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Crystals and Fire
Alone downstairs, Janine waited for Sarah to come down after putting the now 5 year old Toby to bed. She pulled her long red hair out of her eyes and looked in the mirror. "Urgh..." she muttered. She hated her appearance. Most people laughed at her for having vivid green eyes and flame red hair. It was annoying.
Bored today, with nothing particular in mind he looked into his crystal. The images changed swiftly as it swept around, waiting for it's master to decide what he wanted to see.
"Can't I be pretty?" Janine sat down and put her head in her hands, trying not to cry.
The crystal swept past a familiar house, *Oh why not?* he thought, guiding the image into the house.
Janine looked at her reflection in the mirror as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Wuss." she snapped, wiping it away again. She chewed thoughtfully on a strand of hair as she looked at herself. "Maybe if I cut it...?"
The crystal whirred tentatively, but he didn't want it to move, seeing in it's image a beautiful girl, long fire red hair with beautiful green eyes.
Janine pulled her sunglasses out of her bag and put them on, turning her head this way and that, trying to find a new image. "This really isn't going to work, is it...?"
*That was close* he thought, *But I must see her again...*
Janine realized she was still shaking, and stood up, pacing the room slightly. "It's not like I actually saw anything there... That's crazy..." she grabbed a ribbon off the sideboard and tied her hair back, feeling a little easier now her hair wasn't all in her face.
*Yes, but what is your name pretty one?*
"Janine!" Sarah called down the stairs. "Toby's being a little brat, won't go to sleep, if my parents come back tell them I'm up here with him, he's having nightmares or something!"
He vanished from sight, then reappeared behind her, pressing down the phone. *You still don't believe*
"Janine!" Sarah's voice cut through the air again. She was coming down the stairs. "Thank gosh, I got him to sleep at last - Jareth!" she stopped dead. "What are you doing here again?!" she snapped, grabbing the banister to steady herself.
Back home now, he watched again in his crystal.
Sarah looked at Janine. "What were you doing?!"
"I must see her again."
She was looking in a mirror, that made it easier. He leaned in closer, too close as the crystal started interfering with the mirror. She'd see him... he realized, pulling back, a spilt second too late.
Janine almost screamed as she saw someone else's reflection in the mirror for an instant. She shook a little in fear, then took off her sunglasses again and looked into the mirror, and laughed nervously. "Well, I think I might just be going mad..."
But that was the wrong way to get to her, he thought, too quickly, it would have to be more gradual.
Janine started singing softly to herself. She was singing "I'm Going Slightly Mad" by Queen, and couldn't help laughing inwardly at the irony of the whole thing. "I'm going slightly mad..." she sang under her breath. "Oh dear..." she mimicked Brian May, pretending to play the guitar and laughed again.
He closed his eyes, his form dissolving and flowing across the worlds, into her mirror again. He smiled, this was a better view.
Janine didn't particularly want to look in the mirror just yet. As 'strong' as she was, she was still shaken from what she thought she had just seen. She smiled inwardly as she thought of a way to amuse herself, take her mind off things, and ran across to the huge cupboard on the other side of the room, taking out a long beaded shawl and draping it over herself, then added some stiletto heels and tottered around, giggling slightly.
He flowed from the mirror, watching her still.
Janine spun round on the spot impressively, then rather magnificently lost her balance and collapsed. She heard a shout from upstairs. "It's ok Sarah!" she called, trying to untangle herself and her waist-length hair from the shoes and shawl, and her legs. "Just me!"
Janine froze, thinking she heard something, then laughed, a little nervously. "Here I go again...!" she giggled, trying to engross herself with untangling her hair from the beads, and refusing to look up. "I think I'm going crazy...!"
*your name. Tell me!*
Janine froze again, she'd definitely heard it that time. Did she answer? What did she say? Suddenly the bit of her that was short-tempered snapped. "What's it to you?!"
"Sure..." mumbled Janine, her cover blown.
*Janine. Pretty, like you*
Janine felt herself blushing against her will. She didn't dare look up, and let the shawl fall from her fingers. "Who are you...?" she whispered.
*Me?*
Janine laughed a little derisively. "Well, I'm not asking the clock...!" she said, a small giggle escaping her throat.
*Does it matter?*
"Well... Kinda, yeah... How did you get in?" Janine stood up, pulling the shoes off.
