She was in the cave again.
That knowledge alone was enough to scare her.
But she was not truly alone; the shadows liquid as they seeped from the floor, taking shape, forming into distorted black masses that hunched, lurching and dissolving at a glance. Sarah did not want to go anywhere near these forms, but as she stepped back, she felt a warmth spring at her chest, and upon glancing down discovered a pendant dangling between her breasts. It looked oddly familiar, pronged like a crescent moon, and holding it made her somehow less fearful of the lurching shadows in the cave.
She moved onwards into the darkness, compelled forward by some unknown force. The shadows converged around her; not touching her, but coming close enough for her to be unnerved. She stumbled, quickening her pace as she tried to escape the path of the shadows, keeping her hand on the pendant that hung from her neck.
And then there is a tug on her mind, an itch in her brain that tells her all is not as it seems, and the cavern is transformed into a dark ballroom. The shadows have turned into dancers garbed in black, their masks more equine than human. The cages that hung from the ceiling of the cavern are now filled with ravens that stare from their perch, their glowing eyes like embers in the darkness, their gaze burning into Sarah. The cave was darker, pulsing with a red glow that had no source, casting eerie shadows on the black dancers who moved as a throng, pulsing with the glow of the red light, a low murmur cutting through the silence of the cavern.
She moved through the crowd, searching urgently for an exit, or somewhere to hide away from the commotion of the dancers, and is dragged down by the weight of the dress she now wears. Sarah is surprised to see such a dress on herself, the black beadwork starting high on her neck and cascaded into ripples of chiffon that pooled down to the floor. It does not seem right to her; as if she should be wearing something contrary, a different color. But what else would she wear that would be appropriate in a hall like this; with such dark revelers, the ravens peering down to watch her weave through the masked figures.
She turned the corner around a massive pillar quickly when she nearly ran face first into him; the man of the cave. He was there, his predatory smile, his spiked hair, and grey features blending in perfectly with the ambience of the cave. Sarah noticed for the first time the sharpness of his teeth, his eyes a bright gold that burned in the red glow, offset by his disturbing lack of eyebrows. His long black robes finished the effect, and he was truly the penultimate shadow in this cavern of nightmares. Sweeping his arm out, he took Sarah by the waist suddenly, pulling her to him with ease, and despite her protests and desperate attempts to pry him away from her, nothing she did could remove his arm from her waist. Grabbing her hand, he grinned, leading them off into a waltz that lead them in meandering circles through the crowd, Sarah's own feet forced to stumble along as she was propelled by his iron grip. "My dear, if you did not wish dance with me, then why have you shown up in my kingdom, wearing such an alluring dress?" He asked slowly, his voice slithering down her spine, and the pendant was suddenly warmed at her chest. The heat must have been palpable from their close proximity, for Pitch stopped dancing, reaching for the pendant that dangled from her neck at the center of her breasts. "And what is this?" He asked, his fingers brushing the crescent before pulling back sharply, hissing at the contact. Sarah stepped away quickly, clutching the pendant to her chest protectively.
"It is mine." She said forcefully, knowing that she could not let this demon take it. It was important, for some reason. She had to protect it.
"Such an interesting creature you are," Pitch drawled, drawing closer once again, this time grasping her chin firmly in his hand, not allowing her to draw back. "I have enjoyed exploring your nightmares, my dear. But perhaps it is time for me to explore different avenues of your imagination; ones even you have yet to explore." He grinned, he voice drawling the words out seductively to imply more than he had said. "But they are there, ever present in your mind, and I would have the pleasure of showing them to you."
Sarah's eyes widened in recognition and fear, and the pendant burned at her chest, flashing a bright white, and then Sarah woke up, shuddering as she propped herself up on her elbow, pulling the blankets tightly around her. Jareth magicked into existence on her bed, his expression dark, and Sarah flinched reflexively at the sudden intrusion.
"Damn it," he cursed, pulling Sarah into him, and for once, she did not resist, shivering from more than cold as he wrapped his arms around her.
When Sarah awoke, she was alone. She could not remember falling back asleep; she knew she would had been too afraid to attempt to go back to sleep, and it was surely Jareth's doing that she had been able to sleep soundly for the rest of the night.
