1. Ten years of memories

Sarah Williams with a sigh tossed an annoyed look at the bathroom mirror, staring at her own reflection with disgust. Her long, dark hair now were tousled and filled with dirt and leaves as reminder of the battle she had endured just a couple of hours ago. She leaned forward and smoothed a few whisps away to reveal an ugly gush across her forehead. Sarah grasped a towel and opened the water to wash the dirt and dried blood off. The next movement was reaching into the first aid kit to search for a bandage. The last thing she needed was to get some infection.

Finishing her medical treatment, Sarah took off her tattered clothes and stepped into the shower, allowing herself to relax under the stream of a hot water. She scrubbed her skin until she was sure that the whole dirt are gone for good. Today had been one of those days she hated and excited at the same time. Every time when she stood up against the darkness she felt an excitement for being able to make the world at least a little bit better and safer. Still it was hard and dangerous task which made her feel like broken every time she returned back home.

Sarah closed her eyes, turning her face against the water and chuckled at herself, thinking of how bizzare her life was from the moment she was born. Only a few people knew the darkest part of her life. Only a few knew that her mother never had been an actress and she never was the one who left the family. It was her husband who decided to divorce when Sarah was only ten years old. He was scared of the life his wife was living and he put up an ultimate - her job or him. Linda Williams choosed the first.

What no one knew - and this fact Sarah always tried to keep to herself - was that she wasn't the only child in family. Actually Sarah had three elder brothers. After their parents divorce they all remained to live with Linda since her husband desperately tried to get a rid of everything that could remind him of a terror of the past. He loved his children and never lost completely contact with them, still they met at first rarely, then those meetings ended at all.

The only exception was ten years ago. Sarah shuddered, thinking back to her family decision to send her across the Atlantic to the other side of the world so she could live with her father and his new family. Sarah hated Karen from the very first moment they met. Not because she tried to be sort of mom to her but mostly because she tried to force her to live a normal life. Sarah knew better than anyone that her life would never be "normal". It never was.

The reason of her family rejection was the same one why her dad left. It was their family secret. Most of humans had no idea of the dark creatures that actually lived around them. Linda Williams was a member of a particular people group that called themselves as "hunters" and spent their lives for fighting against each and every kind of supernatural beings. Mostly the hunters lived a solitary life, sometimes gathering in bigger groups if something serious was going down. From the early youth Sarah's brothers also joined the hunting and now they very often travelled on their own somewhere, seeking and destroying various beings, like demons, evil spirits, werewolves, vampires...

At this particular thought she winced, mimicking the word at herself. The vampire was the turning point of Sarah's life, when her mom and brothers decided that it's too dangerous for their little precious girl to remain so close to the supernatural world. They were trying to keep her away from everything related with hunting, no matter how hard she begged to get involved. In that particular night they all were out, seeking for the bloodsucker and left Sarah alone in motel room. She had read a lot about the vampires and recklessly had decided to go for a hunt alone. Sarah imagined that if she would get the monster all by herself, her family would finally realize that she is an equal hunter to them and eventually allow her to join the team.

Unfortunately she had underestimated her opponent. Her family arrived in time to save her from becoming a meal for one thirsty vampire. When the first shock and joy for happy ending wore, Linda was consumed by anger and dissappointment for her daughter's actions. In the very next day she called Robert and asked for his accept to send Sarah over to live with him, away from danger. Reluctantly he accepted his ex-wife's offer. His new son Toby was about six months old when Sarah moved in. At first Robert kept his eyes close on Sarah, afraid that her past could follow her, but the time went on and nothing happened, and eventually he calmed down.

Sarah sighed and shook her wet hair, turning the water off and stepping out of the shower, wrapping the towel around her. If only her dad knew just how close her past was following her. Linda was terribly wrong thinking that the distance would keep the supernatural away from her daughter.

Sometimes Sarah was wondering how could it happen that she summoned "him" so recklessly after everything she had seen. However she already knew the answer - not everything that came from legends and myths was a real thing. Most part of it was, but still there were some creatures that never had been proved to truly exist. The goblins and faes were one of the kind. If only there had been a slightest hint that proved their existence, even the smallest one, Sarah knew she would never dared to say those fateful words.

