up, feeling the tears running down her face and her brain clenching like she had a charley horse in it. "Jareth it hurts! Make it stop!"
"What hurts?!"
"My head! Goddess! Make it sto-" Her eyes suddenly rolled into the back of her head and she seized.
"Sarah! SARAH!"
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Chapter 18 (March 23rd)
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Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Pause. Turn. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Pause. Turn.
Jason effectively held back the rolling of his eyes as Jareth's boots didn't stop their pacing. The amber eyed man had heard Jareth's yelling for him to find Kara through the crystal that had suddenly appeared before him and had luckily been ten steps from the strawberry blond. Kara had leapt to her feet and both raced for Sarah's room. When they arrived, Jareth was holding her tightly, the girl unconscious. Kara had done an initial scan but finding nothing wrong had ordered him to put the girl on the bed and call for Samra and Ikkakujuu. The two women had arrived within the half hour and Jareth had been booted into the hallway.
Jareth had tried to get in a few times but to no avail. Jason had eventually forced the man to go to the library and sit down. When two hours went by and no word, Jason ushered him to the dining room to feed everyone.
Now, nearly three hours after Sarah had fainted, everyone was sitting in the library as Samra stumbled into the room, pale and shaking. Toroku was at her side in an instant, leading her to the couch. "Sorry," she rasped and was handed a glass of water, hand shaking as she took several deep gulps. "We've found the problem and Ikkakujuu is finishing it up." She swallowed another gulp. "It was an ensomhet."
"What's that?" Kira asked. "A virus?"
The elf let out a laugh. "Indeed. An ensomhet is an ancient beast, just like the incubo and ghiacco." She swallowed again. "Luckily we had some inside help."
Malandra drifted through the wall looking nearly transparent. My apologies Lord Jareth, she said wearily. I knew there was an outbreak but I'd no idea they were headed here. He nodded.
"What is an ensomhet?" Kira spoke up again.
It is an ancient creature like myself. This one, however, instead of using the victim's worst memories, creates the victim's memories. It is a creature that causes intense loneliness. Luckily we caught it in time. It only takes two or three days to force its victim to believe they are truly alone. It makes them leave wherever they are and seclude themselves so when it rips apart their mind they are too far away from help to survive…well either that or makes them go insane and murder everyone around them before killing themselves.
"Luckily she met up with Ikkakujuu's lady," Samra commented. "The unicorn's purity forced the creature to release Sarah for some time and heal a bit of the infection, which is probably why it hurt so much during the encounter." She ran a hand through her hair and leaned into Toroku. "Has Sarah been a bit off lately?"
Jareth snorted. "You've no idea. She'll be okay then?"
She nodded. "Right as rain as soon as Ikkakujuu's finished."
"How did this happen?" Alan asked.
"Someone implanted it." They all frowned. "Someone physically placed the creature on her forehead and allowed it to sink into her brain."
"Sarah was targeted," Jareth growled darkly, hair standing on end. When Samra nodded he snarled. "Who?"
That we cannot tell, Goblin King, Malandra spoke up. But we can assume that it's an enemy.
"Oh really?" Jason snorted.
"She couldn't remember a part of yesterday," Jareth spoke up, ignoring Jason. "She was trying to remember and the thing attacked her."
Samra sighed. "It sped up the process. It would have attacked tomorrow but this only concludes that someone forced the bug into her head. If it had crawled in there on its own, she never would have known. It would have enjoyed sucking the life out of her for another day before killing her. It attacked to keep her from remembering her attackers face."
"It didn't do a very good job," Sarah grumbled as she fell into the room, a weary looking Ikkakujuu trying to hold her up, Kara protesting her moving.
"Sarah!" several cried at the same time, Jareth at her side in an instant and carrying her to the couch. She smiled faintly at him and sighed.
"Why am I always getting attacked?" she asked as Jareth wrapped his arms around her.
"Cause you're Sarah Williams," Toroku said dryly.
"Yippee," she said dryly as she rolled her eyes. She sat straighter and held up a hand, focusing intently on it. After a long minute she sighed. "Sorry. No magic le-" Jareth put his hand under hers and a flame appeared. "Thanks Jareth." She concentrated hard again and after a minute a photo appeared. She scowled at it then handed it to Jareth. "This is who attacked me."
"How can you remember?" Kira asked in surprise as the photo was passed around.
