.

.

My Trial Begins

.

.

My consciousness snapped its return at the sound of Brian's voice frantically crying my name. Opening my eyes I met his panicked ones realizing that I lie sprawled on his couch, and my sense of ridiculousness laughed at the irony of the repeated scene.

"My God! Sarah! Finally, I thought you'd never wake up." Brian held my face between his hands raining kisses over my forehead, eyes, and lips.

"Brian?" My voice cracked, dry and harsh. "How long..." I managed.

"At least a half an hour, I wanted to call an ambulance but ... you were so resistant earlier..." He faltered at his explanation, and I could tell he changed his mind as his voice firmed. "I'm taking you to the hospital. If you're worried about money don't be; I'll pay for it."

"I can't let you do that." Not mere stubbornness on my part; real fear shot through me at the Gobl—at Jareth's threat. What would he do to Brian, sweet Brian, if I allowed him near me?

"Sarah, you've had two seizures in one night. Whatever is going on at least humor me, let me take you." He all but pleaded with me, his brown eyes so kindhearted where Jareth's were cruel. How could I refuse?

"Alright." Hesitantly, I reached an arm upwards for him to help me stand. He assisted me to his car and drove me to the hospital.

En route I silently pondered my reality. I remember wondering - perhaps I really did have seizures and this insanity of Jareth was nothing more than hallucinations and nightmares? But if it were in my imagination then why was I so sore between my legs...unless Brian. I sneak a peek at him while he focused on the road, hardly daring to consider what he may have done to me while I lay unconscious. Brian turned and smiled reassuringly.

No, it wasn't my imagination; it couldn't be...could it? In my heart and soul I believed Jareth real; but what he wanted I had yet to discover.

.

.

Brian stayed with me while I was admitted into the hospital for twenty-four hours of observation, however, eventually they discharged after discovering nothing dangerously out of the ordinary. As far as the medical professionals were concerned, I was a healthy enough eighteen year old, though they did worry about low my blood iron levels. I was diagnosed with anemia and prescribed a high dose iron supplement, but even I knew that didn't explain the seizures, if, indeed, they were seizures.

Brian, however, was ecstatic to have found something odd in my medical history and even more pleased when I complied with his protective instincts. In his mind it explained my strange behavior, though the doctors assured him of the unrelated connection. I allowed Brian to make his assumptions, it was easier than telling him the truth, because at the time I wasn't entirely sure what the truth was either.

He drove me home the next day, walked me to my door, and left me with a sweet, lingering kiss which both titillated me with promises of future delights and tortured me with dread. What would Jareth do?The thought spiked me with spiraling fear and lust.

I greeted my landlady, Mrs. Scott, giving her a brief account of my last two days. She was shocked and supportive, but being elderly, I decided to keep her at a distance. I didn't want Jareth attacking her for just being nice to me. I was due to work at the coffeehouse that afternoon and evening, but not the bar, so I rested up for awhile before heading out for my shift.

My shift was uneventful but busy, as coffee was becoming incredibly hip; I was all too happy to take advantage of the trend and the money until I could solve my Jareth predicament and get on with my life. Just before my shift ended, Brian dropped by to chat and check on me, buying a coffee so my boss wouldn't consider me lazy. He offered to drive me home and I gratefully accepted.

I sincerely liked Brian. He was funny and smart and, of course, well employed as some type of banker and I now remembered. But mainly he seemed very genuine and caring. Not at all like the boys at high school, and especially not Jareth who only wanted to dominate and control.

Yet as I sat in Brian's car as he drove me home, I compared the two diversely different men and was struck with a sensory memory Jareth's gloved fingers inside of me. I immediately became wet, so wet my panties clung to my folds and my breasts tingled. I knew I had to run Brian off, if only to save him.

"Sarah? Is something wrong?" He parked in front of my rented home.

I tried to smile, but could tell by his expression he sensed something my distraction and hoped to be invited inside.

"I'm fine," I said blandly and scooted from my seat, quickly shutting the door behind me before he could exit and open my door for me as usual.

"Sarah?" He stood by his open door, a hurt look on his face.

"It's been great seeing you today, Brian. I gotta go!" I rushed to the front door avoiding his eyes, knowing I should break it off clean with him but not quite having the courage. I shut the front door behind me, his confused and stunned face burned into my memory.

"I'm sorry, Brian," I whispered to myself. "But you've got to stay far away from me." I leaned my back to the door, bitter tears misting my eyes. I can honestly say, in that moment, I thought I hated Jareth more than I ever could.

"Sarah? Is that you?" Mrs. Scott called from the back of the house. I rubbed my face with my hands before answering her.

"Yes, Mrs. Scott," I said back loud enough for her to hear over her mild deafness, and pushed off the door, walking to her room. "Hey." She was comfortable in her wing-back chair watching her favorite television program.

"Sarah, dear, come sit with me for a bit. Oh, dear, you look like you could use a good cry." Her motherly smile welcomed me and I accepted her offer.

