A/N:
If you don't like spoilers then don't read this next paragraph;Ok, I know a lot of you are ready to kill me for the last chapter but don't be too mad!! I think you're forgetting that Root's a lot smarter then he looks. I hope I haven't ruined it for you. Keep reading there's a lot more surprises in store.
Well, things may slow down a bit in this chapter but I'll try to get the next one up quick so you won't get bored. I got a lot of praise for the Juliet/Holly fight, * blushes profusely* so if you like that kind of thing then you wont be disappointed. R&R people!
Disclaimer
: Same as the last page~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Holly awoke two hours later. Actually, she couldn't even remember having fallen asleep but she could feel that her cheeks were stained with tears. Doggedly, she got up and went to wash her face. Her grief over her dead Commander was never far away. He had been like a father to her, albeit one who yelled at her on a regular basis.
The loss had crushed her spirit somewhat and more then anything she felt profoundly alone.
But she knew what to do, she thought. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes were red and puffy and she didn't feel capable of a smile but her head was crystal clear. She had another communicator in the apartment that she was staying in. She would contact Foaly and find out as much as possible about the situation below ground. If things were as bad as she feared, then she would not be able to get down there alone.
She would hunt down Gus Lint no matter what. She would hunt him down and make him pay for what her did to Julius Root, she vowed.
She began to gather her things. Not that there was much apart from her sealed acorn and her copy of the Book. She didn't need her ruined dress or communicator but she grabbed her purse with her many human ID's and credit cards.
She wanted her guns. It would take too long to purchase more. Obviously, Fowl had them somewhere. Holly was just about to leave the room when she bumped into Butler. He stepped into the room casually, not seeming surprised by her evident intention to leave.
"May I have a word?"
Holly moved to let him in. "It better be quick." She agreed.
"Artemis has requested your company for lunch." He stated briskly.
Holly scoffed. "What? He expects me to have lunch with him after the argument we just had? This guy is unbelievable! I don't have time for this." She tried to go but Butler stopped her with hand on her arm.
"Holly, I would appreciate it if you would accept the invitation." Butler said, speaking as a friend rather than a body guard.
"Is that an order?" She asked suspiciously.
"It's a request. As a favour to me." Holly looked up at the manservant. She couldn't bring herself to deny him this favour but dragged it out nonetheless.
"Why?" She asked. Butler hesitated.
"Artemis is not used to being around people. He does not know how to behave or how to earn their respect. But I do believe he is concerned about you."
"About me?" Holly asked, amazed.
Butler smiled gently. "Yes. He is very concerned for your safety. You should have seen how agitated he was when you were injured. He did not let you out of his sight. Artemis may not express his emotions often but he does feel them. I believe he has harboured a lot of guilt from what he put you through before and feels protective of you as a result of it."
Although surprised, Holly saw the truth in his words. She should have been grateful for what Artemis had done for her, instead of harbouring petty grudges and taking out her anger on him. After all, he had effectively saved her life.
"OK," She agreed. "I'll be down in ten." At least she would be able to ask about her guns, she thought. Butler patted her shoulder appreciatively before leaving the room. Holly allowed herself to sit quietly and silence her thoughts for a while before preparing herself to do something she never thought she would; apologise to Artemis Fowl.
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Artemis was seated in the second living room. Holly's words kept replaying in his head. They had stung a lot, not only because of her harsh tone but because, as she said them, he realised the truth in them and felt ultimately alone.
She must really hate me, he thought. It was predominantly depressing to know that someone felt that strongly about him.
He was distracted from his thoughts by a small shuffling sound from the far corner. He looked up to see Holly, slowly entering the room. He was surprised she had accepted his offer at all.
He was taken aback by her appearance. He pretty eyes were red and sore and she carried about an air of profound exhaustion. This fragile creature was unlike what he had observed before. She was neither light nor carefree, nor was she guarded and tough. More than anything she just looked like a girl who had seen too much.
"Captain." He gestured for her to take a seat across the table. She did so without a word.
An awkward silence passed over them, until Holly finally said, "Look, I want to apologise for what I said before. I didn't mean to be so cruel." She began. It was obvious that just saying this was taking a lot out of her and Artemis was stunned by her words. "I know I should be grateful for everything you've done. And before, I was just looking for someone to blame. I didn't mean to offend you. I shouldn't be holding unnecessary grudges. I would like to start over. We're all square now." She raised her eyes to meet his. "I don't have a lot of friends left, but I hope I have an ally in you."
