Four days later, she woke up, bleary-eyed and groggy, yet again. It was two days until her birthday and so far she and Jareth had worked their way up her arm, across her back, up her neck, across her face and had started on the musculature of the foot. While the lessons seemed to be helping her recall, the resulting dreams were shattering her sleep cycle, leaving her exhausted and somewhat cranky.
The second day she called Jareth out on the dreams, only to have him laugh heartily and inform her that he had no power over her, therefore, he could not possibly be tampering with her dreams. The knowledge that it was all her own subconscious horrified her while amusing him greatly.
As Sarah made her way to her anatomy class, she sighed. Jareth was giving his first test to the class and he had already warned them if would be difficult. The test isn't what she was dreading though, he had assured her at their tutoring session the day before that she should be fine.
What she was dreading was her classmates. Specifically the female ones. They all made goo goo eyes at him and even waited outside his office after class each day. It reminded her of Indiana Jones, though Jareth hadn't taken to climbing out the office window, yet. They had moved the location of her tutoring sessions though. They now met in the empty music room on the other side of the school. So far no one seemed to know about her private tutoring lessons and she planned to keep it that way.
She felt a strange little throb somewhere low down within her stomach when she recalled the time she had arrived a few minutes early for their session. He had been seated at the upright piano, back to her and shoulders moving with the melody as he tickled the ivories, filling the room with his gorgeous music. She had heard him sing for the first time since the two of them had danced together, crooning something about dead roses and glissando strings, and it had made her mouth run dry. Her voice emerged as little more than a croak when at last the song fell silent. The lazy smile on his face when he turned to her said he knew she had been listening all along.
It made her want him all the more.
As she sat, daydreaming at her desk, a sheet of paper was shoved unceremoniously under her nose, hauling her back to reality in a hurry.
The test drew her attention quickly. He hasn't been lying it was tough. By the time class ended every student in the class looked like the had fought their way through the Labyrinth, each one looking stunned and somewhat ill.
Sarah was reasonably sure she passed, although her mind kept revisiting Jareth's dire warning that for every answer she missed, she would face a penalty. By the time she arrived at her tutoring her stomach was rolling nervously. Entering the room she was surprised to find a white box with a purple ribbon sitting on the piano, but no Jareth.
Sarah nibbled her lip as she moved forward to examine the box. Attached to the box by a golden wax seal of he Goblin Kingdom crest was an envelope with her name on it. Opening it she read:
Regrettably, I have been called home to deal with a minor uprising. As a reward for earning the only perfect score on the test, here is an early birthday present. A simple crystal, enchanted to make any muscle or nerve contained within your textbook, tingle and buzz merely by saying the name. Your final is in a week. Study often. Yours - J.
Blinking in surprise Sarah remembered her first attempt at getting other areas to respond, a heated flush creeping up her face. Without realizing it, Jareth had given her the power she lacked then... and she was going to put it to good use.
She grabbed her things and headed home excited about getting some private time.
Once she got there, she had to help with Toby, and then eat dinner, but she excused herself feigning exhaustion and the need for an early night. After showering, she changed into a comfortable nightshirt and panties, crawling into bed with the box containing Jareth's gift clutched to her chest. She had turned out all the lights, the room only illuminated by the moon.
Sarah took the crystal out, turning it over and over in her hand.
Okay. Let's see.
Carefully she worked through the list of muscles from their studies.
The crystal glowed, and softly vibrated in response to her words, up her arm shoulder and across her upper back.
She let it roll off her hand and onto he belly, causing the sensations to cease.
"Rectus addominus." She said. The movement started again down the middle of her abdomen, and it gave her a warm feeling that traveled up her chest and into her pelvic region.
"Mmm." It felt good.
She picked it up and feeling naughty, shed her nightshirt. "Pectoralis major." was her next choice. She actively moved the sphere over her skin, circling her breasts in smaller and smaller circles until she rolled it upwards to a nipple. The vibration against the rosy peak made her gasp making it instantly rock hard, then switched to the other breast. Her body was squirming against the bed then, as her arousal below rose.
After a few minutes she took it further, and let the crystal go, so it traveled slowly down her body to sit at the apex of her legs. She spread her thighs slightly so the crystal was right up against the top of her mound, laying a hand over it, pressing slightly.
Could she say it?
"Clitoris." She whispered. The effect was immediate.
"Oh God.." Her back arched and thighs clasped together as the entirety of her being responded.
The vibrations against her sex were like a lightning bolt through her body. She was barely able to hold onto the slippery glass. Her hips rolled in tight circles as she bit her lips to keep from screaming in pleasure.
Then fireworks exploded behind her eyelids as she came hard, whining and panting as her whole body contracted and released.
When she was done, she loosened her hold on the crystal, it rolled away and ended up between her knees, still.
"Fuuuck."
She turned to her side and pulled her knees up. She had pleasured herself many times, but it was nothing like what she just experienced.
"Holy hell."
She reluctantly grabbed the crystal and put it in the box, setting it on her nightstand.