In the few months I'd lived with her, we'd not gotten to know each other very much due to my long work hours most every day, but she was a pleasant old woman and offered me a type of grandmotherly affection when I did spend time with her.

"Thanks, Mrs. Scott. I actually kind of could," I replied as I sat on a small love seat near her.

"What troubles you?" she asked and I saw the type of real compassion in her rheumy eyes which I craved and never received from my own family; my tears started anew.

"It's difficult to explain but basically ... a man from my past is threatening me and the man I would like be with; he's making it impossible for me to move on with my life!"

"Why that's terrible! Have you gone to the police?"

"I can't." I sobbed and she reached over, patting my back.

"But if he's threatening you..." she added sagely.

"He's too powerful, too well connected." I cried harder, leaning into Mrs. Scott's offered shoulder, needing the maternal comfort.

How could I fight Jareth? How could I resist him when every molecule of my body responded, wanting him even when my mind did not. Mrs. Scott seemed to sense my confusion and ceased arguing with me, offering only support for the time as I poured out my sorrows. Eventually my tears dried, we separated, and I went to my room after preparing for bed.

I lay under the covers thinking of the oddness of my young life and where my future might end up. I questioned the Powers That Be why, why, Jareth tormented me, wanted to isolate me from any others? And why my own conflicted responses? Just thinking about Jareth now made my body hum with passion; the heat pervaded my skin until I tossed and turned needing relief. I resisted touching myself, considering instead the classic cure of a cold shower, but my thoughts betrayed me, kept drifting back to the forced interlude with Jareth. I tried replacing Jareth with Brian and my anxiety decreased as my fantasy played out in my mind.

I craved Jareth but I trusted Brian.

.

.

I must've fallen asleep at some point because I don't remember the transition, but I do remember awakening back in that landscape of gray fog. I was standing in my nightgown and could feel the tendrils pulling at me, trying to claim me before twisting away. I spun in place, frantic, but there was nowhere for me run.

"Don't fight it, Sarah." Jareth buzzed into my ear and nuzzled my neck. I attempted to spin and face him but he embraced me from behind tightly, preventing my movement. He pulled me against him and I could feel his armor was gone since only leather softness caressed my skin where he touched me.

"Jareth." I was unable to keep the huskiness from my voice.

"I heard you calling for me, my precious thing."

"No...I didn't." I denied even as my head lolled back onto his shoulder.

"Oh, you didn't?" He parroted sardonically.

His hand brazenly cupping my breast, his leather clad thumb playing with my nipple through the cotton. I couldn't stop the moan slipping from my throat and his chuckle vibrated against my shoulder. His other hand worked his way down to the apex of my thighs, the tips of his fingers fondling the exterior of my labia and teasing his way between yet still separated by my nightgown and panties. My arms hung limply at my sides. I could no more fight him at that moment than I could deny him.

"No ... no. I don't want this ... I don't want you," I mumbled, doing my best to fight my body's rising lust. Jareth pinched my hypersensitive nipple hard, and I jumped in both pain and pleasure, another surge of moisture soaking me.

"I bet to differ, my sweet Sarah. I can smell your need." He taunted, his velvet voice tickling my ear as his hands worked on me, knowing me better than I knew myself.

I writhed against him; his hips thrust into my rear and I could feel his leather clad erection slip into the crease of my buttocks. His hand below pulled me firmly back against him, leaving no space, and my treacherous body betrayed me again by responding to Jareth as he knew it would. I heard him sniffing by my ear and his thrusts sped up while his hands worked on me harder, faster, and rougher.

I loved and hated every second.

My hands gripped the sides of his hips while his leg slipped between my own until I straddled his thigh, the leather rubbing sinfully against my engorged skin through my sodden underwear and thin gown. As each slid of friction brought me closer, I could hear him grunting in my ear like a beast and part of my mind wondered how close he was as well. Jareth held me steady as I helped him stimulate us but my mind screamed.

This is wrong!

"Why are you doing this to me?" I sobbed, tears running over my cheeks, caught between lust and frustration. He laughed again, the sound dark and seductive, then shoved me away from him, hard ... hard enough that I stumbled and fell to my hands and knees. The mist parted before me and the rough ground injuring my extremities. The site of blood dampened my ardor but the pain balanced it by bringing a touch of pleasure; I quivered on the edge. After everything I still desired release.

"You stupid girl, you want this yet you persist on lying to yourself. Find your own pleasure this night." He declared haughtily before vanishing in a swirl of fog. I was tempted to follow his advice and seek my own pleasure as my lust still required slaking. After a time, once I realized it remained undiminished no matter how long I waited in the mists, I did.

In that strange and frightening no where place, while staring at the area where helast stood, hoping and fearing his return, I finally put my fingers to effective use and brought myself to successful orgasm. Unfortunately, while it may have been physically complete, it was unsatisfying as I continued to crave Jareth's touch. I burned with the shame of it.

Damn him.

Inevitably, I cried until I slept and woke once again in my bed.

.