I do not expect anyone to like this chapter, I myself have a great disliking to it. It may seem that the conflict is ending but it certainly goes on much further. Things are not always what they seem in this place… Shoot me for sounding so corny. Enjoy.
Chapter 5: Dangers Untold
Sarah was standing at the gates which led into the castle grounds. She was praying, long streams of words, begging God and all the Fae who may be watching to help her face her worst fears. She had already left her love behind in safety; all she needed to do now was get her family to equal safety. She was willing to pay anything to rescue them. Anything, the word echoed in her.
She reached forward and swung open the metal gate which sprung with a rusty shriek that wailed in the strange new silence. She stepped slowly over the stone path, the quiet around her growing heavier and heavier like the silence itself was a great mass of creature that was clinging to her moving form. She felt the dry wind and the excruciating heat sting her entire body. The bitter tears sprinkled without cease from her drooping tired eyes. She hadn't slept in over a week, save the few times Jareth had cheated her into slumber with magic, which even thus fueled left her more exhausted then she had been before.
The huge iron doors of the castle were slightly open, just enough for a beam of bluish light to shine through. No guard stood at the door, though Sarah felt there wasn't any need for a sentinel in this kind of place. The kingdom itself was a jail, the prisoners too tortured to ever be able to fight their master. She peered into the doorway and saw a great hall. It glowed from a burning bowl of blue fire which stood on a thin carved pole in the center of the room. From what Sarah could guess the pole was made out of the leg bone of some great animal much larger then any she'd ever seen before. Around perimeter of the room were a series of many doors, none of which indicated a dungeon or any place to hide stolen mortals. And at the end of the Hall were two staircases which led onto a small balcony that overlooked the entire room. She stepped inside tentatively.
Her boots made soft thuds against the floor. Before she was to the center of the room where the blue flame flickered, the sounds of sharp shoes shocked her stiff.
From the stairs stepped the figure of a woman. She was tall and slender, with a grey hooded cloak which covered her. Inside the cloak Sarah could see nothing, save the hints of fabric showing the glow of a red gown. The woman cocked her head, or rather the hood cocked to the side and Sarah had the most horrible feeling that the eyes under that hood could see right through her.
A boney, yet beautiful pale hand peeked out of the cloak and the woman reached and pulled the hood away. Sarah gasped at the sight, in both fear and awe. Standing before her was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She had huge grey eyes, a long nose with nostrils that turned up just slightly. She had a silk-like mouth which seemed more violet then red and sunken cheeks that were a very soft pale rose. Her hair was like silver thread, hanging in long thin strands. The woman smiled, and the sight of her fanged mouth made Sarah tremble.
"Ah my dear," The woman said. "Are you afraid of me?"
Sarah's mouth hung open and for a moment she was unable to speak. Then she felt herself fall into that desperate position she had been in when she had rescued Toby. She called on the courage she knew she had in her to respond to this strange woman with an almost mockingly happy tone. "Fear you, my lady? Why no, I am simply struck by your beauty," This is the land of sin, Sarah remembered, make her believe you're a sinner. "And I am most envious of you." She had darkened her tone, trying to convey the jealousy she didn't not feel for the terrifying woman.
The woman smiled then clapped her hands in delight. "What cheek!" She hurried down the flight of stairs and peered curiously at Sarah, examining her with a troubled eye. "My dear, did you walk here? Irvus will be most delighted to see you have come but I do not think the conditions in which you are in will please him." She plucked up a strand of Sarah's unwashed hair between small tipped fingers. Sarah forced herself not to flinch when the woman leaned in and sniffed it with an animal like snort.
"Yes, come with me," The woman took Sarah's hand in hers, and the girl couldn't hold back her cry when those icy fingers snared hers. "Hush now, no worries, Irvus will be with you soon."
"My Lady," Sarah had to force the undeserved chivalry. "I believe you have mistaken me for someone else. I have come to retrieve my family which I know is in the possession of Irvus."
The woman's eyes flared for a moment, and then she smiled once more. "Are you Sarah Marta Williams?"