She run away from dad only a couple of weeks after her return from the Underground. Anyone who was in a close distance to her was in danger as it already had been with Toby. Even if he was spoiled pain in ass, Sarah cared for him enough to wish him no harm. She called her friends, the sons of her mother's fellow hunter John Winchester. They helped her to return in USA, where she rejoined with her family again. After hearing her story, Linda finally agreed to teach her how to hunt, since it was clear that she would never get away from the world they all were involved into.

Sarah wiped the mirror that had sweated from the steam in her bathroom and turned around, glancing over her shoulder on the back of her neck, smoothing her long hair away to see her own personal fae-proof shield. Three ancient elven symbols were engraved into her skin with a black tattoo ink. After returning back home it was the first thing she did - Sarah spend many days in library and occasionally called Ash - an information well for hunters - to find something that could protect her in future from "his" possible revenge. Finally her effort was granted. She even found a guy who made the tattoos without parents permission, since she was under age. This magic was strong enough to prevent any fae spells that could be aimed at her.

At first Sarah worried that now since she wore this protection she won't be able to see her friends, however her worries were in vain. Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus still came to see her every time she called them through the mirror. Actually they were the only ones who knew everything about her, including what she was doing. In a days like this she usually sat down in her bedroom in a front of mirror and called them to spend a while in their company and relieve in knownledge that among all darkness of supernatural world there still was something good in it.

Yes, at any other night she would definitely called her friends over. But not tonight. This was one special night, meant for memories and... well, not exactly celebration but most certainly for contemplation.

Sarah dried herself and wrapped her hair in towel, slipping into her nightgown and warm robe before exiting the bathroom and switching the light off. She crossed the hallway and opened her bedroom door. Not bothering to turn the light on, she blindly made her way to the bed and fell on it, curling up in ball. She enjoyed the silence and peace her small house always prevented after a hard day. The protection signs and symbols were hanging around all over the house, above each doorway on the ceiling were "devil's trap" (special circles with pentacle and various symbols that could imprison every hell creature within), rock salt lines stretched at each and every door and window, thus making this place a safe haven from any non-human being.

The full moon light sneaked into her room through the half opened curtains, enlighting some object on her nightstand. Sarah varily smiled at the sight of a statue which stood there like a reminder of the hope she received ten years ago. She rolled over her bed and lit a candle next to the statue as she did every year in this special day. She let her eyes to travel across the figure taking in its every detail and allowing her mind to sink into the memories of past until the sleep claimed her.

Tonight she dreamed of "him".

Somewhere into the Underground, into the Realm of the Labyrinth, a dark shadow slowly moved around the passages of a giant maze which surrounded the Goblin city with the enormous white castle in its centre. Even those who had seen this shadow daily could hardly recognize the ruler of this realm. With each passing minute he looked worse as if close to dying. He barely slept lately and didn't bothered much about eating. It always happened to him when this day was about to come. Tonight he once again had escaped from his own castle to suffer alone in the anniversary of his devastation.

How pitiful that the reason of his pain and inner destruction was a human girl, merely child at the time. He thought that after some time his anguish would cease and so it was... except for the one particular day that inevitably came at each year to fill his memory with the sight of her innocently green eyes and rosy lips that practically begged to be kissed. He tormented himself with the memories of how he tried to convince her to stay by his side forever and how coldly her eyes pierced him when she said those six fateful words and banished him from her world.

Jareth reached the forest and collapsed down on the ground, unable to walk any further. Normally he used his owl form to travel across his Labyrinth, but not tonight. He felt like moving around in a human way by walking would bring him closer to her world. It was exhausting but he didn't care. The silence enclosed him and soothed his aching heart. Jareth leaned his head against the tree and stared in nowhere for a while, then he lifted his hand to do something he hadn't done for a ten years. He produced one of his crystals and looked into it.

"Show me Sarah," he whispered.

