Chapter 28
Her Savior. Her Hero.
RECAP:
"Because I said so," I said from behind them.
Artemis's POV:
The girl and the man whipped around to face me. The girl seemed surprised. I didn't pay her very much attention, because I knew it was the man that I needed to watch.
"And who the hell are you?" the man demanded. Well, he was quite the drunken charmer.
"Fowl. Artemis Fowl," I smirked and he looked confused. Amazingly enough, I'm not surprised. "Never heard of me?"
"Never cared to," he shrugged. If ignorance is bliss then this man must be the happiest person in the world.
"Regardless, let the girl go," I ordered in firmest voice. The girl looked up at me with hope in her eyes, but I could also see the red flash of anger in her eyes.
"No, she wants to go with me," he said, obviously lying. "Don't you?" he asked as he jerked on her arm.
I felt like screaming at him, but I knew that would only make things worse. "She doesn't look like it," I told him as calmly as I could.
"Let her go and it's no hard feelings, right?" I asked looking into her green eyes, and begging her to comply. She nodded reluctantly. I looked back at him and could see that he wanted to walk away. Unfortunately, he wouldn't do it because he would see that as weak.
"She's just a little nervous," he slurred. "She's a professional."
"Professional what?" I asked though I knew exactly what he meant. And let me add, that she looked nothing like a 'professional'. She just looked like an average girl in a bad situation.
"Hoe," he said.
Unfortunately, the girl became too angry and spoke out. "I am not a hoe, you jackass. Now, let me go asshole." Hopefully, this won't make it harder to get him to release her.
"I think that's her way of trying to get you off of her."
"Naah. She's just playing hard to get," he said. I saw a movement from the girl. She was pulling her free hand back to hit him. I looked her straight in the eyes, and shook my head. She seemd reluctant and sulky as she lowered her hand. I noticed that she did not unball her fist. One had to admire her pluck and audacity. Thankfully, the man hadn't noticed our little exchange.
"Let her go," I demanded, more stren than I was before.
"Who's gonna make me?" he demanded and I could smell a bit of alcohol on his breath. Lovely.
I gave him my best vampire smile and I look that I hoped embodied my contempt. I was tired of this childish game. "Me," I said and took the stance Butler had taught me to. This stance gave me some power and a strong strike. Hopefully, it would take him down. "Now let her go and I won't have to hurt you."
He still refused to let her go. "Uh...uh," he stammered trying to understand. He was still holding her, but he made the mistake of loosening his grip.
That was all that she needed to strike. She pulled her hand free and used his momentum to swing him forward into the table. Then she placed the sharp heel of her boot on his back and leant down to his face. This wasn't going to be pretty.
"Never ever, touch me again. If you do, you may end up missing a few parts," she hissed in a voice that was cold enough to make me want to cross my legs to protect myself.
"Got it?" she demanded as she grabbed his hair and used it to pull his head back. This girl was unbelievable. Strong, threatening, and... fiesty.
He seemed to have lost the ability to speak, so he did the most idiotic thing he could have. He nodded his head, which must have hurt and resulted in the loss of some hair.
"Good, now get out of here." Needless to say, he obeyed. He stumbled out of her sight as fast as he could.
The girl stood up and brushed the hair from her fingers. Then she stood even taller as she straightenend her back and turned to face me.
"Holinda Briefs," she said extending her hand a bit reluctantly. The girl Juliet was friends with is the mystery girl. The girl who I had come here to meet. And I had just saved her. This seems almost too coincidental. Oh, how the fickle Fates do weave their threads.
"Artemis Fowl. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am glad that you are unharmed." Though, I'm sure that's not the case for her pride. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about that.
"So are you okay?" I asked when she didn't say anything.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said shrugging it off like things like this happened to her everyday. Somehow I doubted that. She seemed dangerous, but not the trouble-maker type. She seems, well, like me. Trouble follows her but she does nothing to encourage it. Or perhaps I'm wrong and she flirts with danger. "I'd just like to say: I could have taken care of that myself."
