CHAPTER ONE

Taken

'What about this one, Your Majesty?' The old dwarf, Fenwick, suggested, pushing a piece of parchment across the desk to the High King. 'Henrietta comes from a good family, one of the best in the Goblin Realm, and she's young enough to produce several heirs.'

Dart picked up the parchment, studied it and then scowled. 'She's a bit large, isn't she?

'In the matchmaking trade, we like to call it Junoesque.'

'You can call it whatever you want,' Dart retorted. 'It doesn't change the fact that she's three times my size. Besides,' he muttered, tossing the parchment at the dwarf, 'she looks like a giggler. I can't abide gigglers.'

Fenwick was not daunted. A good matchmaker always had more than one candidate up his sleeve. He rolled up the parchment of Henrietta, placed it carefully in his satchel before removing another parchment, which he spread out before the king.

'Then what about Lady Frances? She's a much more pleasing size, eh?'

Dart barely gave the lady a glance. 'She looks like a schoolmarm.'

'We've been going through these candidates for over an hour,' the dwarf pointed out, his patience wearing thin. 'If you'll forgive me for saying so, Your Majesty is not cooperating. What does it matter what she looks like as long as she produces an heir?'

Yes, Dart wondered, what did it matter? It wasn't as if he hadn't been through this before. Aida had been selected for him by his father. She'd been pretty enough, but that was about all he could say for her. Her conversational skills were minimal, and it had been like bedding an icicle. He had kept his visits to her bedchamber as brief and as rare as possible. Perhaps that was why there'd been no heir before she'd been killed by that arrow while hunting jackalope.

He hadn't felt a great deal of grief at her death. On the contrary, he had actually felt relieved. His father had faded since the marriage, making it possible for him to choose his own fate, and he'd been more than content to let little brother ascend the High King throne when the time came. Let him provide an heir. But now that was impossible.

His expression darkened at the thought of his blasted brother. It was all his bloody fault that Dart now had to find a queen. If he hadn't fallen in love with that human, thrown away his Kingdom and settled in the Aboveground, none of this matchmaking business would be necessary. If he had to fall in love, why couldn't it have been with one of the local girls? Why a detestable human?

'Your Majesty,' Fenwick cried, 'you're crinkling Lady Frances.'

Dart glanced down. His gloved fingers were clenched around Lady Frances bird-like neck. He immediately loosened his grip, and Fenwick rescued the lady, giving him a disgusted glance as he hurriedly rolled up the parchment before any more atrocities could happen to his stock.

'Are there any more?' Dart asked.

'You've seen all I have,' Fenwick retorted. 'Perhaps Your Majesty just doesn't want a wife.'

The dwarf was right. One had been more than enough. Dart had hoped to live out the rest of his days hunting for that elusive jackalope, placing bets at the pooka races and playing fizzbin at the local pub. He had not considered setting up a nursery.

'Come back next week and I'll have another look at them,' he told the dwarf.

'Very well,' Fenwick said with a sniff as he slung his satchel over his hunched shoulder. 'But if I may be so bold, Your Majesty isn't getting any younger. If you don't choose another wife soon, it'll be too late, and the Goblin Realm will have no heir. What will the goblins do without a king?'

Before Dart could threaten him with the bog for such insolence, the dwarf turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, every whisker in his long, grey beard bristling with righteous indignation. He'd been the royal matchmaker for two centuries, and he was not pleased to have his stock rejected for such things as giggling, buck teeth or a squint. All his candidates had excellent bloodlines and came from the best families. It was obvious to him that the High King was simply looking for any excuse not to marry.

Dart leaned back in his chair, glad to see the dwarf and his stock depart. How uncomfortable his life had become since Jareth's departure. Not only did he have the unpleasant task of finding a new wife, he also had to perform all the duties of Goblin King. He really must look at getting a replacement, but how? It wasn't something he could advertise for. To be honest, that position had never been vacant. No previous Goblin King had abdicated or been stripped of his Kingdom. Leave it to Jareth to set a new standard.

