Chapter seven : The Caskett
A/N This chapter happens to be an incredibally weird one , but its importent plot wise. Things are starting to get a little less fun and a little bit more darker , which I regret , but then again a story always does have to develop in order to keep the reader interested.
I'm starting to get concerned about all these frequent bannings that seem to be occuring in the Artemis Fowl section. Theres really no need to act out this malice on writers who are doing nothing wrong. I'm also annoyed because " the quest of the walrus" happens to be my all time favourite Artemis Fowl fan fic and its impossible reading it when people keep banning it all the time. Any way.
Bride_of _lister : I'm sorry to see that you've been banned from fanfiction.net , it seems that people in this fandom tend to "ban" rather then try something new and when ever any one attempts anything different they are automatically booted out.
Mage Kitty : Yes I realize that I spelt Foaly wrong , damn spell checkers are constantly causing trouble. I was tired when I edited chapter six and hit the
"Smart" correct option on my spell checker which meant it changed everything automatically. I'm glad to see you like my story and I hope you'll stick around.
Pink cherry blossum : You've really made my day by putting my story on your favourites list , it made me feel as if writing this is worth all the time and effort :)
Now lets get this show on the road!
********************
And then it happened!
The storm raged below her , and her eyes reflected the clouds. They reflected the world , in silver mirror fragments and they were filled with bitter coldness. Still she said nothing , watching the eternal moonscape spread before her for ever unchanging and forever baron.
"I know you" Artemis accused her his body moving in a trance like strait. She moved towards him , her form flickering in and out of perception.
"That is not why you came" she whispered her features sharpened and flickered into the face of Captain Holly Short. Then , they returned to the soft eternal face of the Madonna , the mother.
" I came for answers" he said defiantly hugging his dressing gown around his thin frame.
" Not everything has an answer , especially when you have to ask" she finished. Her hair was so white it shone blue , it was the color of moonlight . She was dressed in a plain white robe that reached to her ankles and flew in fluttery rags around her bleached skin.
" I always know the answers" Artemis answered defiantly and she turned away from him. The blizzard blew around them slowly in mathematical perfection.
"From up here I can see your house" she said mischievously and her eyes reflected Juliet sitting in a sunny garden reading a magazine.
"You must have good eyesight" he muttered.
" The best" she whispered sadly then she stepped towards him a single tulip forming in her hands.
"They call them the winter flower for they bloom in the coldest of places , I cry for them" she said placing the flower in his hand.
" I cry for myself , loving the cold has its price" Artemis replied taking the flower from her hands.
"However standing in the warmth can also be to much to bear" she said her lips moving towards his ear. They were dark , the color of the night sky.
"Every one needs the sun , with out it we will perish" Artemis replied and she growled with frustration.
" Like how you perished with out your father?" She asked furiously.
"Leave him out of this" Artemis warned her stepping away. The snow fell like a globe and then stopped instantly framed in the mid air. Down below the earth continued to spin , and the storm continued to blow.
" They say you wont listen , they say you wont learn from his mistakes.. How are you so sure he wanted to be rescued?" She teased mirthlessly.
" I know what they say , but a child needs his father" Artemis replied coldly for a moment her face flickered to the round features of Amy McGraney .
" I've heard all about you Artemis , you do everything for purely selfish reasons you ruined my family's life!'' She cried in a breathless girlie whisper.
" I don't care about you" he growled and she returned to the way she was before. Slowly she stepped towards him and cradled his cheek lovingly as if greeting an old friend.
"If you strip away everything , who are you really? You are not the magician you are not even a shadow of him" she said soothingly.
"You are wrong" he said harshly and she gazed at him shocked.
"I am me" he stated .
She gasped with pain.
Her bone white hands clutched her stomach , and blood flowed down her robes. Drunkenly she stepped towards him.
Blood smeared across his mouth , it smelt of roses and it tasted of ice.
" You did it Artemis " she said a disbelieving smile on her face.
"You killed me" she growled stepping away from him. Her eyes reflected Angelina Fowl and she spoke in his mothers voice.
" Its was your day Arty , it was your day" she whispered slumping onto the dusty surface of the moon. Her eyes opened one last time , they reflected nothing as the blood fell onto the bone gray dust.
"Wake up!" A voice hissed and Artemis's eyes opened , his four hundred thread cotton sheets rapped around him in a firm cocoon. His glassy blue eyes immediately swept across his master bedroom. However there was nothing , nothing but the smell of rotting flowers and brittle curtains blowing in the wind. His eyes fell on the full moon partially visible from his bedroom window. Artemis had no smidgen of romance in his soul , in fact he was more likely to dissect a poem for its rhyming scheme then appreciate it for its beauty. However the moon reminded him temporally of his first meeting with Captain Holly Short. How she had stared at the moon , her ears flexing in the wind. It reminded him of the dream , and he shuddered visibly. He reached towards the intercom and pressed onto the button.
" Butler?" He asked shakingly , there was a snort followed by the sound of someone standing up.
" Is there something wrong Artemis?" His man servant asked.
" Just a night mare Butler , could you bring up a glass of water?" Artemis inquired.
" Right away sir" Butler said briskly and Artemis switched the intercom off. It was a feeble excuse , but Butler seemed to have bought it. The details of the dream were becoming vaguer by the second but an unsettling feeling was creeping over him. He couldn't remember the last time he had lost control in a dream like that. Normally Artemis's sleeping patterns fell under the category of lucid dreaming. Suddenly being robbed of his self awareness plagued him. He had suffered from a night mare. He knew that nightmares usually occurred as a form of post traumatic stress disorder. Did the arctic incident have a deeper and longer lasting impact on his mind? Was his subconscious deeply troubled?
There was a tentative knock on the door.
" Come in Butler" Artemis said tiredly kicking the bed clothes away. His man servant entered the bed chamber , ever diligent he was fully dressed.
" Perhaps I should have asked Juliet to bring you a glass of warm milk" Butler joked noticing the dark shadows under Artemis's eyes.