She was bending down to pick up the table, but I got there first. I set both the table and chairs up while she fumed. "I could have done that too," she huffed. What, did she think that I thought she was weak? The farthest thing from it.
"Of course you could have," I said raising my hands submissively. "I was just being helpful."
"Whatever." She crossed her arms, but her body seemed to relax a little.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'll be fine as soon as you stop asking me if I'm fine." her eyes flared and she put her hands on her hips.
"Sorry," I said trying not to laugh. "Perhaps you need a drink?" No, I was not trying to get her drunk. She just seemed like she needed one.
"No, the last thing I need is a drink. I don't do alcohol."
That caught me a bit off guard. No, I didn't expect her to be a drunk. She's too elegant for that. But most people find drinking to be a right of passage and enjoyable activity. Add another reason to the list of how she's different from most people I know. "So, what do you usually drink at a place like this?"
"I don't usually come to places like this," she admitted and surprised me again. "But I had cranberry juice earlier."
"Hmm, do you like cranberry juice?" I asked.
"I do." I tried to ignore the cliche and not make a comment. I succeeded, barely.
"Sit down and I'll be right back."
She put her hands on her hips again and locked onto my eyes. "You don't tell me what to do?" Wow, are all women this hard to figure out?
"Please?" I asked as politely as possible. I don't know why, but I wanted to talk to her. I almost needed to find out more about her. And I knew that sitting her down and just talking was the best way to do that.
"Fine," she huffed. "But I'm doing it because I want to. Not because you told me to." Once again, I couldn't help but admire her attitude.
"Of course. Just be here when I get back."
I walked off to the bar area. The blond bartender was still on duty but I swallowed my pride and ordered. "Would you like a drink, sir?" he asked.
"Yes. Two cranberry spritzers."
He looked at me strangely as he mixed them up. "Here you are sir," he said as he slid them to me. I gave him the money and turned back to the table. I was surprised to see that Holinda was still there.
I sat down across from her and slid her the glass. "I'm surprised that you're still here."
She laughed and her whole face lit up. "Count yourself lucky," she giggled. "Um, what's this?"
"A non-alcoholic drink, called a cranberry spritzer."
She looked at the drink and seemed like she wanted to tasted it. "Are you sure that it's alcohol free?" Strangely enough, I didn't feel very frustrated like I should have. I was actually enjoying myself.
"Scout's honor," I said showing her my hands in a submissive way.
She laughed even harder as she picked up the glass. "You don't seem like the type to be a scout." Hmm, she is quite smart and very observant.
I laughed at the thought of how familiar she is. It doesn't feel like we just met. "No, I suppose I was more of an insider as a child."
"Surprise, surprise," she laughed and I could see her point. "You were an insider outsider?" I could see what she meant even if it wasn't so clear. An inside person but constantly on the outside. That did sum up my childhood.
"Yes actually," I said. "Now drink."
She sighed and made a big show of putting the glass to her lips. She took a sip and smiled even brighter than before.
"Mmm, that's delicious what's in it?"
"First of all: I told you so," I couldn't help but gloat.
"You have to gloat, don't you?" she asked leaning forward. In a word, yes.
"Yes, and to answer your question, the drink contains: water, cranberry juice, frozen orange juice, frozen lemonade, sugar, lemon-lime soda, and a twist of lime."
"And you know all of this because...?"
"Oh Holly, Holly. When will you learn that I know everything?"
Oh no. I realized what I had said. Holly. Curse Butler. Because of him, she has been on my mind and I just called Holinda by her name. As far as I know, that is one of the biggest social faux paus, a man can make in relation to a woman.
Holinda looked very confused, but there was something else in her expression. Something that was completely unreadable. "Whoa," she said. "Who's Holly and why did you just call me by her name?" She sounded curious and concerned, not mad like I had thought she would be.
"Oh, I am sorry," I said a bit embarrasedly. I don't usually make mistakes. Though, it is becoming more and more frequent. "Holly's my best friend and I suppose you remind me of her." And she did in a lot of ways. I can see traces of my best friend in this girl. I don't know what it is, but I know that there's something about this girl. I intend to find out what that something is.
