Breaking Barriers (Chapter 28 up)

Jareth waited on the stage. Sarah should be arriving at any moment. He had made a grievous error in judgement last night and he was anxious to repair the damage he had done. Though the kiss had been... sinfully delicious, Jareth had to constantly remind himself that this was his kingdom that was on the line. If he faltered now, there could be no hope for it.

He was beginning to realize that their arguments always tended to follow a vicious pattern: Sarah would defy him which would inevitably lead to a counter attack. In the past, the argument would have merely ended once Jareth had bested her. But now that Sarah's magic had been reawakened, Jareth guessed, with the help of a certain evening gown, the argument would reach a pinnacle and Sarah would be so strung out that small portions of her magic would be released. Sarah still didn't know she possessed magical qualities. She very well couldn't control that which she didn't know existed. And Sarah's magic was quite strong so he naturally found it difficult to elude.
And when her powers came into the picture was when his emotions tended to rise.

Which simply wouldn't do.

He couldn't begin to imagine the amount of destruction he had caused in his actions yesterday. Ever since the ball it had been getting more and more difficult for him to withstand her... and her powers. If something didn't change soon, his kingdom was forfeit.

As for Sarah... well, hopefully for his sake today she would be a bit more compliant. The scene he had written should garner Sarah's humility, and if he was gentle on her maybe she would be more susceptible to his charms. Perhaps giving her a reprieve would lessen the urge to goad her into an argument. Jareth sighed to himself. He certainly hoped so.

But upon seeing Sarah fairly stomping down the aisle with Curlique in tow, Jareth's somber expression turned to that of amusement. She must have been just as put out as he had thought she would be after their argument last night. Well, perhaps he wouldn't be too gentle on her. After all, he wanted to keep her on her toes. She really was so downright stubborn all the time. Too stubborn, in his opinion. Yes, he needed her to be much more docile for his plan to succeed.

"Curlique." Jareth barked. "Into the lightbooth until you're needed."

Curlique looked up with frightened eyes, then, clutching her script in her small hands, scurried back up the aisle and into the lightbooth. Sarah stopped her descent and glared at Jareth, anger flashing in her eyes.

"Why do you have to be such an ass?"

Jareth was surprised for a moment. He'd never heard Sarah speak in such a disrespectful tone before. Jareth inhaled a breath for control, then moved his hand in a come hither gesture.

"Come here, Sarah."

Sarah crossed her arms, her usual defiant expression on her face. She stepped up the stairs, but did everything in her power to let Jareth know she wasn't happy about it. She approached him, not even looking at him anymore.

"Such language from a young lady," Jareth shook his head in disapproval, "It is something that I simply cannot abide."

"Well luckily, it doesn't really matter what you think of me," Sarah countered.

Jareth tsked.

"I also will not tolerate defiance," Jareth put his arm around the girl, gripping her shoulder when she tried to shrug him off, "Now what could be causing this tantrum, hmm? Was it our argument yesterday? Or perhaps, it was my kiss. Did it not meet your desired standards?"

Sarah's eyes widened in anger, amazed that he had even mentioned what had happened yesterday. Then she pulled away, finally able to break his grasp.

"You are one twisted bastard," Sarah spat, shaking the script in front of Jareth. "How can you expect me to perform something this... this..."

"Ah, now I see... You're upset about the play. Perhaps you find my script a bit..." Jareth smiled, "...humiliating...?"

"You sadistic pri-"

"Sarah," Jareth interrupted, now a bit impatient, "You'll perform that script because you told me you would. I feel as if we've discussed this countless times. Now let us carry on."

Sarah, finally appearing a bit defeated, sighed and flipped over the cover page.

"Fine. Let's get this thing over with."

Jareth smirked. "Now that attitude is much more agreeable."

Jareth saw Sarah curl her lip, but she remained quiet.