" Funny Butler" Artemis said dryly reaching towards the glass of water. His hands shook causing the liquid to spill onto his bed shirt.
"Are you all right Artemis?" Butler asked uneasily. He realized his masters request for a drink was a shallow excuse and that really Artemis did not want to be alone.
" I'm fine" Artemis breathed.
" It was just a dream" Butler pointed out and Artemis agreed with him nodding his head. Butler recalled the past Fowl children his relatives had guarded. . They were all essentially children , creatures not afraid to reveal their emotions , not afraid to believe in fears and anxieties. Artemis was never like that , he had always been thirteen going on forty.
" There really is no need for you to stay here Butler" Artemis said kindly placing the glass on his dresser.
"Are you sure?" Butler asked and Artemis nodded.
" Its nearly morning , I'll busy myself with more research into the history of the McGraney estate" Artemis said determinedly his shoulders shaking slightly. Hesitantly Butler placed a firm hand on Artemis's shoulder before turning away. Butler looked over his shoulder one last time , and caught the site of Artemis sighing almost sadly.
Meanwhile , some where which was definitely not over a rainbow a certain LEP officer was being yelled at by the now infamous beet root colored , wizard of oz loving manic depressive Commander Root.
" An Umbrella! Your telling me that the officer who managed to take down an entire goblin squadron and coach the LEP's company soft ball team to a stunning victory was defeated by an old lady with an umbrella?" Root roared pores dilating in his face.
"In all fairness sir , it was a big umbrella" Trouble managed to cry as a medic massaged healing gel into his black eye.
"Oh it was wasn't it? I better then an instant message down to the training room warning all would be LEP officers about the dangers of little old mud women with umbrella's!" Root growled and Foaly ( A/N spelt with an A , thank you very much reviewers ;) ) turned from his computer console.
"We have bigger problems then that sir , turns out our would be genius Artemis Fowl has managed to dig a shaft which is now only a few feet away from Tara" Foaly stated gesturing towards a video surveillance monitor Artemis set up in the tent. Foaly had managed to piggy back into the system and was now observing Artemis's dig. Root moved towards the screen , partially visible he could see the edge of a metal casket. A nerve twitched in his cheek and his skin began to pale.
" That's not the end of it Donkey Boy , we need to get a hold of the president of the council and fast" he growled pointing at the casket.
" I hardly see what's so important about a piece of mud man scrap metal" Foaly smirked.
" Yeah ,shouldn't we be thinking of Tara?" Trouble winced as the healing gel began to work.
"That piece of metal was the reason why Tara was built in the first place!" Commander Root growled and Foaly blinked.
"You don't seriously expect us to believe that do you?" Foaly asked raising a bushy eye brow.
"Its dangerous , that's all I can say and if you weren't such a pompous jack ass Foaly you'd know why" Root said snidely marching out of Foaly's office.
" Well , because I happen to unfortunately be a " pompous jack ass" maybe you should enlighten me" Foaly yelled sarcastically and Root looked briefly over his shoulder.
"Read up on your fairy tales Donkey boy , they can teach you more then you think" Root replied before disappearing.
***
Farmer McGraney stared at the two children in front of him early the next morning. They were both virtually unconscious. Amy's hair was practically dipping in her cereal and Seamus was snoozing on a place mat.
" So , are you two prepared for your exam?" He asked and Amy blinked exhausted.
" Oh yeah , hamlet , ghosts and daggers" she said yawning with exhaustion and her father grinned.
" Well that's a good thing lass , because today happens to be Saturday" her father said sourly and Amy sat upright.
" Is it?" She asked generally shocked and her father nodded.
" You were lying about that exam , you deliberately lied to your parents when they were far to busy dealing with other problems" her father said pointing a piece of egg on a fork at her accusingly.
" You say that like its a bad thing" Amy said weekly and her father frowned.
" You were in the cow shed alone with a boy , your getting to the age where you cant do that sort of thing any more" her father said blushing a deep pockmarked red.
"Are you talking about sex daddy?" Amy asked kindly and her father snorted up a piece of egg.
" Go talk to your mother!" He cried.
" But daddy!" Amy protested.
" Now!" Her father barked causing Seamus to wake up with a start.
"And you , you peeving tom get out of my sight!" He growled and terrified Seamus attempted to hide under the table.
"Dads gone mad" Amy said to her mother outside next to the vegetable patch. Her mother continued to pin a series of wet towels onto the close line ad bunch of pegs pressed firmly into her mouth.
"Wphhm vophr" her mother began her syllables completely incomprehensible due to the plastic in her mouth. Her mother spat the pegs out onto the grass and turned to her daughter.
" With your grandmother around its hardly surprising" her mother snarled gesturing to the old woman who was snoozing on a lawn chair in the early morning sun.
" She's not that bad mum , I mean its not like she's forgetting what year it is or baking cats in an oven" Amy pointed out feeling defensive. Ever since her encounter with the second fairy she had been feeling oddly defensive towards the old woman. After all for once her granny had been right.
" She's as mad at they come Amy luv , the sooner your father puts her in an old folks home the better" her mother said vindictively pinning a brassiere which resembled two white sauce pans onto the washing line.
" Mum !" Amy protested and her mother rolled her eyes.
" All right I suppose I shouldn't complain to you dear one , now tell me why has your father gone mad?" Her mother asked.
" He thinks that I'm shagging Seamus in the cow shed" Amy said casually and her mother shrieked with shock.
" Amy! I don't even want to know how a little girl like you knows about such things!" Her mother cried scandalized.
" I'm not a little girl , I'm thirteen.. Besides they talk about it all the time on east enders" Amy pointed out her mother grabbed her firmly by the shoulders and shook her.
" Now listen Amy , you far to young to be thinking about that sort of nonsense" she said firmly and reluctantly Amy shook her head.
" God mum its not like I care , the whole thing sounds boring to me" Amy replied and her mother sighed with relief.
" Good , glad to see your not interested" she replied turning back to the washing and Amy sighed , great now she was interested.