"I hope so too." He said softly. Her words had moved him. "So what did you mean when you said that you don't have many friends 'left'?" He asked hesitantly, looking at the untouched lunch.
When he looked up, tears were welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill. She bit her lip. "Commander Root is dead." She said simply.
And she didn't have to say anymore. That explained it. That explained her dramatic change in character, her sudden outbursts of rage, her bloodshot eyes. Commander Root was dead, Holly had lost her only father figure. And Artemis Fowl knew first hand what that felt like.
Unsure what to do, he walked over to her and place a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he said. And that was enough.
The tears finally spilled from her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. She succumbed to the sobs that shook her whole body and Artemis stayed by her through the whole of it, not saying anything, just staying there and hoping that his presence helped a little. And as he watched her wallow in the depths of grief and depression, and felt her pain almost as much as she did, the realisation struck him. He cared for her, a whole lot more then he should have.
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Holly awoke but did not open her eyes. She knew where she was and didn't want to confirm it. It wasn't like the day before, she remembered exactly what had happened the last night. Much to her disgrace.
She had one the one thing that she swore she would never do. She had broken down in front of Artemis Fowl.
Holly had never felt so vulnerable or so exposed in her entire life. But once the first tear had trickled down her cheek, she had been unable to hold them back anymore. When she had agreed to go to lunch she had been sure that the mourning had been out of her system. But she had been deluding herself, doubtless she would never be able to get over this loss.
And now she was stuck in Fowl Manor for another morning when she should be out there and trying to work out the Sabre problem. Guilt flooded through her as she thought how bad things must have got below ground. And what are you gonna do about it? She asked herself. It wasn't as though she could just waltz down there and take back Haven. What she needed was a plan.
She groaned and rolled out of bed. You're in a criminal mastermind's house and you're struggling to come up with a plan? She thought. She knew what she should do. She should swallow her pride and ask Fowl for help. Indeed, her malice for him had all but disappeared, but something from deep inside of her warned her against it.
She left her room only to crash into someone in the hallway again. She looked up into blue eyes and took a step back.
"Erm, Captain, I was just looking for you." Artemis stated. Holly didn't reply, she was half expecting a snide remark about the other night. "Would you mind sparing a few moments?" Artemis asked. Holly nodded, still not ready for words.
Presently, he led her to a room where all the surveillance equipment was kept. Holly remembered it from her last visit to Fowl Manor. "This brings back memories." She muttered. Artemis decided to ignore the comment. Instead, he walked over to the end of the room and turned to face her. He was straight to the point.
"I realise that I am not privy to the exact details of your current assignment, but I was wondering if you could enlighten me about this." He said, turning on one of the screens. The monitor came to life to show a view of the exterior of Fowl Manor. It was pointed at the sky.
This was, in fact, the same monitor that Artemis had programmed to slow down every frame, in order to make it possible for him to see shielded fairies. But Holly wasn't to know this. All she saw was a small team of fairies, hovering above Fowl Manor, apparently waiting for something. Or someone.
They were in LEP uniform and Holly spotted many officers she knew. She groaned.
"Friends of yours?" Artemis inquired. Holly shivered involuntarily, sometimes she worried that he could read her mind. "Because if they are," He continued listlessly, "then it would make it a lot easier for you to tell them to leave my property."
"I…can't" Holly said lamely.
"Well then, maybe Butler could go out and persuade them…" He took a few steps towards the door. Holly grabbed his arm.
"Wait!" She said. "I can't tell them I'm here. It will mean the end of my career. No one knows about this except Root and Foaly, and now Root's gone and I don't know who's in charge. Don't you see? He might even want you mind wiped after this and with the current…situation below ground, things are a whole lot more complicated then they seem." She paused, realising that she was still holding his arm and let go hurriedly.
Artemis raised an eyebrow a fraction. "Some of the council members are corrupt?" He deduced.
Holly sunk into a chair. She had done it. She had admitted to the People's most formidable opponent how vulnerable Haven was.
Artemis noticed her mood and knelt down beside her, meeting her gaze steadily. "I said that the people were safe from me many years ago, and I meant it." Holly believed him. It was too hard not to. Now she had come this far, she only had one more hurdle to jump.
"Can you help me?" She asked meekly.
"Just tell me what you need." He said simply. Holly felt an irrational outburst of relief flood through her. She was no longer alone.
