Brotherly Love

She finished dressing – blue jeans and black leather boots, with a crimson cotton shirt - and walked over to her dresser, putting on a little make-up. She looked at the items that were spread out in front of her. Most of the things that reminded her of her childhood were gone now. She had put them all away when she had returned from… that place. All except one. She looked at it guiltily, biting her lip as she picked it up. His statue. She had meant to keep just one thing that would remind her of the Labyrinth. And this had seemed the obvious choice. Or perhaps the one I should have hidden away first, she thought to herself. But she hadn’t had the strength to put that one away in a box or drawer to collect dust. It just hadn’t seemed… right. She stared at the object, and couldn’t resist a smile as she did so. It didn’t do him justice at all, she thought absent mindedly. It was a lovely little ornament, yes, his clothes finely crafted and the features quite detailed. But it didn’t capture the expression, the eyes. The stance didn’t hold the ease of his truly regal air, the hair didn’t shine. It didn’t tell you what a powerful man he was to encounter, how imposing and… well… sensual he was. But it was an image of him, all the same, and Sarah just couldn’t throw it away. She couldn’t explain why… but it was impossible. It may as well have been glued to her dresser. She looked at it for one last time, frowning at why she found it so intriguing, and placed back in it’s spot on the dresser. She finished off with a little lipstick, the shade of creamy chocolate, and, after checking her reflection for one last time in the mirror, rose to leave the room.

She hurriedly grabbed her leather jacket from the coat rack, realising that she would be late, and rushed out of the front door. She walked to the corner of the town, and peered in through the window of what was to be her new workplace. A small bookstore. The owner was already in there, packing some books on shelves. She knocked hesitantly at the door, which was locked, and the man inside rose as he heard her. Sarah heard the jangle of a set of keys, and the door opened before her. It was a cosy little bookstore, shelves lined with all sorts of books – from travel guides to books on the occult. It was quite a little heaven for an avid book reader like Sarah. Maybe this job would have some perks after all….

“Nice, isn’t it?” a voice said brightly. Sarah looked at her new boss. He was a man of about forty – very bookwormish, thought Sarah, with a smile. He was quite tall, with glasses perched on his nose and brown hair that was slightly too long. He wore brown trousers and a light pinstripe shirt. Under his arm was a large book. Sarah could see a tweed jacket hanging on the back of his chair beside his desk. The perfect image of a bookstore keeper. He had kind eyes that sparkled, slightly wrinkled around the edges, and was grinning in a most friendly way.

“Yes…” she answered truthfully. She felt instantly at ease with… what his name, anyway?

“David!” he answered, without her even having to ask. “David Travis!” he continued, holding out a hand. She shook it, smiling back warmly.

“Sarah Williams, I presume?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“Welcome to my little shop! It’s about time I got a bit of help…”

“Well, that’s what I’m here for!” returned Sarah, brightly.

“I hope it’s not too early for you…” he said.

“Oh, no.” she lied. She didn’t mind so much now, though. It seemed like a nice little place to work in. Karen had found the job for her, because she’d bought some books from here and had heard that the store owner wanted an assistant. She had volunteered Sarah without even asking her first, and Sarah had been livid, but now she was beginning to like the idea.

“Well…” said “I’ll make us a nice cup of tea, and then we can get you started, hmm? We open in 15 minutes.”

“Ok.”

He went into a little room at the back of the shop.

“Do you take sugar, Sarah?” came a voice from the back room.

“No, thank, you.” She called back.

“Ok. Have a look around – get a feel for the place.” He called back.

Sarah looked at the counter – quite an old looking till resided there. Hmm, she thought – I’ll have to ask him how I use that. Her gaze returned to the rows and rows of books – all, different, new and old. Unthinkingly, she went straight to the children’s section, and searched the titles of the fairy tales. There was quite a good selection. Sarah recoiled from the shelves as she saw that familiar looking book. Hesitantly, she pulled it from the shelf. Such a small, insignificant looking thing, in it’s red binding, the golden words upon it’s cover seeming to burn right into her eyes. She couldn’t believe he had this book!  She had only ever seen it in the place she had bought it from – a small second-hand bookstore, years ago. But it didn’t seem to exist anywhere else. She had searched for it, simply out of curiosity, although her own copy was tucked away safely in her dresser drawer. But she’d never found it, until now. She had an urge to open the book, look at the pages of the wonderful story which had brought her such amazing experiences that would never be matched. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She had never once opened the book since she had returned from the Labyrinth. And she couldn’t now. She put it quickly back, between tales the brothers Grimm, and other such fantasies. But were they all fantasy? The Labyrinth hadn’t been…

Sarah, shook her head, and moved away from the fairy-tale section, cursing herself for going there in the first place. She moved around the small room, taking in all of the books there. Despite the chaos of colours that seemed to fill the room at first glance, there was in fact quite a rigid organisational system. There were strict categories, and particular categories among them, and then they were alphabetically ordered. This David seemed to take quite gook care of his little bookshop, thought Sarah.

“Here we are!” came a voice behind her. Sarah turned to see him carrying a little tea tray, with a little silver teapot and lovely china cups. She smiled and sat down as he gestured for her to do so, beside the desk which seemed to double as a counter. They drank hot tea and talked, covering the essential subjects, such as what the job was to entail, wages and how to work the till, and before long, the tea was gone and it was time to open the shop. Sarah was to work at the counter, “So that she could get used to it”, but she was actually quite nervous – she had never worked serving the public before. What if she was to do something wrong? What if she couldn’t find a book or gave someone the wrong change? David laughed kindly at her worries, and told her that everything would be okay – she would see. Sarah wasn’t so sure, but, as the day progressed, she found that it wasn’t as bad as she had expected it to be. The shop received a surprisingly large amount of customers for such a small, out of the way place, and Sarah soon got used to giving people friendly smiles and using the prehistoric till. She was beginning to get used to the system of the book categories, too, and because of this system, it was easy to find books for customers. Everything was going smoothly, and Sarah was actually beginning to enjoy herself! David had told her that she could borrow any books she liked, and Sarah had been overjoyed at this. She had a  collection of Greek mythological tales by her side on the counter, and read it intently whenever there were no customers in the shop.

Sarah had been working for hours, now, and it was nearing half past three – she was to go home at four, and, despite her enjoyment of the job, Sarah was rather weary. There were no customers in at the moment, and David had announced that he was off to the deli around the corner to get them a small snack before closing up. Sarah sat on the comfortable chair at the counter, eyes fixed on the words of the book she held. As she finished the current chapter, she lifted her eyes to the large window at the front of the shop, gazing at the landscape ahead of her. It was midwinter, and it was already getting dark outside, some street lamps glowing subtly. It was quite beautiful and peaceful, and it relaxed Sarah. She was happy. This had turned out to be a good idea of Karen’s after all. She liked the work here, and her boss was a really nice person. Also… there was always the payment thing… which was actually quite good. She smiled to herself and returned to the book.

She didn’t manage to read more than another sentence, however, because the door’s bell suddenly tinkled, and Sarah had to stop reading. She expected it to be David, back from the deli, but that’s not who it was.

She dropped the book, and it fell with a loud thud onto the floor.

“Jareth!” she said, her eyes wide, and her body rigid with fear and disbelief.

“No… James.” said the person in front of her, with a curious smile.

Sarah looked at the man. He certainly wasn’t dressed like Jareth. He wore a beautifully cut suit of black, which was modern in style, with a white shirt underneath. His blond hair fell around his brows. But his face… the same cruel set of the mouth. The same piercing mismatched eyes, the same bone structure and expression. He was tall and perfectly built, with a certain imposing air about him. He even wore black gloves, and his hair shone with the same beautiful iridescence, though it was much shorter than Jareth’s. He had the same rich, melodious British accent.

Sarah didn’t know what to think. She knew this could not possibly be anyone else, as she looked into his eyes… It had to be him. No one else had ever had that effect on her. On her body and on her mind. Her mind was in complete turmoil, her body was becoming warm and she was shaking slightly. She felt dizzy and light-headed, unable to think coherently. The man continued to look at her with an amused smile.

“It…. It is you….” said Sarah, gazing at him intently.

“I am… me, yes. James Landau.” He said, holding out a gloved hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

“No…” she said, frowning. “You can’t be….”

The man frowned back at her, seeming to be quite confused, and then he came and sat at the other chair next to the counter. He leaned closer to her.

“Who do you think I am?” he asked.

“You’re…. I don’t know…” she said, now completely confused.

“You seem a little confused, my sweet.” he said kindly. “You’re… new here, aren’t you?”

“Started today…” she answered, shakily.

“Well, I have been a good customer of Mr. Travis for a long time. He’ll tell you who I am. Hmmm…You’re very pale.” He said, taking her hand in his with a concerned expression. “Can I make you some more tea?” he asked, gesturing towards her empty cup.

“No… No thank you.” she answered, taking her hand away from his, unable to cope with the physical contact for any longer. He continued to look at her with that half amused, half confused expression.

“Okay…. Books, then. That’s what I came here for! I’m assuming this is still the bookstore it was when I last came here?” he said, good humouredly. His easy attitude was not helping to steady Sarah’s emotions, although he seemed to be trying to put her at ease as much as he could. But the longer he stayed in the room, the more he spoke, each time he moved... the worse Sarah’s confusion of emotions became. She just… couldn’t deal with this. It was Jareth. It had to be. Somehow, she managed to compose herself a little.

“Um… yes. What were you looking for?” she answered, her voice breaking as she spoke.

“Well, Mr. Travis had ordered some… special books for me. They should be in the back room, with my name attached to them somewhere…”

“Right, um…”

“Landau… look for Landau.”

“Okay…” said Sarah, quickly rushing to the back room, where there was a store of even more books. She scoured the selection of books that were being kept for various customers, thankful of the distance she was able to put between the two of them, but she just couldn’t seem to find his books.

“Any luck?” he called after a short while.

“Well… no…” she answered. Before she knew it, he was in the same room with her.

“They should be here somewhere…” he said, looking at the shelves intently.

“Should… should you be back here…?” she asked hesitantly.

“Oh. Mr. Travis wouldn’t mind…”

“Well... he will be back in a minute.”

“Good, good! I need to ask him about some other books I need.”

“Right…” she said, stepping out of his way to let him look.

“He’s probably got them hidden away in some corner. Not very widely read, these types of books…” he said, with a curious grin. Sarah continued to look through the titles in her corner of the room, and she suddenly stumbled upon a pile of large, old looking books. Sure enough, attached to them was a post-it with ‘James Landau’ written on it.

“Here!” she said. She picked up the heavy stack, and glanced at the title of the top book as she handed them over. Medieval Sorcery and Demonology? Hmmm….