*Magic*
"Magic?!" Janine started to laugh in spite of herself. "There's no such thing!" she put her hand out to the telephone, intending to call the police.
*Of course there is, how else would you have seen me in your mirror?*
Janine stopped, her hand over the receiver. "That was you...?"
*Yes. It is how I saw you, and I knew that I had to come see you for myself*
Janine didn't know what to say. "Well.. I..." she put her hand on the phone, ready to pick it up. This was one weird guy... She sneaked a look up and swallowed. Weird, but VERY good looking!
*That is how I came. Magic*
"Oh..." Janine picked the phone up and started to dial 999 ((or 911, whatever )). "Okay...."
Janine froze. "I...I..." she stuttered, looking at the floor, frightened. She wondered if she could run to the door fast enough, but Sarah and Toby were still upstairs....
*There's nothing to be afraid of. I won't hurt you*
Janine didn't know quite what to say then. "Oh..." she managed after a few moments silence. "What're you doing here?" she managed after some more silence.
*I came to see you*
"But why, I'm nothing amazing to see, I mean, if you at - I dunno - Sarah... She's prettier than me...!"
*No... I came for you*
"Came - for me...?" Janine didn't know what the guy meant. She wished she had the courage to look him straight in the eyes, but she didn't.
*I had to see you closer. So I came because of you*
"oh..." That was it, Janine was officially freaked out. She put her hand back onto the phone, trying not to attract any attention from doing it.
*You are still frightened.*
"Um, yeah, just a little, I mean, it's not every day some bloke just appears from nowhere and starts a conversation with you...!"
*I suppose. But I am not an every day sort of person*
"You don't say..."
*I am not*
"I gathered that... Look, I have to go, Sarah's parents will be back soon, and I - well - I need to - erm..." Janine wanted to go, but she also wanted to stay. It wasn't like the 18 year old to get so confused
*Go? You do not need to worry about others coming*
"Why...?" That sounded ominous.
*Because they shall not bother us*
"What d'you mean...?" Janine turned round and looked at the man in front of her. Woah... He was extremely good-looking! She swallowed a few times, then looked down slightly, still not able to meet his gaze.
He moved in closer. *There is only us right now*
Janine swallowed again. "I - I..." she stuttered. She'd never had this trouble with the guys at her school. She hit them, they left. She didn't see herself hitting this man though.
He held out his hand, a small round crystal appearing. He deftly guided it through his fingers.
Janine watched it, fascinated. How did he do that...?
*Like it? Look closer...* See what you desire, he added silently.
Janine moved a little closer, hardly knowing she was. She kept watching the crystal silently. It was beautiful and shining, and se could almost see - what, what could she see...?
He rolled it closer to her eyes, enacting the spell.
Janine smiled softly, was that her? She was wearing a dress... Well that didn't happen often... And she looked- ok... Not so bad as she felt she did... Who was that man with her...?
That's what she wants? he thought, easy enough. He tossed the crystal in the air and it hovered.
Janine kept watching the crystal, a little bewitched.
He looked up, "Sarah." he said, and vanished.
Janine looked around. "Where'd he...?" she mumbled, a little dazed. "Sarah?"
Janine shook herself and looked back at Sarah. "What d'you mean?" she asked, twisting her hair around her finger. "I was - talking..."
"He was doing the same to you he tried to with me!" Sarah walked over and put her hand on Janine's shoulder. "If he comes again, yell, okay? Come to bed.." she took Janine upstairs and led her to the guest room.
Janine got changed into her old-style Victorian nightgown and sat on the edge of the bed in the darkness. "Who were you...?" she whispered softly.
*Is that it then?*
Janine looked closer. She could see blurred images, and could vaguely see herself, she could see her hair..
He smiled, getting up, *You must wish to do so*
"I wish to go to your kingdom..."
Janine nodded, unable to speak for a few moments. "Can I ask - who you are, please?" she said softly after a few minutes of silence.
Janine looked around again, and smiled happily. It was so lovely, everything she'd imagined, only better
At that moment there was a shout heard from behind a door.
Janine sighed again and stood up, walking across to the window and looking out into the night sky. "I hope I wasn't just dreaming... My heart's desire... To be loved..."
Janine jumped, wishing whoever it was wouldn't just appear like that. She kept her gaze to the night sky, almost ashamed. "Maybe it is..." she muttered. "Who cares anyway?"
*Oh. I see...*
"You see what?" Janine was stung. "No one sees!"
