Hello my amazing readers! This story kinda came to me randomly and I fell in love with the idea! It does have some minor A/H but I think that if you don't like a/h that you would be able to stand this. Yeah so thanks to my sis (itstoolatenow) for betaing this!

Disclaimer: Everything belolngs to Eoin Colfer! I own nothing! :(

It is remarkable how similar the pattern of love is to the pattern of insanity.

-The Matrix – Revolutions

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

-Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII

I

If there was a night that would have marked the start of a new age, this would have been that night. The full moon, high above the trees, cast both eerie and somewhat romantic shadows across the gentle hills of the Irish landscape. Grasses were succumbed to the wishes of the gentle breezes while the trees stood, unyielding, to their attempts to sway. The sky was an ocean of softly twinkling stars that gave off their pale light, tinting everything with an almost sickly green/white. Couples were littered along the gently flowing river whispering sweet nothings into the ear of the other or else, staring at the sky wishing they could drown in its black depths, never to be seen by the world again. The only sound the pierced the otherwise silent night, was that of the occasional twitter of a passing bird or the chirp of a lone cricket. But other than that, the night was as still and silent as the deadest of dead. Standing just at the bend in the gently flowing river, stood the mightiest of oaks, easily over one hundred years old. Its branches were spread up towards the sky, as if offering up worship to some heavenly being. The branches, though, were bare; their leaves scattered over the ground, freshly fallen. It moon was positioned in the sky so that it seems as though it was being cradled by the branches of this impressive, ancient oak.

Standing just under the oak, so small that at first glance one might miss it, was a tiny figure bending down as if searching for a dropped or lost object. As if having found what it was looking for, the figure straightened and turned its face towards the brilliant radiance of the moon. At first glance one might assume that this figure was a child, given that the silhouette was no more than three feet tall, but a closer look would reveal that the proportions were not that of a child, but that of a woman, albeit a relatively petite woman. The figure slowly removed something that may have been a helmet, and placed it by the edge of the giant oak, only stopping once to stroke the fragile bark of the tree. She turned so that the light of the moon was shining directly on her face and it was revealed that she was, in fact, no more human that a dog. Her ears were pointed and seemed to be being massaged by her tapered, mocha brown, fingers. Auburn hair grew short and wild on her head, giving her a dangerously beautiful look. She had once (and with good reason) been described as "black widow pretty" by one who knew her best. One would not want to get on the wrong side of this particular female. This was a captain in the most elite police force above and below the world; the LEPrecon.

Holly Short was particularly enjoying the familiar sight and smells of the Irish countryside for she had not been here in almost four years. It reminded her of old times, old adventures, and most prevalent, old friends. She had not seen Artemis Fowl II in four years, since they had successfully captured both Opals and set the world back to its normal routine. They had thought it best not to keep in touch given all that he had put her through but Holly found herself, many times, wishing that they had said goodbye differently than they had.

Clearing her head, the LEP captain prepared herself for the magic restoring ritual that would heal her energy, health, and most importantly (as the name suggests) her magic. She bent down again, searching for a soft spot of soil in which to bury the tiny acorn in her hand and, in doing so, complete the sacred ritual, but before she could do so, her head snapped up in the direction of a dry leaf crunching on the ground. Her trained eyes scanned the area with the utmost care, searching for the culprit. She had just decided that it was nothing and directed her attention back to the task at hand when she heard it again and, this time, she jumped to her feet to search for the direction of the rustling. It was an even, syncopated, rhythm; not a wind. Footsteps; perhaps more than one set.

Her feeling of deepest dread intensified when she realized the irony of the situation. He head twisted sharply at an odd angle and her bone made a noise somewhere in between a click and a snap. Paling, she quickly comprehended that she didn't even have enough magic to shield and, instead, slowly pulled from her shoulder holster a tiny, deadly looking gun.

"There's no need for that Holly." Came a voice, breaking the silence of the night, sending shivers down her spine. The voice only existed in her nightmares and sometimes, in those few moments in between waking and dreaming in which her life was reflected on in depth. It was an icy, frigid voice, void of any happiness or joy; she had not heard this particular voice in at least seven years. It was the voice of Artemis Fowl. But it was not the voice she had become accustom to, fond of even. No, this was the voice of the young, sinister, plotting Artemis; the voice of the Artemis that she had been first introduced to. With that voice, this could have been the first time they had met, despite the fact that she had known him for almost eight years now (eleven if you take into account the three years that they had lost together).

Holly watched as the youth stepped out of the shadows into the pale moonlight. Though, she had not seen him in almost four years, this could unmistakably be the Artemis Fowl that she knew (or else a very well put together clone). He was taller and his hair grew a little longer but other than that he had the same sickly sallow pallor that glowed in the moonlight, the same black designer suit, and the same piercing, ivy blue eyes that looked deep into her soul. His bloodless lips were curled into a smile of that of a conspirer who knew that his plan was working.

"Artemis," Holly called to him watching as his smile widened, "Is that you?" The two rows of perfect teeth that could have belonged to a vampire were revealed in full just as a hulking figure appeared at Artemis' and quickly stood in front of him, blocking him from view and threat. Holly was puzzled by Butler' behavior; after all they knew each other well enough that he should know that she posed no threat to them.

