Here, have an update.
"I think you'll be safe here for now. Don't start walking around the castle until the party is over in a few hours. That's when Jareth will let his security slack." Henry ordered.
Sarah nodded. "Sounds good. Thank you for all of your help, Henry." She gave him a knowing smile.
"Before you go Miss, tell me of England. How is the land there." His goblin eyes showed a gleam of hope.
Sarah was caught off guard by the question. "There have been some wars, but I think they are pulling themselves together." Her eyes danced with questions.
He shrugged his goblin shoulders with a half care, gave a wave, and turned back down the tunnel he had just traveled through.
She ran through the goblin's quarters ignoring Henry's advice about laying low. She told herself she wasn't afraid, that she wasn't a coward. She found her way to some stairs and worked her way up. The stairs stopped at a dead end. She put her hands out in the darkness against the wall. Grasping rungs, carefully, she climbed the shaky ladder in the darkness. When she reached the top, she pounded her fist on the ceiling above her. It shifted and dirt fell in her eyes. She cursed and pushed flat palmed on the ceiling until it relented. It swung with a clash landing on the stone floor.
Sarah slowly slid out from her hole and into the kitchen she had helped Flogrey trash. It was dark and empty. She took a breath, closed the entry way to the goblin's quarters, and walked into the dining room.
She felt dirty and beautiful at the same time as she stood in that room. Goblin City was quiet. It was just the night and the girl from another world. As she looked out the glass wall before her she wondered what it would be like to live in this world forever. She sat down near the end of the long table in the middle of the room and imagined it adorned with food she had never seen before. She thought of curtains for the large glass wall to break up the openness. She put her boots on the table and leaned back. No chandelier? Jareth, you surprise me.
Dark glitter began snowing from the ceiling gently reflecting tendrils of light. The party had been in this room earlier. Sarah fell forward slumping her head in her hands.
She considered her last night in the Underground.
She left the table and began to climb the stairs. She didn't say her destination aloud, but the stairs had come to know Sarah fondly.
Soon she found herself standing outside of a door she had come to looked at the spot on the floor where her body had left her two weeks ago her time. She thought about that strange lonely room in the middle of the castle where she felt she had spent hours, or so it seemed to her.
She found new resolve and pushed open the door. Nothing much had changed she thought. She went to the drawers and they were still filled with her clothes, but her mask and cloak had been removed from the vanity. She started opening all the drawers and sifting through the contents in hopes of finding the artifacts.
She turned to the armoire and opened it, but it was still empty. She gave the room a quick spin around. This was getting her nowhere. Jareth had probably tossed the mask. For good measure, she looked under the small crack of the armoire and then under her bed. Next, she made her way back to one of the dressers. She peered under it and stopped. The room was dark aside from the light of the night, but there was light coming from a crack in the wall. She pulled on the dresser a little bit, and it slid silently away from her revealing a thin door.
It dawned on her how many levels of silly this adventure was. She came back for a mask. That was it. She put herself in ridiculous peril, endangered the lives of those around her, risked uprooting an entire kingdom all for a mask. A mask that she felt existed as an extension of herself now, like a third eye.
But that wasn't it at all was it. There were other reasons she came back to the Underground. Obvious, self-deprecating reasons. There was a stirring within her, a deep complex stirring that she didn't want to face. So for now, all she wanted was a mask.
Sarah put out her hand tracing the outline of the light. She gave a gentle push as the wall sighed and opened to let her through. She ducked down and frowned when she found herself in Jareth's room. "Now, that's not possible." She said to the hole "Jareth's room is on the other side of the castle." As if to answer, the door closed quickly and quietly.
The room was dimly lit by the candles that lined the walls. She knew these candles well. Across the room her mask lay on the night stand next to Jareth's bed as if expecting her. Waiting for her to come and claim her belongings, collected and saved, protected. She rushed over to the object and ran her fingers along the lace. It was in perfect condition.
So, it was time to go. She slid the mask into her messenger bag still slung on her side. Carefully, after making her way over to balcony, she leaned over the edge. The party was taking off. Below there were miniature fae dancing under floating lamps. Sarah hummed to the music the band was playing.
Jareth danced with Enyo below. Sarah looked away and backed back into Jareth's room. It had changed into a crimson hue. How long had she watched them entertain below? How many were down there, the entire population? She laughed sarcastically across the room to Jareth's bathroom. Smiling to herself she opened a cabinet full of soaps. Just in case I don't make it out of here.
Sarah closed the door behind her as she heard a noise come in and quickly snuffed out the candle she had brought into the bath chambers with her. With her eye to the crack, she watched Enyo slide into the room. She was giving a smile to someone Sarah couldn't see.