Sarah grinned wickedly. "Because the idiot wiped my memory of the attack then helped me up and told me to have a good day."
Kira snorted, glancing at the picture. "Lucky bra-"
"HEY!" Alan grabbed the picture away from her. "This is the guy!" Jareth raised an eyebrow. "The guy! The High Council official who wanted to talk to you!"
Jareth scowled and grabbed the picture back. "I don't recognize him."
"It's him! I swear!"
"Don't do that darling," Kira assured, patting his arm. "The children will hear you."
Sarah smiled as Alan and Kira got into an argument about what he really meant, Jareth and Kara making annoying remarks about them being childish and Jason laughing at all four of them. How could she have ever believed she felt so lonely? She was always surrounded by friends who respected her and made her laugh and asked how she was and listened to her. How the hell could she have EVER thought she was lonely?!
Had she listened to the creature, had she not told Jareth the truth, had he not cared for her, the bug would have forced her to kill herself out of this loneliness! It wouldn't have even given her the satisfaction of dying in battle. It would have forced her to kill herself! Her friends, her family would have been destroyed!!! What's to say it wouldn't come after them next?! What's to say she wouldn't have come after them before killing herself?!
Her hands fisted in sudden fury, not realizing the group around her had gone silent as green flames rose from her white knuckles. "Sarah?" Jareth asked softly but his voice was too far away to reach through her fury. She stood up suddenly and stormed towards the doorway. "Sarah!" he called and hurried after her. "Where are you going?! Sit back down!"
She spun on him, not noticing his half step backwards. "I'm going to find him, hunt him down and rip off his limbs one by one," she snarled viciously, eyes flashing. "He dared to harm my family. I will slaughter him!"
"Now that sounds like fantastic entertainment." All eyes turned to the doorway where Daederath leaned against the frame, arms and ankles crossed. The vampire smirked. "I'd heard you were attacked, Sarah, but it seems the rumors are grossly exaggerated."
"I heal fast," she grumbled. "What are you doing here?"
An elegant eyebrow rose. "Did I not just inform you?"
"You came to check up on me?" she asked in surprise.
"Of course. If you were severely ill, his majesty would be out of his mind and it would be better if we vampires didn't ally ourselves with such creatures."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "You're all heart," she grumbled.
"As entertaining as this all is," Toroku said dryly as he stood with an out cold Samra in his arms. "I do believe I need to get her somewhere to rest."
"Your regular residence will be fine," Jareth commented. "Kara, you should also get some rest." The strawberry blond scowled sleepily and opened her mouth to argue but instead yawned widely.
"Come," Kira said with a smile, grabbing her sister's arm. "I'll get you to bed. Alan? Will you help Kaku?" The unicorn looked like she was about to faint and shook her head as she realized her name had been spoken.
Sarah limped back to the couch and flopped down. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, she was feeling a bit worse for wear. Jareth took a seat beside her, Jason on the couch across from them. Daederath sat elegantly on the same couch as Jason, the amber eyed man watching him cautiously.
"I won't bite," Daederath commented.
Jason shrugged. "It's not you I'm worried about. It's Sarah tackling you if you say something you shouldn't."
"Thanks for the love, Jason," Sarah commented with a roll of her eyes, picking up a book she had left behind a few days ago.
"No problem!" he chirped happily.
Daederath chuckled. "Just to let you know, Arcadia wanted to come but she was in an important meeting."
"What about Westlyn?"
"I would not spend time in his company without one of my children around to buffer him."
Sarah laughed. "That's not nice."
"He cannot speak proper English… I may have to kill him." Sarah and Jason laughed.
Jareth sighed and put a hand to his face as. "They all come here. Why do they all come here?"
"Because we love you darling," Sarah answered and patted his leg. "So Daederath, do you know what an ensommie is?"
He lifted an eyebrow and Jareth scowled at her. "Ensomhet."
"Ensomhet, ensommie, whatever. There's not much diff-"
"Are you to say you were attacked by one?" Daederath growled. Sarah blinked at him and nodded. His jaw tightened. "You're clean then?"
"I took a shower this morning." He scowled. "Seriously. Three medical people, one a unicorn descendant, checked me out as well as Mally… where is Mally?"
"She left while Kira and Alan were arguing," Jason supplied.
Daederath sighed. "Even the ensomhets are being released… we need to stop whoever's behind this."
"If we can provide a picture of who attacked Sarah," Jareth growled. "Can you track them?"