She searched in her pillow and sighed in disappointment that the crystal was missing. Stretching, Sarah was thankful that it was the weekend, and hopefully she would be able to sort out her nightmares before she was forced to return to work. Trudging into her bathroom, Sarah turns the shower faucet on, letting the water warm before stripping of her clothes and slipping in quickly.
The hot water was cathartic, soothing away some of her stress and she lets herself forget her worries for a moment.
Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Sarah leans her head back against the shower wall. She had slept much better after she had woken from the terrible nightmares, and Sarah wondered how long Jareth had remained after she had fallen back to sleep.
It was such a vulnerable position to be in, and it made her feel a quite uncomfortable, to say the least. While she knew Jareth, she wouldn't exactly say she trusted him, and there were still many facets to the Goblin King that she did not know, so calling upon him like this was far outside of her comfort zone.
She would owe him quite a debt if he managed to rid her of her nightmares.
Turning the water off, Sarah climbed out of the shower, toweling off her long hair and wrapping her body in a plush towel before heading back into her bedroom.
She had not expected to see Jareth lounging about in her bed, looking for all the world like he had just woken up, his hair tousled and his poet's shirt hanging off of his toned chest-Sarah sprinted back into the bathroom, blushing profusely, thankful that she had the soundness of mind to wrap a towel around herself before she had left the bathroom. Quickly pulling on the clothes she had worn to bed, she grumbled about bad timing and purposefully trying to see her naked as she roughly pushed the bathroom door open again, trying to glare at Jareth with all that she had. It was not hard, either, as he was currently reclined on her bed, doing his best, no doubt, to look seductive. The effect was slightly ruined by her extreme irritation.
"Jareth," she greeted slowly, trying not to look too pissed off. He had indeed helped her, after all.
He grinned, swinging his long legs over the side of the bed and strutting towards her.
"My dear precious, I must apologize. I did not expect you to be in such a state of...undress when I arrived," he said, his eyes clearly unapologetic. Sarah rolled her eyes, moving past him to start a pot of coffee.
God help her, she needed it.
He trailed behind her, looking around her apartment as she fished the ground coffee beans out of her cupboard, pouring a generous amount into the coffee maker and flipping it on. When she turned around, she found him examining the toaster intently.
She smiled, as he looked so fascinated by the appliance he intently examined. Jareth glanced up, looking guilty as he moved away from the kitchen counter.
He sobered, though, as he recalled the true reason he was there.
"Sarah, we need to talk about last night," he said, and he could see her straighten a little, clearly fearful. Pouring the finished coffee into her mug, she followed Jareth to her kitchen table, warming her hands on the mug, unintentionally avoiding his gaze.
"Sarah, do you know who that was that talked to you in your dream?" He began, looking at her intently.
Sarah shifted from his gaze, unsure of how to answer. "I don't remember a lot from my dreams, Jareth..I can remember what he looked like, but not his name; did he tell it to me?"
Jareth shook his head, glancing back at her with a gaze full of concern. "However, I happen to know the realm which you visited." Sarah looked back at him, surprised, waiting for him to elaborate. "It is an actual place, yes; not simply your imagination. The realm belongs to the King of Nightmares, Pitch Black, as I believe he's called."
Sarah listened to him mutely, taking in this new information. The idea that there were more kingdoms than the Underground was an overwhelming concept, and while it was not intrinsically bad, the thought of every ruler harassing her as much as Jareth or Pitch did was enough to send a shudder down her spine.
"So, does that mean you have dealt with him before?" she asked. Jareth sighed in response. "That I have, Precious. Nightmares can be a powerful component of wishing children away, especially when goblins torment their dreams, or their nightmares put them in the kind of disposition to wish away their siblings or children." Sarah considered the thought, uneasy. It was one thing to wish away your sibling, but for Pitch to be the one influencing them do it; well, it didn't seem fair.
"Why is he tormenting me, then? I'm bloody twenty-four years old, and I don't even live with my parents or Toby anymore. I wouldn't have the power to wish anyone away even if I wanted to." She said, irritation lacing her voice.
