I've had this idea for some time now, but never could put the pieces together. I am going to be taking a few creative liberties with this story, and in this particular story, aboveground Jareth looks very similar to Bowie via The Hunger. David Darling is one of my favorite cellist, so his music is serving as a soundtrack of sorts for this story. The title of each chapter will come from his discography. I hope to update once or twice a week, but I'm a full time student. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

The dream never changed.

He walked towards her, but she never acknowledged his presence. Her back always faced him, and she wore a peacock blue dress that fell to her ankles. Her brown locks were in a loose updo, showcasing her graceful neck. He could only describe her as a swan in human form. Jareth could feel his fingers tracing her spine, even though he was at least twenty feet away from her. Slowly, he got closer to her, but it felt as if he was floating towards her rather than walking. He never called her name. There was never a need to because instinct told him she was Sarah Williams, the elusive creature that outwitted him eight years ago.

As he kept getting closer, his heartbeat picked up in anticipation of what awaited him. Would she welcome him? Would she reject him yet again? Just as he was close enough to run his fingers through her hair, he indulged in running his fingertips along the back of her neck. Would she finally turn around? Would she finally end the ceaseless torture? Would she accept him?

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

No. Not tonight.

As always, the obnoxious sound of the alarm bell ended the dream. Jareth was never fond of rising early in the morning, but adaptation was something he prided himself on. Stretching his arms and limbs, Jareth looked out the window of to see the skyscrapers of New York City greet him. His luxurious rental at the Gramercy Park hotel was a thing to be envied, and it was an unspoken requirement that the king of the underground would have only the best of the aboveground during his quest.

Here, he was Seth Carrington, a force to be reckoned with in the world of corporate law. At least, that was the story he fed to those he knew he was never going to meet again. New York City was huge, and Jareth wasn't someone who believed in coincidences and chance meetings. If anyone ever asked, Mr. Carrington was simply a transient from London here temporarily on business.

It was a quest that had taken him away from his kingdom for 312 days - no 313 days now. In a perfect world, his kingdom and labyrinth would run itself, but Jareth left it in a state of stasis the moment he stepped foot into the world inhabited by weak mortals and their everyday struggles. When he returned, everything would go back to normal.

Walking into the bathroom, Jareth relieved his bladder before giving himself a look over in the mirror. It took a while for him to get used to the short blond hair. A few physical characteristics were altered, thanks to magic, and it surprised him to think that he was now used to this particular look. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, Jareth inhaled and exhaled as he thought about his agenda for the day. Rolling his head from side to side, Jareth mentally mapped out the places he was sure he would see Sarah in her natural element.

Humans called it stalking, but he simply chose to refer to it as going after what was rightfully his.

He remembered that day as if it happened yesterday, but he hated to think about such things. The more he thought about it, the more he resented Sarah Williams. "Hate" was too strong of a word to use, but "bitterness" was too sweet. He felt like a scolded child who didn't get what he wanted at a party. Yes, Jareth was once charmed by her resilient will, but now it was time for the collector to claim the prize.

The rejection still tasted bitter, but time had a way of allowing Jareth a particular modicum of perspective. She was too young and immature with the ways of the world, but he wanted her the moment she wished her brother away. It was such a pity, but he didn't know if it was for her or himself. She was an enigma just out of his reach. The time apart allowed Jareth to realize that his fascination stemmed from her defeat of his labyrinth, but he couldn't think of a more worthy opponent to remain by his side.

He was willing to offer her his kingdom, his devotion, his love, and his body… but she turned it all down. No, she turned HIM down, and no one simply turned him down.

Years had since passed, but whoever coined the cliché of time healing all wounds never met Jareth. (Humans and their tacky sayings.) Every warm body he sought comfort in was a reminder of what he truly wanted but could never have. At first it was meaningless sex with fair folk and changelings who resembled her, but then it became too much to bear. Soon, he sought out those who looked the complete opposite of Sarah Williams. He never promised his consorts romance and flowers. He didn't care for their needs or wants; it was all about him, and if they got off, then good for them. It was easy to fuck them and walk away. Losing himself was a different matter. Even when he closed his eyes, hers were the ones burned into his memory.

Opening his eyes and staring at his reflection, Jareth knew that with each passing minute he was getting closer and closer to achieving his goal. He formulated a simple game of revenge long before he found the prime piece of real estate he currently resided in.

He would destroy her from the inside out. It was no longer about having her rule by his side; it was about proving to her that he was the one who still held the true power. Sure, he deliberately let her slip away all those years ago, but she was no longer a child and he was done playing silly, foolish games. Seduce her. Bed her. (He could never put the two words "fuck" and "her" together.) Reveal himself to her just when he knew he had her. Break her heart the way she broke his.

Immature, yes, but she was the strange fruit he had yet to truly decipher. He had years to formulate a plan, and it wasn't something that could be done quickly. He had to find her, and that was no easy task. It took two private investigators to track Sarah Williams down. She appeared to be flighty in nature, but Jareth knew it was a misrepresentation.

He wanted her to recognize him, but he didn't want to blatantly put himself out there. Testing out different personas before even leaving his kingdom behind, Jareth settled on becoming a strapping Londoner visiting the big city on business.

The hair was different, but the eyes were still the same. He smiled at the thought of her recognizing his eyes. He fantasized about the moment she would truly see him; he indulged in the joy he would get from seeing her fall apart at the seams.

Sometimes he pondered the mystery as to why he chose not to keep an eye on her. Anger at his defeat was one factor, but it was easier to acquire an inner hostility when she wasn't available for his viewing 24/7.

What truly fueled his anger was that she completely shut him out years ago. After his defeat, he would sometimes watch her. It was a sporadic ritual for him, no more than four times a year, but he took comfort in seeing her blossom. It was curiosity for the sake of curiosity, but she carried on as if everything was normal… until it wasn't.

One day he couldn't see her. It was as if she disappeared completely. He remembered distinctly hearing a cello, but his crystal visions only provided a haze of fog and mist. It never cleared, but the sound of the cello resonated. His stomach dropped at the thought of her being dead, and his fear propelled him to get a direct view.

His owl form flew towards the home they once shared a small fraction of time in only to find her room empty. It wasn't empty of her books, dolls, and human knick knacks, but it was a barren space. Jareth knew in his heart that she would not be returning. Toby was there. Her parents were there, but Sarah all but vanished.

He tried to find her with his magic, but the fog was too thick. He almost could feel it physically weighing down on him, but the images of it engulfed him and he felt as if he was drowning in a force he had no control over. After a while, he just gave up. Jareth considered following her remaining family members, but it was energy he didn't want to waste. It only made him bitter and resentful towards her.

Shaking his head with the hope that it would clear his thoughts, Jareth looked at the mirror. He practiced his smile, trying to avoid the smugness it sometimes automatically contained.

"Oh Sarah, you have no idea what awaits you." Jareth said, a devious grin gracing his features.