A/N: I love all of my readers! Thank you for not letting me quit on this story or I would have disappointed myself as well. Things are starting to pick up. Anyways, read on…
Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth because they wouldn't sell it to me for the thirty-mine cents I have. Oh well. I tried…
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Revenge is Sweet. Isn't It?
Jareth, though he hadn't shown it in the dining hall, was angry. The evening had not gone as planned. He had expected Jessica to be able to read Sarah's thoughts without trouble. And he hadn't counted on Jessica doubting him. He expected her to do as he asked without question. It appeared that she had her own ideas about that. Jareth had noticed the shame in her eyes; he would have been blind not to. He was nearly positive she had said something to Sarah mentally. He had seen the way Sarah's eyes had widened, besides, she'd refused to meet his gaze after that.
He reached Jessica's room and for a moment he considered walking straight in. But if she were changing or something similar that would lead to an embarrassing scene. He knocked instead. He could hear her feet on the stone floor as she approached the door. She opened it. When she realized it was him her eyes dropped to the floor.
"Jessica," he said, "I need to speak with you." He made certain that his tone of voice left no room for arguments. She opened the door in silent invitation for him to come in. He looked around as she shut the door behind him. She'd brought up some food from the kitchen and…was that a book from his library on her desk? It didn't matter. He was here for other reasons.
"What do you need to speak with me about, Jareth," Jessica asked as she sat down on her bed. She was trying to appear nonchalant.
"I want to know what you said to Sarah at dinner," he asked.
He had expected Jessica's calm demeanor to slip but it didn't. He was having more trouble than usual reading her. He thought he saw a glimmer of surprise in her eyes and then it was gone. When had she learned such control?
"I told her I was sorry." Jessica's voice was the only part of her not completely under control. It trembled slightly. She was afraid.
"Why did you say that?" Jareth asked.
"Because I was utterly ashamed of my actions!" The calm mask shattered. There was such anger in her voice and in her eyes. "I can't believe you made me do that! A person's thoughts are as private as it gets, Jareth! I felt so filthy for even taking the smallest peek into her mind and I didn't find out anything!"
Jareth frowned internally. Apparently it didn't matter if he'd earned Jessica's trust.
"Well, if it were anyone else you would be in the Bog of the Eternal Stench right now," Jareth said. "I do not allow my subjects to associate with the likes of Sarah."
"I hardly call apologizing associating with her," Jessica interrupted. She still sounded angry.
Jareth fixed her with a cold glare. "I will give you the chance to redeem yourself tomorrow by reading her mind to find out what she fears most."
"I will do no such thing," Jessica stated stubbornly. Jareth let his anger show through his eyes and took a step towards her.
"What?" he asked, his voice laced with quiet anger.
Jessica looked as though she was considering not speaking. But then she said, "You heard me, Jareth. I will not go peeking through Sarah's mind."
"No one defies me, Jessica." He took another step towards her. He was shaking with anger now. How dare she defy him like this? "Surely you are aware of that?"
Jessica nodded. That was all. She did not apologize and say she had changed her mind.
"So you are aware of the fact that I will not tolerate a refusal from you?"
She nodded again. "I will not read her mind."
"You'll do it or I'll make you seriously regret it!" Jareth was busy trying to think of a punishment bad enough that wouldn't harm her too badly. Whether he liked it or not he needed her.
"What will you do, kill me?" Jessica said. "I doubt I can read minds when I'm dead, Jareth."
"I am not above locking you in an ooblient, Jessica." He watched as her color drained.
"Do it and I'll never do anything for you ever again," she said. She'd rather be locked up for the rest of her life than give up her morals. It was wrong to go peering though other peoples' thoughts.
"I will give you one more chance to change your mind!" Jareth yelled, raising his arm as though to strike her. Jessica would have backed away, had she not been sitting on the bed.
"I won't do it!" Jessica yelled. She didn't believe he would strike her, not really.
"I AM TIRED OF YOUR DEFIENCE!" Jareth roared. Without warning his hand came down. The force of the blow knocked her head back into the stone wall. There was an explosion of pain in the back of her head. Jessica bit her lip, hard to keep from crying out. Her vision began to fade and she felt herself falling forward but she couldn't break her fall. Darkness overwhelmed her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Jareth stared at Jessica as she fell forward onto the bed. Slowly he reached out and sat her upright. She was unconscious. Jareth felt guilt shoot through him. He hadn't meant to hit her; he hadn't intended to knock her out. He'd only meant to intimidate her. His anger had made his thinking so clouded and he'd never even considered the consequences…
She had a large lump on the back of her head and it was bleeding. Aside from that she seemed ok. He concentrated on the lump and slowly it stopped bleeding. The lump was still there and she was still unconscious. Rather unfortunately he couldn't do anything about it. There were limits to what he could heal and Jessica's injuries were too minor. The only thing her could do would be to make sure she rested comfortably. He laid her out on the bed.
He looked down on her. She looked so young and innocent. Part of him wanted to defend her like the younger sister she seemed to be. Another part of him scoffed at this idea. He had been the one who hurt her. Was he going to beat himself up every time he lost control? He touched the side of her face and then turned and walked out. He closed the door behind him as though she were a light sleeper who would awaken at the slightest noise.
He strode off down the hall, his boots clicking against the stone floor; for once his thoughts were not about revenge on Sarah but about how he hoped Jessica would recover.
