Thank you Frances Osgood, Ellen Weaver, Jetredgirl, Underground Daydreams and Nonsuch for your reviews. The feedback you've given me is much appreciated and has helped me a lot. I've done some major rewriting on this fanfic, which was originally much darker, and not in a good way. I haven't felt particularly comfortable or confident in my writing of this story, but it is good to challenge yourself once in a while, I think.

Frances Osgood, Ellen Weaver, Underground Daydreams and Nonsuch - I do take your comments on board, about how easily Sarah gave in to Jareth. I was unsure about it myself, and in retrospect a slower progression might have worked better. My reasoning was that Sarah had reached a point where her self-esteem was rock bottom and she is in a dangerous terrible place. She is sort of expecting Jareth to save her, and it might be in the back of her mind that it wouldn't hurt to sweeten the deal. Also, Ebony and Nox have made it clear that her virginity makes her valuable, so losing it to someone she at least knows/finds attractive, is better than some of the possible alternatives. I don't think I spelt that out well enough though, so apologies for that.

Jetredgirl - I'm pleased to hear that you found the sexy bits, well, sexy. I find it very tricky to write sex scenes that don't make me cringe, and I take my hat off to those writers who consistently write them so well. I found an absolutely hilarious blog about bad sex in books, and it was really helpful for avoiding certain clichés and terminology. Using words like 'meat' or 'tumescence' in relation to a man's bits is getting nobody's 'folds' moist!

Thank you to everyone taking the time to read this fanfic, I hope you all like this chapter, please do let me know your thoughts - Mrs P.


An After Dark Fairy Tale

Chapter 4

Sarah shifted about on her small metal bed, unable to sleep or stop thinking about the Goblin King. Every time she closed her eyes she saw his; burning into her very soul. She could feel his touch all over her. He was underneath her skin, and she was craving him like a drug. The memory of the way his tongue circled her most sensitive spot left her dripping with desire. Damn him, Sarah cursed under her breath.

It would be easier if she could convince herself she'd been under a spell the previous evening. When he'd tried to tempt her away from reclaiming Toby, she knew she was too young for what the Goblin King was offering. This time around, age was no barrier, and there was no baby brother in peril to keep her from giving in to him. The worse thing was it was only Jareth's abandonment afterwards that made her regret it. Sarah wanted him to make her feel like she was the centre of his world, and he did, until his disappearing act. Her college friends told similar tales of guys who couldn't get out of the door fast enough once they'd got what they wanted. She should have paid better attention, but maybe it was something only learned from experience, if only she'd had some basis for comparison. The Goblin King obviously found her attractive, and Nox leered over her, so why had no other man ever shown an interest?

The hours of the day ticked away, and instead of plotting ways to escape, Sarah was wrapped up in obsessing over Jareth. Her fellow captives remained as vacuous as when she first met them, lost in whatever was keeping them compliant. She failed to notice she was slipping into a stupor of her own. Every time she came close to snapping out of it, her mind would be flooded with thoughts of the Goblin King, and she would be trapped inside another fantasy bubble.

When it came time to go to work, Sarah didn't argue. Ebony informed her of the etiquette she should observe for the club's non-human clientele. Apparently, the fae hated salt, although, it wasn't actually harmful to them. They also hated being thanked; it was treated as an insult. They believed a good deed should be rewarded in kind, not with words. What she wasn't told was that some of the creatures drank blood and fed vampire-like off human emotions. Sometimes girls were taken into the back rooms, and occasionally they never returned. The screams were easily masked and the blood cleaned up, but death had a smell that never really went away. The number of captives was always twelve, as new young women were procured to replace the missing. A few were sold as concubines, if they caught the eye of visiting fae nobility. The Midnight prince didn't care either way, so long as he made a profit.

"Waitress, a Brandy Alexander and make it snappy," a gruff voice made Sarah start.

The male patron's silver hair, sparkling blue eyes and sharp features indicated he was probably fae. When he conjured the money to pay for his drink with a flick of his wrist, her suspicions were confirmed. He took a sip of his cocktail and hummed with pleasure.

