Author's Notes: This story does NOT revolve around Jareth or Sarah, though
they do
make appearances. I know, as far as the original story goes, I've taken some liberties in making changes. There are, however, parallels with the original. This story mainly focuses on the child of Jareth and Sarah, King Adrian, and his quest to win the headstrong Jayna Grayson.
Chapter One: Jayna's Book
Jayna Grayson allowed a strand of auburn hair to fall over her forehead as frustration coursed through her blood. The look of sheer fury in her slanted, cattish emerald eyes was enough to level the spirit of most, however it did nothing against her current opponent.
Her video camera lay on the table in front of her, just a box of parts, really, but it was a box that caused her endless frustration. Something about the allure of film, the allure of capturing the true essence of things on film, preserving it, seeing it, spoke to her.
Now, her major inspiration in life lay useless before her, the block in her creativity eating at her very soul. She used to have the "fire" the "spark" that drove her to create.
The "spark" was gone from her life. Reality had taken over, leaving her fantasies sadly broken along the way.
Jayna was dressed in black: calf high boots, a long, velvet skirt, and a top of the same material. It was a sedate, depressing ensemble for a sedate, depressing occasion.
The depression should have lessened some by this time, Jayna thought sadly as she rose from the table, to the room where her nine-year-old sister lay sleeping peacefully in her room. The girl's steady breathing was a point of envy for Jayna. She hadn't slept a full night in literally months.
She hadn't slept since her mother had left her, leaving Jayna with the responsibility of a nine-year-old girl.
Jayna's father had left her money enough-there were no financial woes, and plenty of money for both Jayna and Eliza to attend college. Jayna was able to go to school by day, care for her sister by night; outside of her classes and her home, Jayna had nothing, no friends or social life to speak of.
It wasn't really the life of a typical nineteen year old, but it was what she had. The little girl's peace of mind was definitely a point of envy for Jayna. Eliza had no bills to pay, no thesis to write. Eliza didn't know the agony Jayna felt when she wasn't creating, filming, writing, and doing something.
Leaving Eliza to her rest, Jayna padded into the living room, sinking into the lush leather sofa in front of a large picture window. Outside, the moon shone brightly, gracing the trees with silver tips. Fireflies lit the world. It was magic.
At times during her life, Jayna would have leapt at the chance to film such magic, such beauty. Now, however, she felt nothing.
Her slender, manicured hands reached forward and slowly flipped the lights, flooding the room with a soft yellow glow. It was already after midnight, but Jayna wanted nothing more than to settle down and read her a book, take her mind off the horrors of the day.
Again, hands wondered down the bookcase, gracing the spines with light touches before settling on a worn manual. It was a lovely, leather- bound book, with the word "Labyrinth" inscribed in bold script on the cover. No author's name was listed.
Jayna's green eyes lit with interest. A fairy tale.there was something she hadn't read in a while. Something fanciful with princesses and monsters and quests. Things Jayna had given up on a long time ago. Fantasy died in the face of reality.
It wouldn't hurt, however, for her world-weary mind to indulge in a happier tale, one that ended with the heroine and hero wrapped in an embrace of love. She opened the book and read the pages, quickly engrossed in the story.
The heroine was called Sarah, and she had wished away her baby brother because he was troublesome. The Goblin King, who loved Sarah, did indeed, come for the child.
Jayna smirked, Sarah should have remembered the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."
The story went on. Sarah had to master the Labyrinth in order to save her brother. She took on the quest with the help of creatures with names like Hoggle and Ludo.
Jayna closed the book, sighing sadly. Fairy tales were lost on her. The story of Sarah and the Goblin King was fanciful, beautiful, and not at all feasible.
Shaking her head slightly, Jayna curled onto the sofa, bringing her knees tightly to her chest, resting the mop of auburn hair on the arm.
Maybe her own life would be easier if someone spirited Eliza away, she thought with a slightly sarcastic smirk.
