(btw, it has a ummm...sorta bad scene, so I guess younger people should be advised.)
 
Part 1: "Some Enchanted Evening..."
 
    A single dark figure darted through the wild night woods, shimmery white legs pumping up and down, her swift feet  rythmatically  hitting the hard packed ground. No one saw her as she weaved through the darkness, hunting her destination. The moonlight barely lit her path as she bounded forth, her chest beating wildly. She laughed into the chilly wind of midnight, enjoying the caress of the air on her pale naked neck.
    Her footfalls slowed to a halting stop as she finally approached to a hill that overlooked the towering castle. She threw back her head, breathing heavily from the run, and called out hoarsely, "Jareth, king of the goblins, Anaerkie is on  her way!" she laughed hysterically, falling to the dew covered ground. She tossed and turned over the fallen leaves, not caring that her long silky black dress was being wrinkled horribly. She couldn't stop her laughing, and it almost scared her. Tears formed at the sides of her eyes and she quickly wiped them away.
    She gathered her shattered control, and made herself stand up on two feet. She decided to slow down her pace and walked the rest of the way to the goblin city. She soon reached the doors to goblin town and realized they were locked tight. "Damn, not the trusting one, are we Jareth?" she muttered, backing up.She backed up until she was a couple of meters away from the entrance.
    Anaerkie put one slender leg behind the other, mounting it steadily to the ground. She leaned back on it, stooped over, and then sprung forward with all her power. She took three hastey steps and then hurled her body over into rapid flips. When she was close enough, she used the ground to rebound high into the air. She hurtled over the tall wall, literally, in a single bound. Anaerkie landed with a soft thud, resembling a stealthy cat on the prowl. And in a way, she was.
    Within seconds, she was right in front of the entrance to the looming castle. It almost looked scary and alive, washed in the soft moonlight. She smirked and headed up the steps, pushing open the castle door.
   Sitting on his rugged throne, as he did quite often, was the Goblin King. He sighed as he watched the goblins all huddled on top of one another in a corner. They were fast asleep, snoring and making other disgusting noises in their peaceful slumber. He tapped his trusty cane against his thigh, contemplating how life in the kingdom was lately. His thoughts were interrupted as a young girl entered the room abruptly. She stood there, unfrightened and untimidated at him. He arched an eyebrow at the pretty young thing.
    "Can I ask who it is that has barged into my castle uninvited?" he questioned as he glanced her over. She was about five foot five or six, her body very slight. Her frame was built very angular, she reminded Jareth of a young sprite lass he'd once stolen a child from. Her hair, he confirmed, was nothing short of breathtaking. It was glossy raven black, blacker then midnight and twice as lucious. He wondered if it felt like velvet, it streamed all the way down her body to her tiny feet.
    She smiled, baring her sharp teeth, "You don't already know me?" she asked, crossing the room, "I'm hurt, Jareth. Very hurt." Jareth narrowed his glimmering eyes at her, "I should know you, huh? I suppose your some magical fey princess, eh? What a bore, spare me the details."
    She was standing, in her floor length silk gown and barefooted, right in front of Jareth. She put a hand to her hip and one finger to her full red lips, "Me? A princess? I think not...well, not yet...." she batted her large violet eyes and coyly played with a strand of ebony hair.
   Jareth glided his tongue over his teeth once and then brought his eyes to rest on the flamboyant intruder, "I suppose you have a name, right?"
    "Indeed, I am Anaerkie," she gave a mocking curtsey.
    The Goblin King raised his thin lips in an amused smirk, "Anaerkie," he pondered a moment, "You wouldn't be..."
    "Yes," she interceded, "I'm the daughter of Sylven, the infamous arch wizard and enemy of the sweety two-shoes kingdom of Syria," she wrinkled her nose up and stroked her chin, " My father mentioned you to me before he died, he said that I would find a great alliance in you...should I need one..."
    "Need it for what?" he continued to sit in a sprawled fashion over his stone throne, draping his long legs over the side.
    Anaerkie lowered her eyelids until her eyes were nothing but slits, "I need your...assistance..." she shamelessly traced the line of her cleavage with the tip of her finger,  catching the king off guard. His mouth gaped for a second, but only a second. Then he sternly looked her in the eye again, "Assistance for what?"
    Anaerkie smiled devilishly and inched closer to the king, her voice grew low and growling, "I want to revenge my father's death...I want to punish the bastards who banished him to the highlands," she cocked her head, letting her bare neck entice Jareth.
    Jareth refused to pay attention to the distraction, focusing on business, "And who would that be?"
