Now, Sarah, though she was nearing the age of 26, three weeks, actually, had yet to move out on her own. She was honestly, a little nervous of what would happen if she did. When someone was around, she at least had some assurance against a certain goblin monarch showing up on her doorstep if she accidently slipped up. Or, that she might slip up at all. Her control around others had always been stronger than when she was by herself.

But, she couldn't very well stay in a house with Irene. That would have thrown off her control more than living on her own. She couldn't help but want to make irrational wishes around that woman. Yes, things had gotten better since her adventure, but, they still clashed a lot. The bonds of family held them together, and they were closer to being friends than before, but they were still pretty much at odds. Constantly.

That, was why Sarah lived with Annelise Matthews. Annelise was a junior editor at Sarah's publisher. And, she was also 6 years Sarah's junior. One might ask how she could stand the company of her.the truth is, you don't become a junior editor at a major publishing company at the tender age of 20 unless you either a) have connections, or b) Are insanely skilled. Annelise was not the former. Lise, achieved a perfect score on her ACT, and an almost perfect score on her SAT. More importantly, the girl had the determination of a bull. Once that girl started something, or got any kind of idea in her head, she went through with it until it was done, or until it was completely blockaded into a stalemate from all side, and even that had to be by reinforced steel walls.

And she thought she was bad. Or that the ruler of the Labyrinth was. Sarah had a feeling telling her 'You have no power over me.' wouldn't stop Lise from whatever she was doing.

One might say this would also make Lise mature. Not…really. The girl might be almost old enough to drink, but she also had the innocent heart of a child. The girl practically acted like she was 13, 15 on a good day, and 10 on a bad, when it came to anything that wasn't work. Meet her hard at work, one would think she was a perfectly devoted, professional. Meet her any other time…

Perhaps that was why Lise was a joy to be around. Constantly a little beam of sunshine. She truly kept Sarah from becoming a recluse…never opening the door…possible becoming an Agoraphobic. Plus, Lise never thought anything Sarah did was foolish or silly. Including collecting maps of all kinds, and trying to sketch out one of the Labyrinth. If left to her own devices, Sarah was sure she would never see the sunlight again. Lise, at least, kept Sarah normal. For that, she was grateful.

Her insistence that Sarah let a man or two into her life, was not so gracefully received. It happened every so often, most of the time when it was Friday Night and they had one of their late night chat sessions. The two, surprisingly, were close friends, though people would never put them together if they had met them separately. Annelise a short bubbly blonde with shimmering green eyes. The girl also hadn't exactly burst into womanly charm yet. Lise still looked like a teenager, acted like a preteen, and worked like an adult. If asked her mental age, Sarah was pretty sure Lise wouldn't know how to answer. Or anyone else for that matter.

However, at the moment, Lise had finally revealed what her current project was. Apparently, she'd gotten a hold of Sarah's book…finally…and had finished reading it. To Sarah's horror, Lise was in one of her rare moments of lucidness, and had somehow figured out that Garrod was not the Goblin Lord's name. How on earth the woman had come to that conclusion, that was a tooootal shock an had left Sarah so completely at a loss, she didn't have time to cover up with a lie before Lise knew she was on the right track.

"Squeeee! I knew it! So-So… what is his name, if it isn't Garrod, huhuhuhuhuh? Teeelllll me Saaaaaawah! Pweeeeeease." Case in point, regarding her maturity level. Did she say ten? She meant six. Sarah quickly schooled her features back into place. Blast her for being alert when it suited her. Blast that man who she was talking about. I refuse to even think his name. Who KNOWS what he'd count as a summon.

"I-I really don't think that the Goblin King would want you to know his name. Besides, it's a bad idea to summon him. It really is."

"Goblin –King-? So he isn't the Goblin Lord? Good thing too. I was pretty sure that wasn't his title too. It didn't flow. So, does he answer to that?"

"Forget it, Lise. You don't have a child to offer. He won't respond unless you have someone to offer."

Lise had a wicked grin on her face. "Well, I could offer my cousin… she screams constantly… Gives everyone around her headaches. Oddly enough…it doesn't really bother me much, but it will still be worth it to see him. I know you tried to downplay him, I could tell. You don't want anyone to see it…But I see through it, Saaaawwwwaaaah"

Sarah's blood had already run cold, as soon as Lise even played with the idea of offering her cousin. The pure desperation and anger that rose to her face, flushing her cheeks. "Never, -ever-, think of that again. Don't. Just…don't. Ever. Don't. Ever think of offering up a child. It's the worst feeling ever. To have to run that labyrinth, knowing you only have 13 hours… to reverse the horribly mistake you made… to sit there being eternally taunted by…taunted by… by…him…"

The realization dawned on Lise's face before it hit Sarah exactly what she'd just confessed. The younger girl totally squealed. "EEEEEEE! The girl in the STORY WAS YOU!! So, so, tell me what the Goblin King is like, hmm? You never went into enough detail in your memoir…why?" Perhaps Sarah shouldn't have been surprised at how easily Lise accepted all of this as fact. What she was surprised at was exactly how directly Lise struck to the core of all issues. You'd think she'd be easily distracted…

"For the very reason right now I'm trying to discourage you from sacrificing a child to see him. He's not worth it."

