Hey! Thanks for the reviews! I saw how eager you guys are to read the next chapter, so I decided to start first thing on the new chapter! And here it is! But I must warn you, the next bit might be a bit dramatic, so please bare that in mind when you read it. I am, for one, a particularly dramatic person, so I thought this chapter would fit nicely…I hope I'm not wrong (nervous laugh).

Sworn Revenge

Artemis and Holly sat in the holding cell opposite Kevin Robins, waiting patiently for him to return to consciousness.

They were both exhausted. The days events had already decided to catch up on them, and they were both feeling the strain.

Despite his fatigue, Artemis' mind was racing.

What are we going to do?

He looked at Holly, sitting next to him, face in her hands.

Earlier, when he'd told her the full scale of their predicament, she had not taken it well. The thought of herself having to go up against her fellow friends and comrades had left her worn out and beaten.

He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and hold her like he'd done in the study, but he knew he couldn't.

I have to do it soon. I can't take this anymore. I can't just sit here and wait for this to sort itself out! If I want her so badly, I have to work for her.

This thought made him nervous. How would he do it? When should he do it?

What if I do it wrong!?

What if…

He shook himself.

Stop acting like a hormonal teenager! I'll know what to do when the time's right!

His inner battle was disrupted when Kevin let out a low moan

Holly's head shot up, and she was instantly alert, gazing intently at the elf. Artemis also sat forward in his seat, waiting with baited breath.

Kevin moaned again, swinging his head slowly from side to side, trying to come out of it.

Finally, just as Artemis thought they'd have to get a bucket of cold water, Kevin's eyes slowly opened.

The elf seemed dazed, as he looked around him, then his expression changed from dazed to confusion, as he took in the world around him. Then realization kicked in, and his eyes filled with horror and shock.

Holly sat forwards, a gentle look on her face.

"Kevin, it's alright. You're mesmerized. We're going to think of a way to help you."

But Kevin just sat there, trembling violently. But besides that, he didn't even move a muscle.

Artemis sat there, frowning slightly.

What on earth is he doing? He's barely moving.

Holly seemed perplexed as well, sitting on the edge of her seat.

They sat there in silence for nearly a minute, watching Kevin's bizarre behavior.

Then they both noticed the purple tinge creeping into his pale face.

Realization hit them both like a baseball bat.

"No!!" cried Holly, lunging towards the suffocating elf.

Artemis followed soon after, trying desperately to help wherever he could.

But, it was all just too little, done too late.

For a second, Kevin's eyes widened, as he acknowledged what was happening. He looked out at them, the light slowly leaving his eyes.

Then he was gone.

Holly sat on her knees before the dead elf, frozen in place, to shocked to move.

Artemis too was shocked, but he slowly regained his composure.

The same couldn't be said for his elven companion.

Artemis knew what it was like for a fairy to loose a life. It was far worse for them than what it was for a human. An elf could feel the life slip away, feel the warmth leave the world as someones heart beat for the last time.

He knew, for he too had felt it in the time tunnel. He'd felt Holly die, her sweet warmth leaving the world around him.

He looked down at her, as her shoulders shook with a single sob. She might not have known Kevin very well, but he was still a person, and no fairy could take the death of another well.

Oh...Holly

He reached a comforting hand down to her shoulder, hoping to lend her his condolences.

But she stood up abruptly, and turned around swiftly to face him.

She was shaking with rage as tears leaked from her mismatched eyes. Her expression was so cold and hard that Artemis nearly took a shaky step back.

"When I find Opal, I'm going to make her pay! She has no right to steal life from anyone or anything. She will feel the pain of every soul who's died at her hand." she growled, her voice trembling. Others had died before, not to mention Julius, but this new death had obviously pushed her over the edge.

Artemis nodded seriously, "Your right. She must of told him to kill himself if captured. To be perfectly honest, I've never heard anything so dispicable in my life." he took a careful glance at Kevin, and grimaced.

"What a terrible way to die." he whispered quietly.

"And Koboi will pay for every second of pain she caused him." she muttered, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand.

Artemis reached out and pulled her to him for the second time that day, giving her as much comfort as he could. And he hoped that she wouldn't reject him now.

She didn't disappoint him.

She rested her head on his chest, and her shoulders slacked, as if she'd had the weight of the world resting on her shoulders.

Artemis felt his throat close painfully, as he looked down at his poor, tired friend.

She's been through so much...but so have I.

Finally she looked up, her eyes calm and thankful. The look on her face made her look angelic to him, and Artemis had to resist the urge to pull her tighter towards him.

"Thank you, Arty." she said, smiling up at him.

Reluctantly, Artemis let her go, taking a small step back.

"My pleasure, Holly. I'll do anything for a friend."

She grinned, and he felt his stomach do a back flip.

"I think you may just be doing to much." she said wryly.

Artemis frowned slightly, confused by this statement.

What's that supposed to mean?

Before he could put this thought into words, the door to the holding cell opened, and Butler stepped into the room, a grave look on his face.

Artemis turned to his old friend, earlier questions forgotten.

"Aah, old friend. I believe you saw the events that took place earlier on the plasma screens, right?"