    "The Fey kingdom of Syria, of course," she confirmed. Taking no more time, the young girl quickly climbed onto the throne, straddling Jareth with her long nimble legs.
    The Goblin King remained still, in the strange bewitching lockhold she had created. "How do you plan to punish the all-powerful Syria, love?"
    Anaerkie caressed Jareth's pallor cheek with her long nails, then moving them further south, she let them stroke his neck. Jareth laughed, "If I didn't know better, I would have sworn you liked me..."
    The girl tossed loose strands of hair over her shoulder, and brought her generous lips to his earlobe. She brushed away wisps of blonde and traced his ear with her quick-working tongue. She nibbled softly, then harshly on the senstive skin, enjoying the effect it was having on him.  Jareth reached up a gloved hand across her back and drew her slightly closer.
    Anaerkie put her lips to his ear again, "you know I love bad little boys like you," she breathed heavily, "And the plan that I have is very simple. You are aware of the oh-so-virgin princess Adeline, yes?"
    Jareth nodded, painfully  enjoying this woman's hot breath on him. He cleared his throat "What of her?"
    Anaerkie continued, "She is the daughter of that pathetic king Tristan, the one who had my father killed. She is the same age as me...she's beautiful, sweet, gentle, it's enough to make you slit your own wrist. Adeline is the apple of her father's eye, he'd simply die if something happened to her."
    Jareth was now hooked, "You are quite the future evil antagonist, aren't you?" he smiled, smirking at her through mocking aqua blue eyes.
   Anaerkie repositioned her slender body until her face was parallel to Jareth's. She once again surprised him as she roughly bit his bottom lip. He could only respond by gathering her up and using the tip of his own tongue to push against her lips. She reached a hand to where his poet's blouse  ended in a v-neck opening. Anaerkie pushed against his chest and trailed her fingers all the way down until she was pushing against the lowest part of his abdomen. Then, swiftly as a thief, she stuck her hands into the king's spidery gray tights. Reaching down and manuevering her hand, Anaerkie's heart raced faster and faster, as did the surprised king's.
    The Goblin King let out unintentional groan as Anaerkie grabbed his manhood in her hand. Throbbing, she held it in her hand and proceeded to squeeze until Jareth bit his own lip. She kept it firmly held by her caressing hand, until finally Jareth bit his pale lip so hard that a tiny trickly of blood slid down his chin unto his neck.She slid out her hand slowly, scratching up his flat stomach with her nails. Anaerkie let out a deep throaty laugh, Jareth raised both eyebrows at her.
    "Something tells me you're already well-practiced at this," he quipped, resisting an urge to grab the girl and carry her to his bedchambers. "But a king doens't just have sex with everything and everyone  that just  happens into his kingdom," he thought to himself, "No matter how incredibly enticing she may be," he added as he watched her smile down at him from her perch.
    The Goblin King took his index finger and lifted Anaerkie's chin,"How can I help you in your plan?"
    Anaerkie pulled her legs from around Jareth and crossed them until she was sitting Indian style. "Adeline is a virgin with the purest of hearts. And she has made a vow to remain chaste for the rest of her life... loser, isn't she? Anyway, the reason for this is because only as a virgin can she have her magical powers. And her powers are what protect and run Syria, not that weakling of a king."
    Jareth nodded, understanding, "So what your saying, is that if this girl should be um...deflowered...she would no longer have powers and neither would Syria?"
    "Correct, and without powers, Syria will fall faster then you can say, 'Ta-ta bitch.'" she threw her head back and laughed. Jareth eyed her with both intrigue and disgust. "She's obviously not completely there," he observed, "But then again-who is?"
    "You," she jabbed his chest with her finger, "Have a very important job in this plan..." Anaerkie closened to his ear again, she cupped her hand and breathed in his ear,"All you have to do is merely get her to say those nifty words of yours and then seduce her before she is rescued...it's really quite simple."
    Jareth snapped Anaerkie's head to face him, "What do I get from all of this?"
    Anaerkie fluttered her eyes, "Well, besides helping me....when I conquer Syria, you may turn all the children of the village into goblins and make them your minions," she twined her fingers through his front bangs, "Whatdya' say?"
    The Goblin King thought over the plan a moment, wondering if it was  worth angering a kingdom in the chance he might get new additions to the labyrinth. He finally made a decision, "It's a deal."
    Anaerkie clapped her hands together happily, "Goody!" She flowered his brow with kisses and didn't withdraw until he finally urged her off with  his hands. She jumped up from her sitting place and danced around the  throne room, swinging her black gown around her merrily.
    Jareth touched his forehead with his fingertips and wondered what he'd  just gotten himself into.
 