“Ah, thank you, my dear girl… What is your name, any way?”

“Sarah…” she said, not sure what to say to a man who read that sort of a book. She still wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t Jareth, trying to trick her. In fact, she was quite certain, now, and looked at him suspiciously and he took the books from her. He registered her strange look, and shook his head bemusedly.

“Who do you think I am, Sarah?” he asked. “Because I know you still have doubts… Tell me.” He asked, rather demandingly. Sarah wasn’t sure she quite liked his tone. His blue eyes had grown considerably darker, and Sarah suddenly didn’t like the idea of being in this confined space with only him for company. She moved to go out of the room, but he wouldn’t move from the doorway.

“No.. you tell me. It bothers me… Who is this…. Jareth, anyway?”

Now Sarah’s breathing was growing faster, and her body began to shake noticeably. He wouldn’t let her out. There was something dangerous in his eyes, and Sarah didn’t like it one little bit. There was a mixture of emotions within them. Something like anger and confusion… and a slight hint of something Sarah wasn’t even sure about. But she had seen it there for a second, and it had scared her at the same time as it had made her light-headed and dizzy. It was desire. She could tell, because it was the same way that Jareth had looked at her in the ballroom all that time ago. Like it was something he couldn’t control. She had been as scared of it as she was now, and was now surer than ever that this was the same man.

“You know…” she said, her voice trembling,

“But I don’t Sarah…”

“You must…” she said, frowning. He stepped closer towards her, putting the books to the side as she backed up. There was not very much room to back up into, and now he stood only a foot away from her, and was staring at her intensely, with that same eternal piercing gaze. Sarah couldn’t drag her eyes away.

“Jareth…?” she asked quietly, as she gazed into his eyes. She was so sure…

“No!” he said, a certain anger in his tone that Sarah couldn’t explain. “Who is this man?” he asked, now standing so close she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks, smell him. He smelled of magic.

“King of the Underground.” She said quietly, now even more scared.

The man laughed quite a cruel, soft kind of laugh.

“My sweet thing, you are quite mad.” He said, running a gloved hand down the side of her face, brushing a few stray strands of hair away from her cheek.

“What… what are you doing…?” she asked, her body unable to cope with this closeness.

“Nothing.” he said, simply, running a finger down the side of her neck, making Sarah shiver. She couldn’t run. She knew that he wouldn’t let her. She knew that she didn’t really want to, as his hands moved lightly to her waist.

“No…” she said, ignoring the warmth that was growing between her legs.

“What?” he asked, his tone innocent. “I’m not doing anything…” he continued, pushing her into the shelves quite violently, his grip tightening around her waist. Sarah felt her backbone hit the side of a book with pain, and gasped.

“Stop this!” she shouted, rather weakly. He just looked at her for a second, reading the traitorous desire in her eyes, the dilated pupils and flushed cheeks. Then he moved his mouth to hers in a violent, devastating kiss, pressing every part of her body against his, until she couldn’t think any more. She was limp in his arms, and began to respond with her own softening lips, the kiss suddenly deepening to a very sexual level. Sarah couldn’t breath, but it didn’t matter, as a warming desire consumed her whole body. All she could think was ‘Jareth’.

His lips moved down to the side of her neck, kissing the tender flesh there, biting it lightly, his hands moving up to the sides of her breasts. Sarah was beyond all sensible thinking, and a moan escaped her swollen lips as her head was thrown back. She put her hands around the back of his neck, holding him to her, touching the soft hairs at the nape of his neck. His fingers brushed against her nipple above the cotton of her shirt, and Sarah gasped, as he began to undo the top buttons of her shirt, kissing his way further down her exposed skin, just reaching the very top of a swollen breast. Sarah thought that she was about to explode, she couldn’t take it - this soul tearing need that pulled at her body, the throbbing between her legs that was threatening to send her over the edge if he didn’t stop soon.

Then, to her utter disappointment, he suddenly pulled away. Sarah, stood, her breathing fast and irregular, holding the shelves behind her for support, her body warm, her hair a mess and her shirt now showing a lot of her cleavage.

He took a step away from her, running a hand through his ruffled blond hair, his eyes never leaving hers. She could tell that he was restraining himself with all his strength.

“Don’t… don’t stop…” she said to him quietly, her voice shaky, her body unbearably warm.

“I…” he said, his eyes steeling themselves against her, giving away nothing. “I have to go…” he said, looking around for his books and picking them up again, still staring into her eyes, which sparkled with tears of need.

“No…” she said.

“I’m sorry…” he said, a certain sadness in his expression. “I should never have…”

His eyes closed for a second, as if trying to compose himself. Then he left. He went quickly out of the small room, and Sarah heard his quick footsteps as the bell on top of the door sounded again, and the door slammed shut.

Outside of the shop, Jaden smiled wickedly to himself, and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Inside the shop, Sarah was trying to make herself look presentable again – David would be back any minute now. She buttoned up her shirt as best she could, although the top button was broken. She quickly ran a brush through her long brown hair, and splashed a little water over her face. She stepped back and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Not bad, although her lipstick had disappeared and her lips held a new, natural kind of colouring from the pressure of his searing kiss. She still looked a little flushed, and that throbbing between her legs just refused to go away, but it would have to do. Her back ached, and so did her waist where his hands had held her so brutally, and she knew that there would be a large bruise there by tomorrow.

She sat down at the counter, suddenly wondering if he had actually paid for his books. Sure enough, a fifty dollar note had been left hastily on the counter. She put it into the till and tried to start reading her book again, trying to compose herself. But the words in the book may as well have been in Japanese – she couldn’t think about anything! She couldn’t believe what had just happened… and she was angry with herself for letting it happen. It had either been Jareth - a man she should hate with all of her heart, or a complete stranger. Neither was a good thing. But as her thoughts turned to his hands on her body… his blond hair brushing against her skin, she shivered violently at the very thought. She had never been turned on like that. Never before. Except when she had been with Jareth all that time ago… but she had never done anything like that with him then. Had she now? Confusion dominated her thoughts.

Who was that man?
 

Jareth watched the faces inside his crystal, his eyes blazing with anger. How dare he! He watched him as he pushed her fragile frame against the bookshelves, and then skilfully manipulated her young body until she couldn’t think. His anger was threatening to consume him, as he watched her responses, his body overcome with a mixture of violent jealousy and anger towards that damnable man.

Would that evil swine never give up his quest for vengeance? Jareth threw the crystal at the stone wall opposite, feeling a kind of satisfaction as he saw it smash into pieces.

But did he have to do it to her? Is this the way he planned to get at him? He could not have chosen a worse torture for him. It was perfect, he thought. The evil, calculating bastard.

It had never been his fault in the first place. Their parents had chosen  Jareth to continue the royal line – Jareth himself had nothing to do with it. The responsibility had been dumped on him, and though Jareth had never been completely mad about the idea, Jaden had resented it with all his heart, ever since he had been old enough to understand the situation. He had never had a good intention towards anyone in his life, thought Jareth, angrily. He hated the fact that such an evil soul bore his own features. That his own twin could be so very different. And now – he had committed so many felonies against the kingdom that Jareth had had no choice but to banish him, to live on Earth for the rest of his days – that was the usual sentence for treason. But in truth, Jareth had not wanted to let that man loose in such an innocent world. God knew what he would do there. But Jareth knew now. He’d had his magical powers removed, but Jaden had found other ways – he practised the black arts and other such ancient rituals with skill and impeccable ease. He called himself James, and fitted in perfectly with the modern world with his expensive suits and cars, his art of seduction perfected. And now – Sarah. His plan was to corrupt the only girl Jareth had ever…

Jareth sighed and held back the angry tears in his burning eyes. He would have to stop him. But the way Sarah had responded – it tore his heart to pieces. But… had she thought it was him…?  Or did she really think it was just a man who looked remarkably like his own self? Jareth couldn’t be sure… He didn’t even think she had been sure. But she hadn’t been able to resist his evil charms, all the same. Jareth grimaced with disgust as he thought of what Jaden had done to the other poor, innocent girls on Sarah’s world. No… Jareth wasn’t an angel himself, but he wasn’t like his brother all the same. Jareth cursed – he hated using that word in relation to Jaden. He was no brother of his.

He produced another perfect crystal, and looked on in disgust as Jaden smiled evilly to himself outside the shop, before walking away from his poor Sarah. She was a mess, and was trying in vain to make herself look presentable, as though it had never happened. Jareth could see that the need still pulsed throughout her body, and he felt a damnable urge to go to her and fulfil that need. But that would make him no better than Jaden.

He walked over to the large window opposite his throne, and placed his hands on each side of the frame, looking out over his kingdom, trying desperately to compose himself. His golden hair fell around his shoulders, a slight breeze blowing a few strands across his pained face. He wore a grey shirt and black tights and boots, the family amulet hanging around his neck, the shirt open just low enough to display it. He picked it up and looked at it. This, the symbol of his royal blood. What did it matter now? It only caused pain. Jaden wore the same amulet, and that disgusted Jareth too. He shouldn’t be allowed to show people that he belonged to this family. This family? What was left of it? Only Jaden and himself. His parents had died hundreds of years ago, in the battle between his kingdom and that of the Northern Kaynor. Who would continue the line? That was a worry that stayed at the back of Jareth’s mind, but it was there none the less. The only woman Jareth had ever wanted – the only one he would ever want to be a mother to his children… she was in extreme danger. With that in mind, Jareth tried to turn his thoughts to the task ahead. He would have to defeat his despicable twin. It wasn’t usually what he did… but if he must die… then so be it. This is one battle he will never win, thought Jareth bitterly. No one would hurt his beautiful Sarah.
 

Sarah was busy, sorting out and stacking books for David, when she realised she hadn’t even asked him about the strange man, and it had been a few days since he had come into the shop that afternoon. James had said, hadn’t he, that he was an old customer of the shop? She went hesitantly over to the counter where David sat, working through the accounts.

“What is it, Sarah?” he asked, taking off his glasses and rubbing his evidently tired eyes.

“It was just… Do you know a man called James Landau?”

“I do.” He said, his expression seeming quite intrigued by her enquiry.

“He’s an old customer, then?”

“A very old customer – been coming to the shop since before I can remember…” he answered. “Why? Did he come in here?”

“Yes… a few days ago… on my first day… when you had gone to the deli.”

“Ah – picked up those books of his, then?”

“Yes.”

“Ah yes, here it is.” He said, looking at the sales record “You’re a very competent sales person, my girl!” he said kindly.

“What sort of a man do you think he is…?” asked Sarah, hesitantly. She didn’t know what David could see in her face, but it definitely made him give her a strange look.

“Well… nice enough chap… Reads some strange books though!”

