Author : Jade

Title : Jareth's Death?

Summary : Response to one of "Easy" Essy's challenges.

Disclaimer : I don't claim anything except the small plot. Henson owns anything Labyrinth related. If I did, I'd have a sequel by now!

<<<"SO FAR TO FALL CHALLENGE"
You have to do one (or more) of the following:
* Kill him
* Take his magic away permanently
* Make him lose his throne
* Have him end up being just a figment of Sarah's warped imagination 
after all.
* Render him impotent in some other way.>>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"There now," she whispered softly, pulling the leather strap tightly
around his ankle to make escape futile.  "Awe, this won't hurt a bit, I
promise."  

Looking up into her eyes, he could see the vicious intent that trawled
through that brain of hers.  How could he have been so blinded by her
beauty?  All the time he devoted himself solely to her.  His
throne...given up because of her.  A woman was a terrible enemy that men
should be wary of, and yet he couldn't help himself.

Walking a few feet away, her hand fell to the counter top.  With a smile,
she picked up the object of her desire and slowly turned around, to face a
startled pair of eyes.  "You know, I could have killed you so easily with
a simple spell as I did your magic and your," she paused slightly, smiling
wickedly at the thought then continued, "gift.  But no. . . I wanted to do
it myself," she looked him over closely.  "Isn't it amazing how the tables
turn?"

"What are you going to do with that?" he asked softly, eyeing the sharp
metal blade.  Suppressing a shiver of fear, he knew it was too late for
him.  He knew this was his time. . . his time for death.  The icy breath
beckoned to him as she stepped closer.   

"I'm sure you can figure it out," she replied, her grin widening.  The
wicked look in her eyes left little to the imagination as the tip of the
blade fell against his chest.  "Jareth, Jareth, Jareth. . ." she said,
toying with him as she slid the blade down his chest, cutting the fabric
of his shirt.  "Careful, we don't want me to make a mistake, do we?"  

Jareth's breaths were short, as his frenzied thoughts ran wild at just
what she would do.  Was it not enough that he'd already been broken, his
will snapped into a million pieces and just because of her.  Even physical
pleasure had taken a toll to her misguided vengeance.  Worn out and
incapable of love except on rare occasion, he wouldn't forgive her.  That
fateful spell stripped him of his manliness.  

Catching her eyes, he wondered if he could bargain with her.  Something,
anything she wanted. . . for his life?  The cool metal blade touched his
skin and he jumped.  

"Oops," she snickered, his red blood flowing from the wound.  "Now, I told
you to be careful," she grinned.

"I'll give you anything, please?" he said, feeling the blade moving back
upwards.   

"There is one thing," she whispered, kneeling at his side.  Quickly, she
kissed his lips one last time.  Pulling away, she silently stood up, her
eyes taking on a darker look, an evil look.  With a grin, she held the
knife at the ready, slowly lowering it to hover above his chest.  "Your
life."

Jareth gasped as the sudden realization of the statement sunk into him.  

Without a word, she struck, sinking the blade deep in the pale flesh
without resistance.  As his screams of agony turned to mild gurgled
whimpers, she took a step back to admire her handiwork.  She watched with
fascination as his chest raised and lowered for the last time.  His breath
had finally stopped, and she smiled.  Once and for all, the man of her
imagination had finally been banished.  She was now free.  

"Sarah?" a voice broke her thought, making her glance up from the book she
was reading.  

"Yeah?" she whispered, acknowledging her father standing there. 

"Are you going to read all night?" he asked, an amused smile crossing his
face.  "You get so wound up in your books, you'd think them real
sometimes." 

Sitting up in her chair, she closed the pages.  She knew where her father
was coming from.  With a smile, she had to admit he was right.  Her
imagination carried her away most times, and even this last one had her so
into the story she hadn't realized she was being called.  "I'm sorry," she
apologized, then continued, "I'm glad that I've not met the man in this
book though.  This Jareth was so evil. . ." she trailed off.  Yes,
imagination is a good thing to have, as long as you don't forget what is
real, and what is just fantasy.