Magic Has it's Own Mind

Chapter 1

The first time it occurs Sarah doesn't understand what has happened.

She'd returned home from the Labyrinth a few weeks prior and had somehow slipped back into everyday life. She remembered every detail, every feeling from the adventure she'd been on.

Toby was fine, and she was uninjured and wanting to just move on with her life.

On this night, Sarah was looking everywhere for her history book. She'd searched all around her desk, in her school bag and on her bed but when she returns to her desk thinking that she must have left it at school her book is sitting right on top of her papers like it had just been placed there.

'Strange' she thinks, 'why didn't I notice it before?' but realises she must be more tired than she had thought, finals were a mentally draining time after all.

In fact, the first twenty times or so that something unexplained happens she is able to justify it. That occurs over the first few years after she ran the Labyrinth. No matter where she is, she would suddenly find missing items or what she needs is right at her fingertips. Once she hoped her dress for a cousin's wedding would be a different shade of green, and by morning somehow it is. It must have just been a trick of the light.

She often thinks of her time in the Underground too, reminiscing about the friends she'd made and the mad dash to save her brother.

Then, one morning when she is twenty one she is daydreaming while walking to the shops not too far from her house when a large dog begins barking madly at her from behind a flimsy looking fence. She always dislikes walking past this place as the animal is so aggressive.

Gazing over she sees the mutt doing everything it can to get to her.

However, this time she notices that some of the metal links on the fence look different. Fear grips her as the dog begins jumping up on the fence, making savage noises, then there is the sound of something falling and Sarah doesn't need to look twice to know that the fence has failed.

Before she knows what she's doing, she runs.

Behind her she hears growling and the rustle of nails scratching on the pavement as the beast bounds towards her. She sprints to the closest house and plans on jumping the front fence, hoping it won't then do the same.

A snarl lets her know the animal is much closer than she'd realised, she won't make the yard in time. She jumps in the hope she can somehow get there before it reaches her and suddenly she feels light but also as though something is strangely pressing in around her.

Everything goes dark for a moment while this happens but then she lands on grass.

As she does she raises her arms over her head after coming to a stop and waits for the impact. But none comes.

Sarah looks up and instead of seeing a dog poised to strike, there is a person standing incredibly still. She stares at the mesh mask that covers their entire face but then they turn on their heel and point something at her. She squints as though her eyes are playing tricks on her, but it is a sword.

Someone is pointing a sword at her! And she had thought this was a nice neighbourhood.

She raises her palms in surrender and starts stammering "I'm sorry- there was a dog- in fact it should be here and-" Sarah looks around but there is nothing trying to get her "-it broke through the fence where it lives, it..." she trails off as she looks around where she is, really taking it in this time.

Instead of the white weatherboard house, there is a stone building. She is on grass but this isn't a yard, this is a large area with hedges framing the space.

There's what appears to be a fake torso on a stand and Sarah quickly pieces together the mask, the sword and the target means that this person is practicing fencing. Although, a sword is a sword and she doesn't feel much safer yet.

With her hands still raised, she gets to her feet. She can't see the person's face which is bothering her. With the weapon still raised towards her the man lifts his other hand and brings the mask up, revealing his face.

For a moment Sarah is stunned. "You?" she breathes. She hadn't seen the Goblin King in a bit over five years and suddenly here he is in front of her, sword raised.

"You" he replies simply, and slowly lowers his weapon. Then his brow furrows in confusion "How in the world-"

"-I should be asking you that question!" Sarah exclaims suddenly, her adrenaline had kicked in following the chase and now the immediate threat is gone, this situation hits her hard.

"Why did you bring me here? You can't just take people off the street!"

Jareth opens his mouth to reply but Sarah continues on over the top of him. Now that she's started talking she is having trouble stopping.

"Have I been wished away?". She scrunches up her face and answers herself "No one would do that. Is Toby-?"

"-Sarah!" Jareth calls out firmly. She stops and listens this time, it was the commanding voice of a king. "Sarah, I haven't brought you here".

She gazes at the ground unseeing as she processes all this. "But. How can. Is Toby alright?"

"Your baby brother?". At this he flicks his sword and in an instant it returns to its usual form as a sceptre which he flexes in front of him. "Well, I assume so? I've been busy this morning, but not that busy".

Sarah senses that she won't be attacked, so slowly takes in the building and grounds, and realises they are alone. She then keeps her eyes trained on her adversary. "I won" she all but whispers. That should have been the end of their association when she uttered those words back then 'You have no power over me'.

Jareth's face sours then becomes unreadable. "Of this I am aware".

"Then why am I here? It's been five years"

"Five? Really?" He places a boot up on a nearby rock and rests an elbow on his knee with his legs spread casually. "Time flies. Well, if you don't have the means to reorder it, I imagine" a small smirk plays on his lips and Sarah realises he has his usual swagger back. Something about his swagger draws a strong emotion from her.

"Goblin King" she states firmly. "I must insist you return me to my home immediately".

"Well, if you insist" and he waves a hand.

Sarah feels the same sensation of being light but also of tightness around her then in a flash she is at home in the foyer near the front door. She steps back then forward to balance herself.

A moment later her stepmother walks in from the other room and says "Sarah! I didn't hear you come in. That was quick, did you get the milk?"

There is an empty silence that stretches. "I got distracted" she replies looking stunned, and continues to walk up the stairs and to her room where she shuts the door without another word.

It is a month until the next situation happens.