Daederath scowled. "You act as though I'm a common blood hound." His eyes lit up. "Unless… hmm… interesting… I will speak with a few… friends who should be able to track him," Daederath said with a vicious smirk.
Sarah frowned. "Will I not like these friends?"
"You'll adore them," he purred. "They're like fluffy puppies."
She sighed and sent him a dulled look. "Let me guess. Fluffy puppies twenty-nine days out of thirty while on the last they're blood thirsty moon howlers?" He laughed and vanished. Sarah sighed heavily. "With friends like these, who needs enemies," she grumbled and pulled her book back up to continue where she left off. Jareth snorted and leaned back into the couch. She glanced up. "Jareth, dear?"
"Hm?"
"You've hovering. Go away." He scowled and opened his mouth to protest. "I swear. I will use the bubblegum threat on you. I will show no mercy." Jason snorted and stood quickly, muttering something about getting some food when Jareth glared at him.
"Do you need anything?" Jareth asked her.
"No. If I do I will call. Go get some work done or meditate or do whatever it is you do when I'm not around."
"You mean relax or curse at the world?"
"Yes. That. Go now."
He chuckled and stood. "Call me-"
She reached out and took his hand with a bright smile. "I will. I just need some time to myself." He nodded and bended, kissing her forehead lightly before he headed back towards his office. He couldn't focus on work but the quiet was nice… well the ten minutes of quiet was before Jason walked in grinning widely.
"What?" he asked cautiously.
"Nothing."
He sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'm not in the mood. What?"
"Can't a guy just be happy?"
"Not you."
"Ah. Well I went to check on Kara before I came up here and she said 'Jason' in her sleep." He squealed like a girl. "I knew she loved me!"
"She was probably dreaming about decapitating you."
"But she was still dreaming about me."
Jareth snorted and shook his head. "Come and help me get these files done."
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Sarah jerked awake, looking around the darkened library in sleepiness. The fire had been started but no one was around. She yawned and stretched then pushed back the blanket covering her that she vaguely remembered stealing from Jareth sometime ago. It smelled of him so she assumed he'd come in and covered her up before going to bed. Sliding her legs over the side of the couch, her feet hit the ground and she moved to stand when dizziness took over. Before she could hit the floor, hands grabbed her arms and carefully sat her back down on the couch. She looked up sharply, Daederath frowning. "Hey," she muttered embarrassed.
"I'd have thought that several hours rest and a healing would have healed you by now," he said as he released her arms and stood straight looking her up and down.
She gave a half shrug, bringing her leg up to rub it. "I've never been attacked by an ensommie-"
"Ensomhet."
"-before so I couldn't say."
The vampire chuckled. "Shall I retrieve Jareth for you?"
She shook her head. "Nah. He'll worry and be mother-hen-ish and annoying."
"You know… the ensomhet is supposed to bring intense loneliness but you seem to be avoiding companionship after experiencing such emotion."
"I'm weird," she said with a half shrug held out her hands. "Help me up." He did so, hands hovering by her side in case she fell. She didn't and grinned at him. "Will you walk me to the kitchen? I'm hungry and I don't wanna wake anyone up if it's as late as I presume it is."
"Nearly two in the morning," he chimed happily, holding out an arm.
"Oh…" She blinked. "Well then, to the kitchen!"
He chuckled as they hit the hallway, moving at a slow pace as she tried to regain feeling in her legs. She was surprised he was being so patient but then recalled that Westlyn was still living (or as living as a vampire could be) so Daederath must've had some level of patience within him. "I'm pleased to inform you that my friends will be here by morning."
"Friends?" she questioned in confusion as the sentence tugged her from her thoughts. "Ah. Yes. The fluffy ones." He snorted. "How many?"
"Four. The prince, his mate, and two others."
"Names?"
"They can tell you." She pouted. "It would be rude of me to make introductions without them present."
"Yet you probably already informed them of who I was."
"Sarah, everyone knows who you are."
"Touché." Slipping into the kitchen she released his arm and headed for the fridge. "Let's see… I think a turkey sandwich will be fantastic. Want one?"
"I'm fine."
"I didn't ask that. Are you hungry?"
He sent her a look. "Sarah. What am I?"
She blinked owlishly then slowly got it. "Gotcha. Unfortunately we don't carry a bottle of blood around here so I'm sorry to say I will be a horrible host."