Part 2: "Perfect Angels"

    Dawn broke across the eastern fae sky and washed beautiful pale orange light over the landscape of Syria. The King watched from the balcony that overlooked his kingdom, his immortal wife Gaera by his side. They both smiled at each other and held hands lovingly.
    "She's eighteen, can you believe it?" King Tristan looked proudly over his kingdom as his wife squeezed his hand.
    Gaera sighed, "Yes, sweet little Adeline...our perfect angel, she's a woman now. Tristan-" she turned to her husband, "Do you know how hard it must be for her to ignore love...to ignore men completely?"
    Tristan nodded, "Quite so, but Adeline is a self dependent young woman and-and" he searched his mind for something to add to his side of the
    Gaera took her hand out of Tristan's and laid it on the railing, "Yes, but powers or no powers, she must be terribly lonely. Goodness knows she's already forced even us away from her! She stays locked up in that bedroom of hers practicing magic and reading those stupid books of hers."
    The king started to say something and then decided against it. He twirled around and headed out of the room.
    Gaera raised an eyebrow, "Where are you heading off to?"
    Tristan smiled, "We must make sure the royal chef is preparing a wonderful banquet for Adeline's party tonight!"
    The queen shook her head, "You know she won't want to attend-I don't see why your so bent on her having a party anyway...you know, your as hardheaded as she is!"
    Tristan ignored her comment and strode out of the room and towards the kitchen. He would take out his anger on the servants, like he always did. Queen Gaera sighed once again and went to her large closet to find a suitable gown for that day.
 
  ****

    "Imeria, Emer, Baskiaus!"
    A large puff of smoke filled the room until the young girl was coughing violently.
    "Shoot!" yelled Adeline, throwing her hands in her hair, "That spell should have worked! What am I doing wrong?"
    The raven-haired princess shrugged and dusted off her ruffled purple gown. It was a simple gown really, no puffy sleeves or frills, Adeline liked it that way. She hated the stereotype princess-pretty in pink little dolls who had nothing better to do than go to socials and drool over Prince Charmings.
    "I wonder if there is a Prince Charming for me?" she had asked herself many times, but then she'd laugh, "Even if there were-I wouldn't be able to return his love. I will remain chaste until the day I die, for my powers and the safety of my kingdom is much more valuable."
    Adeline fingered the golden necklace around her pale swan neck, "How I wish it wasn't my birthday," she muttered. She grabbed the hem of her dress and walked over to her large oak dresser. She spotted wha she was looking for-her lucky crystal. She tucked the azure blue shard into a pocket in the dress, and headed out of her room. She knew that her father and mother would be expecting her at a Royal birthday breakfast.
    Putting on a happy face, Adeline made her way to the kitchen. She grasped the crystal in her pocket, "I sometimes wish I lived far away from here..."