“Yes…” she agreed, not really listening now, lost deep in her own thoughts.

Later that day, strangely, when David was out again, this time taking his Spaniel (named Bessie, which Sarah had grown quite fond of) to the vet for a check up, James came into the shop again. If that is really his name, thought Sarah. She was till convinced it had been Jareth all along. She hoped that she would be able to get the truth from him this time.

As he walked into the shop, Sarah felt the need take her over instantly. She knew she wouldn’t be able to resist him, although she had sworn to herself that she would.

“Hello, Sarah.”

“Hi.” She answered nervously, not being able to meet his eyes.

“I’ve come to order a book… but…”

“Yes?”

“I wanted to apologise to you…”

“Why don’t we… see to that book, then…” she said, smiling a little too brightly.

“Right.” He returned, smiling back at her. He pulled up a chair opposite the counter and sat on it. Sarah reached underneath the counter for the order book, her hands shaking.

“Title?”

“Elemental Sorcery.”

Sarah eyed him curiously. He just stared back at her, businesslike, as though it was perfectly normal to order that kind of book.

“Author?”

“Franz Jacob.”

“Right…. You should get that in a couple of weeks…”

“Actually, could you ask Mr. Travis if there’s any way we could speed up that order? It just that…”

“Sure, I’ll see what I can do.” she said, praying that he would just leave now, to slow that thudding heartbeat that raced inside her, the feeling of desire that was getting worse minute by minute. She knew that was not going to happen, though, from the look he was giving her.

“About the other day…” he began.

“Don’t worry about it.” She said, hurriedly cutting him off.

“But I do want to worry about it.” he said, taking her hand in his and closing the order book she was now studying intently, with his other hand. Sarah looked at him, her eyes full of fear and anticipation at the same time, begging him silently to leave, before she was rendered completely powerless. But he was not going to give in, and she knew it.

“Don’t…” she whispered, looking away from him. He got up and moved over to her side of the table, not letting go of her hand, pulling her up out of her chair to stand with him. He placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked at her seriously, his eyes piercing hers.

“I want to say how sorry I am… I never should have done… what I did. It was stupid of me. You are so young, and I…”

Sarah was powerless to say anything. The hands on her shoulders were betraying his words, his fingers beginning to slowly massage the sides of her neck as he spoke. His face seemed concerned, but Sarah could sense that his eyes were rapidly gaining a whole new emotion, and she knew what it was. She had been a slave to it ever since he had walked into the shop.

“But I can’t help… I can’t help what I feel…” he continued, his voice becoming low, his eyes darkening, the touch of his hands on her neck and shoulders wandering. Sarah felt as though her legs were about to give way, as his grip on her shoulders tightened a little, pulling her inches closer towards him.

“Stop this Sarah…” he said, as though he was trying to win an internal battle “Make this stop. Tell me to go away.”

Sarah looked into his pleading eyes that burned into hers. She knew he didn’t really mean what he was saying at all. She had to tell him, though. She just had to tell him to stop this. Whoever he was, it wasn’t right. All she could see was Jareth’s face, all she could hear was Jareth’s voice, and it was driving her crazy.

“Go.” she said quietly, trying to sound as forceful as she could. He looked at her, his eyes pained.

“Forgive me, Sarah… I can’t.” he said, his willpower appearing to dissolve away into nothing. “Don’t you know what you do to me, sweet girl?”

All she could do was look at him. No one had ever said these things to her before. No one had ever made her feel so… wanted.

His hands moved down her back, and Sarah winced as he touched the spot where her body had slammed into the bookshelves.

“God, I’m so sorry… I did that, didn’t I?”

His hands moved up to tangle in her long hair, and he looked at her, something like regret in his eyes. Sarah found her lips had gone completely dry, and they parted, and she unthinkingly ran her tongue over her lower lip, not even thinking about how it would look. This seemed to be the thing that finally broke him completely, and he pulled her head up to his, kissing her deeply. Sarah couldn’t help but respond passionately, her body betraying what was going through her mind. “Stop this, Sarah.” it said to her “There’s something wrong here...”

But she couldn’t, her body was shutting out her conscience, the words inside her head drowning in her soul shattering desire. And it just got worse and worse. Her hands were pushing at his chest in a pathetic attempt to stop him, but before long, her hands weren’t pushing at him, they ran down his chest, and she could feel his slightly muscled body through the silk of the shirt he wore. So much like Jareth… But it was a more muscular chest than she had remembered him having… maybe a little too muscular. A guy was allowed to work out, wasn’t he? She thought to herself, though she was finding it hard to think at all. He always seemed to have this effect on her…

The kiss was deepened as she wrapped her arms around his body, pulling him unconsciously closer to her. He pushed her back so that she was half sitting on the shop counter, his hands on her neck, pulling her lips closer to him, devouring her soft mouth. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, and had she not been so filled with desire, it probably would have hurt. The pressure on her neck was increasing, as though he couldn’t help his brutal nature. Sarah found it hard to breath and his hands pressed a little harder, his thumbs at the front of her neck. She found that this strangely increased her pleasure, feeling a little dizzy and depraved of oxygen. He moved one hand slowly down her body, teasing her, touching the side of her breast lightly with his long fingers. His hand went further down her body, moving under her shirt, running his fingers across her bare stomach, leaving a burning electric sensation where his they touched her. He moved his hand upwards a little, just touching her breast lightly through her bra, his mouth quieting her moans. Then his hand moved down further, now running along her outer thigh through her jeans, making the warmth between Sarah’s legs increase. His other hand still held her neck, pressing her lips to his. His hand moved to the inside of her thigh, making Sarah shake with anticipation. He moved upwards, slowly, and then his fingers moved between her legs. He broke from the kiss, watching her reaction, his eyes full of need. He pressed lightly between her legs, and she moaned, holding tightly onto his body. He began to move his fingers there, increasing the pressure through the denim, as her moans grew louder. Then, he moved his mouth to her neck, and his other hand went to her back. To Sarah’s surprise, he pressed down on the bruised part of her back, and she gasped in pain. He pressed hard with the hand between her legs, and suddenly his mouth stopped kissing her neck softly, and he had bitten down on her skin. Sarah moaned loudly, her eyes widening, his fingers pressing down even harder between her legs. Never had she felt such a mixture of pleasure and pain, and to her surprise, she felt a shattering fire run through her entire body, and she stiffened beneath him, experiencing the strongest, most enduring orgasm she had ever known.

“Jareth!!!” she shouted, throwing her head backwards, his name echoing throughout the building. Suddenly, she felt herself being thrown back onto the counter, her body crashing into a stack of books, sending them flying everywhere.

“No!!!” he said, with a ferocious, almost animalistic glare. “Not Jareth – Jad… James!!!”

“I’m… I’m sorry…” she said nervously, tears burning her eyes, still trying to recover from the feelings he had just given to her. She sat up on the counter, shaking, hugging her arms around her body. “I didn’t mean…”

He seemed to be burning with anger, his eyes glaring, his mouth set cruelly.

“That is just… not my name…” he said, seeming to be controlling his anger to the best of his ability. Sarah looked at him, her eyes filling up, unable to cope with the mixture of pain, pleasure and terror that coursed through her body.

He moved closer to her, and seemed to have his emotions under control, now.

“I’m sorry…”  he said, his tone a little gentler. He reached his hand out to her face, but Sarah couldn’t help but recoil. “Oh, God, I’ve scared you now… I just, don’t like being called that…” he said, his expression now concerned “It’s… It’s not my name. Really.” He closed his eyes, as if in pain. “Call me anything you like.” He said, a bitter, humourless laugh tainting his voice. “Just don’t call me… That.”

“Okay… I’m sorry.” She said, quietly, unable to look at him now.

“Please…” he pleaded. “Please understand.”

“I do. So you… you definitely aren’t…?”

“No! I am not…” He seemed to steel himself for the next bit. “Jareth!” He said the last word with a deadly kind of venom. Sarah couldn’t quite understand… it was as if he knew who Jareth was. As though to call him that was the worst thing of all. She still couldn’t convince herself completely that this wasn’t Jareth… But if it wasn’t… she couldn’t let him touch her again. She never should have in the first place, even if it had been Jareth. If she was to be honest with herself, especially if it was Jareth… But how could she tell him that? And would she actually be able to manage to resist him herself? Would her body let her, or would it betray her again?

“Okay… I really am sorry.”

“It’s okay…” he said, walking up to her, and taking her body in his arms, kissing her forehead lightly. “My temper… I… I am the one who should be sorry. You must be so confused, you poor little thing…”

Sarah couldn’t relax in his arms. Fear still paralysed her, and her body was a confused mess at the warmth it felt, as he held her now.

“I have to go, Sarah.” he said, quietly. “Will I see you again?” he asked, his gaze capturing hers, burning right through her, mesmerising her. She melted as he gazed at her.

“No.” she said weakly, knowing that it was a lie.

“I will, Sarah.” He said simply. “I don’t think I could ever stop seeing you.” He said, pulling her body lightly against his, kissing her lips lightly, teasingly, so that she could only want more. “Touching you, feeling your body pressing against mine…” he continued, his hands moving up to her breasts, touching them just lightly, placing tiny kisses across her face, her lips, her eyelids and cheeks, in between his words. “Tasting you… So damnably sweet…” Sarah moaned very quietly, unthinkingly moving her body closer to his, as he continued to tease her mercilessly. He placed a finger lightly under her chin, lifting her face, and moved his mouth to hers again, running the tip of his tongue across her lower lip, making it tremble. “Feeling your moans against my mouth… your soft body arching into mine…” She raised her face to his, wanting more, but he only touched her mouth with his, and echo of a kiss, his hands moving along the sides of her breasts with unbearable gentleness, barely touching, only brushing along them through the material of her shirt. Sarah felt the throbbing between her legs grow and grow, as he continued his teasing caresses. “Watching you go over the edge for me, my sweet… Oh, yes…”

Sarah moaned again, as his words and body aroused her to the point where she would have done anything for him once more. Then, to her utter disappointment, he let go of her, and took a step backwards. She was breathing shakily, her hands unconsciously running over her own body, missing his touch.

“I will see you again, my beautiful little girl…”

“Yes…” she whispered, her eyes locked with his. He suddenly came back to her, taking her mouth in a hard, swift kiss, and then he left. Simply left, leaving Sarah unfulfilled and desperately wanting more.

She suddenly managed to regain a little coherence, and remembered what had just happened, and, shocked, she felt blood on her fingers, as she touched the spot on her neck where he had bitten down on her skin. It had just about broken the skin, and was now throbbing with pain. She frowned. What was going on? She was so confused… There was something… something she couldn’t quite understand… but she just couldn’t stay away from him. It was impossible. All he had to do was touch her… But there was something wrong, said a voice at the back of her head. Something seriously wrong… But she couldn’t understand it, and so she didn’t try to. Her body wouldn’t let her, and her mind was in too much of a state to comprehend it.
 

