Hey hey! Things are hotting up aain and these chapters are getting really har to write...but it has to be done. Thanks for your reviews, and to those of you who didn't, I hope you enjoyed the story. Please keep reading cos we're not done yet!

Lots of love FY.A xxx

Jareth floated silently through the still air of the summer Labyrinth, senses finely tuned for the faintest vibration of anything out of the ordinary. But all seemed tranquil. All seemed peaceful. He turned over Nathaniel's words in his head. The goblins had seen Rath leading Phoenix from the house, and she had not been seen since. But that did not make any sense at all. Why would Rath lead Phoenix from the castle? Jareth knew that Rath was devoted to his sister, idolised her even. It was Phoenix who gave Rath comfort when Nathaniel picked on him. Rath could never hurt his sister, Jareth knew this. He shook his head in frustration, trying to clear the worry that fogged his brain, let his magic reach out and feel.

Something tugged at the corner of his mind and Jareth's head swivelled sharply trying to catch the impression again. Nothing. He sighed. Probably just some goblin. He banked gently, sweeping over an old sandstone wall and surveying the hedge maze that stretched out beneath him. No. No-one would take a captive here. He wheeled in the air again turning back towards the granite cave maze, a much better place for hiding. And as he did so something caught at his mind again. Louder and clearer than before. A call. A cry.

"Daddy."

Phoenix.

But even as Jareth soared upwards towards the cliff edges that topped the caves he heard the taunting reply float back to him.

"Daddy can't help you now, little girl. You are ours."

Jareth cursed and spun again as he realised that the voices were suddenly behind him. How had that happened? And why where the speaking through minds? Jareth was worried, knowing that Phoenix had never shown any ability to speak with her mind before, so why wasn't she shouting? All at once Jareth was swept away in a wave of strong revulsion that he knew was not his. Mingled with it was a deep rooted fear that froze his spine and stiffened his wings as he craned his neck to catch hold of the thought strand once more. But when he found it, he wished he hadn't. It wasn't a thought, but an image, playing before his eyes and steeling into his heart in a way that he recognised, that reminded him of his childhood.

The vision was from the point of view of one standing off and slightly to one side and Jareth had the strong impression he was looking through the eyes of another. Phoenix was kneeling on the stone flagged floor, her light summer night dress clinging to her fear sweated body. The front of the gown was ripped and hung open, exposing the soft curve of one of her childish breasts. There were stains of blood on her gown and chin and for a moment Jareth could not make out where they came from. And then he caught sight of her hands that were bound in front of her, the fingertips black and raw, blood oozing from where her nails had once been.

As if on cue Phoenix' captor stretched out his own hands as though examining them. They where scored with deep and angry welts that ran up his arms and dripped black droplets onto the flagstones. The man was a fae.

Jareth felt a wave of uncontrollable anger sweep through his being at the sight of his daughter thus bound and held. But with it was pride. She had fought at least. And paid the price. Jareth stretched his wings wide and circled round. What his enemy had failed to realise was that Jareth would recognise the room. He knew where to find them now. He blinked his large owl eyes and as he did so another image took control of him. A cold voice was speaking.

"Your Daddy is angry. He is looking for you. But let's make him despair, for he can never find you in time."

Jareth felt a chill run through his body as he recognised the voice, but Phoenix was looking up, eyes blazing into those of her captor with a look that reminded Jareth passionately of her mother. When Phoenix spoke her voice was strong and clear.

"Do what you like, you can never break me. My father is stronger than you and far more imposing. He is like the Labyrinth, warm and gentle and hard and unforgiving and he will break you. Because he holds the power."

Jareth felt his heart swelling with pride for his daughter, but was snapped back to reality quickly as the cold anger sounded from the other man. He was sneering.

"Your Daddy is worthless, a cheater. And we will show him what happens to cheaters. But you, you are insolent. You need your mouth stopped up. And I know exactly how to do that."

Jareth fought the vision and beat his wings harder as the fae began to undo the fastenings of his breeches, stepping silently towards Phoenix, slipping his hand down to rub himself lightly. Jareth saw Phoenix' eyes open wide in horror as the man approached her. And as he seized her hair, forcing her head back, he looked up into the cracked glass of the mirror that hung on the wall behind Phoenix' head, and Jareth found himself staring back into the eyes of one he thought he had said goodbye to for good.

Raemon met his eyes and smiled cruelly, glancing down at the shaking form of Jareth's daughter. Jareth wrenched himself from the vision, Phoenix' scream ringing in his ears.

