Power and Its Vices

The party was held in a dance hall that had been rented for the night. Sarah’s arrival warranted a few looks and some men looked her up and down, noted her demeanour and either smiled and nodded or turned their eyes down in respect.
Diane introduced Sarah to a few people and started a lively conversation with a woman in a white cat suit. Around her people mixed and mingled. It seemed hard to tell who or what the party was for.

Everyone was dressed in attractive clothes, yes some could be called sexy, even enticing but nothing was outlandish. Some wore chokers or collars, but it was very subtle. Sarah took a drink from a tray making the rounds and decided to take the plunge.
She touched Diane’s arm and nodded to the crowd. Diane smiled and motioned her silent agreement.
Sarah left Diane and her friend and walked into the crowd.
Everyone who noticed Sarah waited to see what she would do before approaching her. It wasn’t cold or indifferent snobbery; it was polite and meant to be less intimidating. Diane was well known to everyone there but Sarah was an unknown. They knew of her existence and that she was getting tutotion from Diane but little else.
Sarah moved into a group of people and introduced herself. Everyone was polite, sincere and quite interested in her. They all took turns asking her questions and engaging in small talk. She responded in kind and took a genuine interest in the people she was talking to. Then something caught her eye.

“Excuse Me,” she said breaking away from the small group. She turned and walked in the direction of her distraction and saw a flash of silver hair. Her curiosity was peaked so she moved towards it.

Anther tray of drinks passed in front of her and she lost sight of her target. Sarah sighed and put her now empty glass down on the tray and kept walking in the same direction. She made her way to a new group of people and they began to ask her more questions, and repeat some of the ones she had already answered. Now that Sarah had instigated contact with people she was fair game for all the curious and brave people to seek out.
“So Sarah, seen anyone here catch your interest? Not everyone is partnered.”
“Well I did see someone with platinum blonde hair out of the corner of my eye.”
No one knew of whom Sarah was talking about, no one in the group had hair that colouring, and as Sarah was the only new person here tonight it seemed that she had just not seen anything. She answered the rest of their questions and continued on with the small talk.
Suddenly there was a flash of silver and black, her eyes turned following the movement. She saw a profile she recognised but it was just out of site, so she turned her head to look at it fully when someone walked up to her.

“You must be Sarah!” It was the woman in the white cat suit.
“Well Yes I am” Sarah nodded.
“I’m Kaida” she bowed slightly, her accent oriental. Her skin was the colour of milky coffee and she had wonderfully deep brown eyes shaped like sugared almonds. Kaida had jet-black hair cut in a straight line across her brow, and hung like a weighted curtain over her shoulders and down her back. Her white leather outfit was complimented by thigh high white boots that had a 3 inch steal spike for her heals.
Her smile was predatory and she was very confident in herself. “Diane told me about you. She seems to think you hold promise.”
Sarah straightened her spine, Diane had warned her about Kaida.
“The little dragon tends to be one of the ones who believe in whips first and talk alter. She is a dear friend but I would never send a novice her way. She is like a wild animal and can smell fear.”
Sarah levelled her gaze, put all the steel she could muster into her eyes and smiled coldly at Kaida. “I would like to think my mentor is correct.” Unspoken was the threat that Sarah was quite capable to take care of herself.

Kaida’s eyes softened and her smile became less aggressive. “Well I will say you don’t pale in the face of adversity.” She wrapped an arm around Sarah’s waist. “Come let me introduce you to someone.” And she led Sarah away from the crowd.
Just as Sarah left she saw a pair of eyes that reminded her of bird of prey. She turned to see the face that held the eyes and was pulled along by Kaida.
The party kept up in a similar fashion, Sarah would talk to one person or group, and the sight of slivery hair, haunting eyes or sparkle would pull her attention away.
Twice she heard a mocking laugh that chilled her bones.

Later, people began to pair off and leave; one walking and ignoring their partners, where that partner’s eyes never left their mate.
A few like Sarah, Diane and Kaida had no partners, so they sat down and had a drink together in a group.
Sarah excused herself to use the ladies. It was then that she saw what had been distracting her all night.
In a group of subs, all talking and laughing, was a face she knew all too well.
It was ethereal and pale with hooded eyes. This was a face that had once embodied her fears and desires. Accented with high cheekbones and a hawk shaped nose her attention was drawn to the large bow shaped mouth. It was femmane in detail but harsh in full feature. Silver blonde hair hung in ragged lines casting shadows and added definition to the cold unfeeling expression on his face.

Sarah looked straight ahead and looked into his eyes and laughed. She threw back her had and laughed to the ceiling, causing the entire room to go silent and look at her. Sarah laughed until tears ran down her face.
When she looked back to the startled subs, he was gone.
She knew it wasn’t for long.

