I own nothing from the Labyrinth.
1 Part 1
Sarah Williams sat at the edge of the pool with her feet in the water and a book in her hand as she happily bit into an apple. It was a perfect summer day; the air was fresh without the nasty humidity so often present in July. She chewed slowly so she could savor the tart sweetness of the fruit as her gaze took in the words on the page before her. Her dark hair fell forward into her face as she bent over the book, obscuring her vision so that she could not see what was approaching.
A geyser of water sprayed up from the surface of the pool, drenching her and the book as Toby broke the surface of the water. He clutched her legs as she glared down at him, grinning up at her cheerfully as she held her now-soaked book aloft.
"You ruined my book, you monster." Sarah said with laughter in her voice even though her expression was stern.
"I'm sorry." Toby said, a sparkle in his eye even as his expression sobered. "I didn't see it."
"You owe me." Sarah informed him as she carefully set aside the apple and book as Toby backed away in the water.
She leapt after him, giving him time to gain a bit of a lead before she latched onto his ankle and tugged him back as he struggled uselessly against her grip. After giving him a thorough dunking she released him, swimming to the steps at a more leisurely pace than the one she'd used to capture him. She climbed out of the pool, water streaming down her slim body as she paused to shake out her hair before walking to where Karen sat on a lounger in the shade.
"You're too soft on him, Sarah." Karen said, pushing her sunglasses up on her head as she smiled up at her stepdaughter. "He gets away with far too much with you."
"I know." Sarah said with a sigh as she laid the ruined book on the table beside the chair she settled in. "It would probably be different if I lived with him, and it was an everyday thing. I don't see him often enough for him to get on my nerves."
The real truth was she still felt the guilt of wishing him away, and she'd spent every day of the last 10 years trying to make it up to him. While he'd never shown any sign that he remembered his time in the Labyrinth, she'd never been able to forget. While her life had changed for the better after that night, she felt the pain of her weakness in wishing him away, and for the moment she'd longed to stay in the Labyrinth rather than save him. She'd begun to mature after that night though, and had finally started to learn that she should never take what she had for granted. Time was far too short to do that. So to appease the guilt she felt she began to make changes in her life, changes that up until then she had rebelled against.
She'd begun by mending her relationship with Karen…correction; she'd started a relationship. While it would never be described as mother- daughter, an easy friendship had sprung up that she had been surprised to find she relied upon. Especially when she left for college, and moved into a place of her own. It had been wonderful knowing she could pick up the phone and pour out her concerns to someone who cared enough to listen and give advice. She'd come to an understanding with her father and found that she had never really lost him. She had pushed him away, but was now closer to him than she could remember being before. It had taken her time to realize that while she didn't have the fantasy life she'd dreamed of when she was young they were family, and how she chose to react to them was entirely her decision. Life had become nearly perfect…or it would have been if she could forget the Labyrinth. Sometimes she wished that she had never experienced that journey, because then she would have nothing to feel guilty about in her life. She would never have to worry that Toby would know she had once not wanted him. She would never long for the life the Goblin King had offered her…
Later that evening…
Sarah sat in her old room; a place that she would always consider home no matter where she lived or whom she lived with. She sat at the vanity she had once daydreamed at brushing her waist-length hair almost absently as she stared at her reflection with unseeing eyes. Her thoughts were turned inward as they often were, thinking of the fact that her vacation ending in just two days and she'd have to return to her lonely apartment in the city. Karen and her Dad had offered her this old room back, but Sarah had insisted that it was time for her to be on her own, and for them to get rid of one of their 'brats'. The apartment was closer to the bookstore where she worked as manager, which cut down on her travel time in the morning. She came home every other weekend anyway so she saw them often.
She was just setting down her brush when the door opened a crack and Toby's mischievous eyes peered in at her. She could see him in the mirror as he crept in, trying his best to sneak up on her. Sarah bent her head as she bit her lip to keep from laughing while pretending to fuss with the things on the vanity top.
"Yargh!" Toby shouted, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"Toby!" Sarah shrieked, placing her hand over hear heart in mock fear as Toby giggled in delight. "You sneak!"
"I got you!"
"Oh yeah?" Sarah replied, her tone threatening as she turned to grab him. "Well, now I've got you!"
She stood, bringing him up and swinging him around. She dumped him on the bed and proceeded to tickle him until he begged for mercy, not noticing as the mirror above the vanity began to cloud over…
…From the other side of the mirror Jareth watched with a sneer twisting his lips as he watched the play between the two people that had upended his world…the child, and the woman that had rescued him from his clutches. He'd love to give her a taste of the chaos she had caused him, to let her know the pain of rejection and the hollowness of life when all was taken from you. His gloved hand fisted on the arm of his throne as their combined laughter assailed his ears like a siren, causing the anger in his heart to make his head pound.
He wished she had never called to him, had never come into his world, his Labyrinth. Without her, his life would never have changed, he would never have known her scorn, nor feel the loneliness he felt because of her rejection. He'd offered her his world and the chance to be a part of it but she'd tossed it back in his face, all for the love of a child she had hated until that day. He turned his head as a light flashed from the doorway. The crystal disappeared with a wave of his hand as he turned to scowl at the figure in the doorway.
"Are you watching her again, brother?"
Jareth scowled at his sister, Krya, as she stood with her hands on her hips in the doorway. His wish granting, mind reading, and dream interfering sister. She had the annoying habit of showing up when he least wanted company.
"What makes you think I was watching anyone?" He asked with one eyebrow raised mockingly.
"Because I know you." Kyra said sweetly, gliding forward to place a kiss on his cheek. "And I know no one else you watch who would irritate you so much as to put a scowl on your face."
"You irritate me." Jareth grumbled as he pat her hand in an affectionate gesture that Sarah would be surprised to see.
"Not as much as that mortal does." Kyra said, a smug smile on her face as his eyes flashed with annoyance. "What is she doing now?"
"How would I know?" Jareth snapped. "Don't you have something to do? Like mess with someone's dreams? Grant a wish?"
"Stop trying to get rid of me, Jareth." Kyra said with a frown. "I heard the wish you made."
"You promised me you wouldn't read my thoughts."
"You shouted it so loudly I didn't have a choice." Kyra replied her expression thoughtful. "I thought it might interest you to know that your Sarah made the same wish."
"She's not my—what did you say?"
"She made the same wish." Kyra repeated.
Jareth made a temple of his hands, resting his chin atop them as his gaze narrowed thoughtfully. He met his sister's gaze, seeing her agreement with the thought that was forming in his head. She would do it because he asked.
He'd found a way to make her suffer as he had.
Back in Sarah's world:
Sarah released Toby from her grasp, leaving him in a giggling pile in the center of her bed. She grinned down at him, glancing at the doorway at the sound of a clearing throat. Karen stood in the doorway, her expression trying to be stern as she looked at Toby.
"You were supposed to be in bed young man." Karen scolded the twinkle in her eyes giving away her amusement.
"But Mom!"
"Now." Karen said in a firmer voice. "You'll see Sarah in the morning."
Toby flung his arms about her and hugged her tight. Sarah squeezed him back, jolting in surprise at the words he whispered in her ear.
"Don't wish it away, Sarah."
