Out of time

Disclamer: I don't own the Labyrinth I just own the original charrys, please don't sue me.
I know it's been a while so I hope you guys like the newest chapter ^.^ Let me know what you think of it okay?


Lexi was back to work the next morning, having finished three of the tall shelves.
The books floated around her, placing themselves where she wished them to go. Magic
wasn’t so bad after all. Music was almost constantly playing in her head, from soft and slow to fast paced and pounding. Still, she longed for her MP3 player. She vaguely wondered why Laith never came back after his errand for His Arrogantness.
Jareth had decided to leave her alone today. He hadn’t even summoned her to eat with him. Good, what did she need that perverted bastard around for? He used her. Lexi scowled at the floor. She was so stupid to actually think that the king of the goblins was attracted to her.
“Blarg, like I would want him anyway.” She grumbled to herself.

“Would want who?” said a voice from the bottom of the ladder, Lexi had to grab onto the sides so she didn’t fall.

She scowled down at the Goblin King, “You almost made me break my neck, you-" to her shock the curses she had been holding especially for him froze in her throat.

He just smirked and wagged a finger. “Now, Alexia, is that any way to greet your king?”

In answer she growled and wrapped her ankles around the legs of the ladder and made a rude gesture.
Slightly annoyed, the Goblin King snapped his fingers, using his magic to place the surly woman in front of him. “Were you not told that you were not allowed to climb ladders until you were fully healed?”

She scowled and looked away, “Leave me be, Goblin King.”

“I am your King, you haven’t the power to make me leave.” He crossed his arms, “You know you are a terribly sore loser. Ever since my labyrinth beat you, you’ve been nothing but contrary and difficult.”

Lexi shrugged, “I’m an American, and we’re sort of bred to go against the local monarchy. So while, technically, you are the ruling government who happens to have control of my fate, it doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She smirked and bit her lower lip in a grin, “I could always start a revolt, that’d be fun.”

“That is why I charmed that manacle around your pretty little leg.” Jareth crooked a finger and the chain tugged Lexi toward him. “Unlike your mother, dear Alexia, I have complete power over you.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him causing her to gasp.

He turned her hands over in his, examining the damage that still lingered there. “I’d forgotten how pitifully slow humans heal.”

“They’re only bruises, they almost are healed.” She hissed forcing his arms down. “My ribs on the other hand are still on the disabled list.”

Jareth took a moment to look his student up and down. “You, madam are missing a piece of your attire.”

Lexi’s eyes narrowed, “If you’re talking about that monstrosity made out of material, I killed it in the bathroom.”

The corset should have done Jareth’s will, no matter what Alexia may have done to it, this was a sign of very strong magic. “How?”

“I set it on fire while I was in the bath.” She smirked, “Damned thing didn’t have a snow cone’s chance in hell.”

He chuckled. “How descriptive, however it is part of the mandatory attire for the upcoming ball.”

“You’re telling me I have to wear one to this shindig that the queen wants you to host.”

“Yes. Its purpose is to introduce you to the fae community.” He bowed slightly, “As my protégé.”

“Do your people just not need to breath? Is that it?” Lexi scowled. “I’d rather be dressed as Laura Croft than as Elizabeth Swan.”

“Who?”

“You really need to catch up on pop culture.” She pulled gently away from him. “We really have different views of what’s right and wrong, and what is cool or not.”

“I fail to understand why that affects your attire. You will simply wear what I tell you to wear.” His eye brow arched.

“Arrogant.” Lexi growled. “I could put on the dress you want but then cut it into shreds once it was on.”

“You will not.” He said truly horrified.

“How do you know?” she countered.

“I will see to it myself.” Then he smirked as he took her hand. “It is time for your dancing lesson.”

Music started around them, a slow waltz. Lexi made a face, “This is the kind of music you want me to dance to?”

“Is there any other?” He took her gently into his arms. “Listen to it. Let it flow over you. It can be breathtaking if you allow it to.” His gloved hand moved a stray strand of hair out of her face. “You really do have beautiful eyes, my Alexia.”