" Is that a Bentley I see down the road?" Her mother suddenly asked cupping her eyes against the suns glare. Amy looked up wildly and saw an all to familiar car purr in the distant. It disappeared briefly amongst the sycamore trees and Amy squealed with terror.
" Mum , if any one asks for me I've moved to Canada" she cried running back inside.
" What on earth are yer on about you daft besom?" Her mother asked tiredly shaking her head.
Amy and Seamus were hidden behind Amy's lace curtains observing the scene before them. The massive white tent was a buzz with activity except now it was reinforced with several watch men and a few electricians fitting alarms onto the premises.
" Looks like they found out about our adventure last night Amy" Seamus pointed out and Amy shushed him. She watched as the Bentley finally reached the end of the road , it turned and it drove towards the tent before stopping.
" That's him! That's his car!" Amy squealed hysterically gripping onto the window frame.
" Who? Justin Timberlake?" Seamus asked sourly.
" No! Artemis Fowl" Amy breathed dreamily her pale skin flushing red.
" Your pathetic Amy" Seamus snarled.
"Uh huh" Amy muttered distracted her eyes still on the figure stepping out of the black Bentley.
" I mean , its not like his famous or anything.. In fact his just a stupid nerd who.." Seamus began but he gave up when he realized Amy wasn't listening. Much to her horror the bent figure of Artemis Fowl was approaching the farm house in a series of determined strides. That body guard of his , or was it his guardian? Was flanked by his side protectively. There was the sound of a door bell , and Amy shrieked with terror pulling the curtains around her chubby frame.
" His here!" She hissed to Seamus who rolled his eyes.
" Calm down , he probably doesn't even know you exist" Seamus pointed out rationally and Amy shook her head.
" He does Seamus! He gave me that bike remember?" She protested and Seamus sighed heavily.
" Look that doesn't mean anything Amy , his probably just here to talk to your parents about the tent he put up" Seamus pointed out and Amy bit onto her lip out of habit. There was the distant murmur of voices , Amy untangled herself from the curtains and walked hesitantly towards the bedroom door. Slowly she opened it a cracked and peered down the hall way into the kitchen.
Artemis reluctantly sat down on the seat they had offered him and sipped hesitantly on the earl gray tea which had been placed before him.
" I've been told your the one organizing this chemical testing" John McGraney asked scarcely able to believe it.
" Yes" Artemis replied crisply.
" But your nothing more then a child!" Mrs. McGraney cried , Artemis shot her a cool look and she shut her mouth.
" Do not let my age fool you Mr. McGraney , I am what you refer to as a child protégé" Artemis explained and Mr. McGraney smiled.
" you mean like those ones on TV?" He asked.
" Exactly" Artemis finished and Mr. McGraney shrugged his shoulders , Butler glared at them both disapprovingly.
" Please Mr. Fowl , we were not trying to insult you we are just concerned" Mrs. McGraney said.
" Yes , deeply concerned" John added his mouth filled with dry biscuits.
" Mr. and Mrs. McGraney , there is nothing to be concerned about, the government is merely testing the land in the area for toxic waste waist deposits" Artemis calmly finished , he looked up feeling slightly unnerved. Some how he knew some one had just been watching him. He turned his head towards the hall way and saw a head disappear through a door frame.
" hmm" he muttered clearing his throat thoughtfully.
" One of your men said something about us being kicked off our land , well I'm telling Mr. Fowl we are not moving away from this farm , my family's owned it for centuries" Mr. McGraney growled and Artemis Fowl cleared his throat.
" Well , actually" he began and he smartly opened a briefcase pulling out a sheaf of paper.
" Whether you live on this land or not , is unfortunately not your decision. This estate was leased to the McGraney family in the year 1433 for a sack of dried barley to be delivered to the Aine village town hall every year. Technically speaking the Aine shire community council still owns this property" Artemis began.
" With a bit of gentle persuasion I am sure they'll feel the sudden need to comply to our demands" Artemis said arrogantly.
" You little prat" John growled his fist clenching together.
" How dare you come in here and threaten my family you ignorant Nancy boy!" He growled but suddenly he felt the heavy weight of Butlers banana shaped fingers on his shoulder.
" I suggest you refrain from using your colorful language Mr. McGraney , well at least in the presence of my man servant Butler" Artemis stated.
"We are not moving" John muttered and a muscle twitched in Artemis's cheek.
" If you insist Mr. McGraney , however if you family does decide to remain in this dwelling I require that you all give my association full cooperation we do not want any repeats of last night" Artemis replied a little to hotly and John McGraney frowned.
" Last night? He asked and Artemis took another sip of weak tea.
" Your youngest daughter I believe , took it apon herself to break into my research facilities and cause general mischief" he said and Farmer McGraney spat out a mouthful of biscuits onto the kitchen table.
" AMY GET IN HERE , YOU WEE DAFT FOOL!" He managed to scream in one breath his jugular veins visible on his bright red neck.
" Daddy no!" Amy's weak voice protested and Artemis flinched slightly. Now that he had time to think about it Artemis had never really been exposed to girls of his own age , Juliet was always around but she was a lot older. Amy's voice was whiny like a song birds , however it was also on the verge of breaking into a slightly deeper falsetto.
" NOW YER STUPID LASS!" Her father barked once again , and reluctantly a door in the hall way was open. A head peered out nervously , then slowly Amy stepped out her hands shaking slightly. Artemis looked up vaguely curious and he studied her briefly with disinterest like a art critic studying a inferior vangogh print. She was nervous , he could tell that much by her body language. Her shoulders were hunched over slightly , her short brown hair falling in front of her face. Amy McGraney was frightfully ordinary Artemis soon realized , a tribute to the mundane. Dressed in a pair of slightly to big jeans , and an obnoxious hooded red jumper she seemed to resemble the embodiment of the typical teenage girl stereotype. She looked up briefly , frightened , Artemis noticed and her face still possessed a certain childish roundness she had yet to loose. However Artemis was willing to admit , she had nice eyes they met his briefly and he realized they were a mixture of hazel and blue.. Ordinary eyes , however in there own way quite pretty. There was also a look , one he couldn't place for he had never seen it directed towards him before. The look was that of devotion and fear .