The crystal went hazy for a moment, then cleared. Jareth gasped from the sight that revealed in front of his eyes. His Sarah stood in a small room which looked like a bathroom as far as he could tell by her surroundings. But it was her appearance that caused his breath to caught in his throat. She looked like she had made a run through the forest and fell a lot. Her clothes were filthy and tattered, her hair was a mess, then she smoothed them off her forehead and revealed bloody and dirty wound. Jareth gritted his teeth. She was injured, someone had hurt her and he could do nothing about it unless she called his name. That was the only way how he could enter her life again since he had no power over her.

He silently watched how she took care of her wound, but when she start to undress he turned his gaze away no matter how tempting would be seeing her marvelous body. He made the image disappear and closed his eyes while an opposite feelings were warring within himself. He knew he should feel satisfaction by seeing her pain, but at the same time he didn't wanted her to get hurt by anyone else but him. She was the reason of his devastation and she had to become the source of his renewal.

When Goblin king's eyes snapped open, there was no slightest hint of previous anguish and pain. The fire burned into them with a new force and resolution when Jareth stood up and in a matter of seconds transformed into his owl form to fly back to the castle. His mind already was musing about various possibilities while he stormed across the skies.

After a few minutes he reached the castle and flew into his chambers, changing into his human shape. In a surge of destructive energy he tore his shirt off as if it burned his skin and growled in impatience, kicking his boots off. Finally getting rid of all pieces of clothing he leaned against the bedpost and sighed.

The days of suffering were over. He had been generous enough to give her ten years to grow up and mature. Now it was time for her to pay for his generousity.

Sarah had dozed only an hour when she woke up from a persistant phone call. She jerked up but a sharp headache forced her to fall back with a groan. Blindly reaching for her cell phone, Sarah finally answered.

"Sarah, it's Bobby," she heard familiar old man's voice. "I'm just checking on you. How's your head today?"

Sarah groaned again. Bobby was her mother's best friend and fellow hunter, probably one of the best and more experienced than any other she knew. Last night they hunted together, taking down one vampire coven. The wound on her head she got when pushed Bobby aside to save him from attack taking the blow upon herself. No wonder he was calling her in such late hour, risking to hear everything she thought of him and such wake-up call.

"My head is fine, thank you very much," Sarah sat up and pulled the blanked around herself. "Just a scratch, nothing serious."

"You know your mom will rip my head off if she finds out, so you better don't pretend to be unnecessarily brave, young lady!"

"Please! Don't tell me you're afraid of my mom!" Sarah chuckled, leaning back into her pillows and closing her eyes. "Besides, she's in L.A. as I last heard of her. Still trying to trace that cursed chest, remember? So, if we both keep out mouths shut, she'll never know."

"Well, your brothers are a good reason to worry at this point. I was supposed to keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe and sound. When it comes to you, Linda is even more protective than Elen."

Sarah rolled her eyes. Elen owned a bar where the hunters occasionally gathered together to have a drink and discuss latest events. Her daughter Joe was in Sarah's age and eager to join the hunters thus following her father's steps, but since his death Elen was categorically against it. However Bobby was right, and Sarah knew that neither Elen, nor anyone else was a match for Linda, when it came to her family's safety. But Sarah couldn't force herself to worry about that right now. The night wasn't over yet.

"Bobby, I can assure you I'm absolutely fine. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to sleep some more, okay?" Sarah yawned. "See you later."

Not waiting for Bobby's response, she ended the connection and switched the phone completely off to not be disturbed by anyone else. This night belonged to her alone. The candle had burned to the half, dripping vax on her nightstand. Sarah unwrapped the towel from her hair, shook them across her shoulders and curled up again, this time under the blanket, her gaze still locked with the statue of the Goblin king.

She had read a lot about faes and their Underground realms to know that she can never pronounce his name again or else he would be able to return. At some point she feared it and kept her thoughts in control, always referring to him as the "Goblin king", since mentioning his title could do no harm. However some other part of her longed to see him again.

Sarah knew it wasn't right to wish for it. Even ten years ago she wasn't that naive to not realize what he was offering to her. Toby was safe back home the moment she stepped into his castle. It was her task - to reach the castle beyond the Goblin city. The final confrontation was meant to achieve her own freedom. And although she knew she did the right choice, deep in her heart she always had regretted it.