About a half hour of the rehearsal went by without a glitch. At least Sarah had kept her sighs and snorts of derision to a minimum. But once they started to move into the heart of the scene, Sarah became much more reluctant. It was obvious she was not pleased at how her character was being represented. Not that she was supposed to have been, Jareth mused. He had made her character with the distinct notion of dressing the girl down a bit. Although the Goblin King was considered by many to be arrogant, and rightly so, Sarah also had a certain air about her... like she deserved special treatment. It was a quality in Sarah that Jareth longed to stifle. In his opinion, she needed to hop off that high horse of hers and face the facts. HE was the king in this world, and she... she was an insignificant speck in his eye. One that had unfortunatley been irritating him of late. Now granted, the girl could be of complete significance to him, but that would only apply once she complied to his final wish of restoring the Goblin City.

But now, it appeared Sarah could no longer bear the injustice of the part she played. She balked at a particularly self deprecating line, and looked up at the Goblin King, hoping to placate him with her pleading tone.

"Do I really have to say this?" Sarah gestured to the line in question as Jareth leaned over to read what she found so degrading.

It was a perfectly wicked phrase. Jareth remembered feeling distinct pleasure having written it. There was no way he would allow Sarah to forego it.

"I'm sorry, Sarah, but that particular line happens to be one of my favorites."

"Please, Jareth, it's completely embarrassing..."

"Read it, Sarah."

"Jareth, no one is going to believe this bullshit-!"

"Read it!"

Sarah's hands dropped in submission, but Jareth could tell she was fuming. Refusing to look up, Sarah read the hated line through gritted teeth. Jareth held a hand to his ear, mocking her.

"I don't believe I heard that, Sarah. Read louder."

Sarah shot him a look of contempt that Jareth, in good humor, ignored. Jaw thrust forward, Sarah repeated the line in a stilted manner, clearly outraged.

"But Jareth," Sarah stated in an automoton voice, "How can you be so cruel? I am so desperately enthralled with the Labyrinth. Traversing the maze has been my life-long dream. How can you deny me such a pleasure? And not only that, I have come to realize something. Since I have met you, my feelings have changed. Though I still wish to traverse the Labyrinth, my deepest desire now, is you." Sarah paused, seeming to fight against a wave of nausea, "Please. You can keep the child. I just want to be near you. Let me fear you, love you and do as you say. All I really want now is to..."

Jareth gave Sarah a look that showed he would wait all day for her to finish the line if necessary.

"...please you..." Sarah finished nearly choking.

"Project, Sarah!" Jareth cajoled.

"PLEASE YOU!" Sarah cried.

Jareth smiled, shaking his head, then continued with his dialogue. He gazed at her with a glint in his eye and a half-smile upon his lips.

"I confess, Sarah, that is precisely what I was hoping for. But I'm afraid that we must maintain precedence. Although I would gladly do as you wish I am not able to comply, satisfying as it would be."

Jareth paused as Sarah rolled her eyes. He wanted her undivided attention for this next line. Hearing him pause, Sarah glanced up at him, then stopped, staring. She was completely fascinated with how intense he had suddenly become.

"But I can promise you this..." Jareth murmured, looking straight into her eyes. He needed her to be completely captivated by his words. It was time to put all his carefully planned tactics to the test. But just as he was about to move forward with carefully calculated steps, Jareth second guessed himself.

There was something in Sarah's wide eyes that gave him pause. He remembered, suddenly, the emotions Sarah had brought forth in him so strongly yesterday. With a surge of energy he again experienced what he had felt at the time. He was struck by how this mere girl made him feel so... alive. He felt an incredible sense of excitement and strangely, peace that she was still here. Jareth knew he was quickly sliding down a dangerous descent and he contemplated for the first time that perhaps it was only a matter of time before he became the vulnerable Goblin King he had been just before Sarah had defeated him. For just this one time Jareth gave into the wave of emotions that pummeled him and continued his line, his breath rasping in his throat. Though he had originally written the line as an opportunity to seduce Sarah, as he recited it, he knew that as much as he wanted to deny it, he spoke truthfully of how he had felt those four years ago.