And for what, he silently demanded. For a woman? No woman was worth such sacrifice, even one as exceptional as Sarah Williams. Dart's lips twitched as he remembered his confrontation with her. She'd been magnificent, standing toe to toe with him, ordering him to reverse the 'transfer' spell. No wonder Jareth had been captivated by her. Of course, the glossy dark hair, green eyes and shapely body hadn't hurt, but he suspected it had been her spirit, her independence that had won Jareth's heart. He loved her for the very thing that he could not control.

Maybe if he could find a woman like this human…Dart shot to his feet. He was not interested in following that train of thought. It was dangerous. It's what got Jareth into trouble and Dart had no intention of following that example. He had too many responsibilities.

He lifted his hand to ring for his valet but stopped as an all too familiar tingling swept over him. Oh, bloody hell, not again! What was he? A bloody Jack in the Box to these people? Rage filled him as he heard the dreaded words.

Goblin King, Goblin King, wherever you may be, take this Goblin King far away from me!

The voice was as clear as if the speaker was standing beside him, and he could not resist its summons. No one in the Aboveground was supposed to know those words, but as always, Jareth had been careless. He had made two humans privy to one of the most powerful phrases in the Goblin Realm, and now, Dart was forced to heed its summons. Like a dog obeying a bloody whistle, he thought as he disappeared in a shimmer of light.

He reappeared in Jareth's living room. It was empty except for a boy. He looked closer, recognizing him as the boy he'd turned into a goblin, the screamer.

'Hey, you're the dude with the cape,' the boy said.

Dart glared down him. 'Why have you called me?'

'You heard what I said,' the boy retorted. 'I want you to take the Goblin King away. It's what you dudes do, don't you? Take things?'

'I'm assuming that you're referring to Jareth.'

The boy frowned. 'Sure, I'm talking about Jareth. He's the Goblin King, ain't he?'

'He was.'

'Then take him away.'

'Why?'

'You mean I have to give a reason too?'

'It's part of the procedure, yes,' Dart lied.

There were no procedures involved in fulfilling a request. Goblin Kings merely took what they were told to take, but the screamer didn't know that, and Dart was curious. Jareth had made an enemy, cunning and resourceful enemy apparently, and he wanted to know the reason why. Of course, it might have something to do with that little incident in the study, but Dart suspected that it originated in more selfish motives.

'He doesn't belong here,' the boy declared, his voice full of resentment. 'He's not human. He's,' he waved a hand at Dart, 'he's whatever you are, an alien or monster or something, and I don't want him marrying my sister.'

The only truth in that statement, Dart decided, was that he didn't want Jareth marrying Sarah. It had nothing to do with not being human. If Jareth married Sarah, then he would be a permanent resident in the boy's home and life. Jareth would not put up with any shenanigans. He hadn't put up with it in his goblins, and he wouldn't put up with it with this boy either.

'And you think taking him away will stop him?'

'Sure, why not? He doesn't have the same power that you have.'

'He will when he returns to the Underground.'

'But you can stop him, right?'

'Possibly,' Dart allowed.

'Then stop him,' the boy urged, his expression spiteful. 'Keep him out of our world.'

Obviously the boy had learned nothing from being turned into a goblin. He was just as bratty as before. Jareth had been too soft on the child. Dart did not intend to be. He had no choice but to obey the request, but that didn't mean he couldn't leave the brat with a lasting reminder of his perfidy.

'I shall take Jareth back to the Underground as requested,' Dart declared, his mismatched eyes glaring down at the child, 'but you are a malicious little boy, Toby Williams, and you already know what happens to little boys such as yourself. Jareth was much too soft on you, probably because of your sister, but I am not Jareth, and I believe you should get what you deserve.' Throwing out a gloved hand, he pointed at the boy, his voice rising until it not only filled the living room but the rest of the penthouse as well. 'Within a fortnight, you will become exactly what your actions declare you to be. You, Toby Williams, will be a goblin. LET IT BEGIN NOW!'

Immediately the boy's ears became long, pointed and hairy. His hands went to the sides of his head, and he stared at Dart, open-mouthed and horrified.