***
    The king of the goblins laughed to himself as he spied through the girl's open window. He knew that this girl was going to be a fun challenge, maybe even a dangerous one. She had great magic, and he knew she wasn't far behind in being as great a sorcerer as he. But he knew that he could easily get the job done. In his owl form, he sat perched on the ledge, watching and waiting. Then he saw Adeline run from the room, leaving him alone.
    The owl glided to the stone floor of the bedroom and transformed to his dual from, a tall blonde male with a permanent smirk playing on his lips. Jareth looked around the room and smiled, "She has taste," he admitted as he took in every detail. A large canopy bed with purple satin sheets sat caddy-cornered against the wall, and next to that was a large mother-of-pearl cabinet and matching dresser. He smiled at all the tiny crystal balls that sat on cushions upon the dresser.
    "So much aspiration for such a tiny thing..." he mumbled. Then Jareth turned to the humongous shelves lining the opposite wall. He  was there in two long steps, quickly scanning the Princess's collection of books. He read the labels with much intrest, "Grim's Fairy Tales...Snow White and the Seven Dwarves....Tom Sawyer..." he smiled, "She must have gotten those from the mortal world."
    The Goblin king looked right and left deftly and then slipped a thin paperback book into the stack alongside the others. He caressed the books spine, reading it's name, "The Labyrinth." His shining eyes twinkled with pride, he didn't know how or why that book mattered so much, it was hard to remember after so many centuries as king of the goblins. But he knew it was his greatest weapon in getting people to say, 'the words.' He only hoped that Adeline's imagination was as strong as Sarah's.
    "Sarah" he mouthed bitterly as he remebered the young girl, her tiny chin set strongly and her eyes locked on his, "But that is past-and this is now. No time for reminiscing." The Goblin king shifted into fowl form within a moment's time. He flew from the room with one thought in his mind, "This time will be different, I will win in the end....." The owl's wings flapped vigoursly, gliding the frail frame of the bird across the morning sky.

****

    Anaerkie smiled. She twirled a lock of hair around her finger and laughed outloud, "It has begun!" she screamed to the shadows that watched from the corners. In her hidden underground home, Anaerkie watched all the events happening in Syria from a crystal she had pick-pocketed off of Jareth. She threw her head back happily, "Father shall be revenged!"
 

Part 3: "Beware of Strangers"

    "Tick, Tick, Tick.." the clock finally hit midnight and bonged twelve times as the crowd cheered. Adeline sighed as everyone began to sing a horrendous version of "Happy Birthday" and all clamored up to give her a hug and kiss. She pushed back the hair that was now stuck to her damp forehead, "I need to get out of here, it's too stuffy," she muttered to the person nearest to her.
    Adeline quickly weaved her way through the maze of joyful dancers, meanwhile she had to keep all the enthusiastic party-goers at bay. She finally was out of the ballroom and into the refreshing cool air of the castle's hallway.
    The princess wiped her forehead again and ran to her room.
    "My only true sanctuary," she sighed as she pushed open the large wooden door and slipped inside. She padded to her bed and plopped down, exhausted from a night of fake smiles and forced dancing.
    Adeline suddenly sat up, "Did I hear an owl hooting?" she mumbled outloud. She glanced out her open window, "There aren't owls in these parts.." she finally shrugged her thin shoulders.
    The Princess laid back and closed her eyes,she tried despartely to go to sleep but to no avail. Finally, she sat up and thought of things to do.
    "I could always go back to the dance.." she thought, "Nah...I'd rather be crushed beneath a spiked boulder."
    Adeline's eyes  drifted over her room until they rested on her large bookcase, "That's it!" she smiled, getting up quickly, "I'll read a book."
    The girl sifted through all her favourite books but then she stopped in midair.
    "I've never seen you before," she muttered as she pulled out the small red book from it's place. She stroked the cover and read the title.
    "The Labyrinth..." she wrinkled her nose, "Odd title, but I'm sure it's very intresting."
    Adeline tucked the small book beneath her arm and headed to her bed. Laying down, she brought the book close to her face and began to read.

