A/N: Reviews are good for the soul. For mine, at least. Thanks to all of you lovelies that reviewed, and sorry for the wait! School and family matters has taken up a lot of my time. Now, on with the show!

XXX

Chapter IV: His Pride, Her Freedom

Sarah couldn't help but shudder as Jareth murmured her name, his lips accidentally grazing her ear, his hot breath stirring the sensitive hair at the nape of her neck. She whirled around, taking steps to back away from him, albeit nervously. He grinned all too knowingly, taking a step forward each time she took a step back. "You called for me?"

At the sound of his enchanting accent, Sarah felt her skin tingle with goose bumps just as they had earlier that morning. A delicious chill jolted down her spine, accompanying the rapid rhythm of her heartbeat and her slender hands that had begun to tremble. "I-- I di- id."

Oh God, I'm stammering! Why am I stammering!? Sarah shook her thoughts away, and cleared her throat to continue, "I called you here because… because I… Toby."

"Ah, yes… your baby brother. I take it that he has not been well?" The Goblin King cocked an eyebrow, expecting an immediate and jumbled answer from her. But she said nothing: she only stared at him. Her eyes remained locked on his face, almost afraid that if she looked away, he would disappear. Jareth tilted his head only slightly, a close-lipped smile gracing his mouth as he studied her. Even with her simple attire and naked face, she was still more beautiful than any nymph, muse, siren… any Fae folk of creature, for that fact. What he noticed most as of right now, though, was her eyes. As she backed up, she had ended up pressed against the window pane, causing the sun rays to set her rosy cheekbones and auburn hair aglow, allowing the true colors of her eyes to dazzle anyone that looked within them. Their light peridot color had deepened into an alluring forest green, the mahogany brown encircling the black iris and glittering gold flecks stood out brilliantly in the sunlight. It was as if the very heart of the Labyrinth itself was concealed within those jeweled depths.

It was only when he leaned a bit closer did he realize that she had begun to babble away again, "Toby is sick-- he's very, very sick. Medicine here… it can't save him. He has what people here call leukemia, and it--" Sarah shut her mouth abruptly as the cool touch of his gloved fingers trailed up her left arm. He watched her face for her reaction, his eyes glinting with playful curiosity. Though entranced at first, a now enraged Sarah jerked her arm away, causing her once more to slam into the blank wall of her room. She didn't feel the pain nor acknowledged the knot surely swelling at the back of her head. "What the hell is your problem!? I didn't wish you here so you could toy with me, or-- or touch me! You're here because I want to save my brother, please!" She screamed, desperation somewhat lining her voice. Despite her attempt to sound fierce and persistent, Sarah's words faded at the end of her sentence. What was even more humiliating was that she could feel the onslaught of heat rising on her cheeks and neck, her scarlet skin signifying her fluster.

Despite her tragic situation, there wasn't much Jareth could do to repress the feeling of great amusement rising within him, hiding in the corners of his lips. It pleased him to no end that he had this kind of effect on Sarah, that his very presence reduced this unyielding woman to that of a seemingly infatuated little girl. She had to at least be physically attracted to him, right? Why else would she be this trembling wreck?

Jareth gave a slight bow of his head in morbid respect, an arrogant smirk still tugging his mouth. "Very well, Sarah. I'll take care of it. Your brother will be cured of his illness by the next dawn."

Sarah hadn't known that she had been holding her breath until a gush of air escaped from her lungs. "Oh… thank you so much... You don't know how much this means to me."

Jareth placed his fist under his chin as his eyes bore into Sarah, his next sentence causing her heart to skip a beat. "This is no longer generosity on my part, Sarah. I expect something in return."

Silence descended upon the Goblin King and the stunned human, her heavy breaths the only sound filling the void. Sarah's hands trembled, her fingers reaching tentatively to her lips in shaken thought, What could I possibly give to him that would be of equal value of saving a loved one's life? What could he possibly want… that I could give…?

Quietly but surly, a voice cackled in Sarah's mind: Is that such a hard question to answer? It doesn't take a genius to know what a man would want out of the opposite sex.

B-- but he's the Goblin King! Sarah argued with the voice. He wouldn't want… that. Would he?