"I'm sorry that I broke into your tent Mr. Fowl" she muttered tucking a loose strand of brown hair behind one ear. Butlers facial expression barely shifted however , his eyes did fall on his young charges face. Artemis , he noticed was staring at the girl his expression was not affection , nor was it admiring the young girl in question. Rather it was a look of perplexity , and curiosity . With his eyes ever so slightly narrowed with concentration , and the corner of his pale lip slightly upturned Artemis was studying Amy McGraney like a scientist who was peering at a rare , if rather dull endangered species. It was then that Butler remembered Artemis had little , if any contact with young ladies of his own age. Butlers eyes dimmed as they took in Amy McGraney's form , in the wrong hands she could be dangerous.
" Sorry does not change the past Miss McGraney , nor does it explain why you did it" Artemis said crisply. Amy moved her weight from one foot to the other sheepishly her eyes firmly planted on a spot on the table.
" I just did'nt think OK ? I didn't mean to cause all this trouble!" Amy retorted her eyes temporarily meeting Artemis's defiantly.
" You did'nt think?" Artemis asked genuinely astonished.
" Yes" Amy muttered doubtfully her eyes falling on the floor once again.
" You mean to tell me Miss McGraney , that you not once considered the consequences of your actions ? That you did not carefully plan your movements considering all possible outcomes?" Artemis asked and Amy shook her head nervously.
"No , I just did it" Amy muttered and Artemis's black brows shot up ever so slightly. It was obvious that for once he was shocked. He coughed slightly with annoyance and placed his tea cup onto the table.
" Obviously I over estimated you Miss McGraney , since this prooved to be nothing more then a childish prank I will not be pressing charges" Artemis said sourly standing up.
"Thank you for your time Mr. and Mrs. McGraney , my solicitor will be speaking to you at a later time concerning my research facilities" he said formally and Mrs. McGraney began to sit up hesitantly.
" No , don't get up I'll see myself out" he replied and he nodded at Butler. Amy couldn't move , she couldn't even blink , the only thought screaming through her head was that for once second , he Artemis Fowl , the object of her infatuation had acknowledged that she existed. She felt the brush of fabric against her jumper and the feeling of warm air close to her cheek.
" You disappointed me" a voice muttered , Amy wasn't sure if she was supposed to be hearing it or if he was just talking to herself. Still she couldn't move , her body was far to busy fighting emotions of guilt , embarrassment and shock. Unable to choose what she was supposed to feel her body had decided to shut down completely. Her back stiffened when she heard the sound of the door closing and finally she allowed herself to blink , her emotions slowly dying away. Her parents were staring at her curiously.
"Well dear one , what was that all about?" Her mother asked curiously.
" That went well" Butler mused his hands itching.
" Disappointed that you did'nt get to hit any one?" Artemis asked and Butler shrugged.
" Perhaps , but only a little.. Its been a while since I've had any action" Butler replied with another shrug and Artemis shook his head momentarily.
"You shouldn't let what that child did get to you Artemis" Butler pointed out.
" It wasn't that , Butler.." Artemis began hesitantly and he stopped him self.
" Yes?" Butler asked and Artemis allowed a small sigh to leave his lips.
" Have you ever thought that perhaps , you crave the thrill of excitement so much you cannot allow your mind to return to normalcy. That you begin to see possible avenues for enrichment every where?" Artemis replied and Butler knew where Artemis was going.
" Your disappointed because the young lady we encountered was nothing more then a childish vandal , not part of some sort of conspiracy aren't you?" Butler asked gently.
"I was expecting more of her Butler , she disappointed me" Artemis replied hesitantly and Butler nodded.
" Artemis , when you reach my age and are still alive and breathing you tend to appreciate normalcy after all it soon becomes a rare thing. Appreciate this quiet time while you still have it , who knows how long it will last?" Butler stated and Artemis once again felt reassuring warmth calm him. Butler knew him better more then any one else he had yet encountered. It was a relief to know this hadn't changed after the arctic incident. They remained quite for a few moments , observing the activity at the hillock.
"Butler?" Artemis suddenly asked .
" Yes Artemis?" Butler asked.
"I'm starting to wonder , if maybe I made the wrong decisions" he said almost sadly , Butler knew not to say anything for Artemis did not want to hear an answer.
The earth moved , in clumps the size of apples.
"There's something down there" DR Julia Petersgrove pushed her assistant aside furiously tucking a strand of ginger hair behind one ear.
" Of course there's something down there , that's the whole point of the exhibition" she snarled dusting the loose soil away with a small fine brush. The dirt continued to move , and it revealed cold metal.
" Iron" she whispered touching the surface.
" This dates back to the early iron age if I'm any judge" she whispered and the soil moved away revealing that the piece of Iron was part of a casket. There were a series of barely intelligible symbols engraved on the boxes side , the casket was also cracked open slightly.
" These symbols look like a combination of Aztec pictograms and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics" she said uneasily her brush spraying loose dirt onto her jodhpurs.
"If I did'nt know any better , I would swear that this was a coffin or a burial shrine of some sort" she laughed uneasily shaking her head.
Her assistant however remained unusually quite , he stared at her with eyes that reflected the iron casket. He continued to stair at her with his hands beginning to flinch with a life of their own. Slowly , his fingers clumsily moved towards her neck touching against her skin.
' Frank , what do you think your doing?" She said half laughing , however her laughter was soon replaced with uneasy silence as she stared up at his eyes seeing her own reflection. His grip tightened until it blocked her windpipe. DR Julia Petersgrove fear was reflected in her iris's . The murder lacked any grace or elegance , she gave one last cry , more like an in rush of air before her neck was whipped to one side . Her eyes opened once more , and they reflected nothing except for a wisp of smoke. It resembled , if vaguely a man.