Jareth’s eyes were tightly closed, experiencing such complete and utter pain, that he just couldn’t think straight. He felt physically sick. Why couldn’t he think of something… something to do, to stop him…? Without scaring Sarah out of her wits… without showing her what he himself felt. He just couldn’t, but… He could have stopped what had just happened! The girl was now practically a slave to Jaden’s manipulations, her body betraying her completely. Jareth had witnessed her weak struggle in horror. He knew that he shouldn’t be surprised, really. He had seen Jaden do this sort of thing to girls before. But now to his Sarah!

But she wasn’t really his Sarah, was she? He realised this with a searing pain that tore at his heart. What if… what if she ended up preferring Jaden to him? Oh, God, he just couldn’t bear to think of it. But he had heard who’s name she had called out, when Jaden had brought her that painful pleasure. He supposed it should have made him feel good, but somehow, it had pained him even more, to hear Sarah call his name, during that damnable act. One shouldn’t do such things to a young girl, he thought, disgusted. To bring her pleasure in such a way… when the poor girl obviously had no real sexual experience. It was ruthlessly cruel. She would be scarred for life, corrupted before she could even become a complete adult. But of course, he reminded himself, that was the idea. Jareth had been meant to see all of this, and so far, Jaden’s evil plan was working perfectly.

But he just couldn’t take it. He had to do something, and fast. Suppose Jaden were to… actually kill her! No, that… he just couldn’t think of that. He would never do it without doing much worse things first, though, he thought, bitterly. God knows what that wicked thing would do to her.

But… he won’t be able to, thought Jareth, as he produced a spinning crystal in his gloved hand, thinking of what he would do to his damned excuse for a brother. He would have to die… It was the only way. The tears of anger stung his eyes again, as he remembered the way Jaden had kept her sweet at the end of his visit. Tempted her and teased her mercilessly, spoken words to her that were obviously meant to be heard by Jareth. “Watching you go over the edge for me…” Jareth just couldn’t handle it. But he was determined not to be taken in by Jaden. He had to keep enough of his mind to stop him, instead of being completely consumed by his anger and jealousy. He knew that if that happened, he would be a useless wreck, easy to defeat. That was Jaden’s plan. Then he could kill Jareth and somehow take over the kingdom… since there was no heir.

The spinning crystal turned into a painfully bright ball of blue flame, reflecting the pain deep in Jareth’s eyes. It grew larger and larger, as he channelled his raging anger into his magic, turning it into a powerful weapon.

Time for war.
 

Jaden sat at a table, in a darkened corner of the bar. He sipped at his cool blood-red wine, and smiled to himself.

My, my… wasn’t this going well? A mixture of bitter hatred and triumph ran through him as he thought of his dear brother. What pain he must be going through now… Well, Jareth, he thought, you deserve that pain. For all the years that I have felt it. Because of you. His face was distorted with hatred, the bitterness evident in his icy gaze.

He congratulated himself. What an utterly perfect plan he had devised! There were more perks to this than he had thought there would be… A warm feeling moved through him, a natural reaction to the thought of his poor little Sarah. God, she was so innocent, it turned him on just to see her wide eyes, staring up at him. Her perfect, soft body. Jareth had chosen a lovely girl to fall for, he thought. All the better for him to ruin…

And, oh, that was what he was going to do. He closed his eyes, resting his head on the wall behind him, imagining what Jareth’s horrified gaze must have been like, as he had pressed his fingers between that sweet girl’s legs… Oh, fantastic.

He couldn’t wait to see what Jareth would do when he saw what else he was going to do to her. Oh, that pretty young thing would come for him, more times then her body could handle. And she would feel that way, just before her death, too... The warm feeling that grew within Jaden was intensifying.

But… He must think about the main goal here. His personal pleasure was an added bonus, and a very nice one – but… To regain the position that was rightfully his… It wouldn’t be long now, and the thought of Jareth’s blood on his hands filled him with joy. He would turn that stupid, lovesick brother of his into a trembling wreck. He would be weak and easy to defeat, then. You just have to give it some time, Jaden, he thought to himself… Restrain your hate, wait until the time is right… when you have built up his anger, and then will be the time to put an end to his despicable reign.

It was hard to control himself, though – hard not to go to his sweet Sarah and take her fragile body until she couldn’t breath except to shout his name, and cry in agony. His name. Not Jareth’s. Oh, and she would know who he was, before she died. He would make sure of that. He would make sure that there was no confusion as to his identity, as she called his name for the very last time. But, not yet. When the time is right, Jaden. When the time is right…

He opened his eyes again, and saw a woman next to the bar staring at him. She was giving him a most provocative smile. Jaden took in her figure. She was dressed in clothes which pleased him very much. A very short back skirt, revealing an awful lot of her smooth thighs. She had a voluptuous figure, and a tight red top, very low at the neck, displayed her swelling cleavage. Her hair was jet black, and her face quite painstakingly made up, a wicked red gloss on her lips. She licked her lips subtly in approval of his examination of her. He just continued to fix his gaze on her body, and she unconsciously moved her finger to her lips, her body deeply flushed, her eyes darkening. Jaden smiled at this. Well… he did need a little something to do until he could defile his beautiful Sarah… although this woman certainly didn’t look like she had any innocence to corrupt. Ah, well. A little fun never harmed anyone…

He looked at the woman, who was biting her glossy lip in anticipation, and gestured for her to come to his table. She moved to sit next to him, but Jaden told her to sit on the table in front of him. The woman did so, but looked around nervously. On seeing that the bar was very dark and almost empty, she felt better, and turned back to him with a sensual grin. He didn’t return her smile, but moved his hands to her naked thighs, running his fingers along the inside of them, all the time watching her reaction. The woman shivered, her breathing heavy. She was looking down at his fingers, watching as they moved underneath her skirt. He tore her lacy excuse for an undergarment, and began to stroke her, as she moaned, trying desperately to be as quiet as she could, in the middle of the bar. Her hands held on to the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening as she gripped harder, her climax threatening to take her over. His other hand moved up to her neck, pulling her mouth down to his, and taking it in a painfully brutal kiss, teeth clashing violently. The woman sought his mouth, trying to deepen the kiss, but he pushed her face away from his, still holding onto her neck, squeezing rather painfully. The woman was trying to catch some oxygen, gasping, her body about to explode at the same time. He quickened the pace of his fingers between her legs, as he squeezed her neck harder, watching the woman gasp for air, unable to make a sound, the red gloss now smeared around her trembling lips. Fear was taking her body over, but she couldn’t help the white hot feeling of pleasure that suddenly tore through her, as she felt her consciousness drift away simultaneously, the pressure on her neck now unbearably painful. Jaden felt the woman go limp under his grasp, her body betraying her fear just before she went. She drifted back into consciousness, and made a futile attempt to scream, but Jaden’s fingers held her neck, making it impossible for her to produce any sound at all. As she tried again, her body struggling to get out of his steel grip, Jaden suddenly looked into her terrified eyes and smiled at her wickedly, pushing against the bones of her bruised neck with his hand, breaking it in one swift movement. Her body fell, slumped onto the table, lifeless.

He got up, leaving her body in a mess on the table, in the dark corner of the bar. He moved towards the door, smiling at the barman, who smiled back at him, unaware. He slipped quietly out of the smoky room, and stepped into the frosty air.

He raised his eyes skyward, looking at the almost painfully bright moon that hung in the sky.

Not long now, my dear brother. Not long.
 

Sarah was unable to go into work that Saturday. She had called David and told him that she was sick. He had seemed to believe her, even being quite sympathetic. She couldn’t face it. She just couldn’t face the possibility that James might come into the shop. She was determined to avoid him – stop what was happening between them. She knew it was wrong. She had known from the start, really, and after she had regained her senses last time, she had sworn that she would never let him touch her again – whoever he was. She still had the wound on her neck, and it was healing slowly. She felt so… ashamed with herself. At the way she had reacted to his violent touch. She would never have thought… that that would have happened… when she had been feeling so much pain. He obviously knew much more about her body than she ever wanted to…

She lay back on her soft bed, trying to ignore the ache in her body. Not only was she aching for his damned touch, but she was physically, painfully aching too, bruised from their last encounter. It was all so… confusing. She desperately didn’t want to desire him… but it seemed beyond her. She just couldn’t force herself not to. But…  something wasn’t quite… she couldn’t put her finger on it. She wanted him, because it felt like Jareth was touching her, if she was honest with herself… But now she wasn’t so sure it was Jareth… There was something different about him. It no longer seemed as though he was just pretending to be someone else… It was deeper. Like… maybe he really was someone else… Oh, this was ridiculous! She couldn’t think for a second, let alone reason. When she saw who was standing in her room, at the foot of the bed, it certainly didn’t help matters at all.

“Sarah.”

“Jareth?” she said, uncertainly.

Stood before her, was the old King, the one she knew, his long pale hair sparkling with magic, clad in black tights, shiny boots and black leather gloves, with a shirt of the palest blue underneath a long, soft black cloak. It was a hell of a sight for her tired, sore eyes. He looked more perfectly beautiful than he ever had. But there was pain beneath his gaze.

“Yes.”

Sarah could do nothing but remain where she was, half sitting up on the bed, staring into his eyes, the two of them looking at each other. Just looking. Both, as if they were searching for something. Then, as if  everything was painfully crystal clear, Sarah suddenly realised something.

“It wasn’t you.” she said, very quietly.

Jareth’s eyes closed for a moment, as if in pain, and then he came round to the side of the bed, kneeling down beside her, taking her hands in his.

“No, Sarah. It wasn’t me.” he said, softly.

Tears of anger filled her eyes. Who had it been?

Who had touched her… turned her on so ruthlessly? Suddenly, the thought that it had been someone else – anyone else at all, angered and repulsed her. She looked at Jareth, who was staring at her with the most tragic gaze. She couldn’t believe that she had thought this other person could have been this elegant creature before her. She had been blinded by the image of him. The signs had been there all along… but she had stupidly ignored them, blinded by her desire for the man that was before her now. How could she have been so stupid! She cursed herself, and, no longer able to look into his sad eyes, she looked down, away from Jareth.

“It wasn’t your fault, my love.”

Jareth’s words eased the pain like he had poured cool water over the flame of her self hatred. His endearment sent warm feelings coursing throughout her. His voice was so gentle, so elegant and melodious. As her mind forced itself back over the events with the other man, she recognised the differences. Everything about Jareth was just… more refined, more graceful. But as she forced her eyes back up to his, she couldn’t help but remember the circumstances in which they had last met. Everything seemed to have… changed, somehow. As if they had an understanding. They weren’t enemies any more. There was no need to be.