****

    Adeline's eyes were still wide open, though she'd been reading nonstop for hours. The princess still gripped the small red book in her pale hands, never once had she put it down.
    And then the girl read the very last sentence in the story, she shut the book hestiantly and stared at her ceiling.
    "What an amazing story," she mouthed, still entranced at the magical tale
she had spent the whole night reading.
    With her raven tresses spilling over the satin pillow, Adeline shifted to lay on her side. She sat "The Labyrinth" book beside her stomach. The girl could not seem to get over the story, she thought she'd never escape it's captivating spell.
    "Whoooo..."
    Adeline's head snapped to attention, "Who's there?"
    "Whooo...whoooo..."
    The princess looked out the window and realized an owl was perched on the ledge, watching her every movement.
    "Oh my! I have an audience!" the princess chuckled as she got up in front of the owl. She curtsied to the floor mockingly, "Your highness....you do not charm me...." she smiled impishly and patted down her hair, "Still, you must forgive my appearance, for I didn't know of your arrival....what's that? You'd like to dance? Of course, my king!"
    Adeline began to dance around the room swiftly, turning in wide circles until she fell over in dizzy laughter. The owl cocked his head and stared at her.
    "Maybe I should call on the goblins like the princess in the story did," Adeline said aloud, causing the owl to raise it's wings and flap them once.
    She smiled, "Very well....GOBLIN KING, GOBLIN KING, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE..." she stopped in midsentence, "Oh my, I don't have a child to wish away!"
    Adeline thought a moment, "I suppose I could wish myself away..but how would I do that? What do I say?"
    From somewhere, the goblins' ears perked up. One of the small scraggly ones spoke up, "Just say 'I wish the goblins would come and take me away, right now! shessh..these girls just get dumber and dumber!"
    Adeline touched her forehead slowly,"Where did that come from,"she wondered, recalling the words. She looked at the owl and then at her door, "Well, I wish the goblins would come and take me away..." she sat down on her bed, "...right now."
    A clap of thunder startled the black-haired girl and nearly made her fall from her perch on the edge of the bed. Adeline tried to slow her racing heartbeat, but then strong wind howled into the room and blew out the candle that lit the room.
    Encased in darkness, Adeline shivered and laughed nervously, "One would think the wish had worked."
    A low laugh came from somewhere in the darkness. The hairs on Adeline's neck prickled and she gasped, "Who's there! Show yourself!"
    The same deep seductive voice rose from the shadows,"You know who I am, or don't you?"
    The princess started for the door slowly, "You tell me!"
    Another clap of thunder boom was followed by  a streak of lighting that illuminated the room, allowing Adeline to see the stranger for a split second.
    And that split second made her throat go dry. He was standing with two long arms crossed, his body positioned so that he looked both menacing and gentle. Dressed strangely, he wore a deep blue cape that billowed around his sharp square shoulders. His chest was covered with a type of hard metal armor that Adeline had never seen. His face, the strangest card in the deck, was thin, long, and elfin , with tall arched eyebrows and an aristocratic nose and chin. His smile, she noted nervously, was curved viciously upwards. Bright white teeth shined from the darkness, revealing two sharp piercing fangs.
    "I am," he drawled out as he advanced on her, "everything you ever dreamed of."
    Adeline backed up against the stone wall, she raised her chin into the air, "Yeah, well nightmares are dreams too."
    Jareth laughed and closened, "Now that's a very witty remark, there's nothing like a beautiful young girl with quick wit," he placed a gloved hand on her trembling shoulder, "Do I frighten you?"
    Adeline swallowed and looked up into his eyes. She made mental note that his eyes were odd and then she managed to force herself to glare at him, "Of course not, and you better leave right now...before guards come in here and take you to the dungeon."
    Jareth nodded, "Oh, and I am deathly frightened of that threat, my love...but now it's time for me too escort you, with my goblin minions help, to the labyrinth."
    Adeline's eyes widened, "Are you trying to say you're *him*, you're *the* goblin king...from the book! That's impossibe, that's-"
    He cut her off, "Nothing's impossible, dear." He reached out a hand and stroked her cheek, "You can call me Jareth, after all, you will be at my castle for quite some time. Forever, in fact."
    Adeline jerked her head away from his touch, "Lay one hand on me, and I'll scream. I'll wake up the entire kingdom if I have to! And they'll be here before you can blink!"
    "Oh you will, will you?" Jareth mocked. Then he grabbed her wrist and led her to the window.
     Adeline drew in a breath and began to scream. But it was swifty cut off as the goblin king covered her mouth with his. The muffled scream died out in Adeline's throat as Jareth  pushed his lips over hers rapidly. The princess unwillingly found  her own lips responding to this new sensation, never before had she been in contact with a man, much less one like this! She parted her lips as the goblin king grasped the sides of her face in his. He moved his lips up her face until they were at her ear. He breathed heavily, causing Adeline's heart to quicken.
    "Never defy me again, Adeline, I hate to think what I'd have to do to you if you did," he laughed softly and backed away from her. Adeline felt her cheeks flush as a million emotions surged through her body: rage, lust, confusion, hatred, shame...she bit her lip as tears began to streak down her face, "How dare you do that to me!"
    The goblin king turned his back to her and shouted, "It's time." Soon goblins from every corner of the room scurried out and surrounded Adeline. She tried not to shriek and failed miserably.
    "What the hell are those- those horrid things!"
    Jareth laughed, "They're goblins, dear. Don't you know anything?"
    Adeline swatted at one of them as it grasped her leg, but it did not good as soon all of them began to pull her down to the floor. She screamed her lungs out through her sobbing, she kicked her legs trying to knock their hold of her off. "LET ME GO!!" she pleaded.
    Shrill laughter of goblins filled the room as they dragged her out the window and unto the ledge. Absently, Adeline realized that Jareth had brought a storm with him.
    "Just to impress me and show off," she mumbled wryly, as she continued to fidget in the strong grasp of the goblins. Within seconds, Jareth had sent several  crystals flying into the air. The shining orbs pulsated and glowed as they encircled the goblins and Adeline.  The last thing Adeline remembered before blacking out was the beautiful crystals coming closer and closer to her.

