The bargain included far more than just my reading. It came down to me behaving like a submissive pet: wearing one of the dresses and the jewels he had presented me; only speaking when spoken to and all such nonsense. I was writhing in anger on the inside. He made me feel dirty with his little caresses both vocal and physical. He reminded me of all the reasons why I had denied myself of touch for so long. By the afternoon he had me primed like a sluty lap dog. Looking at myself in a mirror I chocked back tears.

The deal became worse when Brighton informed me that we were going out to meet the goblin army. Jareth had pushed his forces back across the border and now was the time to unleash his secret weapon. He gave me a piece of parchment to read from- it included the first part of Carroll's descriptive poem, enough to remind the beast. I read over the familiar words- I had read Carroll's account of Alice's adventures several times, it had been part of a seventh grade literary assignment. "As soon as we are done, as soon as the words are out of my mouth, our deal is done!" I snapped at him as I joined his group. He pinched my cheek and shook his head amused at my disdain.

"Behave yourself, my lady," he chastised. "Save your fire for my…productive activities." The party left the castle, marching or riding on horses.

The air was bitter cold. Patches of snow were scattered across the field. On my horse I saw over the heads of his men, saw out to the horizon where Jareth and his army waited. Within several hundred yards of each other, the two opposing sides halted. Brighton ordered me to dismount. Coming to the front line, I saw Jareth. His face was dirty and his countenance stern. He looked at me in my revealing dress, shivering in the cold, and audibly scoffed. He dismounted his own horse and signaled two goblins to follow. Bartholomew emerged as well. I glanced at Brighton with his clean nose stuck in the air. He glanced back at me as well and sneered. I bit my lip and tried to conceal a shiver. He turned to greet the goblin king. "Hale King Jareth!"

Jareth stood legs apart, ready to act. "Hale King Brighton! Have you come out to surrender, to give back my royal?"

Brighton snickered. "Hardly! Your royal," he repeated the words nearly chortling. "As one can clearly see," he began circling behind me. "Rebekah fits rather well into my world." He hovered near running a hand along my shoulder. I fought the urge to elbow him by picturing Valery and Eddie. I closed my eyes. "I'd like to keep her, if for any reason for her unique talent."

"Brighton enough of this foolishness!" Jareth commanded, unsheathing his sword. "Let Rebekah go and let us deal with each other- Fae to Fae, a regular Wizard's Duel."

He nodded at me, indicating to me to reveal the parchment with the words. "No Jareth," he said stepping away from me. My hands shook holding the paper. "I will finish this, but on my own terms." Brighton looked at me, his hand on my shoulder squeezing and pinching my flesh harshly. "Read Rebekah!" he ordered.

I looked past him to Jareth. The tears had returned to my eyes- one or two escaped as I looked. His eyes regarded me with curiosity. His cheek flinched. Quietly I whispered, "I'm sorry!" and lowered my eyes to read.

"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe."

There was a thunderous sound that shook the earth, filling the air.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

A screech pierced the cold winter air. I heard horses neighing in terror and several men exclaim in surprise. Behind me there was a scattering of feet and hooves. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Brighton grinning enthusiastically at the sky. There was the sound of giant wings swooshing.

"He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

"And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!"

Over head the monster flew, screeching down at the gathered fae. I looked up, crying and shaking. I distinctly heard Jareth's voice ordering his archers forward. Brighton was laughing like a maniac. He reached his arms up towards the Jabberwocky in adoration. "Behold your death Jareth!" he exclaimed.

I went to my knees, crumbling the parchment in my hands. The commotion was great around me. I looked at the words scrawled in perfect penmanship- those accursed words! I would never remind again! I would never speak again if need be! Where's a blade to go snicker-snack when you most need it? I thought miserably.

A blade.

I looked up. Jareth had his sword drawn and was waving it in defiance of the beast. Bartholomew was at his side with his own blade drawn.

Scrambling to my feet I recalled my seventh grade literary assignment- I had to memorize The Jabberwocky by Lewsi Carroll and recite it before the whole class. Something snapped inside me. "One, two! One, two! And through and through the vorpal blade went snicker-snack," I mumbled to myself. "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack…Jareth!" I yelled above the noise. He saw me. "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

"He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back."

The creature gave such a cry that pierced my ears. It swooped down and landed between the two armies. His weight caused a small earth quake- we all teetered in its wake. He seemed to literally sneer at me and then turn it's attentions to the goblin army. The words rushed from my mouth,

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

He chortled in his joy."

Jareth's bellow of sheer animalistic urgency could be heard over the cries of the monster. I saw his blade in the sun light charging at the monster. Bartholomew was next to him, his own blade arching in a death blow. Both of them swung towards the looming head. Brighton, realization showing on his sadistic features, turned to me. Grimacing he let one of his hands fly across my mouth, preventing me from saying another word. In the same moment he dealt a similar blow that sent me to the ground. I hit my head against the cold, hard ground. Just before the blackness I heard Brighton screech and the creature roar.