*I see that you do not know exactly what you want*
'I know exactly what I want...' Janine thought to herself. She wanted to be loved, held in someone's arms to feel special again after the mess she had to put up with in her younger years; the hatred, the cruelty, the knowledge she wasn't wanted anywhere. "What does it matter anyway...?" she asked, her tone defeated.
*It matters to me*
"It does does it?" Janine couldn't help but sound disbelieving. "Why?" everything Sarah had said about shouting for her had slipped Janine's mind. She didn't care, she enjoyed the company.
*Because I like what I see in you*
Janine swallowed. What was he on about? What did he mean? What did he see?! There was nothing there to see, was there? "I don't understand."
*You could be great... I see that in you*
"I-I could...?"
*Yes*
"Oh..." Now what? Oh come on Janine! Think! Something came to her in a flash. "How do you know Sarah?"
*I met her some time ago* There was a shortness in the tone, as if he did not wish to go any further.
Janine's curiosity wasn't satisfied. "Why is she so afraid of you? What did you do to her?"
*I? I gave her nothing but what she wanted*
"So why is she so afraid? Why did she tell me to scream if you spoke to me again? What would you do if I did...?"
*What would I do if you screamed again? I think that perhaps, that would mean that you do not wish to see me again. Perhaps I would leave and not return. Or..."
"Or...?" Janine pressed. She was intrigued, though she didn't want to *not* see this man again...
*Or perhaps I would simply ask that you not scream until you hear all that I have to say.*
"Okay, go for it. What have you got to say?" Janine wondered what sort of power this man held over her. She was consumed with curiosity about him, yet afraid to look at him. All this time she had stayed with her back to the room.
*I can make all of your wishes come true, your desires...*
Janine swallowed softly. That would be way too good to be true... "What do you want from me?"
*If you come with me...*
"Come with you where...?" this was getting dangerous.
*I am not from your world Janine, I live in another place... I rule in another world."
"You - rule...?" Janine turned round to look at the man again, he was mad!
*I do*
"You - you're kidding me..."
*I am not*
Janine shook her head. "This is crazy... *I'm* crazy...!"
*No. You are not*
Janine stared at him, incredulous. She had to be dreaming, she had to be...!
*You are awake*
"You - can you - are you -?" Janine wasn't sure how to phrase her sentence. 'I'm freaked, very freaked... He so cannot read my thoughts...!'
*I cannot read your thoughts directly, but it is obvious what you are thinking by your expression*
"Oh..." 'Phew...' Janine didn't want him reading the thoughts that he was damn sexy!
*I tell the truth in all that I offer* Once again the crystal appeared and rolled around his hands.
Janine found her gaze drawn back to the crystal, it was so beautiful, and it seemed to glow in the darkness...
*See what I have to offer you...*
*Look closer Janine*
"I... That's me..."
*Yes. It was what you are...what you can become...*
"What's the catch...?" Janine stared into the crystal, seeing herself clearly now, the children around her legs that were laughing happily were clear, blonde, and ginger... Blonde...?! Who was their father? Where was he? Was the image going to be shattered by the lack of a husband and father, the lack of love she'd always felt. Was she going to be shelved forever?!
*You can be great, I can help you*
"What do I have to do?" great? Did she want to be great? If it meant sacrificing love, no, she didn't.
*I told you why I came to your world...*
"You just said you were looking at me..."
*And that I liked what I saw* He leaned in closer, and the image in the crystal changed, showing a castle, *I told you that I rule as king in another world*
Janine watched, fascinated. She could almost hear what was going to come next...
*Come with me... in my world you can have all that you desire...if you come with me...*
"But - what about this world, what I have here...?" 'wait a minute, what DO I have here?!'
He did not answer for a second, then *What do you have here that you do not want to leave?* he smiled.
Janine looked up and watched him smile. It was amazing. So suave and yet so - dangerous... "Nothing... Nothing at all..."
*As I thought*
Janine blushed. "I - that is I - I've never - I mean...!"
*I only assumed so because of what you saw in the crystal*
Janine looked back at him. "You know, don't you?"
*I know that your desire is something that I can give you... at least, I think so.*
"You think so...?" Janine turned away and looked out of the window again. "Some girls have so much they desire... Like stars in the sky... I don't. I just want one thing... Just one..."
