A/N: I'm stuck on Lurking in the Shadows, so I'm just going to go ahead and update this.

HAUNTED

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Sarah sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes. She looked around the room, her gilded cage, she thought bitterly. It was lovely, she'd admit, but it's beauty couldn't mask what it truly was. The cherry furnishings were delicate, fit for a lady, and the silk covers on the bed did feel divine. The vanity was magnificently carved, and the small fainting couch looked comfortable. Her temples throbbed. She put her hand to her head, and tried to make sense of everything.

How long had she been crying? It was dark outside her window, so it had probably been a few hours. How dare he? How dare he kidnap her and Toby, and then try to force her to kiss him? Did he honestly think that she would ever love him? After all he had done to her and her dear ones? She remembered Nigel's betrayal, and though it hurt, she didn't really blame him. He had only wanted to save his brother, she could respect that. She did wonder, though, if the Goblin King really had returned Nigel's brother.

She looked down at the necklace she wore. It was exquisite, the diamonds set in silver, twinkling like stars in the light from the crystal chandelier above her. She yanked it off, and tossed it out the window. There was no way in hell she was going to be taken in by pretty things. He would not win her over. Not in this lifetime.

She slowly got up, and went to inspect her reflection in the mirror. Her face was red and blotchy, her eyes pink and puffy. She felt some satisfaction at that. Surely that creep wouldn't want her looking like death warmed over. Her stomach growled. She couldn't help but sigh. She was starving, but she would rather have another round with the Fierys than ask the Goblin King for food. She still remembered that peach...

She yawned, and looked at the heavy wooden door. She wished she could lock it, to keep out a most unwanted visitor. She had no key, but perhaps she could find one... she went out the door, and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw where she was.

It was another bed chamber, even larger than her own, with an enormous bed in the center, covered in heavy looking black covers and curtains. The furniture was a strange black wood, and rather sinister looking. She knew exactly where she was. The Goblin King's room.

She gave a very unladylike snort, and rolled her eyes. Of course the bastard would keep her in the room right off his own. Sick pervert. She started looking through the drawers for the key. After all, what better place to hide something you don't want found? She found nothing, and dropped to the floor, and looked under the bed. She heard a chuckle behind her, and her blood instantly ran cold. She looked to see the Goblin King standing in the door leading out of the chamber, laughing down at her. She gaped as the door behind him disappeared, leaving only a stone wall.

"Looking for something, my dear?" he asked, holding a small brass key up. Sarah's pale face went purple, and she quickly got to her feet.

"Is that the key for my room?"

"Indeed it is," he said smugly. She reached for it, but it vanished right before her eyes.

"What the hell?" she shrieked.

"You get that only when you've learned to behave yourself," he said, brushing her cheek lightly. "It's a good thing your here, Sarah. Saves me the trouble of having to fetch you."

"What are you talking about, Goblin King?" she demanded

"I'm going to give you a proper welcome this evening, Sarah. Nights in the Underground are cold, and I get so very lonely."

Sarah backed away from him, but he matched her steps, keeping an uncomfortable distance.

"No need to be afraid, Sarah. You never know, I may just decide to keep things fairly innocent," he said, reaching for her waist. He grabbed her, and pulled her against him. Was it her imagination, or was the bulge in his trousers more pronounced than usual?

"I'd rather not, if it's all the same," she said, hoping he could be reasonable. He just laughed, and shook his head.

"Oh, my love, it's not a question of what you'd rather do. I promise you'll enjoy this," he sneered, tightening his hold. He looked deep into her eyes, and saw the fear lingering there. He gave a twisted little smirk, and let her go. "But I suppose, if you really feel uncomfortable, I can allow you to spend tonight in your room."

Sarah ran for her room, but when she reached the door, she found herself staring at a blank wall. She looked around, and saw the door had moved to the adjacent wall. She turned to glare at Jareth, who smiled serenely at her.

"I didn't say I'd make it easy for you, did I, love?"

"That's not..."

"Fair? No it isn't. But I thought you would have learned by now, Sarah, that I don't like to play fair."

Sarah glared at him, then ran for the door again. She wasn't really surprised when it moved again, this time it was near the bed, and she hurtled a little faster towards it.

Jareth sat on his bed, and watched Sarah chase the door around the room. He slowly pulled his gloves off, and tossed them aside. He watched as Sarah didn't stop soon enough, and ran face first into a wall. She rubbed her nose, cursing under her breath. He smirked, and pulled his shirt over his head, and cast that aside as well.

Sarah tried running at the next wall, in hopes of catching the door off guard, but the room seemed to predict her every move. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him pulling off his boots, and set them near the foot of the bed. He started laughing at her. Her face flushed, and her stomach clenched. That bastard was laughing at her! Laughing at the trouble he was causing her.

"Such an amusing little creature you are, Sarah!" he exclaimed. She finally managed to reach the door, but as she was about to walk through, it melted away. She whirled around, and bumped into the Goblin King's bare chest. He glared down at her, all humor gone from his face. "But I've grown bored with this game," he hissed.

He seized her upper arm, and dragged her towards the bed. She screamed, and fought him with all her might. His bare hands were ice cold, and his nails sharp. He threw her down, and climbed into the bed. She backed away, until her back hit the headboard. Her eyes grew wide as he crawled towards her, his pointed teeth glinting in the suddenly dim light. Trapped like an animal.

He sat before her, and pulled her down, until she was lying beneath him. He grinned down at her, taking in her small, girlish curves, her pale young face, so fearful, so gravely innocent, and her pert young breasts, barely hidden beneath the flimsy and low cut nightgown she wore. He ran a hand along her throat, marveling at the softness of her skin. He had wanted for so long to touch her, and he wasn't disappointed. Like velvet, her skin was, and warm, oh so warm. He groaned, and flopped down on the bed beside her, and started kissing her neck. She shuddered, and tried to get away, but he moved to lay partially on top of her, pinning her down.

"Now, now, little one, don't try to run away. You're in good hands," he whispered into her ear, before attacking it with his soft kisses. She whimpered, but couldn't move. His lips felt strange, neither wet nor dry, and his body was strangely cold, and heavy. She closed her eyes, hating him, wishing that she could be anywhere else. His mouth moved from her ear, to her jawline, and down her neck, to her chest. He lay his head there, loving the feel and sound of her heart beat.

Sarah wasn't sure how she managed to speak in her revulsion, but she managed to rasp out, "Goblin King?"

"Hmm?" he moaned into her chest. The vibrations sent a shiver up her spine.

"Why?"

He looked up at her, confused. "What do you mean, why?"

"Why me..?"

A/N: And I think that's where I'll leave it off. In the next chapter, I'll finally explain the root of Jareth's obsession for Sarah. It just needs a few tweaks, and it should be up soon. I'm starting school Monday, so I'm not so sure exactly when it will be up, but I'll try to make it soon.

Until next time, thanks for reading!

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