"I wish the goblins would come take this child away, right now," she muttered with a tumbling shake of auburn waves. "Like that would actually work."
Jayna didn't hear the harsh whisper of laughter, or see the strange animal outside her window, watching her.
The sound of a loud crash awoke Jayna from her haze of thought. She sat up slowly, the sinews and bones cracking from her awkward position.
Jayna froze, her body tensing like a cat looking for prey. Her hand whipped out, reaching for a broom as she slowly slinked into the room.
"Eliza?" she heard herself say softly, a quavering edge on her words. "Eliza?"
There was nothing in the room, save the sound of her breathing and the overwhelming suffocation of darkness all around her. Involuntarily, she shuddered.
"Look, I don't know who is here, or who you think you are for that matter, however, I do know that if you don't show your face, you will regret it."
"Yes," a voice said softly behind her. "I'm sure you and that broom are a lethal combination, dear Jayna."
Jayna whirled around, shaking the voice from her ear. Prickly goose bumps appeared on her skin as she stared into the dark shadow before her.
"What have you done with my sister? I suggest you let her go."
"But, I thought you wanted rid of the child," his voice held mock horror at her words, his eyes, burning blue in the darkness burning into her.
"I don't believe in that sort of thing. It's all a fairy tale. Who are you?"
The voice approached her, placing a cool hand on her shoulder in an almost affectionate manner. Jayna remained frozen in place, her breath shallow and rapid. She felt the hot brush of air against her ear as he leaned closer, in a slight, soft whisper. "It is a fairy tale, my dear, that holds you now. I am Adrian, son of Jareth, and King of the Goblins."
For all her resilience, and her strength of spirit, Jayna burst into a light, airy peal of laughter. "Sure. Seriously, we don't have any valuables in the house, sir. I suggest you try next door. Maybe crazy Ms. Johnson will believe you."
Adrian scoffed softly in her ear, flipping the light on in one easy motion to reveal himself to Jayna. "Darling, it is not Ms. Johnson I desire. It is you, you with your strength and courage. It must take much, I'd assume, to face your world alone and young as you do. Tell me, do you cry over it often? Does it break your heart? It breaks mine, Jayna."
Jayna, slowly taking in the wavy coif of ebony hair, and the intense gaze of cerulean blue, could hardly speak. "I-I don't cry at all, sir."
Adrian offered her nothing more than an idle smirk, his eyes glittering possessively over Jayna's lush form. "I didn't expect you would, Jayna, but I know it isn't without its effects. Tell me, dear, when did you last wear something other than this somber black?"
Her eyes lowered slightly, now staring deeply into the floor as the tall man circled about her. His every motion, even his very appearance- loose white blouse, falling over his fine, unmarred skin, black pants and boots-bleed of the intrigue he possessed.
Jayna finally raised her gaze to him, the blue of his sky meeting the grass of her emerald eyes. "What exactly do you want, Adrian? If you want me to cry for you, you won't see that. All I want is my sister Eliza back here, with me."
Smirking slightly, Adrian reached forward and toyed with a few strands of her russet silken hair. "It isn't that easy. I'm not going to allow you to run the Labyrinth, you know, dear Jayna, you read the book. No, you are a grown woman, far too old to run the maze. If you want your sister back, you will simply have to trade your freedom for hers. Of course, you can earn yours again, as well, if you solve the three riddles of my castle and resist the temptations I will set forth for you on a daily basis."
Jayna paled. Yes, she was an adult, a "grown woman", but she was innocent in the ways of men and women. This King's knowing glance was disconcerting. It was as if he not only saw her, he knew her with one look of those entrancing blue orbs.
He smiled, taking her hand lightly in his, softly caressing the warm flesh with his cold hands. Feeling ill, Jayna turned away as she nodded her head, unable to speak. Adrian smiled, his sensual lips curling in a sinister grin.
"It will at least be a fun journey, Jayna. Come, we are leaving now."