Butler had been assigned to the observation room, so he could watch what took place from a safe distance. He was still recovering from his heart attack yesterday. Just another reason to hate Opal all the more.

Butler nodded gravely, glancing at the body.

"I did. And I most certainly did not like what I saw. That poor man was just one of Koboi pawns. She should not go unpunished."

Holly scowled, "Don't worry, I swore I'd see to that."

Artemis sighed. This could become a problem. He just hoped Holly wouldn't loose control in a dangerous situation. But he knew that Holly was a professional, and wouldn't put others lives at risk to get her own revenge.

Or at least, that's what he hoped.

Butler looked at Holly, "What do you wish to do with him?"

Holly looked down at Kevin, and gave a small shiver.

Her shiver made a small wave of anger well up inside Artemis, but he pushed it down firmly.

"We need to keep him in a safe place. When this is all over, we can have him recycled. The least we can do is give him a decent burial."

Butler nodded and walked over to Kevin, lifting him up in his arms.

He turned towards the door, but stopped, turning back to them.

"I'll bring lunch up to your bedroom. Is there anything else I can get you two?" he asked, smiling slightly.

Holly nodded, her face cast in stone, "Yes, thank you. Some fruit juice and aspirins if you have." she thought silently for a second, "And a key to Hell."

Butler's expression changed instantly, and he nodded seriously.

"I'll see what I can do."

Later that day, 4:45 pm.

Artemis sat on his bed, reading a book, while Holly listened to music on an iPod next to him, humming along to the tune.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, checking her progress.

She had finally managed to calm down, and was relaxing, despite todays events. He had to admit that he was rather impressed.

Needless to say, everything about her seemed impressive to him.

She had changed out of her suit, and wore a pair of dark jeans and a emerald green tank top. She looked stunning. The minute she'd walked out the bathroom, she'd sent his mind racing, his thoughts sending his skin hot, and causing his cheeks to flash red.

He listened to her humming, hitting each perfect note, then tapped her lightly on the shoulder.

Holly pressed pause, and turned to look at him, a smile on her face.

"Sorry to disrupt, but may I ask, what song are you listening to?"

She smiled wickedly, "It's called Glory of Love."

Her words sent his mind whirling, and he had to try hard not to grin.

"I believe I might have heard it before."

She smiled warmly, "You should of. It's a beautiful song. Some mud men really do have talent."

With that, the pressed play, diving straight back into the music.

Artemis watched her for a second longer, then turned back to his book, grinning from ear to ear.

Then, unconsciously, Holly began to sing the chorus, to deep in the song to notice. When he heard her, Artemis whipped his gaze away from his book to stare at her, mesmerized.

I am a man, who will fight,
For your honour.
And I'll be the hero, your dreaming of.
We'll live forever,
Knowing together that we,
Did it all,
For the glory of love.
Yes we're gonna live forever,
Knowing together that we,
Did it all,
For the glory of love.

We did it all for love!

She sang beautifully, capturing every note, send his heart into a frenzy. The words made him want to hold her, to sing along with her, to show her how true those words were.

Abruptly she stopped, her cheeks going red. She switched off the iPod, and turned to look at him, biting her lip.

"Oops." she muttered under her breath.

Artemis turned away, embarrassed at being caught staring. Then turned even redder when he thought about how it would feel to bite that lip for her.

He shook himself, feeling like he was going to scream.

Holly thought desperately, trying to think of a topic to fill the awkward silence.

She looked down at the bed she was sitting on, and the perfect topic came to mind.

"So, which side of the bed do I sleep on tonight?"

Artemis was thrown by this random question. He desperately tried to pull his thoughts together.

"Um...er...I'm not sure."

"Well, I get the window spot. So at least that's sorted out."

Artemis whipped around to stare at her.

"Hold on, that's my spot! You can take the other side!"

"No way! Why do you get to choose?!"

Artemis stared at her incredulously, "Because it's my bed!"

"Oh no, not this again! Let me remind you that I'm here to protect you again! So it's at least logical that I should be the one closest to the window, so I can protect you!"

"What?! It takes you two seconds to reach the window side from my side! What difference does two seconds make?"

"By the way, alot can happen in two seconds! I know, lets play rock, paper, scissors for it!"

"Fine, but I'm only doing this because I know I'll win."

Holly grinned, "Whatever Arty."

"OK, lets begin."

They both started at the same time.

"Rock, Paper, scissors!"

Holly jumped into the air in glee, "Yes! Neutrino beats rock! I win!"

"That's cheating! Since when can you use a Neutrino!?"

"Since I said so!"

Artemis sighed, defeated, "Fine, I wont argue. At least I have a bed."

Holly grinned triumphantly, "Exactly!"

Artemis rolled his eyes, but the grin still spread across his face.

Oh, this going to be fun!

So there it is! Sorry for the sudden jump from topic to topic, but it's the best I could do. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Oh, and by the way, the romance REALLY starts in the next chapter! And , I've updated my profile, so if anyone ones to check it out, be free to read it! But I'm not really finished with it yet, so please bare with me! I promise I'll update soon!