'Think carefully before you use those words again, my boy. With great power comes great responsibility.'

With a laugh, Dart disappeared in a shimmer of light, materializing outside as the large white eagle. He'd take the long way home. He was not eager to return to the castle. By now, Jareth would be there, kicking goblins and throwing the mother of all temper tantrums. He would demand to be returned to the Aboveground, but this time Dart had no intention of complying with his wishes.

He'd had enough of this 'love' nonsense. It had turned the Goblin Realm, not to mention Dart's life, upside down, and it was time that it stopped. He had indulged the boy far too long. He would do what their father had done for him at Jareth's age. He would get the boy a proper wife, not some detestable human, no matter how attractive and spirited, and Jareth would go about the business of securing an heir for the Goblin Realm. He might not be able to be High King because of his foolishness, but his son could. Bloody hell, at this point, Dart was willing to accept a queen, if need be.

He smiled inwardly, pleased with his own brilliance. It was the perfect solution to the mess that Jareth had landed them in by his ridiculous obsession with a human. It would allow Dart to continue hunting and gambling, and it would be just punishment for Jareth's reckless behavior. It was high time for him to start acting like a Goblin King.

**SCENE CHANGE**

'Oh my God,' the agent screamed, 'he disappeared! He was right here, and then,' she waved her arms helplessly, 'he was gone! I…I think I'm going to faint.'

Sarah whirled around just as the agent crumpled to the floor. Unease and then panic began to build as her eyes scanned the room for Jareth. The agent was right. He was gone, vanished. Something like that didn't happen unless magic was involved, and the only magic she knew of was in the Underground. It was as if…she paused, her brows pulling together in a fierce scowl. It was as if somebody had wished Jareth away.

'Toby,' she said, spitting out the name as if it were a rotten piece of fruit.

Leaving the agent lying on the floor – let her think it a dream - she sprinted out of the house and into the Lamborghini. The car roared to life, and for the first time, Sarah was glad that the car had such power and speed. She flew down the freeway, slipping in and out of traffic with ease and arrived at Jareth's penthouse in less than twenty minutes.

'Toby,' she yelled, bursting into the apartment like an avenging angel. 'What the hell have you done?!'

There was no answer, but she could hear something. She listened. It sounded like crying. Leaving the entrance way, she followed the sound and found Toby on his knees in the middle of the living room, his hands over his ears, crying uncontrollably.

Kneeling down beside him, she demanded. 'What is it? Why are you crying? This has something do with Jareth, doesn't it? You wished him away, didn't you?'

The boy just continued to cry, holding his ears as though they were hurting.

'What's wrong? Why are you holding your ears?'

More crying.

Finally, she reached up and forcibly removed his hands. She stared. His ears were green, pointy and had hair growing out of them. Goblin ears.

'Toby, what have you done?' She repeated.

'I…I…wished Jareth…away,' the boy blubbered. 'He came…'

'Who came?'

'The…the dude in the cape.'

'Did he look like Jareth but older?'

'Yeah, and his hair,' he hiccupped, 'is longer.'

Dart, she thought grimly. Calling Jareth was one thing; calling Dart was another. Older brother was definitely the more frightening of the two. And why not, she mused, he'd had a longer time to perfect the scowl, the arrogance, the swagger.

'What happened?'

'He said he'd take Jareth away, but then…' the sobbing began again, 'but then he put a curse on me.'

'A curse?'

'He said I was a malicious little boy, and within a fortnight I'd be a goblin. Sarah,' Toby cried, looking at her with stricken eyes. 'I don't want to be a goblin. All the kids at school will laugh at me.'

Sarah sat back on her heels. 'Well, I hate to say it, Toby, but you deserve this, and to tell you the truth, I don't feel much sympathy for you. As a matter of fact, I'm mad as hell at you for wishing Jareth away. You do realize that he'll just come back, don't you? He's a Goblin King. He can do things like that.'

'Can he change me back?' The eagerness in his voice was pathetic.