"I do hope the dancing has not made you too tired." Enyo proceeded to wrap herself around one of the bed's columns. Something white landed on the floor below her. She gave a devilish smile while climbing onto the bed.
Sarah turned away from the crack. Jareth's laugh echoed in the room, but she didn't look. Desperately Shesearched for another door out of the bathroom. Carefully, she maneuvered around what little of the tub she could see. Thinking she found a door handle, Sarah twisted her wrist to open it, only to find it was a faucet. Water splashed loudly into the tub and all over Sarah.
Heavy foot steps started toward the crack in the door. Sarah closed her eyes hearing anxious yelling about goblins over the water as it continued to run. The light she could see through her eyelids vanished. She was done for. Something terrible was about to happen. She could feel it.
And then everything was quiet. She opened her eyes to the subtle darkness. She was sitting in the guest room, on the bed. Sarah, sensing time had passed, went to the window to find the moon much lower than it was a few moments ago. Touching her clothes with a quick pat her hands came back dry. I fell asleep.
Deciding she didn't want the dream to become a reality, Sarah reached for her bag and shuffled to the door. She opened it only to release a scream.
Sarah turned to crawl away, instead she found herself flung into the mirror. The smashed glass flakes created a skirt around the vanity's legs. She moaned pulling herself up, but she was once again knocked away from gravity. She felt her shoulders shift in under her skin. Looking up from under her hair Sarah watched Enyo sprint towards her again and pin her to the wall.
"You, my dear, are supposed to be dead." Enyo said crushing her hand around Sarah's throat. Sarah's feet floated lifelessly above the carpet. The room flared to life as black vines grew from the shadows throwing twisting patterns on the walls. Blood dripped from Sarah's lip and down her quivering chin.
Enyo dropped Sarah to the floor. The vines continued to snake along the wall, a living wallpaper.
"Were you taking something for granted in the Underground?" Sarah spat with a sly smile. "You should know better."
Enyo towered above the beaten girl. She almost admired the pathetic human creature before her, but, yet, she didn't. She would never admire a human. Not with the power she had.
"Trust me. This time you will stay dead." Enyo swept Sarah against the wall again holding her as high as she could. The wallpaper hissed with approval as Sarah's hands clinched into fists. She banged on the wall inducing laughter from the flat creatures. More blood dripped from her lip as she gasped against Enyo's hands.
"No more Sarah." Enyo said with a dark laugh.
Sarah saw the flash of a sliver knife in Enyo's hand. She didn't close her eyes, but watched the weapon fly towards her until it hit her neck.
She couldn't find her voice or hope for that matter. The ruthlessness she found in Enyo's eyes ripped away any vision of happiness she had tried to cling to. This was her end.
Until she heard her name called. She couldn't move her head, but she recognized the voice. Henry.
Henry, still in his goblin outfit, threw a blanket at Enyo which instantly became gel as soon as it touched the fae's attire. Enyo let out a groan as the gel ate away her skin. Sarah fell to the floor numbly. Henry rushed over with the wallpaper chasing him, but not interfering. He grabbed Sarah and pulled her immobile body across the floor until his old age would no longer let him.
Enyo turned on the pair bloody tears rushing down her cheek bones. "You will join her." She yelled appearing behind Henry. His body flew in the air as Sarah came to.
"Henry!" She squealed sitting up and pushing Enyo's legs with all the strength she could muster. Enyo did not move.
"Go," Henry tried to say through broken breaths, "Get out."
With difficulty, Sarah managed to stand. She gave a glance to Henry and Enyo. Sarah locked eyes with the goblin mask on Henry's head. The light behind the eyes grew dimmer and dimmer until the mask looked completely plastic in Enyo's hands.
Sarah ran for the door hearing Enyo laugh low behind her. Tears prickled at the edges of Sarah's eyes.
Go feet! The corridors seemed endless as she ran. Enyo's voice surrounded her within the darkness of the halls.
Sarah felt a large ache from her knee causing it to lock up. She fell to the floor with a thud, her heartbeat in her ears. Her hands turned to fists on the floor.
Within seconds, Sarah was flying through the air until she was pushed against the stone wall. She didn't open her eyes afraid of what she might find. A hand was clamped firmly over her mouth.
"Sarah." The being pinning her to the wall whispered. "Open your eyes."
Sarah reluctantly did as she was told.
Ramla?
Sarah breathed hard against Ramla's hand. Her eyes were wide as she took in Ramla's athletic form. Ramla pushed her palm hard into Sarah's mouth smashing her teeth. Sarah groaned in pain.