A/N This chapter happens to be an incredibally weird one , but its importent plot wise. Things are starting to get a little less fun and a little bit more darker , which I regret , but then again a story always does have to develop in order to keep the reader interested.
I'm starting to get concerned about all these frequent bannings that seem to be occuring in the Artemis Fowl section. Theres really no need to act out this malice on writers who are doing nothing wrong. I'm also annoyed because " the quest of the walrus" happens to be my all time favourite Artemis Fowl fan fic and its impossible reading it when people keep banning it all the time. Any way.
Bride_of _lister : I'm sorry to see that you've been banned from fanfiction.net , it seems that people in this fandom tend to "ban" rather then try something new and when ever any one attempts anything different they are automatically booted out.
Mage Kitty : Yes I realize that I spelt Foaly wrong , damn spell checkers are constantly causing trouble. I was tired when I edited chapter six and hit the
"Smart" correct option on my spell checker which meant it changed everything automatically. I'm glad to see you like my story and I hope you'll stick around.
Pink cherry blossum : You've really made my day by putting my story on your favourites list , it made me feel as if writing this is worth all the time and effort :)
Now lets get this show on the road!
********************
And then it happened!
The storm raged below her , and her eyes reflected the clouds. They reflected the world , in silver mirror fragments and they were filled with bitter coldness. Still she said nothing , watching the eternal moonscape spread before her for ever unchanging and forever baron.
"I know you" Artemis accused her his body moving in a trance like strait. She moved towards him , her form flickering in and out of perception.
"That is not why you came" she whispered her features sharpened and flickered into the face of Captain Holly Short. Then , they returned to the soft eternal face of the Madonna , the mother.
" I came for answers" he said defiantly hugging his dressing gown around his thin frame.
" Not everything has an answer , especially when you have to ask" she finished. Her hair was so white it shone blue , it was the color of moonlight . She was dressed in a plain white robe that reached to her ankles and flew in fluttery rags around her bleached skin.
" I always know the answers" Artemis answered defiantly and she turned away from him. The blizzard blew around them slowly in mathematical perfection.
"From up here I can see your house" she said mischievously and her eyes reflected Juliet sitting in a sunny garden reading a magazine.
"You must have good eyesight" he muttered.
" The best" she whispered sadly then she stepped towards him a single tulip forming in her hands.
"They call them the winter flower for they bloom in the coldest of places , I cry for them" she said placing the flower in his hand.
" I cry for myself , loving the cold has its price" Artemis replied taking the flower from her hands.
"However standing in the warmth can also be to much to bear" she said her lips moving towards his ear. They were dark , the color of the night sky.
"Every one needs the sun , with out it we will perish" Artemis replied and she growled with frustration.
" Like how you perished with out your father?" She asked furiously.
"Leave him out of this" Artemis warned her stepping away. The snow fell like a globe and then stopped instantly framed in the mid air. Down below the earth continued to spin , and the storm continued to blow.
" They say you wont listen , they say you wont learn from his mistakes.. How are you so sure he wanted to be rescued?" She teased mirthlessly.
" I know what they say , but a child needs his father" Artemis replied coldly for a moment her face flickered to the round features of Amy McGraney .
" I've heard all about you Artemis , you do everything for purely selfish reasons you ruined my family's life!'' She cried in a breathless girlie whisper.
" I don't care about you" he growled and she returned to the way she was before. Slowly she stepped towards him and cradled his cheek lovingly as if greeting an old friend.
"If you strip away everything , who are you really? You are not the magician you are not even a shadow of him" she said soothingly.
"You are wrong" he said harshly and she gazed at him shocked.
"I am me" he stated .
She gasped with pain.
Her bone white hands clutched her stomach , and blood flowed down her robes. Drunkenly she stepped towards him.
Blood smeared across his mouth , it smelt of roses and it tasted of ice.
" You did it Artemis " she said a disbelieving smile on her face.
"You killed me" she growled stepping away from him. Her eyes reflected Angelina Fowl and she spoke in his mothers voice.
" Its was your day Arty , it was your day" she whispered slumping onto the dusty surface of the moon. Her eyes opened one last time , they reflected nothing as the blood fell onto the bone gray dust.
"Wake up!" A voice hissed and Artemis's eyes opened , his four hundred thread cotton sheets rapped around him in a firm cocoon. His glassy blue eyes immediately swept across his master bedroom. However there was nothing , nothing but the smell of rotting flowers and brittle curtains blowing in the wind. His eyes fell on the full moon partially visible from his bedroom window. Artemis had no smidgen of romance in his soul , in fact he was more likely to dissect a poem for its rhyming scheme then appreciate it for its beauty. However the moon reminded him temporally of his first meeting with Captain Holly Short. How she had stared at the moon , her ears flexing in the wind. It reminded him of the dream , and he shuddered visibly. He reached towards the intercom and pressed onto the button.
" Butler?" He asked shakingly , there was a snort followed by the sound of someone standing up.
" Is there something wrong Artemis?" His man servant asked.
" Just a night mare Butler , could you bring up a glass of water?" Artemis inquired.
" Right away sir" Butler said briskly and Artemis switched the intercom off. It was a feeble excuse , but Butler seemed to have bought it. The details of the dream were becoming vaguer by the second but an unsettling feeling was creeping over him. He couldn't remember the last time he had lost control in a dream like that. Normally Artemis's sleeping patterns fell under the category of lucid dreaming. Suddenly being robbed of his self awareness plagued him. He had suffered from a night mare. He knew that nightmares usually occurred as a form of post traumatic stress disorder. Did the arctic incident have a deeper and longer lasting impact on his mind? Was his subconscious deeply troubled?
There was a tentative knock on the door.
" Come in Butler" Artemis said tiredly kicking the bed clothes away. His man servant entered the bed chamber , ever diligent he was fully dressed.
" Perhaps I should have asked Juliet to bring you a glass of warm milk" Butler joked noticing the dark shadows under Artemis's eyes.
