Out of time

I do no own the Labyrinth, though many of my fantasies take me there.

She struggled harder kicking the fingers of the robot. Jareth put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Oh, come come now, is spending eternity with me so awful?”

“I will not be forced into doing something I don’t want to do!” She shouted. “I’d rather spend my life in your swamp then spend it with you.”

“It’s a good thing you don’t have a choice in the matter.” He rested his chin in his hand. “Now what to do with you. You’re too cantankerous to work as a maid, not trustworthy enough to cook, and you’re too pretty to keep as a labor slave. I can’t even put you with the other failures of the labyrinth and send you to the junkyard; I want you where I can see you.” He ran the back of his hand over her cheek, “Where I can touch you.” Lexi jerked back and tried to bite his hand. He just winked at her, “You missed.”

He then waved his hand in a small circle and in a blink, Lexi found herself in an extremely large library.

Jareth circled around her like a predator circles prey. “I have the perfect job for you, dear Alexia. Welcome to my Library. I’m actually a rather avid reader, but I never find the time to organize, nor put things back in their proper places.” He then kneeled and quickly put a manacle around her ankle. “This will keep you in line. And don’t try to get out of it. It’s magic and will stop you from going outside of here and from harming me.”

Lexi launched herself at Jareth, fully intending to scratch out his eyes. True to his word, the chain jerked her back, forcing her to land on her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. “You foul, loathsome, ass!”

Jareth only grinned at her. “See you at dinner, then. It should prove to be quite an experience.”

“Suddenly I’m not so hungry.” She snapped, crossing her arms. Daring came into her eyes again. “In fact I’m so not hungry, I don’t think I’ll eat for weeks and weeks on end.”

“Oh but how will you keep up the strength to resist me, Alexia. If you do not eat or drink, then you will be weak enough for me to take you when and however I wish.” He gestured and the chain came up around her. It snaked up her legs and tied her arms behind her back. “And somehow, I know, you know just how I wish to take you.” He ran a possessive hand down her side as she snarled at him. “And maybe, one day, you’ll actually crave my touch.”

Jareth turned and headed toward the door. “One more thing, Alexia. The chain has a magic phrase to have it release you. You have to tell me you love me…and mean it.”

He shut the door, muffling her raged scream. As he walked away he wondered why she still wasn’t afraid. All the others had been afraid, proving to him just how weak they were. Weren’t all above grounders as weak as newborn babes? They didn’t have any magical powers that he knew of. But then again, Alexia was different. She was a halfling: half fae and half human. The Fates had warned him that she would be coming into her power soon.

Weither that meant that she was to be a succubus or not remained to be seen. Either way she needed a sponsor to be allowed her small place in court. And a sponsor would have complete control over a new power so that new fae wouldn’t get power hungry and try for a run at the aboveground. Jareth smiled. He liked the sound of that. He sat at his throne and slung a leg over his chair as he started writing a petition to the Queen to be Alexia’s sponsor.

Damn him, DAMN HIM! She screamed over and over again in her mind. Ultimately it was her own doing that had gotten her into this mess. If she hadn’t stopped to gloat and scare him into thinking she had come into succubus powers, she would have made it within the time frame. Knowing that didn’t make her want to profess her love to him, she scowled.

She flopped onto an oversized chair and frowned at her ankle where the manacle was. “Well it’s just you and me. Since you’re magic, you probably won’t rust or chip. And you’ll probably let me get anywhere in this room.” She looked around the expansive library. “Damn big room.” Lexi dragged a hand through her hair. “Well, let’s get started. The more I’m doing the less I have to think about who I’m doing this for.”

“Furst things furst, miss.” Said a voice from behind her. Lexi looked behind the chair and saw several small people. “Master told us that you were to be changed.”

“Changed? Into what? A lapdog? Ohhhh! Or how about a sheep?”

The goblin ladies laughed. “Oh no miss,” said the spokesgoblin. “Into these here clothes.” They held up a large frilly dress with a very low cut front and a corset.

Lexi arched an eyebrow and said four words. “Over my dead body.”

The Queen’s response had been a swift one. Jareth was now the sponsor of Alexia Anastasia Parker. He smiled gleefully. This opened so many opportunities. And not a moment too soon, it seemed. A goblin came limping in the door.

“S-sire. The girl.”