Lexi felt her heart pound in her chest as she looked into his mismatched eyes. She let him lead her out to the middle of the room. Magic flowed with the music turning the large library into a beautiful ballroom.

“Why Alexia, why did you not tell me you could dance?” He smiled at her pulling her tighter to his body.

“Um…”Her throat was dry as she blushed and looked away. “ They had us all take ballroom dancing at school. Not my favorite subject. It was so girly, not what I’m into at all.”

“But you are so good at it.” He murmured softly spinning her in time as the music swelled. Her dress’s skirts swished around her long legs. “You see the music isn’t so bad.”

“It has its purposes. Nice in a way, I suppose.” She grinned up at him. “Still not my music though,” she raised her arms in the air and let the music in her mind take over, “Allow me to show you.”

Lexi started dancing as the fast, hard beat overwhelmed the floating sound of the waltz. Her legs kicked out as she spun away from an astonished Goblin King. Her mahogany hair rioting around her face as her entire body moved in time with the sound. She reminded him of the Gypsy people who resided beyond the city. As it swelled, she arched her back and locked eyes with him. Those eyes made dark promises as her lips slightly parted.

His Alexia danced around him as the music drastically changed, it was slow again, but it had an edge to it that was never tangible in traditional dance. It spoke of the death of something called Bohemia. Jareth felt it as the beat picked up its pace. It almost crackled along his skin as it sparked in her eyes. She suddenly plastered herself against him pulling him into the dance. She placed his hands on her hips as she wrapped her leg around him and leaned back as if she were being dipped even though he was not doing any dipping. The song changed, slowing again as she pulled away and locked gazes with him, the music was closer to something he recognized.

The music was riding her. Lexi was following every impulse that flowed in it. She glided toward him gently taking his hand resting his hand on her hip. They waltzed slowly as the story of the song unfolded beneath them. The ballroom floor disappeared beneath them, but Lexi wasn’t afraid. All she could see were his eyes. A city bustled around them, no one noticing as they danced above their heads. The scene changed to a raging sea, a gigantic whale breeching as they danced on.

“This is what you hear in your magic, my Alexia?” his arm pulled her closer.

“My name is Lexi. And yeah I do, is it wrong?” she looked away from his face.

He nudged her chin to face him again. “No, Alexia. It is not wrong.” He was silent a second listening to yet another song her mind produced. This one was about measuring time in love “They are beautiful. Some are volatile and passionate, while others soft and sweet. They give you your power.”

He stroked her hair; they had stopped dancing by now. “You are beautiful, my Alexia. Will you allow me to kiss you again?”

“Maybe, Goblin King.” She gently went up on her toes reaching her arms around his neck. Her eyes darkened with desire. Lexi sighed softly as she reached to brush her lips with his.

The door to the ballroom crashed open. “Sire!” cried a squat goblin.

Jareth rolled his eyes and growled, “What is it, Nosgrath? I was in the middle of something very important.”

“The Demon lords, sire!” the little goblin hopped up and down excitedly. “They’ve breached the northern reaches, Sire!”

Lexi’s heart leapt into her throat, there was only one thing she was very afraid of, and demons were it. Even though according to his hotness himself, she was part demon. A chill raced up her spine, she had the distinct impression that these were not the kind of demons who where welcome.

Jareth turned to her, his eyes very serious. “You are to stay here, the chain will protect you.”

“Why are you so worried about me?”

“It is most likely they have come to take you from me.” He waved his arm and they were back in the library.

“Jareth, I’m not going to just sit here like a child. If you haven’t noticed I can fight.” Her hands were on her hips.

“You will do as you are told.” He gripped her shoulders. “These creatures are the stuff of nightmares. Birthed from the very fears of mortals, these demons can and will kill to get what they want.”

Lexi shivered slightly, “Why would they want me?”

“You are a new succubus. They want to train you.” He turned away from her, “They are not as gentle as I am.”

Lexi said an apt expletive.

“Exactly.” Jareth nodded.

“Where are the weapons?” Fear coursed through her body.

“The fae cannot handle any iron weaponry. We use our magic and a select few enchanted weapons.”