"Of course it is I. It really has been too long if you do not recognize me." Artemis said from behind Butler in the same hostile, frigid tone. "Butler, stand aside so that I may see Holly clearly." The prodigy commanded. Butler's dark shape moved aside so that Holly could, once again, see Artemis' aloof expression.

"Hello Artemis, Butler." Holly said holstering her weapon but keeping her hand nearby. She saw disbelief break the surface on Butler's otherwise professional demeanor. His eyes widened in astonishment and something else that might have been trepidation.

"How do you know my name?" Butler demanded to know, looking utterly astounded.

"Obviously, I just told you to stand aside and she heard me use your name. Do not be confused be her devious ways." Artemis said a little too quickly as though he wanted to assure Butler before Holly could contradict it. Holly's head was pounding; what was going on here? Butler didn't remember her? But Artemis did?

""We've known each other for more than seven years." Holly said somewhat shakily, speaking directly to Butler. "We fought Koboi and Spiro and we saved-"

"She speaks nonsense, of course." Artemis said airily, waving a reassuring hand at Butler. "I warned you she would do this. Don't listen; just keep your aim steady." Holly froze as she realized that Butler was holding a sort of gun in his hands. She immediately knew that this sort of gun shot hypodermic darts that she had no hope of escaping. Her instincts told her to grab her neutrino and start firing but these were her friends; there had to be an explanation.

"What are you doing?" She asked them in a hushed voice as if by speaking quieter that the situation would clear itself up. All the while her hand was inching towards her neutrino.

"Something I should have done a long time ago," Artemis said almost huskily. Holly's eyes widened with alarm but just as her hand had grasped her neutrino to pull out, Artemis raised hand (that Holly had not honestly noticed was raised having been focused on the Butler problem) fell to his side, signaling for Butler to shoot. Butler's giant fingers pulled tight on the trigger sending at dart straight at Holly's chest faster than she could follow. She barely had time to blink before an icy, cold pain was felt in her chest and rapidly spreading. Black spots appeared in her vision and she was forced to her knees on the dry ground. Giant hand grasped her but then let go suddenly.

"No Butler, I will do that. You and Juliet must get her cell ready for her. She will need…" Artemis voice drifted up to her at what seemed like a far distance and then faded into a murmur as much gentler, familiar hands seized her waist and slowly, carefully, almost lovingly, lifted her into a body bag. For some reason that Holly could not fathom, she smiled at the feel of those hands and almost cried out when they left. As her eyes began to droop, her last conscious thought was: Not again.

II

Physically, the first things that Holly felt were the familiar steel cot and concrete wall of her cell in the Fowl Manor. But then emotional feelings crashed over her like tsunami waves more prevalent than the physical feelings. Betrayal, anger, confusion, pain, and once more, so strong that she felt as though she were drowning in it, betrayal. Artemis had kidnapped her once before, sliced off her finger, lied to her countless time, but this was the worst. When Artemis had kidnapped her last time, he had not known her but this time… And to think that she actually thought he cared about her as much as she cared about him. Heat rushed through her, pounding her head, making her feel sick as she realized just how deep of a hole she was in. He knew everything; everything about the People, everything about her, all of her weaknesses. He had the upper hand this time, unlike last time when he knew nothing.

She shivered as she lay on the steel cot that she knew, this time, would be attached to the floor; he would not want to make the same mistakes he had last time. She cracked an eye open and met the dull blue eyes of Juliet Butler. As Holly had suspected her eyes were hidden behind reflective glasses that would counter her mesmer if she had wished to. Juliet stepped back quickly, sending her blonde locks flying, as Holly sat up faster than she had anticipated. Black spots appeared in her vision and she had to hold her hear to keep from falling back down on the steel cot.

"Hello?" Juliet's voice floated to her from a distance. Holly shook her head to clear it and the next time that Juliet spoke she sounded much closer. "You awake yet? Artemis told me not to wake you up but to keep watch over you. I honestly don't know why but I do know that if someone was watching me sleep I would wake up like that!" She snapped her fingers to demonstrate. "I told him this but he told me to suck it up and get going. I was surprised that you slept for as long as you did. He better not get mad at me because you woke up on your own."

"Juliet." Holly said glumly realizing that, like Butler, Juliet did not recognize her either. "What is going on?"

"Whoa!" Juliet exclaimed, taking one step back then two steps forward, "How did you know my name? Can you, like, read minds? I saw a show on aliens once that said you had telekinetic powers and you would read our minds if you could. I guess that is why Artemis made me wear these dorky looking glasses and told me not to take them off around you. Maybe they-"

"Juliet, where's Artemis?" Holly interrupted, half desperate for answers from someone who did not watch TV specials on aliens and half desperate to beat the crap out of him. If this was some sort of a joke on her, it was in very poor taste. Juliet shrugged at her query.

