278 Please Do Not Open, Thanks!

Her soft cool voice called his name in a low whisper but his sensitive ears heard it.

At the mention of his name, Jareth finally left Clive and looked up. It was that moment that he noticed several eyes where zoned out on him.

Everyone was surprised to see the new duel that was happening without a formal and proper notice. What was even more shocking being the fact that their leader was mercilessly beaten and they knew not why.

Leaving Clive, Jareth walked back to where Astrid stood at the side of the house and pulled her away with him.

Immediately he left, several guards rushed up to where their leader laid on the ground and quickly put Clive on a stretcher to take him to the infirmary.

Up until now, Snow was still in his slightly big form due to the rage he was feeling. It was not until he saw his master safe in the arms of her lover that he finally relaxed and let it all go.

"Master, I am sorry."

"Snow," Astrid called out via their mind link.

"Master, woohoo…"

Hearing her mystical beast sob, broke Astrid's heart further. "Hey, baby. Shh, it is okay now. I am fine. I am happy you both are okay. Do not cry, master is alright now, okay?"

"I am sorry for being late. If I had not left you, then that animal would not have the guts to come near you."

"Too late for regrets now. If there is anything, Snow, I am sorry for pushing you away and making you go to play when you did not want to."

"Master," Snow was about complaining and all when Astrid interrupted him.

"I saw what they did to you. The endless tickling just so that they could prevent you for coming to my aid when he attacked. I am sorry, Snow. So sorry."

"Stop it, master. Your pain is my pain, your sorrow, my sorrow and your suffering is mine as well. Why didn't you use your powers rather than allow that animal to touch you master? The last time such a thing happened, you broke loose on them, so why now, did you stop?"

"The warning your mother and yourself gave me during the previous duel, for me not to have a power surge. Since I did not know where you both where, I could not risk doing anything of that such. So I tried my best to control it and wait for you both to come."

"Next time master, do not hold back against scumbags like him. What if we couldn't come, would you have let him have his way with you?"

"No, I was already at my limit and about to let my powers take control when Jareth came."

"It is okay, master. Let's not talk about it again for now, at least. Go with Jareth. I would be there soon."

"Stay out of danger, Snow."

"I will, master."

Snow turned his head to look at the villagers who still stood at the scene. 'Don't you all have something better to do?' Snow thought to himself as the memory of what they did to him came rushing back, making him to become angrier than before.

They did not need an invitation or a reminder after that to take to their heels and run away.

In no time, Jareth brought Astrid to one of the free houses where he normally lurked in during those nights when he was away from her.

He directed her to sit on the bed and went to get a blanket to cover her up. After wrapping her in it to shield her from the cold, he stood back up, ready to leave the room when Astrid held his hand, preventing him from leaving.

In as much as he did not want to leave her alone, he still found it hard to stay with her. His mind and instincts were kicking against him to leave but he wanted to stray.

He knew the longer he stayed the more the guilt would overshadow him. All he wanted at that moment was to just escape, even if it was just for a little while so he could calm himself down.

He hated to see her cry. He hated to let her see him in his rage, he felt it would scare her but up till that moment, Astrid showed no sign of fear towards him.

"Don't go. Do not leave me alone again."

Hearing her plea left Jareth weak and his resolve, broken.

'How can she want to still be with me after seeing what I did? Shouldn't she be sacred of me/' Jareth thought to himself.

No matter how much he tries to see it, it just did not play well or sit right with him.

He knew he had hurt her times without number, still she wanted him. He was truly not deserving of being with her.

She was just too good, too pure, too innocent and too loving. This world did not deserve a pure soul like her.

Jareth turned around and held her hand, before sitting on the bed beside her.

"Hey, look at me.' Astrid obeyed and looked him in the eyes. His green eyes shone with a glimmer and at the same time had a sad hue in it.

Astrid knew he was in pain, pain from all that had happened and till now he did not want to open up to her.

"Good girl. You are safe now, I won't leave you alone again. I am so sorry about everything that happened today, right from my outburst, my lashing out on you and walking away and letting that vile man lay a finger on your skin."

"Jareth, as long as you survived, I am happy. I only wish you would stop locking me out."

"I wish that too."

"Then what is keeping you from doing so? Let me be here for you as you have been here for me."

"It is complicated, Astrid. I do not want to drag you into my messed up life."

"I…"

"Shh, it's okay. This kind of incident would never repeat itself as long as I live."