She stared after him in confusion as the door slid shut behind him. She could hear him trying to protest his imposed bedtime as they moved down the hall, the voices growing fainter until she could hear them no longer. His words puzzled her; it was almost as if he knew what she'd been thinking about that afternoon. She shrugged it off as she turned down the blankets on the bed, chalking it up to coincidence as she went through the routine of preparing for sleep. She slid between the freshly washed sheets, sighing as her body sank into the familiar comfort of her old bed. She reached over and turned off the light, closing her eyes in the dark quiet of the room.
She opened her eyes a few moments later, though it did not change the view. She swung her legs out form beneath the covers and stood at the side of the bed in one fluid motion, stretching gracefully before walking over to the window. She pushed the curtain aside, letting in a beam of moonlight that bathed her in luminescence while she gazed between the branches outside her window at the yard. A flutter of movement caught her eye and her gaze narrowed as a winged shape flew from the tree, gliding across the backyard with stealthy grace. Her breath caught in her throat…she knew that owl.
"Damn you, Goblin King." Sarah whispered, her breath fogging a small circle of glass as she leaned her forehead against the pane. "You plague my thoughts. I wish I had never met you."
"That can be arranged."
Sarah whirled around, her hand coming up to grasp the neckline of her gown at the sight before her. It was a woman; gowned in blue and in the style she had come to know in the Underground. Her rich black hair was in a single braid that fell down her back to her waist, her face pale and beautiful in the moonlight. She wore the same sly expression that Jareth had often taunted her with, and when Sarah looked closer she could see the same mismatched eyes.
"Who are you?" Sarah demanded, straightening her back as she took a step forward. "Did Jareth send you?"
"My brother sends me nowhere." The girl gave a merry laugh that was like music to Sarah's ears. "I come here on my own."
"For what purpose?" Sarah asked. She was suspicious now that she knew this was a relative of Jareth's. "Who are you?"
"My name is Kyra." Was her reply. "I am the Queen of Dreams. I am here to grant your wish."
"Wish?"
"You wish you had never met my brother. Very well, it is done."
Outside lightning crashed, and thunder boomed. Sarah raced to the window only to see no storm outside. She turned back to her room and found it empty. She was alone.
The following morning…
Sarah rose from bed, having spent the night tossing and turning. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and shuffled to the vanity, reaching automatically for the brush that should have been kept on the edge. Her fingers closed around air and she frowned, wondering if maybe she'd knocked it down. She raised her gaze to the mirror, her eyes widening in surprise at what she saw.
The pictures of her mother, the ones she'd taken down the night she'd returned from the Labyrinth, were back up in their old places though now were yellowed and curled with age. The opposite wall that was reflected in the glass showed all her toys from childhood staring blankly at her from their shelf. Everything was as if it had been preserved in a museum and she felt a chill go down her spine at the sight. She dressed quickly, taking no time to see if what she wore matched in her haste to ask Karen why she'd put her old things up…though she wondered how Karen could have done it when she figured how little she had slept last night. She was still convinced that Kyra had been a dream, and none of what had occurred was real. It had been a dream, something her subconscious had come up with to make her feel better.
The first thing to hit her was the sheer volume of music coming from behind the closed door of Toby's bedroom. She paused outside the closed door, peering in confusion at the skull and crossbones that were crudely painted on the wood. The words KEEP OUT were stenciled below that, stating its message loud and clear in blood red paint. She reached out and grasped the doorknob, twisting it and pushing the door in as the latch released.
The room was dark, lit only by a dim desk lamp. Toby, at least she assumed it was Toby, sat hunched in the middle of his bed, rocking to the beat of the music throbbing out of the speakers that took up most of one wall. His head was bent and she could not see his face though from what she could see of his hair she wasn't sure she wanted too. It was long and hung in greasy waves that hid his face from view. He wore tattered jeans, and a black t- shirt with the words BITE ME blazing across the front. She took a step forward, thinking to lower the volume of the music so she could talk to him. He looked up as if he'd heard her step, an impossibility considering she couldn't hear herself breathe.
He raised his arm, pointing a remote held in his hand at the system. The volume abruptly cut off and the silence was nearly as deafening as the music had been.
"What the fuck do you want?" He demanded, a sneer on his face that reminded her of a certain King.
"Toby!" Sarah gasped, appalled at his language. "What's wrong with you? Why are you talking to me like that?"
"Because I hate your guts." He said simply. "I always have."
He laughed at the look of shock on her face, leaning back to stare at her with interest.
"Are you auditioning for another role?" He asked with feigned interest. "Is that why you're here…you have to practice being nice to someone you've always hated?"
"Auditioning--?" Sara asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"My big sister, wanting to be a star." Toby said with scorn. "You always want to be the center of attention. Being on stage gives you that."
"I work in a bookstore." Sarah said faintly, her hand fluttering at her throat as she stared at him.
"Whatever." Toby replied with indifference. "Get out of my room."
"But Toby—"
"GET OUT!" He screamed, restoring the volume of his stereo with the flick of a wrist.
Sarah stepped out, closing the door behind her and leaning against it as her heart beat wildly in her chest. The look in his eyes had been frightening; there had been a malice there that she would never have been able to picture in Toby's eyes before. His innocence seemed to be gone, replaced by a scorn that was scorching in its intensity. She was beginning to think Kyra had done something horrible.
She made her way downstairs hesitantly, her steps slowing as she took in the condition of the house. Karen was a meticulous housekeeper, and prided herself on the décor she and Sarah had picked together. That was all gone. It looked as if the walls hadn't been painted in 10 years, and the carpet itself was threadbare and torn. The banister wobbled under her hand, she had the feeling that if you put any weight upon it you would crash through to the floor below.
She made it to the bottom without mishap and rounded the corner into the kitchen. She came to an abrupt halt when she saw Karen…but not the pretty, carefully made up Karen that she had grown accustomed to. This Karen was worn looking, tired and washed out. Her hair was pulled back severely, emphasizing the deep lines around her eyes and mouth. A cigarette dangled from between thinned lips, and she was dressed in what could only be described as a housecoat, with furry slippers sticking out from beneath its hem. The anger in her gaze when she looked upon Sarah made her cringe inwardly, and she braced herself for this conversation.
"We don't have any money to give you." Karen spat, tapping the ash from her cigarette onto the floor.
"I'm not looking for money." Sarah said softly.
"That would be a first." Karen snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "So what are you here for? You never come around unless you want something."
"I live here." Sarah said hesitantly, still uncertain what her role was in this drama.
"Not anymore you don't." Karen shrieked. "Did your father let you in again? Did you hit him up for a place to stay? You always take advantage of him when he's drunk, he'd never let you in the door otherwise."
Sarah's eyes widened under this assault, she couldn't believe the tirade she was being given. Two people she had come to love as if they were blood family were turning their backs upon her.
"But why?" Sarah asked, her voice choked. "What have I done to make you this way?"
"You never gave me a bloody chance, that's what." Karen said, her voice hard as nails. "From the moment I married your father you set out to make my life a living hell. You became worse when Toby was born. You thought we were trying to replace you in your father's life, so you did all you could to drive us away."
"I was jealous." Sarah said to herself as she remembered how it had been ten years ago. "But I got over it. After I came back from…"
Her words trailed off as she realized she had been about to say the Labyrinth. She frowned. In this life, she had never gone to the Labyrinth. Her confused thoughts were interrupted when her father stumbled in, his hand to his eyes as he headed for the cupboard. The first thing he did was grab a ready bottle of whisky, break the seal, and tip it back for a long swallow. Karen rolled her eyes, clearly used to this morning routine. Sarah was appalled however, and it showed on her face.
