CHAPTER FOUR

Disobedient Little Boys

'I'm not going,' Toby declared.

'Toby, I haven't got time for this,' Sarah warned, fastening an earring as she hurried out of her bedroom. She stopped at the hallway mirror, fluffed her dark hair and then continued into the living room where she began rummaging through her purse. 'The taxi will be any minute.'

'Why can't I stay here?'

'Because Mrs. Catalina is in California, and you're too young to stay here by yourself.'

'Brad stays by himself, and he's the same age as I am.'

'You're not Brad.'

'But it's weird,' Toby whined, 'I don't want to go on your date.'

'It's not a date,' Sarah told him, pulling a stick of lip gloss out of her purse and quickly applying it. 'It's work.'

'It doesn't look like work,' he muttered. 'You look like you're expecting him to kiss you or something.'

Sarah whirled around, color rushing to her face. 'He isn't going to kiss me. He's my boss.'

Toby studied the toes of his shoes. 'I don't think that matters to him.'

'You don't like him do you?'

'He called me a mouthy bugger.'

'The truth hurts, kiddo,' she said, shrugging into her best coat, a black wool knee length that had once belonged to Karen.

A horn honked outside.

'That's the taxi. Come on, let's go.'

Toby remained on the couch, his expression obstinate. With a sigh of impatience, Sarah hauled him to his feet, giving him a shove toward the door as she picked up his jacket. Pushing him in front her, she locked the door and then herded him down the communal hallway and stairs and then outside and into the waiting taxi.

'Here,' she said, tossing the jacket at him, 'put it on. It's cold out here.'

Something white and square fell onto the floor of the taxi. Toby reached for it, but Sarah got there first. She picked up a pack of cigarettes. There were only seven left.

Her eyes went to Toby. 'Are these yours?'

'Come on, lady,' the taxi driver grumbled, 'I ain't got all night. There are other people waiting, you know.'

Sarah got in, gave the driver the address and then turned back to Toby.

'You didn't answer me. Are those cigarettes yours?'

'No,' he said, 'they belong to a friend of mine.'

'Then what were they doing in your pocket?'

'I was keeping them for him.'

'Toby, have you been smoking?'

'What if I have? What's it to you?'

'You're twelve years old,' Sarah exclaimed. 'That's far too young to start smoking, and besides, it's bad for you. Do you want to get lung cancer?'

'It'll be years before that happens.'

'What would dad say if he knew?'

'Nothing,' Toby said flatly, 'because he's dead.'

It was obvious she was getting nowhere with him, and she was at a lost as to what to do. How did parents handle things like this? She had no idea. When she worked at the diner she could get advice from Donna who had two grown boys, but now she was like a boat without a rudder. If he was smoking cigarettes at age twelve, would he be smoking pot at fifteen? Such a thought alarmed her and resentment at being a 'single' parent bubbled up inside of her. He wasn't even her kid! Why should she have to deal with stuff like this?

It was a relief when the taxi pulled up to the curb in front of Jared's penthouse, and she could escape for a few hours the reality that she had to do something about her brother's ever increasing rebelliousness. Of course, that relief was short-lived once she saw the building in which Jared' apartment was located.

It was all sleek steel and glass and seemed to glitter with a thousand lights. Both she and Toby stood for several seconds just staring upward. Neither had seen, let alone entered something so spectacular.

'He lives on top of that?' Toby asked, sounding a little awestruck.

Sarah's eyes went to the street number emblazoned above revolving doors. 'It's the address he gave me.'

A doorman in smart blue livery met them as they entered, politely inquiring whom they were there to see, and then directing them to a bank of gleaming silver elevators doors, which opened to reveal lush red carpet and more gleaming silver. The ride up was smooth and noiseless and within seconds, the doors were sliding back. At the end of a long marble hallway was a pair of large, elaborately carved ebony doors.