“Yes?” Jareth said impatiently. “What about her.”

“She refuses to put on the clothing you sent for her to wear.” He was trembling like a leaf.

“Well, then simply force her to wear them.”

“T-there have been casualties, Sire.” Whimpered the goblin. “Twenty of us can no longer use our arms and thirty more can no longer say we have two good eyes. Please sire! Why did you not warn us she could change into any animal at will and make things fly of their own accord?”

He scowled. “Because she couldn’t do that a half hour ago.”

The doors to the library opened by themselves as Jareth strode into the room. Before him lay a scene like no other. A lioness was in the middle of the room tearing apart the beautiful dress he had sent up. Around her was a massive pile of beaten goblins. None of them dead, he noticed, but none of them ready to go another round with her.

“Alexia, now is this any way to show your appreciation for the nice things I’ve given you?” he flicked his wrist and the dress was whole again. Lexi looked at him through predatory eyes and growled. The chain rattled as it held her back from him. She shifted human, her eyes never loosing that dangerous look.

“Do be a good girl and put on the pretty clothes. Just like you’ve always wanted to do.”

“Don’t you dare claim to know what I’ve always wanted!” She snarled. “ I would never wear a dress like this in a million years. Not all women want to be trussed up in pink. Especially when they know exactly how a corset feels when it’s wrapped around her ribcage.”

“You’d rather be dressed as a servant?”

“I’d rather not have to wear a damned dress at all!”

Jareth’s smile turned wicked. “As you wish.” He said with a flick of his wrist, she was suddenly naked.

Lexi let out a loud long shriek as she covered herself. “You perverted, old, bastard! Give me my clothes back right now!”

“Or you’ll do what, Alexia? Turn into a panther and rip out my throat?” he grinned as her entire body flushed. “Now that you don’t have any more clothes, you will be dressed as I see fit.”

She turned up her nose. “I’ll do no such thing. Pants, undies, and a blouse are all I require from you. I’m not going to wear a dress so you can just waltz in here any old time and peek up my skirt while I’m on a ladder. While I may be a slave, you won’t find me a willing one.”

Lexi grabbed a couch pillow and covered her front her eyes blazing at the Goblin King. “I’m going to fight you every step of the way. You tell me to sit? I’ll stand. You tell me to jump? I’ll lie down. I’m going to be the most contrary slave you’ve ever had.” With that she shifted into a dog and jumped onto the couch. Her eyes were still blue and they still watched him warily.

Jareth’s blood boiled slowly. His eyes cut to his goblins who where still goggling at the girl’s tirade. “Leave us!” he snapped. The goblins that could still walk scurried out, leading the ones who couldn’t see very well, and carrying the ones who couldn’t walk. Jareth scowled down at the dog now lying on the couch in his grand library. “You have a very sharp tongue for one so young, Alexia.”

He felt a small satisfaction from using her full name and seeing her hackles rise. “And however much you don’t like it here, you have no right to harm my people or to demean me in front of them!”

Lexi shifted back, hugging the pillow. “Your goblins are the ones who tried to force me into that monstrosity. I merely defended myself, and I will admit I lost control. I was so angry with you that I took it out on them. If I am able, I would like to see to their wounds and apologize.” Her eyes gained the fire again as she glared at him. “As to the demeaning part I will not apologize. In my mind you deserved it. Throwing women away in the junkyard, and seducing fifteen-year-olds is inexcusable to me.”

“Well, however I seem in your eyes is hardly of any concern to me.” He waved his hand as if it meant nothing. “What concerns me is this startling new development in your powers. How could the child of an incubus and a human glean such an array of abilities?”

“Luck, I guess.”

“I have been assigned as your sponsor. I will be your link to the Unseelie court and your teacher so you don’t ‘Loose control’ again.” Slowly Jareth stood and glanced at the chain that adorned her ankle. “Your leash has been extended so you may undo some of the damage you did to my people.”

He smiled as the chain came up and trapped her arms behind her back and forced her to stand in full view of him. Jareth came closer, his mismatched eyes roaming freely over her form. Lexi looked away, angry at the blush that managed to find its way onto her face.

“Did you know, Alexia that me being your sponsor has nothing to do with our deal?” He chuckled softly as he let the back of his gloved hand brush lightly between her breasts. “You are still mine forever. Ohhhh, now don’t pout so!” He chided as she scowled. “It’s only forever.” He shrugged, “Not long at all once you think about it.”

