Chapter 16

(Waiting)

Sarah was quiet as Mrs. Cumbers tied the back of her dress tightly secure. Her eyes were red and raw from crying. She'd been crying since Jareth finally left her room three hours ago. It seemed that all she had done for the last few days was cry when she wasn't at lessons with Ishaan or being forced to endure the Goblin King's appetite for pleasure.

He would take pleasure forcing her to make him climax at least once, sometimes twice. In return he would force her to endure his touch and bring her almost to climax before abruptly stopping before she could climax. He was effectively torturing her without causing her pain from a whip or other medieval means of torture.

"There now, you look like the Goblin King's bride." Mrs. Cumbers said pleased. She looked over the deep burgundy colored long satin dress with gold lace with complete approval. "His Majesty truly has exquisite taste. Don't you think so?"

"I guess." The dark haired girl said with a less than enthusiastic tone.

"You chose to marry him." The elderly woman reminded her.

Sarah turned with full grace and glared openly at the woman. "We both know the only reason I'm marrying that monster you call your King is to protect my friends!" Sarah snarled.

Mrs. Cumbers stepped back taken back by both the girl's manner and tone. The woman felt a sense of almost fear toward the girl.

"Understand this and understand it well. I don't love your King nor will I ever. For my friends I'll endure his cruelty but that is all." She said firmly. Turning, Sarah picked up her skirts and left the dressing area.

Mrs. Cumbers bit the inside of her lip. This would not do. She knew the King had received a warning from the Labyrinth. The elderly woman knew she needed to tell the Goblin King of what she'd just seen in the girl. It was the first time she'd seen true strength in the girl. A strength against Jareth.

The dark haired girl walked over to her vanity and brushed her hair for a moment before beginning to pull her hair back into a barrette.

"Allow me…"

"No thank you." The green eyed girl said, looking into the mirror warningly at the King's servant. The woman went to reach for the barrette but Sarah secured it quickly and stood up so quickly the woman stumbled forward. "You can go I have no more need of you."

The white haired woman opened her mouth to argue only to snap it shut at Sarah's glare. "As you wish my Lady." She conceded. Turning, the woman quickly left the room.

"Bitch." Sarah muttered once the woman was gone. She walked over to her nightstand drawer and pulled out the gold leaf dangly leaf earrings she'd been wearing when she arrived and put them on. She might have to wear the dress, but she refused to wear the jewelry he had provided.

Sarah sighed as she walked over to her window. She wanted to look out but Jareth had forbidden her. The other Unseelie Kings and Queens were arriving. Or at least some of them, for a meeting she knew nothing about. The dark haired girl was annoyed he wanted to present her after everyone had arrived. She didn't want to be with him let alone be around anyone else that was Unseelie.

"Come in." She called, hearing a knock on the door. The girl didn't want to see anyone but at least this way she could pretend she had a choice on whether someone entered.

"You look lovely Lady Sarah." Ishaan said, entering the room.

"Thank you." Sarah replied politely. Silently seeing the man unnerved her.

"You will be presented in a few moments." The tall man told her. Sarah nodded. "You will curtsy to all of them for they all outrank you at this time."

"I remember." She assured the teacher.

Ishaan simply nodded. "Good. King Ormond has now arrived. Remember you are the Goblin King's bride. You are expected to show respect but not obey any queen other than Queen Lorelei, King Ormond's wife. In truth, once you are married you will outrank any of the other queens except for Queen Acrisia. You will be even with her. The others shall all be beneath you. Keep your attention to those that will not be beneath you."

Sarah gave him a nod she understood. Ishaan would have preferred a verbal answer but this was not the time to start an argument. The woman needed to be calm when she met the other gathered Unseelie Royals.

"I will not be there of course. Look to the other queens or King Jareth if you become unsure about something." The red haired man instructed.

"If I'm not sure I'll fake it." Sarah said unconcerned. Ishaan raised an eyebrow at her and she actually laughed. "My mother is an actress. I've seen her perform enough, I can probably fake most anything."

"Perhaps. The guards will be here for you in a moment." The tall man turned and left the woman alone once again.

Sarah physically had to shake off his presence. She'd thought he was cruel, cold, and creepy before she'd learned he was in fact human. Knowing he really was creeped her out even more. She'd assumed he was half human and half fae. The realization he was human and had cruelty to rival most Fae did not sit well with the dark haired girl.

It wasn't long and her thoughts drifted to her beaten friends. Their whippings had stopped and they hadn't been killed, but they were still prisoners. She hated how the Fae could twist things. Sarah had meant for them to be free. Silently she wondered if there was anything she could do to set them free. The green eyed girl knew she was stuck but maybe there was a way to at least set her friends free. Maybe once she was Queen she'd have the ability.

The only peace of mind she did have was that Toby was safe from the Goblin King now. She had forced that stipulation before agreeing to marry him. She hadn't asked exactly what would happen once she married Jareth, but not because she didn't think he'd tell her. No, she was afraid of what she'd find out she'd accepted when agreeing to marry the King. At the moment ignorance was bliss.

She smiled as she thought of her little brother. There may have been a time she despised him but not anymore. Now she'd give just about anything to see the little twerp again. She fought tears as she thought of how much she missed him.

The dark haired girl wished that her stepmother could be there with her. Diane had turned out to be the mother she'd always wanted. Diane was very caring and loving. Sarah couldn't believe how many times she'd stopped everything to help her with something. Diane was a special lady to the teenager. Her relationship with her father even improved drastically thanks to Diane. She wished wholeheartedly she could tell Diane how wonderful she thought she was.

Hearing a knock on the door once again, the girl sighed and felt the urge to kick something. Reluctantly she said, "Come in."

The door opened and she saw Damien and Cannon standing there. "His majesty is ready for you." Damien informed him.

Sarah had to resist the urge to openly groan. "I suppose it would be rude to keep them waiting." She sighed.

"Indeed it would." Cannon openly agreed.

"Yeah, thought so." Sarah said sarcastically. With a second sigh she walked towards the guards and left her room. It was time to meet the most powerful Unseelie royals in the underground.