Sarah hesitated. She was beginning to feel very out of place. Their little apartment seemed like a hovel compared to this, and she felt ashamed that he'd seen it, but of course, she reminded herself, it wasn't as though she'd had a choice.

'What are you waiting for?' Toby asked, looking at her.

She glanced at her watch. 'It's not seven yet. We've got one minute to go.'

'It'll take that long just to get there.'

And before she could stop him, Toby sprinted forward and rang the doorbell. She hurried after him, getting there just as the left door opened.

Jared stood on the threshold. Once again, he was dressed in black, but this time the style was no longer modern. He wore tight leggings tucked in shiny black boots with a black and silver vest over a white shirt with flowing collar and lace cuffs. Sarah frowned. Maybe that sneering cast member was right. Maybe Jared didn't know what century he lived in.

'Good evening, Sarah, Toby,' he said. 'Thirty seconds to spare. I'm impressed. Please come in. Dinner is waiting.'

'Dinner?' Sarah echoed. 'You didn't say anything about dinner.'

He flashed those eyeteeth. 'What kind of host would I be if I didn't feed you? Besides,' his eyes ran over her, 'you're dressed for the Ritz.'

Toby snickered.

If his attire was a surprise, the décor of his home was even more so. Sarah felt as though she was entering a castle rather than a penthouse. The floor was stone, and the entrance way was lit by lanterns holding candles fat with wax drippings. Richly colored tapestries hung on the walls, and there was a suit of armor in one corner.

'This place is spooky,' Toby whispered to her.

'Shhhh!'

They passed through what must be the living room - to Sarah's relief she saw a modern sofa and two armchairs - and then into a rectangular room that held a long ebony table and chairs. Three place settings had been laid and in the middle of each was a silver domed platter. Jared snapped his fingers and suddenly a squat little man appeared who took their coats and then departed.

'He's got an Igor,' Toby hissed behind his hand. 'I bet Frankenstein's in the kitchen.'

'Shhhh!'

'If the two of you can forgo whispering for a few minutes,' Jared said in a bored sort of way, 'please be seated. No, not there,' he told Toby as the boy went for the chair at the head of table, 'that's where I sit. Take the seat to the left.'

'Just like school,' Toby grumbled, 'assigned seats.'

His spirits did improve, however, when he lifted the dome and found pepperoni pizza.

Sarah lifted hers, expecting pizza and was surprised by a perfectly seared filet mignon with grilled asparagus tips. She glanced at Jared. 'Did you cook this?'

'Great bog, no,' he exclaimed as though the idea of him cooking was preposterous, 'I have a cook that comes in daily to prepare my meals when I'm here. The man who took your coat is her husband.'

'Is her name Frankenstein?' Toby asked around a mouth full of pizza.

'As a matter of fact, it is,' Jared murmured, lifting his own dome, 'and her husband's name is Igor. I've asked them to entertain you while your sister and I work. They'll show you my laboratory. I'm sure you'll find it fascinating.'

**SCENE CHANGE**

'That was a dirty trick you pulled on Toby,' Sarah noted. 'He loves pepperoni pizza, and he didn't even finish half of it. He looked a little green when you mentioned a laboratory.'

'Is that censure or admiration I hear in your voice?'

Jared was seated behind a gleaming black piano that took up a significant part of the living room. His head was bent over the keys as his fingers picked out a lilting melody. A waltz, Sarah realized.

'I suppose he deserved it. He was being a little beast as usual.'

He glanced up. 'Problems?'

'No,' Sarah quickly denied, 'what makes you think that?'

'Something in your voice. Tell me.'

To Sarah's surprise, she heard herself saying, 'A pack of cigarettes fell out of his jacket on the ride over here.'

'Rather young to be smoking, isn't it?'

'Yes, very young.'

'And you're afraid it's going to lead to worse things.'

'Isn't that the usual way of things?'

He shrugged. 'I wouldn't know. We have a different method for dealing with obstinate youngsters where I come from. We…transformed them, so to speak.'