*I do not know exactly what you desire, I will admit that, but...from what I saw of your desire...*
Janine turned back again and looked at him, her eyes a mixture of emotions. "What do you think you saw?" she asked softly. She was getting confused, he was confusing her! She couldn't keep her mind straight when she looked at him or thought of him and how he looked...
*I saw you, beautiful and happy, some place that is not here. I also saw a companion for you...*
Janine looked down again; she couldn't hold his gaze. "You did...?" she asked softly, almost afraid to say anything else
*Yes. I could help you if you come with me...and...*
"...and...?" Janine was immediately on her guard. How many times had she heard that?! "What else would I have to do?!" fear put an edge to her voice
*and...* He took a step closer to her and sank to the ground gracefully, *I wish you would come with me.*
Janine looked towards him and swallowed hard. What was it about him that made her completely powerless to be the strong-willed, rude, sometimes cruel girl she had forced herself to become?
"I - I - I don't - I don't know what to say..." she said, her face going as red as her hair. "I mean I - and I...!"
*Say you will come with me, to my castle*
"I -" Janine thought for a moment. What would she be leaving behind? Abusive foster parents and men who thought they could have their way with her because she was a 'care kid'. "I will..."
"I must wish to?" Janine looked blank. "isn't that a bit - fairy-taleish...?"
*I have told you before that I came here by magic, I have shown you your desire in a crystal, and you think that wishing is a bit fairy taleish? I will tell you this Janine, every desire is a wish..."
"It is...?" Janine tried to look at him, but again found she couldn't. He'd taken every false bit of her and gotten rid of it. Damn damn damn! She had no shield to hide behind now...! "Okay then..."
*Do you wish to come?*
"I wish to go wi-" she stopped before she said 'with you'. Way too cheesy...!
*Say that you wish to come to my kingdom."
He smiled, "That's it then."
"That's it...? Now what...?"
"Turn around and see."
Janine did so, and gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh!"
"That is indeed, as you put it, It."
"It - it's beautiful...!"
"I'm glad you like it."
"My name you mean?"
Janine nodded.
He hesitated, "Jareth."
"Jareth..." Janine shut her eyes for a second, then opened them again, feeling stupid. It wasn't like her to go all 'soppy' on anyone! "Why the hesitation?" she asked, trying to divert him from her blush
"No reason."
"Oh..." Janine looked around at the scenery, primly to avoid having to look at him. He made her nervous in a strange way. She liked it, but she had no defenses, she needed her defenses...
"Now... I will show you where you shall live..."
"okay..." Janine consented, still looking around her in amazement
"Turn to me," he said, transporting them again.
Janine turned to look at him, but could only manage to keep eye contact with his shirt
"Now look around."
"You are pleased?"
Janine nodded silently, her eyes shining
Janine looked up. "What the-?"
He looked up as well, then turned back to Janine, "I am sorry," he said, "But there is something that I must deal with..."
"Right, right, okay..." Janine walked slowly over to the mirror and shyly traced the carvings around it.
"I will return. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable. All that is in this room is yours, but I must tell you not to stray out into the hallway." He turned around and several doors around the room opened, "These are all yours to explore." He turned to another door, "That leads out to the hallway..." He turned back to her, "You are not to go out that door."
Janine felt a little rattled that he was telling her what to do. "Okay." she said softly, knowing that she probably didn't have much choice anyway, now she was here and this was - his kingdom....
"Thank you. I hope that you do not take offense at what I ask. It is for your own protection. There are things which are not prepared for your presence, and I do not wish you to encounter trouble."
"I - thank you..." Janine smiled slightly. "I won't..."
He smiled, "Good. I will see you later." and he was gone.
This room was dark, except for the light coming from the door. It illuminated a small patch on the floor
There was a knock on her door.
Janine looked a little confused, then continued. "Well, it's kinda - red..."
"Janine, I am sorry, but I need to ask you to do something for me."
Janine knew if she hadn't been sat down she would have fallen down. "That's - that's ok..." she stuttered softly. "I'm not upset Jareth..."
His eyes flashed once, angrily, then returned to normal.
Janine looked puzzled and walked further in, deciding to investigate further, so she pulled the door a little further open
On the small patch of the floor was a small, smooth, dark red object.
Janine walked over to it and crouched down to get a better look
It was red, and other then that, pretty non-descript, and yet somehow it commanded the attention of everything in the room.
Janine frowned a little, then tentatively reached out to touch it
It was warm, but not burning warm, and understandably warm, after all, it was sitting in the sun.
