Chapter 8~ Tricks and Lies
Sarah half couldn’t wait for, half-dreaded Jareth’s return. She wanted to talk to him, but not about the wedding, and she didn’t want to see that something in his eyes. It distracted her.
After Dr. Riley gave her a new compress, there was a knock at Sarah’s door. Dr. Riley smiled again and left. Jareth walked in, sat in the same chair he’d sat in earlier, and put his head in one hand.
"You wished to see me?" The way he asked was so innocent, as if he had no idea what she was going to say.
"You lied, to my parents, right in front of me," Sarah answered. She shook her head slightly. She hadn’t wanted to start that way. But now that she’d said it, it sounded appropriate. "You lied about my friends being your friends. You went along with what the doctor said. You made me lie, too. You..you," Sarah could hardly describe the way he’d glared at her. There was hard and cold there. It told her to keep quiet. But his eyes also told her that he wouldn’t do anything if she didn’t. The something-it just told her that she’d be betraying him somehow. And so she hadn't said anything.
And now she felt like a traitor. "Why?" She demanded softly.
"Sarah, if I told your parents about me being the Goblin King, would they have believed me? Would they have believed any of it? No. They’d think I was mad. You, too. You know as well as I do that they hate the lack of reality in your life."
Sarah knew he was right. And what if they did think Jareth was crazy? Even if they put him somewhere, he’d just escape and find me.
"So, are we going to postpone the wedding?" She asked finally.
"Is that what you were getting at?"
"Dr. Riley says I’ll be out in a few days."
"Yes, that’s what he says."
"You wouldn’t take me back now, would you?"
"No, not yet."
Sarah sighed with relief. Of course he wouldn't. He’d let her stay in the hospital, until she was well enough to leave, then he’d take her back to the castle, and they’d be married.
"Well, visiting hours are over. Bye!" Sarah was acting like a little kid again, trying to get it over with as soon as possible.
"I’m going to keep you company tonight," offered Jareth.
"Oh, no you’re not! "
"Wanna bet?"
"You don’t have a believable reason for staying."
"Sure I do. So nobody tries to run from me at night."
"I’m really not feeling well enough to run, thank you." Sarah tried to prove it by standing up-which resulted in wincing and nearly falling out of the bed. But, naturally, Jareth helped her back up. And Sarah, naturally, yelled at him to stop touching her.
"Sarah, I’m staying whether you like it or not." Jareth watched Sarah carefully to make sure she was alright.
"Oh, yeah?" Sarah pushed the button on her bed for the nurse to come. She came, and Jareth eyed Sarah angrily.
"You-" he began.
"Nurse, now that visiting hours are over, would you see to it that Mr. King is escorted to the door, please?"
"Yes, Miss Williams." The nurse smiled and turned to Jareth. "Sir, could you please come with me?"
Jareth gave Sarah one last harsh glare, then allowed the nurse to show him out.
"Whew," sighed Sarah. She knew he wouldn't give up so easily, but for the time being, Jareth was gone, and she could sleep in peace tonight.
Or so she thought.
Dr. Riley checked on Sarah right before she went to bed. Her arm was doing better, and he told her that Mr. and Mrs. Williams called and said they wished they could come back, but it turned out Toby had a cold.
"Ah, Toby." Sarah remarked. "That kid gets all the attention." She laughed and Dr. Riley left, allowing Sarah drift off.
* * * * *
Sarah could hardly sleep. She kept tossing and turning, and she didn’t know why. Dr. Riley had told her right before she went to sleep that she might have a bit of a fever, but she didn’t even hear him. All she kept thinking about was Jareth; what did he intended to do when she was well enough to leave?
"Mr. and Mrs. Williams," Sarah imagined Jareth saying to her parents, "I am the Goblin King and I wish to take your daughter away to my castle."
Before long, the clock on the table beside her flipped to 3:00 a.m. Sarah groaned, extremely tired, but unable to fall sleep. She was going to have an interesting morning.
Just as she was forcing herself to close her eyes and finally fall asleep, Sarah felt a hand on her forehead. She strained her eyes furiously to see in the dark.
"Oh god, you’re burning up!" There came a whisper.
"No I’m not," Sarah insisted. She didn’t even know who she was arguing with, but she didn't care; it wasn't her night.
"I’m going to call for the nurse," the someone insisted. They groped around to find the button to call a nurse.
"No, don’t! I’m fine."
"Well, how you do expect me to take you back if…" There was silence, and Sarah smiled in the dark.
