Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth.

LEGEND


The Hunter and His Prey

"You snake!" She growled between her teeth, almost unable to speak. "You two-faced revolting scum!"

"Temper, temper, Sarah," the Goblin King mocked her delighted glint flickering in his eyes.

"You dare temper me? I'll make you pay!" She cried enraged and, lifting the broom upon her head, prepared to smash it into his obnoxious face.

"I dare!" He said angrily and glared at her. At the tone of his words, the goblins fell in to frightened silence. "As a king, I hold on to my rights, and no one speaks to me such way." His fingers snapped together; the clasp echoing sharply in the silent room.

Sharp pain pierced her hands and, screaming, Sarah let go off the broom. It fell on floor and clanged loudly; the sharp thorns in its handle glittering dark of her blood.

The goblins made a rude laugh, a malicious glee in their gaze.

She scowled at the creatures, and then turned to see the Goblin King, covering her hands and banishing the soaring pain at the back of her mind. "You are a devil with your sick games!" She hissed. "I despise you!"

"I do not require your approval." The man snorted.

"No," Sarah said, and forced herself to calm down. Her gaze lingered on the broom at her feet; a thoughtful expression fleeted on her face, and she raised her head. "You only want my niece." She could hear the goblins snickering around them, and from the corner of her eyes fathomed their dirty and hairy little bodies tangled on her couch, leaving dark marks on the cover. She scowled at the little monsters, but they only laughed more.

"She made the wish herself," Jareth scowled, "rather stupidly, I might even add. No one forced the words into her mouth."

"Don't lie to me!" Sarah snorted. "I remember very well how it goes!"

Her words brought an unexpected smile on his face; and a dark gleam appeared in his eyes. He took a step forward, mouth in a twisted smile. "Remember what?" He breathed, snaring her attention back to him.

Her body turned rigid while her heart started to flutter madly in her chest, flailing like wings of scared moth. To her immense annoyance, she felt her cheeks warming up and hastily backed away from him. "All," Sarah spat, raising her chin. "You lure your quarry, planning it all in advance. Like spider in a parlor, you sit on your throne spreading your net. Oh, yes. I do remember…"

"Sarah…"A ghost of an impious grin played at the corned of his mouth. "I would be disappointed if you wouldn't..." His words were barely a whisper, huskily spoken, and Sarah hated herself when her body trembled at the unchaste tone. She stared at the Goblin King, unable to rip her eyes from his odd eyes. Something humane -- hurtful flashed briefly on his face, and just as fast was veiled again. The Goblin King stood straight. "You called," his tone was again as cold as were his eyes. "What do you now want? Haven't I already given you all?"

A night breeze trailed after his words. It flew through slightly open windows, rocking the curtains along the way, and over her. Sarah shivered at the whispers from her past, echoing around her before fading in the shadows of the room.

"Everything I've done, I've done for you…I move the stars for no one"

"You gave me nothing," Sarah snapped out of reveries and recoiled, "but lies. And I never wanted anything from you. Just return my niece!"

He frowned at her. "I do not have to answer to your expectations anymore." He took a step forward and bent closer, hissing through his clasped teeth, "You have no power over me."

She froze at her place, unprepared for his words.

"Oh, yes. You are not the only who remembers," Jareth growled low, and Sarah cringed at his tone. "After you took your leap and spoke those very words in the centre of my domain…" His eyes glazed with hate and resentment. "I regained my world back."

She didn't understand; and Jareth, noticing her confusion, sneered, "It seems the age is starting to take its toll on you, Sarah..."

His words hurt, yet she pretended they didn't. She inhaled, forcing the pain inflicted on her by his mere word deep within, and said, "I never wanted to have power over you." Sarah shook her head. "I just wanted…want you to let Linda go."

"Haven't we already been through this?" He sounded bored. "What is said is said."

"Then let me run for her!" Sarah pledged. "Jareth, please!" She could hear the goblins snickering at her but paid no heed to them. "She's young and she didn't know what she said. Don't be cruel to her."

Her words seemed to amuse him greatly. Glancing at his tittering goblins, he raised his fingers on his chin and pondered.

"Very well," the Goblin King answered at last, returning his attention on Sarah. "I'll make an exception this time," A smile played at the corned of his mouth, "as I'm so generous…"

She flinched at his words, but he pretended he didn't see. "In any case, you are about to start your own run through my maze." He gloated at her expression. "Oh yes. Did you truly think I would let your call slip through my ears?"

Sarah's face turned dark, and he nearly smiled at the sight of her. "What? Cat caught your tongue?"

"Get on with it, your majesty" Sarah hissed, glaring. "I am well aware of what I said. As you should know."

He frowned, displeased or angered; it was hard to tell. "You called, we came. I won't bore us to death, since we both know what I'm supposed to say," he moved, pointing behind her back; and she turned, missing the calculative stare he gave her whilst baring her his teeth.

For a moment she was unable to move, seeing once again the familiar sight of pale orange sky and, far in the distance, the dark towers of the castle that she knew lay beyond the Goblin City.

"Labyrinth…" The sight escaped her lips. She could feel Jareth moving, stepping closer, like a shadow from her past returning to life.

"Yes, Sarah." He heaved, and his breath sent shivers across her spine. "My wonderful maze. You will find it quite different this time…"

She turned and, facing him, gave him a long look. His dark cape floated, hauled by the wind, and locks of his unruly mane glittered in the pale light like an unholy halo around his head. They stood on the silent hill together, just the two of us. Sarah saw no one around; the goblins had disappeared the moment they appeared on the sandy hill adorned by black naked trees. She gasped, recognizing the vile gleam in his eyes, and straightened her back.

"I beat you before. I beat you now."

"Such impudence and dare from someone of your age…" He mocked lightly, giving her a closer look and arched his brows. "Are you certain you are up to task?"

She clasped her teeth together, angered by his words, and returned his stare. "Just wait and see."

"Oh, I will," his words held no warmth as he frowned at her. "Have no fear of that..."

She bit her teeth.

"Oh," the Goblin King said, like remembering only then. "As I promised, I will give you your change to redeem that poor lost niece of yours." He shook his head in a mock disappointment. "Such a pity that she isn't doing well. Not at all, I must confess." He smiled maliciously. "She might be smart, but she is far too trusting for her age."

His words reminded Sarah once again of the image of Linda, scared and alone, two white clad women on her tail. Her heart clenched in the terror she felt for her. She pursed her lips together, banishing her fears. "I didn't ask your evaluation!" Sarah snapped, "She does just fine!"

"Oh, certainly…" the Goblin King snorted and bowed, "whatever you say." He straightened. "But if you happen to meet your so excellently doing niece and, despite of your talk, she would need you help, I, gracefully, allow you one change." He leered. "But should you fail…"Sarah shivered at the gleam in his eyes.

"I know!" Sarah cut in, unable and unwilling to hear him uttering the words out loud. She could not bear to hear them from his mouth, not for the second time. So she said them instead, "She'll become one of you. Forever!"

His eyes flickered shortly in annoyance. Shaking his head, he started fading from her sight, but she could still hear his word in the wind.

"Not long at all…"

Sarah stared the spot he had occupied just a moment ago, but the Goblin King was gone and she was alone. Slowly she turned around to take a took at the Labyrinth spreading in front of her. Her shoulders fell and she sighed,

"Come on, feet."