Out of time

I do not own the Labyrinth, though I do drool whenever I see Jareth on the screen. Painted riding pants ftw!

“Since I have no choice in the matter, see you in the morning.” She started pulling books down from the shelf and replacing them in the proper order again as the Goblin King disappeared from the room.

Jareth scowled into the mirror in his room. What in the name of the Gentry was this he was feeling? Gently he rubbed his hand over his chest. Why was he being kind to her? She was the one who lost the game. It was she who had gambled with her freedom. Why was he so tempted to give her more? She needed to be taught, about her powers, about her heritage, and about her new home as well.

Jareth was now the sole person who would teach her. Jareth knew about her father’s attempt to be heard in the dark lady’s chambers. It made no difference, Dominic would not be allowed to teach her because he would not be able to control his incubus ways, even with his own daughter. The thought of that made Jareth’s scowl deepen. Dominic may have been chosen to divert Sarah from him, but he’d be damned if it happened again to something that was totally his. What Jareth did not know was that in the Seelie court, that was exactly what was being planned.

Lexi blinked as the sun rose over her bed. The chain had tugged her gently off of the ladder late last night when she was starting to nod off. It led her into a small, yet comfortable room where the window looked out over the garden which led to the great expanse of the labyrinth walls.

She stretched and washed up and as soon as she stepped out of the shower, that damnable dress was on her again. She growled softly at it as it tightened around her ribs. Annoyance became shock as it continued to tighten at an alarming rate.

“S-stop.” Lexi gasped, “Y-you’re hurting me.” The fabric didn’t give way as it started to slowly crush her ribs. She couldn’t cry out as it continued its constriction. Her head began to feel very light as she stumbled into the main library. Spots started to show in front of her eyes as the large doors opened.

“Alexia?” The look on her face, something was very wrong. Jareth went to her as she collapsed on the floor. Her face was more pale than usual, the breath gone from her lungs. He knelt next to her eyes wide with panic. What was going on? Then he heard a soft sound, the sound of the tightening fabric of the gown.

Jareth rolled her over onto her back and grabbed the gown at the neckline tearing it asunder from her body. There he saw the corset as it continued to constrict her form. There was an awful crack and Lexi’s body arched in pain, but no sound came from her throat.

Jareth yanked his dagger out from the inside of his boot, accidentally nicking himself as it slid from its sheath. He sliced the strings of the corset apart tearing it away from her body.
Lexi gasped and coughed as precious air filled her lungs. She curled against his legs trembling as she gasped until her throat was raw. The corset was moving away from them like an inch worm.
Jareth’s eyes narrowed and the corset was set on fire.


To her credit, she never screamed in agony, later, as the goblin women wrapped her two broken ribs.

“There,” Said Karra. “That should hold you together. Now I don’t want you moving around as you have been. No ladders.”

“But how am I supposed to get to the books on the top shelves without a ladder?”

“You were doing a pretty good job of throwing them around when we first met, my lady.” Karra smirked.

Lexi blushed. “To tell you the truth, I have no clue how I did it. I was just so angry at your king that it just worked.”

“You could ask his highness for lessons.”

“Hmm to be humble and grovel, or be stubborn because I have more spine than a slug.” She half-smiled at the she-goblin. “I’ll bear through it, Karra. I’m not going to ask him for his help when this thing is his…”

She sighed; it wasn’t really his fault that she got caught. She clenched her jaw, but it was his fault she was in a corset at all. “I hope this means I’ll never have to wear a damned corset again. If I do, I’ll burn it myself” Lexi hissed as she stood slowly.

“The master is expecting you for lunch, miss.” One of the goblins said holding out a new dress for Lexi. “You are to dress in this.”

“Good lord, how the hell does he expect me to get into that damned thing?” as soon as she finished speaking it was on her.

Karra winced as she saw tears come to Lexi’s eyes. “That had to smart.”

Lexi growled in agreement.

The door to the dining room slammed open as Lexi entered.

“Ah, Alexia, it’s good to see you up and about.” Jareth grinned.

“You couldn’t let me where a shirt and pants just this once huh?” She growled. Jareth blinked in apparent surprise.

“But you look stunning in it.”

“And I also hurt because of yet another damned corset!” She winced as she walked forward and sat in the chair her breath ragged. “It put itself on me before I had the chance to eat it. Sadist.”

He looked at her innocently, “Now why would you say that?”

“Because,” she scowled. “I have a strong suspicion that you are taking sick pleasure in my pain.”

His eyes darkened. “Trust me, Alexia. You pain gives me no pleasure. I would much rather pleasure myself by other means.” He smiled as Lexi blushed. So she can be caught off guard, he thought smirking. “I will find out who put that corset in your dress, and they will be punished for it.”

“Don’t like your playthings broken do you?” He didn’t answer. “Karra says I’ll heal in a while. There’s no telling how long because I’m half human.”

They ate the remainder of the meal in silence. Afterward Jareth returned Lexi to the library and went to his room. With a wave of his hands he summoned the Queen of the Unseelie through one of his crystals.

“Jareth.” Smiled the Queen. “I didn’t expect to hear from you again this soon. Having trouble with your protégé?”