'I don't know,' Sarah admitted. 'It might work like it does on Bewitched. Only the witch that places the spell can remove it.'

'Can he get the other guy to remove it? Like he did in the study?'

Sarah looked at him with reproachful eyes. 'Why would he want to? You've been horrible to him, and even after he saved your life, you wished him away. How could you do something so mean?'

'I…' his eyes dropped to the floor, 'I didn't want him to marry you.'

'Why not?'

There was a long silence and then he suddenly burst out, his voice angry, resentful. 'Because I don't have a mom and dad like other kids. All I've got is you, and you've been mean to me lately, grounding me and not letting me go to Brad's house. You weren't like that before he came along and turned you against me.'

'Jareth did not turn me against you,' Sarah told him. 'The truth is I realized that I've made a mistake as far as you're concerned. I was trying to make up for dad and Karen being gone, but all I've done is turn you into a spoiled brat. Maybe if I'd disciplined you more in the beginning, you wouldn't be smoking and drinking and hating Jareth so much that you'd want to take him away from me.' She looked at him, her eyes pleading with him to understand. 'I love Jareth, and it hurts that you wanted to take away something I love.'

'But you've got me,' he reminded her.

'I know I do, and I love you, Toby,' she assured him, 'but I love Jareth too. I love him in a different kind of way than I do you. You're my brother. He's the man I want to marry, to spend my life with. You'll understand when you're older and fall in love with some pretty girl.'

Toby made a face. 'Girls are weird.'

'I'm not asking you to love or even like Jareth.' She gave a little laugh. 'He's a difficult man to warm up to, but can't you try to accept him for my sake?'

'Maybe,' Toby agreed, his expression sullen. 'If he'll get that guy to get rid of these ears.'

'I'll see what I can do,' Sarah said, standing up. 'Now, come on, dry your eyes. A hat will hide those ears until Jareth returns.'

**SCENE CHANGE**

Jareth was furious. He stalked around Dart's royal study like a bull in a china shop. How dare his brother remove him from the Aboveground as though he were a baby wished away! It was intolerable, absolutely intolerable, and if he'd had his powers, he wouldn't be kicking his heels in this drafty old castle, waiting for his brother to show himself. He'd be with Sarah looking for their future home.

A flutter of drape, a rush of air caught his attention, and he whirled to see the eagle transforming itself back into his brother. Dart stood before him looking as frightening as ever in midnight blue cape studded with diamonds and sapphires. He stalked into the room, cape snapping about his ankles.

'What's the meaning of this?' Jareth instantly demanded. 'Why did you bring me here?'

Dart shrugged, not the least bit unsettled by his brother's fury. 'I was asked to take you away. You know the rules. I had to honor the request.'

'Who wished me away?'

'Can't you guess?'

Jareth's lip curled. 'It was the little brat, Toby.' He whirled away from his brother, stalked a few paces then stopped, running a frustrated hand through his hair before turning to confront Dart once again. 'Didn't he learn anything? If getting turned into a goblin wasn't enough to scare the bog out of him, you would have thought nearly dying would have taught him what he failed to learn the first time.'

'Oh, I think he'll learn his lesson now.'

That sounded ominous. Obviously, Dart had done more than just whisk away an ex-Goblin King. Jareth dreaded asking the next question, but he needed to know the full extent of the disaster waiting for him in the Aboveground.

'What did you do?'

Dart dropped into the big chair behind his desk, placing his boots on the surface before leaning back and saying, 'Put the goblin spell on him, of course. That's what we always do with bad little boys.'

'Go back and remove it at once.'

'Is that an order?' Dart's voice was dangerously soft, daring him to say it was.

Jareth didn't back down. 'Yes.'

'Who's High King around here? Me or you?' Dart let out a hard laugh that echoed around the cavernous study. 'You aren't even a Goblin King any more, and you're ordering me about as if I were a genie in a bottle? Your arrogance is breathtaking, little brother. Simply breathtaking.'

'We can't saddle Sarah with a goblin for a brother.'