Finally relaxed after days of torture in moments she was asleep, a satisfied grin on her face.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Entering his study, Jareth grinned seeing the glowing red crystal on his desk. Sarah had accepted and used his gift. Sitting in his chair, he propped his feet upon the desk and leaned back. "Let's see what my dear Sarah is up to."
With a flick of his wrist, a crystal appeared in his hand. He saw Sarah sleeping soundly in her bed. "I missed the fun it seems. What a pity." He sighed and tossed the crystal up in the air. "But at least I can visit her dreams now," he grinned. Standing, he changed into a white barn owl and flew off.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sarah was dreaming of her upcoming party. Everyone was gathered in the park, and I mean everyone, her family, friends from school, even her friends from the Underground. Everyone that was important to her at any time in her life, including her gram who had passed away years ago. But still she felt there was someone missing. He wasn't there.
She had made her birthday wish and blown out the candles, though she couldn't remember the wish, and now she was opening her gifts. Sitting on the table was a small white box with a purple ribbon. It was identical to the one he gave her. Grinning, she opened it to find a single white feather inside. "What?"
Before she could figure it out a gust of wind blew the feather from her hand. Panicking, she chased after it. The wind carried the white plume towards the small bridge, away from the party and her friends. She didn't think about anything but catching the feather. Finally, the feather floated down to rest on the surface of the water. Leaning over the bridge, she reached for it, her fingers barely touching it. She stretched further and further until she grabbed it between her fingers. "Got it!"
But she had leaned too far and lost her balance. As she felt herself start to fall over the bridge, she felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her backup. "Easy Precious, I've got you." His deep voice was beside her ear.
Clutching the feather in her hand, she found herself in his warm embrace. "Jareth."
He chuckled and pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her neck. "So much trouble over such a little thing. It's just a feather.''
"But it was a gift."
"Was it?" He grinned. He plucked it from her fingers and used it to trace her neckline. "I can think of far better things to give you as gifts."
"Such as?"
Flicking his wrist in front of her, she watched in amazement as the feather turned into a red rose. "This for starters."
As Sarah took the rose from his hand, she felt herself waking, but she swore he whispered something in her ear.
Opening her eyes, she saw light starting to come in through her window, between the blue curtains. Sitting up, her fingers brushed something velvety feeling. Looking down, she found a single red rose on her pillow.
Eyes wide, she hesitantly reached out, running her finger over the velvety rose. "He said he couldn't interfere in my dreams, but then... how..." Shaking her head, she swallowed heavily, fighting down an odd sense of anger, unease and oddest of all, the rarely felt sensation of excitement. "If he interfered, but it was a lovely dream...what does that mean?"
Her thoughts were derailed by Karen knocked briskly on the door. "Up and at'em Sarah. Sandra will be here in twenty minutes to take you to school."
Grabbing her hairbrush, Sarah began to tug it quickly through her hair. "I'm coming... I'll be down in a minute!" Her eyes fell once more to the rose, the hairbrush coming to a stop, as she caressed the crimson petals.
"What does it mean?" she murmured, then carefully laid the rose on top of a familiar little red book that had held pride of place on her bookshelf since her adventure through the Labyrinth.
The school day passed slowly, and gave her no opportunity to quiz her unusual new teacher about his methods, or his intrusions into her dreams. Though the curiosity was killing her, seeing the usually poised Goblin King buried under a pile of marking made it almost worthwhile.
Hiding under the guise of someone who was expected to take care of children, rather than abduct them, he was forced to work much harder than he had probably anticipated. Hiding himself away behind his office door only made his more dedicated students knock harder.
Sarah had no clue how he managed to rule a kingdom whilst simultaneously fighting off half of the school's female population - teachers included. The non-stop harassment, both in class and out, was almost enough to make her feel sorry for him. Still, after all he'd put her through it was good to see him sweat for a change.
Inspiration struck her in the lunch room, and she picked up an extra portion of dessert with a grin, managing to slip it into his office while no one was around.
She didn't know how much the Goblin King would appreciate the cafeteria's attempt at chocolate cake, but the accompanying note she left was sure to be well received:
'Let's see how you deal with this little slice - S'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Returning to his office after another marathon staff meeting, Jareth groaned as he fell into his chair, his head falling into his hands. "What possessed me to think this was a good idea? I'd rather oversee another war court between the Trolls and Orcs than another 'faculty meeting'."
Sniffing, he paused, the scent of something approximating chocolate cake assailing him. Jareth lifted his head and sniffed again. "What the... since when do student papers smell like chocolate cake," he muttered. "Granted, several smell like cheap perfume, but..."
Finally, he started moving stacks of assignments aside, only to find a thick slice of the cafeteria's chocolate cake sitting upon his desk. Picking up the note, Jareth chuckled as he read it, his pleasure at her light-hearted teasing doing more for his mood than any confectionery the Above might offer him. "Well-played, Precious. This almost makes up for missing your little 'study session' last night. Almost... but not quite."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As Sarah made her way from last class towards her locker, several of her friends commented about the upcoming party.
"See you tomorrow birthday girl."
"Looking forward to your stepmom's cooking.''
Then she heard a comment from someone she had hoped to avoid. "Hey Williams!" Brian called. "What happened to my invitation?"