"Hi, Jareth." She greeted sarcastically. "How are you? I’m just fine. I can’t sleep, I have a fever and a headache, and you’re in my room when I told you to get out. I’m feeling great. Just great."
"Oh, quiet." Ordered Jareth. He found the button and pushed it.
"So how’d you get in here anyway?" Sarah still smiled, as if this was a big joke she had already gotten and she wanted to play along.
"How else? I just appeared."
"When did you ‘just appear’?" Sarah put a hand to her forehead. Still hot, but the nurse would be coming soon.
"At midnight." Was the casual reply.
"Ooo, spooky," Sarah pretended to shudder. Jareth was losing patients.
"Where’s that nurse? I think you’re delirious." Sarah’s smile grew. Jareth could just barely make out her features in the dark, but soon he saw her smile-peaceful and accepting. It made Jareth really shudder.
"No, this fever hasn’t affected me in anyway-except that I can’t sleep real well. And you know, I just realized something: you can do what you want-marry me, kidnap me, tear me away from my family and friends, even lie to them-but that doesn’t mean I’ll love or care about you."
Jareth stared at her for the longest time before he spoke.
"Yes, I know. But, maybe someday, you’ll change your mind."
Just then, the nurse came in. She wasn’t the same nurse who had shown Jareth out earlier, which was good for him.
"Is there a problem, Sarah?"
"Yes, um…"
"Cally."
"Yes, Cally. I have a fever because of my arm," Sarah indicated her right arm, "and I was wondering if you had some aspirin or something."
"Sure, Sarah. I’ll get you some right away. Anything else?" Sarah eyed Jareth.
"Could you get him out of here, please." Jareth started to protest, but he whispered to Sarah instead.
"What are you doing? You know I’m going to come back."
"Good point." Sarah thought as Cally waited patiently. "Cally? Could I call my father? I know it’s late, but my brother is sick."
"What good will that-?" Jareth began.
"Absolutely," Cally agreed, unaware she had interrupted him. "I’ll be right back." She looked at Jareth. "You’ll to leave. Sarah needs her rest." Jareth sighed and obeyed.
"You’re not going to get away with this," he insisted.
"You deserve it for nearly killing Hoggle," Sarah whispered. Jareth didn't respond as he left. Sarah sighed sadly. Where are you Hoggle? She asked herself. I hope you’re okay.
A few minutes later, Cally came back with some aspirin and a paper cup of water.
"Take these and then you can make your call," she told Sarah softly. "That transfusion took a lot out of you. Can you stand up yet?"
"Barely." Sarah swallowed the aspirin some water. "But, if you could help me a little…"
"Oh, of course." Cally went to one side of Sarah’s bed and helped her stand. Then, wincing again, Sarah walked slowly to the receptionist’s desk.
"I’d like to call my father, please."
"Of course, dear." The receptionist smiled from behind the desk and handed Sarah the phone. "Just dial 9 and then your number."
Sarah dialed and waited. After four rings, her stepmother answered the phone.
"Hello, Williams Residence."
"It’s Sarah. Is my dad there?"
"Yes. Hold on, he’s giving Toby some medicine." From the soft tap, Sarah guessed that Karen put the phone down on the table. Then, it was picked up again.
"Sarah? Hi, sweetie. How are you feeling?" Her dad’s voice was much more cheery that her stepmother’s.
"I’m fine. Uh, dad?"
"Yeah, honey?"
"I know Toby has a cold and all, but I was wondering if you could come back to the hospital and sleep in my room tonight. I feel sort of lonely here."
There was a pause, and Sarah thought she heard her father talking to Karen. Sarah hoped he’d say he’d come.
"Well, Sarah, you’re stepmother offered to come instead, if that’s all right." Sarah sighed angrily and played with the spiral phone cord.
"Yeah, I guess."
"She'll be there soon. Bye, honey."
Sarah hung up the phone and thanked the receptionist. Then, Cally helped her back to her bed.
"Is your father coming?" She asked.
"No, my stepmother is." Sarah didn't even bother pretending she was happy. It wasn't worth it.
After what seemed like forever, Karen showed up. She looked tired, mostly likely from being up with Toby half the night, and she didn't smile when she came in Sarah's room. Not that Sarah cared. "Thanks." She yawned and stretched, then sat back in her bed.
"I could use the sleep," admitted Karen gratefully. Both her and Sarah fell asleep almost instantly.
Jareth, who was watching Sarah from his crystal, knew that if Sarah was giving him her normal attitude, she was feeling better.
It would only be a matter of days before she was released from the hospital….
Chapter 9
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