"Don't look so disgusted." Karen said as she watched her husband walk from the room without even glancing at his daughter. "You drove him to it. Now get out."
"But where do I go?"
"That's your problem." Karen sneered. "Not mine. Now go, before I call the cops again. This is my house. Not yours."
Sarah turned and blindly stumbled out of the door that hung on its hinges.
In the Underground:
"This is perfect." Jareth said in a voice filled with glee as he watched Sarah in his crystal. The look of anguish on her face was enough to fill his long cold heart with warmth. She was finally feeling some of what he had been feeling all these years. Her safe happy world was falling apart, and she was the one that had caused it to happen.
"You seem pleased." Kyra commented, gazing at him over the rim of the cup she was drinking out of.
"I am." Jareth said with a sigh. His hand curled into a fist at his side as he leaned back in his throne. "I haven't been this entertained in…"
"10 years?'' Kyra said with a sly grin. "She's haunted you all this time hasn't she?"
"She refused me."
"You didn't offer her much."
"I offered her anything she wanted!" Jareth raged, tossing the crystal at his annoying sister, scowling when she caught it effortlessly.
"You should have offered her more." Kyra said, turning the crystal so she could peer into its depths.
"What more could I have offered her?"
"Your heart." Kyra replied absently. "Oh dear, she's just discovered she has no apartment. How do you think she'll react when she realizes the bookstore is gone?"
"Give me that." Jareth demanded, reaching for the sphere. "I don't want to miss this."
Sarah walked slowly down the street where her apartment should have been with an aching heart. Nothing was as it should have been. She had no apartment and the place where she worked was a boarded up mess. She shoved her hands into the pocket of her jeans, fingers wrapping around a small plastic square that she pulled out. It was her driver's license; though the picture on it showed a much angrier Sarah than she could ever remember being. The address was different than her father's house, or the apartment. She figured there could be no harm in checking it out. Maybe she'd find someone who could paint a better picture of who she was in this life. She didn't know if she really wanted to know, but she couldn't just wander around aimlessly.
An hour later she stood in front of the library with a frown on her face as she stared sightlessly at the license she held in her hand. In this life she apparently lied about the address she lived at. She shoved the offending piece of plastic back in her pocket, as she hunched her shoulders against the wind that had picked up. She stared up at the library as an idea slowly formed in her head; she had to find out how to counter the spell Kyra had cast. Hoping the library might have a selection of books to help her, she went inside.
She sat at a computer, taking a moment to gather her thoughts as the heated air warmed her chilled skin. She'd rushed from Karen's (she couldn't think of it as home right now) so quickly she'd not grabbed her coat or the purse that held her money. Who even knew if she had money any more? Once the cold was worked out of her fingers she began to type, pulling up every subject relating to magic she could think of. Nothing seemed to leap out at her as important as she scrolled down the screen, everything seemed to be about do it yourself magic tricks. She wasn't looking to pull a rabbit out of a hat she needed the REAL stuff. She finally typed in 'Queen of Dreams' though she held no hope in finding anything. To her surprise she found something. She wrote down the information and was soon wandering through the aisles looking for the tome she sought.
As she wandered deeper into the back of the library the light grew dimmer. This was the oldest part of the building, and hadn't been modernized as much as the newer section. Instead of bright fluorescent lights there were single bulbs, instead of new paint and plaster there was brick. The air was more chill back here, forcing a shiver from Sarah as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms to ward it of. She turned another corner, pausing as she came upon an elderly man. A gasp escaped her lips in surprise; she hadn't expected that anyone else would be this far back.
"Hello." Sarah offered in greeting.
"Hello, Sarah."
Her heart leapt in her throat. How did he know her name?
"Looking for old books again?"
"You know me?"
"I should hope so. You work for me."
He stepped closer, bringing himself into the circle of light.
"Mr. Erickson! I'm so glad to see you!"
If he was surprised by the fierceness of the hug she gave him he gave no sign. His gnarled hands patted her back awkwardly and his wrinkled face pulled down into a frown as he felt the slight tremors shaking her body.
'Are you alright, child?" He asked as she straightened, taking note of how pale her face was. "Something has happened, hasn't it?"
"It's the most horrible thing." She confided, her voice hushed. "I've made a terrible mistake."
"Well then, we'll have to see if we can fix it, won't we? Come along dear. We'll go back to the store and I'll fix you a cup of tea. You can tell me all about what is troubling you."
"Mr. Erickson, the store isn't there anymore." Sarah said hesitantly.
"Nonsense. It was there when I locked up last night."
"Everything has changed since last night." Sarah replied miserably. "I made a wish."
"Out loud?" He asked with concern. "Sarah, you know better."
"I know." Sarah whispered, ashamed. "I wasn't thinking."
"Did Jareth show up?"
In the underground Jareth was frowning as he watched the scene play out between Sarah and the old man. He'd been having great fun misleading her; he'd misplaced the very book she'd been searching for. It hadn't been in his plans to have someone remember the REAL Sarah. The old man shouldn't be immune to the spell…but he was. He'd have to deal with that. He watched the two leave the library, a smile crossing his face as Sarah began telling her tales of woe, misery clear on her face as she did so. She was suffering…soon she'd call for him to end her pain. And when she did…
She'd be his.
Part 2
"Kyra isn't as horrible as she seems." Mr. Erickson said as he poured tea into two mugs. "She is actually a compassionate woman. She is quite the opposite of her brother."
"I think he sent her." Sarah said bitterly as she accepted a cup from his hands. "I saw an owl in the yard just before she appeared. That's why I said what I did. I wanted him gone."
"She may be doing what he asks." Mr. Erickson replied, blowing on his tea to cool it. "You yourself know how loyal family can be to each other."
"I did." Sarah said bitterly. "The worst thing is it's my fault. I gave voice to the thought. I gave them the power to do this."
"Jareth's been waiting a long time to get his revenge." He said in a stern voice though his eyes were kind. "You gave him the window of opportunity he was waiting for."
Sarah sat in silence for a moment sipping her tea. She looked up as a thought occurred to her.
"Do you still have those books?" Sarah asked as she leaned forward to accept the cookie he handed out. "The ones I asked you to keep here?"
"The ones you gave up after completing the Labyrinth?" Mr. Erickson asked curiosity in his voice. "You said you never wanted to see them again."
"That was because I felt bad about wishing Toby away." Sarah replied. "I was ashamed of what I did. I was afraid they would find out. I couldn't keep them at the house."
"I think I still have them." He told her, rising unsteadily from his chair. "I'll go check."
Sarah leaned back in her chair, resting her head back as fatigue washed over her. She had been running full force since that morning, and the day's events hadn't helped any. She was asleep in a matter of moments and did not hear her friend's return. He paused and an expression of affection crossed his face as he gazed down at the sleeping girl. Finally he turned away only to return with a blanket that he drew over her, and a pillow that he tucked beneath her head. He pushed a button on the recliner and soon she was resting as comfortably as if she were in bed.
Kyra glanced at Jareth out of the corner of her eye, smiling inwardly as she saw his absorbed expression. He wouldn't even notice if he were dropped in the center of the Bog right now, he was so intent upon the mortal's face. She wondered when he would figure out who the old man was.
"She's learned to take responsibility for her actions." Kyra said with amusement as his eyebrow went up in surprise.
"I was expecting to hear 'It's not fair' come out of her lips." Jareth muttered.