Sarah steeled herself, and prepared to ask her question, convinced that Jareth must know the answer.

“Who… who was he?”

Jareth took a deep breath, and sat down beside her on the bed. This was going to be hard.

“Okay, Sarah… Let me tell you… About my…”

He seemed to pause there, unable to continue.

“Your what, Jareth?” asked Sarah, softly, moving to sit beside him.

“My brother.”
 

“So… why me, Jareth?” asked Sarah, confused. “Why should I be the one he would use?”

Sarah couldn’t understand it. Jareth had told her of Jaden’s quest for revenge, what he was obviously planning to do… But what did she have to do with all of this? She had been repulsed, when Jareth had told her what kind of a man his brother was. She couldn’t believe what had been done to her. Her body crawled with disgust, and she didn’t know if she would ever be able to rid herself of the feeling of his evil hands on her body. She still had the bruises to prove it.

Jareth didn’t know how to answer her question. He had told her the truth – up to a point. But none of it would make sense to her… unless he told her. Why what his brother was doing to her would help him defeat Jareth. Why it was a perfect plan to drive him out of his mind. The poor girl was remarkably confused, the story not fitting together because of this. Jareth knew that he would have to tell her. He turned to her, and, taking in her beautiful face, which was looking up at him in confusion, he broke down. He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Sarah saw a change in his expression, and he suddenly brought a gloved hand to her long dark hair, and ran his fingers over it softly. She was spellbound, and could only look into his eyes.

“Don’t you know, Sarah…? Can’t you…” he broke off, unable to continue.

Sarah couldn’t believe the feelings that were stirring inside her. Could he be saying what she thought he was…? Surely not…

He took her head in his hands, and she stared up at him, the feeling of his body so close to hers just too much to bear. She was shaking, and warmth consumed her body completely. God, she could stay here forever…

As Jareth saw the look in her eyes, the desire, the feeling of peacefulness at his touch - he knew. He knew that his feelings… so long denied… were reciprocated. He could tell from the gentle trembling of her body, the happiness that seemed to glow from her at his touch. He couldn’t think about Jaden. Not now. Let the world fall apart around him, just for now. Unable to resist any longer, he touched her soft lips with his, just lightly. She pulled herself up to him, arms wrapping around his body, and kissed him gently, timidly.

Sarah had surprised herself. But she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t hold back… He suddenly moved his lips to hers, capturing them and kissing her deeply. He pushed her gently back onto the soft covers of the bed, and held her there, unable to restrain his desire. His lips devoured hers as her body was pressed into the bed. She held him tighter, deepening the kiss, her body burning with electricity where his hands held her onto the bed, where his lips touched hers. Her hands moved to tangle in his glittering hair, and she pressed her whole body against him, unable to resist the urge to change the kiss into something more.

But he pulled back from her, because he felt that if he didn’t now, he just wouldn’t be able to. And now wasn’t the time.

Sarah groaned quietly as he gently pushed her away. She gave in reluctantly, though unable to stop her body from trembling, wanting more.

“Jareth…”

“It’s just… I couldn’t. Not so soon after…”

Sarah understood what he meant. Not so soon after Jaden had touched her. But it didn’t make her trembling need go away any quicker. She needed him so badly…

“If I don’t stop now, Sarah, I won’t be able to.”

Something flashed in his eyes, and it excited Sarah. She couldn’t wait till he would touch her again… properly. The desire was still burning so irresistibly. To have him touch her body…

“Oh, Jareth…” she said, her voice full of need. Jareth steeled himself. He could barely stop himself from taking her right now... but he had to deny himself this. Just for now.

“Soon. Just… not now. Wait till the time is right, love” he said “And then I’ll make love to you till you can barely walk…” he said, grinning mock-wickedly.

Sarah just couldn’t stand it. He was making it worse… her need was stronger than ever.

“Anyway…” he said, forcing himself to think of more serious matters, though he didn’t want Sarah to ever have to hear of or have anything to do with Jaden again. “There is something I have to see to…”

“Jaden.” said Sarah, a silent dread creeping over her once more.

“Yes.”

“Do you… know where he is?”

“I do.”

“What… what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to kill him, Sarah.” he said, simply.

Jareth couldn’t believe he was saying this. He didn’t usually kill… but then he didn’t usually have to. And what about Sarah? As long as Jaden was alive, she was in danger. He got up, and stood by the window.

“I have to go…”

“I know.” said Sarah, suddenly scared for Jareth… what if Jaden killed him?

Jareth read her fearful expression.

“He won’t kill me, Sarah.” An angry expression covered his face, disgust and a cruel, steel like look set in his intense blue eyes. “He won’t be able to…”

He looked truly ready for battle, his expression fierce, his body tensed. Suddenly, Sarah knew there was something she just had to ask him. She had to know for sure… in case… just in case there wouldn’t be another opportunity to ask…

“Jareth…”

“Yes?”

“Just… just tell me... Do you…?” She just couldn’t say it. It wouldn’t come out of her mouth. Jareth walked to her, and suddenly gave her a quick, passionate kiss.

“You would doubt that I love you?” he asked holding her head in his hands, looking into Sarah’s eyes, which were now beginning to fill with joyful tears. She couldn’t believe the unbelievable sense of happiness she felt, when he actually said that to her. It was like suddenly…. Everything was right. But it wasn’t, yet, was it? There was still a problem… and Jareth was about rid them of that problem. It still scared Sarah.

“I love you.” she whispered against his mouth, kissing him gently. Jareth just held her tightly, protectively, his heart skipping a beat as he heard her quiet words. Then, silently, he stepped away from her. She knew it was time for him to go.

He looked at her, for one last time, and then he disappeared.
 

As soon as Jareth left, Sarah lay back on the bed, a curious mix of emotions inside her. She glowed with happiness at Jareth’s words, the feeling of his hands that still lingered on her body… but she also felt a sense of dread. Now she knew what knight's ladies must have felt like, when their husbands went to battle. Terrified.

Also, she couldn’t help feeling partly to blame… That it was her safety he was protecting – although she knew she shouldn’t – after all, it was Jaden who had chosen her. She had never intentionally put herself in any danger…

“Hello, sweetness.”

Sarah turned in the direction of the voice, knowing full well who she would see.

This time, her body trembled with terror. She was struck completely dumb, too frightened to do anything.

“What, no warm greetings for you lover?” said Jaden, smiling the most wicked smile Sarah had ever seen. She had never read so many bad intentions in anyone’s expression in her life. His mouth was twisted cruelly, his eyes blazing with the most frightening mixture of hatred and desire.

He looked insane.

Sarah backed up, off the bed, as far as she could. She felt her back touch the edge of her dresser. No more space to back up into.

He looked at her, laughing cruelly at her attempts to escape. He shook his head.

“Oh, my dear girl. You think that’s going to work now? Do you?” he said, walking up to her, and moving closer, placing his hands on the wall, either side of her head. “Do you really?”

He leaned in closer, and Sarah could feel his evil breath on her face. The magic it had smelled of… now she recognised it as black, evil magic. Not like Jareth’s perfect scent. The scent of real magic. Magic he possessed without having to worship demons.

“Don’t you just love my brother?!” he said, smiling humourlessly, bitterly. “Oh – that’s right. I forgot. You do, don’t you?”

He moved one of his hands from the wall, and grabbed a clump of her hair, twisting it painfully, pulling her face towards him. Sarah gasped as she felt the pain.

“He would have to go and ruin my plans, wouldn’t he? And I was so close!”

He took his hand from her hair, and looked down at her body, running his fingers slowly down her, his face so close to hers that their lips almost touched.

“So very close…”

Sarah struggled with all her strength to get away from him, but he only grabbed her waist, pulling it to his, his expression mocking her.

“Jareth… Jareth will come here! He’ll find you!!!” she shouted, unable to move.

“Taken care of, my sweet. I managed to conjure up a spell just powerful enough to block those pretty little crystals of his. But he will see enough… when the time is right. Don’t worry you worry about that, precious…”

All hope fled from Sarah’s heart. She became a trembling wreck – Oh God… what if Jareth couldn’t find her..? And only see her when it was… too late? What did he mean by that? She didn’t want to imagine…

Jaden could see the fear in her eyes. It turned him on more than ever. Yes, his brother had spoiled his plan of slowly gaining control over this lovely little girl… but there was still some fun to be had… His plan could still work. He’d just have to be a little less… subtle.

Sarah was holding her breath. Jaden held her very tightly, and didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of letting go… She tried to struggle free again, but it was no use. His arms held her like a vice, and he was smiling down evilly at her. Some kind of  plan seemed to be forming in his head. She could see the wicked silver glint in his eyes.

He suddenly grabbed her by the hair again, and pulled her lips to his in a violent kiss. This time, Sarah could only feel the pain as his hard lips ground down on hers. She couldn’t breath, and pushed against him with her hands in a vain attempt to stop him  He moved his hand up to her breast and squeezed lightly. Sarah felt disgusted with herself, as a warm feeling began to stir between her legs. No! Not this way! She wouldn’t let him… Oh, Jareth…? Where are you?

He suddenly stopped, still holding her, as she gasped desperately for air, her lips bruised and her body warm with fear, and her traitorous natural reaction to his body.

“Well, my dear. What am I going to do with you?” he said, looking down at her, smiling cruelly. He threw her onto the bed, and to Sarah’s surprise, made no attempts to join her. She moved backwards, her back pressed into the headboard, her eyes glittering with fearful tears.

“I think we shall take a little trip, Sarah…”

“Where…?” she asked shakily.

“I’ve always liked my darling brother’s castle… Do you like it there, Sarah?”

“Yes… when Jareth is there!” she said venomously. She hadn’t been able to help it… and was now scared she would make him angrier than ever. But he didn’t seem to get angry at all. And for some reason, that scared her even more.

He just smiled coolly at her.

“You won’t like it any more.” he said, simply “Or would you treasure the memories of what I am going to do to you within those stone walls? That is… if you were to live long enough…”

He moved over to where she sat on the bed, and leaned over her.

“Jareth has some nice little dungeons beneath that glittering castle, darling. Do you know what he has done to people in those?”

Sarah didn’t know what he was saying. What Jareth had done? Surely not…

“Oh, you think your lover is some kind of an angel, do you?” he said with a smirk. He was enjoying this immensely. Sarah’s mind was twisted in confusion.

“Don’t you know that twins must share some of the same characteristics? You think I am the only one who enjoys to torture sweet little things like you? Don’t you remember, Sarah? When you had to solve the Labyrinth? Have you ever thought of what would’ve actually happened if you had lost?”

