Just a matter of time

Chapter One: Futile Words

" Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave." The Goblin King said, almost pleadingly.

Her eyes darted back and forth from his face to the crystal he held, temptingly, towards her. As if he was offering her something that was forbidden to those like her. She licked her lips in hesitation and opened her mouth to try and say something, but the words caught in her throat and out came a raspy whisper.

" Sarah." He murmured, stepping closer.

" I'm offering you, your dreams."

His free hand reached up to brush her face. He tucked the stray strands of auburn hair behind her ear, and then alighted his hand briefly on her shoulder. He let his hand wander down a little more, tracing the side of her body until it reached her waist. He snaked his arm around her, and pulled her closer to him, aware that her breathing was erratic and that her heartbeat was quickening.

Her mind was becoming hazed, why was she here again? Her reason was slowly slipping away from her weakening grasp. Why couldn't she remember at all?

" Just let me rule you Sarah…" the hauntingly beautiful male whispered tenderly in her ear.

She found herself leaning against him for support, suddenly unable to stand on her own. She felt his foreign warmth wash over her, suppressing her. A heavy perfumed scent overwhelmed her nose, and her eyes felt so heavy. Her breathing began to slow down, and her body relaxed.

" Forget about your brother…"

Brother?…Toby! The web of enticement he had been weaving around her snapped, as her senses cleared. She broke free from his enchanted embrace. For a fleeting moment, a look of hunger flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smoldering anger.

" You have no power over me." She said through gritted teeth.

She had expected to see him disappear or find herself back home with Toby in her arms, instead, she saw him smirk at her, while his eyes stared at her mockingly.

" Really Sarah?" He grasped her chin.

" It seemed that I had power over you…"

He leaned in closer, his mouth just centimeters from hers. He stopped then pressed his lips on her cheek instead.

" …just by doing that." He finished, smiling at her knowingly as her breathing sped up again.

' How easy it was to manipulate her body into betraying her.' He thought, amused.

" Give me the child." She said. The Goblin King frowned and stepped back.

" Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child that you have stolen…" she said softly, stepping forward, her gemstone eyes watching him back away.

" For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great…" she continued.

" I ask for so little in return, let me claim you as mine…and you can have everything that you want." He said, offering her the crystal once more. His mismatched eyes watched her falter in her steps, and he stepped forward again, invading her personal space. Sarah's brows furrowed in concentration, as if considering his gift. Her eyes hardened and turned to him cruelly as her mouth from the next line.

" You have no power over me."

The clock began to chime and she watched as everything fell away, until her living room replaced it. It was midnight and Toby was fast asleep in her arms. She walked upstairs and put him back in his crib, then placed her favorite teddy bear next to him.

" I'd like you to have Lancelot now." She murmured, pulling the covers over him. She walked back to her room and looked around at the ordinariness of it. It was going to be hard to adjust, but not entirely impossible to do. With a sigh, she began to put away some of the things that tied her to fantasy. Her music box, the little red book title The Labyrinth, and last of all her mother's picture. She took one last look at it, then shoved it in her drawer. She heard the front door being opened.

" Sarah? Are you home?" her father asked.

" Yes. Yes I'm here." She answered then turned back to her vanity mirror. Her eyes caught something glittering faintly on her bed. She got up to see. Her eyes widened in horror and she backed away. On her bed was a crystal, reflecting the artificial light innocently.

" Sarah, did you really think all that rubbish would work?" Jareth's silky voice asked her.

She turned around but saw no one. Then she looked down at her hands to see that they were holding the crystal. She dropped it in surprise and watched it bounce back into her hands again.

" Wh-What?" She stammered, fear written clearly across her features.

" It's just a matter of time Sarah, before you're back in the Underground and become one of us, forever." Jareth said.

Her gaze turned to her mirror, and she saw him standing behind her. She looked back but saw no one, yet his reflection was still in the mirror. She gripped the crystal until her knuckles turned white from lack of blood flowing in her hands.

" That's not going to happen." She spat out at him.

His lips curved into a cruel smile. Then in a shower of glitter, disappeared. His mocking laughter rang in her ears.

" Believe what you want, my dear Sarah. But trust me, you will be back, but the next time won't be the same." His voice drawled one last time.

Sarah covered her ears, a futile gesture, in hopes of blocking out his voice. No, that will never happen, she thought desperately. It's not possible! She sank down to her knees, suddenly tired as if defying him took all the strength out of her. She swore under her breath, and vowed that his prediction will not come to pass.

" You're not going to win. It'll be a piece of cake making you lose." she grumbled.

Sarah looked wan. She was deathly pale and tired as hell. But within her eyes burned a fiery determination. In the middle of her room was a large box, that was rapidly filled with anything and everything connected to the labyrinth. The reason behind this mass desecration of one of her treasured childhood story? Well it's not hard to guess. The reason was of course, because of him. A part of her knew that doing this was useless, but she was desperate enough to try anything that will keep her memories of him at bay.

Around midday she had finished, well almost. There were only a few more items to toss in before the labyrinth could be buried among the dust covered junk in the attic. However it was easier said than done. The drawer that had kept the remaining trinkets was shut tightly refusing to budge.

" Oh it's not fair!" She said, irritated.

" You say that so often, I wonder what your basis for comparison is."

" Leave me alone Jareth, I don't need this kind of crap." She muttered angrily under her breath.

" Sarah, who are you talking to?" her stepmother asked.

She looked up, startled and began stammering. " I was uh, rehearsing for try outs for this play at school. Yeah that's it."

She was looking at Sarah strangely but let it pass. She looked around the room and nodded approvingly.

" I see you're putting away your toys."

" Uh, yeah, I just thought I needed a little more room, that's all."

She left and Sarah let out a breath of relief. She had thought she was going to be lectured, but was more than happy at it not happening. She turned back to her stubborn drawer, and fruitlessly tugged at it. She growled, hoping that he did not enchant it or whatever so it wouldn't open. She left the room in a huff.

Ok fine, if he didn't want it opened then it won't be opened. She was going to forget about it and pretend that it never existed. It was just a piece of furniture, it did not matter. Well. Except for the fact that her homework was in there too. She groaned and grudgingly went back in her room and gathered her books. Looks like she'll be pulling an all-nighter if she wanted to turn in her essay and get a decent grade as well.

" Damn you Jareth."

Youko Goddess: I do not own the Labyrinth and characters..and this is my first time writing a j/s fic.