'Where do you come from?'

The smile flashed. 'Haven't you read my bio? It's all over the Internet.'

'Er, no,' Sarah admitted uncomfortably. 'I don't follow rock stars.'

'How refreshing. I wish other women shared your aversion,'

'Do your fans bother you?'

'No, not really,' he said, one corner of his mouth kicking upwards in a cynical sort of a smile, 'that's one of the advantages of performing in costume. Without it, they can't pick you out of a crowd.'

His head went down again and he began to hum and then sing. As Sarah listened her thoughts drifted. In her mind's eyes she saw white ball gowns and beribboned masks. She could see it so clearly…so…she squinted, trying to see…the music had stopped. She looked at Jared. He was staring at her, his expression enigmatic.

'What were you thinking of just now?' He asked.

'Ball gowns and masks.'

'Was that all?' His voice was sharp, demanding.

Sarah took a step back, startled by his sudden intensity. 'Yes, I think so. Why?'

'You had a strange look on your face. It's the exact look Beth has on her face when she sees the Goblin King at the masquerade. Perhaps that's why you thought of ball gowns and masks. You were remembering the scene.'

'Yes,' Sarah said slowly, 'I expect so.'

'Remember that expression. It'll help you with that scene when the time comes. Now why don't we get busy on that script?' A sudden twinkle lit his eyes. 'If we don't, then this would be a date, and then I'd be forced to kiss you, wouldn't I?'

Sarah was glad for the blush she'd applied earlier. It hid the red color surging into her cheeks at his words. Fumbling through the papers lying atop the piano, she said, 'Er, where should we start?'

***SCENE CHANGE***

Toby crept down the hallway. He was bored playing video games with goblins in them. A fellow could only kick so many of them before he got tired. Besides, there were more important things to do.

He could hear Sarah speaking in the living room. She sounded funny, and she was saying funny things so he guessed she must be practicing her lines. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child you have stolen. Toby rolled his eyes. Goblins again.

Stopping beside one door, he poked his head around the corner. Bathroom. He crept further on. The next door opened into a bedroom with a huge four poster bed covered in dark blue brocade. An eerie green glow was coming from a far corner. Intrigued, Toby tiptoed inside and was disappointed to find the light coming from a large sunken tub.

Leaving the bedroom, he tried the last door along the hallway. It opened easily, and he slipped inside, closing it behind him. He searched for a light switch but found none. From the light coming in through the windows, he could see what looked like a desk, and he groped his way toward it. A couple of seconds later, he found a lamp and then a pull chain. Dim, muted light filled the room.

It was a study or a den or something, Toby decided, glancing around. There were books, very old books lining the walls, and when Toby read some of the titles, he was even more convinced that Jared was one spooky guy. Most of the titles concerned magic, shape-shifting and crystals, but there were quite a few about goblins, fairies, ogres and elves. His fingers walked along the spines, and he repeated each title as he went. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp…Bluebeard…Beauty and the Beast…Rapunzel… Labyrinth…Red Rose…

Bored with reading titles, he turned, hoping to find something more interesting, and then froze as his eyes fell on a painting. It was of a dark-haired girl in a white and silver ball gown. Sarah! The girl was younger, but it was definitely his sister's face gazing down at him. Toby scowled. He knew that guy was up to no good.

'I see you're a little snoop as well as a brat.'

Toby jumped, whirling around to face the door where Jared stood looking very large and intimidating.

'I…I was looking for the bathroom.'

'You passed it two doors down.'

Toby's chin jutted out defiantly. 'Why do you have a picture of my sister on your wall?'

Jared's eyes shifted to the painting. 'You're mistaken, Toby. That's a picture of the character your sister's playing in my musical. Her name is Beth, and I have a painting of her on my wall because she's my inspiration.'

"I don't believe it,' Toby declared. 'I think you're lying, and I'm going to tell Sarah that you've got a picture of her on your wall.'