"Shhh" Ramla angerly pushed air through her teeth. "She won't see us if you keep quiet."
The hall was dark, and Sarah realized she was both bewildered and afraid. Here was her best friend for around the last five years pinning her against the wall. This was the friend that had believed her when she told her of the labyrinth.
Sarah glared angrily into Ramla's eyes, fighting the tears developing in her own. Her lungs were still heaving. How? Sarah asked wordlessly in the quiet hall. How had Ramla found her way into the Underground, and why did she look she belonged there.
Ramla's long, relaxed hair was pulled tight in a braid down her back. Her business clothes had been replaced with ripped brown fabric and mismatched patches. Her skin was dirty, and she smelled of perspiration.
Enyo appeared silently at the end of the hall. "Sarah," she cooed. "I hope that man wasn't your new lover." Enyo gave a smile. She continued down the hall, her nightgown floating along the flooring.
Sarah closed her eyes as Enyo passed directly behind Ramla. Ramla never stopped looking at Sarah's face, the intensity never leaving her eyes.
Once Enyo reached the end of the hall her body evaporated.
Ramla released Sarah who fell to the floor in a heave.
"She. . .she killed. . . ." She took a breath and the sob she had been holding back threatened to take over.
He was dead. Henry, the kind old man, was dead. "He followed me. He must have." She said against the wall.
"Sarah, stop it." Ramla hissed quietly putting pressure on Sarah's shoulders. "You have to get to Jareth."
Sarah smiled. "No, I have to go home. I should have never come back here." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "That's the second person she has killed because of me."
Ramla looked exasperated. "Sarah, for the love of everything, get to Jareth's room right now." She stood Sarah up. "I'm going to clean up your mess."
"Are you going to kill her?" Asked Sarah wide-eyed.
"I cannot, or I would." She reached in Sarah's pocket and pulled out the vial of fae sleeping powder. "I will knock her out and attempt to get her to think this is a dream. Jareth will keep you safe. Go." With that, Ramla gave Sarah a shove in the other direction and darted off with a flip down the hall.
Sarah ran with all her might through the halls and back to the guest room. She gasped when the dark room lit up when the door flew open at her touch. The dressers' drawers were all pulled out, her handmade clothes were in pieces across the floor and the bed. The doors had been ripped of the armoire laying in pieces splintering the floor.
She carefully ran over to the dresser next to her bed and tapped it quietly until it slid from its place. She gave the door a gentle push making the doorway she walked through.
She stepped into Jareth's room.
The door closed behind her silently leaving Sarah and Jareth alone. His lump did not stir as Sarah silently walked over to his bed. As she did, she dropped the messenger bag still anchored on her shoulder. Soon after she untied the cloak and dropped it to the floor. She stepped out of her shoes at the edge of Jareth's bed.
She felt compelled or hypnotized. Here he was before her just a man, not a king or a mythical being, just a man draped under a thin sheet. He was beautiful. She had always known so, but there was something in knowing he was beautiful even when he wasn't trying. She became sure standing there silently that there was something missing from Jareth. She desperately tried not to think it was her. He was huddled near the edge of the bed the rest of the king-sized mattress vast and welcoming to Sarah's glassy and tired eyes.
He was asleep. His lips did not move, nor did his fingers twitch. Gently, Sarah raised her hand to his temple moving hair from his face.
"Jareth." She whispered leaning down on his pillow just above his lips. Her breath swept across his cheek lingering near his ear whispering magical words, Sarah, being a human, couldn't hear.
He didn't stir. Carefully, she laid her head on his bare chest to listen to his heartbeat. Her fingertips danced just above the surface of the sheet. His heart was slow, and his breathing deep.
Unexpectedly, she was pulled off the floor her feet flying as she landed with her back against the bed and Jareth looking down at her with mystified eyes. He pinned her hands above her head, but she didn't struggle. A soft sigh escaped from both of them.
"A dream?" His tired voice spoke quietly. He hovered above her taking in her red cheeks and swollen eyes. Her hair was spread around her tangling in his fists has he held her hands on the pillow.
"Don't go, Sarah." He said leaning in to kiss her.
She didn't stiffen as she thought she might if he kissed her. Her body softly released a breath just before Jareth's lips touched hers.
I've missed you. Sarah thought languidly not moving under his lips or returning the kiss. His hands were careful and loving as a solder's might be after returning from battle to his lost love.
Jareth pulled away. "What are you doing here." He groaned as realization prickled at the edges of his consciousness.
All of Sarah's anger came flooding back. "You tried to kill me." She accused beseeching her insides to hold back her unshed tears.