Before drifting back in sleep Sarah wondered if the Goblin king still remember her and if he hates her much after the choices she made.

Jareth couldn't sleep. His thoughts again and again returned to Sarah. He had to find a way to get her into his grasp. He spent ten years in waiting for her to pronounce his name thus allowing him to return. For ten years he had hoped that maybe her feelings would change as the years passed by, still until now Sarah were remained silent. Now his patience was over. Once he couldn't reach for her love, he shall find the strength into her pain.

The only question was - how exactly get what he wanted. Jareth considered an idea of using her friends to force Sarah to say the needed words. If only he was right about her, she would be ready to do anything to save those she loved. It would be enough to enthreaten a little bit any of her friends - most likely Hoggle, with whom she had the closest friendship - to make Sarah rush for help immediately. Of course, Jareth had no intend to do any serious harm, just frighten them a bit. His general plan was to get Sarah back into the Underground, not to kill his subjects.

But what should he do after gaining his wish? How to break her steely resolve and force of will? That was the one question which caused the biggest headaches for Jareth at the moment, because he knew from his own experience that it's not easy. Maybe he should give her impossibly hard tasks, something even more difficult than the Labyrinth to seemingly save Hoggle? Or should he try to seduce her and then after gaining her response feelings banish her from the Underground just as cruel as she did to him? Each one possibility was tempting and promised one good entertainment for a long while.

When someone eagerly knocked at the door, Jareth was still in lack of sleep. He used his magic to conjure his clothes back on before opening the door to meet unexpected intruder. It was small goblin who deeply bowed in front of his master before handing him small scroll.

"What is that?" Jareth asked, taking the scroll and then he froze seeing the seal. "From whom is it?"

"The High King Oberon, your highness," the goblin squeaked, slowly retreating.

With a wave of hand Jareth dismissed him and closed the door again to carefully examine the scroll. It's been a while since he got a message from his father, but it had to be something important if he sent a note in the middle of night.

After a bit of hesitation Jareth broke the seal and carefully read the elegant scrypt.

``My son Jareth,

With a deep regret I must tell You the bad and dreadful news. The word in the Underground had spread about Your brother, Lord Aiven. His powers had increased with enormous size. Those who had witnessed these changes are talking about some dark shadow that are not from our world. Several fae already had lost their lives when crossed Your brother's path. He's been occasionally visiting the Aboveground and terrorizing the mortals. He must be stopped. Your mother and I shall visit Your realm soon to discuss the measures we must take. Await us in the thirteenth hour from the moment You receive my letter.

Regards,
The High King Oberon.``

Jareth frowned in perplexity, then read the note over and over again. It had been about two hundred years since he last had seen Aiven. There was no hate between them or fight for the power, as it happens occasionally with those who had been born in royal families. They each had their kingdoms in a solid distance from each other so there won't be any misunderstandings for territory and each time they met, both brothers felt the joy for seeing each other and respect.

The idea of Aiven torturing mortals seemed almost unbelievable. Oberon always taught his sons that it's not allowed to interfere human lives unless they're being invited as it happened when someone wished for the goblins to take the child away, in a such way inviting Jareth into their lives. The faes were higher race than humans, besides their immortality allowed to gather the knownledge from the centuries. Oberon esteemed that it's not right to harm someone who had neither magic, nor brain power. For faes the humans were a weak, insignificant race, an absolutely unprotected beings against the power of magic. Both Jareth and Aiven always had followed their father's advice and listened his lessons, so his brother's latest actions seemed to Jareth like an incredible nightmare.

He glanced at the clock. After nearly thirteen hours Oberon shall arrive and hopefully explain something more. Jareth created another crystal to summon few goblins and give them the task to prepare the rooms for his parents visit. The sleep was gone for good now.

Before going to the throne hall, Jareth's thoughts for one more moment lingered to Sarah. His plans should wait for a while until the situation with Aiven is solved, still it didn't held him back from enjoying the possibilities which promised the nearest future. After all he had all eternity and ability to alter the time to force Sarah to pay for her wrongdoing in past.