He snorted. "It's quite alright. You're allowed to be a horrible host when you've been attacked by a creature of darkness."
She raised her hands up in defense. "You're about to attack me?!" She received an 'are you for real?' look.
"Sarah. Stop bothering the vampire," Jareth announced as he entered the room.
Daederath sent him a look. "Why is she so stupid?"
"Because she's an idiot," Jareth replied dryly. "Are they coming?"
"They should be here by sunup. I've told them to wait until a few hours after before awakening the castle."
"Thanks. Sarah what are you doing?"
She shrugged, biting a huge piece of her sandwich off. "Imfhungreh." Both lords winced.
"Just… keep your mouth closed." She nodded and resumed the devouring her food. "Thank you Daederath."
"It was not a problem," he replied diplomatically. "I just have to ask… you met with the unicorns yesterday?" He nodded. "And they agreed?" He nodded again. "Very well." He twitched. "Disgusting light creatures," he grumbled.
"Dun like Lady Corn?" Sarah asked.
"You speak as poorly as Westlyn," Daederath sighed.
"I know. You don't like Lady Corn?"
"No. She is a creature of light while I am one of darkness."
"Yin and yang," Sarah chirped.
Daederath blinked then cocked his head. "Hm… that had never occurred to me."
"I'm good for something besides laughs," she agreed in sudden sleepiness then held out her arms to Jareth. "I wanna go to sleep now."
He rolled his eyes and walked over, picking her up. She was out cold in an instant. "I'll see you in a few hours Daederath," Jareth informed the vampire who nodded and vanished. Jareth headed back to her room and slipped her in between the sheets. He brushed hair away from her eyes and smiled before leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Sleep tight," he murmured before going back to bed to continue his sleep from when it had been interrupted as Sarah stepped out of the library.
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The next morning, only a few hours after she'd gone to bed, Sarah was making her way down to the kitchens again as she was hungry. She only vaguely remembered waking up in the middle of the night so she didn't recall they had visitors that morning as she passed through the entry hall. "Are you Sarah?" a voice suddenly asked. Before Sarah could turn to address it she was wrapped in a tight and very warm hug. "Oh! It's so great to meet you!"
A familiar vampire was in her sights and he wrinkled his nose. "Luzerne. Put her down. You have fleas."
"I do not!" came the protest but she was released. She turned quickly and found a young man, only slighter taller than herself pouting at Daederath. He had short wild golden brown hair with wolf ears of the same color nestled on top, the whites of his eyes black with shimmering gold pupils, sharp fangs accenting his smile and looking ferocious with the three scarred claw marks on right side of his jaw. He wore a black snug fitting no sleeve that revealed his waist and Sarah wondered why he wasn't shivering because she was cold just looking at him. There were three scarred claw marks, similar to the ones on his face, on his left side below the ribs. One each bicep was a tattooed black paw mark, a black bracelet around each wrist, claws on his fingers. His black pants were cut off a few inches below the knee, like capris, revealing the leather boots on his feet.
He turned his attentions to her and grinned widely. She blinked at him. "You don't look like a werewolf," she commented before he could speak.
Luzerne let out a barking laugh. "I'm a 'wolf'. No 'were' in it." He pouted. "Did Daederath tell you I was a werewolf? He's always doing that, the jerk."
Daederath snorted. "I told her I had friends that could find her attacker."
"You said they were fluffy puppies," Sarah argued but before the argument could continue, three others walked in.
"Sarah, my name's Luzerne!" the man-wolf chirped happily, tail wagging furiously. He reached out and grabbed the woman closest to him. "This is my mate Jamila," he motioned towards the other pair, "my brother Rufinus and my sister Onatah."
Jamilia had short hair like her mate though hers was a light red and very neat, her eyes the same gold. She wore a simple cream colored v-neck, short sleeved dress that fell to mid thigh to reveal the tan leggings and knee high flat black boots. The arms of her gown, however, had a circle cut out so her tattoos, the same as her mate's, could be seen. Her tail and ears matched her hair, fangs in the shy smile growing on her face, claws on her fingertips as she reached up to grab Luzerne's hand.
Rufinus had dark blue hair that was nearly black and stuck up in the back, a black beard covering his jaw and chin, eyes as gray as the vest he wore, a black shirt beneath it. His arms were huge making Sarah think he was a security guard, maybe? His pants were a darker shade of gray, baggy with a big pocket that buttoned at the side of each knee, black boots visible from where the pants tightened at the ankles. He was frowning but Sarah wasn't nervous as it seemed to be a curious frown as though he were trying to study her, his tail flicking behind him, ears twisting every which way.