" Funny Butler" Artemis said dryly reaching towards the glass of water. His hands shook causing the liquid to spill onto his bed shirt.
"Are you all right Artemis?" Butler asked uneasily. He realized his masters request for a drink was a shallow excuse and that really Artemis did not want to be alone.
" I'm fine" Artemis breathed.
" It was just a dream" Butler pointed out and Artemis agreed with him nodding his head. Butler recalled the past Fowl children his relatives had guarded. . They were all essentially children , creatures not afraid to reveal their emotions , not afraid to believe in fears and anxieties. Artemis was never like that , he had always been thirteen going on forty.
" There really is no need for you to stay here Butler" Artemis said kindly placing the glass on his dresser.
"Are you sure?" Butler asked and Artemis nodded.
" Its nearly morning , I'll busy myself with more research into the history of the McGraney estate" Artemis said determinedly his shoulders shaking slightly. Hesitantly Butler placed a firm hand on Artemis's shoulder before turning away. Butler looked over his shoulder one last time , and caught the site of Artemis sighing almost sadly.
Meanwhile , some where which was definitely not over a rainbow a certain LEP officer was being yelled at by the now infamous beet root colored , wizard of oz loving manic depressive Commander Root.
" An Umbrella! Your telling me that the officer who managed to take down an entire goblin squadron and coach the LEP's company soft ball team to a stunning victory was defeated by an old lady with an umbrella?" Root roared pores dilating in his face.
"In all fairness sir , it was a big umbrella" Trouble managed to cry as a medic massaged healing gel into his black eye.
"Oh it was wasn't it? I better then an instant message down to the training room warning all would be LEP officers about the dangers of little old mud women with umbrella's!" Root growled and Foaly ( A/N spelt with an A , thank you very much reviewers ;) ) turned from his computer console.
"We have bigger problems then that sir , turns out our would be genius Artemis Fowl has managed to dig a shaft which is now only a few feet away from Tara" Foaly stated gesturing towards a video surveillance monitor Artemis set up in the tent. Foaly had managed to piggy back into the system and was now observing Artemis's dig. Root moved towards the screen , partially visible he could see the edge of a metal casket. A nerve twitched in his cheek and his skin began to pale.
" That's not the end of it Donkey Boy , we need to get a hold of the president of the council and fast" he growled pointing at the casket.
" I hardly see what's so important about a piece of mud man scrap metal" Foaly smirked.
" Yeah ,shouldn't we be thinking of Tara?" Trouble winced as the healing gel began to work.
"That piece of metal was the reason why Tara was built in the first place!" Commander Root growled and Foaly blinked.
"You don't seriously expect us to believe that do you?" Foaly asked raising a bushy eye brow.
"Its dangerous , that's all I can say and if you weren't such a pompous jack ass Foaly you'd know why" Root said snidely marching out of Foaly's office.
" Well , because I happen to unfortunately be a " pompous jack ass" maybe you should enlighten me" Foaly yelled sarcastically and Root looked briefly over his shoulder.
"Read up on your fairy tales Donkey boy , they can teach you more then you think" Root replied before disappearing.
***
Farmer McGraney stared at the two children in front of him early the next morning. They were both virtually unconscious. Amy's hair was practically dipping in her cereal and Seamus was snoozing on a place mat.
" So , are you two prepared for your exam?" He asked and Amy blinked exhausted.
" Oh yeah , hamlet , ghosts and daggers" she said yawning with exhaustion and her father grinned.
" Well that's a good thing lass , because today happens to be Saturday" her father said sourly and Amy sat upright.
" Is it?" She asked generally shocked and her father nodded.
" You were lying about that exam , you deliberately lied to your parents when they were far to busy dealing with other problems" her father said pointing a piece of egg on a fork at her accusingly.
" You say that like its a bad thing" Amy said weekly and her father frowned.
" You were in the cow shed alone with a boy , your getting to the age where you cant do that sort of thing any more" her father said blushing a deep pockmarked red.
"Are you talking about sex daddy?" Amy asked kindly and her father snorted up a piece of egg.
" Go talk to your mother!" He cried.
" But daddy!" Amy protested.
" Now!" Her father barked causing Seamus to wake up with a start.
"And you , you peeving tom get out of my sight!" He growled and terrified Seamus attempted to hide under the table.
"Dads gone mad" Amy said to her mother outside next to the vegetable patch. Her mother continued to pin a series of wet towels onto the close line ad bunch of pegs pressed firmly into her mouth.
"Wphhm vophr" her mother began her syllables completely incomprehensible due to the plastic in her mouth. Her mother spat the pegs out onto the grass and turned to her daughter.
" With your grandmother around its hardly surprising" her mother snarled gesturing to the old woman who was snoozing on a lawn chair in the early morning sun.
" She's not that bad mum , I mean its not like she's forgetting what year it is or baking cats in an oven" Amy pointed out feeling defensive. Ever since her encounter with the second fairy she had been feeling oddly defensive towards the old woman. After all for once her granny had been right.
" She's as mad at they come Amy luv , the sooner your father puts her in an old folks home the better" her mother said vindictively pinning a brassiere which resembled two white sauce pans onto the washing line.
" Mum !" Amy protested and her mother rolled her eyes.
" All right I suppose I shouldn't complain to you dear one , now tell me why has your father gone mad?" Her mother asked.
" He thinks that I'm shagging Seamus in the cow shed" Amy said casually and her mother shrieked with shock.
" Amy! I don't even want to know how a little girl like you knows about such things!" Her mother cried scandalized.
" I'm not a little girl , I'm thirteen.. Besides they talk about it all the time on east enders" Amy pointed out her mother grabbed her firmly by the shoulders and shook her.
" Now listen Amy , you far to young to be thinking about that sort of nonsense" she said firmly and reluctantly Amy shook her head.
" God mum its not like I care , the whole thing sounds boring to me" Amy replied and her mother sighed with relief.
" Good , glad to see your not interested" she replied turning back to the washing and Amy sighed , great now she was interested.