"No, I did not." Jareth pushed off of her and worked his way to the edge of the bed the sheet sliding down his body. Sarah was too jolted to blush at his sudden state of undress.
"And you shouldn't be kissing me when you're engaged Jareth."
Jareth actually laughed out loud frightening Sarah. He turned to her over his shoulder. Her clothes were torn, but her skin was clean and her scent. . . .
He stepped from the bed and walked across the room. Sarah didn't take his eyes off him as he opened a door she had never seen. He stepped inside the door to a small room, and the lights went out. When they came back on, Jareth was wearing clothes.
"We have to get you out of here." He explained wiping his eyes. "How long have you been back."
"Two days."
"Two days?" Jareth scratched his head. He looked around the room at Sarah's stuff. "How did you go unnoticed?"
"You tried to kill me." Sarah said her voice flat. She moved off the bed and proceeded to grab her belongings.
"I knew you were here when the mask was gone." Jareth stepped in front of her. "I knew you had been here. But I couldn't find you." His hand ran down her cheek. "Why are you still here?"
There was that thing that Sarah had really come back for aching in the back of her mind stretching as if awakened from a long slumber. Uncurling it's fingers and yawning in the darkness she refused to give light to. The warm touch from Jareth's hand lit a small fire unwillingly.
She stepped away from his hand. "I can't figure out how to leave."
"The castle, or the Underground?" He took a step back putting much needed distance between them. Sarah's cheeks were red as she looked up at him from narrow brows. He noticed she had been crying which he put away inside himself. The detail wasn't his concern.
"The Underground. And I found your secret door to the guest room." She said pointing to the wall. "Did you use it to keep an eye on me?"
Jareth put a palm to his eyes. He was tired and his magic was drained. He couldn't afford to use any extra on taking Sarah home. And what if Enyo found out if Sarah was still alive? Where was Enyo?
"Sarah, I have the ability to appear anywhere I'd like. Why would I need a specific door. It's for the goblins." He was getting agitated and impatient. "Come on. I need to get you out of here." He held out his hand to Sarah.
"I'll be fine Jareth. I was running from. . ." She trailed off and looked at the floor. She was now clutching her messenger bag to her chest turning her knuckles white. "Why are you marrying her." She finally said hopelessly. "You don't marry, Jareth." She didn't know what she meant, but she knew she didn't want him to marry her.
"No, Sarah, I marry." He gave a cruel smile. "Just not you." He grabbed her then forcefully pulling her against him as the room disappeared and changed into the room Sarah had found her last day in the labyrinth.
Jareth pushed her away, and she fell knees first into the floor. It hurt, but she didn't make a face from the pain. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction. She hated this room, this prison cell.
"No one will find you here. Not even Enyo. You should be grateful I'm saving you." He walked to the wall running his finger along the stones. "This oubliette is made for guarding all kinds of terrors." He gave a secret smile.
"I don't want to stay here! Take me home!" Sarah yelled. "Let. Me. Out."
Jareth was quiet, contemplating the girl before him. Unfortunately, she couldn't be trusted. She would put more than just herself in danger.
"She killed my friend. And I know she killed someone in place of me. Who was it, Jareth? Who did you have killed in my place?" She spat the last words, feeling her chest heave.
Jareth finally looked at her a splint of emotion flickering along his eyes. His mouth became a hard line, but his eyebrows loosened. "Audra."
"What?" Sarah whispered, but it echoed loudly throughout the room. The room fell quiet again.
"She offered." He gave a shrug and cocked an eyebrow. "So, at least for her, stay here out of danger." He finally said through gritted teeth.
Sarah charged at him, fists clinched, but as soon as she brushed against his chest, he was gone and she plowed into the wall.
After screaming at the top of her lungs and pounding the wall the warmth that had sprouted a feeling she hadn't given a name to fell away. She knew it hadn't gone out, would never admit it, but she knew it was still there inside her burning somewhere. A complicated emotion that she couldn't reason with, couldn't change. And as much as she both hated the small flame, she loved the softness it brought her because in this world, in the Underground, it was a truth she had for herself. Yes, it was a small truth, a small truth she would never share, never give up, but it was hers. She would keep it as long as she could to keep her warm, to keep her sane.
Jareth stood on his balcony taking in the early morning sky. He had just returned from finding Enyo asleep. He thought it was strange after what Sarah had told him, but perhaps the woman had worn herself out. He didn't wake her and came back to his room.
He looked back at his hands. He pulled his gloves off to find his palms red and hot. He didn't like this—these feelings. He was angry and, and, he couldn't think of the word to describe it. Despair? Surely the Goblin King was not capable of such emotions. At least, that's what he used to think. Hundreds of years of living had given him a tolerance to these kinds of emotions, didn't they?
