The pain that shot through his cheek was enough to bring him out of the darkness of unconsciousness as he slowly agonizingly pulled himself up from lying on the floor. Genard inwardly cursed at his inability to put down that Wolfen who had attacked him. From what he had heard about the one that made Sarah he knew without a doubt that it was the very one, Damien. Wincing in pain as his face involuntarily twitched the dried blood that caked the side of his face pulled reopening the wound that had been afflicted only moments ago, well he hoped it had only been that long.

Genard also knew without a doubt that Sarah was no longer within the confines of the castle. There was only one reason why his own life had been spared and that was the fact that Damien must have had to get her away from the Goblin King and back to the pack. With her power their power would be increased if they were to go forward with what he knew that they most probably would go forward with. A ritual that would bound her to their pack permanently and insures her to bear the next generation of Wolfen.

Standing on wavering legs he stumbled back towards the throne room in a desperate attempt to inform the Goblin King before it would be too late. He just hoped that the Goblin King would not lash out at him for failing to stop Damien from taking her in the first place.

Jareth sat on his throne in contemplation, a lot had happened within the last few days. Finally after so long of heartache and the lonely cold nights where he knew for certain that love was a fool’s quest he had been proven wrong. Sarah was more than he had ever hoped for, being Wolfen, mortal, or anything else would never change the way that he felt towards her. She had indeed turned his world upside down but her world had been just recently done the same.

The court of the other kingdoms would most probably frown at the pairing but Jareth cared nothing for their foolish praise or politics. Which was most probably why he was not the most popular within the court but when nasty things would rear its ugly head, guess who would be the first that they would contact for assistance. Jareth scoffed at the thought of the courts, why bother with thinking about their unimportant opinions. He sometimes took amusement in ticking them off whenever necessary, they would always have to hold their tongue for they needed his kingdom in order to sustain the balance within the Underground.

He remembered when he first fell in love with the young girl that was now a woman and his lover. She had an unrecognized power, that was what had pulled him towards her in the first place but then after he watched her practice her lines, immerse herself in her fantasies he had fallen helplessly in love with her. Her calling on the Goblins to take her baby brother was just the opening he needed to finally have her. So sure of his own victory he was shocked and taken back when she had found herself to the castle.

They say overconfidence is often what brings about a fall and did he fall. Pleaded he had, spilled out his heart and yet she was so captivated in her role to save her brother that she did not see, did not return his love. He remembered watching her through her window as she rejoiced with those that she had met through her journey through his kingdom, how he yearned to be there with her. But alas, she had bound him making him unable to pursue her any further until she had finally called him.

Jareth shook his head; at what price did they have to suffer? Now a strange and unknown supposedly forgotten race called Wolfen stood in their way of blissful happiness. What in life did not have its obstacles? Oh, if only there were really such a thing as a happily ever after.

Not only were they trying to break apart his pairing with Sarah they were after the rule of the Underground. After tonight he knew that he would have to go to the court to inform them of their plight. Jareth was not looking forward to the task; he despised socializing with the court. They were nothing but spineless cowards who were too busy pleasing themselves and making fools of themselves trying to show how much better they were than those around them. It was quite tiresome having to deal with them, he was indeed not looking forward to the experience.

The sound of a thud meeting his ears Jareth looked up to see an injured Genard leaning against the doorway. Instantly Jareth was on his feet at Genard’s side, "What happened?" Not waiting for a reply a crystal formed in hand as he looked for the very person that meant everything to him. Crystal shattered as his grasp crushed it in anger; he could not see her within his crystal. Someone was blocking his magic.

"Damien, he has taken her. We must find them soon before they can add her blood to theirs."

Mismatched eyes regarded coal ones with anger and frustration, "They are blocking my magic. Do you have any idea where they would take her?"

Genard shook his head with disgust, he had no idea where they would have gone. The Glendalian forest was huge, they could be anywhere, "Besides somewhere within the Glendalian forest, I have no idea."

Sarah stirred her mind feeling as if someone had placed a heavy blanket over it. She knew that she was not within the castle grounds, that she lay on something hard. They were there surrounding her she could feel their presence it sent a wave of dread throughout her being. 

The blanket that had covered her mind was slowly starting to rise, her senses all to aware that she was within the very place this whole ordeal had begun. The scent of trees, damp grass, and flames from the torches that surrounded them were immediately recognized.

Eyes blinking open she found herself staring at the star filled sky the moon shining down on her like a beacon in the night. Trying to rise, the fear rose within her as she found that she could not move. An invisible force was holding her down but she would not give without a struggle. A low growl escaped her lips as she sensed Damien near.