Janine smiled, then picked it up
It settled in her hand comfortably.
Janine smiled more and looked at it. "Odd thing..."
Suddenly it shifted, and a green oval spot appeared in the middle of it.
Janine kept watching, intrigued
The green shifted, becoming an eye, which regarded her, hypnotizing her with it's gaze.
Janine watched unblinkingly, feeling strange
Finally the eye blinked, changing back to the dull red shade.
Janine shook herself. What was all that about...?
Out in the main room the wind chimes tinkled again.
She looked up, and still carrying the object walked back to her room
"Hmm?" Janine murmured, lying on her front and regarding the warm, red thing
Another knock.
"Come in!" she called a little louder
The door opened, "Hello," He said, slowly coming in to her room.
Janine placed the thing in her pocket and smiled shyly. "hi..."
"Do you like your rooms?"
Janine nodded. "I do! Thank you..."
He smiled, "I am glad."
Janine blushed a little. "So, um, could you tell me what something is if I showed you it?"
"Something in here?"
"No, something in the room over there, the room inside the room..."
"Room inside the room?" he looked puzzled for a second, then something like anger crossed his face for a split second before he smiled again, "Oh...I see..."
"Can I see?"
"What? Oh, of course..." Janine took the red object from her pocket and held it, palm-up, so he could see
He inhaled with a hissing sound as he looked at it.
Janine looked a little worried; had she upset him...?
"It...It is nothing..." he said, but his tone betrayed him.
Janine looked at him briefly, then felt compelled to look away. "Isn't it...?"
"What?"
"Is it nothing?"
"No."
"So - what is it, if it is not nothing...?"
"Can I see it?" Jareth asked, holding out a hand.
Janine nodded. "Sure..." she took the red thing out of her pocket and held it on her palm towards him.
Jareth reached out to take it, then made a hissing sound.
Janine jumped, and almost automatically curled her fingers around the red thing. "Wh-what...?" she stuttered.
Jareth's expression quickly returned to normal. "I am sorry for frightening you..."
Janine looked down. "It's ok..." she said, returning the thing to her pocket, where it was warm against her thigh. "So, erm, why'd you come in...?" she knew it sounded rude, but she couldn't think to anything else to say
"Um, what is it...?" Janine swallowed a little.
"That," he indicated her pocket, "That cannot stay here."
Janine looked puzzled. "Whyever not?" she questioned.
"Because. I told you before about magic..."
"What d'you mean?"
"That simply cannot stay in my house..."
Janine wasn't sure why, but she got a sudden flash of anger. "Why not? I like it."
Jareth started to say something, then stopped, "Please." he said instead.
Janine shook her head slightly. "I like it." she repeated. She was a little puzzled at why she was so insistent of keeping it, but something wouldn't let her give it up...
"Please Janine, you do not understand..."
"What do I need to understand?" she asked, a little irritated
"I have magic, and this is my kingdom, but there are certain rules that even I must obey. What you now have in your pocket will have effects that I do not wish to deal with."
Janine still looked blank. "I don't understand, but I don't think I need to..." she retorted. "It's too small to have any tremendous consequence...!"
Jareth shook his head, "The little things can have a great effect..."
"Uh huh..." Janine looked cynical; that wasn't what she'd been told!
"Trust me love, it matters."
'LOVE?!' Janine's expression said it all. She'd never been called that in her life! Why was he calling her it now?!
He took a step back, "I am sorry if I have offended..."
No! No, it's ok...!" Janine still looked a little gobsmacked
"I did not mean to make you upset, that is the last thing I want..."
Jareth looked relieved. "Will you help me then?"
"Well... I will.. I just... I like it..."
He took her hands, staring into her eyes, "Please Janine."
Janine gazed at Jareth for a moment, then looked down, unable to fathom what she saw in his gaze. "I - I don't know..."
"At least think about it, please."
"I'll - I'll think about it..." Janine replied softly. "I don't see why I have to give it up though..."
He smiled, "It's just a burnt red shard, nothing interesting..."
"Yeah... But still, it's pretty..."
"I can get you another one..."
"Well... I dunno, I kinda got attached to this one now..."
"Please Janine..."
Janine sighed softly. She felt guilty, but didn't quite know what to do about it. "I don't know..."
"Please."
"Well... I..."
Janine felt a little shaky as she saw the flash of anger. It frightened her. She hid the fear as best she could.
