CHAPTER NINE
I'M BACK! I'm sorry I took sooooo long! I was busy with so many interviews and a drug test in October and then I actually got the job I had applied for but I rarely get any time off now so it's hard to update anything. I plan to continue writing so don't think this is going to end abruptly.
Artemis and Holly leaned over a table as they read the contents; trying to seek any answer. Hours passed but nothing came up. Sighing, Artemis walked away from the table while Holly continued to flip pages. Placing his index finger and thumb to his chin, Artemis began putting his mind to work. He had all the facts; he just needed to play with them in his mind. As Artemis remained in his head, Holly finished her ritual replacement and drank it in one shot. A thought came to her but she quickly ordered it to leave. There was no way she could ask Foaly. Or could she? What if he accepted this situation like Butler had? Holly mulled this over while biting on her lower lip. Should she take a risk like Artemis had? She shakes the idea away. Foaly wasn't ready for this. Artemis snaps his fingers and turns towards Holly.
"What has the genius come up with?" Holly jokes.
"How old is Foaly?" Artemis questions; ignoring her joke.
"I believe he is three hundred and ninety. Why?"
"Then our previous lives as the wolf and Red would have never known him," Artemis points out.
"Meaning there should be no memory of him for Red," Holly almost gasps.
"Therefore there is only one other possibility."
"Do I have to guess Artemis or are you going to tell me?"
"Holly I know you're smarter than that," he grins. Holly rolls her eyes and thinks for a moment. If he kept this up she'd have to kick him out. Her eyes soon light up.
"There is a past life where we knew each other. Not just me and you, but Butler and Foaly too," she states.
"Exactly."
"Now the question is; what was our relationship." With Holly's question, both became silent.
"You or Foaly wouldn't happen to have a potion or spell that could return memories would you?"
"Not on hand no. However I'm sure there is one," Holly says thinking about if she had ever heard or seen one mentioned.
"A demon warlock would be helpful in this department," Artemis says, annoyed with himself. Holly just shook her head.
"If you know about him then our memories may be returning."
"I would like them to return sooner. These memories could help solve everything between humans and the people," Artemis informs. Before Holly could add anything else, her attention turned towards the door. Artemis tensed thinking someone maybe outside. A small smile crossed her face.
"It would seem your bodyguard demands it's time for you to return home."
"Your hearing is remarkable Holly. Human ears have no significance compared to canines." At Artemis' praise for her wolf ears, Holly had raised an eyebrow.
"It would be wise not to keep him waiting," Holly teases.
"I am not a child."
"Compared to me you are. Plus you can barely protect yourself. I suggest you return him," Holly replies, grinning wildly. Artemis felt defeated for some strange reason.
"You and my mother love pointing both of those two things out," he sighs. Holly watches Artemis walk to the door and resists the urge to grabs his arm and tell him to stay. Artemis turns back to her once the door was opened and seems to hold his breath. "I will see you later."
"Yes. Hopefully not because of the curse," Holly sadly smiles at him. He nods before walking out of her house and following the path they took earlier. Holly let out a sigh and plopped in a nearby chair. These memories needed to return quickly.
Three days later Holly was sitting in front of Cyrus' cell trying to get him to talk. However she wasn't having any luck. She trusted her gut feeling and would defend him until he was proven guilty. At the moment though, she was near her limit. Her leg was bouncing while her eye twitched. Root was positive she was going to snap and secretly wanted to see it. Holly exhaled and looked at the boy sternly. Cyrus gulped and looked at Root for help. Root shook his head. Cyrus was on his own. Holly stood and walked closer to the cell, grabbing the bars with her hands. She knew this was a betrayal of their trust but she was at her wits end and needed to find the real criminal before an all out war started and she was determined to not start a war at all. Cyrus looked into her eyes telling her to leave when he realized what she was doing. He didn't have time to look away.
"Cyrus, where you the one who attacked Red's village? Be honest." She demanded.
"No it wasn't me." He whimpered. Holly had mesmerized him.
"Then who was it?"
"It was Briar Cudgeon," Cyrus says causing Root and Holly to blink.
"Should have known," Root snorts.
"Why did you cover for him?" Holly eases up on the mesmer.
"I saw him enter the village. I was going to tell you but he caught me. He said if I wanted to stay here I had to say it was me if anyone was suspected."
"What would he have done to you boy?" Root clicks his tongue.
"Left me in a pit of goblins," Cyrus shivers at the thought. Holly curses under her breath.
"Cyrus you will stay here so we can protect you. We'll take care of Briar," Holly says. Cyrus nods and watches Root and Holly walk off.
"First the humans and now Briar Cudgeon; we didn't need two problems," Root said while lighting a cigar.
"I never thought he would actually try something. How stupid I was to believe that."
"I wouldn't be too hard on yourself Holly. We don't get many deranged elves here." Root tries to reassure. Holly slightly chuckles. Holly soon excuses herself and makes her way to the creek; she need some time to think. Holly sat there listening to the water rush by, trying to let it sooth her. She shuts her eyes for a moment taking in a deep breath. If only her days could be peaceful like this always. If only she could be with Artemis always. She quickly opens her eyes and slaps both palms to her face. Why should she think that? Yes he was her friend but being with him always would get tiresome. A small rabbit caught her eyes which convinced her that a hunt would be just the thing to get her mind off of everything. As she readies herself everything goes black. Holly begins to panic, thinking her vision has deserted her. She soon begins to spin around, searching, when she feels the presence of someone. Relief washes over her when a wolf comes into view. She hadn't lost her sight. That relief soon vanishes as she realizes she vaguely knew this wolf. She couldn't put her finger on how she knew it. Holly tries to ask who the other wolf was but found her voice would not come out. A grin crosses the other wolf's snout.
"You cannot escape me," it mocked her. Holly wanted to attack but found herself frozen to the spot. Shadows emitted from the wolf's body and shot towards Holly, wrapping around her body. She was being consumed. Her eyes grew wide as she realized who this wolf was. The very first wolf to be killed by Red. Holly began struggling for freedom only to be engulfed by the shadows; the rage of the wolf. When Holly's vision returned and she was standing by the creek a devious smirk slithered across her face. Ignoring the rabbit in front of her, Holly made her way towards the human village. The only thing on her mind was seeing Red's corpse at her feet.
Yay! It's short again! I need these to be longer.
