Hola! Long time, eh? Sorry about that! Here is another chapter, and it's nice and long! (I hope...) Enjoy!
Oh yeah, spoilers for TLC (kinda)...
And, there is product placement, so, anything famous, brand-name, or not mine does not belong to me and is on my Christmas wish list (That does include Artemis!)
Haven City, Entrance to Section 8 HQ
Holly paced in the main 'lobby' of the Section 8 head quarters. She wondered why Foaly had called her so late, it was almost noon. She was missing work for this meeting. She also wondered where Avery was. Finally the door buzzed open to reveal some of Holly's closest friends, Mulch Diggums, Doodah Day, No 1, and, of course, Foaly. They greeted her warmly, with hugs and a couple nasty comments. She didn't visit often enough.
"Okay Foaly, why am I here?" Holly asked, curling into a chair. Before anyone could answer Holly's cell phone began singing; 'Summer time, the nights are so long/The leaves fall down/and so do I into the arms of a friend/Winter nights/my bedside is cold, for I am gone/and spring blossoms you to me'.
"Hello?" Holly asked. "Who is this?"
"Ah. Holly. I didn't realize that this young lady is your daughter…" Artemis Fowl the Second trailed off on the other end of the line. Holly didn't consciously turn off the phone, but looked down and saw it closed.
Artemis had Avery. Avery was at Fowl Manor. Avery was in a lot of trouble. And so were the four men before her, all of them cowering at her vicious vampire smile, the one she had learned from the best of the worst of them.
Holly didn't bother puzzling over the ringtone, or the 'why', 'where' or 'when'. She had 'what' and 'how'. Everything she needed. She advanced on her friends, only realizing then that she was standing. She was in too much of a rage to care about anything other than the demise of the men in front of her.
"Link," she hissed, inches from Foaly's horsey face, "NOW!" Foaly hastily reached behind him and entered the code, enabling the link he had connected the previous night, with out turning his back on Holly. Mulch had slowly been backing towards the door. "Mulch," Holly cooed, "where do you think you're going?"
"Bathroom?" Mulch asked, flashing a cheeky grin. He had no hope. Holly didn't disappoint. She shook her head and gestured for him to sit. Mulch sat, and the others soon did so as well.
"Now, who will start the story sharing?" she asked, daring silence. Foaly started the tale…
Fowl Manor, 6 o'clock
Artemis Fowl the Second ran his hand through his hair before shaking his head. His life had ended. He had a daughter. He had a wife. He had money, lots and lots, tons upon tons of money, everywhere in the world. No one besides himself and his parents knew where it was all hidden. No one. The thought cheered Artemis slightly. Not one person on earth could get to his money.
Although this was a hollow joy, it was more joy than he had felt since last seeing his daughter. Artemis rolled out of bed and began his day with a shower. He took a longer shower than was absolutely necessary and dressed casually (a cotton suit and no tie). Artemis headed to breakfast. Butler had breakfast ready and was serving himself while listening to an iPod, on a dock, when Artemis came in.
Butler didn't immediately notice his charges' presences and continued singing along, "…You don't have to call anymore/I won't pick up the phone/this is the last straw/don't wanna hurt anymore/and you can tell me that you're sorry/But I don't believe you baby/Like I did – before/you're not sorry, no, no – oh. Hello Artemis. I, uh, didn't notice you…Hah, ah. Breakfast time! Sorry for not waiting. I didn't know when…" Artemis raised his hand and silenced the large man.
Artemis added his favourites onto a plate and sat at the table with his friend. Music continued to play throughout breakfast.
Juliet entered the kitchen at 7:45 am and was surprised to hear music playing. She saw a 21 gig iPod in its dock, and fishing in a drawer, pulled out a remote for the dock. Juliet hit a couple of buttons and suddenly music was blaring. 'But can you hear me say?/Don't throw me away/And there's no way out/I gotta hold you somehow/I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you/You wanna touch me too/Everyday but all I have is time/Our loves the perfect crime...'
"Juliet! What is this disgusting racket?" shouted Artemis over the noise.
"It's The All-American Rejects," Juliet pouted, turning the volume down.
"Ugh. No wonder America rejects them. They're horrible." Juliet laughed.
"They are not rejected by America. That's the band's name." Juliet continued to laugh.
"Well they should be."
"Well, I guess it's a good thing you live in Ireland than, Artemis." Butler said calmly. He didn't understand why he was babysitting these two again. They were close on 30 years old and he was heading to his grave. He quit after Artemis turned 18 (3 months after his return from Hybras). Everyone agreed he was too old. Yet here they were, the original three, and it was just like when they were younger, Artemis and Juliet always bickering while Butler cleaned up their messes.
Artemis and Butler finished eating and left. Juliet finished and waited. At nine o'clock Avery entered the kitchen. Juliet instructed her in finding a plate and filling it. They sat together as Avery ate.
