Jareth had never felt embarrassed in his life, but when the child saw him he felt it. Her face changed from sleepy to shocked and Jareth felt awkward at being caught spying through her window. As he was about to back away the child screamed. Sarah instantly dropped to her knees in front of the girl and held her head in her hands.
"Mia? Mia what's wrong?" Sarah was panicking as she had no idea why the child was screaming in terror. She was shaking the child slightly and it seemed to make her stop.
"The goblin king! He's here to take me away!" The girl pointed towards the window and Jareth moved into the shadows. He heard Sarah move to the window and sigh.
"Mia there's no-one there"
"Yes there is! It was the goblin king!" Mia tried her best to make Sarah believe her.
"Mia…it was just a story, there are no goblins no labyrinth and there is no goblin king"
"But…"
"No Mia. I found the story online and thought it would be a good one to tell you, I was obviously mistaken" Sarah took Mia's hand and led her upstairs.
Jareth leaned against the wall and frowned. Sarah was acting as if nothing had happened to her and it hurt and angered him. When he heard Sarah come back downstairs he decided enough time had passed. He lifted his head and felt his magic within him. He willed it to blow open the window when he heard a car coming up the driveway. Jareth cursed into the air and turned into his owl form and flew onto a branch in the tree. When he could see the driveway and into the house he settled down to see who had interrupted him.
~#~
She heard Phil's car drive up to the house and grabbed her coat, soon she would be home and she could sleep. It had been a long day and Mia having a fit didn't help. Phil unlocked the door and came into the house. He knew the children would be asleep and he was grateful when he saw the babysitter waiting for him. They smiled at each other and he handed her a couple of noted for her time.
"How were they?" He asked.
"They were fine" She lied about Mia's screaming because she didn't want her dad to worry about nothing. Phil grinned and thanked the young woman, who smiled and made her way to the door. Phil was a divorced man who had been granted full custody of his children. He wasn't anything special and he knew it, he was reminded of it every time he went to a strip club while his children were being minded. Tonight he hadn't had time to go after work. Tonight his frustration had built up inside of him and, watching the woman walk away from him, he decided to do something about it.
"Do you want a drink before you go? Anything to eat?" She shook her head.
"I'm sorry but I have to get home, some other time maybe" Her hand was on the door handle when he grabbed her. His hand had a firm grip in her upper arm and she gasped in sock and pain.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" The girl squirmed to get out of his grip but it just made Phil more excited.
"You've been teasing me for a long time you know. Wearing all of those sexy outfits to make me notice you" He eyed her up and down before giving her a sickening smile. The woman struggled some more before it finally hit her; she was not getting out of this and he was going to…she didn't even want to think it. So she tried reasoning with him.
"Phil…stop, please. I know the divorce was rough but think about this. Your children are upstairs! I promise I never intended to…tease…you. If I implied anything then I am truly sorry but I'm not interested in you that way" She tried giving him her most pitiful look, which Phil completely ignored.
"Lie all you want sugar but I know what you really want" He pulled her close to him and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. She coughed and tried to turn away from him but he had grabbed hold of her chin and forced her to look at him.
"Don't struggle, it'll only make things worse for you" Before she could reply his mouth was on hers. He was rough as he forced her lips open and shoved his tongue in, which made her gag and struggle against him. She was scared and angry and she knew, deep down, he was never going to let her go.