'It's always Sarah with you, isn't it?' Dart challenged. 'Everything you do is centered on that woman. You've become her bloody slave. If that's what love,' Dart's lip curled, 'does to a man, then I'm glad I'm incapable of such a heinous emotion.'

Jareth dropped his head as he took a few deep breaths, trying desperately to hold onto his temper. Dramatics didn't work with Dart. Oh, he could put on a show as well as any Goblin King, but he wasn't swayed by sentimental arguments. One had to use reason.

'They don't have goblins in the Aboveground,' Jareth finally said. 'It'll raise all kinds of nasty questions if she's got one living with her.'

'I'm sure a chit with her mouth will think of an answer,' Dart told him.

Who was acting like a child now, Jareth wondered as he studied his brother's determined expression. There'd been a touch of bitterness in those words. It was obvious that he hadn't liked Sarah forcing him to reverse the spell. As High King he rarely, if ever, had to do anything he didn't want to. But Jareth didn't have time for his wounded ego. He had to get back to Sarah, especially if Toby was sprouting goblin ears. There was little time to waste. The nose would be next.

'Just send me back, and I'll take care of it myself.'

'I'm afraid I can't do that.'

'Then give me my powers, and I'll send myself back.'

'You had your powers the second you entered the Underground.'

That's all Jareth needed to hear. He immediately transformed into the great white owl and flew out of the open window. Dart waited, fingers steepled, ankles crossed. In less than ten minutes, the owl was back.

'I thought you said I had my powers,' Jareth said, his voice accusing. 'I couldn't get through the barrier.'

'I'm not surprised,' Dart replied, showing no concern whatsoever. In fact, he was inspecting the sleeve of his coat for lint. 'I sealed off the Underground shortly after I dealt with that little brat. You will remain here.'

'In your bog dreams,' Jareth retorted. 'I'm going back to Sarah.'

'I'm afraid I can't allow that. If you're going to be difficult, I'll limit your powers so all you can do is twirl crystals.'

'Why?' Jareth demanded. 'You didn't stop me from going to the Aboveground when my kingdom was stripped. Why keep me here? I'm no use to you now.'

'Because,' Dart said, his voice hard with purpose, 'I'm no longer in the mood to indulge this irresponsible behavior of yours. You shall remain here and forget about this human.'

'I shall never forget her,' Jareth declared. 'I love her, and nothing you can do will change that.'

'Love,' Dart sneered, 'is an illusion dreamed up by women who wish to enslave men and poets who have nothing better to do but write odes to it. Your so-called love has turned the Goblin Realm on its ear. Nothing like has ever occurred before. The Goblin Kingdom has no ruler, the goblins are running amuck, pigs and chickens everywhere, humans forcing us to do their bidding, and I…'

'Have to remarry,' Jareth finished. 'That's the real reason behind all of this, isn't it?'

Dart had the grace to look momentarily uncomfortable before he recovered his bravado and stated, 'I've done my part. I married the woman our father chose for me. Now, it's your turn to make a sacrifice for the Realm.'

'My turn?' Jareth echoed, scowling. 'I hope you're not suggesting…'

'The matchmaker will be here tomorrow, and we'll pick out a bride for you.'

'Are you mad? I'm not marrying anyone but Sarah.'

'Sarah is no longer available to you, my boy, so I suggest you stop all this moaning and groaning about love and resign yourself to being a Goblin King.'

'But I'm not a Goblin King,' Jareth pointed out. 'I was stripped of my Kingdom, remember?'

'How could I forget?' Dart muttered before saying, 'You might not be able to ascend the throne, but your child can.'

'You're a fine one to talk about responsibility,' Jareth accused. 'It's your responsibility to supply an heir, but you want to use me to do the dirty work for you.'

'I had an heir until you decided to bring a human to the Underground,' Dart pointed out, dropping his feet to the floor and leaning over his desk in his most menacing manner. 'We're in this predicament because of your foolishness so the way I see it, you ought to be the one to get us out of it.'

'I'd be happy to if you're willing to revoke a ridiculous law concerning humans in the Underground.'