He tossed his gloves with anger to his floor. His bedroom blazed for a moment as the leathery fabric sank into the carpet then appearing on the inside of his closet.
Jareth spun three crystals in his hand as stress relievers. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, He let his mind drift frustratingly against his will.
She had hurt him tonight, he gave sardonic smile. No, He disagreed with himself. She was only adding on to the wound she was digging out just under his flesh. He could almost feel the iron spoon of hers scrape against the inside of his ribcage as she accused him of trying to kill her. Everything I've done, I've done for you. He had thought in those moments. But never aloud, no he would never say those words aloud, not again.
He understood her fury, didn't he? She had magic, which he assumed was from beating the labyrinth. This made him both proud and afraid. The last time, she left the labyrinth on her own, when she felt Audra's pain, but now she was back. Jareth continued spinning the orbs his fingers growing quicker with his intense feelings. Could she travel the labyrinth at will? Was the Underground just a playground to her now?
Jareth dropped one of the clear orbs and watched it bounce down the step from the balcony is his bedchamber. It bounced again before hitting the secret door to Sarah's old guest room. He smiled genuinely. Knowing Sarah had used the secret door brought him his sought after comfort. If she could go anywhere she liked, she wouldn't be bothering with old secret doors. Her power must be limited.
Still, a darkness within him pleaded, she loathes me. Perhaps that was best he continued to tell himself. Jareth had to concentrate on keeping his kingdom safe and his. . . .
His marriage was soon. Three weeks or so and it was still too close for his comfort. He recalled the night he 'proposed' as she had been telling people.
It was the night Sarah had left and Audra had died in her place. It was late, but Jareth couldn't sleep. He had thinking to do. Very important, weight of the world, thinking. He was in his study, which could have been a small library by mortal standards.
Enyo appeared before him smiling in a sad way he had never seen her before. "I've been thinking."
"Careful," he jokingly scolded her, "that has gotten me into trouble." He didn't want her there, but he didn't let his disdain creep into his face.
"I want to marry you, Jareth. And, you will do it." She began playing with a knife covered in blood. Her tongue slipped from her mouth curling around the instrument licking the stains.
"I thought we agreed that was not a good idea." Jareth said leaning back into his sturdy chair.
"Unfortunately, your minions are loyal." She spat the word. "Something I did not foresee. They will never let me rule them"
Jareth narrowed his eyebrows. "And what makes you think that."
"Sarah." Enyo whispered. "Even as she died defiance was very alive within her. I have a feeling everyone within your kingdom will be the same way."
"And if I don't marry you?"
She smiled again but put the knife away. Her features grew solemn. "They will die Jareth, every last one of them. Picture their demise however you prefer. Fires, starvation, trust issues, they will die as they fight my regime."
"Alright, why will they fight your regime if we go unmarried." Jareth said seriously.
"Because you will Jareth, and I cannot have that. You will marry and be publicly in love with me or leave nothing in the Underground. This place will be a wasteland."
"I could stop you."
"It's too late for that, Jareth. I will burn this place to dust before sunrise."
Jareth was silent.
Enyo looked away to Jareth's books. There were many editions of the same story. She relished a private joke before explaining her plans more clearly. "Killing you would make you a martyr. Killing your pets will only make you angry and me with nothing to rule in this region." She looked back at him with pleading eyes. "Marry me Jareth, you must save everyone."
He was above her and they were falling through the air toward the hard earth, fast, from where he had teleported them. His hands encircled her throat tightly holding her as the world cratered from their impact. Enyo coughed, but leaped away from him quickly retrieving her stowed knife.
Jareth, however, was faster than her. He knocked the knife from her hand cutting his arm. His other hand grabbed the knife. He dipped below a magic burst from her hand and aimed the knife toward her chest. The tip dug through her armor penetrating the first layer of her fae skin.
The knife fell from his hand. Her eyes drew together, and she smiled.
Jareth looked away from her his eyes shifting and searching the dark plains of the Underground for an answer to the vision he had just seen. "What have you done?" He yelled at her.
"Merely insurance, my dear." She sauntered toward him and kissed his sweat laden cheek. "I knew you wouldn't me able to say no to my proposal once you knew everything at steak." She disappeared leaving only freckles of dust against the night.
She came the morning after this event, appearing in his bed. He grudgingly took her until they were both shaking and it was afternoon. Still, beyond all the lust he shared for Enyo, Jareth would never be satisfied with her. Not the way he was sure he would be with Sarah.