Chapter 4: Unruly Possessions

Weeks of frustration passed and Nell found that Jareth was going to be more trouble than she thought. Nell held up her paper covered in red scratches and scribbles and scanned the thing fiercely.

"He's failing me on purpose! What an ass whole!" Nell complained as Kate bit into her turkey sandwich.

"You gunna eat this?" Kate asked pointing at Nell's pudding cup.

"Kate would you stay on topic."

"What do you expect Nell? You kinda are a jerk to him in class…"

"Kate!"

"Sorry, but it's true. What do you have against him anyway? I mean, LOOK at him." She said dreamily.

"I am not a 'jerk' to him, I just question his qualifications for this job. But look, however I feel about him has nothing to do with him grading my work harder than anyone else's!"

"Now, Naella, you wouldn't have a grading complaint would you?" a sinacle voice said from above Nell's head.

"Uhhggg!" she said looking up into Jareth's face.

"Because you haven't stayed after class to talk to me about it…" he continued.

"Kate will you excuse me please." Nell said, getting up (only to have him follow).

"I don't think I invited you!" She said turning to him.

He stopped and she walked away. She threw away her food as quickly as possible but he was still waiting for her when she got outside.

"I saved your world, what more do you want with me?!" She hissed at him.

"You know, your life would be much easier if you stopped trying to fight things."

He took hold of a lock of Nell's hair and they stood still.

"Follow me, fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave." He said kissing the lock.

She grabbed her hair out of his hands blushing. People had started whispering about the young couple, some even started gossiping about how he was a teacher and she was his student.

"Go home Jareth!" She said over the whispers. He pouted for a moment then pulled her by the wrist to follow him.

"Where the hell are you taking me?!"

She struggled, but he just tightened his grip and dragged her along. As soon as they were out of sight, he replied, "I'm growing weary of playing this game Naella."

"Game?" Nell breathed in disbelief. He glared at her.

" You belong to me, so you had better start acting like it."

Nell pulled out of his grip and stared at him in awe.

"And If I don't?!"

He smiled and replied, "Don't test my patience Nell…"

"I do NOT belong to you!" She shouted back.

"Yes you do," he said lightly while tapping the end of her nose quickly. "I control you, I own you, and you are mine." He smiled, smugly looking back on the times he had prayed for a chance to see her again… to see her and finally knock that stubborn streak out of her. She glared at him as he smiled. "You should be getting back before you miss your next class Naella."

"You smug little…"

He motioned towards his wristwatch and she glared at him one last time before running off. She was going to be late now. He stood and watched her go.

The next day, as Nell's night class begun, she made sure to sit near Johnny. She was determined to strike out against Jareth, and Johnny was a pretty nice boy who she knew liked her. Nell belonged to no one and she was going to prove it. Through the whole class, Johnny and Nell talked away, and even set up a date for tomorrow. Jareth, meanwhile, was in an extremely irritated mood the whole class. Though he had called them out several times, Nell and Johnny continued to "disrupt the class with their immature hormones" as he put it. Every answer a student gave seemed obnoxiously inept to him as well, and at one point in class, he broke his metal pointer in half. Nell was going to try to leave before everyone else, but a few minutes before class ended Jareth called out,

"Naella, I need you to stay after class today."

He waited for the students to file out of the building before turning towards her, eyes blazing with jealousy. She stood there trying to avoid his glare, which was hard since he was standing right in front of her.

"Did you have fun flirting like a whore today?" She gawked at him in shock. He hadn't used such vulgar words before; he always seemed to high and mighty to curse.

"It's time to go Naella"

"What!? NO!"

He grabbed her arm hard

" Don't defy me Naella. You are no match for me."

Before she knew it she was already back at the entrance to the Labyrinth.

"Noo!" Nell shouted as she sunk to her knees. She turned to Jareth, and shouted, "I didn't even get to say goodbye to anyone you asshole!!!" The next second, Nell saw a black flash and felt something blow by her ear as she fell backward. She turned to her side to see Jareth's riding crop jabbed into the ground by her head and she looked up to see him above her holding the other end. "First off," he started in a menacing voice, "you will have to work on that language of yours. I will not have my Queen cussing like a peasant!" She didn't dare to speak; he was so different than last time. He even seemed more violent. He leaned in closer overtop of her placing his wait on the stiff whip, "Secondly, if you ever betray me with another man, you will be severely punished. I will warn you once and only once that I am very jealous of my possessions." She stared up at him afraid to move a muscle. He frowned and pulled her to her feet. He pulled her close and continued, " and thirdly, you will learn to respect and obey me!" He released her and she looked down at the ground.

They entered the Labyrinth gates and turned right. As they walked along Jareth tried to start a conversation as coolly as if he were back in the classroom, but Nell just stared at the ground and walked in silence.

"Why are we walking?" Nell asked finally. "Couldn't you just teleport us or something? I mean, I gave you your power back didn't I?"

Jareth frowned again, "I could but I thought we could talk a little on the way."

"How's that workin' for ya?" Nell asked sarcastically

He glared at her, "Fine, since you don't want to talk, you can just go to your room." Next thing Nell knew she was in a room by herself. She ran over to the thick wooden door and found it locked like she had expected. Hurrying over to the window, she peered down. Her stomach spun as the vertigo hit her. Nell was several stories up, looking down on Goblin City and the Labyrinth beyond. She stepped back uneasily and looked around. It was a simple stone room like all the others in the castle, if not a bit cleaner. There was a bed, a table, a chair, and a dresser. She rolled her eyes as her shoulders sagged. Great… She sat on the edge of her bed with her head in her hands. What had she gotten into this time?