At the edge of time and space

It had been raining that morning.

She had wanted to go outside to walk in the gardens.

She loved the gardens and he loved watching her roam in a state of euphoria.

That morning he had parted the clouds for her.

That morning he had made the rain stop for her.

That morning he had made the sun shine for her.

And then he watched her in the crystal as she walked along the cobblestone, smiling at the sun and the
cool breeze that soothed her. He could watch her for hours on end.

He did.

Watching her happiness was indeed such amusement and entertainment for him. Never had he met
anyone that took such simple pleasures such as walking in his gardens.

His previous lovers, for he had had many, had always expected extravagant gifts and trips out of the
Labyrinth and into other lands. Yet Sarah wanted nothing, took nothing, asked for nothing.

‘But Sarah is not my lover,’ he reminded himself. ‘She is but a means.....’ He stopped. He was
constantly correcting himself these days and it was starting to take a toll. He did not like correcting
himself, much less admitting that he was wrong.

“You give her so much freedom,” Helen purred over his shoulder. “Aren’t you afraid that she will run
away?”

“And where would she run to?” laughed the King. “The Labyrinth has changed much since she was last
here and her friends have moved to another part of it. She would not know where to go and I would
find her in an instant.”

The beauty laughed. “But I was once human,” she said. “And I remember just how inquisitive I was.”

“You were a whore who reveled in watching men suffer and die for your love,” said Jareth, turning to
her. “What they did not realize was that you could not love.”

The smile on Helen’s face vanished. “I loved Agamemnon,” she said stiffly. “You know nothing of the
pain I suffered-“

“Which is precisely why you wished yourself away to me,” mocked Jareth, rising to tower over her.
“You begged me to make you a potion to make you Fae in exchange for you being my mistress for the
rest of your eternal life. You told me you wanted all the riches, all the beauty, all the physical love you
ever wanted. And we both fulfilled our ends of the bargain.”

“I wished myself away because....,”she trailed off for a moment and then continued. “Because I could
not stand the idea of losing Agamemnon.”

“Why do you lie to me Helen?” the Goblin King smiled. “Or have you forgotten yourself when you
were human? You loved no one as you had told me, yet you loved to play with these men and to think,
you have the face that launched a thousand ships....all for your own amusement.”

Tears had started to well in her eyes. “And I suffer for it....”

“You do not,” the King interrupted and leaned in to whisper into her ear. “You suffer because you are
nothing but a whore and you know it. And now you are trapped in eternity, still beautiful, still famous,
still the whore that you always were. And you love it.”

“I know,” she said softly and then laughed despite her tears. “Damn, you know me too well.”

He ignored her last statement and turned back to Sarah who had just been pricked on the finger with a
rose thorn.

“Ow, “she said, staring at the blood that pooled on the tip of her index finger. She was about to put it to
her mouth when a hand had wrapped around her wrist and a soft voice murmured, “let me.”

She watched as he gently pressed his lips to her finger and then felt a strange sensation as he began to
suck gently at the blood. She almost moaned out in pleasure. He watched her with amused eyes as her
eyes closed and she began to whimper softly. He licked gently at the blood that spilled from the prick.

Breathing hard, her knees weakened and she felt against him, but he caught her easily, her finger still in
his mouth, still sucking at the blood. Then with a sudden lap of the tongue, he moved the finger out of
his mouth and claimed her lips almost violently.

She could taste the coppery flavor of her blood intermingled with the taste of berries and wine and
moaned as the sensations that had been through her just a moment ago came back, strong as ever. She
had not realized that he was massaging her breast through the thin fabric of her dress and when she did,
quickly pushed herself away, breathing hard.

“No,” she whispered. “No, it’s not supposed to...it doesn’t work that way. This...this wasn’t...isn’t
supposed to happen.”

He stood strangely calm before her, towering over her. Her hair was mussed, her face was flushed, and
her lips were red and swollen from the kissing. Yet it was her eyes that captivated him. The look of
confusion and fear never failed to stir something in him. It was such a helpless, innocent look and he
loved that only he could do that to her.

“I suggest we go back inside the castle,” he said to her and extended his hand to her. Yet the look of
confusion and fear in her eyes did not waiver and she backed away from him until she backed into a
stone pillar and then ran away through the arch way.

She had ran and ran, not bothering to look back, until she did and ended up running into him at full
speed. He caught her fast, stumbling back a few steps, yet his grip did not falter.

“No please,” she begged him.

“No please what?” he looked at her like she was insane. And perhaps she was, who knew?

“Don’t do this!” she cried, trying to break away.

“What in the bloody hell are you raving about, woman?” he demanded, getting a bit annoyed at her
mania. Yet she stopped struggling then.

“You mean, you’re not going to......,” she began.

“To...?” he questioned. She relaxed then, studying his face and he let go of her and turned around,
starting to walk back to the castle. She followed behind yet at a distance.

When they were at the door, he spun around and blocked the doorway, an angry gaze set on her. She
had not realized it, looking at the ground as she walked and almost walked into him. She was only a
few centimeters away when she realized that he was in front of her. She looked up to meet his gaze and
stepped back.

