A/N: I do not own Labyrinth.

Haunted

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"It's a date..."

It's a date..."

Jareth watched this disturbing scene in his crystal orb over and over again, each time growing more and more furious. How dare she? Did she honestly think that he was going to let her get away with this? This vile defiance shocked him to the core. Had he not been clear on his intentions? Had he not made it perfectly clear that he would never allow anyone else to have her?

He had followed her that afternoon, keeping a watchful eye on his prey, Sarah and Toby. In the last two months, Sarah had become very attached to the babe, constantly hovering near him protectively, carrying him around with her where ever she went. It was a bit annoying, but he supposed it was a good thing. After all, little Toby would need someone close to him when he was brought back to the Labyrinth. No child likes to be separated from his mother, but perhaps having the sister who adored him so nearby would make the transition easier on the child. And Sarah would be easy enough to control. He knew fully well that she would do anything he asked to assure Toby's safety. Of course, he would never hurt the boy, his own nephew, but Sarah didn't need to know that.

Then that damned boy had come along, and started flirting with his Sarah. Oh, how his anger had swelled when he saw her adorable, coy little smiles directed at that human. They had chatted, and the boy had seen him watching him. The fool had started to approach him, but before he could attack, scratching the boy's eyes out, Sarah had convinced him to run away. And then that disgusting boy, that weak, spineless idiot had made a move on His Sarah! And the little vixen had accepted him. He had hated the boy before, Nigel, Sarah had called him (why did that name ring a bell?),but now he wanted nothing more than to kill him in the most awful and cruel way he could imagine, while Sarah watched. What better way to prove his superiority than to force Sarah to witness her precious human boy's demise at his hands?

A cold breeze brought him back to his senses, and reminded him of his current surroundings. He was standing atop the hill outside the Labyrinth's gate, waiting for a very important man. The man who would help him obtain everything he desired. A storm was blowing in, thunder cracked above his head, and strong gusts of wind blew glitter through the air. He shivered, and pulled his cloak closer around him.

He heard a noise behind him, the sound of a cart rattling up the rocky hillside. He turned and saw the tall, hunched over figure of Nevine the potion vendor pushing his cart along. Jareth smiled.

"Greetings, potion vendor. I thank you for meeting me here," Jareth greeted the older man as he came to a stop.

"No, thank you, Goblin King. I'm eternally grateful to you for not making me have to go through that hell maze of yours," Nevine croaked, his face hidden behind his hood.

"Do you have it?" Jareth demanded.

"My last two bottles," Nevine said, opening the door on his cart, and taking two small bottles full of a bubbling, glowing orange potion. They illuminated the pitch black hillside as the potion vendor handed them to the Goblin King. Jareth's smile grew as he gazed at the bottles.

"Why two bottles, your majesty?" the potion vendor inquired, " I heard that you only desired one human girl. Has another caught your fancy?"

"No, I've decided to take in a ward. The girl's younger brother."

"Aww, I see. And if I may ask, what is so special about this human girl and her brother?"

"My interest in the boy is none of anyone's concern," Jareth said coolly, "and as for my interest in the girl, even I don't understand it. She's stubborn, she refuses to submit to me, and she's a sullen piece when she doesn't get her own way. But there is something about her that draws me to her, like a moth a flame. I suppose to put it simply, I want to break her."

The robed figure nodded. "My payment, Goblin King?" he demanded, holding out his hand. Jareth's smile disappeared, and he reached into his cloak and produced a small sack, full of jingling coins. He placed it in Nevine's gnarled hand. The potion vendor shook Jareth's hand, and pushed his cart back down the hill.

Jareth smirked at the small vials clutched in his hands. "Soon, Sarah..." he whispered.

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Nuala appeared in the throne room of the castle beyond the goblin city. She noticed that the circular chamber had not changed a bit since her time as queen. The goblins were still laying about, drinking, jabbering and laughing. It was still dimly lit, and smelled of livestock. In fact, the only thing missing was her husband brooding on his throne. Or her son, whom she was here to see.

She looked about the room, but there was no sign as to where he might have gone. She watched the goblins, and got an idea as to how to find him. The goblins really only obeyed their king, but perhaps if she manhandeled them the way she had seen Allaren do a million times in their twenty five hundred year long marriage, they might respond. She normally didn't approve of such methods, but this was a special case...

