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labyficWord Count: 972
Title: Time after Time
Description: I took the word “Dream” very literally. I did try to incorporate my last dribble into this story so I suppose you can see it as an extension.
The tea was growing cold. Sarah reached for the dainty little china cup and took a long sip before returning it to the saucer on the coffee table. Peppermint and cinnamon, an odd but intriguing combination, cool and spicy. Her thoughts were growing sluggish as the fire crackled. The sofa was so comfortable. Sarah pulled the blanket a little tighter around her and laid a gentle hand on the top of her snoring cat’s belly.
Eye-lids fluttered, Sarah’s head sank to her chest and her breathing grew slow and soft.
With a start she came to her feet but those feet weren’t where they belonged. A barren rooftop beneath a sky full of stars—impossible constellations—surrendered her on every side. Candles, trapped within their towering candelabras, flickered in the chilly wind. It was quiet.
The invitation.
In a frantic blur of motion Sarah searched her person. The blank square, glittering in the starlight, was still tucked into her pocket.
“I was unexpectedly pleased with your response to my little token,” a quicksilver voice purred from behind her.
“I’ve never been one to say no to a party,” Sarah said spinning around to face her host, relieved that she sounded more composed than she actually felt. What a sinister trick he had played.
“Parties, perhaps not, but me you’ve certainly refused,” his grin was sharp. The ethereal light of the Labyrinth clung to the Goblin King giving life to his pale features. He may very well have been formed from such things as moonbeams and stardust standing there clad in silver and blue—a winter king stealing into autumn.
Sarah found her voice after a quick glance around the candlelit rooftop, “This doesn’t seem like much of a party, your majesty.”
“It only takes two to tango or waltz…”
“—or duel or argue, of course you could always push me off the roof of the castle and be done with it—”
“Oh, but I’m speaking of dancing,” Jareth took a step closer, extended his hand and gave her a challenging smile that belied his words.
“—if I die in a dream do I die in real life—”
“Sarah, it’s just a dance,” Jareth’s smile faltered, annoyance tugging the corners of his lips downward. Even while irritated he managed to look charming.
“A dance-floor is just another type of battleground for you and me,” Sarah replied, her eyes never leaving his leather-clad hand.
“I promise not to bite,” Jareth said, eyes twinkling.
The thought of his teeth skimming her skin sent shivers up her spine. “It’s not your teeth that I fear, your majesty.”
Obviously tired of her dallying, Jareth stepped forward and easily collected her into a perfect dance stance.
Music floated softly across the rooftop as the Goblin King drew her into a waltz.
Together they moved in dizzying circles. Sarah found herself fascinated by the intricate detail of Jareth’s clothing. Staring at his garments kept her from looking into his face or the blurring night sky beyond. What a pair they made, the Goblin King dressed in such otherworldly finery, and her barefoot in a Bowie t-shirt and jeans.
A smile spread across her face.
“What’s this?” Jareth asked, humor dancing along his words. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“It’s funny. You and Me dancing here like it’s nothing. I’m just a girl asleep on a sofa in a middle-class house on an ordinary street on a regular Friday night. And, you…a fairy prince…”
“—King, my dear—”
“…Fairy King, then. You and I are…”
“—would it be so hard to say we?—”
“We are…”
“—so compatible? Graceful? Brilliant?—”
“I was going to say odd,” Sarah said.
“Odd? How indignant,” Jareth said as he sent her into a twirl.
“Look at us,” Sarah exclaimed, breathless after having been drug back against him.
A graceful eyebrow arched skyward.
“What do you gain from this?” Sarah asked.
“I find you highly entertaining,” Jareth answered.
“I’m not a circus monkey,” Sarah snapped.
“Indeed,” Jareth answered, spinning her out once more. This time Sarah let go of his hand, stumbling slightly.
“Sarah, we are supposed to be enjoying ourselves. Why are you being so difficult? Don’t you want to have a little fun?” Jareth said, exasperated.
“This isn’t fun. It’s just a dream—like the last time you danced with me,” Sarah narrowed her eyes. She was furious with the way her heart beat in her chest, the way her pulse raced. He had no right to affect her so.
“What do you want?” Jareth asked.
“To wake up,” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest and looked out over the goblin city. It too was peaceful and quiet, beautifully bathed in moonlight. Perhaps there was a goblin curfew.
“Fine,” Jareth replied. “Your wish is my command.”
Sarah started to reply, but before she could utter a word she bolted upright on the sofa in her living room. The fire still crackled merrily and the cat slept beside her. The shift was jarring.
“You didn’t let me finish,” she growled dislodging the blanket and the hissing cat all in one angry motion.
The scratching sound of a needle striking a record halted her.
“Well, please continue,” Jareth said coming around the sofa as Cyndi Lauper began to pour from the speakers of the old record player. He handed her a glass of wine and gracefully threw himself onto her couch.
Sarah stared. The fairy king sitting on her sofa was wearing dark jeans and a button up shirt he could have been an off-duty rockstar.
“Hmm,” Sarah sat back down and took a quick sip of her wine. This was most unexpected.
