Sarah let out an audible gasp, as if she'd been holding her breath. "What the hell is that thing and why did it feel so powerful?" She exclaimed, finally able to release her alarm.

Jareth looked as if he were considering whether or not to answer her.

"He's from a darker realm, having many names throughout the other realms. I would simply call him the Beast. Legends from your world might have once called him a Minotaur, although that wouldn't be quite accurate. He carries with him a brand of dark power that I am not entirely familiar with," he paused to study her frightened expression. As much as he enjoyed when she traded her usual defiance for unsurety, he wasn't particularly fond of the pure fear that showed on her beautiful face now. Especially considering that the source of it was something that brought unsurety to even himself.

"And how exactly do you figure that I was in any way responsible for its arrival?" The question was heavy with contrariness.

Jareth slowly neared her. She sidestepped right before his closing step would've backed her into the wall again. Amused mismatched eyes met her unamused green ones as she did so.

"I did say you tore apart my world, Sarah," accusation was only lightly evident in his voice. "It was some time before I finally realized that the destruction included part of my magical defenses. Your defiance of me had quite the impact." He brought a finger up to halt her as she started to protest. "You cared not for what the consequences would be once you had what you wanted. Not even for those pitiful creatures you had supposedly deemed friends." The last word seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth.

Sarah was forced to momentarily feel a pang of guilt for those who had helped her on her quest years ago. She shoved the feeling down deeper, deciding she'd worry about it later.

"And you honestly brought me here because you believe I can help you get rid of that thing?" Her doubt was apparent, yet there was a tinge of hope in her question. He took notice, fully intending on taking advantage of that hope.

"Yes. Only the victor can undo the damage." As much as he hated to concede to using that descriptor for her, he knew it would strengthen her prideful energy to his advantage.

Come on Sarah, you know a part of you wishes to feel powerful.

Though the thought of encouraging that part of her was quite enticing, he had no intention of letting her know yet just how powerful she really was.

Sarah stood silent for a while, earnestly searching his carefully masked expression for any tells of falsehood or trickery. With a slow sigh, she gave up. I can't tell what he might be holding back from me, she admitted to herself, disheartened.

"I need to be with Toby," she finally said. "No damn deal unless I can make sure he's safe - the danger is obviously worse than I knew."

Another pause followed as he considered, eyes searching hers.

"Yes, I suppose it is," he said finally. "You get your wish tonight, as long as neither of you so much as attempt to venture outside the room. Everything you two could need will be inside it," he added as she looked ready to challenge the command. "That is the very most I can concede to."

"Take me to him then. Walking," she specified as his hand neared her arm. The vanish/appear routine was getting beyond nauseating.

He agreed, stepping aside with a look of humor on his face and an arm extending.

"After you, mademoiselle." The mocking tone tempted her to smack his arm on her way past it through the corridor.

Though foreboding in a way, Sarah had to admit that there was a majesty to the castle that she had not noticed before. Granted, she had been quite hurried last time, not to mention she hadn't really seen much of it. She couldn't help but wonder how much of it had been rebuilt since her victory. Much needed renovation, she stifled a giggle at the thought.

The corridor didn't seem to have a visible end. Glancing behind her, she noticed that she could no longer see the stairwell they'd come from either. Of course this place would do this ever-changing shit, she thought with heavy annoyance. Her backwards glance had also revealed Jareth's intense focus on her. From the brief glimpse, she thought he seemed to be considering something. She quickly dropped the thought as she realized she wasn't sure she wanted to figure it out.

"Here," came Jareth's voice behind her as they came to a corner with a door on their left, just before the corridor curved rightwards. She stopped to face the door, sidestepping as she assumed he'd need to be the one to unlock the door. Instead, however, he leaned into the door with her still in front of it, cutting her movement off and nearly knocking her whole body into it. His hand caged her left arm against the door, most of his frame against her back. "I trust you will heed my words about staying put," his soft words were breathed against her ear. Fighting a shiver at the feel of it, she tried again to sidestep, pulling away just as his right hand grabbed her at the waist, fingers partially brushing against her hip. Her head whipped around to halfway face him, her expression mutinous. It only seemed to fuel his smug fire, his grin showing obvious enjoyment. "Otherwise, who knows where next I'll force you to spend the night." His grin grew as her face visibly heated.

With a sudden backwards lunge, she threw his leaning body off of her, eyes burning into his. He allowed her effort to successfully back him off, though his grin never faltered.

"I'll stay in here with my brother as long as it seems safe to do so. And you will stop closing in on me," she added venomously with another shove towards him. His smug grin remained.

Can't fault her for lack of spirit, he was thinking fondly, if not amusedly.

He couldn't help but notice his own slight arousal at their brief contact. Having her at his mercy, part of her backside curved into his pelvis, her petite waist and the gentle contour of her hip in his hand - the intoxication of it had somehow managed to catch even himself off guard. And then her fiery eyes. Eyes that didn't quite match her angered expression. He could distinctly see a different kind of fire igniting within those gorgeous green jewels. Releasing his hold of her had been somewhat reluctant, but he'd already decided that now wasn't the time.

Soon, he allowed himself to briefly relish in the thought.

Once Jareth finally pushed the door open, Sarah dove for the bed that Toby was lying in. He'd appeared awake, albeit sleepily so.

"Toby!" She embraced him warmly. He returned the hug with obvious affection, if less enthusiastically. "Toby are you alright? Have you been...hurt at all?" She threw a cold glance in Jareth's direction, who was still at the doorway. As her brother shook his head 'no' she embraced him again, this time with a quick kiss on the head.

