Sarah lay, battered and broken, on the side of the highway. She'd been flung from the car, which is the only reason that she was still alive. The rest of her family had been killed when a transport truck hit them head on. Her breaths ragged, she thought of only one name, only one person who could help her now: Jareth. She whispered his name into the darkness and passed out from a loss of blood. She did not see the familiar

barn owl watching the scene from the trees.

Jareth had watched the accident, as he had watched her for the years since she defeated his labyrinth, and said the words that burned him to his soul. "You have no power over me". On the rare nights that he actually slept, he had nightmares of those six little words. He saw the accident, and had used his magic to pull her out of the wreckage. Despite his ongoing pain, he could not see her hurt. He smiled an evil smile. Now he did have some power over her.

He walked over to the bleeding body of his beloved. His intense mismatched eyes surveyed the damage. He could save her, and he would. But, first she would have to say the words, first she would have to willingly give him the power he so desired. He willed her to consciousness with his magic. Her mossy green eyes foggily showed signs of recognition as she looked upon his beauty for the first time in three years.

"I can save you, Sarah," Jareth said, his face under its constant mask of coldness. "Just say your right words, Sarah."

"Jareth . . ." she whispered faintly. He knelt down beside her, and she felt the long strands of his silky blond hair flutter gently against her skin. He leaned in, and she could smell the scent of rain and something undefined but purely Jareth.

"I can't help you until you say it Sarah," he gave a white lie, and stroked her face with his gloved hand. "Tell me you need me."

"Jareth," she whispered, the magically induced consciousness beginning to wear off in her weakness. "I…I need you."

Jareth grinned devilishly. They weren't exactly the right words, but they would do. He removed his gloves and pressed his hands to her chest, pouring healing magic into her. Sarah felt a wave of warmth wash over her, as her pain melted away under Jareth's touch.

Sarah gazed up at him in confusion. "How did you find me?"

Jareth looked at her coldly. "You called me Sarah. I always answer those who call."

"Thank . . ." Jareth cut her off. "But, I need to be paid for my trouble. Which means you, my dear, will be indebted to me." With that the world faded away in a flash of glitter, and Sarah stood in the dusty plains outside of the Labyrinth, with the Goblin King looming behind her.

"The Labyrinth," Jareth said. "This all belongs to me, Sarah, all of it." His arm swept dramatically across her plane of vision.

"I will give you a choice, Sarah" he continued, his lips so close to her ear that she could feel his breath against it. "Run the Labyrinth again, or come live in my castle. Either way, you must repay the debt you owe me."

"But…" Sarah started, turning her head only to find herself alone.

Sarah looked down across the labyrinth. It's twisted and turns reminded her of the mind of a certain Goblin King – though it may seem straightforward from a distance, you never knew when the ground was going to fall out from beneath you. She thought of her last trip through the labyrinth – meeting Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus. She straightened as an idea finally flashed – she would call on her friends, and they would take her through the labyrinth quickly.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sarah whirled to locate the source of Jareth's voice, but she was still alone. The disembodied voice continued. "You must repay me Sarah, only you. You may either offer me the entertainment of you trying to run my Labyrinth, or you can come to me directly, and we can devise a payment more pleasurable to both of us. All you need to do is call me. And beware, Sarah. This time, the Labyrinth has no worms, no riddles, the hands do not help, and fairies aren't the only things that bite."

A breeze blew past her, and Sarah knew she was alone again.

"Oh, it's not fair!" she shouted, tears stinging her eyes.