Chapter 4

Immediately disentangling herself from Jareth on arrival at the castle, Kelsey stepped away to lean next to the window, staring out across the Labyrinth.

Jareth observed her quietly for a moment, before clearing his throat. "Do you actually want tea? Because if you do, I'm afraid I don't know what your usual is." He smirked faintly.

Chuckling, Kelsey turned to him. "Thanks, I am thirsty, but I know better than to eat or drink Fairy Food."

Pursing his lips, Jareth fought a grin. The girl was smart. He was grudgingly impressed. "So I assume you don't want cake either?"

The slender girl laughed outright then. "Pass, thank you. But I appreciate the offer." She glanced around the room. "That thing you set on Sarah and Hoggle, what was that?"

Jareth sprawled over his throne. "A Cleaner. Don't worry, I gave them a way out, and Hoggle knows how to play his part. They won't be harmed."

Kelsey relaxed slightly. "Cool. I figured it was something like that, but it's nice to have the reassurance." Perching on the window ledge, she curled her legs up in front of her. "So, still think Sarah is the sweet little thing she seems to be?"

"I saw antagonism between you, but that doesn't mean much. That could just be a personal issue." Jareth noted that despite her relaxed posture, Kelsey kept him in sight, and a direct line to the exit.

"True enough."

"I think it's time you gave me some clear answers."

"Oh? About what in particular?" Kelsey leaned her head back against the wall, rolling it so she could see Jareth without straining her eyes.

"About why and how you are here, and most importantly, who you are." Jareth didn't shift from his relaxed pose, draped across the throne.

Rolling her eyes, Kelsey examined her nails. "I've already answered all of those questions. Truthfully, I might add." She bit the inside of her lip, stopping herself from adding insults. He had played along with her, the least she could do was hold back her natural sarcasm for a while.

"Humour me."

Huffing a sigh, Kelsey gave him a level look. "My name is Kelsey Williams. I am Sarah's cousin. I followed the two of you through the portal you created, to make sure Toby was ok and would stay that way. I am not here to help Sarah. I would not, even if she asked. Which she wouldn't, because she hates me. Anything else you want to know?"

Tilting his head slightly, Jareth observed her for a moment. "Sarah mentioned scars. I saw some on your back when your shirt rode up a little."

Narrowed grey eyes met his. "Is that a question? 'Cos it sounded like a statement to me. One that relates to something that is none of your business."

"I'm curious."

"Too bad."

Jareth snarled and leapt forward, pinning her to the wall with his hand around her throat. His grip was firm enough that she couldn't move, but he didn't obstruct her breathing. Lowering his voice to a menacing growl, he leaned closer. "You will answer all of my enquiries or you will find yourself a guest in my dungeons until you do."

Kelsey gazed back calmly. "The dungeon? Kinky!"

Jareth was mildly disconcerted to realise that the girls pulse hadn't even fluttered. "I beg your pardon?"

Kelsey merely blinked up at him.

"I could have you killed."

"You could. But that won't get you the answers you want. And besides, I'm much more entertaining alive."

"You think I lack for entertainment?" Jareth asked, surprised.

"Perhaps entertainment is the wrong word. Challenge, maybe? I get the impression you get your way all the time. That must get awfully dull after a while."

Jareth blinked at her. "What?"

Kelsey smirked.

Jareth released her and stepped back. "You don't fear being tortured in my dungeon until you break? Is the story of your scars really worth that amount of pain?"

"Not really. It's just something personal. I don't like to talk about it." Kelsey kept her faintly bored gaze on him. "I'm sure you have things in your past that are personal and not open for discussion. Your first kiss, perhaps, or the first time your heart was broken?"

"I have no reason to discuss those with you."

"Just as I have no reason to discuss my scars. Now, was there anything else you wanted to know, or can I go explore your Labyrinth some more?"

"And what makes you think I would let you do that, even if I was done with my questions?" Jareth sprawled back onto his throne, closing his eyes and relaxing.

Kelsey waited until she was sure he wasn't going to open his eyes again, and silently slipped from her perch and ghosted out the door. She managed to restrain her chuckle, but couldn't stop the smug grin from sliding across her face. He was going to be so pissed off when he realised she was gone and not just being stubbornly silent. Strolling casually back through the kitchens and out of the castle, she did a few shuffling dance steps, and skipped into the Goblin Market.