"Really?"
"Well yes," I laughed. "You're both stubborn to a point, sarcastic, funny, and strong-willed." It's true. If Holly ever met Holinda then she'd have a new best friend or perhaps a new archrival.
"True. She sounds interesting." I smiled a bit. She has no idea how 'interesting' Holly really is. "Is she here?"
"No. She lives... very far down south. We don't get to see each other very often." One of the sad facts that I have had to get used to an deal with. Having a friend who is of a different species and lives below the earth's surface is... difficult, and more often than not, rewarding.
"Aww, I'm sorry," she said and I was surprised to see that she meant it. She really seemed to care that I missed my friend and she wanted to comfort me.
"It's fine. We still call each other." I shrugged like it was nothing. Though to be honest, calling hasn't been nearly enough lately.
"Of course," she smiled though I could tell that she didn't believe me. Good, it showed how intelligent she was. "Um, so I guess I should tell you 'thank you'?"
"Thank me? For what?" I asked confused.
"For being my savior," she said looking down embarrasedly.
"It's alright," I grinned. "You looked like you needed one."
"You have no idea," she said in a way that seemed to have a double meaning. I wonder how else she needed a savior. She seems to be quite capable of saving herself and the rest of the world.
I decided to change her train of thought. "Well, this is a refreshing change from the snarling Holinda that wanted to rip my throat out."
"And just what do you mean by that?" she demanded angrily. But, it was easy to see that her anger was false. She was actually enjoying herself.
"At first you seemed... angry at me for helping you."
"I was angry," she admitted. "But not at you. I was angry at myself for letting him grab me at all."
"I understand, but there was no reason to be angry. It wasn't you-," I began but was once again cut off.
"Do not tell me that it wasn't my fault. It was. I should have noticed that he was drunk." I know that I could have told her a lot of things. I could have told her how hard it is to tell when some people are drunk. I could have told her, but I'm sure that she already knew.
"Holinda, it's okay. You tried your best and you got him in the end."
That made her laugh again. "Of course. Sorry to bend your ear with my issues."
I wanted to tell her that I was okay with listening. But I didn't because it would sound too familiar. So instead I said, "It's no problem."
There was a few moments of silence before she spoke again. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," I agreed curiously.
"What brings you here?" she asked. "You don't seem like the clubbing type."
I blushed and fidgeted a bit. How can I say that I came here to meet her? There's not way to do anything except honestly. Frond kows that I learned my lesson about lying. "Well actually, I was invited here to meet Juliet's new friend. You."
"But you didn't know who I was, did you?"
"No, I did not," I admitted.
"So then, why did you help me?"
I laughed. What, did she view me as cold and heartless? Was it me or people in general? There's so much I need to find out about her. "No, I didn't know who you were. But what I did know was that you were in trouble."
"So what? Are you some kind of professional hero? Some knight in shining armor?" She scoffed. "Going around saving the damsels in distress?"
I couldn't help but almost grin. She thought I was a hero. If she knew the me that I used to be... I wonder what she'd think if she knew that I used to be the villian or rather the anti-hero. "Something like that."
"Well, I find that and you admirable," she said and it made me feel pretty happy. It's nice that someone other than my family and friends have a good opinion of me.
I smiled and she smiled back as she leaned in closer. "I knew it," squealed a familiar voice, ruining the moment. "You're trying to steal my Arty."
A/N:
Woo-hoo! Another chapter down. First of all, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year. Hopefully, 2011 will be better than 2010 was.
Second, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to each person who has ever reviewed this story:
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and especially yama oni. Thanks for the criticsim, advice, and love for the story. I'm sorry to anyone who was left off. Just tell me and I'll fix it :).
The next chapter will be the HollindaxMinerva showdown in Holly's POV. I hope to update this story soon. Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and remember to review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)
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Yours truly, madly, and deeply,
Einstinette