'A bloody tattletale as well,' Jared noted dryly before asking, 'Do you think she'll believe you?'

'I'm her brother.'

'A brother who has lied to her quite frequently lately. In fact, you attempted to lie to her about the cigarettes this evening, didn't you?'

'How do you know about that?'

Jared stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He was tired of exchanging words with this mouthy little bugger. It was time to lay down the law like he used to do with the goblins. After all, what were children except untransformed goblins?

He came within a few feet of Toby before saying very clearly, 'I don't appreciate little boys poking their noses into my personal space. I don't want to find you in here again. Is that clear?'

'Don't worry,' Toby retorted. 'I'm not coming back.'

'I think that depends on your sister, don't you?'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It means that I intend to make a habit of inviting your sister here and elsewhere. You might as well accept it, Toby, I'm going to be permanent fixture in your life from now on, and as such, there's going to be some changes around here.'

Before Toby could think of a suitable comeback, Jared walked over to the door, opened it and snapped his fingers. Igor appeared. 'Take Master Toby to the kitchen and have Gretel stuff him full of cake.'

'As you wish, sir.'

And Toby, resentment building to a colossal level, was frog-marched into the kitchen where a piece of chocolate cake was set before him.

***SCENE CHANGE***

Sarah was dreaming of ball gowns and masks. They swirled around her, bumping into her, laughing at her, and out the shimmering chaos of gowns and masks appeared the Goblin King. But it wasn't Miles' face she saw. It was Jared's. She frowned in her sleep. His pale hair was longer and shaggier, and his eyes were mismatched rather than blue. She stared at him, and he took her into his arms and they began to dance, the ball gowns and masks continuing to collide with them. And then there came the deep bonging of a clock.

'Toby!'

'He's in the kitchen eating cake,' Jared told her.

She sat up on the sofa where she'd fallen asleep. Jared was sitting in an armchair opposite, one leg negligently thrown over the arm. He held a snifter of brandy between his hands.

'I…I heard a clock…'

He nodded his head toward the gas fireplace that dominated one end of the room. 'Clock on the mantel, striking midnight.'

'Midnight?' She gasped. 'That late? We should be going.'

'Don't rush off on my account,' Jared said, taking a sip of his brandy. 'I'm a night owl.'

'No, really, we have to go,' she insisted, getting up. 'If you could call me a cab, I'd appreciate it.'

He made to get up. 'I'll drive you.'

A white knuckle drive at midnight in the Batmobile was the last thing she wanted, especially when she was feeling so unsettled, so unbalanced. The dream had felt so real…too real. She just wanted to go home…in a nice, slow, undemanding taxi.

'No, thank you, Mr. Kristal, you've done more than enough for one evening.' She glanced around. Where had she put her purse? She could call for a taxi with her cell phone.

'Jared. Call me Jared.'

'Do you think that's wise?' She asked, dropping to her hands and knees. It had to be here somewhere. She peered under the sofa. 'I don't want to appear too familiar in front of the rest of the cast.'

'Looking for this?'

He was holding out the elusive purse.

'Yes, thank you.'

'I found Toby in my study,' Jared said as she rummaged through her purse, looking for the phone. Her fingers closed around hard plastic. Got it! 'What are you going to do about him, Sarah?'

She looked up at him, the cell phone forgotten. 'I don't know. I suppose I'll have to do what other parents do – ground him or something.'

'He needs an authority figure in his life.'

'I provide him with authority.'

'If that were true, he wouldn't be such a brat.'

'Are you saying I'm a bad mother?'

'No,' Jared replied, 'I'm saying that he needs a father.'

Sarah jumped to her feet. 'Well, I'm not in the market for one of those so he's going to have to make do with me. I'll figure out something. I always do.'

Before Jared could say anything else, she hurriedly dialed the taxi company.