A face almost identical to Damien, except that he looked older and his hair was gray to match his eyes, appeared over her looking down on her through ancient eyes. "Do not fight us Sarah. We are your family now and your blood will return us to our rightful place within the Underground."

Sarah seethed, "You are not my family. You’re wrong if you think this will help your pack. It will just endanger it further."

"Silence," he ordered her and she then found that she no longer could speak making her eyes widen in horror. "Damien, the right will begin after you have claimed her and bound her to you as your mate."

Dread reared up through her very soul as she found herself powerless to free herself and unable to fight back. She struggled yet more as she tried to see what was going on around her. There was a circle of Wolfen standing in robes of black their hoods pulled over their head to hide their faces from her view. Eyes flashing she growled yet again as Damien came into view.

He was amused at her as she continued to fight, once he had her bound completely to him she would indeed be an excellent addition to his pack. She looked devastatingly beautiful, as she was lightly dressed in a dark red robe with nothing underneath. He hated to take her against her will but she gave him little choice.  Besides, after a few manipulations in the right places she would melt within his grasp.

Sarah’s heart pounded within her ears as he came closer, she couldn’t believe this they were going to rape her. Take her into their pack without her consent and force her to be theirs. Her lips trembled at the horrifying knowledge of what they were about to do and here she was unable to stop it. Desperately she reached out for the wolf part of herself and the power within herself that she knew was there, yet nothing.

Her eyes clinched shut as she felt his body press against hers, his lips on her skin. Sarah wanted to scream out, to kill this man that was touching her making her feel things she only wanted Jareth to make her feel. Her mind went to when she and Jareth made love how right it felt and now her very being was being threatened. Her mind reached out trying to call out to him any way that she could.

Jareth straightened as he heard something within his mind. At first it was a whimper but then grew into a desperate plea. Sarah was reaching out to him mentally.

Genard regarded the King, who suddenly stopped in mid conversation over how to find Sarah, "What is it?"

"Sarah, she’s reaching out to me," he answered as he stood. Crystal forming in hand he knew how to find her and knew that he had better hurry. Looking to Genard he warned, "Ready yourself, we’re about to have a confrontation with the Wolfen pack."

Damien covered her mouth with his as he pulled the dagger that was placed by her side. Raising himself from her he smiled down to her stroking her cheek to comfort her already fearful body. His mind reached out to hers, "As I join with you physically my blood shall be mingled with yours binding you to me for the rest of our long lives. Do not worry, you’ll enjoy the experience."

Her mind screamed back, "NO! I belong with Jareth not you! Don’t please."

"Sarah," he warned, "this can be an enjoyable moment don’t force it to be otherwise." With that said he sliced at his arm with the blade his eyes flashing yellow from the metal’s sting. Lowering the knife he bent down kissing her passionately on the lips before he brought the blade to her skin. About to make the cut and mingle their blood Damien was thrown from Sarah as he felt the sting of power striking against his flesh.

The pack was on full alert as their hoods fell from their heads, eye’s of yellow glaring at their surrounding in search for the one that had interfered with the ritual. Their attention was immediately drawn to Sarah as the Goblin King and Genard the Hunter appeared by her side.

Genard was on the ready as he stood with sword drawn, the Wolfen were closing in on them ready to pounce. He grinned maliciously in return as he swept his eyes on his soon to be attackers. One in particular caught his attention, "Emian, I see that you’re still alive. I guess I’ll just have to remedy that."

Emian’s demeanor looked unshaken by Genard’s words, "Too bad you’ll have to be disappointed."

Genard, about to lunge forward was suddenly held back by Jareth’s hand, "This is a rescue, not a time for vengeance or what ever is between the two of you."

Genard remained though he wanted so much to lunge for the bastard that had destroyed the one that he loved. He wanted to rip Emian limb from limb and watch him die a slow agonizing death.

Sarah looked relieved to see Jareth standing over her and was looking at him with question, as he did not reach out to grab her. She could feel Jareth’s power surrounding him surging towards her. Her wonder at his inaction ceased as she realized that he was trying to break the spell that bound her down to the slab of rock she was pinned down on.

Jareth cursed inwardly, whoever had done this spell was powerful, it was taking a lot more effort than he thought it would to free her. He was conscious of the rapidly shrinking amount of time he had left to free her and transport Sarah, Genard, and himself safely to the castle.

The circle closed inwards towards the two Fae who dared interfere with what they had worked so hard to attain. They would die for this atrocity. The ritual in which they had disrupted was sacred among their pack.

The magical confines broken, Jareth swiftly reached down sweeping her up within his arms. Magic surrounded them as they vanished from the forest leaving behind a lot of very angry Wolfen.