"In revenge and in love woman is more barbaric than man is."

-Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

1986

She had said no.

Well, no… that wasn't strictly true. She hadn't said 'no' exactly, she just hadn't said 'yes'. Even so, it was the closest to a negative reply that he had ever received, and that made it his loss.

You have no power over me.

Well, well, quite so. Words had power after all, so now he had no power over her; although the very fact that she had managed to utter such a thing was perhaps evidence that he had never possessed her at all. He knew it shouldn't bother him; he hadn't really wanted her, after all. She was just a child, a slip of a thing, but for some reason that made it all the more infuriating that she had managed to beat him at his own game.

She had turned him down. He had offered dreams, her dreams, more importantly. He had even put himself on the line… well; it was true that he'd worded that carefully enough, there was little concern in becoming a slave when one must 'do as you say,' after all. Still, it chafed him, and now as he watched her celebrate from the branch outside of her window, he felt bitter.

He hadn't lost. Their game was bigger than that, he would make it so. This was just a small inconsequential match in the scheme of the things to come; he would be victorious at their end game.

Yes, she hadn't won anything at all.

He would see to that.

1998

"I think I must have misheard you, I thought I heard you say Toby Williams."

The goblin before him splits into an almost endearing grin and nods it's little head.

The Goblin King regards it doubtfully.

Idiots.

It couldn't possibly be Toby Williams. Then again, humans have an almost tiresome repetition in their naming conventions, perhaps it could be a Toby Williams.

"Fine. But this is not the Toby William's, who was briefly a fixture in the Labyrinth?"

The goblin continues to nod, it has, in fact, not stopped nodding since it first started. He is not sure if this is because the answer is still true, or if this moronic little skin bag has simply forgotten to halt the action. He suspects the latter, simply because it is impossible that the younger Williams child would be making wishes. His sister would have taught him better than that, surely?

"Go," he mutters, waving the messenger away and pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. It will turn out to be nothing, a wild goose chase, pity really. The last real fun he's experienced in centuries was been at the expense of a Williams, but all good things must come to an end. Sarah was been an excellent sparring partner, until things had started to get dangerous, then he'd had to tuck her away somewhere safe. For her own good, of course. Now he didn't get the headaches he used to, but it was rather boring. She had not interfered with the Labyrinth since he'd had her manoeuvred into that place, given enough time she would have destroyed everything he'd worked for here, they were both better off with this arrangement.

How long has she been in the institute now in human years? He pauses; it must be no short period of time by mortal standards. So how old is her brother now? How long have they been apart? Isn't there some small chance that Toby Williams has grown up to be estranged from his sister? In that case it isn't completely impossible that the wisher could be him.

He smiles indulgently at the thought. He hadn't bothered manipulating a baby Toby, not as he did the rest of Sarah's family, there was nothing to gain from that. An older Toby might be more interesting though, if he has the same courage and stubborn nature as his sister then granting a wish to the young man might be an enjoyable game.

With that in mind he plucks a crystal orb from the air with practiced grace.

Toby Williams.

Inside he sees the very boy he had hoped for. Older now, a shock of blonde hair and serious blue eyes; he does not closely resemble Sarah, but the scowl on his face is all too familiar. Jareth finds he is grinning, if the boy is anything like his difficult sister then this will be an enjoyable diversion.

In the crystal he can see him mouthing the words of his wish with a growing sense of anticipation and disappointment. The messenger Toffel reported that he has been wishing for the past few hours now, does his insistent belief that he will be heard stem from Sarah's tales? Perhaps he is merely so desperate he has disregarded any warnings his sister might also have left him with. No matter, The Goblin King has heard and has every intention of answering the call.

He sidesteps through time as if it were no more difficult than stepping through a doorway. He is, perhaps, too eager, and has forgotten the joy of a dramatic entrance. Without crashing thunder, lightning, or winds to rattle the latched windows and announce him with their howling, his arrival falls flat. Which is to say, it goes unnoticed for several minutes, long awkward minutes, which he spends staring at the back of the blondes boy's head and wondering if he should clear his throat loudly.