***SCENE CHANGE***

'No, no, no,' Jared yelled, storming onto the stage. 'That's not how the Goblin King dances! He doesn't prance about like some popinjay. You look like a bloody marionette.'

'I'm dancing the only way I know how,' Miles retorted, clearly frustrated with once again being Jared's target.

In the last three weeks, Jared had increasingly focused his attacks on Miles. The rest of the cast suffered their fair share of criticism, but Miles was the preferred whipping boy. It was obvious that Jared didn't think Miles had what it takes, and it showed in increasing fierce arguments between the two.

'You dance with no authority,' Jared complained. 'She could be leading you as easily as you could be leading her. You're got to take charge, Daniels.'

'It's Davison,' Miles snapped, 'Davison, Davison, Davison. I've told you a thousand times that it's Davison.'

'Are you through now?' Jared asked, clearly unimpressed.

'No,' Miles retorted, 'I'm not. I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I never know what you're talking about.'

'Do I have to show you?'

'By all means,' Miles demurred, extending his hand in Sarah's direction.'

Sarah had no opportunity to prepare herself, to put herself in the role of Beth, before she found herself in the Goblin King's arms. A hard arm went around her waist, pulling her close. She looked up and found herself gazing into a pair of fierce eyes. She didn't know if they appeared that way because of his argument with Miles or because he was acting the part, but she felt devoured by their intensity.

'That's right, Sarah,' Jared murmured as he took her into the first turn, 'you're a young girl falling in love for the first time. Magnificent. That's exactly the look I want.'

Her heart quickened, and she felt a little breathless as he led her around the stage. She had to admit that he knew what he was talking about. In Jared's arms, she felt like she was dancing with a king. His movements were strong and assured. There was no doubt in his mind that the girl in his arms was his.

How did he know so much about being a Goblin King, she wondered, frowning.

'Why the frown?'

'I was wondering how you know so much about being a Goblin King.'

He stared down at her, his expression enigmatic, and then he said quite coolly, 'Because I am the Goblin King.'

Sarah missed a step. Surely he was joking. Perhaps he meant that when he was acting the part, he became the part. Whatever he'd meant, she was glad when he finally released her and turned to Miles. 'And that,' he declared with a theatrical flourish, 'is how you dance like a Goblin King.'

'It didn't look any different to me,' Miles muttered.

'Shall we ask the expert?' Jared turned to Sarah. 'Tell us, Miss Williams, was there a difference?'

She looked at Miles, her expression apologetic. 'I'm sorry, Miles, but he's right. There was a difference.'

'Bravo, Miss Williams, bravo,' Jared cheered. 'Well said.' He scooped up his portfolio and stalked off the stage, tossing over his shoulder. 'Dismissed.'

Sarah turned to leave, but a hand on her arm stopped her. She looked up.

'Were you just saying that to humor the bastard or was there really a difference?' Miles asked.

'I don't really know what it was,' she told him, 'but he danced like a king. He was the Goblin King while you feel like you're pretending to be one.'

'Damn,' Miles muttered, 'I hate it when that bastard is right.' He shot her a glance. 'Maybe if we practiced together. You know, go out dancing some night. I know the perfect place. What do you say? Will you help me get the beast off my back?'

'Sure, I'd be happy to.'

'How about Saturday night?'

Mrs. Catalina was back from California and could watch Toby. 'Yeah, sure, that would be great.'

'I'll pick you up at seven.'

She had just finished writing down her address for Miles when her cell phone rang.

'Hello?'

'Mrs. Williams?

'This is Sarah Williams.'

'This is Mr. Brand, principal of Nathan Hale Junior High. There's been a bit of trouble with Toby, and I'd like you to come down to the school as soon as possible.'

'I'll be there in about twenty minutes.'

She was rushing out of the theater when she ran into Jared….literally. He had to put out his hands to stop her from falling backwards.

'Sarah, I was just coming to find you. We need to go over the second act. It's rough.'