"I am." Sarah's whisper was dry, her mouth felt as though she had stuffed it full of sawdust. How the hell did this woman know her name? And her full name at that, she hadn't ever mentioned her middle name to anyone in the past eleven years, she hated it so.
"Then I do not have you mistaken, my son speaks very highly of you," She said. "You may call me Persephone; my husband is around and about somewhere. But before anything we must go get you cleaned up."
"My family," Sarah spoke sternly. "I came to get my family."
"You will see them soon enough." Persephone's tone was dark, threatening. Sarah found that as the woman took her hand once again in her icy clutch she could not fight her.
Persephone took her to a tower room where a giant golden tub sat in the center of the vast circular extent. The room was lit by many oddly scented candles about the room, the smell of which was making Sarah dizzy. The walls were made of stone, save one which was made completely from mirror. Persephone didn't hesitate and called for a servant to come and wash the girl. A maid came in. Sarah watched in silent horror as Persephone left her with the strange creature.
The maid looked more like a cat then a girl; she had pointed ears, wide eyes made entirely of lime green iris and thin black pupils. Her hair was covered by a lace cap, but strands of it fell about her face in curled whisker-like waves. Her fingers were short and her nails were long, but she smiled softly, with teeth that were very much human in all ordinary respects.
"Miss, you'll want to undress now," Her voice was soft and sweet, a voice Sarah knew did not belong to a demon. This girl was no demon or devil, even if she had a very inhuman appearance Sarah felt her trust in her grow.
"What is your name?" Sarah asked and began to do as the cat-girl instructed by taking off her many layers of clothing. She set her small sack of crystals on the ground in a place she could get to easily near the tube, just in case this girl was not as trustworthy as Sarah's instincts told her.
The cat-girl made a sort of humming purr. "My name is Sasha." She took Sarah's clothes and began to fold them.
"How did you become a servant in this place?" Sarah couldn't help the disgust in her tone.
Sasha's eyes grew a little sad. "I…was sold to the Devil by my brother in exchange for the life of his mortal lover. The Devil had no use for me, but my Lady Persephone pitied me because she was once a Fae like I am, though she didn't come from the same place as I did. So she kept me as her personal maid." Sasha reached over the tube to turn the water on.
Sarah felt a little foolish standing naked next to this stranger, but she was moved to tears by Sasha's story. The cat-girl smiled a little.
"Of course," She whispered. "You have a much better fate here then I do," She laid her paw like hand over her heart. Sarah hadn't noticed 'til then the very poor conditions of the dress the girl wore, tattered and ripped and stained from god knows what. "To be the bride of the Dark King!"
Sarah stopped breathing. Irvus had stolen her family and forced her to walk straight into Hell because he wanted her to be his bride? Jareth had said the Dark Fae was only lusting after her, but the nature of Fae only allows them to love once. Some part in her wanted to cry, for if Jareth was indeed wrong and Irvus was wedding her because of his heart, then she would forever feel guilty for denying him. Then she remembered the look in that horrible man's eyes. Their coldness and darkness.
"I will not wed such a man, Sasha." She said. The girl jumped in surprise. "I simply cannot," Sarah explained. "I am engaged to another whom I love with all my heart."
The Fae-youth frowned. "Here miss, let me help you into the tube, maybe the water will clear your mind."
Sarah gave up and let the girl help her into the tube. The water was brilliantly warm, and as Sarah moved to sit down in its gold reflecting depths she began to feel a rumble deep inside her. The sensation moved through her slowly, crawling up her legs and arms to her center.
Sasha combed out her grimy hair into the water, holding Sarah by the back of the neck. After she cleaned her hair with a sweet smelling shampoo, Sasha left her to enjoy herself in the water.
Sarah fell asleep and began to dream. She dreamed she was with Jareth, curled up on a soft mattress, both of them naked under a thin sheet. He ran his tongue gently over her lips and she opened her mouth to let him in and they kissed for what felt like forever. Dizzy and without breath Sarah felt his warm hand move up her ribcage to her breast. At first his touch was gentle and loving…then it grew rough and his nails dug into her flesh and she screamed and his fanged mouth came down on her open one. It was no longer Jareth who was holding her, but instead Irvus.