"I trust that you will get rid of it," he said gently.
"Well, I like it, I might - if I go - I might leave it at home, or leave it on the table, or something..."
"Oh." he said a bit annoyed.
Janine noticed the irritation and sighed. "I'm sorry, it's not often I find things I like..."
"There was nothing else?"
Janine swallowed. Dare she admit she liked him? It wasn't really her style. "Nothing else where...?" she hedged the question, her cheeks burning
"Nothing else here that I have provided that you have found to your liking?"
"Everything's lovely!" Janine looked up and smiled at Jareth shyly. "I mean, sometimes I find things that I couldn't give up, and it doesn't happen often... I just really like this..." 'And I don't know why...'
"I do."
"You what?"
"I know why..."
Janine blinked, looking amazed again. He could read her thoughts? Oh man! "Wh-why...?"
"I know why you can't give it up..."
"You - you do...?"
"Yes. It is the same reason why I cannot allow it to remain here."
Just then, before Janine could reply, there was a call from down the corridor. "Hey Jareth! Where are you?!" the voice was a tone deeper than Jareth's, but had a slightly richer note to it.
Trent pulled the door open and waited for his younger brother, leaning his booted foot against the wall.
Trent's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "Oh?"
"There was a scale in the rooms I gave to Janine. It was enchanted. I could not touch it, and I felt it against me. It has enchanted her."
Trent gently put his hand on Jareth's shoulder. "Look, I'm sorry, ok, we'll work out something..."
Meanwhile, back in her room, Janine was starting to feel too warm. She got up off the bed and stood out on the balcony
Jareth leaned back against the wall, feigning unconcern. "Really brother, I do not know what you are so worried about."
Janine pushed the thing back into her pocket whilst Jareth was looking elsewhere.
Jareth looked up and half-sighed
Trent poked his head round the door. "'right?" he asked, using some rather random slang he'd picked up whilst in the overworld. "Got a minute?"
Jareth sighed, and turned to Janine, "Would you excuse me?"
Janine nodded slightly.
Jareth stepped outside, "What?"
Trent sighed. "Nice to see you too brother..." he said sarcastically. "Look, I need to talk to you about this irritating habit of bringing mortal girls here without telling me..."
Jareth rolled his eyes, "What concern of yours is it?"
"It's plenty a concern of mine brother, remember what happened with the last one?"
Jareth shook his head, "That is past."
"That's beside the point!" Trent's eyes blazed. "You know how she treated you! If you ask me Jareth, all mortals are the same! They'll just use you like that last one!"
Jareth shook his head.
Trent sighed and rolled his eyes heavenwards. "What evidence d'you have to the contrary brother?"
"What does it matter?"
"It matters plenty, I'm not just gonna sit back and watch her take advantage of you like Sarah did!"
Jareth hissed slightly at that name.
Trent noticed the reaction but didn't shut up. "Look, I'm sorry Jareth, but I mean it! It's not worth cutting yourself up again, Sarah was mortal, she did it, what'll you do when this one does it? You nearly fell apart after Sarah left...!"
"This time it is different. I will not."
"How'd you know?" Trent looked exasperated. "You don't know what she's like!"
"Brother, it is not that I know that she will not do as Sarah did..."
"Go on..." Trent didn't like the sound of that
"The moral girls are not different, I am."
"What d'you mean?" Trent was intrigued.
"Do you think that I just chose this girl on a whim as I did Sarah?"
"Actually, yes."
"I did not. I made sure this time."
"Made sure of what?!" Trent pushed his hair upwards.
"Made sure that she would not want to...as Sarah did."
"How can you be so sure?"
"She has nothing to miss."
Trent frowned. "All mortals miss something...!"
"Nothing to over come what I can offer her."
"And what do you offer her brother?" Trent's voice softened a note
"Exactly what I want."
Jareth smiled.
Trent rolled his eyes. "Go on brother, spit it out!"
"And you accuse me of spending too much time with mortals, you sound like one of them brother."
Trent growled softly. "I have to spend time listening to their incessant babbling..." he muttered. "And don't change the subject..."
Jareth smiled, "I want to keep her..."
Trent raised a single eyebrow. "Keep?" he questioned. "Brother are you ill?" he teased
"I felt fine until a moment ago..."
Trent immediately looked slightly concerned, not sure whether Jareth was just teasing him back. "What d'you mean?"