"I don't know; probably in his study trying to figure out how to travel through time. But he did say to comply with all of the hostage's wishes, except for being set free of course. So I guess I can go get him, if that's what you want." Holly nodded fervently and watched Juliet shut the heavy handle-less door slowly. The second that she was gone Holly checked the cell for weak spots, though she knew that there were none to find. Artemis had relieved her of her gun. helmet, and Shimmer Suit, leaving her in the cami and shorts that she wore under the suit.

Holly shrank against the wall opposite the cot and cradled her head in her hands. Something that Juliet had said had confirmed and intensified her feelings of betrayal. Artemis had said comply with the hostage's wishes. Hostage's. She was a hostage now; not a friend. After all that they had been through together, how could he do this to her? She had kissed him for Frond's sake. Betrayal scooped out her insides leaving her with nothing to hold onto. She felt as though her sorrow overflow to her eyes and tears dripped, unchecked, from her lashes and onto the concrete floor, right by an Armani loafer. She looked up from her tears and saw Artemis Fowl standing before her with look of complete sympathy adorning his features despite the reflective lenses that he was wearing.

"Why are you crying Holly?" He asked her gently as she jumped to her feet, not taking the hand he had offered.

"I'm not." She said stubbornly, wiping away the evidence. Artemis tutted sympathetically, holding out his arms trying to pull Holly into a hug, but Holly just backed away so far that he back was against the wall.

"Don't touch me." She almost yelled, her scream echoing around the small cell, abhorrence dripping off her voice. Artemis took an automatic reflexive step back and pulled off an offended look quickly to hide the shock in his eyes. "Tell me what's going on!" She snarled at him. Artemis smiled his vampire smile and said in a condescending voice, "What do you think is going on, Holly?"

Before Holly could restrain herself, she slapped the smirk right off his face. Literally. She felt a certain pleasure but also guilt at the sight of Artemis clucking at his cheek. His hands came away to reveal an angry red make that was roughly in the shape of a tiny hand. The smile disappeared from Artemis' face as he ran a hand through his midnight hair.

"Now now captain, none of that now or I will have to be forced to call Butler to restrain you and I don't think that either of us wants that." The smile returned to Artemis face but didn't reach his eyes. His eyes told a different story, though Holly could not figure out what emotion was portrayed there.

"Why doesn't Butler remember to me? Or Juliet? What have you done to the people you love this time?" Artemis faltered for less than a second but the recovered and spoke.

"Nothing more than a simple mindwipe, Holly; no damage done."

"Why?" Holly demanded to know.

"Because I needed them to forget. They, Butler especially, were being somewhat of a nag when I told them of my plans. Of course they would object. They do not share the same thirst for it was I do." Holly stared at him for half a second before it finally clicked. Her mouth fell open and she was more aghast than she had been in her entire life.

"Gold," she breathed. "You're after gold again."

"That's one name for it." Artemis smiled mysteriously. Holly opened her mouth to inquire the meaning of his statement but he continued. "I was a fool to think that the gold you gave, and I use the term gave loosely, me would last me a lifetime. I have been out for almost a year and since then, all I have wanted is more. To see it's luster, its allure, to actually feel value being held in my hands… you have no idea. It is something that I crave more than even food or drink. It is more of a basic need of mine really. I knew that kidnapping you was an efficient was of gaining gold so I tried a second time, just to see if it would work again."

"What What about everything between us? You were changed Artemis, you cared about people and people cared about you! Think about your parents, siblings, the People me. Are you willing you willing to give all that up just to get some gold?"

"People can fail you, gold can't." Artemis said simply, scrutinizing Holly with the utmost care.

"I thought we had something." Holly whispered almost to herself.

"My elf kissing days are over." Artemis quoted at her and Holly recognized that it was her own words that were now cutting her heart apart like a samurai sword.

"You know what they can do." Holly yelled trying to keep her voice steady. "They will kill you, along with Juliet, Butler, and me if they have to. They won't let you go this time. Think about what you're doing!" She begged him. He cocked his head to one side and gave sort of a crooked smile.

"Don't I always think?" Holly shivered knowing that she was running out of option. "Do you think that I haven't thought about all of that? It's worth it to me Holly, it all is."

"They won't give it to you; they never will."

"Then you won't leave." Artemis said coldly, "Then you will die." Holly couldn't restrain herself; she gave a horrified cry. He would sacrifice her for gold and not bat an eye.

"Get out!" She commanded him, feeling the tears coming,

"I believe this is my cell." Said Artemis raising a thin eyebrow.

"You must comply with the hostage's wishes." She spat at him, unable to keep herself from staring into his eyes, looking for the smallest trace of the old Artemis.

"Very good," He commended her, "I did say that didn't I? Well I guess this is goodbye then, for the time being. If you should need anything just say the word." He bowed once to her and turned to leave.

"Is gold really worth all this?" Holly screamed at him, unable to stop herself. Artemis stopped but did not turn back to her as he spoke.

"No."

"Then why?" Holly screamed desperately.

"There are many different kinds of gold." Artemis said simply, walking out, leaving Holly more confused than she had been before.

Ok so I hope that u guys like the first chapter! OH and for those of u reading Let Me Go, new chappy up soon (this weekend/early next week)! For those of you not reading Let Me Go...please go read it! Anywho next chapter for this up soon. Please please please review! :D

WS