'I can't,' she said, breathless, 'I just got a call from Toby's school. They want me to come down there as soon as possible.'

'I'll drive you.'

For once, Sarah wasn't going to protest. The Batmobile was the faster way from point A to point B. 'Thanks.'

Fifteen minutes later, they were ushered into the principal's office.

'I'm glad you could come so quickly, Mr. and Mrs. Williams,' the principal began.

'I'm not married,' Sarah interrupted, 'I mean we're not married. I mean…'

'She means that Toby is her brother,' Jared said smoothly. 'His parents are dead. Sarah's his legal guardian.'

'Oh, I'm sorry,' Mr. Brand apologized, looking down at the file on his desk. 'I should have known that. Here it is in his file. I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with Toby's background. This is the first time he's been in trouble.' He gave a short laugh. 'As you can imagine I become quite familiar with the kids that show up in my office on a regular basis.'

'What happened?' She wasn't interested in idle chit-chat.

'Your brother was in a fight this afternoon. We've interviewed the witnesses and have spoken to all parties involved and it fairly conclusive that he started it. He even admitted as much. The punishment for such behavior is two days in school suspension, but during our interview with him, we found this.' He opened his top desk drawer and removed an item, which he pushed across the desk. It was a pocketknife. 'We have a zero tolerance policy where weapons are concerned, Miss Williams. I'm afraid we'll have to suspend him for three days.'

***SCENE CHANGE***

'I can't believe this,' Sarah said as she and Jared sat in the office while Mr. Brand went to get Toby. 'I…I can't seem to control him anymore. I don't know what's wrong with him. I…I don't know what to do.' She gave a little laugh. 'I almost wish I could wish him away like Beth does to Davey in your musical. '

Jareth watched as Sarah turned the pocketknife over and over in her hands. He ought to be reveling in her distress, but he wasn't. In fact, he was feeling a great deal of anger at that little toad for upsetting her. If he'd had his powers, Toby would be hanging by his thumbs in the Bog of Eternal Stench. He should have turned the little monster into a goblin when Sarah had first wished him away.

'I didn't want this job, you know,' she said with a suspicious sniff, 'I would really like to give him back to Dad and Karen.' She gave a soggy sounding laugh. 'You know, for the first time, I understand what they went through with me when I was a teenager. I…' another sniff, 'I wish I could tell them I'm sorry.'

Jareth shifted uncomfortably in the hard plastic chair that Mr. Brand had called a 'seat'. He wasn't really good with tears and seeing Sarah's made something inside of him ache in a most abominable way. It was most unbecoming for a Goblin King to feel such compassion, even an ex one.

'Did I tell you that we were arguing when the accident happened?'

'I believe you said something to that effect,' he said, hoping she wouldn't elaborate.

'I don't even remember what we were arguing about,' she sighed, wiping the back of her hand across her cheek to remove yet another tear.

She didn't remember a lot of things, Jareth thought bitterly as he jumped to his feet and began to pace, which was not an easy task in such a minuscule office. He had to do something to stop those tears. Each one that rolled down her cheek was like a flaming arrow to his heart. Once again, he wished Toby to the bog for causing such distress to his sister…and to himself! The little scab.

He returned to the 'seat', sat for a moment uncertain what to do - an unusual occurrence for him - before he finally took action. He removed the knife from her hands, placed in on the desk and then turned her to face him. Large green eyes looked up at him, dark lashes wet with tears.

'Don't cry,' he said huskily, 'I'll have a talk with him.'

'I doubt it'll do much good,' she warned. 'He doesn't like you. He even tried to convince me that you have a picture of me on your wall. How ridiculous! We only meet a month or so ago.'

'He doesn't have to like me to obey me,' Jareth informed her.

How many of his subjects in the Underground had liked him? None…yet they obeyed him because they feared him. Even Hoggle, half in love with Sarah himself, had given her the peach because he had feared what Jareth would do. The solution to Toby seemed easy enough. He just needed some good, old-fashioned fear put in him.