Kyra sighed and was not surprised when he did not notice. He only had eyes for Sarah, yet he did not see what Kyra was trying to make him see…that Sarah had grown into a woman that did not deserve his anger. If he could look past what she had unwittingly done as a child he may have a chance at happiness, whether he had Sarah or not. The woman she had become might be ready to accept the offer he had made before, but not if he were to continue upon this path of revenge. As long as he thought that this was what he wanted Kyra would continue to give it to him, for she would never deny a request made by family. She just hoped he came to his senses before he ruined any chance he might have of gaining the mortal woman's affections.
"What books do you suppose she was talking about?" Kyra asked, the picture of innocence as she settled comfortably on the seat across from him.
"I don't know." Jareth replied, the crystal disappearing from his hand in a blink as he glanced at his sister. "The only book I ever saw that meant anything was the one I sent her."
"Hmm…I wonder what she was talking about then." Kyra murmured, closing her own eyes.
In the apartment, Sarah began to dream…
Sarah stood surrounded by elegance…sheer wall hangings, crystal chandeliers. She turned her head and looked her fill, wondering why she was dreaming of a place she had tried so hard to forget. She took a step forward, glancing down at the feel of silk swishing against her legs. She gasped as she realized she was wearing the same gown she had worn when Jareth had brought her hear 10 years before. She walked hurriedly to one of the mirrored walls and stared at her reflection with awe. She had always loved this dress. She ran her hands down the front, relishing the feel of the rich fabric beneath her fingers. Her admiration was halted when she heard a soft laugh behind her. She raised her gaze to see Kyra's face reflected at her and she turned in a whirl of skirting to face the Queen of Dreams.
"Hello Sarah." Kyra said, her rich voice sounding like music in the ballroom. "Imagine meeting you here, of all places."
"You sent me here." Sarah accused, her tone as cold as winter as she eyed the woman that had caused her world to turn upside down.
"No." Kyra said simply. "You were already here. I simply joined you."
"I don't believe you."
"Whatever you may believe, I assure you I tell the truth." Kyra corrected. "We do not lie. We can talk in circles, and keep you from guessing the truth, but we do not lie. Think back to your past experience and you'll find that's true."
Sarah paused as Kyra's words sunk in. It was true; Jareth had never lied to her. Infuriated her yes, but lied no. She looked at Kyra with less hostility in her eyes than had been there before.
"I haven't dreamed about this place in years. Why would I start now?" Sarah asked with frustration, more to herself than to the woman before her.
"Because this is where you first started to view Jareth as more than a villain. This is where you started to let your heart open to him." Kyra said with a smile.
"I was drugged." Sarah said sharply, her denial sounding desperate even to her own ears.
"You were spellbound." Kyra interjected. "You were made to forget your task for a time. It did not make you feel what you felt that day."
"Bull. I know there are love spells."
"So you admit you feel love?"
"I admit nothing of the sort." Sarah said firmly. "I was merely stating that there are spells that can influence feelings."
"And you think Jareth wanted to influence your feelings, do you." Kyra said with amusement as she seated herself at a table. "Why do you think he would do that?"
"To win." Sarah replied.
"Interesting." Kyra mused. "Why don't you sit? We can discuss this over a glass of wine."
"I'll sit." Sarah agreed as she settled into a chair. "But I'm not drinking anything. Not after last time."
"It's your dream Sarah. Nothing can hurt you here. Not unless you want it to."
"Why would anyone want to be hurt?" Sarah asked skeptically as she reluctantly took the glass of wine Kyra poured for her.
"You'd be surprised." Kyra said with a shudder of distaste. "So tell me why you hate my brother."
Sarah sipped the wine before answering, noting with irony that she was drinking peach Chardonnay. If this was her dream, as Kyra said, then she had a warped sense of humor.
"I don't hate him." She explained. "I dislike him. I don't trust him and I think he is terribly arrogant. He's not particularly endearing."
"He worked very hard to present you with that image." Kyra said, sipping her own wine and letting out an amused laugh when she tasted it. "Can you imagine the impact if he'd gone in the opposite direction?"
"I'd prefer not to." Sarah said firmly, setting the now empty glass back on the table. "I can't imagine he would want to. We weren't on the same side."
"Not by his choice." Kyra smiled. "Your wish made it so."
"Don't remind me. I seem to be queen of stupid mistakes when it comes to wishes."
"I wouldn't blame yourself entirely, Sarah. Jareth has made his own mistakes when it comes to you."
"Really." Sarah said with interest as she locked gazes with Kyra. "What kind of mistakes?"
Kyra opened her mouth to answer and Sarah leaned forward to catch her words. She leaned too far though, and toppled out of the chair, landing on the floor beside the recliner she'd fallen asleep in the night before. She lay stunned for a moment and then rolled onto her side with a groan. Why did she have to choose that moment to wake up?
Kyra opened her eyes to find Jareth staring at her with suspicion. She only smiled sweetly at him and stretched with a yawn, the picture of innocence staring back at him. He did not need to know that she was meddling.
Part 3
"It says the only way to break the spell is to confront my regrets." Sarah said with a scowl as she read from the ancient tome.
""You do know what that means, don't you?" Mr. Erickson asked, puffing away on a pipe as he gazed at her over the rims of his glasses. "You have to go back."
"Go back home?"
"Go back to the Labyrinth." He replied. "You tried to wish the experience away because you regretted wishing Toby away. You wished you had never met Jareth, and this was the result. You'll need to go there to face him."
"Damn him." Sarah said softly, closing the book with a snap before rising to pace impatiently. "This was his plan all along. He wants me to come back."
"He's using the spell to his favor." Mr. Erickson agreed with an amused chuckle. "He has to get you to come back on your own. He's forced your hand."
"I'm glad you find this funny." Sarah said bitterly as she turned to face him. "Because you're coming with me."
"No, my dear. This is your quest, not mine. I never plan to return to the Labyrinth again. I'm much happier here."
Sarah's shoulders slumped with dejection. She knew he was right; she was just being selfish wanting him to accompany her. It wouldn't be fair to drag him back into the middle of her and Jareth's long-standing showdown.
"I know." She said quietly. "I'll just miss you, Hoggle."
Jareth's expression of surprised fury was enough to send Kyra into a fit of laughter that even his glare could not halt. She'd known all along and had been waiting for the moment he figured out that Hoggle had escaped his clutches and had found happiness Aboveground. Time had altered his appearance until he was human…completely human and beyond Jareth's reach.
"That traitorous dwarf." Jareth seethed, temper ripe upon his face as he strode back and forth across his throne room. "The coward. That—"
"I'd say he's pretty smart to come up with an escape that outwitted the Goblin King." Kyra said merrily. "Are you angry that he escaped, or are you angry because you never thought he'd try? Or that he's been the one to spend the last 10 years with the beautiful Sarah?"
"I'll bring him back, I'll toss him in the bog. He'll regret crossing me." Jareth said icily.
"You can't touch him, brother." Kyra chided. "He's human now. You can't touch him unless he brings himself here. Besides, you don't really want to hurt him. Sarah would never forgive you."
"You think I care for her forgiveness? That I sit and pine for a silly mortal child that didn't have the sense to accept the world when I offered it to her? All I've wanted these years is to make her pay, and that is what I'm going to do."
He strode from the room, leaving Kyra to sit, her hands clasped together in glee.
This was going to be great fun.