Onatah was almost the complete opposite of the regal looking Jamilia. She had long black hair, pulled back into a tight ponytail, eyes matching a pale green stomach revealing shirt that tied behind her neck and revealed the identical tattoos on each arm. On each hand were tight brown gloves that billowed past the wrist to creep halfway up her forearm. Her beige baggy pants were slung around her hips and tucked into the wide brown boots on her feet, tail swinging behind her happily. She kind of reminded Sarah of a wolf-ish version of a mechanic.
"We are the best in our pack," Luzerne assured Sarah. "We will find this man!"
Sarah smiled brightly. "Thank you all."
Onatah glanced at Luzerne who nodded. The she-wolf yelped happily and glomped her. "Sarah! It's an honor to meet you! We heard you were a friend to nearly all and wanted to meet you at the High Council meeting but unfortunately our brothers in the Western pack got to go instead. After that there was a dispute between the packs and no one could leave so we couldn't meet and before that auntie was having a baby so we all had to be there and after that Luzerne's birthday was occurring and we had to attend his party and we've been busy patrolling and inducing safety measures for the pack against the incoming creatures of darkness." Her ears flattened against her head. "I'm sorry it's taken so long."
"It's alright, "Sarah smiled. "We got to meet now!"
She wagged happily but before conversation could continue, Luzerne stepped forward. "Sarah, we must find who we are hunting. We will return once we have him." He shifted, transforming into a wolf the same shade as his hair. Immediately the other three followed. Onatah pawed at Sarah's leg in reassurance then raced after her leader. They paused on the pathway, noses to the ground before Luzerne howled and tore down the path.
Sarah cocked her head. "That was… kinda weird. I mean they were talking to me and then they were dogs…"
Daederath snorted and Jareth sighed. "Why do they always come here?"
"Why is that any different than your panther friends?" Daederath asked.
Sarah shrugged. "I dunno… dogs are like man's best friend so I wouldn't expect Riley to suddenly be one of us whereas Valdis is a panther not one of us so it's perfectly alright?" She shrugged again. "It's weird."
"Everyone laughs at me cause they think I've a short fuse but it's because of these people that are always here."
"Well I suppose that does make sense," Daederath agreed, linking his arms behind his back.
"I always make sense." He snorted. "Jareth, stop talking to yourself darling. It's breakfast time. Daederath, would you care to join us?" The vampire glanced at the pouting Goblin King then bowed dramatically.
"I would love to."
Sarah grinned as Jareth sighed heavily. "I hate you all."
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To all Heal Me, Hurt Me Readers and Reviewers,
Still on a Star Trek high. Please forgive the long wait :)
Oh and you may notice how different the top is. I got annoyed with having to copy/paste it so I've decided that after what… sixty-eight chapters (yes, SIXTY-EIGHT) you guys would assume that I don't own the characters and know what the story is about.
Luzerne – the name of some lake I drove by some time ago
Jamila – (Arabic) beautiful
Onatah – (Iroquois) of the earth
Rufinus – (roman) red-haired. He was supposed to have red hair but my brain turned traitorous so now he has navy hair.
And Rufinus and Onatah aren't really Luzerne's siblings. The wolves just call pack members 'brother' or 'sister' if they're in the same age group. If they're older they're 'aunt' and 'uncle' and really old is 'grandfather' and 'grandmother'. Each individual wolf calls their parents 'mom' and 'dad' but the pack's leaders are 'pack mother' and 'pack father'.
Okay. It is raining and thundering so I'm going to blast my music to drown it out for it frightens me.
Kadasa Mori
Next Chapter Preview: Chapter 19
With a cry of victory she held the game up and kissed it before turning to her guest. "Ah." She fought to keep the smile up even though she wanted to yell at him deciding it was better he spoke with Jareth or Clarica rather than herself. "Good evening Honou. How are-"
"Where's Clarica?"
"You mean Rica?"
"Where is she?"
Sarah shrugged. "Probably in the kitchen or in her chambers. She usually has-"
"Ice cream right now," he finished and turned on his heel. "Thanks."
Sarah blinked after he disappeared then grinned. "Jareth!" she hissed. He appeared beside her looking bored. "Come on. Entertainment."