Jayna drew in a deep, shuddering breath as she felt her reality slowly giving way to a dreadful fantasy.
make appearances. I know, as far as the original story goes, I've taken some liberties in making changes. There are, however, parallels with the original. This story mainly focuses on the child of Jareth and Sarah, King Adrian, and his quest to win the headstrong Jayna Grayson.
Chapter One: Jayna's Book
Jayna Grayson allowed a strand of auburn hair to fall over her forehead as frustration coursed through her blood. The look of sheer fury in her slanted, cattish emerald eyes was enough to level the spirit of most, however it did nothing against her current opponent.
Her video camera lay on the table in front of her, just a box of parts, really, but it was a box that caused her endless frustration. Something about the allure of film, the allure of capturing the true essence of things on film, preserving it, seeing it, spoke to her.
Now, her major inspiration in life lay useless before her, the block in her creativity eating at her very soul. She used to have the "fire" the "spark" that drove her to create.
The "spark" was gone from her life. Reality had taken over, leaving her fantasies sadly broken along the way.
Jayna was dressed in black: calf high boots, a long, velvet skirt, and a top of the same material. It was a sedate, depressing ensemble for a sedate, depressing occasion.
The depression should have lessened some by this time, Jayna thought sadly as she rose from the table, to the room where her nine-year-old sister lay sleeping peacefully in her room. The girl's steady breathing was a point of envy for Jayna. She hadn't slept a full night in literally months.
She hadn't slept since her mother had left her, leaving Jayna with the responsibility of a nine-year-old girl.
Jayna's father had left her money enough-there were no financial woes, and plenty of money for both Jayna and Eliza to attend college. Jayna was able to go to school by day, care for her sister by night; outside of her classes and her home, Jayna had nothing, no friends or social life to speak of.
It wasn't really the life of a typical nineteen year old, but it was what she had. The little girl's peace of mind was definitely a point of envy for Jayna. Eliza had no bills to pay, no thesis to write. Eliza didn't know the agony Jayna felt when she wasn't creating, filming, writing, and doing something.
Leaving Eliza to her rest, Jayna padded into the living room, sinking into the lush leather sofa in front of a large picture window. Outside, the moon shone brightly, gracing the trees with silver tips. Fireflies lit the world. It was magic.
At times during her life, Jayna would have leapt at the chance to film such magic, such beauty. Now, however, she felt nothing.
Her slender, manicured hands reached forward and slowly flipped the lights, flooding the room with a soft yellow glow. It was already after midnight, but Jayna wanted nothing more than to settle down and read her a book, take her mind off the horrors of the day.
Again, hands wondered down the bookcase, gracing the spines with light touches before settling on a worn manual. It was a lovely, leather- bound book, with the word "Labyrinth" inscribed in bold script on the cover. No author's name was listed.
Jayna's green eyes lit with interest. A fairy tale.there was something she hadn't read in a while. Something fanciful with princesses and monsters and quests. Things Jayna had given up on a long time ago. Fantasy died in the face of reality.
It wouldn't hurt, however, for her world-weary mind to indulge in a happier tale, one that ended with the heroine and hero wrapped in an embrace of love. She opened the book and read the pages, quickly engrossed in the story.
The heroine was called Sarah, and she had wished away her baby brother because he was troublesome. The Goblin King, who loved Sarah, did indeed, come for the child.
Jayna smirked, Sarah should have remembered the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."
The story went on. Sarah had to master the Labyrinth in order to save her brother. She took on the quest with the help of creatures with names like Hoggle and Ludo.
Jayna closed the book, sighing sadly. Fairy tales were lost on her. The story of Sarah and the Goblin King was fanciful, beautiful, and not at all feasible.
Shaking her head slightly, Jayna curled onto the sofa, bringing her knees tightly to her chest, resting the mop of auburn hair on the arm.
Maybe her own life would be easier if someone spirited Eliza away, she thought with a slightly sarcastic smirk.
"I wish the goblins would come take this child away, right now," she muttered with a tumbling shake of auburn waves. "Like that would actually work."