He stepped forward and continued to back her into the garden.

“I would do nothing other than what you wish,” he said. “I find it insulting and degrading that you would
think I would act in such a vile manner.”

“Well you haven’t exactly given me any reason to trust you,” Sarah said, her back suddenly hitting one
of the arches. “Tying me up, putting me to bed, and then that little display down by the rose bushes.
What do you expect me to think?”

“As I recall, you did not voice your discomfort right away in either instance,” Jareth said sharply. “And
putting you to bed was simply a nice gesture. I did not think you would take it for a means of rape.”

She was speechless and cast her eyes down.

He then backed away and turned on his heel, leaving her alone in the garden.

********************************************************************

“The insolence of that girl,” he seethed in his bed chamber.

“I told you she wouldn’t buy into it,” Helen said, in a matter-of-fact tone.

“To have her think that I would do something like that,” he ground his teeth.

“Well you did threaten her on a few occasions,” Helen said, taking a sip from the golden goblet in her
hand. “The girl sees you as a villain, Jareth. You know that. So not surprisingly, she puts that kind of
behavior not above you. Besides, you make her feel lust and in her society lust has become a thing of
evil.”

Suddenly, he calmed down. “Yet perhaps I could use it to my own advantage,” he smiled. “If I settle
that fear of hers, she might be more open, more trusting. It would certainly destroy many barriers.”

“She certainly did react quite well to your presence in the garden,” Helen mused. Jareth turned towards
her.

“You were watching us?” he raised an eyebrow.

“You think I have anything better to do?” she asked. “Besides, it’s so interesting to watch someone so
young in such a state of pleasure.” The wine swirled dangerously in her goblet. “Why do you want her?
Is it merely because of her innocense? She will be inexperienced, you know. Fumbling, not knowing
what to do, but that is what you like? To have that control over her? I can do the same Jareth. I
can.......fumble.”

“But my darling, you already do,” the Goblin King smirked and amused himself as Helen’s pretty face
twisted and reddened.

**************************************************************************

Sarah sat in her room, her back rigid, her face relaxed in a serious expression, her eyes looking down.
She felt ashamed. The Goblin King seemed disgusted at her for suggesting that he would force himself
upon her.

But it was not her fault. The way he made her feel...it wasn’t supposed to feel like that. She wasn’t
supposed to like it. But she did and she was severely attracted to him. Her fears of this were confirmed
this morning in the gardens.

Such things he offered her, such pleasure he gave her, such things he said. She could not comprehend
any of it. And yet she refused to give in, to make herself vulnerable to him.

Was that what he wanted? She pondered over it. Jareth seemed so secretive, yet not the type to play
such petty games. In addition, she did not think him cruel enough to toy with her emotions so
(intentionally anyways).

Today in the gardens, he had seemed so hurt. She had wanted to apologize but could not find the
words. She had hoped that he would come to her, that he would know that she was sorry.

But this did not occur and for several weeks, Sarah dined alone and never saw the Goblin King. After a
while, however, she could not stand it, could not stand the loneliness, and instead of going to the
gardens as she usually did in the morning, she wandered the castle in search of him. The guards directed
her to an enormous door that made her feel very small.

This was his study, or so the guards had said. The door was inlaid with silver depictions of some sort of
battle and after standing at the door for several minutes, she mustered enough courage to knock on it.

“Come in,” said a sharp voice on the other side and she pushed it open and walked in. His feet were on
his desk and he was leaning back on his chair, reading a scroll of parchment. His eyes looked up for a
second, expecting to see a fat little goblin with his tea, yet he did a double take as he saw the girl walk
in.

Yet he masked his surprise rather well and ignored her as she walked to the desk.

“Jareth,” she said softly.

He said nothing, did not look up.

“Jareth,” she repeated his name. “Are you angry with me?” Her eyes begged for the smallest hint of his
acknowledgment of her presence, yet he continued to ignore her.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Sarah said. “I’m sorry for the way I acted.” Still no response.

“You know what?” Sarah said agitated. “I’m not about to beg for your forgiveness. I came here and I
said what I had to say and now it’s all up to you to do what you will.” She turned and started to walk
away.

“Do what I will?” he said coldly. “Really Sarah, speech of the Underground does not suit you.” She
stopped walking to the door and turned towards him, green eyes flashing.

“I came here to apologize and...and I get this?” she hissed. “I can’t believe you have the audacity to
insult me after everything.”

“After everything?” he laughed at her. “You’re such a child.”

She stared at him and he at her. Finally, she shook her head and looked away.

“This was a mistake,” she said. “I’m leaving.”

“You will leave when I dismiss you,” the Goblin King said.

“To dismiss me, you must have summoned me,” she growled. “Which you did not.”

“Clearly, you’re not familiar with the rules of my castle, Sarah,” he smiled. “But then why should I
expect such from you?”

“Stop it,” she whispered and then ran to the door. She did not want to listen to him. His very words
pierced her soul and she did not know why she cared so much.

