Chapter 19.

Chantal held one thing after the other up. "No, no, must be more subtle." She discarded the leather goods to a stand. "What you need has to be innocent."

"You mean like white lace?" Sarah thought of the painting over the bed in the Wilde house.

"Yes." Chantal began to smile. "White lace and white kidd lethere." She snapped her long fingers and laughed. "Got just the thing." She tossed the other items in her hands down. "Come with me." She led Sarah to the back of the dressing rooms. "I order this for a fine lady who runs a fine old family business here." She held out a kidd corset that had lace inserts. "But she got no time for this now, so we fit it to you, and order her another."

Sarah looked at the corset, "You're kidding."

"No," Chantal stood behind her and held it up to her. "I'm not kidding." She whispered in Sarah's ear. "When I get though with you, Miss Sarah Williams… the Goblin King won't know what hit him."

Sarah looked in the mirror. "Let's just hope he don't hit back."

"Not with you in the motherly way, he won't." Chantal said assuredly. "But unless you want to be ruled, you best learn how to deal with big bad Fae."

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Pablo paced his studio; it had been two days since he'd seen the Goblin King. Two days since he'd heard the howl of pain. He heard the motor of Sophie's car, and rushed to the door. As she moved closer he pulled her into his arms. "We're in trouble, my darling." He warned.

"What's happened?" she asked.

"Sarah's gone missing." Pablo warned. "And Jareth is beside himself with grief."

"Missing? What do you mean miss?" Sophie took off her coat. "I saw her just before I left for New York."

"Well since Christmas eve she's been gone." The Artist sighed. "Jareth can't even find her on one of his crystals."

"I thought you told me he had her under observation." The blonde girl fretted. "Where could she…go?"

"It gets worse." Pablo warned. "She had a medallion of iron placed on the boy. Jareth can't go near him either."

"Iron?" The pale blonde went even more chalky white. "Where is he, where is the Goblin King?"

Pablo took her hands into his own. "Darling, I haven't told him yet that you know who he is."

"What does that matter now? What matters is the fact that our King needs our support." Sophie sounded years older than she was. "Where is he?"

"He went to his kingdom…and that was two days ago."

Sophie looked toward the main house from the door of the studio. "I don't like the storm clouds…it spells trouble."

Pablo placed hands on her shoulders. "Leave here, my dearest….forget you ever knew me."

"Not for a second." Sophie said placing her hands on his, "I'm in this for better or worse."

Pablo kissed her temple. "Then pray, Sophia…pray that Sarah is found."

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Sarah sat in the back seat of the cab, wondering how thing got to be so strange in her life. Years ago when her mother's mother had told her the fairy-stories she had thought they were just fables. Even when her father's mother began to speak of the wee folk, she had thought nothing of it. That was before the little red book had come into her life. Before she'd wished away her brother and had to battle the Labyrinth to get him back. Now she was battling again, but not for her brother.

Chantal had dressed her in an elaborate costume. Compete with a long white hooded coat. She looked like something out of a gaudy movie, but had to admit, she liked the feel and look. She crossed her legs and looked down at the spiky white heeled boot she was wearing. She lowered her leg again and leaned back. A few more moments and it was going to be the showdown of the century.

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Pablo asked Hoggens if the Master had returned. Hoggens, with sadness shook his head no. Sophie placed a supportive hand on Pablo's sleeve. The three of them were lamenting in the foyer as the door opened. Pablo gasped an grabbed Sophie. "Sarah." Sophie said in alarm.

"Where is he?" She asked not really caring who answered.

"He's not here." Pablo said. "He's gone."

Sarah glared. "I'm not going to play games with you, Pablo…or what ever your name really is." She stood her ground. "Where is he? Where is the Goblin King?"

Hoggens knew the tone, he moved forward. "He's gone to his Kingdom, Lady Sarah." He bowed to her. "If you'll be so kind as to follow me, I'll show you the way."

Sophie reached out a hand, but pulled it back when she received Sarah's glare. "Sarah, I can explain." She whispered.

Sarah sighed heavily. "You don't have to, Sophie…I'm use to Jareth making friends betray me."

"I never…"

"Shut it!" Sarah ordered. "You did, you know you did, and I know you did." She looked at the blonde then over to the Artist. "I hope it was worth it to you." She looked at Hoggens. "Lead on."

Sophie watched her go, and then sobbed. "She hates me." She buried her face in Pablo's jacket. "I didn't think she'd hate me…."