“Not with her, but instead with someone trying to kill her, my beautiful queen.” He hated these sorts of niceties, veiled complements hidden within desires. He would much rather have someone be straightforward with him.

“It is not my place to tell the others whom to kill and whom not to kill. That is your job as her sponsor not mine. Besides, it wasn't anyone from our court anyhow.” She waggled a finger at him. “You should know that by now, goblin king.” Then her eyes lit up. “Oh! I’ve just had the most delicious idea! I want you to throw a party. Show her off! We’ll show her the kind of life that befits a fae! I have to go to make preparations. See you on the next full moon, Jareth!”

Jareth leaned over the now darkened crystal, oh gods what had he done?

Lexi peeked around the corner and saw Jareth. He looked…God help her…hot! Her heart thudded in her chest as she watched his exchange with the lady in the crystal. Why hadn’t he seemed that concerned about her well being earlier? Her eyes traveled along the length of his body as he leaned over the orb. Yeah he did have spice, but he was also cold, vindictive, arrogant, conceded, annoying, sexy…wait…where had that last one come from?

Lexi frowned and shifted from foot to foot not noticing the sound her chain made as it dragged softly across the floor. She leaned against the wall, puzzling, gnawing on her thumb. Then Jareth made his appearance, directly in front of her.

“What are you doing? You’re to be in the library!”

She gasped painfully in surprise, instantly grabbing her ribs. She glared up at him through her hair as she doubled over. “Goddang it! Did you have to surprise me like that? I was just going as far as the chain let me.” She panted hard. “I came to ask…ah damn it….for your help.”

Jareth blinked in apparent surprise. “My…help?”

She pursed her lips. “I can’t get up the ladders to pull down the books.” Jareth could almost visibly see her swallow her pride. “Could you …please…show me how to use my powers?”

“Alexia you being…humble?” He smirked. “That was one thing your mother could never get down pat.”

She felt rage over come her. “Screw you! Fuck it, I’ll figure it out myself.” She started to stalk off when her chain stopped her. She glared back at the goblin king. “I have to get back to my job. Get your foot off the chain.”

Fast, angry, music started in her head as she thrust out her hand toward the Goblin King. He shot backward as if he had been thrown. The music stopped abruptly. Lexi’s eyes went wide and then anger settled over her features. “Don’t talk about Momma like that.” She then turned and stalked back toward the library. If Lexi hadn’t been so upset she would have found pride in the fact that he didn’t see her cry.


Rage boiled in him. How had she used her power on him? The chain was supposed to stop that from happening. He scowled; he was the king of the goblins! Ruler of all that could be seen from his highest tower, damned if he would let some wounded half- fae shove him with her power and storm off as if she owned the place. It was high time she learned who ruled here.

He strode down to the library following the sounds of the chain clanking as Lexi sped between her stacks of books. No, he corrected himself, MY stacks of books. Slamming the large doors open he entered the library.

Lexi jumped a little at the loud noise behind her, she then straightened her shoulders and turned, fully expecting the wrath on the Goblin King’s face.

“You impertinent, little, half-bred, wretch!” Grabbing her arm he pulled her roughly before him, ignoring her gasp of pain. “I am the king here and you will do exactly as you are told to do. You are never to punish me for anything!”

Her eyes flashed angrily as she looked up. “I’m sorry to have unwittingly used my power against you. As if I knew what the hell I was doing in the first place. What was damned that music? Did you call it just because you thought it was dramatic?”

“Music? When was there music?” His grip was still firm, but it wasn’t as painful now.

“When I…threw you, I heard music. Fast, hard, angry music.”
Now she looked frightened, but not of him. Her heart was beating fast. “I didn’t mean to throw you, even though you really deserved it. I’ve gotten used to the shifting but I don’t understand how this telekinetic prowess manifests!”

Jareth’s eyebrow arched. “You’ve been reading some of the books you’ve been putting away haven’t you?”

“Did it at school too, I worked at the library in my free time.”

“You’re more frightened of your power to move things without touching them then you are of turning into animals? Why?”

“Because I've always dreamed of power like that,” she was shaking now. “I always dreamed of being able to change my shape into something else, something more powerful. But then...my anger at you got a lot of innocents hurt. I never wanted to really hurt anything before. What happens if I get so angry that I just want the thing I'm angry at to die? Just to roll over and die." she went silent for a moment looking away. "I don't want to kill anyone."

Jareth's eyes softened. “That is why you need me as a mentor, Alexia. I am to teach you control in all things. Magic is more than petty spoken spells and flashes of light. Magic comes from inside the heart which is tied closely to your emotions. And if you’re throwing me even over the power of the chain this means you will be very powerful indeed.”

“Does this mean you’re not upset with me anymore?”

“No, this means that I get to exact my revenge in a disciplinary fashion as a teacher as well as a king.” He smirked, “Oh yes that does sound fun.”

Lexi blushed and turned her head away. “I have to finish this section.” She gasped as he slid his gloved hands up her arms to grip her shoulders.

“Time for your first lesson.”


Okay I know that one part sounded like something out of a varient of snow white...and it was. Good for you, you saw it too ^.^ That was always one of my favorite varients of that fairy tale. And don't worry Lexi won't stay scared and complient for long. it's not her nature. Please review and if anyone has any suggestions for the next chapter I'm open to em. ;)