Triumph

Sarah was sitting on the porch with Merlin, when she felt like she was being watched. She looked up to see Jareth leaning up against a tree on the other side of the street. She glared, and Merlin growled.

Ever since she got back from the Labyrinth, she would almost always find herself followed by Jareth in his owl form; sometimes he even hung outside her bedroom window. The fact he had the guts to stalk her in his human form irritated Sarah. "Stay Merlin," she ordered, while heading inside.

Jareth watched her close the front door behind her with curiosity.

A few minutes later, she came back out with a dog treat in one hand and a stuffed toy owl in the other. Jareth smiled; the owl looked just like him. Sarah took out a marker and scribbled the right eye blue. "Stay Merlin," she repeated.

She walked ten steps away from the dog, and set the owl down in the grass. She walked back to stand behind Merlin. "Kill!" She shouted, pointing at the toy. With a growl, Merlin charged at the toy, and sunk his teeth into its neck. He clawed at it, and ripped out the stuffing.

Sarah smiled triumphantly when she saw Jareth's face fall. "Come here, boy." Merlin handed over the now mutilated toy. "Good boy!" She gave him the treat, and scratched him behind his ears.

Making sure not to spill any stuffing on the ground, Sarah put the destroyed owl in the trash, and made sure not to put the lid back on. She wanted him to see Merlin's handiwork. "Come on, Merlin!" She called, opening the door and letting him run in first.

She looked back to see Jareth standing at the trashcan. "Sarah, why must you be so cruel?"

Sarah shrugged. "I thought I was being generous."

"Generous?" Jareth repeated.

"You coward before my dog, he was frightening. I am exhausted from trying to keep you out of this house. Isn't that generous?" He glared at her; he hadn't expected her to use that against him. Sarah flashed her triumphant smile again, before stepping inside.

Jareth looked down at the maimed owl, and gave a huff of frustration. He placed the lid back on the trashcan. He turned, and walked away from her house. "One day, darling."