Sorry, I have no idea what's going on. For some reason, only the first four words that I later deleted got published, and I still can't figure out what's going on. This will not show up unless I have figured out what I am doing wrong.
Artemis parted the curtains and peered through. Opal was standing in the yard, accompanied by two goblins.
"Do you really think you know what she's going to do?" Holly asked skeptically.
Artemis snapped the curtains closed. "It depends."
"So let me get this straight," Mulch said. "You anticipated that Opal anticipated that you would anticipate that she didn't really want to abduct you, she wanted to kill you?"
Artemis nodded.
"And now you anticipate what she is actually going to do, but you won't tell us?"
"Yes," Artemis said.
"And now you are going out there to talk to her?" Holly asked.
"Yes," he repeated.
"I'm coming as well, then," Holly said.
"Good." Artemis glanced behind him at the Butlers and Mulch. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course." Juliet grinned. Butler nodded.
"Let's go." Artemis strode down the stairs, Holly following.
Holly marveled at how he could be so confident in a situation like this. Maybe it was because he knew exactly what was going to happen, and what he had to do. Holly didn't feel so confident; Opal was tricky, and anyways Artemis's explanation of him anticipating that Opal will anticipate that... she didn't get a word of it.
Artemis opened the front door and walked out onto the lawn, where Opal was snapping at the goblins. She looked up and grinned when she saw Artemis and Holly.
"Have you decided to surrender to my cause?" Opal asked sweetly, her eyes betraying the hatred that was brewing just below the surface.
Artemis rolled his eyes. "You can stop pretending now, Opal."
Opal snarled at him. "You and your elf friend will die today, and then I will move on to the LEP."
"I doubt it." Artemis glanced at the house. "My bodyguard and his sister are waiting. You can't beat them, can you?"
"Yes, I'm sure I can."
Holly wished that she had payed closer attention to Artemis' explanation; she didn't know whether Artemis really believed that Butler and Juliet could take on Opal and the goblins.
"Go take care of the Butlers," Opal commanded. The goblin's both hesitated for a moment, and then scurried off.
"I suppose you plan to kill me now, don't you," Artemis said. Opal took a step forward.
"Yes, I do."
"I'm sorry, but you can't." Artemis pressed a button on a little object in his pocket.
"Why no-" Suddenly, the earth gave way under Opal and she tumbled into a hole.
"Now what?" Holly asked.
"We wait, and see what happens."
Before I continue this, let me tell you something; No1 had just recently cast a spell that replaced the one which prevented fairies from entering a dwelling without permission. The new one prevented them from harming or abducting the humans against their will. Back to the story.
Opal thrashed around in the hole, trying desperately to get out as something attacked her. Holly laughed quietly at the sight.
Opal finally leapt out of the hole, covered in dirt and something else that possibly may have involved Mulch Diggums. She looked down at her clothes, disgusted. Then she glared at Artemis.
"I-will-kill you!" Opal reached for her gun.
"Oh, yes, I am so scared," Holly said flatly. Opal looked confused. Then she drew her gun and pulled the trigger.
A long silence followed.
"You can't harm me," Artemis said. "You are still within the Fowl property line."
"I can still kill the elf."
"Not likely." Artemis glanced at Holly, his mismatched eyes betraying concern that wouldn't have been allowed several years before. "Our friend Mulch Diggums disabled your weapons while you were in the pit."
Opal's glare intensified. Suddenly, Artemis gasped.
"What?" Holly whispered, though she knew Opal could hear her.
"Oh no...Holly, you need to get out of here-" Opal lunged at Holly, grabbing her. She ran down the yard and to her invisible ship. Artemis ran after them desperately, but the ship was out of sight before he could help, though he wouldn't be much help against Opal.
Why hadn't he anticipated this? Opal was going use Holly to lure Artemis where he wasn't protected by No1's spell. And then she would kill them both.