    Jareth watched as his crystals entrapped his minions and Adeline. Just as planned, they floated through the air towards the far off labyrinth. The king closed his eyes and transformed. With ivory feathers fluttering in the cold wind, he followed the soaring orbs until he could see his magnificent kingdom on the horizon.
 

Part 4:  "Are We Having Fun Yet?"
 

    Shadows danced across the wall, shrieks of maddening laughter filled the air, and a single girl sat cowering on the floor. She crossed her arms around herself protectively and buried her hanging  head in her lap.
    "You really shouldn't ruin such a lovely dress," Jareth's voice caught her attention.
    Adeline looked up at him and around herself, she hadn't remembered the exact moment she'd been released from the crystal. But now it appeared she was in the castle at the center of the labyrinth, Adeline remembered the book well, knowing at once that this was the destination so many seeked in a grueling journey. She gathered herself up and all the dignity she'd kept in tact, and looked him in the eye, "What are you planning to do to me?" her voice quivered only slightly.
    The Goblin king nodded, amused. "Yes-what shall I do with you?"
    The two locked in a powerful gaze-her violet hued eyes burning into his cruelly mocking ones. Finally, Adeline broke the stare and turned to observe the throne room.
    Adeline suddenly had an idea, she whirled around and stormed towards Jareth, "So *this* is my home? This ramshackle dump? I order you to have your minions clean it at once. A princess deserves no less."
    Jareth's eyebrows shot up just as Adeline had expected. He rose out of his throne and circled the princess with a confused smirk on his lips.
    "So I take it that you've excepted your new quarters...I expected you to whine, pout, and yell a wee bit more...but very well. But even if this is your new home, it is *my* kingdom and my castle and," he closened near her face and put a hand on her shoulder, "My rules."
    Adeline stiffened. She shook off his shoulder and threw her arms up, "I refuse to live in such a horrendous environment, do you know how much you've let this place go?" she grinned, "Tell me, Goblin king, how can it be that you care so much about your appearance and so little about your castle?"
    Jareth was once again taken back, but he covered up with a false superior smile, "Tell me, Princess, how can it be  that you care so much about pathetic magic tricks, and so little about your love life?"
    The girl tried to conceal the slicing pain that cut her heart with that comment. She looked away and concentrated on the hard stone floor, willing away the tears that were forming.
    The Goblin king knew he'd one the first of many battles, but the war had just begun. So he took her hand and gently pulled her down a corridor.
    "Where are you taking me?" she murmured as they both strode past door after door.
    Finally they stopped in front of a large oak door with  golden gilt doorknobs jutting from it. Jareth looked down at Adeline with a face blank of emotions, "This is your bedroom, you may have free range of the castle. In fact, I encourage it. But I ask that you not journey out of Goblin Town, because you would never come back."
    "Wouldn't...or Couldn't..." Adeline accidentally mumbled aloud.
    The king smiled suddenly and opened the door. "Both" he replied. He ushered her inside and then slowly closed the door behind her.
    "Wait,"she protested hesitantly.
    Jareth cocked his head,"Yes, what is it?"
    Adeline shrugged,"Nothing. Nothing at all."
    The princess watched as Jareth closed the large door completely, sealing her inside her new tomb.
    Adeline twirled around and gasped at her new bedroom, "It's beautiful..Jareth must have decorated it." she realized grudingly, then she was angry with herself for thinking that.
    The girl shook all her thoughts and simply stood to drink in her surroundings. A humongous sturdy bed with silky black and silver sheets loomed against the right wall, next to it sat a shiny dark  dresser with several gems flecked and embedded in the rich marble. And on the smooth white stone walls were several tapestries and paintings. Adeline admired one in particular, it was a large weaved picture of several women and creatures all collaged into one magnificent scene. One woman was very young, with dark ebony locks. Another girl had a fiery red streaked mane,
    Suddenly Adeline was angered, "That must be his past 'conquests'," she paced the room in a state of rage, "Impudent bastard....my plan to get under his skin and annoy him is obviously not going to work..."
    Adeline's face quickly morphed into a happy grin, "I guess I'll just have to go with plan B."

