I stalked around the throne room getting a little worried. Jareth had been gone for three hours already and the sun was beginning to set in the Underground. He had better not tricked me as he did most his subjects.

The throne room was made out of a sandstone blocks and there was a giant, regal chair in the back center of the room.

I was losing my patience fast, and I ran my fingers shakily through my hair. Where is that fool? Just as I was about to leave, Jareth arrived holding a frail girl in his arms.

"This dove yours?" he asked coming slightly closer to me.

I rushed towards him and loomed over the girl in his arms.

"My Christine..." I smiled as I took her away from Jareth and held her close to me.

"What a gentle thing... she ran as fast as her little legs could, but she didn't get very far." Jareth let out a laugh, "A very precious soul isn't she?"

I snarled at him. "We will not be putting her in the dungeon, Jareth. She's... special."

"And you don't think Sarah is special to me?" he raised his tone at me, "I keep her there to keep her in line. If a dove has too much freedom it will fly away, but a caged dove has nowhere to go."

His words were heartfelt I knew, but was it the best way to go about this? My thoughts were dismissed through by the stirring of Christine.

"Teleport her to one of the empty cells." I hesitantly said, "Make sure Raoul is far away from hers as well."

Then with a flick of Jareth's wrist she was gone. This didn't alarm me, because him and I went back to my childhood. He appeared to me while I was still being tortured in the traveling circus...

*Flashback*

The cage seemed smaller than before. Perhaps the fair had traded me to another circus like they did on occasion, but that was not the case. I heard my master snickering with the ringmaster last night as to what new profit they could make of me.

While they talked my imagination started to wander as I hummed out one of the ghostly melodies in my mind. My hands worked on a monkey of some straw and cloth. It was to be my only salvation in this lowly place, except for music of course.

Suddenly, a menacing owl flew over my cage. I hurried to the other corner away from it, because the owl would surely mistake me for a rotting corpse. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened. It flew towards the cage with its talons out, and I shielded my face waiting for the owl to strike, but it never came.

"You can open your eyes now."

Shakily my hands moved away from my face. There was a tall man standing in front of me with a wicked grin on his face.

"Who are you?" I asked still trembling.

"My name is Jareth and you..." he peered down at me, "Must be the devil's child."

I hung my head in shame. My face was always a tender subject.

"Don't worry, I've seen much worse. You are no devil or demon, but perhaps a misunderstood genius."

I perked up at his statement and Jareth was fiddling with something in his hands. My eyes widened. It was my monkey companion or Nadir as I liked to call him.

"Give that back!" I wailed.

"How could such a young lad create such a detailed toy." he said paying no attention to my cry.

He then smiled and tossed me my creation back.

"You've got quite a talent. How about I make you a deal?"

I eyed him nervously.

"Do not worry it's a good one that will benefit us both. I will find a way to ensure your freedom, but in return you must design me a building blueprint once you are set free."

"What kind of structure?" I stepped closer eager to find out his answer.

"A mighty labyrinth, that would be the most horrifying and challenging maze that no one dare enter it and make it to the end."

My heart leapt for joy. This was chance to escape this living Hell! The labyrinth would be mere child's play to draw out.

"It's a deal."

*End Of Flashback*

"She'll be fine, Eric." Jareth reassured me, "In time she will learn to love you."

I didn't need his

reassurance. Christine would soon see who she belonged to.

Quickly my feet carried me downstairs to the dungeon below. They didn't know of a hidden passage way through the left corner of the wall. I slipped through it and made my way inside. The other prisoners were sound asleep except one cell at the other end. Soft cries were coming from it and that's when I knew it was my Christine.

"Let me out... please..." she spoke through tears.

I strode to the cell and peered inside. Christine was curled up into a ball next to the bed. I wanted more than anything to comfort her and hold her in my arms. Though I couldn't, because Jareth was right, I needed her to see who's master.

"Christine..." I said

smoothly.

Her head raised a little and she stared straight at me, her eyes red from weeping.

"E-Eric? Is that you?"

It felt good to hear her voice again.

"It is I, my angel. I'm here."

Her face went pale and even more tears spouted from her eyes. Had I upset her?

"How could you do this to me?" she choked.

I shook my head vigorously.

"You chose this Christine. You chose that... fop over me, and so now this must be how it is. If you cooperate and learn from your mistakes... we can be happy. Together."

Tears ran down my cheeks as well. Even the thought overjoyed me. Christine Destler. She was mine and I would be hers if she only knew how much I cared for her, and would obey. She would obey me, this I knew.