Eventually, Toby turns, and his disappointment only grows. The boy's eyes widen, but he looks less than shocked. In fact he looks… annoyed, as if Jareth is late for some prior appointment.

Jareth frowns. It's hard to work with this, shock and disbelief are easy, impatience is unfamiliar and his mouth goes dry as he gropes for his line.

"Young Tobias," he bluffs, he hasn't quite gotten his arrogant stride back yet, but it will come.

Toby William's cocks an eyebrow as his eyes sweep over him. "Goblin King."

He is stuck again for a moment, this isn't going to plan at all; the boy is a much harder sell than his sister. "You made a wish," he drawls, trying to regain control of the situation.

"I did," Toby agrees.

He smiles darkly. "I've granted it, or rather, the contract is in place which will fulfil it in due course"

"Okay."

Jareth grinds his teeth. Okay, okay? That's a rather flippant response for a wish he's been so eagerly trying to make for the past few hours.

"But I want you to make me a promise," adds the young man.

Ah, now this is something he is familiar with, bargaining. He relaxes slightly.

"I know you've had dealings with my sister, and she told me not to trust you."

Jareth smiles and nods, he would have expected at least that much.

"I still want the wish, of course, and I doubt you'd let me take it back anyway. I just want a sign of your honour that you haven't twisted what I've asked for and granted it badly, since it's not completely fulfilled yet." Toby grimaces.

"Badly?" Jareth knows his innocent look leaves something to be desired, but he does his best.

"Yeah, I don't want you to take anything out of context."

"How old are you Tobias?"

"It's Toby," he growls, "and I'm twelve."

"Twelve." He smirks, still little more than a baby. "You are aware that I said I'd granted the wish, so regardless of any acts I now perform it has already taken shape. Not that I'm necessarily bound by honour anyway, as you should be aware."

"All the same," the boys insists, "this is an agreement between men."

He can't contain his snort of laughter; there are no men in this room to make such an agreement, only a boy and a fae, but whatever. The thought causes him to examine the room properly and gives him pause. This is Sarah's room, is that why the boy has made a wish, while thinking of his sister? The room is ironically not so changed from when he last saw it, still very much the décor of a child, but she must be a woman grown by now.

He turns his attention back to the well-meaning boy. "And what is this nonsensical sign of honour you require, if I were to accommodate to you?"

The boy sniffs. "Handshake."

The Goblin King laughs; it is clearly a day for humour. What sort of a ridiculous situation is this? He ponders the request, tapping his top lip.

"Very well, but let us make further arrangements, I'm feeling… generous."

Toby gives him a look of mistrust. "What arrangements?"

"Well young… Toby," he says the name distastefully, clearly preferring the more formal convention. "You've made, let's see how many-" he stops to count exaggeratedly on his fingers. "Oh look, it's your age, twelve; you've made twelve wishes today."

Toby pales.

"I agree to your honourable terms for only one of these wishes, although it is just the same wish repeated over and over, greedy, greedy. I shall grant all the others as I see fit."

"Wait," calls the boy, "let's just make it the one wish then."

"But you were so insistent-"

"Just one," grates Toby. "I give up all those other wishes for the promise that you'll honour this one and prove your worth by shaking my hand."

"My worth?" Jareth snarls. "Do you think to measure me by my handshake?"

"Why, do you think it will be lacking?"

Touche. The boy has all the spunk of his older sister; he can't help but feel a little nostalgic. He is not afraid of a twelve year old, however.

With a smirk he holds out his right hand towards the boy, no action of his now will undo a wish made, but this particular wish is one he has influence over, so he can make this promise and keep it. If he so chooses.

Toby looks doubtfully down at the gloved hand. "I said handshake."

Jareth's arm is getting sore. "And?"

"And that's a glove, I said handshake, not gloveshake, do it properly."