" Is that a Bentley I see down the road?" Her mother suddenly asked cupping her eyes against the suns glare. Amy looked up wildly and saw an all to familiar car purr in the distant. It disappeared briefly amongst the sycamore trees and Amy squealed with terror.
" Mum , if any one asks for me I've moved to Canada" she cried running back inside.
" What on earth are yer on about you daft besom?" Her mother asked tiredly shaking her head.
Amy and Seamus were hidden behind Amy's lace curtains observing the scene before them. The massive white tent was a buzz with activity except now it was reinforced with several watch men and a few electricians fitting alarms onto the premises.
" Looks like they found out about our adventure last night Amy" Seamus pointed out and Amy shushed him. She watched as the Bentley finally reached the end of the road , it turned and it drove towards the tent before stopping.
" That's him! That's his car!" Amy squealed hysterically gripping onto the window frame.
" Who? Justin Timberlake?" Seamus asked sourly.
" No! Artemis Fowl" Amy breathed dreamily her pale skin flushing red.
" Your pathetic Amy" Seamus snarled.
"Uh huh" Amy muttered distracted her eyes still on the figure stepping out of the black Bentley.
" I mean , its not like his famous or anything.. In fact his just a stupid nerd who.." Seamus began but he gave up when he realized Amy wasn't listening. Much to her horror the bent figure of Artemis Fowl was approaching the farm house in a series of determined strides. That body guard of his , or was it his guardian? Was flanked by his side protectively. There was the sound of a door bell , and Amy shrieked with terror pulling the curtains around her chubby frame.
" His here!" She hissed to Seamus who rolled his eyes.
" Calm down , he probably doesn't even know you exist" Seamus pointed out rationally and Amy shook her head.
" He does Seamus! He gave me that bike remember?" She protested and Seamus sighed heavily.
" Look that doesn't mean anything Amy , his probably just here to talk to your parents about the tent he put up" Seamus pointed out and Amy bit onto her lip out of habit. There was the distant murmur of voices , Amy untangled herself from the curtains and walked hesitantly towards the bedroom door. Slowly she opened it a cracked and peered down the hall way into the kitchen.
Artemis reluctantly sat down on the seat they had offered him and sipped hesitantly on the earl gray tea which had been placed before him.
" I've been told your the one organizing this chemical testing" John McGraney asked scarcely able to believe it.
" Yes" Artemis replied crisply.
" But your nothing more then a child!" Mrs. McGraney cried , Artemis shot her a cool look and she shut her mouth.
" Do not let my age fool you Mr. McGraney , I am what you refer to as a child protégé" Artemis explained and Mr. McGraney smiled.
" you mean like those ones on TV?" He asked.
" Exactly" Artemis finished and Mr. McGraney shrugged his shoulders , Butler glared at them both disapprovingly.
" Please Mr. Fowl , we were not trying to insult you we are just concerned" Mrs. McGraney said.
" Yes , deeply concerned" John added his mouth filled with dry biscuits.
" Mr. and Mrs. McGraney , there is nothing to be concerned about, the government is merely testing the land in the area for toxic waste waist deposits" Artemis calmly finished , he looked up feeling slightly unnerved. Some how he knew some one had just been watching him. He turned his head towards the hall way and saw a head disappear through a door frame.
" hmm" he muttered clearing his throat thoughtfully.
" One of your men said something about us being kicked off our land , well I'm telling Mr. Fowl we are not moving away from this farm , my family's owned it for centuries" Mr. McGraney growled and Artemis Fowl cleared his throat.
" Well , actually" he began and he smartly opened a briefcase pulling out a sheaf of paper.
" Whether you live on this land or not , is unfortunately not your decision. This estate was leased to the McGraney family in the year 1433 for a sack of dried barley to be delivered to the Aine village town hall every year. Technically speaking the Aine shire community council still owns this property" Artemis began.
" With a bit of gentle persuasion I am sure they'll feel the sudden need to comply to our demands" Artemis said arrogantly.
" You little prat" John growled his fist clenching together.
" How dare you come in here and threaten my family you ignorant Nancy boy!" He growled but suddenly he felt the heavy weight of Butlers banana shaped fingers on his shoulder.
" I suggest you refrain from using your colorful language Mr. McGraney , well at least in the presence of my man servant Butler" Artemis stated.
"We are not moving" John muttered and a muscle twitched in Artemis's cheek.
" If you insist Mr. McGraney , however if you family does decide to remain in this dwelling I require that you all give my association full cooperation we do not want any repeats of last night" Artemis replied a little to hotly and John McGraney frowned.
" Last night? He asked and Artemis took another sip of weak tea.
" Your youngest daughter I believe , took it apon herself to break into my research facilities and cause general mischief" he said and Farmer McGraney spat out a mouthful of biscuits onto the kitchen table.
" AMY GET IN HERE , YOU WEE DAFT FOOL!" He managed to scream in one breath his jugular veins visible on his bright red neck.
" Daddy no!" Amy's weak voice protested and Artemis flinched slightly. Now that he had time to think about it Artemis had never really been exposed to girls of his own age , Juliet was always around but she was a lot older. Amy's voice was whiny like a song birds , however it was also on the verge of breaking into a slightly deeper falsetto.
" NOW YER STUPID LASS!" Her father barked once again , and reluctantly a door in the hall way was open. A head peered out nervously , then slowly Amy stepped out her hands shaking slightly. Artemis looked up vaguely curious and he studied her briefly with disinterest like a art critic studying a inferior vangogh print. She was nervous , he could tell that much by her body language. Her shoulders were hunched over slightly , her short brown hair falling in front of her face. Amy McGraney was frightfully ordinary Artemis soon realized , a tribute to the mundane. Dressed in a pair of slightly to big jeans , and an obnoxious hooded red jumper she seemed to resemble the embodiment of the typical teenage girl stereotype. She looked up briefly , frightened , Artemis noticed and her face still possessed a certain childish roundness she had yet to loose. However Artemis was willing to admit , she had nice eyes they met his briefly and he realized they were a mixture of hazel and blue.. Ordinary eyes , however in there own way quite pretty. There was also a look , one he couldn't place for he had never seen it directed towards him before. The look was that of devotion and fear .
