Regret

Sarah’s eyes widened and the glass slipped from her hand.

“Kot!” Areyne spoke the word moments before the glass hit the floor.  The glass stood where it was suspended in mid-air.  She quickly scooped it up and set it on the dressing chest then returned to tend the obviously shocked young woman.

“Sarah, what is it? Are you feeling ill?”

“Ill doesn’t begin to describe what I feel.  Leave me alone.”  Sarah pushed Areyne away and hopped off of the bed.  “Where are my clothes?  The one’s I came in?  Where are they damnit!”  Tears began to well in her eyes as she opened drawers and doors looking for her cloths.  Areyne simply watched.

“He can’t do it again!  I won’t let him!” she spun to face the shocked Areyne “I am not some damn toy that he can just call here for his games.  Hell, I don’t even remember all of it because he denied me that!  All I know is he didn’t give a damn about my brother, me, our safety, my friends, how I felt about…about anything” Sarah fell to her knees, she was exhausted.  Areyne walked over and put her arms around the weeping girl.

“Now now, don’t cry, shhhhh, it will all be explained, and everything will be right.”  Sarah’s sobs eased some and she looked into Areyne’s eyes.  “He cannot just bring you here.  He has no power over you unless you give it to him.  You asked that he bring you here, and he did, Sarah, but not to hurt you.  This I promise you.”  The genuine concern in her voice calmed the shaking Sarah.

Sarah stared at Areyne bewildered.  When she found her voice, it was little more than a whisper  “He took my memory.  I wanted to remember this place, my friends, my victory…..him” Sarah gritted her teeth as she said the last word, but not out of anger, out of something far deeper, out of regret.  So long ago she had made the decision to leave, but it had been the only decision to make.  There were no other choices, no other choices that she could have considered.  In thirteen hours, all of her dreams and fantasies had come true, and within a second, they had been shattered by her own voice.  No, don’t be stupid, she thought as she shook her head and stood up from the floor, there was no other way, he had bullied her into the Labyrinth only to toy with her physically and emotionally and to try and keep her brother.  He had never once felt anything for her, so why should she believe for one moment that she may have felt something more than loathing and curiosity towards him?  And if he really felt nothing for her, then why was she now back in the very castle she had fought so hard to leave?  With a steele in her eye that was not matched by her nerve, she faced Areyne, “Why am I here?”

Areyne took hold of Sarah’s hand, “You know very well things are not always what they seem.  Sarah, do you remember the first time Jareth came to you?”  Sarah stared into the Fae’s eyes, and nodded slowly, barely able to recall night in it’s entirety.  “You stood before a mirror and said ‘the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl,’ do you remember?”  Sarah’s breath nearly stopped….

And with those thoughts, she turned away from Areyne, wiping her eyes to make sure her make-up was perfect.  “It isn’t possible.  If he had, why did he take my memories of him? I want to see him, now.” And with that, Sarah headed toward the door, not even waiting for Areyne.

It wasn’t until she nearly opened the door that she realized she was still in the robe Areyne had first given her when she walked in.  “Right.  Um, after I get dressed.”  Sarah walked back and allowed Areyne to help her into the gown.  It was a fabulous fit, thanks to Areyne’s magic, and the colors seemed to breath as she walked.  Sarah had never felt more beautiful – but her nerves would not let her enjoy the moment. “Alright – now let’s go.”  And she left for the door, opening it and leaving.

Watching her leave, Areyne smiled sadly, “You poor girl, you don’t understand.  He never meant to hurt you, only to give you your dreams.  He loves you,” Areyne let out a quiet laugh, “and for all your bravado, you fell in love with him.  You just can’t admit it.  Not yet.  The pain of not understanding and the regret of choosing a life without magic is still to close to your heart.”  Closing the door behind her, Areyne walked swiftly to catch up to Sarah, who had no idea where she was going or what she was in for.