Sarah couldn’t believe what he was saying. She refused to listen – refused to believe that Jareth would do such things…

“What kind of a man steals babies anyway…?” he said, challenging her to answer him.

“You… you’re jealous! You can’t have what he has… so you are trying to turn me away from him. It won’t work!” she shouted, incensed, suddenly not thinking about the response her outburst would provoke.

“Oh, but I can have what he won’t have…” he said quietly, danger in his eyes.

“What?” she shouted back, stupidly.

He grabbed her wrists, and held her up to him, staring into her eyes with despicable hatred.

“You, darling…”

Sarah tried to free herself, but his hands were holding onto her wrists tightly, stopping her from doing anything. She tried to kick at him, but he moved swiftly out of the way, and pulled her up from the bed so that she stood facing him.

“Oh, don’t get too excited yet…” he said, placing a one hand firmly over her mouth to quiet her, holding her wrists behind her back with the other hand. “Let’s go and see those dungeons of Jareth’s shall we?”

He pulled a crystal from his pocket.

“Look what I borrowed from dear brother...”

The crystal began to glow, a fire growing within it, making it blaze a hot crimson.

“Shall we go?” he said mockingly, as he forced Sarah’s hand to touch the crystal.

As she did, they both disappeared, and the room was silent.
 

Jareth stared at the empty room in disbelief, his anger raging like pure fire. He knew that Jaden wasn’t here. He didn’t even have to look around the house – the evil presence was long gone.

He knew this meant trouble – if he wasn’t here…. Then…. No….

Oh, God… No!

He had been stupid! So damn stupid! He cursed himself, as his form swiftly changed into that of a dazzlingly white bird. His eyes glittered with anger and sadness as he flew silently out of an open window.

Jareth came to Sarah’s bedroom window, and, on seeing that it was closed, summoned a crash of lighting and wind, blasting the window open. He flew into the room in a frenzy, not knowing what he would see. He saw nothing. Nobody.

He should have known… her presence had seemed so very far away… he should have known she would not be here. But where? So distant… He changed back into his human-like form, now clad in clothes of battle. Armour of gold and black steel was covering his chest, extravagantly engraved. A long black cloak was draped over that. His boots were a matt black with buckles to match the armour. But none of that mattered. His face was what really told you that this was a man with a purpose. A deadly purpose. His beautiful eyes were a burning blue that were so dark with anger, they matched the colour of a midnight sky. His mouth was set – in determination – but not only that. There was tragedy in his expression. It looked like he was fighting back the rage, the tears. His face looked like cold steel, ready to brutally murder the cause of his pain.

Jareth produced a crystal, but all he could see in its pure depths was light. No Jaden. And his beautiful Sarah was blocked from his vision too. What had that damn wicked man done?! With his demonic spells and magic – he had actually managed to block Jareth’s ability to see either of them. He must have called on a particularly strong devil to do that, he thought.

He was frantic, and didn’t know what to do… God knew what Jaden could be doing right now! He shuddered violently at the thought.

There was something he just couldn’t understand… why Sarah’s presence was so very far away… Like she wasn’t even… No. That couldn’t be true. Not on this world? But she was so distant... Oh, where had he taken her?

Suddenly, Jareth felt a kind of fear run through his body. But it wasn’t his. It came from somewhere else. It was getting stronger, reaching out to him. Someone was trying to call on him… could it be? His Sarah? She must be very frightened, he thought with immense pain, to be reaching him from so very far away. Suddenly, the sound of a weakening voice resonated throughout him. Someone was losing hope. He now knew who it was. It was Sarah - his precious little girl was in danger – and she was calling out to him. But getting weaker. With fear and pain. But still calling to him with a strength that was carrying over an eternity. Jareth closed his, eyes, listening to the damnable sound, his perfect features twisting with pain. Then, producing another glittering crystal, he used all of his magical strength to follow it.
 

Sarah didn’t dare to move her hands. They were still, above her head – to pull against the cold metal that encompassed her wrists would only cause further pain. They were sore and bleeding already, from her stupid attempts to break free from them earlier. She regretted that now, as the pain shot down her aching arm.

She was shackled to strong, though rusting chains on the stone wall, placed just high enough that she had to stretch her body so that her feet reached the floor properly. Her whole body ached with the effort. The muscles in her legs, her stomach, stretched. Her arms the worst, being fixed eternally above her head. She groaned in pain once more, whispering Jareth’s name, although her shouts for help had died a while ago, hope slowly being drained from her tired body.

Jaden walked back into the dismal place of filth – the walls crumbling and covered in a strange substance that was distinctly slimy and unpleasant to the touch. He looked over at Sarah. She was a mess. Her body was weak and her gaze becoming blank and numb with the torture. Her deep chocolate hair was knotted about her face, clinging to her skin in some places. Her clothes had picked up some of the dirt from the floor of the vile dungeon, as Jaden had dragged her painfully to her fate. Her face was also smeared with the dirt.

But she still looked so damn pure, thought Jaden with joy, a warm feeling spreading throughout him as he examined her, so completely vulnerable before him… He heard her groans of torment.

“Don’t worry, sweet thing… I’m here now.”

She muttered something harshly under her breath. Jaden walked up to her, standing about a foot away.

“What was that my dear?”

“I said…” she spat venomously “You bastard!”

Jaden raised a hand and slapped her across the face with amazing force, the side of her head crashing painfully into the grimy stone wall.

“Is that any way to talk to one… One who plans to give you so much?” he drawled evilly. Sarah cringed violently as she considered what he might mean.

She suddenly gasped as she saw a glinting object in his hand. He played with it as a child would be fascinated with a toy, moving it from one hand to the other, turning it this way and that.

“Now… I wonder what he could have used this for?” he considered, cruel, icy humour in his voice. In the dim light she couldn’t see much, but it appeared to be a long object, curved only at the end with a terribly sharp looking blade.

“Quite a selection my brother has here…” he said, thoughtfully. “And  I thought I knew a lot about instruments of torture.” He let out a low whistle for effect.

Sarah could see what he was trying to do... But she couldn’t let herself believe it… Not Jareth. He was the only thing she had… She needed him - with a force that tore at her soul. But what if…? It just couldn’t be true. Yet the painful sense of doubt remained.

He suddenly moved closer to her, and Sarah felt the sharp object press lightly between her breasts. He moved it up to her neck, slowly, applying just enough pressure to cause, pain, but not enough to draw blood.

“Don’t… move.” he whispered quietly into her ear, his lips brushing it as his breath sent an icy shiver right down her spine. He concentrated on his task, swirling the blade in various intricate patterns, moving it lower towards her collar, tearing the fabric easily with the blade as he went down. Sarah shook in terror, though she was trying with all her strength to stop the natural, fearful reaction of her body, in case the blade should slip…

To her relief, he removed the object from her skin, but then he proceeded to take each  button of her ruined silk shirt, and cut them off with the blade, one by one. Sarah could only watch in horror as he continued to reveal a little more of her skin as the seconds passed. She knew better than to pull at her chains, knowing what agony it would cause.

He seemed to grow impatient with his task, and tore at the silken fabric, removing it completely from her.

“Shouldn’t hide that kind of beauty, Sarah, darling…” he said stepping back to look at her, his eyes darkening at the sight of her upper body which was now naked apart from her underwear.

Sarah’s breathing was heavy with fear as she felt the cold air touch her body. Or was it Jaden’s evil gaze that made her skin feel icy all of a sudden? She felt so completely helpless – no way out. And stuck with this wicked man who had been blessed with Jareth’s looks. But they looked different on him. The expressions were cruel, evil – nothing like Jareth’s mere mocking cruelty in the Labyrinth – but savage and murderous. It made him look ugly when compared with the King’s graceful, magical features. Oh, God, where was he?!

Jaden read her desperate expression with evident amusement.

“Still think dear Jareth will come and save you now, do you?” he laughed quietly.

“Yes.” she whispered in sobs, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Think that, if it makes you feel any better, my sweet. But know that I have a lot of plans for us yet…” he said, grinning wickedly.

Sarah closed her eyes, trying to block his damnable form from her vision, her face filled with pain and disgust.

“Oh… It seems you need cheering up, darling. I know of a way…” he said, taking her chin in one hand, very gently, playing idly with the instrument of torture in his other hand.

“Open your eyes.” he said, viciously. Sarah’s eyes flew open, afraid of what he might do if she refused. Her will to fight was growing still weaker, her hope disintegrating. His hands moved down to her waist. One hand moved down to the buttons of her jeans, tugging at them gently.

“You’ll feel better in a moment… I promise.” He said, smiling at her maliciously.

“Don’t…” she pleaded vainly. He looked down at her jeans and suddenly took hold the denim, either side of the buttons, and tore them apart. The hollow ringing of each button hitting the stone floor resounded in Sarah’s head. She shook violently as he slowly pushed her jeans down, to a point just above her knees.

“Now… Just relax, sweetheart. This won’t hurt one little bit.” He laughed. “Not yet, anyway...”

The reality of what he was about to do hit Sarah, as he moved downwards before her, his cold fingers trailing down the side of her body. He knelt before her, and looked up at her distraught face.

“Just think of this as… An apology in advance for what I’m going to do to you later… A gift…”

Sarah bit her lip in fear.

“No… Don’t, please. Not that…”

He ignored her words.

“All I ask in return, is that when you come for me, darling, you speak my name…”

“No!” she shouted. She would not do that… He pressed the blade into her stomach, to Sarah’s surprise, pressing just hard enough to draw a little of her blood.

“Don’t defy me, Sarah.”

Sarah’s heart felt such immense pain at those words, she just couldn’t speak. He was using Jareth’s warning… It was just too much. He chuckled.

“I knew that would bother you… You will speak my name, won’t you?”

“Yes…” she sobbed, feeling the blade against her stomach, a slight trail of blood trickling down her skin.

“Just so you get it right… What is it? Say it for me…”

“Jaden.” she said, very quietly.

“Good girl.” He said. His mouth suddenly moved to her stomach, and he pressed his lips against the wound he had just made, his tongue moving out to taste the blood. Sarah looked down in disgust, unable to avert her eyes from such a fearful fascination. When she suddenly heard the sound of material being torn, her eyes flew up to the ceiling, unable to bear it. She could not allow him to do this… With one last, stupid attempt, she struggled against her chains, soon feeling the pain in her wrists and the strength of the metal once more. Her tears spilled over as it dawned on her that she was, once more, completely helpless.

“Shhhh…” he said quietly, deceptively gentle tones in his voice. Then, at a shocked gasp from Sarah’s lips, he moved his mouth between her legs, and began to ruthlessly pleasure her unwilling body.