Trent groaned. "Great... What're you gonna do about that then?"
"I do not know. Perhaps it was just forgotten from before..."
"I don't like it... What's she gonna do with a mortal? And how on earth did it get forgotten?"
"I don't know... I cannot think of any reason for her to have any dealings with a mortal."
"Other than she hates you bringing them in... Oh Jareth!" Trent put his hand to his head. "I think we need to think something through!"
"What?"
"I don't know! But you know what'll happen eventually!"
"I am not afraid of her"
Trent put his head in his hands. "That, my dear brother, is just the problem... Do try to remember she breathes fire..."
"I am aware of that," he said a bit huffily.
Trent snorted. "So don't go round kidding yourself we can sort her out, you know full well we can't..."
He was silent, a bit sullenly.
Jareth didn't answer right away. "Perhaps if we leave her alone..."
"I don't know... What could we do? If she's enchanted this mortal..."
"If it is like her usual spells, once we remove the source of her spell...it should wear off."
"Alright, how easy's that?"
"Not very..."
Trent leant back on the wall. "Okay, lets think this through... We gotta remove the source... Will the mortal give it to you willingly? Coz you sure as heck can't take it!" He groaned as he realized he was using more mortal slang
"I tried asking her to get rid of it... and I cannot touch it to take it..."
Trent shook his head. "Will she get rid of it?"
"I...don't know..."
Trent looked pained for his younger brother.
Trent shoved Jareth sideways with a small scowl. "You know exactly what I'm concerned about brother, and that's your safety... Look, keep track of that mortal girl, we don't want her wandering around the castle causing havoc with that blasted scale...!"
"She hasn't left her room yet," he answered sullenly.
"I don't care!" Trent grabbed Jareth's shoulders gently. "Listen, you need to get this sorted, right?" he let go of Jareth and put his hand to his forehead. "Bloody mortal slang..."
"Well..." he started, "I was planning..."
"Yes?"
"Before the scale turned up I was planning on giving her this," he pulled out one of his crystals and turned it in his hand, it taking the form of a necklace.
Trent nodded. "Very probably a good idea, I suggest you give it to her now, before anything happens..."
"I was going to before you came along..."
Trent rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the hint brother. Come to my room later, I'll start researching what the heck we're gonna do about the dragon..." he clicked his fingers and disappeared.
"I'll start researching what the heck we're gonna do about the dragon," Jareth repeated mockingly under his breath. He took a breath to return to his suave charming self, then knocked on Janine's door.
Janine heard a knock, and walked back into the main room. "Come in..."
When it landed in Janine's palm it was no longer a crystal ball, but a gold necklace with an emerald charm.
He smiled, getting up, "I shall see you at dinner," he sighed, "There are matters that I must attend to which force me, rather against my will, to leave you again."
He smiled as he saw her, the sun hitting her red hair just right, making it look as though she wore fire.
Janine looked at Jareth smiling, and couldn't help smiling herself. "Hey..." she said softly
"I am sorry about being interrupted before..."
"It's ok..." she said, waving her hand a little. "I know what it's like..."
"Have you done what I have asked?"
Janine looked down. "Well, I..."
"I have something for you."
Janine looked up again, delight in her eyes. "You do?"
"Yes." He pulled out a crystal and rolled it through his fingers.
Janine watched the crystal, fascinated as always
He tossed it up in the air, where it hung for a second, shimmering, it glinted green and gold as it caught the sunlight.
Janine looked at it, the colors reflecting in her own emerald eyes
It fell down...
Janine automatically put out her hand to catch it.
Janine's eyes shone with happiness. "Oh wow...!" she smiled shyly up at Jareth. "Thank you..."
"Put it on," he said softly.
Janine unclasped it, then put it round her neck and struggled to do the clasp up again
"Let me help," he said, stepping around behind her, and taking the ends of the chain.
Janine let go of the chain, but not before hers and Jareth's fingers brushed, making her skin tingle.
Jareth gently clasped the necklace around her, pausing for a moment, breathing in the scent of her hair.
Janine looked down at the necklace as it lay gently on her chest, looking like it had meant to be there.
Finally he stepped back, a bit reluctantly, and came around to face her. "It suits you," he said.
Janine smiled shyly. "Thanks..." she murmured, fingering it slightly.
He caught her hand and sank down to the ground, kissing the back of it, "I did hope that you would like it."