Annoying brat, what a tedious thing to nitpick over. He doesn't usually take his gloves off in company; however he's all but accepted this arrangement now. Besides, even he's not sure he could have found twelve different ways to twist that wish without having to adhere to it several times, at least now he must only do so once.

"Fine," he mutters, slipping the glove off and flexing his hand. The pattern of tattoos on the back of his palm undulate with magic, he see the boy glance at them in interest.

Right, now he's suddenly impressed.

Perhaps he should have simply showed up and pulled a rabbit from a hat for the child?

He reaches out again, a tiresome expression on his face.

Toby gives the hand another dubious look.

"What is it now?" he growls in irritation, closing his eyes.

"Absolutely nothing," he hears the boy murmur.

A small hand finds his and gives it a tight squeeze, not a bad grip for a twelve year old. The grasp tightens further and Jareth frowns, but does not open his eyes. Is the boy trying to impress him? This has been a rather tiring day. Suddenly he feels something hot brush the back of his palm.

At first it doesn't feel like anything, a whisper of heat. Then his head explodes with pain and his eyes fly open. He screams, loudly, trying to pull his hand from Toby's, but, failing to do so, falls to his knees in agony. His whole arm is on fire and there is a stink or burning flesh and a hot metal tang in the room.

Iron.

Sarah's brother holds the curling iron flat against the tattooed pattern on his hand, scoring flesh. He shrieks again, the pain is blinding, a red film covers his vision and he fears he will pass out. Finally, the poisonous metal is removed, and his hand falls limp at his side. He clutches it to his chest, wheezing and groaning from the throbbing ache which is still running through it.

He turns blind eyes on the boy. "You!" he croaks weakly.

He cannot strike out, however, because the whole room tilts. He realises it then, what he hadn't noticed when distracted by agony.

Gone.

His connection to the Labyrinth, to his magic, is broken. The seal which had held everything together has been seared away by the taint of the iron. The intricate symbols on the back of his hand are almost entirely obliterated, and now the Labyrinth has no master, it is free to run wild again.

No.

That is wrong too, the Labyrinth is not without a master. He is now no more than an inhabitant there, but he can feel the pull of the new controlling force, ripping him through time and space to stand before it, with no power over his flight. He cleaves a path from Sarah's room to somewhere else, this new force tearing at him with the blunt, untrained power it has now acquired.

He hits a stone wall hard, jarring the shoulder of his sore arm. Momentarily he is so dizzy with shock and pain he cannot get a grasp on his consciousness. He lies in the dark, breathing in an out and wondering if he is about to meet death. Then his head clears.

Sarah.

He has been a fool. Toby didn't just attack him; he knew the exact weak spot to look for. The Labyrinth has a new master; this means someone has made a similar contract with it to his own. Someone with the knowledge of the seal, and, it seems, with no magic experience. It's too much to credit such a thing to a twelve year old boy, but his sister… she has always proved herself a force to be reckoned with.

He rolls onto his good arm and glances around in the dark. Barely, there is the hint of a person in this room of shadows. He knows it is her, instinctually; she carries the scent of the Labyrinth now. Fuelled by rage and pain he crawls awkwardly towards her, until she is the outline of a person, black against black in the tiny cell. He does not know why she sits in the dark, but he does not care, his mind is filled with a frenzy of other things.

He grabs the curve of her shoulders and shakes her.

"Do know what you've done?" he screams. "Do you have any idea what it is you've just done?" his voice is filled with such vitriol he almost recoils from it. He himself is only just beginning to realise all of the implications of this devastating act. He shakes her again, hard, but she seems unfazed.

After a moments silence she replies.

"Hello Goblin King."

She begins to laugh then. That is when he knows she has no idea of the repercussions of her actions. She must be mad; this stupid, senseless girl has ruined everything. In the dark he gropes for her hand and finds it sticky with blood, he does not doubt the pattern that once graced his palm is reflected there.

"What have you done?" he groans, "you stupid, selfish child! DID you not cause me enough trouble in the past, now you're hell bent on destroying the Labyrinth too?"