"Mmm, cream and brandy, does it get much better?" He closed his eyes to savour the experience.

"I've never tried it," Sarah found her mouth-watering.

The food and drink rations she'd been given were worse than her school cafeteria used to serve up.

"Cream is like catnip to us," the fae purred.

The male looked her over, letting his eyes linger on her barely covered breasts. She was wearing a black leather thong and bra that left nothing to the imagination.

"You should try everything, at least once," he smiled in a predatory way, and noticing Nox across the bar he signalled to him.

"Why don't you bring me another of these, while I have a little chat with your master?"

Sarah knew exactly what he wanted to talk to the Midnight Prince about. Nox would probably threaten her family again if she refused to obey him. Her eyes darted over to the curtained entrance area and she saw Ebony standing guard. In desperation, she wished for Jareth to come and save her. The sound of raised voices snapped her out of her silent attempt at invocation and she almost spilled the drink on her tray.

"I saw the mark, but none of them have ever been off limits before, what's so special about her?" The silver haired fae was furious.

The Midnight Prince muttered something she couldn't hear which seemed to placate him and all was calm again. One of her fellow captives was summoned to the table, and a deal was struck. Sarah delivered the drink and hurried away as Nox glared at her through narrowed eyes. She was grateful to have been spared a trip to the private rooms, but curious as to the reason why. In her completive state, she managed to collide with a patron and drop her tray. She stooped to pick it up, offering apologies for her clumsiness. Her eyes met with familiar odd blue ones and she stumbled backwards, landing with a painful thud.

"How flattering, precious, that I have the power to literally knock you off your feet," Jareth reached down to help her up.

Sarah shouldn't have been surprised to see him, she did wish for him to appear. But after the way he'd left her the previous day, she hesitated before taking his hand. His touch sent shockwaves through her, although he was wearing grey leather gloves. He was dressed in the same manner as the night before, but with a dark grey raincoat and matching hat this time around. Somewhere in her muddled mind, she knew something wasn't right. His behaviour during their last encounter deserved her anger; it shouldn't have left her craving him.

"What can I get you?" She tried to focus on something other than his sinful gaze.

Jareth inched closer to her until they were almost touching.

"I'll have my usual," he drawled in her ear.

"A Bellini, wasn't it?" If she was a cartoon character there would have been love hearts in her eyes at that point.

He nodded smiling, as he saw how far under his thrall she'd fallen. The fae could literally drive humans out of their minds with lust, and to eventual death by despair if they abandoned them forever. The Goblin King thought how easy it would be to do that to Sarah. He could stoke her passion and then leave her to pine away to nothing. If he didn't think he'd die without her, he would.

She delivered his drink and he grabbed her wrist.

"It's not my thirst that needs quenching," he said.

"Number six is free," Nox appeared from out of nowhere and slid a key across the table.

Sarah followed willingly as Jareth led her towards the backstage area.

"The master said I was off limits, but not to you, right?" She purred.

The Goblin King's features darkened with anger.

"The Midnight Prince is not your master," he snarled.

They reached door number six and he unlocked it.

The room was similar to the one they'd been in before, with its big bed and mirrors. Sarah gazed mesmerized at their reflection.

"See anything you like, precious?" Jareth was close behind her and his voice sent tingles down her spine.

He removed his gloves and snaked a hand around her, softly caressing her breasts. The other one went lower, and she let out a gasp as his fingers worked their way underneath her thong.

"Already so wet?" He murmured in her ear.

Sarah couldn't help it, the small voice of reason inside her head wanted to tell him to go fuck himself, but she wanted him to fuck her more.

He slid his middle and index fingers inside her stroking her with his thumb making her whimper.

"Lay on the bed, precious," Jareth instructed and she eagerly did his bidding.

He tore off her underwear and replaced his fingers with his mouth.

Sarah clutched onto the bed sheets as his tongue traced a spiral pattern around her core. Her orgasm hit with a blinding flash sending seemingly endless shockwaves through her body. Finally catching her breath, she was overtaken with desire for him, and it made her bold.

"I want to taste you," she purred grabbing at his belt.