Sarah was crying, her body unbearably warm, responding, once more, traitorously to his actions. She couldn’t stop the feeling that was growing inside her, although she hated this with her entire being. Strangled moans escaped her lips, both of protest and sickening pleasure. She could still feel that he held the blade to her sensitive stomach with one hand, and her body trembled with fear. But the tremblings became less fearful as his wicked tongue moved skilfully over her most sensitive areas. Sarah knew that she was close to the edge, and she knew that Jaden knew too, because the blade was being pressed a little harder against her – a reminder. Sarah’s pain doubled at the thought of what she would have to do. She looked down, in disgust, at the blond head between her legs, and to her dismay, the sight of that pushed her over, and she felt her orgasm tear right through her. Her eyes widened as it took her over, her whole body responding helplessly. The blade pressed into her, and Sarah could tell that it had drawn blood again.

“Ja.. J…” She began, her body shaking as she tried to get the words out. “Jareth!”

Sarah looked straight ahead of her, her face a picture of disgust, shame and fear, her body helplessly shaking from her orgasm. Standing in the darkness of the shadows, his eyes seemingly devoid of emotion, was Jareth.

She felt Jaden tear himself from her, and he stood, grabbing her violently, vicious anger in his expression. He had obviously not noticed Jareth, and stared into Sarah’s eyes.

“You will pay for that, bitch!” he shouted. It was the first time Sarah had heard him using such crude language. His true side coming out, she supposed.

“How, I wonder?” he continued, an evil smile covering his face once more.

Sarah stared straight past him, at Jareth, wondering why he stood there, doing nothing, his face a mask, seemingly free of any emotion. Jaden seemed to be considering something.

“Hmmm….. I think I deserve a little something for what I have given you… I have just realised how very generous I’ve been, so far… All giving and no taking, my precious…” he laughed. “Of course, I will have to be careful… I can’t have you in chains for this act of punishment my sweet.” He moved his lips to her ear. “You will have to be on your knees…” he whispered evilly.

Jareth suddenly stepped out from the shadows, and at once, Sarah realised she had misinterpreted his expression. It wasn’t indifference.

It was rage.

Cold, completely consuming rage, like sharp, icy steel. It seemed to have taken him over completely, and was building to the point of utter destruction. His face was, yes, a mask – but his eyes. Those beautiful, glittering pools were fixed with a cruel, intensely fierce emotion. He was past any normal form of rationalising, she could tell. Oh, God – had Jaden’s plan worked? Was he too far gone to be able to control himself properly? But Sarah could sense a purpose, some kind of order in his thoughts. Maybe his emotions would help him…

Jaden suddenly seemed to notice that Sarah was staring straight past him, and spun around quickly. Sarah cursed herself for stupidly letting him know that Jareth was there – now he had lost any element of surprise.

Jaden’s face held an expression of horror as his eyes met those of his brother. He saw the dangerous look in Jareth’s eyes, as his own registered fear. He was eminently scared. Jareth looked frighteningly angry. He had meant to draw this emotion from him, yes – but it appeared to have backfired on him. This was the first time Jaden had really been exposed to Jareth’s completely powerful ferocity. And it shook his entire being. God, those eyes were like a cold, raging fire. His first intention was to run…Very quickly. But he couldn’t. He would have to see this through. After all, he had started it…

Jareth examined his brother, his face like cold marble, emotionless. Such a calm, dangerous expression. He was beyond anything else. But his eyes. He looked like he could tear Jaden into pieces at any moment. Jaden had the distinct feeling that that was exactly what he was going to do.

Jareth finally spoke, his voice like a thousand silver knives, slicing icily through the stagnant air.

“My dear brother.”
 

“You’re early, Jareth.” said Jaden, managing to somehow mask his fear, speaking in calm tones, that implied that he was a lot more confident than he in fact was.

But Jareth was not moved by this false display of pride. He moved closer towards
Jaden, his long cloak lifted by the air as he moved, his eyes piercing. He looked at Sarah, for a moment dismissing his brother. He gestured subtly with a gloved hand, and suddenly, Sarah found that she was free of the binding chains, and fully clothed. She lifted her eyes to his, to thank him for this small mercy, but he had now returned his attention to Jaden.

He took a step towards him, and it took all of Jaden’s strength not to step backwards. But he couldn’t show his fear.

“I had no idea I would be having guests.” said Jareth, simply, his tone mocking and cold.

“Just a family visit, brother...” said Jaden, smiling evilly. He could play this game. But he knew that Jareth was about to snap.

He was right.

Before he could blink, he was slammed into the cold dungeon wall, a leather-clad hand holding him around his neck, with a steel-like grip. Jareth glared at him with blazing eyes.

“Did you enjoy it, Jaden?” he asked through his teeth, his voice distorted with ferocious anger.

“Every single moment.” he answered, maliciously. He wasn’t going to give in that easily. If he must die, then he would squeeze as much pain as he could from Jareth first… “She was so damn hot, Jareth. You would have loved it…”

A fist slammed into his face. He turned back to Jareth, blood dripping from the side of his mouth, and smiled at him.

Jareth let go of him. He stepped back looked at Jaden with a disgusted expression, producing a crystal from the ether. The crystal became a sword of glittering metal in his hand, its blade painfully sharp. The gleaming silver was reflected deep in his eyes.

“I’m going to enjoy killing you, Jaden.” he said coldly, a little of his control returning. Jaden laughed quietly.

“I bet you will… I regularly enjoy the thrill of ending a life myself… We are so alike, my brother.”

Jareth refused to listen to his taunts.

“You are not my brother.”

“Oh, but I am…” He smiled wickedly , an idea forming in his head. “I have one last trick…” he said.

He began to recite lines in Latin, very quickly, and suddenly, a glow of deep crimson light surrounded him, the air beginning to swirl in the dungeon.

Jareth watched this display. He probably should have been worried, but he knew the limitations of Jaden’s stolen magic, and could tell that this was to be nothing more than a parlour trick.

In that moment the light began to grow brighter and larger, until Jaden was hidden within it. Jareth knew that Jaden could not try to get out of the castle – he had used his own magic to ensure that… But what was he trying to do?

He understood, as the light subsided. Stood before him was not this ‘James’ creature that Jaden had created. This was truly Jaden.

His face was now framed with strands of gold, though slightly darker than Jareth’s. It was long, reaching his shoulders, but with most of it tied back, away from his face. He wore the clothes he had been wearing, if Jareth remembered correctly, the day that he had been banished from the Underground. A coarse black cloak covered his shoulders, draped over a deep crimson shirt. His legs were clad in tight leather trousers of black, and boots of the same, a large, engraved golden buckle gleaming on his belt. In his gloved hands he held a large, shining sword.

He smiled.

“It’s been a long time.”

Sarah watched all of this in awe, from her dark corner of the room. He looked so much like Jareth now… Like he belonged to the Underground. But evil. She could tell that this was how he was really meant to look. The deception had disappeared.

But she was so scared. She looked at Jareth. He didn’t look scared. He looked utterly determined, fearless.

Jareth suddenly noticed the glinting form of the family amulet around Jaden’s neck, between the folds of his shirt.

“Why so you wear that, Jaden?”

“I am your brother, Jareth. It is my right as part of our family.” he said, with a smirk.

“You were disowned by my family the day you decided to pursue your wicked goals. You don’t deserve to wear that.” He seemed to reconsider, his mood suddenly changing into something a lot more dangerous. “Never mind. It won’t matter, soon.”

“Because you are going to kill your brother, yes?”

“Don’t try to make me feel guilty about this, Jaden. Your stupid games won’t work now. I suggest you do something a little more productive with your sword, instead.”

Jaden grinned evilly.

“If you insist.” he said calmly, before taking a huge swipe at Jareth’s middle. Jareth easily blocked it, and the sound of the metal crashing together was ringing throughout the entire castle, echoes bouncing from each stone wall. Jareth removed his cloak and threw it to the floor behind him. Jaden did the same, a wicked smirk on his face.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” asked Jareth, his sword before him, ready to attack.

“I suppose it is, Jareth. I look forward to seeing your lifeless body before me.”

He took another lunge, and the two continued to fight, both skilled swordsmen, but Jareth’s skills rather more refined than his brother’s.

Jareth’s sword came dangerously close to Jaden’s throat, and Jaden managed to block it only just in time. The two were then standing together, swords linked, the blades close to Jaden’s neck, the only thing between Jareth’s blade and Jaden’s throat being his own sword. Neither moved, and the air was heavy with unbreakable tension.

Sarah didn’t breath. She just watched, her hands clenched tightly together, shaking with fear for Jareth. The two blades could now go either way, depending on who’s strength was the greatest.

“When I kill you...” breathed Jaden, undeterred “I will look forward to taking your beautiful Sarah. And then…” His face distorted in a wicked smile. “I’ll kill her, too…”

With that, he pushed with all his strength against Jareth’s blade, forcing Jareth backwards. Jaden was out of danger. For now. But his words had incensed Jareth, and his eyes blazed ever brighter. He didn’t speak, but moved straight forward once more, closing what space there was between them, his sword raised high. Jaden instantly moved to the side, dodging Jareth’s sweeping blade, but he stumbled backwards and fell onto the stone floor. Jareth was above him in the blink of an eye, his sword at his throat.

Jareth smiled his first truly wicked smile of the day, his slightly pointed teeth glinting in the dim light, his eyes still burning with a truly icy flame.

“I don’t think so, brother.”

He said the last word through his teeth, with a deadly venom.

Jaden now realised the reality of his situation. He was through with his games. He was going to die.

And it scared him.

“You really would… kill your own brother?” he said, his breathing heavy and his voice shaking slightly, despite his desperate attempts to stop it from doing so.

“So it scares you, now?” asked Jareth, the bitter smile still tainting his blazing expression, his blade pressing lightly against Jaden’s throat.

Jaden eyes glittered with tears, the reaction of a desperate man who knew he was going to die. In one last feeble attempt, he tried to move the sword in his hand vaguely in Jareth’s direction, but Jareth instantly placed a boot on his hand, the sword falling from Jaden’s grip at the pressure.

Jareth moved the tip of his blade to Jaden’s chest, just above his heart.

“Now, if I strike here, will it have any effect? Do you have a heart, Jaden? Because I’m not so sure.”

“Don’t… please.”

“You just think of what you’ve done to all those innocent people.” continued Jareth, disgust in his expression. “Well, now It’s time for you to meet the same bloody fate.”

He knelt before his brother, and moved his face close to Jaden’s, the blade never leaving it’s position above Jaden’s heart.

“I just wish I could put you through the same things you put them through, you sick bastard.” he said, with immense pain in his voice.

“Don’t.” whispered Jaden, his voice barely audible, desperate.