Long past caring about the infuriating jock's feelings, Sarah whirled on him, her emerald eyes snapping darkly. "Listen up meathead...I do not LIKE you and will NEVER go out with you. Just leave me alone!" Unaccustomed to hearing Sarah say much of anything, much less tell off a football star in the middle of the hall, her classmates gawked and stared.
Sarah hadn't noticed which class they were by, nor did she see the blond teacher poke his head out to see what was going on.
"Come on Williams, don't be like that. I just wanted to join the others at your party. Seems like everyone, but me got an invite."
"Well I can assure you, Mr. Miller, I did not receive an invitation either. If Miss Williams wanted us to join her for her special day, I'm certain she would have personally handed us an invitation. Now run along to class and leave her alone." Jareth said calmly, but there was a fire in his eyes that made the boy cower and run.
Sarah rolled her eyes as she turned to face her newest problem. "You know, you don't always have to bail me out. I'd like to think I'm pretty capable of looking after myself by now." A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "I'm not a kid any more. I'm a big girl who can stand up for herself, Jareth."
Those alluring eyes of his crinkled at the corners as he drank her in. "So I've noticed. You're growing into a strong young woman, and soon enough, I'll have no more left to teach you. Pity."
A pang of sadness lanced through her at his words. As much as she questioned his motives, she had grown used to seeing him each day, even if it was just for her tutoring. In between drilling various muscle groups, nerves and connective tissues, they had shared bits of their lives.
She had told him about her frustrations with her mother and the brain-dead jock that kept asking her out, and he had shared with her that his latest 'uprising' involved a band of goblins devoted to a black pullet named 'Rosalinda'. All in all, he'd become a comfortable fixture in her life - and the thought of him not being there, struck a chord of disappointment within her.
"Yeah, but...there's still the final, right? We have to make sure I'm ready for it. And I have my birthday to worry about before then. Lots of cake. Lots of presents. Lots of...feathers, I guess? Or roses? Or anything else I need to worry about?"
Jareth smirked at her attempt to wheedle the details out of him, yet said nothing.
"So...was that your way of trying to get an invite out of me?"
"I do not know of what you speak," he said, then glanced at the clock above the bookshelf. "You are a bit early for your tutoring today, Sarah. Perhaps you should just come in?"
"I actually need to get a few things from my locker first. I'll just be a minute." Sarah dashed down the hall to her locker and switched out the books she didn't need for ones that she did. She grabbed the light blue envelope and tucked it in her bag.
After her dream the night before she debated inviting him to the party. She still hadn't made up her mind but she brought an invitation just in case.
When she returned to the anatomy classroom, Jareth was waiting for her at the door. "Alright, Dr. Knightly." She smiled at how he smirked every time she called him doctor.
"Have a seat, Sarah and we'll get started." Jareth instructed as he closed the door behind her and used a little magic to sound proof the room.
Sarah pulled in a deep breath. "Actually, I think I'd prefer to stay standing."
With the way her knees were wobbling, she wasn't certain exactly how long she could manage it, but it was clear the request caught Jareth's interest.
"Oh? And why is that?"
Sarah took a couple of cautious steps towards her teacher. Now that the two of them were alone again, it seemed like all she could think of was that dream...and that damned crystal. After the gifts he had given to her the night before, she had a good idea of just how to repay him. She let her eyes drift along his body, her mouth dry with want.
"I think," she managed to murmur. "I think...I want to see the words at work on someone else this time, so I can watch...and learn."
From the way his eyes darkened, it was clear he understood. "Sa-rah." Her name emerged in a sinister little sing-song. "I believe that might be overstepping a mark, don't you?"
Heedless, Sarah took another step forwards.
Jareth smirked. "But of course, that wouldn't concern you. You've never been one to do as you're told, have you, precious? You never know when to turn back, before things really get dangerous."
She couldn't hold back a snort. "Now you're worried about taking things too far? After the crystal, and everything you've made me feel up until now?" She stopped a safe-ish distance away from him, just beyond the boundary of his personal space.
Even at such a distance, she could already see the tension in his frame, and saw the way his fingers curled into his palms – perhaps to keep from reaching for her? "What are you hoping to get out of this, Jareth? Why are you still here, but still tiptoeing around us taking this to the next level?"
His mouth pressed into a thin line. "I want your pleasure," he admitted at last. "The world I come from is filled with it, both carnal and otherwise. Underground, when a young woman takes the first steps on her life's sexual journey, it's something to be celebrated – something for her to draw power from as she learns more about her self and her body. Above, however, there are many names for a teenage girl who chooses to take those same steps – and none of them pleasant."
A scowl darkened his face at the thought, but soon his attention was solely on her once more. "Admittedly, I have my own selfish reasons for wanting to guide you through your journey, but I don't wish to take advantage, nor cloud your perceptions of yourself in any negative way. I can take you as far as you long to go, and I will ask nothing from you in return – save for your pleasure. If I can gift you that, then I will consider myself lucky. You don't need to appease me."
"I want to. I want to learn."
"Sarah-"
"No, Jareth. Like you said, this is my journey, and I control the steps I take. I want to go on."