Labyrinth Pt. II

22. A Whirlpool of Fried Circuits

The dinner was a mixture of loud voices, music, and lots of nectar. I nursed my nectar, not wanting to loose more control than was already out of my hands.
I ate and observed the hall. The creatures were frenzied in revelry. I had a sneaking suspicion that this is what it was always like when the court was together. There were no town folk as far as I could tell. They way everyone was dressed was a tribute to their higher rank. The servants were dressed in plain colors and styles.
Nyx drew me away from my observations by grabbing my hand and standing up.

"Shall we dance?" I asked me in a tone that meant I didn't have a choice. I bit my tongue and smiled. I am not a fan of someone asking a question and not actually giving the person a choice.

"Of course." I answer and rise from my chair.

Jareth's eyes catch mine. Before I could look away I saw confusion and relief mixed together in his face. I nodded my head to him and walked with Nyx to a clear area in front of the table we were just sitting at.
His arm wraps around my waist and he holds my other hand up. The music changes and we began to waltz. Other couples began to join in dancing.

"You dance beautifully, snowflake." He leans his head down to whisper to me.

"Thank you for the compliment." I smile back. This whole time I hadn't looked at him in the eye and I could tell he didn't like it. So to save us all from a scene I look up to his piercing eyes.
My breath hitched when we locked gaze. I didn't know if I was sure of what I saw, but it felt an awful lot like passion.

 
He gripped my waist and drew me closer to him, without either of us missing a step in our dance.
I closed my eyes and fought with my body in its want to shudder. What I couldn't control was my hands gripping his shoulder and hand.
My head clouded and my heart rate picked up. The blood in my body burned in cold pleasure. He filled my senses in a foreign way.

"Nyx..." I whispered. He leaned his head further down and closer to my lips. This time I didn't have enough sense to push him away. My body felt like it was being touched by pins and needles but it felt... good.

"Sarah." He whispered back. "Kiss me."

My right hand moved itself out of his grasp and settled itself on the back of his neck. I rose up on my feet to meet him.
He smelled of cinnamon and cold air. Our breaths intertwined. Before his lips met mine, a crash ruined the moment.

 
Nyx growled and looked over to the sound's source. I looked too.
Jareth sat with a smirk. His cup was on the floor and nectar was spilt everywhere. The servants rushed to clean the mess up but not one of them gave the goblin a new cup.
I realized how close Nyx and I were. I coughed awkwardly and pulled myself away from him.

"Nyx, I feel slightly feverish. Would you please allow me to retire to my room?" Suddenly I didn't feel well. My body was aching.

"Very well. I will check on you later." He didn't look happy about my leaving but he still let me go.
We bowed to each other, as you do to your dance partner, and a guard came to direct me to my room.

 
Right as I was about to exit the dining hall I looked back to the guest if honour. I'm not sure why I did, but he was already watching me. When we locked eyes he smirked and winked. I blushed and scowled. He's going to face the wrath of Nyx and he has the gall to play around!
My head starts to hurt and I become more and more worried about the goblin king.
I need to lie down.

"Clever human."

I arrive at my room and slam the door. My head is in a whirlpool of thoughts.
A sleep dress was laying on my bed, probably left there by a fae servant. So I strip out of the dress and cover myself in the soft knee length dress. It was white, but I was too tired to care about how it looked on me.

 
This whole evening was draining. Between keeping Nyx occupied and watching Jareth subtly, my circuits were fried. If this was a cartoon, smoke would surely be coming out of my head.
When I sat down I opened the night stand drawer, where Mr. Worm had hidden himself.

"Ello! I didn't realize it was you that entered the room." He chuckled. "I may have dozed off a bit."

"That's alright." I give him a weak smile.

"What happened, deary?" He worriedly asked.

"The guest of honour tonight was none other than the Goblin King. He dined at the same table as Nyx and I." I casted a glance at my friend to see his face neutrally listening. "Before Nyx could start anything, and not wanting to act the way he expected, I kept him distracted by matching his moves. I flirted right back."

"Oh?"

"Then, but then things may have gotten out of my control and I almost kissed him during a dance."

"Really now?"

"Before anything continued, Jareth's cup fell to the floor, which I suspect was done on purpose. Nyx was irritated but my head began to pound and I felt feverish." I looked at Mr. Worm and didn't hide my frazzled state. "So I asked to be excused but now I'm worried Jareth is not going to be okay."

The short responses of my companion allowed me to disclose everything and now he sat in silence, thinking.

"I can't reassure you that Jareth is safe." He proceeded cautiously. "I can tell you that, as long as you have confidence in him, he will stay strong. He isn't one to be broken easily. You need to be cautious, deary. I sense that the prince is effecting you in a harmful way. Your lips are still tinged with blue and your features are pale. Not only do you need to believe in Jareth, you need to have faith in yourself."

I soak in his words for a moment. When I'm beginning to break, it's because I feel alone. I can't imagine how Jareth must feel considering his whole life was stripped from him. A thought popped in to my head that caused me to smile.

"Mr. Worm, can you find where Jareth is being kept? Tell him I'm safe. Make sure he knows I'm aware of both our battles and that as soon as I figure out a way to conquer mine, I'll help him with his." I felt energy burst in to me as I recite my thoughts to our mutual friend.

"I'll find him and tell him. I promise, my lady." He respectfully bowed, as a worm would bow, and wiggled his way to a crack in the corner of my room. "I'll be back soon. Stay safe and sleep well."