Jareth snapped his fingers and the dress was instantly on her making her gasp as the corset tightened. “Seeing as how I can’t have you running around here skyclad, you will just have to wear that dress you tried to destroy. It will only come off when you have to bathe and then it will put itself back on you.”

She shifted into a wolf and to her dismay, the dress stayed on. Lexi tried many different animals. Small prairie dogs, large elephants, even the random baboon and still the dress stayed on making her pant and gasp for air. Damn, she cursed inwardly, I knew I should have eaten it. She shifted human again and panted hard as the corset gave no room for her to breathe in. Her eyes were lit with fire and challenge. Lexi turned her back on the king and walked to the back of the room, starting to sort through the books.

Jareth smiled to himself. She had a strong spirit; it would be fun breaking her, showing just how weak she was. She couldn’t ignore him forever; the human in her wouldn’t allow it. “See you at dinner, my dear.”

Lexi kept her back to him until she heard the door behind her click closed. Then she hurled the book she held in her hand against it. Damn him and his arrogance. She could hear it in his voice and it grated that he had her captive. Sadness enveloped her. She had hurt innocents. Those goblins where only doing their jobs, Lexi knew she had to make it right again.

She went over and picked up the book she had thrown at the door and smiled as she read the cover. “Spells of healing for beginners.” Lexi smiled again, for once fate smiled on her. That reminded her of the three women in one body. Why didn’t they tell her that she wouldn’t make it?

“You would have stopped trying.” Said a young voice behind her.

“Would it have made such a big difference?” Lexi asked as she turned. She opened her arms. “I’m still his and I have no way home.”

“It would have made a difference. You have a spirit like none other of your kind. In some ways you are stronger than the Goblin King himself. He’s lost the perspective needed for taking care of his world. He’s lost the capacity to care about it. One was needed to show him that he needs to think of others needs to rule properly.”

“And you chose that one to be me? I had my whole life in front of me!” She fought back the tears that stung her eyes. “I’m not going to be able to put flowers at Momma’s grave. Daddy won’t take care of it. He’s always gotten distracted. He never really cared anyway, did he?”

The woman of three blinked surprised, “On the contrary. He’s on his way down here now to try and beg the queen for your safe return.”

“What? When did this happen?”

“He’s ridding as we speak through the edge of the Labyrinth to get to the Unseelie Queen’s court.” She smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Your father cares for you very much, young one, he just never tried to show it before.”

“Will he succeed?” Lexi looked hopefully at the fates but they frowned.

“No. You are not destined to leave the Underground. We are sorry.”
Lexi hung her head and nodded softly. “I understand. I’ll go and help the goblins I hurt.”

“Wait a moment.” Morea turned her around and loosened the corset. “Men never know what these are really like. There. Better?”

Lexi took a deep breath, “Yes, thank you. Can you do something for me, please?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“Tell my father I forgive him, and that I love him very much too.”

Clutching the book in her arms, Lexi exited the library and let the magic of the chain guide her to the goblin’s quarters. When she got there the goblins cowered in front of her. Lexi was overcome with such sadness that she sank to her knees and bowed before them, placing her forehead on the floor on top of the backs of her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should never have hurt any of you. Please, can you find it in your hearts to forgive me?”

One goblin leaned to another. “What’s a forgive?” This earned him a bap on the head by one of the female goblins that were tending to his wounds. One of the other females walked out and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Not all of us are as foolish as the powers that be may think.” She said.

“But, the powers that be are just that.” Whimpered a goblin. “Powerful.” This earned him another bap.

“My name be Karra, miss, and don’t think just because you be half of the high blood that it’ll give you free rein. You’re to work for all the pain you’ve caused us.” She picked up some of the bandages on the table and put them in Lexi’s hand. “Do you know anything of healing?”

“I know how to wrap something that hurts.” She lowered her eyes again. “It isn’t much is it?”

“No, but it’s a start. We womenfolk know some things that just aren’t thought of for our kind. Tis only the males who are idiots, we females are right smart and neat.” She helped Lexi to her feet. “We’ll teach you good and proper on healing things.”

“Thank you.”

