Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl. NO copyright infringement intended.

Sacrifices

The door locks initiated. The gears turned to put the enormous locks into place. Artemis reflected a cold stare forward, ahead of the tracks. All Holly could do was stare. She was confused and tried to comprehend what had happened. Artemis just stood.

"He ruined my suit." Holly chuckled. He turned. Holly didn't know what to say, she just walked towards him. He lips met his. Rough, she thought. Artemis broke away, and let go of the magic. His hair returned to it's jet black, eyes his usual. His size decreased and his muscle mass went down; yet Holly still thought he was cut. Artemis pulled a clear, sparkling rock out from his pocket.

"This is quantidium. Quite radioactive and especially needed for my plan. Anyway, you seemed to have missed me?" he inquired. Holly punched him. Artemis made a tch sound.

"Touchy," Holly remembered her confusion.

"Explain, now." Artemis raised an eyebrow.

"Well, there are many things to explain. How life works, what a cake is made of, why Foaly wears kitchen material on his head, wha-" He stopped when Holly gave a very penetrable glare. Artemis held his hands up in submit.

"Fine, fine. Hasty. From the genesis."

The water froze over the top in a thin layer of ice. A small fishing boat was frozen in it's tracks. The fisherman carefully stepped onto the ice.

"D'arvit" he swore. The fairy called his first mate. "Get the frequency loader," He brought over what looked like a lawnmower, without the handlebar. The ice cracked and the men looked down, then at each other. They jumped and caught hold of the rim on the starboard bow. The machine sunk to the bottom, where it landed next to a hunk of ice. The men looked down.

"D'arvit, well, I'm stuck here on the side of a damn fishing boat with a dwarf who just had lunch." "Sorry sir, I have a stomach ace right now," The Captain slammed his head on the side of the boat. The machine started and the ice quivered. Artemis opened his eyes. He screamed in shock.

The ice exploded and a bright yellow light erupted from the center of the ice chunk. The captain looked down and saw blood in the water.

"What the hell?" The water exploded when Artemis flew from the depths. He sped off into the distance. The fisherman was puzzled. There was an explosion underwater in which a figure was propelled from the water and into the distance. Yet, the dwarf has not fallen into the water yet.

Artemis closed off the flashback and began to explain to Holly what happened as soon as she left. Holly nodded in slight understanding.

"Why does your hair and eyes change color?" "Because the magic 'cleanses' it." "Why does blood flow when you alter the magic?" "Because the amount of magic activated is infinite. That much rips my body apart but the healing does not let it happen. Thus, excreting blood." Holly still had many other questions but decided against.

Artemis gazed on the large building ahead.

"The idea of going to the R.O.R.M. was not true. At least not for now,. It poses as a misleading path." Holly couldn't understand why Artemis was acting so cold. Artemis looked up.

"I did not think I would hear your voice again." Holly smiled weakly.

"So where are we going now?" The answer was simple. "Home."