Author's note: As ever, the original series, character's ect. do not belong to me. The plot alteration cannot also be claimed because of legal reasons. But the character known as Almena is indeed mine, so no stealing! Please take no offence to the contents, as it is only a story. Now, to the story.
Diamonds
Voices were in her ears and raggered breath in her face, and by the time she had disentangled herself from the pack, the banquet hall was virtually deserted. A few stragglers, but no Artemis. The souq, she thought, I will find him at the souq.
Holly unshielded to save the last of her magic. No sooner than she solidified, one of Kronski's raced around the corner, noticed her, and radioed for backup. Holly went full sprint through main streets and alleyways of the medina, heading always away from the bulky guards, and leading them towards Artemis. Too late to worry about that now.
Noticing the guards bulk stopped them from navigating through stalls, she started to weave through stalls ran by those dedicated to their job. Holly noticed she had started veering off track. Guards were blocking the street ahead, so she turned into an alleyway. Ahead of her, she noticed the open courtyard between her and the entrance to the souq. Guards ahead of her and behind blocked Holly's only escape routes. Holly looked up to the sky, hoping for anything, a miracle. At that point of time, Artemis Fowl II's younger time-twin threw his fee of diamonds out of the jet. A distraction for you, fairy.
Below, shocked guards quickly came round and began stuffing diamonds into pockets and into torn off tops so they could carry the diamonds.
Holly quickly took off into the souq, looking for Artemis, or even the tell tale shimmer of the cham pod. Nothing. Behind her, Kronski snuck up. "First the boy, then you. It must be my lucky day. Any last words, girl?" Using the last dreads of her magic, Holly shoved her thumbs up Kronski's nostrils'. "Heal." Thankfully Holly had enough magic left, just for a small healing. All in a sudden, Kronski's sense of smell returned. The pungent smell of pigeon droppings was overwhelming. He ran screaming from the souq, the memory of tormenting people with the smell distressed his traumatised mind.
One of Kronski's guards who ignored the commotion over the diamonds crept up behind a worried Holly. "Kronski may not have the nerve to kill you, but I do. The reaction on his face will be worth it."
In a shadowy corner of the souq, a young orphan watched the commotion. Her brown dress hung limply around her crouching figure, and long brown hair around her face. The light made it hard to make out her shape, though two sharp, long ear-tips poked through her hair. Almena tried to warn the girl figure of the man sneaking up behind her, though no words came. Behind you! She tried to shout with her mind. She also saw the blade in the man's hand slice the female figures throat.
Holly felt the kiss of the blade across her throat. She knew darkness was the only thing that would follow.
"Help me, Artemis!" I'm doomed, and so is Artemis. I never realised how much I did love him. From the shadows, the short figure of Almena erupted. A sharp blow to the guard's temple knocked him unconscious. Almena moved quickly to check Holly's vital signs. There was a weak, dodgy pulse under Almena's fingers.
Behind her, the figure of Artemis walked up. He quickly fell to his knees by Holly's side. Artemis too felt Holly's pulse. A tear fell from the young Irish teenagers' eye, followed by a cascade. "Who are you anyway?" Almena inquired.
"If you must know, I am Artemis the second. And who are you, and why is my companion lying dying on the floor?"
Almena sighed, tears brought on by shock dripping down her face and obscuring her deep-brown eyes. "Almena. I'm a runaway orphan. I lost my parents to the wasteland which surrounds us. Your companion was running from madmen waving guns, probably loaded knowing madmen. Diamonds rained from the sky, distracting them. She ran in here. A man, a rich man, grabbed her from behind. She stuck her fingers up his nose and mumbled something I couldn't understand. He let her go, and ran screaming. Another man, one of those chasing her, came up behind and slit her throat. I tried warning her, but I couldn't speak. I attacked that man-"She pointed towards the unconscious guard,"- and then you showed up."