Chapter 1: Jareth's Return
The sun was gone, but he still saw everything. Felt everything. Waseverything.
That didn't make sense. Jareth tried to shake his head, to clear his mind, only to find that he didn't have a head.
He found he couldn't remember anything. Except--except a smell. A smell like clouds and sunlight. How poetic. The smell dominated his thoughts; it brought a feeling of utter rage, of bitterness, of desire, a mark of tenderness. And surprisingly, pride.
He tried to concentrate. Why didn't he have a body? What had happened to him? The smell.
"You have no power over me."
Who had said that? Where was he? The smell. Those words had something to do with the smell.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City…."
Castle? Goblin City. That voice.
"For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great….You have no power over me."
Sarah! Sarah, oh that beautiful little bitch. She had done this to him. She had bested him. Beaten his labyrinth, defeated his troops.
She had also rejected him. That was a blow to his ego that he could not ignore. He had to find her, had to make her pay.
Jareth focused all his energy on spreading himself, on searching, searching. Ah, the smell!
Sarah stroked her daughter's silky dark hair.
"She's so beautiful." Jacob DeSilva kissed his wife's neck.
"Yeah, we did well, didn't we?"
He nodded. "She looks just like you."
"No, she's got your mouth."
Jacob grimaced. "Are you kidding me? Look at that little pout. Those are your lips. I'm beginning to wonder if there's any of me in there. Your nose, your chin."
"Your ears."
"Sadly, I'll have to concede that point. I cursed her." He wiggled his slightly pointed ears.
"Oh no, your ears are adorable."
"You're adorable."
"Jacob," Sarah sighed as he turned her to face him and kissed her.
"Sarah."
Her eyes opened. Who the hell?
"I wish I didn't have to go," Jacob murmured.
Sarah's eyes darted around the room. "So do I."
"I'll be back next Tuesday though," he kissed her again, "we can finish this then."
She nodded mutely.
"I love you." He bent over the baby's crib. "Bye, sweetie. Daddy's going to miss you." Jacob turned to Sarah again, surprised by her expression. "What's wrong?"
Sarah shook her head. "Nothing, just thought I heard something weird. I'm fine."
He gave her a doubting look.
"I'm fine. If you don't leave now, you'll miss your plane."
Jacob pulled her into his arms and kissed her once more. "Don't have too much fun without me. I love you," he repeated.
"I love you, too."
With a troubled glance back at her, he left the room.
Sarah quickly opened the shades, chasing away the shadows and making the late afternoon sun slat over her sleeping daughter's face.
She rubbed her pudgy baby cheeks, then picked her up, making honey eyes open.
"Hey there, princess. How about a shower?"
Sarah went to start the water running, leaving Olivia in her crib.
"Sarah."
Her head jerked around. That voice, so familiar. Why did she know that voice?
The air around her sparkled. "What on Earth?"
The shimmering disappeared as swiftly as it had come. She stood stock-still, her mind running wild.
"Olivia."
Sarah ran to the nursery, only to stop in her tracks at the sight of the crib. Glitter hung around Olivia like a mantle, but the child wasn't scared. Quite the opposite, she was giggling and trying to catch the miniscule silver fireflies.
"Sarah."
Sarah hastened to pick her child up, hugging her so tightly that Olivia squealed in protest.
The air had cleared once again and, had it not been for the thin layer of diamond shine on Olivia and herself, Sarah might have been able to believe it had all been a trick of the light. Or a dream. Just another dream.
Author's Note: I know it's short, but it's really more of a prologue than anything else.