And all at once there was a clamouring in his head as three more voices assaulted his senses.

"Jareth!"

"Father!"

"Dad!"

"I know," Jareth replied to all three, "I've nearly found her."

Jareth pulled out of their heads and began building a defence against the assault on his mind, knowing he would need it if he was to rescue Phoenix. He rose higher into the air, beating his wings and catching at the air currents, anything to get him to Phoenix' side quickly.

Sarah paced the tower room which she shared with Jareth like a caged animal. Her daughter was out there. She needed to get to her. She pressed her fingers into her temples and concentrated hard, reaching for Jareth.

"Damn him," she exclaimed as her mind came into contact with his shield, its power sizzling through her mind and reverberating to her finger tips. "Damn him, I can't contact your father."

She whirled round looking accusatorily at her twin sons, Rath with his hand on Nathaniel's shoulder as he stood tall and proud. Nathaniel's eyes were shut and he was muttering to himself, his fingers twisting the Labyrinthian ring he wore on his right hand. Sarah strode up to him and pulled his hand away.

"You, young man can just keep yourself out of trouble and not interfere anymore," she commanded, drawing herself up in an attempt to assert authority. But as Nathaniel's mismatched eyes flashed open and he fixed his mother with a withering stare, so like his father, Sarah realised that he stood nearly as tall as she, and that she no longer held the power.

"Let me do this, Mother," Nathaniel said holding her gaze," we need to help Father, and I can find out where they are."

Sarah looked hard into his eyes before replying.

"You can truly find them?" Sarah asked. Nathaniel nodded. "And you promise to take me to Phoenix and your father and then leave and return to safety?" Nathaniel paused a moment, a clear battle going on behind his eyes. Eventually he nodded and Rath's grip tightened on his shoulder. Sarah nodded her head and released his arm.

Nathaniel shut his eyes once more, removing his ring and bringing it against his lips as he resumed muttering under his breath. Sarah held her breath, willing her son on as his face began to drain of colour and his head snaked back and forth. His fingers tightened on the curve of metal and rich black began to leak between them, staining his lips.

"Break...sneak...through...the shields," Nathaniel panted as the sweat beaded on his forehead and his clenched knuckles turned white. "Can't...see... Rath, help."

Sarah started forward but Rath was there first, gripping Nathaniel's forearms and resting his head against that of his brother. Rath's eyes shut too and as Sarah watched the room filled with raw and unguarded magic. Sarah took another step forward and all of a sudden she knew what was happening. Rath's face was draining of colour as he fed his potential power to Nathaniel who, struggling to control it, was adding it to his own. Sarah knew they must be seeking for Jareth's shield, and that Jareth himself must be now deep within the defences of the enemy. She shuddered silently as Nathaniel's breathing altered once more.

"Can't...quite...see...aahh...there it is. I can see it. I know where Father is!"

His eyes snapped open, burning bright as though with a fever. Rath stepped back and turned to his mother and a lump caught in her throat. Rath's expression was more alive than she had ever seen it before. He was glowing with vitality and the excitement of potential. On impulse Sarah swept him up in her arms, looking over his shoulder at Nathaniel.

"Well done boys," she said. She held Rath at arm's length. "Get everything ready for your sister's return," she told him before returning to Nathaniel. "Now, let's go." She took a step towards her elder son but stopped as he shook his head, holding up his palm so that she encountered an invisible force field. "What?" she exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Mother," Nathaniel's voice did hold true regret.

He raised his hand, and Sarah felt herself slide backwards, pushed by an invisible force originating from Nathaniel's palm. Her legs hit the edge of the bed ad she collapsed backwards. Immediately the bed clothes came to life, folding themselves tightly round her until she could hardly move. She glared up angrily at her sons.

"Rath. Help me out!" she commanded but he shook his head wordlessly.

Nathaniel shut his eyes tight, remembering again the feeling as his father had lifted his hand and he slid down the wall, his father's arms tight around him, his father's forehead pressed to his. And his father's words echoing in his head.

"Nathaniel I need you to trust me now and I need to be able to trust you. I want you to look after your mother. Don't let her do anything stupid...I couldn't bear to lose her again. You are in charge."

Nathaniel could still see the searching look on his father's face as he had drawn away, feel the small nod he himself had given in understanding. He hoped with all his heart he was doing the right thing.

"I'm sorry Mother," he said again.

Rath reached out and placed his hand on Nathaniel's shoulder, looking into his brother's eyes. Together, they nodded slightly. And then they were both gone.