Sarah heard the knocks, but she didn't heed them. "Just five more minutes." She grumbled rolling over on the noisy cot. On accident she moved her face so she was laying facedown. She had learned earlier that the cot smelled almost as bad as the daycare room. She took a huge whiff of the vile scent as the knocking grew louder and the door erupted.
"Lady Sarah!" It was Audra. "Ya must get up, eat, and go to work." Her voice was strained and worrisome as lady Sarah rolled over and saw Audra with a silver tray in hand. Sarah lifted the tray with high hopes, but was greeted with the same bubbling cream substance. Yum.
"I'm not eating that." She was tempted to throw the whole concoction towards the wall. The goblin's eyes were filled with annoyance as she brought forth another stack of peasant clothes.
"Hurry up and change then, or else yer gonna be late." Audra threw the clothes at Sarah.
"Oh, no. We wouldn't want that." She mumbled.
Sarah was pleased to find the little pests were actually happy to see her. They were calm and they listened when she spoke. The goblins were eager to play her Aboveground games and learn even more of them.
Even Sarah found herself enjoying the children as well. She laughed when they told her a silly joke and she smiled when she chased them in a game of free tag. She was surprised when she looked up to the doorway absent mindedly and saw Jareth, standing in a daze, arms lazily crossed. She stopped pursuing the children and watched him curious eyes. Her mouth dropped forming into an 'O' of surprise, though she lacked shock.
Finally, he returned to his mind. He smiled at Sarah, waving a hand to hypnotically bring her closer.
"Is something, amiss?" She asked shooing the children off. She was amazed with how in awe they were of Jareth—he didn't notice.
"Well, it seems you are enjoying your vocation a little too much." Jareth flexed his hands.
She turned to the children then back to Jareth. "Did you mean this torture?"
He smirked slightly. "Come," he said ignoring her question, "it is time for lunch. He turned out of the room. Sarah hesitated eyeing the children unsure. She didn't want to leave them alone. Then, from the door, a goblin stepped in grumbling words Sarah did not understand. The children began screaming at the sight of the odd creature. She ran out the door after Jareth.
He was waiting there impatiently, for a frown had moved to his face. "You shouldn't keep royalty, waiting."
Sarah rolled her eyes and stepped past him. "Oh, do forgive me, your majesty." She said dramatically.
"Sarah." Jareth's voice challenged from behind her. "Do you know where you are going?"
She stopped mid-step and turned to her captor with annoyance. She sighed in defeat. "Please, lead the way your highness."
Sarah didn't know what to make of the situation while she followed Jareth silently through the castle. Normally, the goblins would bring her a fruit for lunch and she would eat it while the children slept. She followed Jareth, deep in thought out the castle doors and to a fragrant backyard.
"Oh," she noticed a blanket lain across the ground. Flower bushes of extravagant petals the likes of which Sarah had never seen surrounded the area. A fountain, large and deep nestled itself into the corner lapping water through statues of mermaids and life-size fairies. There were weeping willow trees that seemed to whisper secret things you could only know if you stepped within their branches. Even the sky was the bluest Sarah had ever laid her eyes on. Suddenly, the blanket was a miniscule detail within the vast scenery.
Sarah turned, trying to take in the extremity of it all. Never had she imagined such a place could lay hidden behind the labyrinth. "This spot is so…" She trailed off realizing she wanted to have a cool mask like Jareth.
Jareth relaxed on the blanket, and old-fashioned basket appeared beside him. Sarah joined him after a moment of taking in the beauty. He had struggled with this thought all morning. He longed to spend time with Sarah. He wanted to see her more than he should want to see her. It was unhealthy for his kingdom. Sure, he wanted her, had always wanted her, but now that she was actually in his castle, he had to have her.
She sat down next to him as a slight breeze picked up. Her smell of vomit laced with her natural scent wafted toward Jareth. He was both disgusted and amused.
"What's the catch?" asked Sarah after settling herself down.
"Hmm?" Jareth mused, distracted by his thoughts. Sarah ran a hand through her hair. "You know, what's going to happen to me? What is my new punishment? Do I have to kiss your boots or something?"
Jareth laughed. That would be comical. "Oh, dear, I do believe you have a sour opinion of me."
"Am I off?"
Jareth laid back, annoyed with the conversation, "I simply though you might enjoy a meal outdoors." He closed his eyes taking in everything around him.
"You are a strange man. One minute you want to punish me, and then the next you want to take me on a picnic. Pardon me if I am reluctant to take this for face value."
Jareth's eyebrow twitched. "Sarah. Just be quiet; for once in your life, don't talk back. One must take care of what one owns."
She made fists at her side digging her nails into her palm. She literally had to bite her tongue to keep from saying something stupid. Oh, she wanted to. She had a lovely vocabulary set up for Jareth, but she wanted good food more than she wanted to burn him at the moment. She opened the basket and was astonished by the amount of food tucked away inside. Bread, fruit, and things Sarah had never seen before seemed to be begging for a tongue.
