London, England. six months ago

The rain poured upon the cobblestone streets, washing away the burdens of the morning. Neither her heavy breathing nor her footsteps rushing across the alley could be detected amongst the storm. It was as if the woman were invisible. She was clothed in rags which barely covered her petite body. Dark circles rested harshly underneath her eyes. In her ghostly white hand rested a piece of blackened charcoal, old and out of use for any practical reasons. Her face, once beautiful, was now hallowing from malnourishment. Without warning she collapsed underneath the closest overhang and began to cough violently.

"Don't be scared..." She whispered to herself after she gained back her composure. Perhaps anxious would have been the more appropriate word. She thought to herself. It was weak to be scared, only fools would surrender to that emotion. She had gone undetected for months after all. There was no reason why tonight of all nights she should be found. Perhaps this was a different circumstance. That had to be the explanation for these anxious feelings.

Tonight was the night she was going to do it. She had been contemplating the temptation for weeks now. There was no solid proof that what she was about to do would work, but there was always a first time for everything. She was far beyond desperation.

She closed her eyes and listened only to the rain. It was a very beautiful sound, though very underestimated by mankind. People hid from the rain. They hid from it because it was dangerous, but the most beautiful things on earth were also the most dangerous as she knew all too well. She identified with it, and so for a simple moment she found serenity.

The black charcoal rested in the palm of her little hand, almost touching the ground. She rubbed her fingers against it slightly, feeling it's delicacy. It was completely crisp under her light grasp. How had she come to this? A woman dependent on glorified chalk. Now, she had to ignore the insisting hunger pangs that bothered her constantly. She had to resist the urge to sleep. She had nothing. She had already faced her worst fear. Nothing could get worse than nothing. It was impossible.

This could really work; everything was depending on this little piece of charcoal. Suddenly it felt a lot heavier in her palm, and without her approval she began to shake. It was going to happen, and it was going to happen tonight. It was going to happen now. She forced the charcoal violently onto a dry section of cobblestone. She drew the circle, and the necessary symbols just as she had read about. Now all she needed were the words, and then there was no turning back.

She placed her palm in the middle of the circle and shut her eyes. Her parched lips slowly parted, and the incantation was said in nothing more but a whisper. She clenched her teeth and waited.

Nothing.

Nothing. How could there be nothing? She could take this no longer. Her stare became fierce; a blaze filled her brown eyes. Her lips parted once more, and she began to screech the incantation as loudly as she possibly could.

"Oi, who's out there?" She looked up in mid sentence. She had awoken somebody. An old man stood fifty feet away from her in his nightcap, carrying a flashlight and pointing it in her direction.

"What happened to you?" He couldn't have been younger than seventy, but he seemed sharp enough in his reflexes.

She remained silent

"I can't hear you, are you alright?" The elderly man scratched his balding head.

"I didn't say anything you blasted fool!" Her voice was hoarse but held a certain spark that could not be extinguished.

"You...you shouldn't be out here by yourself at this hour..." The man seemed quite taken aback by her outrageous tone.

"Leave me alone!"

"Please, come inside child, we'll set you up for the night."

"I am not a child!" Her face flushed with heat, and she finished screaming her incantation.

There was a sound of a slamming door and screaming. A bright flame exploded from the circle so quickly that she was unaware her hand had burnt. Her other hand had been used to shield her eyes from the blinding light. The fire danced around the circle, and licked at her heals. She let out a howl of pain. Thunder clapped and rain poured, but it was not enough to tame the heart of the flames.

She winced; prepared to open her eyes, but not sure if the dance had stopped. She peaked through her hair; there were no more flames to be seen. Instead, a tall man stood before her. She gasped, her plan had worked. A victorious grin spread across her face and she stood upright in the regal position of a queen.

"Lysander," She addressed with perfect clarity.

"Is it you that have summoned me?" He cocked his head to the side, and studied the little girl's features. "Naughty, naughty don't you think? Whatever will your parents think of this?"

"I am no child." She smirked at him. She had expected this much. "You serve me. Bow down before your queen!"

"I bow to no one." His tongue slid across his perfect teeth. He was hungry.

"You bow to me!"

"No!" He lunged towards her, but quickly recoiled in pain once his hand left the circle.

"What was that?" She cocked her head to the side mimicking him. He was on his knees, his fingernails leaving marks in the street.

"Why do you summon me my mistress?" His low voice resonated in the alley way.

"You are strong, dear Lysander." The girl hopped on the balls of her feet. "And I am in need of a service as unique as yours."

"I'm famished," He raised his eyes at her. "You know what sustains me?"

"Oh of course," she clapped her hands onto her knees. "That is why I chose you! We can help each other."

"Ah, so you seek revenge." It was not a question.

"You have no idea what I have been through." She scowled so fiercely that Lysander thought she may spit on the ground.

"I can help you of course, for the small price of sustenance." He smiled. He liked her fire.

"You will get that as soon as possible." She clapped her hands. This was just too perfect.

"So tell me," He brushed his hair out of his face. "Who is it that you seek revenge on?"

"Not just one person, two actually..." She frowned at the thought. She then frowned at the fact that she may get frown lines.

Their names..." He raised an eyebrow.

"A certain Holly Short and Artemis Fowl." She grimaced at the names. She would now have to wash out her mouth. To say one name was bad enough, but two in the same sentence was just too much to bear. She looked at her new friend up and down. He was quite handsome; it was almost a shame that he was only a Djinni.

"I see," It was barely a whisper of acknowledgement. "By your permission, my master, will you release me from my bondage?"

She knew this trick, but would not fall for it. Once she released him from his bondage, he would be free to roam and kill as he pleased. Of course, he could do that when he was done with what she wanted first, but not before.

"I think not dear Lysander," She tutted mournfully. "Not until I have what I want."

"I could kill you right now," His beautiful façade wavered showing him for a bleak second of what he truly was. This would not be put up with.

"Again, dear Lysander, I think not." Her lioness gaze stopped him in his temper. "If you killed me right now, you would be dead. I know all about you Djinnis so I suggest you stop trying to scare me into freeing you for I promise it will not work. Now you have one of two options: the first being aiding me in my conquest to destroy Holly Short and Artemis Fowl, the second being death. This is your entire choice darling. If I may make a suggestion, I would not choose the latter if I were you. Death is horrible, believe me. I've watched myself die."

He smiled. This little girl, who claimed not be a little girl, might know what she was doing. She may be a bit insane, but if so, this would be a quick job.