(So, shall I go on?)
1 Part 1
Sarah Williams sat at the edge of the pool with her feet in the water and a book in her hand as she happily bit into an apple. It was a perfect summer day; the air was fresh without the nasty humidity so often present in July. She chewed slowly so she could savor the tart sweetness of the fruit as her gaze took in the words on the page before her. Her dark hair fell forward into her face as she bent over the book, obscuring her vision so that she could not see what was approaching.
A geyser of water sprayed up from the surface of the pool, drenching her and the book as Toby broke the surface of the water. He clutched her legs as she glared down at him, grinning up at her cheerfully as she held her now-soaked book aloft.
"You ruined my book, you monster." Sarah said with laughter in her voice even though her expression was stern.
"I'm sorry." Toby said, a sparkle in his eye even as his expression sobered. "I didn't see it."
"You owe me." Sarah informed him as she carefully set aside the apple and book as Toby backed away in the water.
She leapt after him, giving him time to gain a bit of a lead before she latched onto his ankle and tugged him back as he struggled uselessly against her grip. After giving him a thorough dunking she released him, swimming to the steps at a more leisurely pace than the one she'd used to capture him. She climbed out of the pool, water streaming down her slim body as she paused to shake out her hair before walking to where Karen sat on a lounger in the shade.
"You're too soft on him, Sarah." Karen said, pushing her sunglasses up on her head as she smiled up at her stepdaughter. "He gets away with far too much with you."
"I know." Sarah said with a sigh as she laid the ruined book on the table beside the chair she settled in. "It would probably be different if I lived with him, and it was an everyday thing. I don't see him often enough for him to get on my nerves."
The real truth was she still felt the guilt of wishing him away, and she'd spent every day of the last 10 years trying to make it up to him. While he'd never shown any sign that he remembered his time in the Labyrinth, she'd never been able to forget. While her life had changed for the better after that night, she felt the pain of her weakness in wishing him away, and for the moment she'd longed to stay in the Labyrinth rather than save him. She'd begun to mature after that night though, and had finally started to learn that she should never take what she had for granted. Time was far too short to do that. So to appease the guilt she felt she began to make changes in her life, changes that up until then she had rebelled against.
She'd begun by mending her relationship with Karen…correction; she'd started a relationship. While it would never be described as mother- daughter, an easy friendship had sprung up that she had been surprised to find she relied upon. Especially when she left for college, and moved into a place of her own. It had been wonderful knowing she could pick up the phone and pour out her concerns to someone who cared enough to listen and give advice. She'd come to an understanding with her father and found that she had never really lost him. She had pushed him away, but was now closer to him than she could remember being before. It had taken her time to realize that while she didn't have the fantasy life she'd dreamed of when she was young they were family, and how she chose to react to them was entirely her decision. Life had become nearly perfect…or it would have been if she could forget the Labyrinth. Sometimes she wished that she had never experienced that journey, because then she would have nothing to feel guilty about in her life. She would never have to worry that Toby would know she had once not wanted him. She would never long for the life the Goblin King had offered her…
Later that evening…
Sarah sat in her old room; a place that she would always consider home no matter where she lived or whom she lived with. She sat at the vanity she had once daydreamed at brushing her waist-length hair almost absently as she stared at her reflection with unseeing eyes. Her thoughts were turned inward as they often were, thinking of the fact that her vacation ending in just two days and she'd have to return to her lonely apartment in the city. Karen and her Dad had offered her this old room back, but Sarah had insisted that it was time for her to be on her own, and for them to get rid of one of their 'brats'. The apartment was closer to the bookstore where she worked as manager, which cut down on her travel time in the morning. She came home every other weekend anyway so she saw them often.
She was just setting down her brush when the door opened a crack and Toby's mischievous eyes peered in at her. She could see him in the mirror as he crept in, trying his best to sneak up on her. Sarah bent her head as she bit her lip to keep from laughing while pretending to fuss with the things on the vanity top.
"Yargh!" Toby shouted, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"Toby!" Sarah shrieked, placing her hand over hear heart in mock fear as Toby giggled in delight. "You sneak!"
"I got you!"
"Oh yeah?" Sarah replied, her tone threatening as she turned to grab him. "Well, now I've got you!"
She stood, bringing him up and swinging him around. She dumped him on the bed and proceeded to tickle him until he begged for mercy, not noticing as the mirror above the vanity began to cloud over…
…From the other side of the mirror Jareth watched with a sneer twisting his lips as he watched the play between the two people that had upended his world…the child, and the woman that had rescued him from his clutches. He'd love to give her a taste of the chaos she had caused him, to let her know the pain of rejection and the hollowness of life when all was taken from you. His gloved hand fisted on the arm of his throne as their combined laughter assailed his ears like a siren, causing the anger in his heart to make his head pound.
He wished she had never called to him, had never come into his world, his Labyrinth. Without her, his life would never have changed, he would never have known her scorn, nor feel the loneliness he felt because of her rejection. He'd offered her his world and the chance to be a part of it but she'd tossed it back in his face, all for the love of a child she had hated until that day. He turned his head as a light flashed from the doorway. The crystal disappeared with a wave of his hand as he turned to scowl at the figure in the doorway.
"Are you watching her again, brother?"
Jareth scowled at his sister, Krya, as she stood with her hands on her hips in the doorway. His wish granting, mind reading, and dream interfering sister. She had the annoying habit of showing up when he least wanted company.
"What makes you think I was watching anyone?" He asked with one eyebrow raised mockingly.
"Because I know you." Kyra said sweetly, gliding forward to place a kiss on his cheek. "And I know no one else you watch who would irritate you so much as to put a scowl on your face."
"You irritate me." Jareth grumbled as he pat her hand in an affectionate gesture that Sarah would be surprised to see.
"Not as much as that mortal does." Kyra said, a smug smile on her face as his eyes flashed with annoyance. "What is she doing now?"
"How would I know?" Jareth snapped. "Don't you have something to do? Like mess with someone's dreams? Grant a wish?"
"Stop trying to get rid of me, Jareth." Kyra said with a frown. "I heard the wish you made."
"You promised me you wouldn't read my thoughts."
"You shouted it so loudly I didn't have a choice." Kyra replied her expression thoughtful. "I thought it might interest you to know that your Sarah made the same wish."
"She's not my—what did you say?"
"She made the same wish." Kyra repeated.
Jareth made a temple of his hands, resting his chin atop them as his gaze narrowed thoughtfully. He met his sister's gaze, seeing her agreement with the thought that was forming in his head. She would do it because he asked.
He'd found a way to make her suffer as he had.
Back in Sarah's world:
Sarah released Toby from her grasp, leaving him in a giggling pile in the center of her bed. She grinned down at him, glancing at the doorway at the sound of a clearing throat. Karen stood in the doorway, her expression trying to be stern as she looked at Toby.
"You were supposed to be in bed young man." Karen scolded the twinkle in her eyes giving away her amusement.
"But Mom!"
"Now." Karen said in a firmer voice. "You'll see Sarah in the morning."
Toby flung his arms about her and hugged her tight. Sarah squeezed him back, jolting in surprise at the words he whispered in her ear.
"Don't wish it away, Sarah."