Karra led Lexi to the first bed with a whimpering goblin with a slash on his upper thigh. Lexi winced noticing an ache on her own leg. Karra nodded seeing her flinch. “That’s how things work here in the underground. We goblins know of some magic too.”

Later that night, Lexi was wrapping her own hands. Blisters and sores had appeared where the healing light had come from. She sighed as the balm that the she-goblins had given her eased the pain. Lexi started working on the books again, going shelf by shelf to get them in order. Fortunately for her who ever had last organized them had kept them in type order, so all she had to do was alphabetize. She was working so steadily that she had forgotten completely about Jareth’s command that she would be with him for dinner.

She was standing high on a ladder when her chain gently tugged on her leg. Lexi arched her eyebrow and glanced down.

Jareth stood at the bottom glaring at her. “You’ve missed dinner.”

Lexi felt a pang of disappointment, of which she quickly squashed by reminding herself who bestowed her with the very chain that was tugging her. She set her jaw and turned back to the books. “Like I knew what time you were eating. I’ve been busy fixing your books. What the hell is ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ doing in front of ‘Mauve’s Maddening Munchies’?” Though she did admit silently that she was impressed that he had some aboveground books.

Jareth scowled and yanked on the chain, pulling Lexi off balance and let gravity take its course. It wasn’t very much of a fall, but as she landed, she shifted into a cat and yowled as she hit the floor. Instantly shifting back she turned away from him, holding her hands and whimpering as her leg throbbed. Jareth came up behind her and pulled her head back to look into her eyes that were still filled with challenge.

“You will show your king the proper respect.”

Her eyes narrowed. “If you don’t let me go right now I’m going to bite your nose off.”

“If you bite me, it will be in foreplay.” He loosened the grip on her hair and ran a gloved hand down the side of her face. “You look beautiful in that dress, Alexia.” He waited several moments for her response. “Why don’t you respond with some witty comment or scathing remark? You seem so good at those.”

“I tried to kick you and my body seems frozen in place.” Her breath came in a shudder. “And my hands hurt too much to pull myself away.”

“Your hands?” He blinked and noticed the bandages on her hands that she had tried in vain to hide. “What happened to your hands?”

Lexi jerked her hair out of now loose hands. “Your goblins don’t hurt anymore.” She shifted to the left and there was a soft thud as the book of healing landed on the floor.
Jareth bent and picked up the book.

His eyes softened, “Oh, Alexia. What have you done to yourself?”

“I’ve made things right between myself and the goblins. I had no right laying a hand on them.” She grunted as she got to her feet, favoring one leg. “I didn’t know how much I hurt them until I helped heal them.” She rejected his offered hand to help her to her feet. “Promise made, promise kept.”

“You’ve exhausted yourself, Alexia. Eat with me.” He said quietly.

Lexi’s stomach rebelled on her and growled loudly. “Okay, maybe I could eat something.” She agreed grudgingly, “Don’t expect me to enjoy the company though.”

Jareth waved an arm over the coffee table and instantly there was food and wine set up like a feast. The smells assaulted her senses, making her mouth water.

“I can feel your hunger, Alexia. Take this and eat.”

She looked up at him, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know if I should or not.”

“Don’t be a fool.” He snapped. “Eat.”

Instead of eating, Lexi went around the side of the table, keeping her eyes on her captor. “I don’t suppose you recall much of Greek legends do you?”

“Most of them are real.” He said, “But what does that have to do with you eating your fill?”

“In a Greek legend I once read, it was said that if you eat the food of Hades you are trapped there, bound by your very soul, forever.”

Jareth shrugged. “It’s only forever. Not long at all.”

“Not long to you, sidhe king. But for a mere mortal, such as myself, forever is a very long time indeed.” She picked up a hunk of bread. “I don’t know if I want to give you my eternity.”

“Your eternity was compromised the day you were born. Anyone born of high court blood has the potential to live almost infinitely.”

“So I could just go on a hunger strike and…”

“Waste away to almost nothing, but you won’t die.” He smirked and sat in a chair opposite Lexi. “How would you put this? ‘Not by a long shot.’ “

“So, I don’t get the Gandhi option. Okay, that doesn’t mean I am going to be nice to you. You wouldn’t poison the food because you don’t want me to die. You want me to live on as your slave instead.” She stepped over to the food, picked up the sharp bread knife and cut two slices of bread. Jareth watched as she softly picked up slices of ham, cheese, and a leaf of lettuce. Lexi then put them together and walked past him back to the stacks of books, concoction in hand. “This is all I need.”