The smile on Annelise's face told Sarah the girl was about to challenge that…Sure enough, the girl climbed to her feet. "I'll judge that, eh?" To Sarah's horror, she started dancing around, singing what surely was an impromptu song. It couldn't have been made up in advance.

Goblin King,

Goblin King,

Nary, nary, nary, thing.

Sarah says I've all to feareth…

Sarah says I've all to feareth…

But I want to see you…

The girl paused, even as the wind outside started to pick up. "What rhymes with feareth?"

It was almost a perfect opportunity. The man's name lingered on her tongue, she even opened her mouth to say it. Thankfully, she caught herself. "Neareth." It was hard to not answer a question from Lise, it really was. It was that childish look she still gave you when she asked. Lise accepted the answer in good faith, finishing her little ditty cheerily.

But I want to see you neareth

And then promptly danced all over the room, saying it over and over. It was impossible for Sarah not to laugh. To think that any dignified personage would respond to such a call? Her soul felt light again. It normally didn't with the Ruler of the Labyrinth on her mind.. not… that…he…was there…often… Her mind shifted gears hurriedly, back into it's lighter, happier, more carefree self. Like how she used to be before she got…well, paranoid was the best word for it at the moment.

Still, when Sarah spoke through her laughs, there was no reserves in her minds. She had not a care in the world for these brief sentences. It was as if every cloud had been chased away, even though right now, she could hear the first raindrops hitting the window. "Not…Not only would that fail… fail to bring him in…without…someone… y-you'll…" She paused, her laughter overwhelming speech for the moment. "G-get b-better results… if you…were… to say…"

She managed to suppress the rising laughter in her stomach, and summon up the remnants of her acting talents, and her stage presence. "I wish the Goblin King would come and see Annelise, right now." She dropped her ruse, and resumed laughing again. The rain was starting to hit the windowpane in earnest, not that one could see much against the background of the night sky. Sarah's heart was too light for the moment to realize the storm moving in. It wouldn't be allowed to damper her good mood.

"I'd… like… to see…. You… ignore… THAT…" That laughter here got particularly breathy and out of control. Where every breath is a laugh, and you're not sure how much of the oxygen is actually getting to your lungs. It was this giddy state that stole her control. "… Jareth!"

As the word passed her lips, the thunder crashed for the first time, bringing Sarah to the full realization of what she had just said. Between her pretend, and her saying his name? That was the kind of invitation she'd been avoiding giving for eleven years. ELEVEN years. And now, one night with a friend, and she'd… Oh by the heavens that were restless outside, what had she done?

Even Lise's eyes were wide. This storm had gone from mild shower to full fledged storm in a matter of minutes. The room lit up with the flash of lightning, showing the stricken expression Sarah sported, She could hear the wind as it howled, and she wasn't oblivious to the rattling it was causing with the window panes as its weapon. Any minute now, she expected them to blow open wide. And in the middle of their bedroom, the Goblin King would stand, ready to find a way to make her regret running through his hoops.

She even closed her eyes to avoid any flying debris from the wind that would surely accompany him. But…there was nothing. Not a thing. She peeked one eye open. The window was still shaking with the wind, but there was no creepy barn owl threatening to demand entrance with a crystal in hand, taunting her for finally saying his name.

Nothing. Nothing at all. The two girls locked eyes with one another. Lise was unreadable, but Sarah was wondering if perhaps she'd been paranoid for nothing? That she really wouldn't get the goblin King back in her life, unless she wished another child away?

And then the doorbell rang. The sound rang clear through the house, even though it should have been muffled and scattered by the wind and the rain. Not to mention, who would be out in this whether. Could it be…

Impossible. Since when did the Goblin King ring doorbells. Never. That wasn't a dramatic entrance at all. Lise's quiet, thoughtful mood was shatter,. As if she forgot everything that had just happened, she sprang to her feet where she'd hit the deck when Sarah had looked so nervous.

"I'll get it!"

"I'll strike in a way you won't predict." She barely succeeded in getting her feet under her as she repeated the Goblin King's words to herself. "No, Lise, it's not safe, don't open the door, its-"

By the time she turned the corner to look down the stairs at the door, Lise was already turning the handle. It was unbolted and unchained, and the only barrier between her and her worst nightmare was slowly being pulled back, like the surrender of a moated castle when they finally lower the drawbridge. Like that bitter surrender, she was well aware that on the other side of that door was that which haunted every dream if she didn't watch herself. Which, she did her best to try to. Most of the time.

It was too late. The door was already halfway to being opened. Maybe it… maybe it wasn't him? Maybe it was just the…um..milkman… Even she knew that was a ridiculous assumption. She caught the sight of platinum blonde hair and she stopped thinking. Instead she threw herself down the stairs, like some kind of madwoman. She had to keep that door from opening, or else!!

For those of you who mentioned you were excited about the Phantom connection, thank you, very much! I did mention it would be minor, but we'll see if you manage to catch it. It is possible to find it here. It's not major, as of yet. Sorry for the cliffie. I promise, however, that the next update will be up soon.

Did I mention how much I love reviews?? Hugs to everyone who indulged me. I'm glad to see reviews... I'm glad you all liked the narrative. Next chapter I should start replying to reviews in here..XD