She stared after him in confusion as the door slid shut behind him. She could hear him trying to protest his imposed bedtime as they moved down the hall, the voices growing fainter until she could hear them no longer. His words puzzled her; it was almost as if he knew what she'd been thinking about that afternoon. She shrugged it off as she turned down the blankets on the bed, chalking it up to coincidence as she went through the routine of preparing for sleep. She slid between the freshly washed sheets, sighing as her body sank into the familiar comfort of her old bed. She reached over and turned off the light, closing her eyes in the dark quiet of the room.
She opened her eyes a few moments later, though it did not change the view. She swung her legs out form beneath the covers and stood at the side of the bed in one fluid motion, stretching gracefully before walking over to the window. She pushed the curtain aside, letting in a beam of moonlight that bathed her in luminescence while she gazed between the branches outside her window at the yard. A flutter of movement caught her eye and her gaze narrowed as a winged shape flew from the tree, gliding across the backyard with stealthy grace. Her breath caught in her throat…she knew that owl.
"Damn you, Goblin King." Sarah whispered, her breath fogging a small circle of glass as she leaned her forehead against the pane. "You plague my thoughts. I wish I had never met you."
"That can be arranged."
Sarah whirled around, her hand coming up to grasp the neckline of her gown at the sight before her. It was a woman; gowned in blue and in the style she had come to know in the Underground. Her rich black hair was in a single braid that fell down her back to her waist, her face pale and beautiful in the moonlight. She wore the same sly expression that Jareth had often taunted her with, and when Sarah looked closer she could see the same mismatched eyes.
"Who are you?" Sarah demanded, straightening her back as she took a step forward. "Did Jareth send you?"
"My brother sends me nowhere." The girl gave a merry laugh that was like music to Sarah's ears. "I come here on my own."
"For what purpose?" Sarah asked. She was suspicious now that she knew this was a relative of Jareth's. "Who are you?"
"My name is Kyra." Was her reply. "I am the Queen of Dreams. I am here to grant your wish."
"Wish?"
"You wish you had never met my brother. Very well, it is done."
Outside lightning crashed, and thunder boomed. Sarah raced to the window only to see no storm outside. She turned back to her room and found it empty. She was alone.
The following morning…
Sarah rose from bed, having spent the night tossing and turning. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and shuffled to the vanity, reaching automatically for the brush that should have been kept on the edge. Her fingers closed around air and she frowned, wondering if maybe she'd knocked it down. She raised her gaze to the mirror, her eyes widening in surprise at what she saw.
The pictures of her mother, the ones she'd taken down the night she'd returned from the Labyrinth, were back up in their old places though now were yellowed and curled with age. The opposite wall that was reflected in the glass showed all her toys from childhood staring blankly at her from their shelf. Everything was as if it had been preserved in a museum and she felt a chill go down her spine at the sight. She dressed quickly, taking no time to see if what she wore matched in her haste to ask Karen why she'd put her old things up…though she wondered how Karen could have done it when she figured how little she had slept last night. She was still convinced that Kyra had been a dream, and none of what had occurred was real. It had been a dream, something her subconscious had come up with to make her feel better.
The first thing to hit her was the sheer volume of music coming from behind the closed door of Toby's bedroom. She paused outside the closed door, peering in confusion at the skull and crossbones that were crudely painted on the wood. The words KEEP OUT were stenciled below that, stating its message loud and clear in blood red paint. She reached out and grasped the doorknob, twisting it and pushing the door in as the latch released.
The room was dark, lit only by a dim desk lamp. Toby, at least she assumed it was Toby, sat hunched in the middle of his bed, rocking to the beat of the music throbbing out of the speakers that took up most of one wall. His head was bent and she could not see his face though from what she could see of his hair she wasn't sure she wanted too. It was long and hung in greasy waves that hid his face from view. He wore tattered jeans, and a black t- shirt with the words BITE ME blazing across the front. She took a step forward, thinking to lower the volume of the music so she could talk to him. He looked up as if he'd heard her step, an impossibility considering she couldn't hear herself breathe.
He raised his arm, pointing a remote held in his hand at the system. The volume abruptly cut off and the silence was nearly as deafening as the music had been.
"What the fuck do you want?" He demanded, a sneer on his face that reminded her of a certain King.
"Toby!" Sarah gasped, appalled at his language. "What's wrong with you? Why are you talking to me like that?"
"Because I hate your guts." He said simply. "I always have."
He laughed at the look of shock on her face, leaning back to stare at her with interest.
"Are you auditioning for another role?" He asked with feigned interest. "Is that why you're here…you have to practice being nice to someone you've always hated?"
"Auditioning--?" Sara asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"My big sister, wanting to be a star." Toby said with scorn. "You always want to be the center of attention. Being on stage gives you that."
"I work in a bookstore." Sarah said faintly, her hand fluttering at her throat as she stared at him.
"Whatever." Toby replied with indifference. "Get out of my room."
"But Toby—"
"GET OUT!" He screamed, restoring the volume of his stereo with the flick of a wrist.
Sarah stepped out, closing the door behind her and leaning against it as her heart beat wildly in her chest. The look in his eyes had been frightening; there had been a malice there that she would never have been able to picture in Toby's eyes before. His innocence seemed to be gone, replaced by a scorn that was scorching in its intensity. She was beginning to think Kyra had done something horrible.
She made her way downstairs hesitantly, her steps slowing as she took in the condition of the house. Karen was a meticulous housekeeper, and prided herself on the décor she and Sarah had picked together. That was all gone. It looked as if the walls hadn't been painted in 10 years, and the carpet itself was threadbare and torn. The banister wobbled under her hand, she had the feeling that if you put any weight upon it you would crash through to the floor below.
She made it to the bottom without mishap and rounded the corner into the kitchen. She came to an abrupt halt when she saw Karen…but not the pretty, carefully made up Karen that she had grown accustomed to. This Karen was worn looking, tired and washed out. Her hair was pulled back severely, emphasizing the deep lines around her eyes and mouth. A cigarette dangled from between thinned lips, and she was dressed in what could only be described as a housecoat, with furry slippers sticking out from beneath its hem. The anger in her gaze when she looked upon Sarah made her cringe inwardly, and she braced herself for this conversation.
"We don't have any money to give you." Karen spat, tapping the ash from her cigarette onto the floor.
"I'm not looking for money." Sarah said softly.
"That would be a first." Karen snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "So what are you here for? You never come around unless you want something."
"I live here." Sarah said hesitantly, still uncertain what her role was in this drama.
"Not anymore you don't." Karen shrieked. "Did your father let you in again? Did you hit him up for a place to stay? You always take advantage of him when he's drunk, he'd never let you in the door otherwise."
Sarah's eyes widened under this assault, she couldn't believe the tirade she was being given. Two people she had come to love as if they were blood family were turning their backs upon her.
"But why?" Sarah asked, her voice choked. "What have I done to make you this way?"
"You never gave me a bloody chance, that's what." Karen said, her voice hard as nails. "From the moment I married your father you set out to make my life a living hell. You became worse when Toby was born. You thought we were trying to replace you in your father's life, so you did all you could to drive us away."
"I was jealous." Sarah said to herself as she remembered how it had been ten years ago. "But I got over it. After I came back from…"
Her words trailed off as she realized she had been about to say the Labyrinth. She frowned. In this life, she had never gone to the Labyrinth. Her confused thoughts were interrupted when her father stumbled in, his hand to his eyes as he headed for the cupboard. The first thing he did was grab a ready bottle of whisky, break the seal, and tip it back for a long swallow. Karen rolled her eyes, clearly used to this morning routine. Sarah was appalled however, and it showed on her face.