“That’s like trying to poke a bull with a pointy stick, that isn’t going to do any good against the minions of hell!”

“And you feel you are an authority on these ‘minions’ of hell?” His face went from fiery to cold. “I’ve heard enough of this prattle. You will be safe here while I deal with our guests.”


Lexi could have killed for her mp3 player. The silence was deafening and frightening. Every creak and groan of the castle now reached her ears and helped raise her blood pressure just a bit higher. The captive chain was doing it’s best to comfort the girl. It made funny faces on the ground. It clanked in unison with the tapping of her foot.

“Nice try, Chain, but I can’t concentrate enough to make the music real.” She looked down at the chain, her face pale. “I’m scared. I remember when I was little one of the teachers in my elementary school thought it would be a blast to scare the tar out of her students to teach them discipline. She used to tell me that a black creature with its lips sewn together would come in the middle of the night, snatch my soul from my body and slowly slurp me down.” Lexi shivered. “In this place, I’ve got no doubt in my mind that the demon Ms Lawson told me about is real.” She gave a weak laugh, “You gotta love the perceptive mind of a child.”

Something hissed in the corner of the room. Lexi froze. She could feel a cold chill rising from the floor. Then she heard crying, like a kid’s crying. It then turned to horrible chilling laughter.

Music came to her mind again, this time it was something that could help her. Latin, specifically Latin sung in churches around the globe. It translated roughly to ‘Please Jesus, give them rest.’ The laughter became hisses again as Lexi sang.

Jareth strode to the front chamber, a gleaming, silver, long sword in his gloved hand. The doors opened before him as he flicked at it with his magic.

Just outside the doorway stood a legion of demons, lead by a beautifully dark man with hair as wild as Jareth’s own and red leather clinging to his thighs. The demon’s tail whipped behind him, it was pointed at the end. Dear Gentry why did the soul stealers always call on him to deliver demands. “What do you want, Damian?” sneered the Goblin King, highly annoyed with the demon lord.

“We’ve come for the spawn of that traitorous fucker, Dominic.” He said, “You know as well as I that she belongs…with her own kind.” Damian spread his arms including all of the foul creatures around him.

“And you know as well as I that the contracts that I write are binding and ironclad. She failed the Labyrinth. She is mine by the old laws that have never been broken.” Jareth strode around the demon. “Whosoever fails the trials of the Labyrinth stays in the Labyrinth as a denizen thereof, forever.”

“That only applies if the creature in question is in fact human enough to be affected by the Labyrinth’s thrall. If she can pass though the gates that lead into this damned maze then she belongs to me.” Damian licked his lips as he gazed up and down the body of the Goblin King. “You haven’t changed much, Jareth, but I know your game. So, I present to you a bet, if you dare take it.” The demon closely circled Jareth, letting his fingers play over the leather of the king’s shoulder.

“Name it.”

“I say that the girl is too much a demon to be in the Labyrinth’s thrall,forfeit and we take her by force.”

“You already tried.” Hissed a voice behind the circling enemies “Isn’t it considered a breach of conduct to send in a lackey to go in and grab what you want?”
A circular object flew through the air in Damian’s direction. He caught it in one clawed hand and looked at the face of his beheaded lackey. He merely shrugged letting the head fall to the ground with a sickening splat sound. The head then wriggled from side to side and sprouted five hairy spider legs from beneath it’s repulsive neck.

“Oh, eww.” Lexi made a face just before her scowl returned.

"Can't blame a guy from trying, can you Lexi?" he said with a nonchalant smile. “How did you manage to decapitate one of my minions?” Damian managed to sneer and smirk at the same time. A feat to be true but he managed it.

Lexi held up her chain, “One uses what is most readily available.”

Damian threw his head back and laughed, “You see, Jareth? She has far too much demon in her to be held captive by the Labyrinth. Let her pass through the gate as proof.”

“Wait, so I’d get to leave?” Lexi arched an eyebrow.

Jareth sighed, “Damian thinks your powers are too strong to be held under the geis of the Labyrinth that keeps the ones who fail here as denizens.”