*******

    A deafining screech broke the blessed silence of midnight and startled the goblin king out of bed.
    "What, huh?" he mumbled as he blinked his eyes, trying to wake up. He looked around his dark room and saw no one.
    Just then a slender figure pounced into the air and landed atop the suprised goblin king.
    Anaerkie grabbed his face between her hands,"You idiot!"she hissed,"You fraggin' ass!"
    "Get off of me!"commanded the king, knocking the girl off her perch and unto the floor.
    She quickly leaped from her fallen position and put her hands on her hips,"What were you thinking?"she demanded.
    The king arched an eyebrow,"About what, love?I haven't the faintest notion of what your screaming about."
    Anaerkie balled her fist,"You're suppose to be trying and *seduce* her, not piss her off!!"
    The king laughed,"Oh, been spying have we?"he rose from bed and straightened his mangled black satin tunic.
    Suddenly Anaerkie burst out in raptous giggling,"What the hell are you wearing, Jareth?"
    He looked down and smoothed the fabric of the long shirt and matching pants,"Their called nightclothes, ever head of them?...you know, you sleep in them."
    Anaerkie traced his chin with her finger,"I don't need sleep, honey."she lifted her two middle fingers and grabbed his elegant nose between them.
    The perplexed king lowered his eyebrows and gave her an annoyed stare. The black-haired girl squeezed his nose and then pulled her long fingers away.
    "Got your nose!"she chided, sticking her thumb between two fingers.
    The king sighed,"Anaerkie, you really should grow up....your almost, what? two, three hundred years old."
    The girl pretened to pout and playfully swatted his chest,"You are so mean, you know that,"she propped her elbow up on his shoulder blade,"But I guess that's what makes you so damn likeable."
    Jareth couldn't help but smile and he mockingly patted Anaerkie on her head.
    "Yes, yes," he cooed, "Now go home nice little girl, big bad goblin king will have the job done within a month's time."
    Anaerkie's mouth gaped open, "Month? Month! It must be a week, no later than that, it's out of the question."
    "Why such a rush?"
    She lowered the tone of her voice and whispered, "Because, dear one, the king will have traced her here by then. And therefore have *rescued* her before the dirty deed is done."
    Jareth nodded tiredly, "Very well...it shall be done. Good night." He started to climb back into bed.
    Anaerkie put a hand to her cheek,"What, no goodnight kiss for a business associate? Really, Jareth, you should be friendlier with clients."
    The king leaned over and kissed Anaerkie's alabaster forehead,"Like I said, Good night, that it be morrow...parting is such sweet sorrow."
    Anaerkie sighed,"Don't be corny. Quoting Shakespeare is so..so..passe,"the girl hid a sharp pain that had hit her chest, a feeling she'd never felt. He'd actually treated her like someone he wouldn't kill for another bag of gold. He could've taken her, or done whatever he wanted. But he'd simply kissed her head as if it was the most exotic place he could have chosen.
    Anaerkie bit her lip and gave a small wave, then she hardened her senses. "Don't forget your job,"she stated,"one week..."
    The girl gave one last glance at Jareth, who'd already taken his place back on the dark silk sheets. She sprinted from the room and back into the night.
    "Such a fooled heart,"she called into the darkness, not sure who she'd just described.
 