"Don't look so disgusted." Karen said as she watched her husband walk from the room without even glancing at his daughter. "You drove him to it. Now get out."
"But where do I go?"
"That's your problem." Karen sneered. "Not mine. Now go, before I call the cops again. This is my house. Not yours."
Sarah turned and blindly stumbled out of the door that hung on its hinges.
In the Underground:
"This is perfect." Jareth said in a voice filled with glee as he watched Sarah in his crystal. The look of anguish on her face was enough to fill his long cold heart with warmth. She was finally feeling some of what he had been feeling all these years. Her safe happy world was falling apart, and she was the one that had caused it to happen.
"You seem pleased." Kyra commented, gazing at him over the rim of the cup she was drinking out of.
"I am." Jareth said with a sigh. His hand curled into a fist at his side as he leaned back in his throne. "I haven't been this entertained in…"
"10 years?'' Kyra said with a sly grin. "She's haunted you all this time hasn't she?"
"She refused me."
"You didn't offer her much."
"I offered her anything she wanted!" Jareth raged, tossing the crystal at his annoying sister, scowling when she caught it effortlessly.
"You should have offered her more." Kyra said, turning the crystal so she could peer into its depths.
"What more could I have offered her?"
"Your heart." Kyra replied absently. "Oh dear, she's just discovered she has no apartment. How do you think she'll react when she realizes the bookstore is gone?"
"Give me that." Jareth demanded, reaching for the sphere. "I don't want to miss this."
Sarah walked slowly down the street where her apartment should have been with an aching heart. Nothing was as it should have been. She had no apartment and the place where she worked was a boarded up mess. She shoved her hands into the pocket of her jeans, fingers wrapping around a small plastic square that she pulled out. It was her driver's license; though the picture on it showed a much angrier Sarah than she could ever remember being. The address was different than her father's house, or the apartment. She figured there could be no harm in checking it out. Maybe she'd find someone who could paint a better picture of who she was in this life. She didn't know if she really wanted to know, but she couldn't just wander around aimlessly.
An hour later she stood in front of the library with a frown on her face as she stared sightlessly at the license she held in her hand. In this life she apparently lied about the address she lived at. She shoved the offending piece of plastic back in her pocket, as she hunched her shoulders against the wind that had picked up. She stared up at the library as an idea slowly formed in her head; she had to find out how to counter the spell Kyra had cast. Hoping the library might have a selection of books to help her, she went inside.
She sat at a computer, taking a moment to gather her thoughts as the heated air warmed her chilled skin. She'd rushed from Karen's (she couldn't think of it as home right now) so quickly she'd not grabbed her coat or the purse that held her money. Who even knew if she had money any more? Once the cold was worked out of her fingers she began to type, pulling up every subject relating to magic she could think of. Nothing seemed to leap out at her as important as she scrolled down the screen, everything seemed to be about do it yourself magic tricks. She wasn't looking to pull a rabbit out of a hat she needed the REAL stuff. She finally typed in 'Queen of Dreams' though she held no hope in finding anything. To her surprise she found something. She wrote down the information and was soon wandering through the aisles looking for the tome she sought.
As she wandered deeper into the back of the library the light grew dimmer. This was the oldest part of the building, and hadn't been modernized as much as the newer section. Instead of bright fluorescent lights there were single bulbs, instead of new paint and plaster there was brick. The air was more chill back here, forcing a shiver from Sarah as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms to ward it of. She turned another corner, pausing as she came upon an elderly man. A gasp escaped her lips in surprise; she hadn't expected that anyone else would be this far back.
"Hello." Sarah offered in greeting.
"Hello, Sarah."
Her heart leapt in her throat. How did he know her name?
"Looking for old books again?"
"You know me?"
"I should hope so. You work for me."
He stepped closer, bringing himself into the circle of light.
"Mr. Erickson! I'm so glad to see you!"
If he was surprised by the fierceness of the hug she gave him he gave no sign. His gnarled hands patted her back awkwardly and his wrinkled face pulled down into a frown as he felt the slight tremors shaking her body.
'Are you alright, child?" He asked as she straightened, taking note of how pale her face was. "Something has happened, hasn't it?"
"It's the most horrible thing." She confided, her voice hushed. "I've made a terrible mistake."
"Well then, we'll have to see if we can fix it, won't we? Come along dear. We'll go back to the store and I'll fix you a cup of tea. You can tell me all about what is troubling you."
"Mr. Erickson, the store isn't there anymore." Sarah said hesitantly.
"Nonsense. It was there when I locked up last night."
"Everything has changed since last night." Sarah replied miserably. "I made a wish."
"Out loud?" He asked with concern. "Sarah, you know better."
"I know." Sarah whispered, ashamed. "I wasn't thinking."
"Did Jareth show up?"
In the underground Jareth was frowning as he watched the scene play out between Sarah and the old man. He'd been having great fun misleading her; he'd misplaced the very book she'd been searching for. It hadn't been in his plans to have someone remember the REAL Sarah. The old man shouldn't be immune to the spell…but he was. He'd have to deal with that. He watched the two leave the library, a smile crossing his face as Sarah began telling her tales of woe, misery clear on her face as she did so. She was suffering…soon she'd call for him to end her pain. And when she did…
She'd be his.
Part 2
"Kyra isn't as horrible as she seems." Mr. Erickson said as he poured tea into two mugs. "She is actually a compassionate woman. She is quite the opposite of her brother."
"I think he sent her." Sarah said bitterly as she accepted a cup from his hands. "I saw an owl in the yard just before she appeared. That's why I said what I did. I wanted him gone."
"She may be doing what he asks." Mr. Erickson replied, blowing on his tea to cool it. "You yourself know how loyal family can be to each other."
"I did." Sarah said bitterly. "The worst thing is it's my fault. I gave voice to the thought. I gave them the power to do this."
"Jareth's been waiting a long time to get his revenge." He said in a stern voice though his eyes were kind. "You gave him the window of opportunity he was waiting for."
Sarah sat in silence for a moment sipping her tea. She looked up as a thought occurred to her.
"Do you still have those books?" Sarah asked as she leaned forward to accept the cookie he handed out. "The ones I asked you to keep here?"
"The ones you gave up after completing the Labyrinth?" Mr. Erickson asked curiosity in his voice. "You said you never wanted to see them again."
"That was because I felt bad about wishing Toby away." Sarah replied. "I was ashamed of what I did. I was afraid they would find out. I couldn't keep them at the house."
"I think I still have them." He told her, rising unsteadily from his chair. "I'll go check."
Sarah leaned back in her chair, resting her head back as fatigue washed over her. She had been running full force since that morning, and the day's events hadn't helped any. She was asleep in a matter of moments and did not hear her friend's return. He paused and an expression of affection crossed his face as he gazed down at the sleeping girl. Finally he turned away only to return with a blanket that he drew over her, and a pillow that he tucked beneath her head. He pushed a button on the recliner and soon she was resting as comfortably as if she were in bed.
Kyra glanced at Jareth out of the corner of her eye, smiling inwardly as she saw his absorbed expression. He wouldn't even notice if he were dropped in the center of the Bog right now, he was so intent upon the mortal's face. She wondered when he would figure out who the old man was.
"She's learned to take responsibility for her actions." Kyra said with amusement as his eyebrow went up in surprise.
"I was expecting to hear 'It's not fair' come out of her lips." Jareth muttered.
