A/N: This is why I spread out my Jareth/Sarah interaction. I can't believe how fast you guys reviewed! I love you all, and appreciate your support. Now, I know you're all dying to hear Jareth's newest offer for Sarah, so let's get cracking!
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HAUNTED
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Sarah was helping Karen to clear the table after dinner that evening. Karen was humming, and seemed to be in good spirits. Sarah decided that this was as good a time as any to ask her stepmother to do her a favor.
"Hey Karen? I've been thinking about cutting my hair, and I was wondering if you could take me to the salon sometime this week."
"Cut your hair? Why? Your hair is so beautiful!" Karen exclaimed.
"Yeah, but it's such a bitch in the summer. It's hot and heavy, and besides, I've been wearing it the same way since I was little. I think it's time for a change."
"All right, first off, don't say bitch, you're still in high school. Second of all, your father loves your hair. He'd never go for it."
"That's why I'm asking you first. I was sort of hoping that you'd talk to him about it."
Karen sighed, and began putting plates in the dishwasher. "I'll try, Sarah, but don't expect to much. Your father can be pretty stubborn."
"Dad can be pretty stubborn?" Sarah asked, fighting off a laugh. Karen was the last person who should be accusing anyone of being stubborn. Karen shot her a look, but said nothing.
"Please, Karen? I swear I'll never ask you for anything ever again!"
Karen laughed. "I don't buy that! I'll talk to your father, but don't expect too much."
"Thanks Karen! If it helps, I only want to get it cut to, like, my chin, and shaped. I'm not talking, like a buzz cut, or a mohawk or something like that."
"All right, I'll be sure to mention that. Why don't you run along, I'll finish up in here?"
Sarah left the kitchen, and ran upstairs to her room. She tried to flip on the light switch, but nothing happened. 'Damn light bulb must be busted", she thought. She called downstairs, "Dad, do we have any light bulbs?"
"No, we're out. Can you wait until tomorrow?" he called back.
"Yeah, that's fine, I'll just use my lamp," she said, closing her door. She felt her way to her bedside lamp, and flipped it on. The sun was beginning to set, casting long, dark shadows all through her room. She sat down on her bed, and grabbed a book. She opened it, and tried to clear her head of the stresses of the day. It was difficult, when she now knew full well that the Goblin King could appear in her house at any moment. It was a horrifying thought.
The sun was sinking deeper, and the room grew darker. Soon, the only light came from the lamp.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Sarah was startled by a loud noise coming from her vanity. She cast a weary eye at it. She was sure she knew what was making that noise.
Suddenly, the lamp flickered out, and her room was cast into darkness. She jumped up, and ran to open her door, but it wouldn't budge. Her stomach was doing flips. She had a horrible feeling that someone (and she knew very well who) was about to show up in her room, and didn't want her to escape.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The vanity was making that noise again, and shaking violently. She grabbed the key from her bookshelf, and carefully unlocked it. She didn't want her parents coming up to investigate the noise. She slowly opened the drawer.
There was a flash as the crystal shot up to her face level. A bright light burst from it, and an image appeared within. It was the Goblin King, lounging on a large bed. Sarah fell to the ground in shock. The Goblin King smirked down at her in that feral way that chilled her to the core.
"Good evening, my sweet. Don't you look lovely today? But then, you always look lovely."
"What do you want now?" she demanded, making a point to keep the fear in her heart out of her voice.
"Oh, honestly Sarah, haven't I made it perfectly clear what I want?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Why won't you just leave me alone?" Sarah asked, still trying to maintain her cold composure.
"Because, my darling, I am your destiny. I only want to help you see that." Sarah scowled at him, wishing nothing more than to smack that smug smirk right off his face.
"And besides, my bed gets so cold and lonely at night, with out the warmth of a beautiful girl beside me," he sneered, patting the bed beside him. "I know you are afraid of me, Sarah, but I want to show you that I wish you nothing but the best. I have a new offer for you, love, one I think you will readily agree to."
"Nothing could ever make me except one of your offers, Goblin King," she snarled.
"Just hear me out, Sarah. I do believe that you are so stubborn because you don't want to give up your current life. You wish to continue school, and live out a fairly normal life. And being the generous man that I am, I have devised a way to give us both what we wish."
"What are you saying?" she asked, an uneasy feeling pooling in her gut.
"Tell me, Sarah, are you familiar with the story of Hades and Persephone?"
She was a bit taken aback. "Yes, I know the story."
"I sympathise with him, for I have much in common with that god of old. We both rule over feared and undesirable realms, we're both alone, and we both desire a beautiful goddess from above."
"Cut the mythology lecture! What do you want!"
"Do you remember the deal Hades struck with Persephone to make sure they both got what they wanted, Sarah?"
"Yes, Persephone had to spend six months in the underworld with Hades, and she was free to spend the remaining six months above with her mother."
"Exactly, and being the gem that I am, I decided to strike a similar deal with you, love."
"A similar deal?" she asked.
"Yes. If you spend your three summer months with me in my castle, I will allow you to return to this world in the fall, so you can attend school."
Sarah could scarcely believe what she was hearing. Did he really think that she would except that offer?
"Surrender yourself, and your brother to me, and I will allow you to spend nine months out of every year aboveground, with your family and friends."
"Wait, why Toby? I thought you wanted me?" she demanded.
"Simple, really. I want to assure your cooperation. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain, and serve me without hesitation in the summer, I will keep your brother safe. Do you not see now how kind I truly am?"
Sarah was aghast. She could scarcely believe what she was hearing. Kind? How on earth did he perceive threatening her brother as kind? She opened her mouth to tell him just exactly how kind she thought he was, but he cut her off before she could utter a sound.
"Think carefully before you refuse, little Sarah. I'm being more than generous, but I will only extend this offer once. Refuse me this time, and when I do finally get you, I will not be so gentle and understanding."
She hated his smooth, coaxing tone. It muddled her thoughts, making it near impossible to think clearly. But she managed. She knew him, she knew what probably awaited her in the castle beyond the goblin city. "Why me, Goblin King? Why not some other girl?"
"I promise that as soon as you give in to me, I will tell you everything, my darling. Just give yourself, and your brother of course, to me, and you will have all your answers. Let me bring you home, Sarah. Your true home." He leered greedily and expectantly at her, certain that he would have her this time.
"Never. I'll never be yours, and I think the sooner you get that through your thick skull, the better off you'll be," she said, keeping her tone cold and even.
His smile vanished, and was replaced by a look of terrible rage. "You are a fool!" he spat, his snaring tone a far cry from his smooth coaxing one. "I'll get you one day, girl, you can be sure of that! And when I do, no amount of magic words will be able to save you." And with that, the crystal shattered, showering glitter all over her room. The lamp and the overhead light came on, illuminating the shaking girl, sitting on the floor, desperately trying to fight her tears.
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A/N: Jareth's sanity is starting to go... this can't be good for Sarah.
Now don't worry, there will be more Sarah/ Jarethy goodness in a few chapters... the big moment, if you know what I'm talking about, wink wink!
Oh, and I know I'm going to get a few questions about this, so let me just answer this now:
Jareth wants both Sarah and Toby. He wants Sarah, of course, to be his queen, and he wants Toby for two reasons, to get revenge on Karen for not giving him Sarah, and to assure Sarah's cooperation.
Until next time, review.