'I will not rearrange the traditions and laws of the Underground because my fool of a brother is 'in love' with a human.'

'Then I won't agree to supply your throne with an heir,' Jareth retorted, planting his hands on the desk and leaning over just as menacingly. 'Even the High King cannot force someone to marry against his will, and even if you use some kind of spell to get me down that aisle, I shall not bed her. The throne will remain empty.'

The two brothers stared at each other, neither one wishing to be the first to retreat.

Finally Dart gritted. 'Get out of my sight.'

'Gladly,' Jareth gritted back.

'You've got two weeks to make up your mind,' Dart shouted as Jareth turned to leave. 'Either you can be sensible and agree or I'll be forced to take drastic measures.'

Jareth kept walking. He wasn't going to be there in two weeks so Dart's threat meant nothing to him. As he'd told Sarah, his brother only controlled the Goblin Realm. There were other ways to get back to the Aboveground, and he knew exactly where to find those ways. He headed for his father's library.

**SCENE CHANGE**

'Mom, I'm worried,' Sarah admitted.

'I would be too,' Linda told her as they drank tea in the penthouse's living room. 'Your brother's got goblin ears.'

Sarah glanced toward the hallway where Toby's bedroom was located. He'd gone to bed a little over a half hour ago.

'Shhhh,' she hushed. 'He might hear you. He's really uptight about those ears. I guess I'll have to keep him home from school tomorrow.'

'You can't even tell he's got them with that toque on, and toques are very popular with kids today. They even wear them in the summer. I doubt anyone will notice.'

'Yeah, but who know when the other parts of him are going to become goblin-like. Can you imagine being in Math class and suddenly you've grown a goblin nose?' She sighed, staring into her tea mug. 'I wish Jareth would return. He'd know what to do. It's unlike him to stay in the Underground so long. Something must be stopping him from leaving.'

'What could possibly stop him?' Linda asked. 'He's a Goblin King.'

'But he's not High King.'

'There's a High King?'

Sarah nodded. 'His older brother. He wasn't pleased when I called him here to remove the transfer spell from Jareth. In fact, he was rude and obstinate. Before leaving, he threatened to close all the entrances between here and the Underground if we ever bothered him again. I guess he doesn't like the Aboveground. Or humans.'

'Sounds like a perfect beast.'

'Actually he reminded me a great deal of Jareth the first time I saw him, very intimidating and mysterious, but unlike Jareth, he was angry, which made him ten times more frightening.' Sarah glanced up, her eyes anxious. 'What if he's follow through with his threat? What if he's closed the Underground? How will Jareth ever get back?'

Linda got up, coming over to sit on the sofa beside Sarah. Her arms went out. Sarah hadn't been hugged by her mother since she was ten years old, and it felt awkward at first, but she was too worried, to upset to hold herself back. She put her arms around her mom and buried her face against Linda's shoulder as tears squeezed out between tightly shut eyes.

'Don't worry, honey,' Linda murmured, stroking her dark hair. 'If I know Jareth, he'll move the stars to get back to you. I'm sure when you wake up in the morning he'll be right there beside you.'

But he wasn't beside her the next morning. Jareth's side of the bed was cold and empty, the sheets smooth and unwrinkled. She was tempted to call for the Goblin King, but thought better of it. She didn't want Toby to hear. He'd already been depressed at Jareth's absence when he'd gone to bed. Calling for the Goblin King would certainly alarm him.

As it turned out she didn't have to worry about alarming her brother. He had already put two and two together and come up with four.

'I wished him away from good, didn't I?' He asked as they sat at the breakfast table.

'I don't know,' she admitted. 'I'm sure he'll do everything in his power to get back to us or at least let us know what's going on.'

'I am a brat,' Toby mumbled, staring down at his cereal.

'Do you want to stay home today?'

He shook his head. 'No, I might as well get used to going to school as a goblin.'

Later as she watched Toby walk up the sidewalk to his school, toque pulled down tight, she could think of only one thing.

Jareth, where are you?