"Hush my darling." Pablo soothed.

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At the far end of the lowest level of the catacombs was a door, a large carved door with a grotesque Goblin face. The door was opened and Sarah passed though she steeled herself for the rage and battle.

Jareth sobbed like a broken hearted child, not even able to pull himself up to the throne, he lay on the steps. Goblins had fled, unable to console him. He moaned and sobbed.

Sarah followed the passage; she knew she was in the castle that lay at the center of the Labyrinth, somewhere in the heart of the Goblin city. If felt strange to be back here, the place where she'd won a great battle only to lose the war. The touches flickered in a breeze as she followed the well worn stone floors. The arch before her could only lead to the throne room. She heard the lamenting long before she stood in the arch.

Jareth heard footfalls, thinking it was more goblins trying to placate him he moaned. "Go away."

Sarah stood in the door and looked at him. "I've come a long way."

"Sarah?" He turned and red eyed looked though his tears to where the woman in white stood in the archway. "Sarah?" he repeated.

She said nothing, waiting for him to make a move.

He made an angry swipe at his eyes, tears stained his leather gloves. He stood up and snorted angrily as he glared at her. He felt more rage at that moment than he'd ever felt. He lunged at her; his long legs carried him swiftly from the dais to the arch way. He towered over her, threateningly, eyes wide with rage and blinding pain. He raised his hands into balled fists, and as he was about to bring them down, crumpled at her feet and placed his face into her abdomen. "Sarah." He cried as he swiftly placed arms about her. "Sarah." He cried harder now.

This was not at all the kind of battle she'd expected. His sobs racked him and her as well. She reached down, stroked his long fine hair. Jareth held tightly to her as she did.

"You left me." He moaned.

"Yes." She said softly, "I did."

"Why?" He looked up at her. "Why, Sarah? Why do you keep leaving me?"

"Because you act like such a jerk." She said looking down into his face.

He looked astounded. "How can you say that?"

Sarah shook her head, rolled her eyes and sighed. "Stand up." She ordered him.

Jareth complied, still wounded by her words. "I'm not a jerk."

She pulled a tissue from her pocket and dried his eyes as if he were a child and she an adult of many centuries. "I said you act like one, not that you are one."

He looked at her, "I couldn't find you, not even in my crystals."

"Its no fun having tricks played on one now is it?" she snapped at him. "You've been playing tricks on me ever since…."Sarah steamed at him. "Ever since that day you flew though my parent's window."

"Yes, Sarah." He hung his head like a badly behaved disobedient child. He sniffed. "I'm sorry, Sarah."

"This is going to stop! It's not way for a King to behave." She railed.

"No, Sarah." He agreed.

"And I won't have you teaching children such bad manners." She snapped.

"Oh Toby loves my manners." Jareth defended himself. "He loved being here, and I was really good with him. When he comes back I promise…"

"He's not coming back." Snapped Sarah. "That boat has sailed." She saw the crestfallen look. "Consider that your dry run."

"Dry run?" He blinked.

"Yes, consider that practice." She started to unbutton her coat.

"Practice?" Jareth wondered if he were losing his mind, or if not eating for two days had made him addled. "Why do I need practice?"

"So you don't corrupt the children." Sarah tossed her coat aside.

"I don't corrupt children." He defended. "Children love me…I'm great with children…its teenaged girls I've a problem with." He started to shout as she strolled past him and moved to the throne. The split in her gown went straight up to her thigh, almost to her hip. "In fact make that just one teenaged girl that I have trouble with …and Where do you think you're going?"

Sarah parked her self on the throne, crossed her leg dramatically and bounced the leg letting her spiky heel show. "Call the Goblins back." She said as if giving orders were second nature to her.

"I will not be told what to do." He bellowed turning to a goblin, "Call back the guard." He barked as he moved toward the throne. "Get off my throne, and bring back the baby!"

"No and no." She said bouncing her leg.

"Now see here!" He growled. "I'm the King around here!

"And we'll have a little less yelling, it's not good for the children." Sarah stated.

"What children, do you see any children? I don't see any children." Jareth was now standing on the dais with his hands on the arms of the throne.

"You will." She smiled sweetly as she added. "Daddy."

Jareth glowered, then lost all expression and keeled backward.

Sarah leaned back and simpered. "Chantal was right, the bigger they are, the harder they fall."