The Hilton, Dublin, Ireland – 11:30 am
I stared down at Dublin's center, filled with tourists and locals, most of them carrying umbrellas in hopes of staying dry in the onslaught of rain. I smirked to myself. Checking the wall clock in my suite, I noticed the need to call for a cab. Grabbing my cell I hit a speed dial. The phone on the other end picked up on the third ring.
"Hello?" asked a slightly breathless voice.
"Dom!" I squealed into the phone. "Is your sister available to talk?"
"Sure Annie. I'll page her." There was some slight muffling while I waited.
"Hey Sophie! What 'cha need?" Juliet asked.
"Can you call me a cab or give me ride? I have to be at the Manor in half an hour." I sounded pitiful, asking for a ride.
"Sure, I'll be there in fifteen minuets. Meet me in the Lobby."
"Okay. And don't forget your umbrella. It's really starting to rain." We said good bye and hung up. Looking down at my black silk nightgown, I decided to change.
I hadn't packed much in my carry-on, clothes wise. I dug for my 'grubbies' – a pair of skinny Apple Bottom Jeans, a bright pink Abercrombie and Fitch halter top, a Baby Phat sweat shirt, and of course, my black Converse High-Tops. I quickly French braided my hair, before pulling a retro Pink Floyd ball cap on.
I threw on my LL Bean rain coat, grabbed my carry-on and a TNA umbrella, and made my way to the front desk, where I checked out. I waited in the lobby for Juliet, who showed up at 11:46. We ran out to the Bentley, rain pounding on our umbrellas. When we were ready, we started for Fowl Manor.
Fowl Manor – 11:23 am
Avery wandered her room. She had been prowling about since 8 that morning, waiting until she could go to breakfast, waiting around at breakfast, wandering around until noon. She wondered what her friends think of the place, what her mother would would think of the food.
At 11:30, Juliet was paged. It was almost time. Avery was filled with too much excitement to quell, causing her even more restlessness.
At quarter-to she relocated to the top of the main stairs, beside the gold vase. Avery figured that she could hide behind the vase and shield if she needed too.
At ten-to footsteps approached; One person – Human – Male – Between 16 and 25 years of age. Avery hid and shielded. The man saw her. Her shield hadn't worked. He took her arm and gently lifted her from crouched to standing position. He led her to the kitchen.
"Name?" He asked in English. Avery shook her head.
"I'm not telling."
"Okay. Family name?" Another shake of her head. "Not telling?" he guessed. She nodded. "Okay, here's a phone. Call a family member, trusted relation, cop – anyone, really. I'll talk to them. How's that?" Avery nodded and picked up the portable phone. She dialled quickly, hoping he wouldn't catch the numbers. She handed him the phone.
It was loud. She heard the dial tone and waited while the line rang. Finally the phone was picked up.
"Hello?" A voice on the other line asked. "Who is this?"
"Ah. Holly." Avery stood stock-still. This man knew her mother. The thought shocked her to the core. Did he know her father? "I didn't realize that this young lady is your daughter…" He trailed off, staring at Avery. Was he looking for a resemblance between her mother and herself? "You have her eyes..." The man seemed lost. His watch beeped. He checked the time, and then left her standing in the middle of the kitchen.
Fowl Manor – 12:02 pm
I was late because of the rain. I hate being late. As I entered the doors, I heard my father's footsteps on the main staircase.
"Sorry for being late," he apologized. "I just spoke with Minerva." As he said that, my phone began to scream the song 'Haunted' by Evanescence.
"She's late," I muttered before answering. "Hello Minerva. How are you? Oh – I'm sorry; I have a call on the other line..." With that I snapped the phone shut. I went back to talking with my father. "It is fine, I just got in."
Artemis Fowl the Second smiled an evil smile I've never seen before. If he was the AF2 from the books, that would be the vampire smile. "Shall we?" he asked, leading me into the kitchen. I needed to see Avery, but couldn't think of an excuse, so I followed my father into the kitchen.
What I saw in the kitchen made me want to scream. Avery was standing in the middle of the kitchen, as though she was paralyzed.
"Okay ladies, have s seat." Artemis said. Juliet looked ready to leave. "You too, Juliet." All three of us sat at the table. "Annie, what's you're friend's name?"
"Avery."
"Wonderful. Juliet, Annie, Avery, you three are coming with me."
"Where?" Avery asked.
"My study. We'll grab But – Dom on the way." With that we left the kitchen. The four of us headed up the main staircase to Artemis the Second's study. We passed Dom on his way from the gym and my father told him hastily, "Study, now." So Dom joined our party.
We entered the study. Artemis sat at his old oak desk and opened a Mac Book Air. He hit some buttons and all the monitors in the room flashed into life. With another couple taps all the cameras and webcams turned on. With a few final clicks, Artemis turns on mikes, audio, and opens a link. Four people are waiting on the other end of the link, having just completed the same ritual.
"Hello Artemis."
You might of noticed Butler singing. Sorry, but it was for laughs, cuz he was singing along to Taylor Swift!
Review!
AvsE