Janine's face grew as red as her hair. "I do..." she said, her voice barely a whisper
Janine nodded. "Okay... I might look around some more..."
He nodded, "Until later my dear." He bowed and vanished.
Janine shook her head slightly in wonderment, then walked out onto the balcony and leant against the railings, singing softly to herself.
Jareth appeared in Trent's study without a word.
Trent didn't look up. "Hello brother." his voice emanated from behind a pile of books, the top of his head only just visible
"How is the research?"
"Coming along... Rumor speaks of a counterspell.... I don't know how true that is..."
"Against the dragon? Brother I know how to deal with her..."
"And get burnt to a crisp again...?"
"You said you would not speak of that again!"
There was a snigger from behind the books. "I'm trying to shock you into reality brother... You can't defeat her without some help. You can't defeat her alone."
"I do not intend on fighting her!"
"So what the hell're you going to do?!" Trent's head appeared over the top of the books, his black eyes blazing.
"Look, last time that... *that* happened it was far from her, nearly in her cave. I was stupid then. I am not so now."
"No comment." Trent muttered. "Look, you know what happens when you get close...!"
"I know. And I do not intend to get close again. If she wishes to fight she must come here, where I am strongest, and she is least...."
"She won't come..." Trent grumbled, sitting down to his books again
"I know. And since she will not come to me, and I will not go to her, why is there a problem?"
Trent shook his head silently. "Something just doesn't feel right brother..." his mysterious sixth sense kicking in
"Can you explain it to me then?"
"You know I can't Jareth...!" Trent sounded strained. "I can't control this bloody thing...!"
Jareth sighed, "I know. I'm sorry."
"Hmm." Trent flicked his hand idly, and a large pile of books moved themselves from the bookshelf to his side.
Jareth smiled, winding a crystal through his hand, looking into it.
"What're you doing?" Trent questioned idly, flicking through the book in front of him
"Watching her..."
There was a sigh from behind the books. "Brother, tell me straight, are you serious about keeping her here?"
"Yes."
The dragon, for that's what it was, continued in it's lazy flight.
The wings flipped open right above her and claws gently closed around Janine.
Janine stopped feeling worried. It didn't seem to have noticed her, and perhaps if she stayed still it wouldn't notice her
The dragon circled around the palace, dropping slightly lower in the sky.
Janine breathed slowly, trying to be unobtrusive
She circled around again, and again lower.
Janine decided to forget her 'stay still' business, and tried to get off the balcony without attracting too much attention
the dragon slammed her wings to her sides and dropped like a stone.
Janine looked terrified and attempted to scramble to her room
Janine gave a small scream of surprise
The dragon gave a huge flap, powerful wings straining and she was aloft, carrying Janine in one of her front paws.
Janine looked down towards the castle. "Jareth!"
The dragon took no notice. She continued to fly, her burnt red scales reflecting the sunlight.
Trent jumped, knocking a huge pile of books to the floor
Jareth sighed and turned back to his crystal.
"What?"
Trent shook his head. "I think I'm getting tired... Shaky..."
Jareth's attention was drawn away from his crystal as he moved over towards his brother, "Did you see something?"
Trent sighed softly, resting his head in his hands. "I don't know..." he groaned softly
"Rest now brother, do not worry about me..."
"I'm ok..." Trent pushed himself up and picked up one of the books again. "I'll be fine..."
"Please brother, perhaps you should give this a rest..."
Trent shook his head stubbornly. "I'm fine Jareth."
"All right..." but he did not sound convinced.
The pages of the book were turned a little lethargically.
Trent gave a shout. All the books on the table flew to the floor, papers rustled and the curtains moved from the force of his psychic shock
Jareth was startled, and then he looked down and saw as well.
"Heavens above..." Trent murmured, looking at the mess around him.
Jareth let out a cry.
Trent looked back to Jareth, and saw how white his brother had gone. "It's her, isn't it?"
Jareth nodded wordlessly and he swallowed.
Trent got up a little weakly, and put his hand on Jareth's shoulder. "I'm sorry..."
Jareth shook off Trent's hand, "I have to go..."
"No!" Trent growled. "Not this time!"
"yes. I must."
"There's no must about it Jareth! I remember what happened last time!"
"I don't care. I must go and you cannot stop me!" He vanished.
Trent grabbed at thin air, then crumpled to his knees, his head in his hands. "Damn you Jareth..."