Jayna didn't hear the harsh whisper of laughter, or see the strange animal outside her window, watching her.
The sound of a loud crash awoke Jayna from her haze of thought. She sat up slowly, the sinews and bones cracking from her awkward position.
Jayna froze, her body tensing like a cat looking for prey. Her hand whipped out, reaching for a broom as she slowly slinked into the room.
"Eliza?" she heard herself say softly, a quavering edge on her words. "Eliza?"
There was nothing in the room, save the sound of her breathing and the overwhelming suffocation of darkness all around her. Involuntarily, she shuddered.
"Look, I don't know who is here, or who you think you are for that matter, however, I do know that if you don't show your face, you will regret it."
"Yes," a voice said softly behind her. "I'm sure you and that broom are a lethal combination, dear Jayna."
Jayna whirled around, shaking the voice from her ear. Prickly goose bumps appeared on her skin as she stared into the dark shadow before her.
"What have you done with my sister? I suggest you let her go."
"But, I thought you wanted rid of the child," his voice held mock horror at her words, his eyes, burning blue in the darkness burning into her.
"I don't believe in that sort of thing. It's all a fairy tale. Who are you?"
The voice approached her, placing a cool hand on her shoulder in an almost affectionate manner. Jayna remained frozen in place, her breath shallow and rapid. She felt the hot brush of air against her ear as he leaned closer, in a slight, soft whisper. "It is a fairy tale, my dear, that holds you now. I am Adrian, son of Jareth, and King of the Goblins."
For all her resilience, and her strength of spirit, Jayna burst into a light, airy peal of laughter. "Sure. Seriously, we don't have any valuables in the house, sir. I suggest you try next door. Maybe crazy Ms. Johnson will believe you."
Adrian scoffed softly in her ear, flipping the light on in one easy motion to reveal himself to Jayna. "Darling, it is not Ms. Johnson I desire. It is you, you with your strength and courage. It must take much, I'd assume, to face your world alone and young as you do. Tell me, do you cry over it often? Does it break your heart? It breaks mine, Jayna."
Jayna, slowly taking in the wavy coif of ebony hair, and the intense gaze of cerulean blue, could hardly speak. "I-I don't cry at all, sir."
Adrian offered her nothing more than an idle smirk, his eyes glittering possessively over Jayna's lush form. "I didn't expect you would, Jayna, but I know it isn't without its effects. Tell me, dear, when did you last wear something other than this somber black?"
Her eyes lowered slightly, now staring deeply into the floor as the tall man circled about her. His every motion, even his very appearance- loose white blouse, falling over his fine, unmarred skin, black pants and boots-bleed of the intrigue he possessed.
Jayna finally raised her gaze to him, the blue of his sky meeting the grass of her emerald eyes. "What exactly do you want, Adrian? If you want me to cry for you, you won't see that. All I want is my sister Eliza back here, with me."
Smirking slightly, Adrian reached forward and toyed with a few strands of her russet silken hair. "It isn't that easy. I'm not going to allow you to run the Labyrinth, you know, dear Jayna, you read the book. No, you are a grown woman, far too old to run the maze. If you want your sister back, you will simply have to trade your freedom for hers. Of course, you can earn yours again, as well, if you solve the three riddles of my castle and resist the temptations I will set forth for you on a daily basis."
Jayna paled. Yes, she was an adult, a "grown woman", but she was innocent in the ways of men and women. This King's knowing glance was disconcerting. It was as if he not only saw her, he knew her with one look of those entrancing blue orbs.
He smiled, taking her hand lightly in his, softly caressing the warm flesh with his cold hands. Feeling ill, Jayna turned away as she nodded her head, unable to speak. Adrian smiled, his sensual lips curling in a sinister grin.
"It will at least be a fun journey, Jayna. Come, we are leaving now."
Jayna drew in a deep, shuddering breath as she felt her reality slowly giving way to a dreadful fantasy.