'Just give me a few minutes with him in my study, and I promise you he'll be a transformed boy.'

'I suppose it's worth a try,' Sarah said, still sounding doubtful. 'I'll go out and pick up some Chinese for dinner while you talk to him.'

'Chinese?'

'Don't you like Chinese take-out?' Her voice seemed to indicate that everyone loved Chinese take-out. 'If not, I could get a pizza instead.'

'Chinese will be…fine,' he forced himself to say.

He detested take-out of any sort, but he had survived goblin grub so he guessed he could survive won-tons and eggrolls.

***SCENE CHANGE***

'Have a seat, Toby,' Jareth ordered, ushering the boy into his study.

'I thought you said I wasn't allowed in here,' Toby said.

If the boy didn't already have a black eye and a cut lip, Jareth would have been mightily tempted to box his ears.

'If I invite you, then you're allowed.'

Jareth closed the door and locked it. He did not want to be disturbed.

'Where's my sister?'

'She went out to get dinner. Now sit down like I told you to.'

'I'd rather stand.'

'SIT DOWN!'

The full force of Goblin King fury went into those two words, and Toby sat. He even had the grace to look a little worried.

Jareth settled himself in the large leather chair behind the ebony desk. He leaned back, placing his boot heels on one corner. He pretended to study the ceiling for a couple minutes, building suspension – as a Goblin King he savored the dramatic – and then his gaze dropped to the boy across from him. 'Do you remember the conversation we had that night I caught you snooping?'

'Yeah.'

'I said there were going to be changes, didn't I?'

'Yeah. What of it?'

'Those changes are going to begin now,' Jareth informed him. 'From this moment forward, you're going to be the model child. You're going to do your homework without having to be asked. You're never going to touch another cigarette, let alone smoke it, and you're not going to pick any more fights at school. You're going to treat your sister with respect and obey her. In other words, you're going to be transformed.'

'Oh, yeah,' Toby sneered, his bravado returning. 'Who's going to make me?'

'I am.'

'You have no power over me.'

Toby couldn't have chosen worse words with which to taunt the Goblin King. They felt like acid, eating its way into Jareth's wounded ego. Perhaps he had no power over Sarah, but he did have power over her brother.

'Oh, Toby, I'm much more than that,' Jareth said softly, his voice becoming as dangerous as a snake's rattle. 'Do you know what happens to disobedient little boys?'

'What?'

'They get turned into goblins.'

'That's only happens in fairytales,' Toby scoffed, 'and fairytales aren't real.'

'Aren't they?'

'No, they're not.'

Jareth stared at the child over steepled fingers. It was risky to let the little brat see exactly who and what he was, but it was a risk he had to take. The only way to scare the bog out of him was to…well…scare the bog out of him. He wouldn't allow the little bugger to continue upsetting Sarah. There would be no more tears.

'Toby, Toby,' he sighed, feigning regret, 'I tried to do this the easy way, but you are a stubborn child. It appears that I'm going to have to show you.'

'Show me what?'

Rising from behind the desk like a phoenix rising from ashes, Jareth lifted his head and thundered, 'Goblin King, Goblin King, wherever you may be, come to me.'

At first there was nothing, not a sound, not a flutter of a drape, and Toby began to smirk, but then the French doors leading to the rooftop patio burst open and a large white eagle soared inside. Toby dived for the floor as the bird narrowly missed his head. With a flash and shimmer of light, Dart stood in the study, looking extremely displeased.

'What's the meaning of this, Jareth?' He demanded. 'You know I detest the Aboveground, and I'm most displeased that you've brought me here.'

'I apologize, brother, but I need to ask a favor of you.'

'A favor? What kind of favor?'

'I need you to turn this disobedient little boy into a goblin.'

