Fooled Heart

Fooled Heart

Chapter Four: My Will is As Strong As Yours

Sarah paced the small enclosure. She had changed from the uniform provided to her back to her jeans and emerald green tank top. The kitchen apron she had been wearing when she came to the Underground was hanging on the low wooden stool in the corner near the table.

What am I going to do? Sarah thought to herself, I can't stay in this room. How long will he keep me in here? I cant stay here forever. If I begged him... would he...?

Sarah stopped pacing and stared at the steel door. No. I will never sink to that level. But how do I get out of here?

Sarah's stomach growled loudly in protest. "I'm starving!" she shouted to no one in particular. She sat on the edge of the low bed and held her head in her hands.

"Giving up yet, Sarah?" Jareth's cool voice echoed through the room. Sarah looked up slowly, glaring harshly at the man before her.

"I will never serve you," Sarah stated. She looked at the floor and cradled her head in her hands again. "You forget, my will is as strong as yours," she said quietly.

"I doubt that, Sarah. You will be in my chambers tending to me by the end of tomorrow," he said, smiling deviously.

"Unlikely," Sarah said as she lifted herself off the tiny bed. "I'd die before I bowed before you."

"You will regret saying that," Jareth said sharply as he dissappeared from the room.

______________________________________________________________________________

Jareth paced his room, hands tucked behind his back. Stubborn girl, he thought. She could have anything she asked for, if she only obeyed.

"Jareth!" A voice shouted as a timid knock was placed on his door. Jareth opened the door and smiled at the young boy before him.

"Sir Toby! What do you need, my boy?" Jareth said warmly, ushering the boy into the room,

"Jareth, where is Sarah?" Toby asked.

"Sarah..." Jareth thought for a moment. "Her and I are having difficulty seeing eye to eye. She wishes to be alone." Jareth could be cruel, but he couldn't let Toby worry over his sister.

"She doesn't even want to see me?" Toby asked with horror in his eyes.

Jareth shook his head. "I am sorry, Sir Toby. She wishes to be left alone."

"What happened? Did you hurt her?" Toby asked, puffing out his chest. Jareth chuckled.

Toby looked up at Jareth. "Did you try singing her a song?" Toby asked. "She hums the song you sang her all the time. At least I think you were the one. She would never talk about it."

Jareth looked at the young boy in shock. "She hums the song?"

"Yeah! She can't remember the words," Toby said, smiling.

Why would she...? Jareth thoughts suddenly crashed together. She was so quick to come back. She never put up a real fight. Did she really want to come back?

"Sir Toby, if you don't mind, I have some business to attend to," Jareth said, placing his arm around the boy's shoulder and leading him toward the door.

"Are you going to try it, Jareth?" Toby asked. "Are you going to sing to my sister?"

"I will try, Toby," Jareth said softly, ushering the boy out the door. "I will see you at dinner, my boy."

"Good luck, Jareth!" Toby called as he ran down the hall.

Jareth paced the length of the large room, hands behind his back again. I can't just apologize to her and expect everything to be good with a song, he thought. What am I thinking? Why should I apologize? She defeated me, she destroyed my Labyrinth.

"Enough!" Jareth shouted loudly. He picked up a wooden chair from the table along the wall and threw it against the opposing wall. The chair shattered, sending splinters flying across the floor.

Jareth growled loudly before his surroundings melted into the tiny stone prison. He stormed over to the dark haired girl on the bed and lifted her up roughly by her upper arm.

"Just leave me here, Jareth!" Sarah shouted, pulling her arm away from his grip. "I will not change my mind. I will never serve you!"

Jareth took hold of her again and shoved her roughly against one of the walls of the chamber. There was a loud thud as Sarah's back hit the stone wall. Sarah's breath escaped her. Jareth walked to her quickly and pinned her to the wall by her shoulders.

"Will you defy me, Sarah? Is that really what you want to do?" Jareth whispered into Sarah's neck.

Sarah tensed as his lips brushed her ear. She shivered, digging her nails into her own palms. "Stop," she choked out roughly.

"You are in my kingdom now, Sarah. You will do as I say," Jareth whispered, tightening his grip on Sarah's shoulders.

"I will never obey a monster like you!" Sarah hissed to the Goblin King.

"Is that how you view me, Sarah? I'm a monster? Very well then, a monster I will be," Jareth whispered, licking his lips.

"No! You can't!" Sarah cried desperately. She struggled to free herself from his grasp.

"What do you expect me to do Sarah?" he whispered into her ear. He pinned her arms above her head and inhaled deeply. "I won't be so cruel as to hurt you in that way, Sarah. I may be cruel, but I am not a monster."

Jareth released his grip on her and took a step back. "You will still reside here. You will serve Toby and me. You will have the freedom to come and go as you please so long as you tend to your duties and you will live an enjoyable life in the Underground. Is this an acceptable offer?"

Sarah stared blankly at the Goblin King. "I will not bow to you," she spoke slowly.

"As long as you tend to your duties, you may do as you please," Jareth said, sternly.

"I will not address you as 'Your Majesty,'" Sarah continued.

"I never expected you to," Jareth said with a laugh.

Sarah paused for a moment before nodding her head. "I accept this offer on one condition."

Jareth looked at the girl, his lips curling into a devious smile. "And what would the condition be Sarah?"

"Toby and I will always be safe in your kingdom. You must give your word," Sarah requested.

"You have my word, Sarah," Jareth said, dissappearing from the room.