I did it! I made it to the deadline! I dunno when the last time I hit the deadline was . . . Anyway, hope you enjoy!
I plastered a smug look on my face as the demon realised that I was not a thick human. It's true, what I said I had done. It was nothing to gloat about but if Sebastian would just learn the fact that not all human brains are made of concrete then he would finally learn where he stands. Below me. I was not the only one to see the slim butler's true reaction.
"Well . . ." Ciel looked at me with his cold eye. "I never thought that anyone could leave the smartest being on the planet like that."
"I wouldn't be a Fowl if I couldn't do such simplistic things." I simply replied. "What am I to do if I cannot-"
"Arty? Arty! Your dad sent me back earlier than scheduled so I came to see you." A horribly recognisable voice shouted from the door, in clear view to everyone. My mother.
"Mother, do you mind? I have some visitors."
"You know, you can tell me that Holly came to visit." Mother then shouted so that everyone could hear her. "I heard that you became a major, Holly. Congratulations!"
"Who is this person?" Ciel asked while looking at Mother.
"That's my mother, Angeline Fowl."
"Oh . . . Your mother . . ." Ciel mumbled. He looked at his suddenly interesting feet. He was saying something but he was inaudible. Were all Victorian children like this?
"Ciel, I can't hear you. Speak up." He looked at me with his now saddening blue eye. I still wonder what the eyepatch is hiding.
"What's it like, having a mother?" I couldn't help but stare at him. I understand that his father may be dead as he is now the earl of his family's company but his mother . . .
"Having a mum is like having a loving robot who takes care of you and makes sure you are loved." Mother said from behind me. I put a hand to my face and shook my head. That was the wrong thing to say, mother I thought.
"Ciel, are you Ok?" I stupidly asked. He took a deep breath in and looked up, attempting to looked calm.
"I'm going to need some time alone." He mustered without his voice breaking. "Where can I find a room I can pace in peace?"
"My office is over there. You can lock it if you wish."
"Thank you." He walked into my office. I could hear the lock click and feet pacing soon after.
"I am sorry about my master, Artemis." Sebastian bowed in mock apology. "His parents are a . . . touchy subject." He bent so low that his mouth was at my ear. "Though between you and me, I think he's being a spoiled brat. Just. Like. You." He whispered to me in a snide tone.
"Would you please refrain from making me tell you once again that I know I am a horrible person." I whispered back into his ear. "I am spoiled and lucky, unlike your orphaned master over there in my office. I have a real family, two younger brothers to accidentally neglect and parents who try to control my coming future. I'm supposed to love them but no human can really love their family can they, little demon"
"You know, I find it rather scary that a human can naturally talk like that about his own species. Especially when the human is mainly talking about himself."
"I can tell." I grinned at him as he got up from his bowing position. I gestured to my bedroom. He entered quietly, Butler not far behind. Holly flew into the room and landed on my bed. I entered the room but Mother stops me from closing it.
"Arty, you should know by now that you can tell me anything." She told me. "I know about the fairies. This guy is one of the people too, right?"
"Mother, for your own safety, I don't want you in here or listening to the conversation. The flight back must've been long so you should rest." Have you ever had that moment where you know that you're smarter than everyone who's listening to you but you just can't sway them? I was having that moment and Mother was not tolerating me going against her.
"Listen dear, I know you're just trying to look out for me but what kind of mum would I be if I couldn't handle what my son could?"
"Fine. Only join the conversation when invited to." Which I hope is never, I thought. But before I knew it, the demon butler let her join the conversation we were about to have.
"Ah, Mrs Fowl." He said in a fake, happy tone. "I hope we are able to hear your opinion during the discussion."
"Why thank you . . . umm . . ." I forgot to introduce her to the . . . visitors.
"Please, call me Sebastian."
"Thank you. You can call me Angeline by the way." I glared at Sebastian, clear that he did that to try and unnerve me. I'm sorry, Sebastian but I don't break that easily I thought. A small grin unconsciously appeared on my face. I sat down on my bed, directly facing Sebastian.
"So?" I immediately asked. "Why are you really here? You better not hurt anyone I know."
"Artemis, I understand your concern but I was ordered by Ciel to never lie. I don't know why we are here but I do know how we got here."
"You didn't tell us this because . . ."
"Why, you never asked!"
"How did you get here then?" Butler asked.
"Through a portal."
"A portal?" Mother asked.
"Yes. The portal had weird symbols on it."
"Arty, do you think it might be Gnommish?" Holly looked at me with concern.
"We'll have to ask first." I told her. "Could you draw up the symbols you saw please?"
"Certainly." He grabbed a blank piece of paper and a black pen from my bedside table and drew something on the paper. He handed it to me. It showed nine letters in Gnommish, a space between the fifth and sixth letter.
"Yep." Holly said over my shoulder. "That's Gnommish alright. It says . . . Adela Sala?"
"It does." I murmur, lost in my own thoughts. "Holly, call Foaly. Tell him to search the LEP files for Adela Sala. Butler, get any information you can about Adela Sala on the internet. Sebastian-" I pause for a moment as I ponder on whether to trust the demon butler opposite me. Well, I thought, if he can find out Butler's first name then he can probably find some pictures of the person. I decided to take the risk.
"Well?" He stared at me with a wicked smile on his face.
"Sebastian, please find any information from people about Adela Sala. Try Romania, Spain, Poland and Germany. You can search each country in no particular order."
"As you wish. We'll need to work together now, won't we?"
"I'll let Ciel know you're gone." He jumped out the window, running through the garden and then he disappeared into the distance.
"What should I do, Arty?" Mother got up and walked towards me.
"Mother, you should go rest. These people will be back where - when they need to be."
"If it'll make you feel better, Arty, I'll get some rest."
"Thank you, Mother." I got up from my bed and went to go see Ciel. He isn't going to be the one doing nothing during the search for Adela Sala.
I know, I know. The e in Adela in Gnommish should be underneath the letter before it but this is the best I can do with it.
NUUUUU! Just found out the pictures were gone! I'm sorry! On the first draft, it was there but now I'm annoyed. Oh well. Sorry for all the trouble!