Kelsey wandered, skirting around the junk yard outside the gates, and ambled into the forest behind it. Breathing deeply of the clean air, she smiled serenely as she walked, humming quietly. She listened to the creatures in the trees and the underbrush, relaxing for the first time since the fire. She shook her head, banishing the memories and focused on the sounds around her. So intent was she that she jumped when she looked up and saw a rather irritated looking Goblin King leaning against a tree next to the path, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed, and jaw clenched.

"Hello again!" she chirped, trying to mask her startled reaction.

Jareth stood straight, and began stalking towards her. "I dislike people who walk away from me."

"I'm sure it doesn't happen often. Think of it as a novelty." Kelsey looked around her casually, shifting to a slightly more guarded position. Hoggle's warning rang in her ears as she caught the look in the Fae's eyes.

"I always get what I want."

"How dull."

Kelsey yelped when Jareth lunged forward and caught her wrist, yanking her forwards and pinning her against his chest. She had brought her arms up defensively, only to find them crushed between their bodies, completely unable to move.

Smirking, Jareth lifted the back of her shirt slightly, and held a conjured crystal against the scar tissue. "Tell me about the scars."

Kelsey snarled and shoved fruitlessly against him. The memories flashed through her mind, but she ignored them. "Shove off, you vainglorious peacock!" Thrashing, she tried to kick out at him, only to have him neatly sidestep and let her go, sending her sprawling.

Jareth clucked in false sympathy, smirking faintly as she picked herself up and glared at him. "Vainglorious peacock? I must admit, I haven't heard that one before." He twirled the crystal over his fingers tauntingly. "Do you want to know what this is?"

"Should I care?" the furious girl snarled as she crossed her arms defensively.

Humming slightly in amusement, Jareth continued twirling the crystal. "My crystals can be many things. This particular one is a Memory Reader. I touched it to your scars, and brought the memories to the surface of your mind with my question. The crystal then collected and recorded them, for me to view at my leisure." He smirked. "You should never have challenged me, little girl. I never lose."

Kelsey snarled viciously. "You arrogant, narcissistic, self-entitled ponce! You have no right to those memories!" Her mind hissed at her to remember that she was dealing with Fairy Folk, and that she was going to insult him and get herself into trouble, but she was too angry to care. She lunged, trying to grab the crystal, only to have it dance effortlessly out of her reach on his dextrous fingers. Eyes stinging with tears, she lunged again, managing to tackle the Fae to the ground and send the crystal skittering away into the underbrush. Spinning on one knee, she braced herself in a crouch, facing the enraged king.

"You dare to touch me?" Jareth snarled. "Are your precious memories worth your life?"

"No," Kelsey growled softly. "My privacy is."

Jareth stared at her calculatingly, then tilted his head. "You really would fight me on this, wouldn't you."

Kelsey nodded, despite it not being a question.

"Perhaps I could offer you something in exchange?" Jareth observed her reaction carefully. Deciding she was at least listening, he continued. "What would you want? Gold? Jewels? Magic? I can offer you your dreams…" He trailed off temptingly.

"Anything I want, really?" Kelsey eyed him sceptically. "In exchange for the memories."

"You underestimate the power of my curiosity." Came the dry response.

Kelsey chewed her lip as she thought. She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but at the same time, her own curiosity was urging her on. Perhaps this could be the solution to her problems. And it wasn't as if the memories were a high cost, beyond the pride and pain attached to them. Raising her eyes to his, she offered, "If I give you the memories, I want permission to stay here with free reign to explore anywhere in the labyrinth that I want. I will agree not to help anyone challenging it, but I will not be used to hinder them either."

Jareth shrugged, a movement that was disgustingly graceful. "I can agree to that." He flicked his fingers, and the crystal came soaring out of the bushes to his waiting hand. Gripping it firmly, he closed his eyes and pressed the orb to his forehead.

Kelsey ran towards the burning house, ignoring the shouts of Marie and her parents. Her breath rasped in her throat, and she was already choking in the smoke, but she kept running. Diving into the inferno, she looked around desperately, covering her mouth and nose with her arm. Dashing down the hallway to her parent's room, she ignored the stinging of her eyes and the tight feeling on her skin. She had to find them.

"Mum? Dad?" She wheezed. "Where are you?"

Turning, she staggered to her little sister's room. "Lily?"

The cot was empty, but she spotted the limp forms of her parents and sister against the wall.

Dropping to her knees next to them, she hacked, the acrid smoke burning her lungs. Grabbing Lily's limp body, Kelsey held her close to her chest and crawled back to the hallway and out the door. Gratefully taking deep breaths of the cooler air, she shoved her sister into Marie's mothers' arms.