Sarah woke but the dream did not end. The water around her had started to drain away and a very naked Irvus was holding her down on the tube floor, his fangs nipping at her lips, is touch on her body rough and sharp.
She screamed and tried to kick him away. Please, god, no, not him, please god don't let him-
Her prayers ended short when her virginity was stolen in one sharp blow, by the son of the Devil who sighed in dark bliss even as she fainted.
Jareth was at the gates, breathing deep, trying to focus on Sarah's soul. He could feel it, a sharp flow of energy that emanated from her like a flame. He had always been able to sense it and even now with her lost in the dark castle e could feel it faintly. He let a cloud of glitter swallow him and pull him swiftly to where her soul could be felt. He appeared in a bathroom and was very confused until he spotted her laying in the tube, blood pooling from between her legs.
"Sarah!" He ran to the tube and stared in horror at her bruised body. He dove into the tube and picked her up in his arms. He wiped the hair from her face, tears from his eye running down his face to drip and land on hers. "Sarah, please, wake up." He fell to his knees and cradled her close to his chest. He threw his head back and screamed a long murderous ringing howl.
"Now now, goblin-man, there is no need to fuss," Irvus appeared from the darkness. He wore a pair of pants and that was all. Jareth could imagine what he had done to Sarah, and his heart flamed violently.
"You monstrous man!" Jareth spat and produced a crystal. He flung it toward Irvus but before the blow could meet it's foe it shattered on its own accord and landed in many sparkling pieces on the floor.
"No…" Jareth whispered and held Sarah ever tighter. The hold on her woke her and Sarah cried out in surprise.
"Jareth!" She said, then her eyes caught sight of the man who had raped her and she shrunk against Jareth in fear. "Irvus." She hissed angrily.
"My dear," Irvus smiled.
"Give me back my family," Sarah commanded but her voice was weak.
"Just your family?" Irvus smiled and cocked his head to the side.
"Who else have you stolen!" Sarah yelled. Jareth held her tightly and wound an arm around her belly, trying to keep her weak body contained even has she flared up like a flame.
"Oh dear, just a little dwarf who happened to be home one evening." He smiled. "Still if you want him to be returned as well then by all means."
Irvus waved his hand in the air and a small cloud of shiny black stones gathered around his hand before shooting in all directions and vanishing. "There the deed is done, they are all home and safe with no memory of what has happened."
"Jareth is that true?" Sarah asked. He formed a crystal and showed her, it was as Irvus had said. "Fine then," She whispered. "Let's go."
"What was that darling?" Irvus laughed a harsh and humorless laugh. "No, Sarah, you will be staying with me. You are to be my queen."
Sarah broke away from Jareth's grasp, naked and bruised as she was and screamed angrily. "I will never marry you. I would never marry a man so deceitful and cruel. You raped me, stole my family and beat me. Why on earth do you think I would want to marry you?"
"Because, my dear," Irvus smiled. "The one you think is good is no better then me." He looked at Jareth who still sat on the floor of the tube, his arms hanging limp between his legs. The Goblin King did not speak, or meet Sarah's eyes, he only watched Irvus.
"You think Jareth you would get away with hiding your secrets from her?" Irvus laughed again. "As if! I'm most surprised you never told her about your cruel ways, your lying cheating games with mortals. All you ever wanted was attention."
"That's not true," Jareth growled. "I did what was asked of me."
"You were lenient with Sarah," The Dark King sighed. "But what did you do with the others?"
Jareth's mouth hung open, he couldn't speak. Only then did he turn to Sarah. She was frowning slightly; she kneeled down in front of him.
"Jareth, what did you do?" She whispered. She reached up to pull a strand of his hair from his face.
His head fell and he sighed sadly.
She stood a quiet statue and limped slightly away from him. "If you cannot tell me, then for now we may need some time a part. Irvus please let me go home. I do not want to see the Goblin king right now."
Inside of him Jareth could feel everything shatter. A thousand swords impaling him, a hundred slashing whips against his back. Irvus smiled and said, "Yes, dear, home you shall be." He touched Sarah's cheek and she vanished.