Jareth looked up at Sarah, her eyes glittering with tears. He could still sense the pain inside her. The pain of what Jaden had done to her. When he saw that, he knew, finally and completely what he had to do.

With that, he raised the shining blade of his sword, and his eyes locked with Jaden’s as the blade came down, plunging into his heart. Jaden’s hands moved to where the sword had penetrated his body. He held them before his face, seeing the jewel red blood that covered them. He looked Jareth, his eyes suddenly full of hatred and pain.

“See you in hell, brother.” he choked out desperately, his voice filled with hate.

And then he died.

Jareth looked at his dead brother, for a moment, his gaze was numb, his face a mask. Then he took Jaden’s amulet in his hand and pulled it from his neck, breaking the silver chain. He pulled his sword from Jaden’s body, and stood up, looking down at him with disgust, picking up his cloak, and wiping the blood from the sword on his tights. He looked at Sarah.

She ran across the room and wrapped her arms tightly around him, the tears suddenly flowing completely.

“I’m sorry you had to see that, Sarah.”

Sarah looked into his eyes, her face holding a serious expression.

“I’m sorry you had to do it.” she said, seeming suddenly ashamed, breaking the intense gaze, unable to bear it any longer.

“Sarah.” he said, holding her upper arms tightly, forcing her to look back at him. “Listen to me, Sarah. It was not your fault. The man was evil. You understand that, don’t you?”

“But…”

“Sarah…” he said, a warning his voice.

She smiled up at him nervously, regaining her confidence. “Okay, Jareth.”

“Let’s get out of this dismal place.” he said, disgust and impatience in his tone. He produced a crystal and prepared to take them from the dungeons.

“But what about…” began Sarah, turning to look at where Jaden’s body lay. But he wasn’t there any more. All that was left was a few glittering specks of glowing crimson glitter, settling softly on the ground.

“Jareth!” she shouted, worried. He turned to look in the same direction.

“It’s okay Sarah… That is the way it happens. Don’t worry, my love.” he answered, reassuringly. Then he held her close to his own body, running a gloved hand lightly down her wet cheek. The crystal began to glow, and they were both taken from the quiet stone cell.
 

They had reappeared in the splendour of Jareth’s chambers. It was decorated in shades of jewel greens and blues, like a gentle ocean of gems. The deep velvet curtains hung over the large window, the glittering stars only just visible through a tiny opening. The bed was adorned with blue and green silks, dark in their colour and incredibly soft looking, complimenting the deep mahogany of the four poster beautifully. It was exactly what Sarah would have chosen, had she been given such a choice. The rest of the room was decorated with dark mahoganies and crystal ornaments, a large library dominating one wall of the room, filled with hundreds of truly ancient looking books.

“I suppose…” said Jareth, hesitantly, pacing around the room at the foot of the bed. “That you will want to go home, now.”

Sarah looked up from her comfortable seat beside the bed, a shocked expression covering her face.

“Home?” she said, as though she were not sure what the word meant.

“Well, yes. Now that the danger is over…”

“Oh.” she said, very quietly, not quite being able to hide the disappointment in her voice. She got up from her chair, wincing as she felt the pain run through her body like a  bolt of electricity, the aching refusing to subside. Jareth instantly went to her, sitting her back down again. He moved behind her chair.

“Where does it hurt?” he asked.

“Everywhere.” she groaned.

“Okay… just sit still, Sarah.”

Sarah suddenly felt the soft touch of his hands on her shoulders, as he very gently eased away the pain. She moved back into his touch, a light moan escaping her lips, but he seemed to recoil from this. She turned to face him, frowning.

“Sarah…” he said, as if pleading with her.

Sarah took one of his hands in hers, and began to take off one of his gloves. Jareth seemed powerless to stop her, gazing dumbly at her fingers as they eased the leather from his hand. Once finished, Sarah couldn’t help but notice what beautiful hands he had. His fingers were long and elegant, his skin soft, and yet they seemed to be very strong hands. She removed the other glove, and turned her eyes back up to his face.

“I still hurt...” she said, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Jareth moved his hands to her shoulders once more, and began to gently massage away the all of her pains. Sarah surrendered completely to his touch. God, it felt wonderful. Not only was he skilled in removing the pain, but the feeling it was stirring deep inside her, was making her forget that it had ever been there in the first place. She moaned quietly again, her eyes closing. This time, Jareth didn’t recoil. He continued to move his hands across her shoulders and her back, his touch becoming unintentionally more and more sensual.

“I’m not going to leave you, Jareth.” she said, ever so quietly, her eyes still closed with pleasure.

Jareth’ s hands stopped moving. He moved quickly around to the other side of the chair, lowering himself so that his face was level with hers. She opened her eyes.

“You’re not?”

“No.”

“But why would you want to stay… here?” he said, gesturing all around him, meaning the Underground. “You have family, friends…”

“Not as many as you would think.” she returned, pain deep in her voice.

“This is no place for a girl like you…” he said, his gaze moving to the floor beneath him.

“Jareth.” she said, pleading with him.

He suddenly moved a hand to tangle in her hair, his willpower seeming to disappear completely.

Sarah smiled, and he pulled her face towards his, kissing her lips passionately, and so intensely that she could barely breath at all. She kissed him back, deepening the kiss as much as she could, taking advantage of the damnably soft lips on hers. He suddenly grabbed her by the waist, pulling her up out of the chair, and Sarah felt her body hitting the soft silk of the bed sheets.

“You remember that promise, my love?” he asked, a dangerously sensual expression crossing his face, as he stood above her.

Sarah whole body flushed as she remembered the wickedly tempting vow he had made in her room on that day.

“I hope you don’t require the use of your legs any time soon…” he said, grinning seductively. Sarah was biting her lip in anticipation, her whole body aching with unbearable need. Her breathing was irregular and her eyes gazed, blazing, into his, begging him to fulfil his promise.

Then he was holding her onto the bed, pressing her soft body into the silk, kissing her once more, his own body covering hers. Sarah was trying to hurriedly remove her own shirt, desperate to feel his skin against hers. He placed a hand on hers, stilling her trembling fingers. Then he proceeded to slowly undo each button, all the time looking into her eyes, as her chest rose and fell with each short breath, her desire threatening to consume her. He took her shirt from her body, then moving down to her jeans, slowly repeating his unbearably slow actions with those, then pulling them gently down her legs, and completely from her body.

She shivered at the feeling of his soft fingers on her naked skin, as they ran slowly down her body. He bent his head to kiss her swollen lips just lightly as he did this, as small moans escaped her, his fingers brushing her breast through the lace that covered it. Seeming impatient with the garment, he removed her underwear completely, leaving her now completely naked beneath him.

“Jareth.” she whispered, as he pulled her body to press against his. She felt the warmth growing inside her, as the material of the dark blue shirt he was now wearing brushed against her naked breasts, making her shiver with delight.

“Oh, God, Jareth…” she pleaded. His lips suddenly met hers again, in a brutally sexual kiss, as he pressed his body to hers, her own body responding helplessly to his amazingly skilful touch.

He moved his lips from hers, and kissed her neck lightly, moving slowly down her collarbone, and further, until he reached a soft breast. He covered a nipple with his warm, soft lips, moving his tongue lightly around the tip, all the time holding her body tightly to his, absorbing her violent tremblings. Sarah’s moans became increasingly louder as he licked and sucked her breast gently, the warmth between her legs becoming a raging fire. His other hand moved slowly down her stomach, making every nerve end tingle with electricity. His hand moved down further, and then his soft fingers were between her legs. With his skilful strokes between her legs and the soft lips and tongue on her breast, Sarah felt as though she was about to die from pleasure. Her moans escalated to screams as the feelings built up and completely consumed her, her body reaching a beautifully complete climax beneath his touch.

“You had better get used to that, love.” he said, his voice low and sensual, his breathing fast. “Because you’re going to be screaming for me many, many more times…”

Sarah trembled at the thought, pulling him closer towards her.

“I love you, Jareth.”

“I know…” he said, taking her soft lips in another searing kiss, the warmth soon building in Sarah’s body once more.

Then, taking her waist in a powerful grip, he moved his lips from hers, and looked into her eyes intensely, seeing the consuming desire within them, mirroring his own.

He moved a hand from her waist and ran it slowly down a warm cheek on her face.

“You’re mine, forever, Sarah.”

“Not yet, Jareth.” she answered, smiling sensually, pulling his hips to press against hers, impatient.

“So impatient, my precious thing.” he laughed gently. With that he removed his own clothes, and when he returned to hold her, Sarah groaned at the feeling of his naked body touching hers. She ran her hands down his lightly muscled chest, mesmerised by his beauty. His glittering hair fell around his perfect features, brushing lightly against her breasts, and she shivered, whispering his name, as his lips took hers in a gentle kiss.

Then, he grabbed her waist again, pulling her up to him, a wicked smile covering his beautiful lips. He moved inside her gently at first, his lips at her neck, his movements deep and slow. But she became impatient with his considerate actions, and pressed her hips into his almost brutally, her hands tangled in his golden hair, coaxing him to take her without any limitations. He began to move faster then, moving his lips from her throat to look into her eyes, to watch her reaction as the pleasure built up inside her body. Her beautiful hair was spread out on the sheet beneath her, her eyes wide with the shock of the feelings inside her, her face lightly damp with perspiration, her body glistening with it. A deep throaty sound escaped her lips he crashed into her, restraints forgotten. His hands moved to her breasts, moving his fingers lightly across them as he moved deeper inside her. Sarah began to moan as she felt her body get hotter, the feeling building powerfully within her. He moved faster and faster, driving deeper inside her soul with each movement. It was impossible to take any more of the perfection.

She screamed as her orgasm finally shook her entire being, her eyes watering, her nails digging into Jareth’s shoulders, as she felt him go over the edge too.

She lay then, her body warm beneath him, her heartbeat still thumping at an alarming rate, trying to recover from such intense feelings. She stayed there for a few minutes in this way. He ran his fingers over her slightly dampened hair, smiling into her eyes.

“I’m guessing you enjoyed that, then, Sarah.”

 Sarah laughed and moved her lips up to kiss his lightly.

“Oh, yes…” she said,  grinning seductively. She moved to get up then, but Jareth held her fast.

“Oh, no… You’re not getting away that easily, my love. What was it I said again?”

His hands began to wander over her body again, and the need was building up in Sarah already.

“Till you can barely walk…” he turned his head to one side, seeming to consider his words. “I think we’ll have to see what we can do…”

Sarah couldn’t resist a smile as his lips moved downwards to kiss her stomach, his long hair brushing against her body, making her shiver.

His lips moved further downwards, as he faithfully continued to fulfil his promise.

“Jareth!”