a/n: I know it's been almost four years since I've updated this -yikes!- and I had every intention of finishing it but things happened and I lost my muse. So I decided to finish it out, even if it's just for my own sake. apologies for the long wait and if my writing style has changed and affected the storyline in anyway.

Sarah raced into the castle, making her way through the maze of stairs, desperately seeking for the throne room. Where are you, Michael? Where are you??

After what seemed like an eternity, she found herself in the midst of the throne room. Spinning around, she was devastated to see it empty. Suddenly she saw a cradle next to the throne and rushed over.

"Michael!" She grabbed the side of the cradle, excitement bubbling up inside her.

It was empty - no baby laying inside, no blanket or toys - absolutely nothing at.

Sarah slid to her knees, unshed tears welling up behind her eyelids.

Where has he taken you???

She sniffed, a tear trickling down her cheek as she glanced around the room, looking for any sign of where they could be hiding.

I told the others that I had to face Jareth alone but can I?

Something in the corner caught her eye and she turned, standing slowly. Another set of stairs...now where did those go?

Wiping her face, Sarah took a deep breath and clenched her teeth. Crying wasn't going to get Michael back or help her beat Jareth.

She stepped forward and started up the stairs.

Everything around her went a dark and she had to lean against the wall to steady herself. The room opened up and torchlight flooded the area. Sarah froze, staring in confusion at the area around her.

Stairs, everywhere around her stairs. Some were upside down, some were sideways and some were at angles she'd never even seen before. And between every staircase were large crevices that seemed to drop miles into the castle.

She stumbled down onto the landing, trying to decide how to proceed safely when she heard a voice behind her.

"I've been expecting you."

She could hear the triumph in Jareth's voice and knew he was grinning at her before she even turned to face him.

He stood across from her on a staircase that looked impossible to stand on.

"Where's Michael?" She demanded, keeping an edge to her voice.

"He's safe - in my keeping." Jareth grinned again.

"You're not keeping him."

"And why not? He fits in rather well with my other subjects." He smiled smugly, confident in his stance as he sat on the side of the stairs.

"I made it through the Labyrinth. I did it and I'm here to reclaim my brother." Her voice wavered slightly but she just tilted her head higher, refusing to let his confidence get to her.

He laughed, sneering at her as he slipped off the edge of the stairs and landed on another set of stairs.

"You've done nothing!! So you've made it through. Did you actually solve any of my riddles?"

"That wasn't our plan!" She cried, anger welling inside her chest. "You can't change the rules like that!"

"Oh, but I can! I'm the ruler of this world!" Jareth snapped, turning his back on her.

"And you are nothing!" He began walking up the wall, towards the ceiling.

Sarah closed her eyes.

"Give me the child."

The atmosphere in the room changed, she felt the shock radiating off Jareth.

"Give me the child. " She repeated, opening her eyes to stare at him.

Jareth stood, stock-still, eyes gazing at her in curiousity.

"Give. Me. The. Child."

A small smile crossed his lips as he began to descend. She had changed the game but he didn't want to completely give into her.

"Careful, Sarah." He warned. "I am generous but -"

"Generous?!" Sarah asked incredulously. "How have you been generous?"

"You asked me to take your brother away and I did. Everything that I did was for you - to make you happy." He had reached the landing that she was standing on and stood facing her.

"But I'm not happy!" She cried out, her fists clenched tightly. "Give me back my brother."

Jareth's jaw clenched tightly.

"No." He murmured.

A wave of panic washed over her and she took a ragged breath. What do I do?

Desperately she glanced around the room, searching for something -anything - that could help her. And then it hit her - the book!

She took a deep breath and tried to remember.

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered,

I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City—"

Anger and irritation flashed across Jareth's face as he began to back away from her.

"—to take back the child you have stolen," She continued. "For my will is as

strong as yours—"

"No - STOP!" He bellowed, fumbling in his pockets before pulling an orb out. "Look at all I could give you! All you dreamed of - it could all be yours!"

She refused to look at the orb and instead kept her eyes focused him.

"—and my kingdom as great—"

suddenly she stopped and her eyebrows creased. She couldn't remember! Dread filled her and she swallowed, looking down as she struggled to remember. Screwing her eyes closed, she willed herself to remember what words came next.

A cool smile returned to Jareth's face and he stopped retreating. "Just submit to me, dear Sarah, and all will be as you dreamed." His voice was hypnotic and Sarah smashed her fists against her ears, trying to drown it out.

"I'll be your slave forever, Sarah - just submit." He reached for her, his fingers inches away from her cheek.

Her eyes snapped open and she dropped her fists, staring defiantly at him.

"You have no power over me."

"No!" Jareth screamed. The clock began to clang and he tossed up the orb. Sarah flinched under the orb as it grew in immense size. The surface of the orb shivered and glowed, distorting the view of everything around it. Fascinated by the change in the orb, Sarah reached out to touch the surface and as her fingers made contact, it burst into a million droplets, melting everything around her.

"Sarah. Sarah!" She looked around but could no longer see anything of Jareth - he was gone. Tears slipped down her cheeks as the clock continued clanging until it hit the twelfth strike. A huge white owl circled around her and she closed her eyes, sobbing.