The door would not open and she whimpered as she pounded on it.

“You will not leave until I have dismissed you,” he said.

“I don’t want to listen to you!” she cried, her voice surprisingly shaky and full of emotion. He was
getting to her and he knew it.

“Sarah, why must you be so naive?” the Goblin King laughed. “You know perfectly well that you don’t
have a say in that matter, silly girl.”

“I have set a trap for myself then,” she said. “You’re right, Goblin King, I was naive to come up here
and think that you would be civil enough to accept my apology.”

“Why, Sarah,” he mocked. “According to you, I’m not civil at all. I have cruel intentions veiled by
generosity. Thus I will be what you want me to be, Sarah. I will be your villain because you have
wished it.” He rose from his desk and started to walk to her. She stood her ground defiantly yet her
heart beat wildly.

“You Sarah, have made it so,” he said as he walked closer and closer.

“Perhaps it is a secret wish that I become this monster because you need something to despise.”

She was not panicking now. She knew it was stupid to try and run for where would she run to?

“I’ll be that thing that you despise merely because you wish it.”

“I don’t wish it,” she said, shaking her head as he approached. Yet still she stood her ground. She
would not back away now.

He stood right in front of her now. Looking down at her and making her feel so worthless.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes pleading.

For a long moment, he simply stood staring at her and then finally said, “I know.”

“Why do you do this?” she whispered, tears of relief forming in her eyes.

“Because you needed to be taught to never act in such a way towards me,” he said. “I have hurt you
like you have hurt me. We are even now.”

Sarah nodded, wiping tears from her eyes. Yet it was all futile because he then wrapped his arms
around her and she felt even greater relief. It felt so good to be near him again, to be in his embrace.
She had almost forgotten how it felt to feel so protected, so cared for, so, dare she say it, loved?

But no, of course Jareth did not love her. The Goblin King love a simple human girl? Impossible.

Yet deep down she wished he did. She wished he looked at her like he looked at Helen, who always
seemed so beautiful and perfect, but how could she ever compete with that?

But then how did this sudden change come about? How had she suddenly cared what he thought of
her? Why was she suddenly so captivated by him?

None of it made sense and yet she felt herself unwillingly embracing it. If it was a spell, it was a damn
good one. She felt so comforted by the fact that he cared what she thought and felt and in reality it
wasn’t really his fault that she was here, right?

He was kissing her then with a passion that she had never felt before and in her mind, he was perfect.

Yet he suddenly tore away, his mouth burning with the sensation and taste of her. He had never kissed
anyone like that in his entire life and to think it was not some gorgeous Fae, but a mere human girl.
Immortal, but still human and completely his. He knew he had her as soon as she had fallen against him
in the gardens, weak from pleasure. Only he could do that to her and he reveled in it.

She smiled meekly at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking beyond those cold mismatched eyes
that watched her, even now, with uncertainty.

“You are dismissed,” he said suddenly and turned around to walk back to his desk. She gaped at him
and then angrily stormed towards the door, slamming it shut with a tremendous bang. She moved fast
down the halls to her room and when she got there, she slammed the door behind her and stopped.

He was standing near the window, staring at her. The light played on his features and made his eyes
seem transparent almost.

“Why you, my dark angel?” he asked in a hushed whisper. “Why did my heart choose you?”

She stood like a deer in headlights, ignorant on how to respond to such a thing.

“Do you remember the last time you were in the Labyrinth?” Jareth asked her, his gaze intense. “You
gave up your dreams. You rejected me.”

“But Jareth-,” Sarah said.

“There is no denying it Sarah,” he interrupted. “You did reject me. You left me ruined in this place of
stone and darkness all because I gave you everything and you simply could not accept happiness for
yourself.”

“You expected me to choose myself over my brother?” she cried.

“I expected you to choose what your heart chose,” he said, walking towards her, “Little did I know you
had no heart.”

“How dare you?” she said, shaking her head at him, “How dare you say that after all I did for my
brother? You are the selfish and heartless one!” She laughed then. “And what would the Goblin King
know about matters of the heart? The Goblin King is incapable of love for no one but himself.”

“Naive little girl,” he smirked. “You know nothing of my suffering.”

She was quiet then. She had not expected him to say that. It shocked yet thrilled her.

“You may have erotic fantasies of me lying in a bed of roses, but you will never feel anything beyond
that,” he hissed. “Nothing compared to what I feel for you. Such a pity. You will never know.”

She was again taken aback at the cruelty in his words.

“If that was what I was interested in, I could have had it a long time ago,” Sarah glared up at him.

“Is that so?” Jareth moved closer.

“You know it is,” she smiled coldly. “You lecture me of my inability to feel yet you avoid the very
words that you supposedly say describe your feelings. Yet I am no coward like you, Jareth. I can say it
and unlike you I don’t care whether it’s reciprocal. I don’t fear your rejection as much as I thought I
would.”

“So say it,” he dared.

“I love you,” she said simply.

He watched her for a while and then pulled her close and whispered into her ear.

“Prove it.”