He let her push him back against the bed and undress him. The magic he'd reawakened in her surged through her veins.

Jareth groaned with bliss as she trailed kisses over his body until she reached her prize. Sarah had never performed oral sex before, but he made her eager to try. She licked and teased him until he was hard against her mouth. Her lips slid over him, sucking in a frenzied back and forth motion as he growled at the overwhelming sensation. With his gentle direction, she worked every sensitive inch of him. This was not the first time he'd been attended to in such a way, but no one had ever pleasured him so satisfactorily. He saw stars as his hips bucked and he emptied himself into her mouth. Sarah was greedy for every last drop.

"Oh, my precious one, I was a fool to think I could ever live without you; you will be mine," Jareth vowed once he recovered the power of speech.

Sarah lay back against the bed letting the buzz she got from his essence permeate throughout her body. She felt more alive than ever before, as if all her senses were enhanced.

She looked up to find the Goblin King with a sorrowful expression on his face.

"What's wrong?" She questioned and instinctively reached out to comfort him.

"I no longer wish to play the villain," he sighed against her hair.

"I've spent nine years consumed by bitterness over your rejection, when you left my kingdom in ruins and my heart shattered."

"You need to let it go already. I was fifteen Jareth, and you were the one who walked away last night, remember?" Sarah scolded.

He wore a contrite expression.

"I have a confession to make, precious; one I fear will make you hate me. But you deserve to know the truth," he risked a look into her green eyes, so deep they could hold a sea of tears.

"The fae have the power to leave a mark on humans they come into contact with. It is supposed to signify to our kind that a claim has been staked, of course, not all take heed. The mark also has the effect of making you unappealing to mortal men, which is why none have ever courted you. I wanted you to be cursed with the same kind of despair I felt, and experience the loneliness of never knowing the loving touch of another. If you hadn't fallen for Nox's trickery, you would have lived out your life without our paths ever crossing again, in person at least. I often watched you through my scrying crystals and mirrors, just to savour your misery. When I saw you'd ended up here, I was forced to intercede. Oh, I could have left you to the Midnight Prince and whoever wanted to pay for your services, but the right of taking your virginity was mine. I couldn't relinquish it to another, and I intended to take you only as an act of vengeance. When you offered yourself to me, I knew I didn't deserve you, and yet I couldn't refuse. Oh, my precious, if only you knew what you do to me, I hated myself for causing you pain. I love you so much it sickens me, and I can't seem to help it, I need to make you mine, forever," Jareth cupped her face in his hands waiting for her judgement.

Sarah didn't know what to think or feel. She glanced sideways at the mirrored wall.

"Where is it?" She questioned twisting and turning on the bed, certain she would have noticed a mark on her body.

"What?" The Goblin King was confused by her actions.

"The mark, where is it? Why can't I see it?"

Sarah once railed against the unfairness of things, and she wanted to again. His declaration of love was restoring and strengthening of the powers he'd gifted her. Her muddled mind began to clear.

Jareth ran his index finger over her lips and traced a line down her neck.

"You can't see it, precious, because you aren't fae, but it is right there," he dug his fingertip gently into the flesh above her left breast.

She looked down and stared hard at where he was pointing. It might have been a trick of the light, but she could have sworn there was small tattoo resembling the shape of his amulet etched into her skin.

"What the…? How come I've never noticed it before?" she prodded at it.

The Goblin King frowned.

"It's not a question of how you never saw it, but rather, why can you see it now."

"I've been so lonely for such a long time," Sarah lamented.

"And it was all because of you," she jabbed him sharply in the chest.

"No mortal man could offer you what I can, precious. I want you to be my wife and rule beside me as my queen. Would you refuse me a second time?" Jareth challenged her.

"Fear you, love you and do as you say, wasn't that the deal?"

Sarah glared at him, angry for all the possible love affairs he'd stolen from her. But then, she'd never been much of a romantic. Her parent's marriage disintegrated before her eyes leaving her deeply cynical about relationships. Perhaps ordinary guys would never have stood a chance with her, anyway. She certainly struggled to think of any men she would have liked to get to know better. Once she found out Jareth actually existed; it was as if she'd been waiting for him all along.