She continues to chuckle. "Only you, precious," she mocks, "But I'll take care of my Labyrinth."

He lets go of her shoulders forcefully, propelling her into the wall behind her.

"Take care of it? You've destroyed it already!"

"Liar!"

"Really? You think you have any idea about the function and purpose of the Labyrinth? What I've built?"

"A poxy goblin army and a dusty old castle-"

"Which you destroyed," he finishes. "Do you think that's all the Labyrinth is?"

"I don't care," she hisses. "For every day I've suffered here, you will suffer a lifetime."

"You're crazy."

"Certified," she sings. "Me and the mirror, and the whitecoats and the whispering. It's all a conspiracy for revenge. I might never get out of this place, but I can't wait to see what drugs they'll put you on here. I do wonder how you'll explain your presence in this room, for starters."

"I'm not staying here," he growls, "I have to get back to the Labyrinth immediately to see what can be salvaged from this wreck."

"Toddle along then. Oh wait, I broke your homing device, can you find it without a map?"

He can hear her crawling along the wall in the darkness, running her hands up and down the stone. What the hell is wrong with her, has she always been this odd?

"We'll be going together," he snarls quietly. He can't go without her, all the power he once had, the power of the Labyrinth, now only she wields it.

"I'm not going anywhere, ever," she replies. "That's been made abundantly clear to me since I got committed. No play dates outside, Goblin King says no."

"Forget the past. We need to go, now."

He can hear her turn towards him in the dark. "Then what's stopping you?" she whispers, a smile in her voice.

He squeezes his fist angrily, biting his lip hard when he realises it is the damaged one. "I can't reach my magic, the connection is gone. You took it."

"What, this old thing?"

Jareth has the distinct impression she is holding up her own palm, which is marked with the Labyrinth seal.

"I need you to take me," he says, his voice dangerously low.

"Give me one good reason why I'd ever help you. I hate you. I'm crazy, but I'm not that crazy."

He seethes with anger, this is an emergency and he has to rely on the wits of this addled, frustrating child and her juvenile behaviour. So she is angry that he's had her locked up? There are caretakers, food, activities, why is she so ungrateful? It is far better than some dank oubliette – this particular room excluded, of course. Has she actually lost her senses to this place? Reasoning with her is clearly not working, and she's more than aware that he is in no position to threaten. All that is left, that his pride will allow, is to bargain.

"I do have a reason, Sarah," he says, thinking quickly. "And I think you'll be packing you bags once you hear it."

"Thrill me," she drawls, "I'll start rolling my socks."

"The Labyrinth is very unstable right now." He smiles. "It will be a very dangerous place for your little brother; coincidentally I happen to know exactly where he is."

Silence stretches out between them like a knife; he can hear her breathing in the dark.

"What have you done with Toby?" she finally asks.

He grins, knowing that he finally has her. She might not be in her right mind now, but the concern in her voice is obvious.

"All I did was grant his wish Sarah," he explains. "Wasn't that part of your grand scheme to summon me, Toby making a wish? All I've done is what he's asked of me."

She remains silent, the room is filled with a tension so thick it threatens to choke them both.

"Oh Goblin King," Jareth mimics the young boy's voice. "I wish you would take me away to the Labyrinth, right now."

He cannot contain his pleased smirk at Sarah's grievous wail. It is the best lie he has ever told her.

Regaining power over Sarah Williams was not so difficult after all.

A/N: Phew, moving to present tense in this piece is tough, as was writing Jareth for this chapter - I prefer it when he can spend all his time being a smart ass.

Sarah Rose 29: Ta!

Aleta Wolff: That's what he gets for underestimating Toby!

TheRealEatsShootsAndLeaves: I do like beating on him, it's just too much fun.

Getsunohimesama: Don't worry, I will make it my mission to make his life very hard. We will eventually have romance though, just because I'm a sucker for it.

J Luc Pitard: Yup we got it all, and a lying Goblin King this time round - that should be fun.

qiana: I caught it just to write this...