"Really, Sarah, can you not feel your own magical aura?" The question came as a surprise, and Sarah glanced up from her coffee quickly, shocked at the insinuation.
"My what?" she began, trying not to let her mind short-circuit at the potential his words implied. There was no way...but maybe?
"My dear thing, did you really think you would leave the Labyrinth completely unaffected?" His gaze was predatory. "The Labyrinth takes unwanted children, but it also leaves a mark on each runner, one of magic and dreams. You, my dear, are the only child to manage to champion my Labyrinth; it makes complete sense that your signature would be the strongest." Sarah shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to process this information. Magic signature? Was that something she really wanted or needed?
"However, this magical signature is also what draws Pitch to children. Usually it is runners who have lost the children they have wished away, and honestly, I don't mind much when Pitch sees fit to give them nightmares. However, despite your natural magical defenses, Pitch seems to have found a way into your dreams, and for some reason seems intent on haunting you."
Jareth stopped for a moment, reaching across the table to take a hold of Sarah's hand. Sarah was surprised at first, and fought the instinct to flinch away at his touch.
But if felt nice; comforting, normal. It was a sweet gesture, and Sarah squeezed his gloved hand back in reciprocation.
"Can you help stop this, Jareth?" She asked timidly, afraid that he would not be able to.
Squeezing her hand reassuringly, Jareth looked at her pointedly. "Sarah, Pitch may be a formidable King of his own realm, but he has no power over that which is mine." The admission was a powerful one, and Sarah found herself almost breathless at his answer. That which was his? Is that what he considered her, after all this time? Her mind fought a hard battle between rolling her eyes or blushing, and she settled for ignoring the comment.
"Are you sure, Jareth? I don't want you to take on this guy if he's too much for you." She said, hoping that he would simply reassure her of his power. He squeezed her hand again, touched that she was concerned with his well-being, especially when her own was in jeopardy.
"Precious, I promised you the stars and reordered time for you. If I cannot rid you of paltry nightmares, than surely I will have failed in my duties as the Goblin King." He said seriously, meeting her eyes with a sincere gaze that surprised her. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, and she tried not to let it affect her. She was not fifteen anymore.
"Now, Precious, there is nothing I can do until nightfall returns. There is no point in wasting the whole day, worrying. Would you like to go somewhere?"
Sarah cocked her head, curious. "What did you have in mind?"
Grinning, he gazed back. "Do you trust me, Sarah?"
She didn't exactly trust him, but in that moment, she found she couldn't say no.
Which explained why, in a matter of seconds, they were once again on the hill at the entrance of the Labyrinth.
It was a lot for Sarah to process, and she was hit with a wave of nostalgia, the déjà vu so strong as she gazed off into the distance at the sprawling maze, Jareth standing behind her. Gently resting his hand on the small of her back, Jareth guided her to the right, away from the gate that led to the entrance of the Labyrinth. "Come, Precious, today you are not a runner. I have something else in mind."
Sarah followed, intrigued, and in awe of the beauty of the Labyrinth. It had been quite a long time since she had visited, and while the memories were still poignant in her mind, they did not do justice to the true beauty of the realm. She walked along silently, trying to take in all of the scenery, noticing the winding path Jareth led as they walked further away from the walls of the maze.
The garden he lead her to was more beautiful than anything she has ever seen before, and Sarah is startled by the feeling of tranquility that the very earth seemed to provide.
Jareth led them to the center of what seemed to be a meadow, filled with flora and fauna that she could not even begin to identify. It was the most peaceful place in the Labyrinth that she had yet seen, the quiet filled only with the rustling of the breeze, and the soothing sounds of running water.
Jareth watched Sarah's face as she took in the new portion of the Labyrinth, pleased at how her eyes lit up with every new discovery. She truly blended in perfectly, looking completely at home in the glen, running through the tall grass and gazing in wonder at each new plant or animal that Jareth dutifully named for her.
What scared him was how quickly the Labyrinth responded to her. He knew her magick signature had been strong, but the Labyrinth seemed to call out for her now, begging, nearly commanding Jareth to keep her in their realm.