“Sarah,” Diane rushed over as Sarah laughed at the group of subs. “Sarah are you ok? What is going on?”
“Oh Diane!” she hiccupped. “I swear I saw an old acquaintance in that group over there.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and regained her composure. “ I had better explain a bit better. This person, well, they were in a position of authority last time I saw them. It shocked me, a little more than I expected. I guess it was a combination of stress and the alcohol and the irony of it.”
Diane led Sarah to the ladies room and helped refresh her make up.
“Seeing an old boss in a group of subs isn’t so surprising Sarah. I told you that before. It is usually people in authority positions who want to just led go and let others lead them.
“Yeah but, I never thought, well I was mistaken anyway. He really wasn’t there. I think thought I should go home. I have probably had too much to drink and now I have caused a scene.”
“Oh the scene is nothing, we get much more than that on a good night. But if you want to go home I’ll go see when the van is ready to take you home.”
“Thank you” Sarah mumbled as Diane left to check on the minibus that had been arranged to take people home after the party.

“Well, who would have thought it?” she whispered to the mirror. She smiled quickly to herself and left.

Sarah got home, unlocked the door and walked in. She didn’t switch on the lights or close the door. There was no need.
“Spare me the mellow dramatics” sallealled into the darkness. “I saw you, I know you are here.”
“Sarah you surprise me.” He said coming out of the shadows. “You’ve changed”
“Fifteen years will do that to a mortal.” She tossed flippantly and sat down on the sofa not looking at him until she was comfortable. “What do you want?”
“I’m wounded.” Jareth’s face moved in the dark “You think..”
“You know nothing about what I think!” Sarah scowled into the darkness. Only Jareth’s face was visible to her until he stepped into the light coming from the open door. He moved slightly so that Sarah could see him fully.
He was as she remembered, tall thin and deadly like a coiled snake. Eyes that threatened but enticed. His outfit was sombre but alluring. Made of Black and blue satin that made his shoulders and chest look fuller than they were, as if they were padded.
Dark grey breached held the curve of his thigh and calf, were tucked into leather boots. He stood still letting Sarah’s eyes take in every detail. His smile was gloating with male and Fae vanity.
“Hmm” she said openly looking at him, her eyes were cold and dispassionate. “Turn around” she waved her hand.
“Pardon?”
“I said turn around, I want to see the rest.”
Jareth laughed, lifted his arms and turned as she bid him, playing the game. “Do I please milady?”
“Umm” Sarah looked at the Sidhe king, “Not really.”
Jareth’s hands dropped and she continued. “Oh the outfit is quite remarkable, stunning even. But entirely too foppish for my tastes, and then there is something to be said for the model.”

This confused the goblin king. She had seen him at the party, and followed him like he planned. He had caught her attention and held her enthralled the entire evening. When their eyes had met she laughed, he had taken it to be the laugh of a woman scared, a woman on the edge of hysteria. He thought she would cow before him as she once did.
But instead when she arrived home to find him waiting she hadn’t acted scared at all, more like she expected him and was…. Bored by it.
“The model milady?”
“Milady.. I like that. We’ll keep that yes.” She said still sitting on the sofa. “As for the model, where shall I start?” She got up and glided forward approaching Jareth with a purpose.
“Firstly he came uninvited to a private party, then he arrived uninvited into my home, and after all that he refuses to answer my question.”
“Your question?”
“What. Do. You. Want?” she said standing very close to him.
“I want to give you what you dream of my pet. I want to answer your heart’s desires.”
“What do you know of my dreams?”
“You crave power. I can give you power.”
Sarah again laughed. It was a cold harsh sound and when she looked back to the king she saw his surprise. You have come to offer me power? You!!” again she laughed. As she laughed she moved and shut her front door. The rooms was suddenly very dark, her thick curtains blocked most of the light from outside the house. Sarah’s eyes had become used to the dark and she could make out Jareth’s shape. In the darkness Sarah had an idea.
“Did you just call me pet?” she called from the door. She saw his head move slight as he nodded. “I am no-ones’ pet, we shall stick to calling me milady.” She closed the space between them.
“You are offering me power, and come to think of it you can give it to me. OR should I say I can take it.” She was right in front of him now, able to see his eyes in dark. His skin was so pale it almost glowed in the feeble light coming in the room.
He could see her clearly, not needing much light. He looked at her curious as to the change in her. He remembered her as a scared little teenaged girl full of dreams of fairytale love and justice.
Suddenly there were stars in front of his eyes and his right cheek stung.
“That was for not using my title.” She said lowering her hand, and she moved away. As Sarah lit a candle near the couch she continued.
“Do you know kind of party you dropped in on?”
“What did you do?” his eyes flashed with anger.
“Answer me Jareth.” her voice a treat. Never had anyone spoken to him in such a way. He was angry and shocked, as well as compelled. This little girl had grown into a strong woman.
“A gathering of people,” When Sarah turned to face him he added “milady”.
“Not just an ordinary gathering of people, but you’ll learn that. In the candlelight her long hair glowed and the satin of her Cheongsam shimmered. “You have come to offer me power, but you see I already have it. I have power over you. I won the labyrinth, I defeated you and I refused you gifts.
“You offered me my dream, but they were childish dream, when I defeated you Jareth I was given a new dream. A dream of power. I now possess that power. But before I won you offered me something. I’m going to take it. I’m going to take you Jareth.”
She said passing sentence. “Now loose all that foppery. It is time to get to work.” Sarah waved her hand expectantly.
Arrogant and proud she dared the goblin king to defy her.