Jareth felt nothing then, his insides had all gone cold with ice and he stood. "If you so much as lay a finger on her I will personally watch your head roll off your body to be fed to my goblins." He threatened and left the room. He stepped into a cloud of glitter and silently transported from the castle, through each part of Hell until he was once again in the field of dreams. From there he went home, to the cold castle where he locked himself in his chamber and let no servants or goblins in.
Sarah reappeared in her apartment bedroom. She was still naked and bleeding and only then did the pain of it all hit her like a sharp summer wind. She fell to the ground and sobbed. When she had enough strength to drag herself to the mirror, she called for Hoggle. His face appeared in the glass.
"Sarah…"
"Hoggle," She cried. "Hoggle please help me!"
Irvus was angry. He hadn't won Sarah; she still loved Jareth, for the time being anyway. He had poisoned it, but he knew she was much stronger then her doubts. He had lost. But…he had been in her. He smiled darkly, no matter what Jareth and Sarah might have in the future; he would always have that sweet trick. He had stolen her virginity; she would never be able to give Jareth that gift. So even as he gave up on the perfect china doll mortal he had chosen, he smiled, for in the end he had won and most likely ruined much of their blooming relationship. Either way, Sarah had a lot to learn about her goblin king.
Hoggle watched Sarah sleep sadly. She had been hurt and broken. She had explained everything that had happened, sobbing the whole while. She was so afraid that she had hurt Jareth, but she had told Hoggle that she had said those things and been so cold because she knew Irvus wouldn't have let her go had he known she still loved Jareth. Hoggle had calmed her, cleaned her up and gave her clothes from her closet. Her favorite David Bowie T-shirt and boxer-style shorts. Now as she lay asleep in her bed, her damp hair leaving a wet stain on her pillow Hoggle decided it was best to leave her for a quick moment and inform the king of the truth.
Though he may not have liked Jareth personally, Hoggle knew that they both needed to be with each other. Sarah needed him more then ever, as the shock settled in and she lost the will to speak somewhere during the night as Hoggle helped her. He noticed the change instantly. Her green eyes lost their shine and she spoke only in soft crumbling sighs that broke into whispers too soft to be heard.
So, while Sarah slept, he snuck through the mirror, his mind set on appearing in the King's room. He stepped through the mirror frame and smiled proudly having reached his destination. He saw on the bed the figure of Jareth, lying with his face toward the ceiling, watching nothing in the crystals above him.
"Jareth." Hoggle said. "The little lady needs you."
Jareth looked at him. His eyes were stormy and forbidding, but Hoggle was no longer afraid of the Fae man as he had once been. He explained what Sarah had told him.
"I am sorry, Hoggle." He said. "But Irvus was right, I am a monster and I never told her. I cannot bear to have to be with her and know that I am keeping this from her."
"You told me you never lied to her." Hoggle said.
"I never did," He sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "It was never mentioned during our time together. I am not a terrible villain," Jareth sighed. "But I have a dark past."
"Yous were young," Hoggle said. "You couldn't do nothing about it. Your powers were too great."
Jareth gave him an oddly delicate smile. "Do you think if I told her that she would forgive me…Hogbrain?" He raised an eyebrow at the old nickname.
Hoggle rolled his eyes. "It's Sarah, she loves you. I think you gots a good chance."
Jareth nodded hopefully and followed Hoggle through the frame of the mirror back to Sarah's room. Seeing her beaten and small and weak almost made him scream but Jareth contained his anger for Sarah rolled over in her sleep and moaned his name. At first he thought she was dreaming but her tear-filled eyes were open and her small hand reached out to him. He grasped it quickly and drew it to his mouth.
"Oh, precious," He sighed. "Sarah, I need to tell you something I have kept from you." He turned to look at Hoggle but he found the dwarf had already gone back through the mirror.
Her hand moved to his face and she turned it back to hers. "Not now, love," She whispered. "Please save it for morning I just want my Jareth with me tonight. Nothing more." She moved over in the bed to give him room to lay with her.
He stripped down to his pants and lifted the sheet to join her. Holding her in his arms that night was like an untouchable blessing that slipped into his grasp. They had made it, through Hell, quite literally. Now all that was left was the final trust, he would share everything he had tried to keep inside with her. He had nothing to fear. He slept peacefully.