Artemis Fowl: Opal's Revenge Chapter Thirteen

Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. Life's been busy. But here it is.

As a side note, I've been thinking about starting another fan fiction, since this one is almost over and I would like to make more! I was sort of thinking of a crossover of Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl. If you have an idea you can put it in the review or PM me and tell me what you think. I've got a good idea for the story in my head, but I would appreciate ideas! I'm going to put up the first chapter very soon.

As for the heart attack part in this chapter, I'm not entirely sure how one feels for the person having it, but I did my best to try to describe it.

On with the chapter!

Holly entered into the kitchen and dragged Mulch away from refrigerator.

"Gosh, you pig," she said. "Leave some for us."

"Hey!" spluttered Mulch, bits of chicken falling from his mouth.

"Was that the last of the chicken?" asked Holly, looking from him to the fridge.

Mulch grinned guiltily, bits of meat stuck between his tombstone teeth. "Maybe. But don't be mad, there's plenty of vegetables and fruits, even some bread. And what do you care? You don't eat meat."

"No, but the others upstairs do!" said Holly. She pulled out some apples and some bread. There was even a little cheese from a local farm and some cucumbers. She chopped up the apples and sliced the cheese and put it on a little plate and on another she placed salted cucumber slices and some bread, with a bit of sliced cheese on the bread. It wasn't anything like Butler could cook when he had a stocked pantry, but it would have to do.

Butler came down to join her. "No1 wounds are almost healed. He should be up very soon."

"Good," said Holly. "Thank goodness his magic is so much stronger. If those bullets had hit me, I'm not sure I'd have enough magic to heal me from getting shot in the head and in the chest."

"I already feel guilty." Butler got a pitcher of water.

"Sorry," said Holly. "But it wasn't you; it was Opal making you do it."

"I know," said Butler. "Here, I'll get the tray if you'll get the pitcher."

"What about me?" asked Mulch. "I'll help, since I ate all the chicken."

"Anything we give you to carry we'll likely be devoured before we even get up the stairs," said Holly.

Mulch stuck his tongue out, which wasn't a pretty sight, given that there were still bits of food stuck to it.

"I hope Artemis comes up with a plan soon," said Butler. "I didn't really want to leave him alone up there, but he looked like he really needed a moment to think, alone."

They went up the stairs, Mulch trailing behind them.

Holly went ahead to open the door.

Artemis was sitting at his work table, looking extremely pale. A look of horror came over his face when he seen Holly.

"Holly." He looked to be sweating. "Go back downstairs."

Artemis hadn't expected them to be back so soon. He hadn't wanted Holly to find him dead, but he didn't want her to see him having a heart attack on the floor either.

His blood pressure was high and his chest hurt. His arm hurt as well. He knew it a matter of minutes, probably seconds really, before he died.

"Holly," he huffed. "Go away."

"Artemis!" Holly scrambled forward, trying to set the water pitcher down on the table. She set it down too close to the edge and it fell off, shattering, spraying Holly's legs with cold water and glass.

Butler shoved the tray onto a nearby table, causing the plates to skid and the arranged food to slide around. He cursed himself for leaving Artemis alone. Hadn't the previous incidents taught him anything?

"Artemis, what did you do?" shrieked Holly.

She noticed the empty glass container shattered against the wall and the prescription bottle on the table. He'd taken sleeping pills and drank one his concoctions.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" shrieked Holly, tears dripping out of her eyes. "I thought I threw them all out! How could you do this! We said we'd find a way!"

Artemis looked sad. He hated to see Holly upset. "Holly, please don't be mad at me. I had to. It's the only way to be rid of Opal. I can't risk getting you guys hurt. What if Opal had shot you or Butler? Or even Mulch? Because of her, I almost killed you twice Holly! I can't-"

"What about your family?" Butler was getting Artemis off the stool.

"He's having a heart attack," said Butler, feeling Artemis's pulse.

Artemis stumbled, reaching for Holly hand. "Butler, Holly, please… forgive me." He felt out of breath. His chest really hurt, the sleeping pills weren't numbing it entirely. He felt really sleepy. He wanted to just lie down and sleep. But he wouldn't wake up again and wanted to tell Holly something. I can't take the risk with you guys, you mean too much to me. Domovoi, take care of my family and Holly…please…and…

"You're not dying!" said Butler, laying him down on the floor. "I don't have anything to stop the heart attack." There was a pair of defibrillators under the table. If Artemis's heart stopped, he could get those and shock his heart back to life. It was the only thing that would possibly work. But would it…?

Artemis, pale and sweaty, knew it was almost over. Holly was leaning over him, crying. "Artemis…no…"

Artemis reached up toward her shakily and cupped her cheek and then gently pulled her head down toward his-

-and kissed her.

He hated to see her cry, hated that he was leaving her, for good this time. He felt her soft lips on his and then…

With a final last throb in his heart, his hand fell away from Holly's face and landed on the floor with a thump. She shuddered and lay still.

"NO!" Holly shrieked. "NO! PLEASE!"