Labyrinth Dancer

Chapter Ten: Freedom?

Hours after Jareth dropped them off he returned in his owl form and perched in the branches of the large tree in the front yard. Usually, all of the lights would be off except maybe Inara's; but, tonight none of the lights were on except for the front porch light and the garage light with the metal garage door halfway open. 

The car in the driveway had suitcases loaded in the trunk and bags loaded in the passenger seat as Karen and Inara ran back and forth silently, loading more into the trunk and setting a few stuffed animals and comfort items in the back seat. 

Finally as they closed the trunk and the passenger door and both made a final run inside. He watched them and then saw Karen come out with her little girl, setting the sleepy girl in the backseat and buckling her in as Inara came out with her little brother half-asleep in her arms, his little arms wrapped around her neck. 

Once both kids were asleep in the backseat and buckled in; Karen caught Inara in a hug and it was then Jareth realized that Inara wasn't going with them. His blood ran cold as a suddenly enraged cry erupted from the house and Inara immediately shoved Karen towards the car. 

She watched at Karen backed out carefully and quickly with the headlights off before watching her go down the street. She stood there for a moment before another yell erupted and she took a glance back towards the house. 

For a moment Jareth couldn't read the expression that eased across her face as she stood there with her thumbs looped into her belt loops simply staring at the house as lights began to fly on and the yelling continued. 

It was as if peace suddenly filled her face and when he came rambling out completely enraged he grabbed her by the front of her shirt and screamed. 

"WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY YOU WITCH?!" 

Inara smirked up at him, her expression suddenly shifting to something that looked utterly deadly and extremely pleased with the situation. 

"They're gone, and you're never going to find them; I can give you a witch's promise on that." 

Before Jareth could even process what she said her father swung his fist; striking her so hard that her shirt tore and she fell back towards the dew soaked grass, barely missing the brick walk that led up to the front door. 

After a moment of silence the burst of laughing that suddenly erupted startled both Jareth and her father to the point more silence other than the laughing ensued. Inara slowly sat up on the wet grass, with the laughter escaping her lips kind of crazily and the blood from where she'd been whacked on her nose flowing down onto her ripped shirt made her seem crazier. 

She eased back into a standing position with nary a wobble in her footing from the hit. 

"Do you honestly, think that pain phases me anymore? That I give a damn about what you'll do to me?" 

She smirked at him with another laugh as she shook her head sarcastically. 

"The people whose safety and well being I cared about are long gone and safely away from you." 

He simply stared at her then shoving her roughly to the side then disappeared back inside; the door slamming closed behind him. She didn't bother watching him go inside as she suddenly looked up at the full moon gracing the sky that night and smiled ever so slightly before wiping the blood off of her face and looking back down the road at where the car had vanished. 

Jareth watched her from the tree as she finally headed back inside; turning the lights off downstairs before turning the light on in her own room. She made sure the door was bolted shut to her room she tugged off her ruined shirt and tossed it towards the trash can. 

She paused though as she turned on her bedside lamp and carefully sank down on the floor space next to her bed, leaning back against her bed with a sigh and closed her eyes. Her hand went to her necklace and she fingered the soaring owl before opening her eyes again looking towards the door expectantly. 

Seconds later another shriek sounded and glass hit her door; he had thrown his beer bottles at it in his rage. She turned away from it though and sighed softly as she slowly stood up and readied for bed. 

Jareth watched her for a few more minutes till he was sure she'd be safe the rest of the night before flying back to Sarah's house.