Dodging her friend's father, she ran back into the building. The smoke was even thicker now, and Kelsey found herself staggering. Crouching, she scuttled to her parents, and tried not to cry. She couldn't drag them both, and she didn't know if she was strong enough to come back a third time. Panicked, she checked their pulses. They were both still alive, but barely. Running her hands through her hair, she tried to calm herself. Her gaze darted between them, trying to work out what to do. 'Mum first,' she decided. Dad would want her to save mum first. Grabbing her mother's arm, she heaved her into a fireman carry and staggered towards the door. The smoke was so thick she couldn't see, her eyes watering. The heat sucked the moisture from her skin, leaving it feeling raw and baked.

Marie's father was there to take the limp body from off her shoulder, and lay her down on the front lawn. Before Kelsey could turn back to the house, he had grabbed her in a bear hug, restraining her.

"You can't go back in there! The house is coming down!" He shouted into her ear.

"Let me go! I have to save Dad!" Kelsey screamed, thrashing.

"It's suicide!"

"I have to save him!" Kelsey twisted free, ignoring every thought but getting to her father.

Running in one last time, heart pounding until it felt like it was going to burst through her chest, Kelsey dodged falling bits of roof and gouts of flame that licked at her. Coughing, she reached her father's side, and tried to pull him into the same carry she used on her mother. She couldn't do it. Her father was a big man, six foot tall, broad across the shoulders and solid muscle. His friends called him Bull, and not without reason. Sobbing, she hooked her arms under his shoulders and threw her bodyweight backwards. Heaving and dragging, her petite body trembling with fear and fatigue, she made their way across the room. Her plan was thwarted when a burning beam fell across the door, knocking her to the ground and searing across her back. She screamed as she felt her skin blister and burn, a thick shard of flaming wood digging into her side. She was trapped under the beam, the wood in her side pinning her to the floor. Trying to ignore the pain, she panted, twisting to try to snap the wood free. She knew she was losing too much blood, but she refused to give in. With a heave, she snapped the shard free and kicked the beam clear of the door. She sobbed as she felt the skin on her back blistering. She could hear the sirens in the distance, and felt dimly grateful that Marie had remembered to call for help. She staggered, dragging her father as best she could. She could see the door at the end of the hallway. They were going to make it. She refused to accept any other outcome.

Finally emerging from the flames, she felt hands pulling her father clear and helping her stagger away from the hell behind her. Collapsing into the arms of the firefighters, she finally gave into unconsciousness.

… "Dead when you pulled them out"…

… "Very brave"…

… "Scar tissue on your back. Nothing we can do"…

… "No other family. We will make arrangements"…

… "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust"…

… "The hell are these scars? No way am I touching that! Who would? You're hideous!"…

… "Best you leave as soon as you are of age"…

Jareth opened his eyes and met Kelsey's cool gaze. He licked his lips and found it surprisingly difficult to meet her eyes. "You tried to save them."

"I failed." Her voice was flat.

"I saw how Sarah and her mother treat you."

"Karen is her step mother. I'd suggest not making that mistake in front of Sarah." Kelsey turned and sat, leaning back against a tree with her eyes closed.

Jareth observed her quietly for a moment. He couldn't find it in himself to pity her. She was too strong for that. He admitted to himself that he felt a surprising respect for the delicate girl. She was a survivor, a fighter. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Kelsey didn't open her eyes. "For invading my privacy? I consider allowing me to stay here to be just payment for that."

Jareth hesitated. "I would like to offer you something, more."

Kelsey did open her eyes then, and she glanced at him before resuming her relaxed pose. "In exchange for?"

Jareth shifted, and debated with himself in silence for a moment. Deciding, he removed his gloves, revealing hands covered in scar tissue. Kelsey stared, eyes flicking between them and his face. She licked her lips. "I'm assuming its ok for me to ask what happened."

Jareth closed his eyes and began. "I am the youngest of thirteen. You may be familiar with one of my older brothers, Puck. When I was a child, I idolized him. The feeling was not mutual. One day he caught me in his chambers. He had a collection of crystals." Jareth paused and conjured one of his own, staring at it moodily. "I was fascinated with them, and had learned how to make them so that I could impress him. I was holding one of his, a beautiful one with blue and green smoky swirls dancing inside it. He startled me and I dropped it, smashing it on the floor. He flew into a rage and grabbed me. He held my hands in the burning coals of his fireplace until my hands were ruined." He paused again and dismissed his orb, then continued, his voice husky. "When it came time for me to choose a bride, the only woman I wanted rejected me when she saw my hands. She refused to let me touch her, even innocently, claiming that I was hideous. A scarred freak." He ignored Kelsey's slight start. "I wish I could say my scars came from heroism such as yours. Maybe then they would be easier to bear."

