| Dominic looked up at Jareth, who hadn�t moved a muscle. �She never told you did she Jareth? What happened that day at work, what made her loose her job? She really is a little slut, aren�t you Michelle? And it was nothing like what you do, Jareth, she was totally willing. More than willing I�d say.� He kissed her again on the cheek, gave Jareth a winning smile, and bit her one more time, making a third wound on her shoulders. She didn�t have the energy to scream again, but cried quietly to herself. Jaden dropped her to the floor and ran. He got out of the window and out into the night before Jareth had even moved. Michelle landed on the floor lightly. Dominic ran to her. He hadn�t understood a word Jaden had said and just wanted to help his mother. Jareth didn�t go to her. He ran to the balcony in search of Jaden. He had gone, and Jareth had no idea where. He strolled back into the room and looked down at Michelle. �Are you going to deny it?� he asked. �No,� she replied. �Daddy, help her!� Dominic was crying and had no idea what to do. He tried to hug her. Jareth looked at him, then back at her. He sighed. �Get the cover off the bed Dominic. We�re going to have to tuck Mummy in tonight.� He lifted her gently off the floor while Dominic moved the cover off the bed. He placed her gently on the bed, and Dominic pulled the covers back over her. He kissed her gently, but she failed to notice. He wasn�t sure whether she was asleep or unconscious. He heeled her wounds easily, and changed her night dress with them, but he realised how much blood she�d lost. He sat with her all night, waiting for her to come round. It didn�t happen that night. Pascal arrived at the castle the next afternoon. She heard what had happened and ran straight up to see Michelle, who was still asleep. Jareth was sitting next to her bed, just watching her. Dominic was lying next to her, cuddling her. Jareth looked up as Pascal walked in. He motioned quietly with his head for her to come closer. �Dom,� he said, �I think Mummy wants you to practice piano. She wouldn�t want you to just sit here doing nothing.� Dominic nodded and got up. He kissed Michelle on the cheek, and wondered out of the room, half-smiling at Pascal, who walked to the other side of the bed to Jareth. �What happened?� she asked. �Jaden,� Jareth said simply. �Bastard!� �What did he do?� �Everything.� Jareth hit the bed with his fists. Pascal thought Michelle flinched but wasn�t sure. �She slept with him, Pascal,� he said. �She wont even give me the time of day half the time, but she�ll sleep with that bastard!� �When?� she asked calmly. �Just before she came here,� he said. �Well, why shouldn�t she have?� �What?!� �Why shouldn�t she have slept with him? It�s not as if she was being unfaithful.� Jareth looked at her angrily. �She can�t do that to me!� he growled. �She doesn�t owe you anything, Jareth.� He looked like he was going to cry. Pascal suddenly felt very sorry for him. Michelle rolled over in her sleep, away from Jareth. Jareth watched her. Then he bent over her slowly, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. �I�ve got things to do,� he said with difficulty, and walked out of the room. Pascal watched him go, then looked back at Michelle. She had tears running down her cheeks. �You can open your eyes now, he�s gone,� said Pascal. Michelle opened her eyes and looked at her, but shut them again. She pulled the covers up over her head. �Why did you sleep with Jaden?� Pascal asked. Michelle didn�t answer. �Jareth will ask you sooner or later, you can�t pretend to sleep forever.� Pascal pulled the covers off of her, and Michelle scowled at her. �Well?� Michelle sighed. �Pascal, I�ve only ever been with two people, Jareth and Jaden. I just�I� I just needed to be close to someone.� �But Jaden?� �Jaden was there. Not just then either. He visited when Dominic was a baby as well.� �You know he only did it to get at Jareth don�t you?� Michelle shook her head. �No,� she said. �There�s more to it than that.� �Tell me,� said Pascal, gently. �I can�t,� said Michelle, more tears forming in her eyes. �I want to, Pascal, but I just� can�t.� Pascal looked upset. �Ok,� she said. Michelle felt awful. �I�m sorry.� �What did you expect to achieve from that?� �Lucretia, calm down, it�s not as if I slept with her.� Jaden was sprawled casually over an armchair, watching Lucretia closely. She was pacing dramatically. �But what about the plan? It�s not going to help is it? If anything, it�s going to slow it down!� �Nonsense, I�ve just maximised the impact.� �How do you figure that? �Lucretia, he absolutely hates me.� Michelle sat up in the bed stroking Dominic�s head. He had fallen asleep leaning on her. She had never been so scared. She had been sure Jaden was going to tell Jareth everything, just as she was beginning to be happy. Then goodness knows what Jareth would have done. She kissed Dominic, and prayed to God to look after him. He was so beautiful. Just like his father, but innocent, kind, human. She loved him more than anything she had ever had. And he was her�s even if he wasn�t Jareth�s. There was a quiet, polite knock at the door. �Come in,� she said quietly. Jareth came in. �I�m glad you�re awake,� he said. Michelle looked down at Dominic again as he walked towards her. He smiled at her quite nicely. �I thought I�d come to see whether you were up for any dinner? You need the energy.� She nodded, and shook Dominic. He woke up and looked quite surprised. �Dinner�s ready,� she said. Dominic nodded and got up. He skipped out of the room, and Jareth held out his hand for Michelle. She took it hesitantly and stood up. He took her gently by the arm and led her down to dinner. |