So, simply because he is a King means that he doesn't have the desires of a man? The voice chuckled. Don't think so highly of him.

Sarah raised her eyes to his, her resolve to deny his demand slowly deteriorating. Jareth noticed something fall away in the stubborn girl's eyes, her pretty head lowering in defeat and shame as she mumbled, "I'll-- I'll do anything you want. Just please save my brother."

A triumphant smile broke Jareth's face, a swell of energy bursting within his chest; one could only assume it was his enormously boosted pride. "Well then, Sarah!" His voice taunted, "In exchange for such a wish, you must return with me to the Underground--" Sarah's head snapped up in alarm at this, "and remain there for as long as I desire so. Do we have a deal?"

"Wh-what…?" Sarah cracked. "Stay-- live in the Underground? Are you insane!?" Her voice rose, "I have a life here, a family, my friends! What the hell, I-- I can't leave! Everything I know and love is here, there's no way I can just…"

Jareth simply shrugged. "Suit yourself. I gave you a chance; but since you refuse my wish, I refuse yours. Farewell, stupid girl." The cocky King turned to face the window to appear as though he was about to depart, knowing very well what he was doing. If he knew Sarah -which he did very well- there was no possible way that she would allow the babe to die when the opportunity to spare him was walking away right in front of her.

"Wait, wait! Isn't there anything else I can do, anything else!? Please, I'm--"

"No." He cut her off abruptly. "Either you come with me, or your brother's death will be on your head. There is no other option." His tone was harsh, no sympathy whatsoever lining his musical voice.

Sarah felt naked under his heated gaze, her face shading scarlet in humiliation. "Please…" She whispered once more.

For a minute, Jareth stared into the despaired girl's eyes, and felt his inner walls beginning crumble. He shook his head lightly, determined to remain resistant despite her heart breaking face, "No."

Sarah's fist clenched as her stomach fell down to her feet, the urge to vomit great. No one could possibly be that cruel. No person could possibly do this to someone else… But as Sarah stared into the Goblin King's unique eyes, something clicked in her head, an answer she didn't exactly want to listen to: But then again, he isn't really human, is he? No. He's a goddamn monster. Tears of pure hatred stung Sarah's eyes and cheeks as she spat, "You-- you win then, Goblin King. I'll go with you."

Jareth had expected more of a fight from her. He had expected him to gloat over her, proclaiming her defeat. But that wasn't the case at all; never had a person looked at him in such a way before. A way the made him feel absolutely vile. He never felt vile. His triumph swayed, a cold expression crossing his features and challenging hers as he began to taunt her once more, "You must hate me."

She only stared back into those wickedly amused eyes, her opening to say something, but thought better of it and closed her mouth once more.

He shrugged carelessly, and whipped around to face her rather small window. "Very well then, Sarah. You have exactly four hours, six o'clock to be exact, to bid your farewells. However you manage to explain that on such… short notice." He chuckled. Sarah released a shaky breath through her nose, and proceeded to turn and open her bedroom door and walk out. "And Sarah?" His cold yet playful voice called to her once more. There was a tense silence between them, before Jareth's all-too knowing tone broke through the warm afternoon air. "Don'tyou dare try to run away. I'll find you anyways, but I won't be in a very kind mood." He said no more, and Sarah didn't turn to watch him leave.

There was a flap of wings echoing in the night, then silence. Sarah had been gripping the door knob so hard, her knuckles had turned white. She slowly walked downstairs, then paused to look up at the ugly grandfather clock. The hands read 2: 11 p.m.

"Don't you dare try to run away…"

The girl's pretty lips set in a straight line, her eyes becoming more frigid than the polar ice caps. "Go to hell." She whispered savagely, then bolted out the front door, coat in hand.

XXX

A/N: Blargh. I hate how time flies. It's 2:43 in the morning. Wow, I should go to bed. Hope you guys liked this chapter, since I hated writing it. I really don't know why.

Don't forget to check out my other story, Eclipse Of The Heart, a Sailor Moon fanfic. Yeeeaaauuuuhhhh, boi. Okay, now I'm really going to bed…