Labyrinth ✦ Jareth (ON HOLD)

Five

✦ Jareth ✦

She was beautiful, just as I remembered.

I stared at Sarah, her skin glowed in a pale sheen, her hair had grown and her lips rested ajar. Her features rested in a neutral pose, her hypnotic green eyes staring into every inch of my being. I felt naked, exposed, as if she were reading my deepest thoughts and secrets as she gazed at me.

"Sarah." I greeted, my voice faltering slightly. I cringed, I had ruined my mysterious and bruiting façade. I cleared my throat, looking down at her and the fubsy Hoggle.

She took a breath, staring back at me.

I panicked, she would yell- She probably still thought of me as the monster who stole her brother, the jerk who tortured her and sent her to fumble through a labyrinth for thirteen hours.

"Jareth." She greeted back, her voice light and awe-worthy. I stood, taken a back by her kindness. I furrowed my eyebrows nodding my head in a bow.

She attempted a skirtless curtsy back, her head holding the same poise as the women at the ball two weeks ago. I frowned, thinking of the events that had occurred.

"We have much to discuss, don't we?" She asked, drawing me from my thoughts.
"Indeed we do," I faked a smile.

"Follow me." I said as I stepped up the stairs and toward my study.
The group followed behind me, Sarah stared at the back of my head for awhile.

We entered my study, filled with tall bookshelves, beautiful dark wooden floors and golden trinkets among swords. Didymus quickly rushed toward the swords, gawking at their near existence. Ludo hobbled shyly behind him, as if he were a lost puppy.

I stood near the large window frame, admiring the labyrinth through the glassless hole.

Sarah tiptoed to a pair of leather chairs and sat on the armrest, watching as Hoggle (literally) climbed onto the other chair. She giggled, making my lips flick up momentarily. She looked up, furrowing her eyebrows at me. I cleared my throat,

"So, I see you've found one of my crystals." I pointed to her hand. She looked down at it, nodding before she attempted to hand it to me.

"Please, keep it. It's my gift to you." I sat on the chair behind my grand desk.
"But how does it work?" She asked, looking into the orb. I laughed, flicking my wrist and making the crystal change to a purple tint.
"Perhaps one day you will learn." I explained flicking my wrist again and turning it back to its original state.

She looked down at it, twisting it in her hands. Her eyebrows folded slightly as she looked at me through her thick eyelashes.

"I need answers, I'm going mad by this constant guessing game." She admitted, tilting her head and setting a deadly gaze on me.

"Of course, well I can't tell you much, for your safety."
"But I will do all I can." I lied, I could only tell her what I wanted her to know. Her knowing of the deal could sabotage my chances of ever having her love me.

"Anything, give me anything, I just want some sort of idea." She huffed.
"Nobody is explaining anything and I'm starting to think the absolute worst." She added.

"A very evil woman had arrived, and forced me into a deal. Now I can't tell you of the deal itself, but I can't tell you of your importance."
"You are vital." I admitted.

"How so?" She asked.
"You can't know."
"Is this all a trick?" She scowled, I shook my head wildly.
"Never, I already know very well of the evil I have done, I do not hold any intention to hurt you in anyway."
"I just want to keep my kingdom and people safe." I truthfully spoke.

"So then what do I do?"
"You stay here, for thirteen months. That way we can keep tabs on you, make sure you are safe until the deals deadline. It's much easier for me to protect you while you are in the same realm as me." I cringed internally, I wasn't lying but for some reason I felt sinful and vile.

"Thirteen months! I have a seven year old brother and a father at home that need caring for." She frowned.
"Time in the underground is much different than the mortal world, every few months here is a day in the above. Every new mortal day we will send you briefly home, where you will tell your father you are doing something or going somewhere. Otherwise excuses will be provided for you." I tutored.

She bit down on her bottom lip, shaking her leg slightly before nodding.
"Promise?" Sarah elucidated, sticking her pinky finger out slightly. I stared at it, I knew that this was a mortal thing for trust and keeping promises from reading many novels about physiological matter and studying mortal behaviour.

I nodded, sticking my pinky finger out as well and allowing her to wrap her small finger around mine.

"I promise."

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Unedited

Ew, okay sorry guys for the late chapter.

Unfortunately I have depression so my motivation really fluctuates depending on my mood. It was hard for me to scrounge up the will to write this chapter so that's why it is so poorly written, I will without a doubt fix things tomorrow. I hope you understand, this is definitely my worst chapter haha.