“What in the name of the high ones is that?” He sneered at the thing in her bandaged hand.

“You should read your aboveground books more.” She smirked at his lack of common knowledge. She held up the food. “This is a sandwich, named after the Earl of Sandwich ages ago. That way he could continue to play cards with one hand and eat with the other. It’s a real time saver.”

“Nothing of the aboveground holds any interest to me.”

“Liar, you have too many aboveground books to make that claim.” She took a bite of her sandwich and put another book in the order she wanted it.

Jareth scowled and sat himself at the coffee table, still covered with food. “You will still dine with me.”

“I’ve got too much work to do to have time to sit and eat much.”

“It wasn’t a choice.” He crooked his finger and Lexi found herself seated in front of him.

“So this,” she waved an annoyed hand in the air. “Sponsorship, gives you complete power over me?”

“Just about.”

“Hell.”

Jareth threw his head back and laughed. “It seems your wit has returned to you along with your appetite.” He nodded at the fact that she was nibbling on a slice of watermelon.

She looked to the side, not willing to look him in the face. Lexi took a big bite of the sweet fruit, enjoying the liquid as it slid down her throat. She refused to look him in the eye. She was to be here forever as his servant, but she still treated him like he was her equal if not his superior.

“Your hair looks lovely in the candlelight.” He hadn’t realized he’d said that aloud until it was already said. She arched an eyebrow at him and turned her face to look at him.

“Was that a…complement?” Her eyes then grew wide with alarm. “Quick! Open your mouth!”

“What? Why should I open my mouth?”

“I wanted to see if your tongue had fallen out but I guess it hasn’t.” She finished off her sandwich and started making another one. His bark of laughter surprised her. He wasn’t supposed to laugh…he was supposed to get pissed. Why wasn’t he reacting how he was supposed to? Lexi’s mind went over the information she had retained from her psychology courses in high school and college. He was just trying to trip her up. Inside he had to be seething, just by sheer force of habit. She smirked inside. She would just have to trip him up as well.

“I like your eyes, are they common among the fey or are they rare?”

Instantly he stood and started looking around the room. He looked under tables and chairs for a few minutes before Lexi had to ask.

“What are you looking for?” she tilted her head to one side.

“I thought for sure that your own tongue had run away in fear of something it did not know. Humans are known to run away from things they do not recognize.”

Lexi chuckled softly, a small smile coming to her lips. Jareth felt as if he had been hit with one of his goblin cannons. The tears and the anger looked beautiful on Alexia, oh, but a smile, however small, but still a genuine smile, made her ravishing. He took a drink from his wine flute.

“You haven’t had any wine.” He said offering her a flute. She shook her head softly.

“I don’t drink. It makes me loose focus.” She turned away again.

“You are a very curious creature, Alexia.” He leaned forward and touched the tips of her hair. “You look so much like your mother, but there is a wide array of things that she did not have that reside in you.”

Lexi snorted. “My mother was a fifteen year old girl when you met her. She was foolish when she wished my uncle away. She grew up enough here in this place to right her mistake. That’s what you didn’t figure on, isn’t it? She took responsibility for something she did wrong and that was what you weren’t prepared for.” She bapped at Jareth’s hand. “Let go of my hair.”

“I don’t enjoy people pointing out my faults.” He scowled.

She turned to him. “Look I’m going to give you one bit of sage advice. People aren’t predictable by nature. Whether they are human or not, they are not predictable.” She stood and started to head toward the shelves of books again. Lexi paused, not looking at him. “Thank you for the food.” Jareth grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

“You know what you have to do to get out of this, Alexia.” He leaned close and whispered against her ear. “All you have to do is say you love me.”

“You make it sound so easy. Saying and meaning it are two very different things.” She tugged back her wrist. “It’s never easy.” The chain rattled across the floor as Lexi limped softly to the ladder. “I should be done with this section by tomorrow.”

“I will see you at breakfast.”


Okay that's chapter 4! Let me know if you want a chapter five or if I'm just doing this fnar. And no, Kri, you telling me to do it when we'er not online doesn't count ;) I hope you enjoyed this chapter ^.^