"After you complete the terrors of the Labyrinth, if you still feel as strongly as you do now, then I shall grant you your wishes. I must admit Sarah... I have desired you the moment I set eyes on you. But I dare not give into you. You must conquer this maze as testament to your faith in me. If you follow me into the Labyrinth, and find the child in time, I will completely give in to your fantasies. That is how you shall please me, Sarah, by willingly giving yourself to me. Only then will you be allowed to remain here in the Underground... with me..."
Upon saying these words, Jareth finally admitted to himself that although it was partially true he had originally given Sarah powers so that he could capture her brother, it was not entirely so. Somewhere hidden in the deepest of thoughts he only acknowledged in the darkest of hours, he knew he had also given Sarah powers in the hopes she would give herself to him. Knowing how Sarah had despised her world and had so easily summoned him, he had thought... maybe even hoped... in the back of his mind... that perhaps Sarah had wanted him too... that perhaps... she had felt the same way.

After she had destroyed him, out of necessity, he had shut out his heart. It had been quite clear to him at the time that he must have been wrong about her. But now, he felt his resolve wavering. There had been moments recently that he had felt that Sarah was truly drawn to him. He had been trying desperately to ignore these moments, knowing they would only lead him to all-too familiar failure. But with his recent kiss and her obvious anger at having it ended abruptly, Jareth had to wonder. Not to mention how she had initially reacted to his brief attentions in the library. Perhaps Sarah did feel something after all. And though Sarah had confessed to Curlique that what had happened at the ball had been an act, even at that occasion Jareth had been convinced of her attraction upon recalling all that had happened between them once the enchantment was lifted.

And now, was it Jareth's imagination, or had Sarah moved closer to him throughout his monologue? Right now in his weakened state, he didn't dare believe he saw what he thought he did in Sarah's eyes. But he thought he noted a mixture of want and... disbelief. Was it possible that she understood now, if only a little, how he had felt when she had denied him four years ago? Sarah reached out and tentatively rested her hand on his arm, then moved up to his face and, very hesitantly, ran her finger along his jawline with an expression of wonder and sorrow. Jareth closed his eyes, hardly able to believe that Sarah, his defiant little adversary, was willingly touching him. He leaned into her caress and moved forward slightly. He wanted to make her forget how violently he had kissed her before. Ever so slowly, Jareth leaned his head down, about to pull her firmly into his embrace.

"Is... is there a blackout here, your Highness?" came a tentative voice from across the theater. "I-it's the... end of the scene now..."

Jareth, suddenly aware of his surroundings, pulled away. Sarah looked away in disappointment. Angry the goblin had interrupted what could have been a turning point for the two enemies, Jareth whipped around.

"Of course there's a blackout, you ignorant creature!" the Goblin King growled. He turned to Sarah with a slight bow then exited the stage.

"Rehearsal is concluded," he said with a wave of his hand.

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A/N And hence the title Breaking Barriers XP Hopefully Jareth is close to cracking ;)

@Vyperbites- haha, yeah personally I don't think Jareth makes a convincing writer or actor... so we'll just have to see what happens XP

@homophobichomosexual- I'm sorry for being such a tease! XP In all honesty I wish Jareth and Sarah would just have at eachother right now but I don't think it would make for a convincing plotline XD And I will try my best to stay consistent :) Been doing pretty well so far, I think ^_^

@Ikaru- Thank you so much =3 I've been worried about the pace of the story... Don't want you all to virtually murder me for being too slow! D:

@Ginette1959- Thank you :) And yes, finally! XD

@Lantherien- OMG Lol!! XP Naughty naughty... ;)

@kookookitty- Eeeek! Spiders!!! Eh, I would actually rather hide in a musty old cave than under my bed because I DO have a lot of spiders under mine!!! D: Sorry you're not totally sold on the oubliette idea... :( Unfortunately I can't really revise it now... Thanks for the recipe!! Yum! :D

As always, thanks for reading ~TheArtist