Part 5:  "And I'm the Queen of England"

    Adeline punched her fist into the stone wall again, "Owww, Damn that hurt!" she scowled, and she drew her fist back and rammed it into the wall again. She finally halted, and looked down at her now bloody knuckles.
   Adeline let out a sigh, she was going mad in this castle, sometimes she thought she would kill herself. It's not that Jareth was being particularly cruel, she was just so damn frustrated with everything. Her plan B, which was to try and overpower the king with her own magic abilities, had not worked at all. In fact, it was disasterous. She'd hurled a white orb high into the air and chanted her spell, but the king merely flicked his wrist and made the orb burst into a million shimmers. "Little girls shouldn't play with fire," he'd said, laughing. Adeline found herself scowling again.
    Wiping off the grimy battered hand, the princess laid back on her bed and sighed, "Wonder what his highness is doing now.." she mumbled wearily. Adeline closed her eyes and let the serene eerie quietness of the castle encase her completely.
    "I must get home," she thought in this state of meditation, "I have to get home to my kingdom before someone takes advantage of Syria."
    The click of sharp heels made Adeline's violet eyes shoot open wide. She looked to the entrance of her room and saw Jareth with his arms crossed.
    "Evening," he said with a faint smirk.
    Adeline sat up off her bed and ignored the king, she braided her hair and hummed an old song. After minutes of stiff, rigid, silence, the girl looked up to see he was still standing there in the doorway.
    "Fine, what do you want?" she snapped.
    Jareth whirled around and strode from the room hastely. "Follow me," he called sternly.
    Adeline crossed her legs on the bed and arched an eyebrow, "Who does he think he is, anyway?"
    The king reappeared in her bedroom after several minutes, he angrily walked over to the bed and grabbed the girl's wrist.
    "I said, come on," he said as politely as he could, an annoyed grin plastered on his face.
    Adeline haughtily puckered her lips, taunting the king, "Say please."
    Jareth groaned angrily, "I will not, now get out of that bed before I send my goblins in here to do it for you!"
    The princess frowned a bit, but then stood up and let the king lead her out of the room. Once outside the doorway, he let go of the grasp on her hand.
    "As I said before," he smiled slightly, "Follow me."
    Adeline tried not to whimper as she scuffled behind the swift moving goblin king.
    "Where are we going," she said, quickening her pace to match that of her leader.
    Jareth glanced back at her a brief moment, "You'll see."
 
******

    Anaerkie twisted a lock of her hair this way and that, she finally let it fall against her bare shoulder.
    "He better make with the lethal charm," she hissed bitterly as watched from her stolen crystal. The dark-haired woman suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. She twirled around angrily, "What is it?!" she screeched.
    The tiny shaggy creature took a frightened step backwards. He held out a parchment roll tied with a black satin ribbon.
    Anaerkie smiled and snatched the parchment from the creature, she whacked the messanger goblin away with her black gloved hand. Unrolling it, she held it under the weak light of the wicker candle that sat on a nearby table.
    "Anaerkie, I am closening to our goal-fear not, I have not forgotten the bargain. Today, I have something very special in mind for my guest. She will be invited to a huge celebration that I will throw. All my other guests are merely my goblins in glamour disguise. They will help me weave a dillusional ballroom, and I plan to have Adeline dance until past midnight. Then I will offer her a "special" drink, and let things fall where they may. By tomorrow, the kingdom of Syria will no longer have it's lovely virgin princess. Then you can do what you like, I will expect my payment of subjects immeadiantly. Love, Jareth." she read the last of the letter and crumpled it up. She threw the wad of paper unto the underground cave's floor and sat back in her chair.
    "It's almost time, father," she whispered to herself, "Soon I'll have a
world in the palm of my hand. And my bitch of a cousin will be a wilted,
deflowered disgrace to her people."
    Anaerkie felt a deep unsupressed laugh surge through her, within moments she was laughing so hard that tears streaked down her white cheeks.