"I'm sorry that I broke into your tent Mr. Fowl" she muttered tucking a loose strand of brown hair behind one ear. Butlers facial expression barely shifted however , his eyes did fall on his young charges face. Artemis , he noticed was staring at the girl his expression was not affection , nor was it admiring the young girl in question. Rather it was a look of perplexity , and curiosity . With his eyes ever so slightly narrowed with concentration , and the corner of his pale lip slightly upturned Artemis was studying Amy McGraney like a scientist who was peering at a rare , if rather dull endangered species. It was then that Butler remembered Artemis had little , if any contact with young ladies of his own age. Butlers eyes dimmed as they took in Amy McGraney's form , in the wrong hands she could be dangerous.
" Sorry does not change the past Miss McGraney , nor does it explain why you did it" Artemis said crisply. Amy moved her weight from one foot to the other sheepishly her eyes firmly planted on a spot on the table.
" I just did'nt think OK ? I didn't mean to cause all this trouble!" Amy retorted her eyes temporarily meeting Artemis's defiantly.
" You did'nt think?" Artemis asked genuinely astonished.
" Yes" Amy muttered doubtfully her eyes falling on the floor once again.
" You mean to tell me Miss McGraney , that you not once considered the consequences of your actions ? That you did not carefully plan your movements considering all possible outcomes?" Artemis asked and Amy shook her head nervously.
"No , I just did it" Amy muttered and Artemis's black brows shot up ever so slightly. It was obvious that for once he was shocked. He coughed slightly with annoyance and placed his tea cup onto the table.
" Obviously I over estimated you Miss McGraney , since this prooved to be nothing more then a childish prank I will not be pressing charges" Artemis said sourly standing up.
"Thank you for your time Mr. and Mrs. McGraney , my solicitor will be speaking to you at a later time concerning my research facilities" he said formally and Mrs. McGraney began to sit up hesitantly.
" No , don't get up I'll see myself out" he replied and he nodded at Butler. Amy couldn't move , she couldn't even blink , the only thought screaming through her head was that for once second , he Artemis Fowl , the object of her infatuation had acknowledged that she existed. She felt the brush of fabric against her jumper and the feeling of warm air close to her cheek.
" You disappointed me" a voice muttered , Amy wasn't sure if she was supposed to be hearing it or if he was just talking to herself. Still she couldn't move , her body was far to busy fighting emotions of guilt , embarrassment and shock. Unable to choose what she was supposed to feel her body had decided to shut down completely. Her back stiffened when she heard the sound of the door closing and finally she allowed herself to blink , her emotions slowly dying away. Her parents were staring at her curiously.
"Well dear one , what was that all about?" Her mother asked curiously.
" That went well" Butler mused his hands itching.
" Disappointed that you did'nt get to hit any one?" Artemis asked and Butler shrugged.
" Perhaps , but only a little.. Its been a while since I've had any action" Butler replied with another shrug and Artemis shook his head momentarily.
"You shouldn't let what that child did get to you Artemis" Butler pointed out.
" It wasn't that , Butler.." Artemis began hesitantly and he stopped him self.
" Yes?" Butler asked and Artemis allowed a small sigh to leave his lips.
" Have you ever thought that perhaps , you crave the thrill of excitement so much you cannot allow your mind to return to normalcy. That you begin to see possible avenues for enrichment every where?" Artemis replied and Butler knew where Artemis was going.
" Your disappointed because the young lady we encountered was nothing more then a childish vandal , not part of some sort of conspiracy aren't you?" Butler asked gently.
"I was expecting more of her Butler , she disappointed me" Artemis replied hesitantly and Butler nodded.
" Artemis , when you reach my age and are still alive and breathing you tend to appreciate normalcy after all it soon becomes a rare thing. Appreciate this quiet time while you still have it , who knows how long it will last?" Butler stated and Artemis once again felt reassuring warmth calm him. Butler knew him better more then any one else he had yet encountered. It was a relief to know this hadn't changed after the arctic incident. They remained quite for a few moments , observing the activity at the hillock.
"Butler?" Artemis suddenly asked .
" Yes Artemis?" Butler asked.
"I'm starting to wonder , if maybe I made the wrong decisions" he said almost sadly , Butler knew not to say anything for Artemis did not want to hear an answer.
The earth moved , in clumps the size of apples.
"There's something down there" DR Julia Petersgrove pushed her assistant aside furiously tucking a strand of ginger hair behind one ear.
" Of course there's something down there , that's the whole point of the exhibition" she snarled dusting the loose soil away with a small fine brush. The dirt continued to move , and it revealed cold metal.
" Iron" she whispered touching the surface.
" This dates back to the early iron age if I'm any judge" she whispered and the soil moved away revealing that the piece of Iron was part of a casket. There were a series of barely intelligible symbols engraved on the boxes side , the casket was also cracked open slightly.
" These symbols look like a combination of Aztec pictograms and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics" she said uneasily her brush spraying loose dirt onto her jodhpurs.
"If I did'nt know any better , I would swear that this was a coffin or a burial shrine of some sort" she laughed uneasily shaking her head.
Her assistant however remained unusually quite , he stared at her with eyes that reflected the iron casket. He continued to stair at her with his hands beginning to flinch with a life of their own. Slowly , his fingers clumsily moved towards her neck touching against her skin.
' Frank , what do you think your doing?" She said half laughing , however her laughter was soon replaced with uneasy silence as she stared up at his eyes seeing her own reflection. His grip tightened until it blocked her windpipe. DR Julia Petersgrove fear was reflected in her iris's . The murder lacked any grace or elegance , she gave one last cry , more like an in rush of air before her neck was whipped to one side . Her eyes opened once more , and they reflected nothing except for a wisp of smoke. It resembled , if vaguely a man.