Sarah tried to keep her tone defiant as she glared into the Goblin King's eyes. "Even if you could force me back," his eyes flashed dangerously at that, almost making her next words falter. "What makes you think I can actually do anything about whatever is going on? It's your world, not mine." Something in his expression made her think he disagreed with that statement.
"You'll know the particulars soon enough," was all he answered with. "In the meantime it is imperative that you return with me."
Her expression turned livid.
"I will not!" Her words were almost vicious. "You may need me, but I need to stay in my own world. This time you have nothing I need to get back from you." She regretted her last words as he suddenly glowered over her, causing her to sink into the counter. His eyes were alight with new predatory elation.
"I'm so very glad you mentioned that," he responded, voice deepening. With effortless flourish a crystal suddenly swirled in his hand, just beneath her face. The image sharpened within it, to reveal Toby sitting awkwardly in an archaic and sinkingly familiar throne room amongst disorderly goblins. Her mouth dropped open.
"No! Damn you, you monster! No one was wishing him away, return him home now!" The strength in her voice was only lightly dampened with fearful desperation.
He seemed nothing but amused by her demand.
"Really, Sarah, you should have more sense than that by now. Just because I took him away at your request before doesn't mean that's the only requisite for me to do so. Do you think my powers so limited?" His lips smirked as his head tilted further, as if to study her reply to his question.
"Let him go and I'll come," she reluctantly conceded, knowing full well she was playing right into his hand. In an attempt to retain some semblance of power, she kept her glare steady, refusing to so much as glance away from his eyes. "Happy? Always getting your way."
He scoffed at that.
"My way? You think my way was to lose a rightfully taken babe to some spoiled little girl that turned my world upside down?"
Though his expression had only slightly darkened, she could tell she'd struck a nerve. She let her delight in that show. "Must have been hard to accept. You might want to think about strengthening your kingdom's defenses." It was her turn to smirk.
He chuckled softly. "Ever the impudent one. And here I was almost worried that you'd disappoint." Her responding glare was murderous. "As strong-willed as you might be, my dear, I'm afraid I'll be taking no demands from you. The boy stays in my castle until you do as I demand. You just aren't that trustworthy."
"Just...pleaseā¦" she could feel her defiance slipping as she began her plea. His expression only furthered that feeling, as he was obviously enjoying the first signs of her begging. "Do not harm or frighten him," was all she could finish with.
His smugness seemed to slightly dissipate with this request. "He will be perfectly comfortable, I assure you." His tone was almost soft now. "Though I can be cruel, I certainly don't always have to be," he flashed a toothy grin as if implying something sordid. "And you have my word he'll be returned - perfectly fine - once you do as I need."
Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Your word is worthless. But," she took a deep breath, "you again leave me no choice but to agree to your terms. For now," she added with a warning glower.
His amusement was fully apparent. "Excellent. Now, you have about thirty seconds to change, if you wish. My patience is short. Although," he added with a leer, "I have no objections to your current state." His grin only deepened as her blush belied her scoff. She pushed him away from her as she stomped towards her bedroom, his deep snicker burning in her ears as she did so.
For one wild moment, alone in her room, Sarah considered escaping through her window. It would only give him the satisfaction of chasing me down, she thought sourly. She grabbed a dark gray V-neck from the edge of her open closet and shoved it on herself, reaching next for the closest pair of jeans to climb into. Unzipping and sliding her skirt down over the jeans, she glanced through her doorway to make sure he wasn't there. He wasn't in view, but she still wasn't convinced that he wasn't somehow watching.
Such an insufferable bastard. She thought of his leeringly obvious scans over her body, accentuated by his snide comments. With a toss of her long hair she re-entered her apartment's common area, making sure her expression made her distaste for him obvious.
His enjoyment of her show was even more obvious.
"Oh come come come now, Sarah, why so much haughtiness and dread? Where is that adventurous little thing who braved every turn of my labyrinth? Chin up, dear girl." His smugness was palpable. He again closed in his proximity towards her, leaning down to whisper, "This time you won't even have to be alone for one moment."
Her replying shiver was only due to the foreboding nature of the prospect. At least that's what she told herself.
He took her arm in his hand, and before she could pull away her apartment was blurring into nothingness.
And then she was in a castle stairway.