Kyra sighed and was not surprised when he did not notice. He only had eyes for Sarah, yet he did not see what Kyra was trying to make him see…that Sarah had grown into a woman that did not deserve his anger. If he could look past what she had unwittingly done as a child he may have a chance at happiness, whether he had Sarah or not. The woman she had become might be ready to accept the offer he had made before, but not if he were to continue upon this path of revenge. As long as he thought that this was what he wanted Kyra would continue to give it to him, for she would never deny a request made by family. She just hoped he came to his senses before he ruined any chance he might have of gaining the mortal woman's affections.
"What books do you suppose she was talking about?" Kyra asked, the picture of innocence as she settled comfortably on the seat across from him.
"I don't know." Jareth replied, the crystal disappearing from his hand in a blink as he glanced at his sister. "The only book I ever saw that meant anything was the one I sent her."
"Hmm…I wonder what she was talking about then." Kyra murmured, closing her own eyes.
In the apartment, Sarah began to dream…
Sarah stood surrounded by elegance…sheer wall hangings, crystal chandeliers. She turned her head and looked her fill, wondering why she was dreaming of a place she had tried so hard to forget. She took a step forward, glancing down at the feel of silk swishing against her legs. She gasped as she realized she was wearing the same gown she had worn when Jareth had brought her hear 10 years before. She walked hurriedly to one of the mirrored walls and stared at her reflection with awe. She had always loved this dress. She ran her hands down the front, relishing the feel of the rich fabric beneath her fingers. Her admiration was halted when she heard a soft laugh behind her. She raised her gaze to see Kyra's face reflected at her and she turned in a whirl of skirting to face the Queen of Dreams.
"Hello Sarah." Kyra said, her rich voice sounding like music in the ballroom. "Imagine meeting you here, of all places."
"You sent me here." Sarah accused, her tone as cold as winter as she eyed the woman that had caused her world to turn upside down.
"No." Kyra said simply. "You were already here. I simply joined you."
"I don't believe you."
"Whatever you may believe, I assure you I tell the truth." Kyra corrected. "We do not lie. We can talk in circles, and keep you from guessing the truth, but we do not lie. Think back to your past experience and you'll find that's true."
Sarah paused as Kyra's words sunk in. It was true; Jareth had never lied to her. Infuriated her yes, but lied no. She looked at Kyra with less hostility in her eyes than had been there before.
"I haven't dreamed about this place in years. Why would I start now?" Sarah asked with frustration, more to herself than to the woman before her.
"Because this is where you first started to view Jareth as more than a villain. This is where you started to let your heart open to him." Kyra said with a smile.
"I was drugged." Sarah said sharply, her denial sounding desperate even to her own ears.
"You were spellbound." Kyra interjected. "You were made to forget your task for a time. It did not make you feel what you felt that day."
"Bull. I know there are love spells."
"So you admit you feel love?"
"I admit nothing of the sort." Sarah said firmly. "I was merely stating that there are spells that can influence feelings."
"And you think Jareth wanted to influence your feelings, do you." Kyra said with amusement as she seated herself at a table. "Why do you think he would do that?"
"To win." Sarah replied.
"Interesting." Kyra mused. "Why don't you sit? We can discuss this over a glass of wine."
"I'll sit." Sarah agreed as she settled into a chair. "But I'm not drinking anything. Not after last time."
"It's your dream Sarah. Nothing can hurt you here. Not unless you want it to."
"Why would anyone want to be hurt?" Sarah asked skeptically as she reluctantly took the glass of wine Kyra poured for her.
"You'd be surprised." Kyra said with a shudder of distaste. "So tell me why you hate my brother."
Sarah sipped the wine before answering, noting with irony that she was drinking peach Chardonnay. If this was her dream, as Kyra said, then she had a warped sense of humor.
"I don't hate him." She explained. "I dislike him. I don't trust him and I think he is terribly arrogant. He's not particularly endearing."
"He worked very hard to present you with that image." Kyra said, sipping her own wine and letting out an amused laugh when she tasted it. "Can you imagine the impact if he'd gone in the opposite direction?"
"I'd prefer not to." Sarah said firmly, setting the now empty glass back on the table. "I can't imagine he would want to. We weren't on the same side."
"Not by his choice." Kyra smiled. "Your wish made it so."
"Don't remind me. I seem to be queen of stupid mistakes when it comes to wishes."
"I wouldn't blame yourself entirely, Sarah. Jareth has made his own mistakes when it comes to you."
"Really." Sarah said with interest as she locked gazes with Kyra. "What kind of mistakes?"
Kyra opened her mouth to answer and Sarah leaned forward to catch her words. She leaned too far though, and toppled out of the chair, landing on the floor beside the recliner she'd fallen asleep in the night before. She lay stunned for a moment and then rolled onto her side with a groan. Why did she have to choose that moment to wake up?
Kyra opened her eyes to find Jareth staring at her with suspicion. She only smiled sweetly at him and stretched with a yawn, the picture of innocence staring back at him. He did not need to know that she was meddling.
Part 3
"It says the only way to break the spell is to confront my regrets." Sarah said with a scowl as she read from the ancient tome.
""You do know what that means, don't you?" Mr. Erickson asked, puffing away on a pipe as he gazed at her over the rims of his glasses. "You have to go back."
"Go back home?"
"Go back to the Labyrinth." He replied. "You tried to wish the experience away because you regretted wishing Toby away. You wished you had never met Jareth, and this was the result. You'll need to go there to face him."
"Damn him." Sarah said softly, closing the book with a snap before rising to pace impatiently. "This was his plan all along. He wants me to come back."
"He's using the spell to his favor." Mr. Erickson agreed with an amused chuckle. "He has to get you to come back on your own. He's forced your hand."
"I'm glad you find this funny." Sarah said bitterly as she turned to face him. "Because you're coming with me."
"No, my dear. This is your quest, not mine. I never plan to return to the Labyrinth again. I'm much happier here."
Sarah's shoulders slumped with dejection. She knew he was right; she was just being selfish wanting him to accompany her. It wouldn't be fair to drag him back into the middle of her and Jareth's long-standing showdown.
"I know." She said quietly. "I'll just miss you, Hoggle."
Jareth's expression of surprised fury was enough to send Kyra into a fit of laughter that even his glare could not halt. She'd known all along and had been waiting for the moment he figured out that Hoggle had escaped his clutches and had found happiness Aboveground. Time had altered his appearance until he was human…completely human and beyond Jareth's reach.
"That traitorous dwarf." Jareth seethed, temper ripe upon his face as he strode back and forth across his throne room. "The coward. That—"
"I'd say he's pretty smart to come up with an escape that outwitted the Goblin King." Kyra said merrily. "Are you angry that he escaped, or are you angry because you never thought he'd try? Or that he's been the one to spend the last 10 years with the beautiful Sarah?"
"I'll bring him back, I'll toss him in the bog. He'll regret crossing me." Jareth said icily.
"You can't touch him, brother." Kyra chided. "He's human now. You can't touch him unless he brings himself here. Besides, you don't really want to hurt him. Sarah would never forgive you."
"You think I care for her forgiveness? That I sit and pine for a silly mortal child that didn't have the sense to accept the world when I offered it to her? All I've wanted these years is to make her pay, and that is what I'm going to do."
He strode from the room, leaving Kyra to sit, her hands clasped together in glee.
This was going to be great fun.
(So, shall I go on?)