"Go ahead." Jareth said musically without opening his eyes. He hadn't realized how tired he was.
Sarah munched on an assortment of goodies quietly as she watched baby dragons play-fight by the fountain. Soon, she was full and tired herself. She looked at the figure beside her. Either he was a good actor, or was completely out. Since, she was from the Aboveground she didn't have any experience with awaking kings.
So, she stared at him. She took in his high cheek bones, ruffled hair, and darkened eyes. She wondered how disgusted he would be with her if he knew she often imagined those she kissed had been him. That led her to wonder what kissing him would be like. That led her to wonder what touching him would be like, what feeling him would be like. It was a strange urge she only felt around him, not the other boys. She wanted to grab his arrogant ass and force him kiss her. She could almost smell the bog of stench now; oh, how he would punish her. Damn, she couldn't even say his name.
And there he slept, this blissfully unaware king. She could kill him now, simply strangle, stab, or hit with something very hard and she was free. Yet, she somehow doubted that, considering she was quite certain he was harder to kill than a human. Then, there was also the issue that she wouldn't be able to kill him. Even the thought unsettled her stomach.
She found herself full circle again. How to awake this king. Sarah knew that being king came with responsibilities and Jareth couldn't be an exception. Could he?
But he looked so serene as he laid there. Even though Sarah knew he was evil, twisted, wrong, egotistical, an ass…She still could not help but think that Jareth had the qualities of an angel as he slept there. How can I think that of a monster?
Without thought, she let her fingers trace his jaw-line. Back and forth. She pushed some hair from his now turned face and grazed his cheek. His eyes twitched then slowly opened, clouded. His hand came to land on hers while his eyes adjusted. Then he tossed it away.
For a moment, he thought he had been dreaming. Yes, he had felt her warm hand touch him and how it affected him! As much as he enjoyed the electric passing through his body, he didn't like the power she had over him. You have no power over me. But you have me. He thought inwardly.
No, the king couldn't afford this kind of weakness. A girl, a human girl, shouldn't have this effect on him. It would put his whole kingdom in jeopardy, especially with the danger scouring the Underground. Having Sarah wasn't safe, and what he would be willing to do for Sarah wasn't safe for his kingdom.
But, now that Jareth had her back, he wouldn't give her up. . . or couldn't. Not knowing whether he possessed the abilityto release Sarah had kept him awake these last few nights, which was dangerous.
Sarah watched him sit as she hid the pain of him slapping her hand away. "I was afraid you'd be pissed if I let you sleep when I'm sure you have things to do." Why do I care if he's pissed?
He nodded. "Yes, quite." With a wave of his hand, the basket vanished along with the blanket under them. "Come, I'll take you back to work."
When they were almost to the nursery Sarah broke the silence. "I was wondering. . ."
Jareth turned to face her. "Hmm?"
Sarah hated how tall he was, "What of my friends? You didn't punish them, did you?"
Jareth chuckled. "No, you took care of that, love." He stepped toward her causing her to step back into the wall. How he enjoyed watching her cower.
"Me?" She stretched her neck to meet his eyes. "What did I do?"
Jareth began to fiddle with a stray lock of her hair near her chin, toying with her. "Tell me, when was the last time you said 'hello' to your friends?"
Sarah felt guilty the moment he asked the question. "Almost five years." She let her eyes drop to the floor.
Jareth pulled her chin up. "My, aren't you a delightful companion. I wonder how many times they had saved your life, and you just stopped talking to them. You use people the way I do."
At that she snapped. "Don't ever compare me to you." Her teeth were clenched her eyebrows heavy. "We are nothing alike. You are a pathetic king who has to steal children for kicks, I had to deal with living in another world from my friends. I never used them."
Jareth only smiled. His hand tightened on her pointed chin. "I'll be leaving for a while, a few days. I suggest you change your attitude, Sarah, or else you'll wish I'd left you dead in the woods." Then he vanished.
Sarah ignored the pleasure searing her neck and murmured after the beast, "What makes you think I don't already wish that?"
She was relieved when the day was over and she was back in her room—no, prison cell. The day was just too strange. She assumed Jareth had brought her away from the children to torture her himself, but due to his tiredness, he failed. She laughed at this thought. He failed at the labyrinth, at giving her a task she couldn't handle, and now at torturing her in person. He was all around failure.
But, if that were true, why did Sarah have this feeling of dread and guilt ever since he left her there thinking about her friends. It was an underhanded cut. A deep jab she could tell he had been saving for a while.
That still didn't explain why he had taken her outside. Weird. He's just weird.
She dug out her stash with shaking, excited fingers. Rolled herself a joint, and fell away from the tingles dancing in her fingertips.