"I guess I really should hate you, but I don't," she sighed.

The memory of a bad dream suddenly popped into her mind.

"What happened to my friends? Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus, are they still in the Labyrinth?" Sarah questioned.

The Goblin King's eyes darkened.

"They were traitors and I was angry," he scowled.

Fear shot through her; perhaps he could make nightmares reality too.

"Y-you killed them?" Sarah felt sick.

Jareth's eyes widened and then he burst out laughing.

"How monstrous you think me, precious, I'm almost flattered."

"So, they're okay?" She frowned, trying to discern his meaning.

"Well, Higgle still hates his job, and Sir Didymus has been demoted to guarding the Pond of Pity, but at least the monster was useful in helping to rebuild my kingdom," Jareth explained.

Sarah chuckled; she shouldn't have assumed the worst, even if he'd given her little cause to think kindly of him.

"Am I forgiven, precious?" He gave her a heated look.

"I'm not sure you deserve to be," her resistance was low.

Before she knew what was happening, his tongue was gliding over the peaks of her breasts and his fingers were dipping between her thighs.

"I promise to make amends, I will be your slave, and I vow to spend whole days pleasuring you, if you wish me too," his voice was a low and seductive.

He was ready and she was slick as he buried himself deep inside her. Sarah felt as if her body was going to spontaneously combust as each thrust brought her closer to release. Her orgasm was tantalisingly close, but he refused to let her go all the way. She grabbed at his rear to direct him, driving him deeper, and begging him to go faster.

"Come for me, precious," he murmured in her ear as his own release beckoned.

The force of it took her by surprise and the whole room seemed to shake and convulse when Jareth fell over the precipice too. They were lost to the shared sensations of ecstasy pulsing through their bodies as they lay joined together.

"Wow," Sarah gasped.

When he'd regained his senses, the Goblin King rose to his feet and summoned a crystal.

"Catch," he threw it above her head, and it exploded in a puff of glitter leaving her clothed in an exquisite calf-length white gown with a jewelled bodice and black sash.

Jareth was dressed in the blink of an eye and he held his hand out to her.

"Come, my beautiful bride-to-be, I will inform the Midnight Prince that we are leaving.".

Sarah gladly took his arm, so swept up was she in the thrill of getting her own fairy tale ending, after all her lonely downtrodden years.

They made their way through the nightclub crowd in search of Nox. The Goblin King kept a protective and possessive hold on her. It was then she realised the scales had been completely removed from her eyes. She could see beyond the glamour that made the nightclub clientele look mostly human, and their true natures were revealed. Jareth was as handsome as ever, but the burly bald male security guards were really grotesque trolls. The room was full of hideous creatures pawing over the captive young women. How could she allow herself to be rescued like a helpless fairy tale princess, and leave them to their dreadful fates?

Sarah tugged at the Goblin King's hand and pulled him into a quiet alcove.

"I can't let you just whisk me away, what about the others?" She questioned.

Jareth gave her a curious look.

"What of them?" It was obvious he didn't care.

"I won't even consider going with you unless the other girls are freed. I can't leave them here to be sold for sex and goodness knows what," Sarah was adamant.

Now that her mind was clear, her fighting spirit had returned. Someone needed to put a stop to what was going on, and she knew it would have to be her.

Jareth's eyes blazed with anger.

"Sarah, don't defy me, I will not tolerate your disobedience," he warned.

She stood firm.

"If you love me like you say you do, you'll help me get these poor women back to their families. You owe me that at least, after everything," she argued.

The Goblin King's heart turned to ice again as her past victory over him echoed through his mind. She would not have the whip hand now, despite his burning passion for her.

"Come with me, Sarah, and be mine forever, or stay here and rot. I will not make you the offer of being my wife and queen for a third time," he threatened.

She shook her head.

"Don't you understand, I can't turn my back on them?"

"Very well," Jareth snarled.

"Go on then, who needs you?" Sarah's anger flared.

In a blinding flash of glitter, he was gone.