"I'm fine Sarah - erggh, okay okay." He seemed slightly embarrassed by being showered with so much affection. "This place is weird though isn't it? I mean, awesome," he quickly added with a look towards Jareth. The look seemed to contain something like respect, much to Sarah's chagrin. "But freakin' crazy, right?" There was an excitement and awe in his tone that Sarah had not expected.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay. I'm so sorry for all of this, but we will get back home soon enough I promise, okay?" She placed a hand around his head and drew him back into her embrace. He protested slightly, but gave up as he realized how comforting his sister's sudden presence was in the strange place.

"Why are you saying it like it's your fault? He said we have an important mission," Toby pointed a small finger toward the King. "And that there's a tie between the magic here and us. Isn't that cool?" His delight was obvious, Sarah's disapproval of it even more so.

Jareth stood silently, letting amusement show freely as Sarah's gaze met his. Told you he was fine, his expression seemed to say. Sarah's face remained visibly upset with the whole situation, much to Jareth's satisfaction.

"Don't pay too close attention to anything he says," Sarah told her brother without letting up her glare towards the man she spoke of. "He's not one of those adults whom you have to obey."

Jareth snickered softly.

"But he's been nice. And he's magic, Sarah! He gave me a crystal ball that showed me myself as a grown-up with powers! And he can do tricks, and also gave me whatever I wanted to eat." Sarah's glare was trying to burn a hole through its victim, who only smirked at the intensity of it. Her eyes dropped back to her brother's face.

"Things aren't always what they seem in this place, Toby. Sometimes good things are actually bad," she tried to clarify so he'd understand.

"Have you been here before?" Toby's bright blue eyes had renewed awe in them.

Sarah bit her lip at the pang of guilt that followed his innocent question. She could feel the upsurge of amusement emanating from the doorway, increasing her own disgust.

"A long time ago," she finally answered, moving her hand down to his shoulder.

"Yes, she had a grand old time. As did you, dear boy," Jareth spoke at last.

Sarah decidedly preferred the silent smugness. She visibly winced as the puzzled look that grew on Toby's face told her that the inevitable followup question was coming.

"I've been here? When?" He looked from his sister to the Goblin King for any answer to this urgent question.

"You were a baby," Sarah reluctantly told him. "And it was only for a short time. I got us out of here pretty fast," she added with a small smirk in Jareth's direction. He glowered a little in return, giving Sarah the first bit of enjoyment in the entire exchange.

"Well I must be going, see that you two sleep well. Don't let the goblins bite." Jareth half smiled as he turned to leave.

Just as the door was about to latch shut, Sarah leapt from the bed to rush and hold it from closing. Jareth halted at the sound but didn't yet turn.

"Wait," she called out softly, indicating this wasn't for Toby to be included in.

He slowly turned, amused smirk beginning at his eyes before reaching his mouth.

"Having second thoughts about whose chambers to spend the night in are we?" His voice was deep, almost seductive if it weren't for the obvious taunting undertone. Sarah merely rolled her eyes.

"Jareth, I'm serious about Toby being safe. That...monster out there... you said your defenses have been lowered. How are we safe even in your castle then?" Her words sounded genuine with worry, no challenge in her whispered voice.

"You think so little of my powers? He may be an unpredicted menace but I assure you, precious thing," he drew closer to her as he spoke the pet name, "I am still the more powerful one." His eyes had a prideful gleam that still showed a hint of taunt in them. Boasting was always a favorite past time. "Surely you don't pit one single beast above the King of the Underground?" He was close enough now that he had to tilt his head down to watch her reaction.

"Well, I'd pit a fifteen-year-old mortal girl above said King." Sarah made sure her words were biting, as if 'King' were in doubtful quotation marks.

His head canted slightly upwards, lips turned down in distaste as he now glared down at her. His expression then quickly turned into something more pleased as he let out a soft chuckle. Always, with this one, he mused with a touch of passion. Always will she provoke aggravation and admiration simultaneously.

"Indeed, and look what that has won her now." As his smugness returned, Sarah only allowed it to feed her small victory, knowing that she'd struck a nerve. He seemed to notice and only looked more pleased, lowering his face to within inches of hers. "Sarah, my dear, go back in your room. Play with your brother. Forget about the Beast." The playfulness in his familiar words seemed to dance in his eyes. She gnawed at her cheek to keep from snickering. Forcing herself to look more annoyed than amused, she spun around in exaggerated angst, closing the door behind her.

Jareth stood there smiling for a brief moment before tearing away.

Sarah climbed back into the large bed and draped an arm around the not-so-sleepy-anymore Toby. Her guard somewhat lowered now, she took in the room a bit more. The bed was quite plush, with soft cream-colored linens and a deep blue duvet. Dark wooden stands were on either side, their design beautiful yet somehow otherworldly. At the far end of the room stood a grand wardrobe that matched them. Though not a particularly large room, there was a sizable fireplace lit in the corner, giving enough warmth for the whole space. The Castle of Goblins has hospitable guest rooms, she mused with a humorous smile. Who'd have thought.

"Well, I guess there's nothing to do now," Toby sounded bored. "Unless you want to tell me about the last time we were here?" He suddenly lit up at the idea. Her responding look shot the excitement down, his lips turned downward in a slight pout.

"Not tonight, kiddo. We're going to sleep."

Toby made a face.

"I guess, but you better stay wayyyy on your side of the bed. This is yucky enough as it is." He tried to make it clear that sharing a bed with his sister was not okay with him. Sarah stuck her tongue out in response.

"I will if you will. And don't start moving around too much or I'll push you right off the bed." She nudged him playfully. He only rolled his eyes and turned over, dramatically scooting to the very edge. She chuckled as she sunk into the sheets to get comfortable.

Sleep came surprisingly quickly.