Nuala seized the nearest goblin by the scruff of the neck, and lifted it up to her face level. It squealed in objection and struggled to get away, but Nuala held firm.

"Where is the king?" she demanded, keeping her voice cold.

It gaped at her, eyes popping out. "I don't know. His majesty hasn't been around all day."

"Don't you have any idea where he might be?" She pressed, giving the goblin a little shake.

"He was in his rooms earlier today, that's all I know!" the little goblin squeaked.

Nuala gently set the goblin down. "Thank you," she said with a warm smile. She ran up the stairs towards the king's chambers. She came to the landing, and the jaw dropped at the sight.

The interior of the castle had certainly changed. Dozens of staircases twisted upward, to the side, upside down, and every way in between. She had no idea how to get to her son's rooms now. Should she try to navigate her way through the castle?

"Screw that," she grumbled. She transported herself into the large bedchamber, and searched for her son. The large room was decorated in black silk, from the canopy, to the curtains hanging in the window. She was dismayed to find the room empty. Perhaps he was in the queen's chamber...

She wandered through the open door, and into the smaller room.

In her day, it had been decorated with red satin and mahogany furnishings, the scents of her perfumes hanging in the air. Now, she was surprised to see that the interior had become white silk with cherry furnishings. Why on earth had he changed it? Then it hit her: he must still be planning on bringing the human girl here.

Furious, she sunk down on the bed. How like his father her son was. Allaren had been a cruel, lustful man as well, thinking only of his own desires.

She recalled her youth, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who desired connections with royalty. He had forced her into Underground society, dressing her in the finest of everything. How the kings, princes, and lords had fawned over her. And like the fool she had been, she had lapped it up. She had loved it, and had soon found herself begging for more; finer gowns, more elaborate jewelry, never understanding why her father was putting her on display.

Until the day the newly crowned Goblin King had bought her.

She had met Allaren years before, but had never liked him. He was spoiled, selfish, and liked to have his own way too much. He looked at her with those dark eyes, gleaming with lust. She had tried to refuse him, but her father had slapped her, and snarled "You'll marry who I tell you, young lady."

Allaren had whisked her off to his castle, where he immediately married her. In one day, she had gone from petted, spoiled daughter, to the bride of the much feared Goblin King. And Allaren had not been gentle or compassionate. He took what he wanted from her when he wanted it. Married woman were not allowed to use their magic against their husbands, so she was powerless to stop him. What a waste of her talent, she had apprenticed under some of the most powerful sorcerers in the Underground.

He had stolen the children from the human world, turned them into goblins, and then raped their mothers and sisters. She would never forget the first time she had found him with a human. She had yelled and screamed at him, but he had simply laughed at her.

She had never felt so relieved as the day that her husband had passed nearly thirteen hundred years ago. She was finally free, and had fled to her grandmother's old cottage in the Blackwater swamp. Jareth had taken over the kingdom, and had created the Labyrinth.

'Men,' she thought grimly. They cared nothing for the well being of others, as long as they got what they wanted. She admired little Sarah's bravery. She was a symbol of everything Nuala wished she could be. It had taken nerve, she knew, to turn down Jareth's proposal. She would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant causing harm to her revenge bent son.

Jareth appeared in front of her, looking annoyed. "Mother, what are you doing in my castle?"

"Why is this room decorated so?" she demanded coldly.

"I think that would be fairly obvious, mother. It's for my bride to be."

"Damn you, Jareth, I told you to leave her alone!" she shrieked, getting to her feet.

"And I told you and Karei that I want her, and I will have her."

"Jareth, I swear to god..." Nuala began. She sniffed the air, and noticed a familiar scent in the air. Her eyes grew wide. "Jareth, have you been doing business with Nevine?"

Jareth looked at the ground. "Don't be foolish, mother. What would I want with that cantankerous old wizard?"

"Don't you lie to me! I apprenticed under him for thirty years, I'd recognize that scent of rosemary and sandalwood anywhere. What did you buy from him?"

"Nothing," Jareth said, turning and heading into his own room. Nuala stepped in front of him, nostrils flaring with rage.

"I'm warning you Jareth, don't push me too far. I'm only going to say this once more: leave the girl alone," she hissed. With that she vanished, leaving a relieved, yet frustrated Goblin King in her wake.

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A/N: Another chapter down. Special thanks to all my reviewers.