Title: Time after Time
Description: I took the word “Dream” very literally. I did try to incorporate my last dribble into this story so I suppose you can see it as an extension.
The tea was growing cold. Sarah reached for the dainty little china cup and took a long sip before returning it to the saucer on the coffee table. Peppermint and cinnamon, an odd but intriguing combination, cool and spicy. Her thoughts were growing sluggish as the fire crackled. The sofa was so comfortable. Sarah pulled the blanket a little tighter around her and laid a gentle hand on the top of her snoring cat’s belly.
Eye-lids fluttered, Sarah’s head sank to her chest and her breathing grew slow and soft.
With a start she came to her feet but those feet weren’t where they belonged. A barren rooftop beneath a sky full of stars—impossible constellations—surrendered her on every side. Candles, trapped within their towering candelabras, flickered in the chilly wind. It was quiet.
The invitation.
In a frantic blur of motion Sarah searched her person. The blank square, glittering in the starlight, was still tucked into her pocket.
“I was unexpectedly pleased with your response to my little token,” a quicksilver voice purred from behind her.
“I’ve never been one to say no to a party,” Sarah said spinning around to face her host, relieved that she sounded more composed than she actually felt. What a sinister trick he had played.
“Parties, perhaps not, but me you’ve certainly refused,” his grin was sharp. The ethereal light of the Labyrinth clung to the Goblin King giving life to his pale features. He may very well have been formed from such things as moonbeams and stardust standing there clad in silver and blue—a winter king stealing into autumn.
Sarah found her voice after a quick glance around the candlelit rooftop, “This doesn’t seem like much of a party, your majesty.”
“It only takes two to tango or waltz…”
“—or duel or argue, of course you could always push me off the roof of the castle and be done with it—”
“Oh, but I’m speaking of dancing,” Jareth took a step closer, extended his hand and gave her a challenging smile that belied his words.
“—if I die in a dream do I die in real life—”
“Sarah, it’s just a dance,” Jareth’s smile faltered, annoyance tugging the corners of his lips downward. Even while irritated he managed to look charming.
“A dance-floor is just another type of battleground for you and me,” Sarah replied, her eyes never leaving his leather-clad hand.
“I promise not to bite,” Jareth said, eyes twinkling.
The thought of his teeth skimming her skin sent shivers up her spine. “It’s not your teeth that I fear, your majesty.”
Obviously tired of her dallying, Jareth stepped forward and easily collected her into a perfect dance stance.
Music floated softly across the rooftop as the Goblin King drew her into a waltz.
Together they moved in dizzying circles. Sarah found herself fascinated by the intricate detail of Jareth’s clothing. Staring at his garments kept her from looking into his face or the blurring night sky beyond. What a pair they made, the Goblin King dressed in such otherworldly finery, and her barefoot in a Bowie t-shirt and jeans.
A smile spread across her face.
“What’s this?” Jareth asked, humor dancing along his words. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“It’s funny. You and Me dancing here like it’s nothing. I’m just a girl asleep on a sofa in a middle-class house on an ordinary street on a regular Friday night. And, you…a fairy prince…”
“—King, my dear—”
“…Fairy King, then. You and I are…”
“—would it be so hard to say we?—”
“We are…”
“—so compatible? Graceful? Brilliant?—”
“I was going to say odd,” Sarah said.
“Odd? How indignant,” Jareth said as he sent her into a twirl.
“Look at us,” Sarah exclaimed, breathless after having been drug back against him.
A graceful eyebrow arched skyward.
“What do you gain from this?” Sarah asked.
“I find you highly entertaining,” Jareth answered.
“I’m not a circus monkey,” Sarah snapped.
“Indeed,” Jareth answered, spinning her out once more. This time Sarah let go of his hand, stumbling slightly.
“Sarah, we are supposed to be enjoying ourselves. Why are you being so difficult? Don’t you want to have a little fun?” Jareth said, exasperated.
“This isn’t fun. It’s just a dream—like the last time you danced with me,” Sarah narrowed her eyes. She was furious with the way her heart beat in her chest, the way her pulse raced. He had no right to affect her so.
“What do you want?” Jareth asked.
“To wake up,” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest and looked out over the goblin city. It too was peaceful and quiet, beautifully bathed in moonlight. Perhaps there was a goblin curfew.
“Fine,” Jareth replied. “Your wish is my command.”
Sarah started to reply, but before she could utter a word she bolted upright on the sofa in her living room. The fire still crackled merrily and the cat slept beside her. The shift was jarring.
“You didn’t let me finish,” she growled dislodging the blanket and the hissing cat all in one angry motion.
The scratching sound of a needle striking a record halted her.
“Well, please continue,” Jareth said coming around the sofa as Cyndi Lauper began to pour from the speakers of the old record player. He handed her a glass of wine and gracefully threw himself onto her couch.
Sarah stared. The fairy king sitting on her sofa was wearing dark jeans and a button up shirt he could have been an off-duty rockstar.
“Hmm,” Sarah sat back down and took a quick sip of her wine. This was most unexpected.