It worried him.
But he continued on with their little adventure, letting her carefree exploration distract him from the consequences of her being tied so closely with the Labyrinth. Eventually they came upon the stream where he intended to stop, and Sarah sat down to place her bare feet in the cold water, stifling a squeal when it proved to be too cold for her.
She was so similar, so alike to the fifteen year old girl Jareth met nine years, that for a moment he was breathless, simply watching as she explored with reckless abandon. She was a woman now; twenty-four years of age, as she had informed him, but her eyes still lit up with childish wonder at each new discovery.
It was one of the many things he loved about her, though the thought startled him. He should not love anything about her; not after she had rejected him thoroughly. And yet, there it was; the ache in his heart that grew as he watched her dance around so freely.
He still ached for her.
Sarah wasted most of the afternoon exploring in the glen, pulling Jareth along as she managed to befriend quite a few of the glade's resident creatures. It was hypnotic, watching her walk through the glen as if she owned the place, so at ease in the Underground world that it was hard to believe that her first and only visit had been a scant thirteen hours long.
She Belonged there.
They stayed until the sun started to dip down past the horizon, until it became hard for Sarah to see; the only illumination coming from the moon and creatures that glowed similarly to fireflies. Jareth, who had been perched in a tree watching over both Sarah and the Kingdom, leaped down gracefully and scooped up the woman easily, transporting them to the castle as she squealed with surprise and mirth.
When they arrived, it appeared as though the goblins had been expecting their arrival, as they all crowded around to look at the Champion Sarah, come back with the King for the night. It was highly unusual of their liege, to say the least. Jareth grinned teasingly as he led her through the castle, beckoning her towards a large oaken door that had ornate carvings throughout. She paused for a moment, hoping it was not another ballroom where she would have to try and fight her way through the crowds, searching for Jareth. He sensed her hesitation and paused, smiling at her. "Sarah, I swear it is not another oubliette." And she followed him, smiling, as he led her through the doors to an elaborate banquet laid out for them. She took a seat at the table as he sat opposite her, and paused at the sight of the delicious food; tempted, but wary. ""We must not look at goblin men, We must not buy their fruits.." she quoted quietly, looking at him suspiciously. But Jareth laughed at her reiteration, plucking a peach from the bowl in the center of the table and sinking his teeth into it, staring at her as the juices ran down his fingers and onto his chin. "Eat, Sarah..you have nothing to fear from me, here." And finally she was convinced, allowing herself to sample the pastries and fine meats that had been laid out for her.
While all of the food was delicious, nothing was more tantalizing than the bowl of peaches that lay in the center of the table, as though the centerpiece. Plucking one from the table, she inspected it thoroughly, ignoring the way Jareth smirked at her obvious distrust of the fruit. But it was too tempting , and Sarah wanted to show that she had started to trust Jareth again, in some way. Biting into the peach, Sarah was overcome by the sweet nectar; this had been her first peach eaten in nine years, out of a deep resentment. The taste was incredible, and she smiled with contentment, bringing the peach to her lips to take another bite.
And then her head slumped to the table, her body falling forward and peach rolling from her hand before Jareth caught her, scooping her up into his arms and to his chest.
She was in his dream world now. One where he could protect her.
Carrying her quickly to his bedroom, Jareth kicked the goblins out of his way, casting the doors to his private chambers open with a flick of his fingers, still cradling Sarah to his chest. She would likely be furious at him when she awoke, and would no doubt carry a long-born grudge of peaches, but this way he would be able to physically enter her dreams if need be, and confront the demon that plagued her.
Pitch Black.
What a bloody devil he had become, Jareth though angrily, laying Sarah gently onto his massive canopy bed. The Nightmare King should know better than to encroach on what was clearly his.
Summoning a crystal, Jareth held it for a moment before crushing it in his hand, letting the power consume as he transported himself to Sarah's dreams.
AN: Sorry for the wait everyone! Working full-time is quite a chore.
Sarah's dress reference is on my profile. I wanted something that was the complete opposite of Sarah's ball gown, and more reminiscent of Pitch's style, than Jareth's.
Leave me a review :)