Thanks so much to those who have reviewed, alerted, or favorited so much, Happy Memorial day!* hands out memorial's day celebration* Also, next chapter's going to be the last chapter! So, I'd like to see if the story could have a total of 100 reviews after it's finished.
Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl
Chapter 29: Next Time (Artemis)
When I returned to the manor I found Astoria sleeping on the couch; all the activity recently must have tired her. Butler informed me that he had put the Mesmerized Juliet in her bedroom until the Mesmer would wear off. Now, this meant I had one terrifying task left to do: I had to call Astoria's parents and tell them she was all right, albeit the 19th century torture devices she was wearing. The reason for my worry was that I strongly suspected her parents would not be particularly happy about the fact that their foster daughter had gone missing but had been found on what was technically my property. I comforted myself by the fact that I had Butler as a bodyguard and therefore they would not be able to leave any physical injury on me.
Fortunately when I phoned Astoria's parents I received an answering machine recording; Astoria's parents must be at work. This would give me time to prepare before they came. My parents were both currently out of town so I would have even more time to find a way to explain this to them. I then set out to complete the next task I must do. I walked up stairs and down a corridor until I reached Juliet's room. I knocked on the door and was greeted with a drained," Come in." in response. I opened the door and stepped inside, shutting the door behind me.
"Artemis?" Juliet asked in surprise. Facing me, her face appeared to have all the color drained from it and her eyes had lost some of their brightness. Her hair had lost some of its shine and dark circles had formed beneath her eyes. These were all possible effects of being put under the Mesmer so many times, but there was more to it than that. Juliet had once been a happy, carefree teenager but she was now a nervous wreck. She jumped slightly as I entered the room. These were not side effects of the Mesmer; these were effects from stress, insecurity, and sheer terror.
"I need to talk to you Juliet." I said calmly and sat down on the bed she was sitting on. As she looked at me I silently lamented on how I could not have realized what had been happening sooner. Juliet looked both hyper and exhausted at the same time. Of course, since I had come back to the manner I had noticed the symptoms; I had merely not cared to take the time to find the cause for them.
"Juliet, can you tell me what has happened to you within the past hour?" Eyes flashing with terror and hesitation, Juliet lied quickly and unconvincingly said," I have been in my room for the past hour."
"No," I stated coolly," You have not. You do not remember where you were in the past hour, do you. In fact, you cannot remember recent events that have took place over the time span of several weeks. "
"Artemis, I-"She was at a loss for words.
"And I know why," I went on and traces of horror spread across Juliet's face. "And it is not your fault." Juliet looked up at me in surprise, and then said, "Artemis, I…. I think I'm going mad."
"No," I said firmly, "You are not. I know this for a fact. Just like I know everything that has been happening to you. You have been seeing flashbacks that you don't remember ever happening and believe in a world you never knew. You think you are deluding yourself into false fantasies but all of those memories are absolutely true. You are not going mad, you are simply remembering everything that happened before the mind wipe."
"So you mean-"Juliet began.
"Yes." I answered her. We sat there in silence for a moment when Juliet spoke up.
"Artemis, sometimes I see a pair of glowing red eyes and I… I feel like I'm the one responsible for Astoria's disappearance." And with that being said she started to cry. I was unsure of what to do, Juliet had been very emotional in the past but was never weepy; Opal must have really gotten to her. There was only one thing to do: I explained everything that had happened to her while she was under the Mesmer. When I finished talking, we sat there in silence again before I decided to get up and leave. When I was on my way out I heard Juliet say very softly," Artemis…. Thank you." Although I could not see her face, I could see teardrops rolling off it. However, unlike all of her recent tears, these were tears of joy, not tears of fear and sorrow.
When I came downstairs I saw Commander Vinyaya waiting for me. "Listen, Mud Boy," she ordered. "We need to talk." I had a sneaking suspicion I knew what about: It was still undecided whether or not I would be able to keep my new memories since the mind wipe and I would need to meet with Haven officials for them to make their decision. This would defect Astoria too: My performance may determine whether or not she could keep her memories or not. Before I left I went over to where Astoria lay sleeping on the couch. "Astoria," I whispered to her, not wanting her to wake up but wanting her to subconsciously remember what I was going to say to her. "Depending on the council's decision, we may not be able to see each other anymore. But regardless of their decision, I want you to know this: I love you." And with that being said I left. I knew that whatever happened, for better or worse next time will be different.
I on my way over to Haven that if the council did not let us keep our memories that I would not fight them, unlike last time. If they erased Astoria's memories and mine of Astoria, it might be for the better. When I had told Opal I had heard everything, I had meant everything, including Astoria's confession of love to me. At first I had felt euphoric, but afterwards the euphoria turned into despair. Astoria, although biologically human, was part fairy folk never less. What would the fairy folk think of Astoria being involved with someone like me? I had been both an ally and an enemy to them and some had not yet forgiven nor forgotten my previous actions towards them. Although Opal was now imprison, it was likely people would take advantage of this interaction by trying to use me to get to her. In other words, my being involved with Astoria- be it romantically or friendship - would only be placing her in danger; I should have realized that from the beginning.
"Artemis Fowl," Ark Sool glared down at me," tell the council one good reason why we should not erase you memories." I took a deep breath before speaking. Everything depended on this. I began to speak.
"While I understand that some of my past actions may not have been particularly helpful to the fairy people-("Yes, because trying to use and exploit our race was very helpful." An elderly council member mumbled and many people nodded and sniggered in agreement) I tugged on the cuffs of my suit; perhaps reminding the People of some of my more criminal actions towards them wasn't such a good idea. You have such wonderful people skills, Artemis; I thought to myself, you really do. Sarcasm intended.
"As I was saying," I went on. "I regret my past actions but let us not forget actions of mine that have helped the People, such as stopping Opal's Koboi's goblin rebellion, for instance." There was some musing and muttering as I said this. "In fact, most recently I have secured Astoria Anderson's safety and rescued her from the clutches of Opal Koboi. In the past, I have also-"
"Isn't it true that Astoria Anderson is really Opal Koboi's long lost daughter?" Someone spoke up. "Why should we protect her? What if she's like her mother?" There were gasps and worried whispers at this. I felt my blood begin to boil. I did not have a problem with people gossiping about me, but I did not want people- human or fairy alike- to talk badly about Astoria.
"Astoria Anderson is indeed the daughter of Opal, "I said so loudly that all chatter stopped." However, she is nothing at all like her mother. Astoria cannot help who her parentage is. And you, the People, and Astoria are all safer now that she's back home than if she were still with Opal. I have grown close to Astoria over the past months and know for a fact that she would never purposely harm the People. If you wish to mind wipe Astoria for her safety than do so, but if it is merely for your own sinister or selfish reasons than you shall all face my rath. No matter how much I have changed, if any harm befalls Astoria, than I will have no choice but to return to my old ways." A shocked silence followed my sentiments; one could have literally heard a pin drop. Actually, a pin did drop from a council member's hair, making a loud, reverberating sound that spread across the chamber. They hurriedly picked it up and placed it back in their hair.
"Artemis Fowl," Commander Vinyaya said after a while." You may wait outside while the Council makes its final verdict." I got up and left, suspense filling my very bones…
Remember guys, I'd like there to be six more reviews when the story's finished! Also, I may make a sequel, which may or may not be called Next Time!