Kelsey met his eyes, devoid of pity but full of understanding. "Not really. They are reminders of my failure. The day I lost everything and became a monster that no one wants. Untouchable. Unlovable." She stood, and gently took his hand. Stepping closer, she looked up at him as she lightly placed it against the scars on her back. They stood there for a moment, before returning to their original positions, feeling slightly awkward.

Jareth smiled, a bitter twist of his lips. Abruptly, he changed the subject. "I could use someone like you."

Kelsey snorted. "If that's some kind of pick up line, it needs work."

Jareth smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not like that. As you have pointed out, I get my own way far too often. I could use a companion who isn't afraid to stand up to me when necessary. Though I could marry you I suppose." He smirked thoughtfully.

"Again with the pick up lines! And no, waking up next to your snaggle toothed head every morning is not on my list of things to do, thanks all the same." She grinned back.

Loosing a frustrated growl, Jareth dropped down next to her and mimicked her pose against the tree, tugging his gloves back on. "I have already given you sanctuary, and now I am offering friendship. Whilst your behaviour since your arrival has been infuriating, I can't deny that this is the most fun I've had in a long time. I am loathe to give that up."

"So what exactly are you proposing?"

Jareth chuckled faintly at the suspicious tone. "I give you carte blanche to torment me and get into mischief as you see fit, without fear of reprimand. Though naturally I'd prefer you exercise some judgement for time and place. I would like a genuine friend. Someone I can trust and talk with. Someone who will tell me the truth."

Kelsey sat quietly for a moment. "You're lonely."

"Yes." Jareth confessed softly.

"I suppose I can appreciate that. But from my understanding of Fairy Folk, any agreement needs to be an exchange, otherwise I will owe you a debt. And I'd rather not be your slave, thanks all the same."

"What would you like? If you are staying here, you will need somewhere to live. Perhaps a suite in the castle?"

Kelsey snorted. "That drafty old thing? God no!" She thought for a few moments. "If I'm staying here and getting into mischief, I'm at a huge disadvantage." Pondering her wording for a moment, she spoke again before Jareth could interject. "I propose we break your previous offer into two parts. In exchange for entertaining you with my antics and general misbehaviour, I want a cottage of my own design, here in the forest, with its own water source and vegetable garden. The garden should be self-sustaining and always have harvestable food. 'Cos god knows I'd kill everything if I had to do the gardening myself. Is that part agreeable?"

Jareth nodded. "Pick a specific location and draw your design. You can stay in a guest room until it is built and habitable. I'm sure you can tolerate the drafts until then." He grinned at her.

Chuckling, Kelsey continued, "As for the friendship element, I would have some specific terms for that. For it to be a genuine friendship, there needs to be free exchange. No keeping track of debts. Free exchange of gifts when desired. No using your position against me unless I actually break the law."

"I thought that was implied under the title of Friendship, but I can appreciate your clarification. Before that can be implemented though, I would feel better if I could give you one request in exchange. What would you ask for?"

"Hmm. Can you gift me abilities? Is that appropriately scaled for this sort of exchange?"

"Yes, and I suppose so. Any abilities in particular?"

Kelsey flashed him a mischievous grin. "Give me magic that I can learn how to use in whatever way I choose. And the ability to transport myself like you do. That will make annoying, um, I mean, entertaining you much easier."

Jareth chuckled. "I have no idea what I'm in for, do I." An innocent expression was the only response. "Alright. I can do that. Come here." He leaned forward and kissed her before she could respond. Breathing into her mouth, he sent tendrils of magic through her body, gripping her upper arms tightly to prevent her moving. She was frozen, tense, and he terminated the kiss as soon as he was finished Gifting her. "Come back to the castle with me. Since you are staying, you have nothing to fear from eating or drinking. And you need to learn how to Transport."

Dazed, Kelsey nodded. "Yeah, um, let's do that."

Raising an eyebrow, Jareth smirked at her. "Judging by your face, I'm going to say that kiss was better for you than it was for me." He dropped his voice lower and leaned closer, purring seductively. "And it was very good for me."

Kelsey snapped back to herself and gave him a playful, though somewhat ungentle thump in the stomach. "Oh give it a rest, you fatuous glitter bound egotist!" Glaring slightly, she concentrated, and with a shimmer, disappeared.

Jareth raised an impressed eyebrow, then followed to make sure his newest annoyance hadn't gotten herself stuck in a wall.