Dart turned, his high-collared cape swirling around his boots, as he searched for the boy. He found Toby on the floor beside the chair, his arms over his head.

'This boy?' He asked, clearly unimpressed. 'He hardly seems worth the effort.'

'I assure you that he's well worth it,' Jareth replied. 'In fact, this is the baby I was asked to take. He's as mouthy now as he was as a babe.'

Dart looked at his brother, his gaze speculative. 'So you've found her, have you? I see you didn't waste any time reuniting with your bit of fluff.'

'Believe it or not, she found me first.'

'She came looking for you?' Dart asked, clearly skeptical. 'Balderdash!'

'It doesn't matter who found who,' Jareth snapped, annoyed by his brother's disbelief. Didn't he think an attractive young woman might want to find him? 'What matters is that this boy is making her life a living bog.'

'Well, isn't that what you wanted? It seems to me that if you're bent on revenge, the best thing to do is to let the boy go on as he is.'

'It's my revenge, and I'll handle it as I think best,' Jareth retorted. Dart always was an opinionated blighter. He didn't need to be reminded that he was doing the very opposite of what he'd said he wanted. 'Might I remind you that if you hadn't taken away my powers, I wouldn't have had to disturb you?'

'Oh, very well,' Dart sighed, turning to the boy at his feet.

Toby, however, was no longer there. He'd taken the opportunity of their exchange to creep across the room. His hand was fumbling with the lock when he was discovered. Dart wasted no time. Producing a crystal, he hurled it at the boy. There was a flash of light and a loud **POOF** and Toby was no longer Toby. He was a fat green goblin with hairy ears and a long, thin nose.

The goblin looked down at his green belly and stubby fingers and cried, 'I'm green!'

'Would you prefer blue?' Dart asked with an inquiring lift of one pale brow.

'Oh, my God, I'm a goblin, I'm a goblin,' the little creature blubbered.

'You ought to be glad she won him back from you,' Dart noted dryly. 'He's obviously a screamer.'

As if to prove the High King right, the goblin started pounding on the door, yelling, 'Sarah! Sarah!'

'I think that's a sufficient amount of time to get my point across,' Jareth said. 'You may turn him back now.'

'Are you sure? He'll tell the girl. His kind always do.'

'Sarah has lost all recollection of her time in the Underground. She doesn't believe in us anymore. That's what happens when humans grow up. They stop believing.' Jareth paused, surprised at the sorrow he felt for Sarah's lost innocence, but he quickly shook it off and said with his old confidence. 'If he tells her, she'll think him mad or making up stories again.'

Dart regarded him for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. 'She's forgotten you?'

'Yes. A concussion in an accident.'

Without another word, Dart turned and waved a gloved hand. The goblin became a boy again, pounding on the door and yelling for his sister.

'I'll leave the mopping up to you.'

In another shimmer of light, the High King departed.

'Toby,' Jareth said sternly as he took the boy by the shoulder, 'stop it! Why are you yelling?'

'I'm a goblin, I'm a goblin!'

He gave the boy a shake. 'Stop it. Stop this internal caterwauling at once. You're not a goblin. You must have been dreaming.'

Toby stopped yelling and looked down at his belly and hands. Then he glanced suspiciously around the room. 'Where's the dude with the cape?'

'I don't know who you're talking about.'

'The Goblin King. You saw him. You called him!'

Jareth laughed. 'What a fertile imagination you have.'

'But he was here,' Toby insisted. 'He turned me into a goblin.'

'And why would he do something like that?'

Man and boy exchanged a long look. Jareth could see the doubt in the boy's dark eyes. He could also see the wariness caused by fear.

'Because,' Toby said slowly, 'I was disobedient.'

Jareth flashed a smile of approval. 'And there's going to be changes, right?'

'Right.'

'I think I hear your sister in the kitchen,' Jareth said, unlocking the door and holding it open. 'I hope you like eggrolls. I have a terrible feeling there's going to be plenty of them.'