A/N: Yay! Next chappie!
Replies to reviewers:
ednra: You could at least do better than that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crouching Secrets, Hidden Memories
Chapter 6: Bad News
The high-heels of her slick black boots made sharp clicking noises echo down the dimly-lit marble hall. Meru was scowling; it would take more effort that she had thought to persuade the boy to her will. Apparently, even when he didn't even really remember them, his old memories still had an effect on his attitude towards her. But what annoyed Meru the most was that Rhane had managed to get through her defenses, Artemis wasn't supposed to remember her at all. And unfortunately, Rhane had broken through her spells on Katherine, or Belle, whatever she called herself now.
Meru threw open the doors to her throne room. She walked across the cold stone floor, mentally smiling as the hideous beast guards of hers winced at the sharp clack of her boots. But the guards stood erect, their heavy armor hindering them not at all and their weapons cursed so that any wound caused by them would poison the receiver; no matter how small the injury was.
When she reached her black throne Meru turned on her heel and sat down, lounging back against the cruelly twisted metal of the enormous chair. She smiled to herself and stroked one twisted black armrest. The throne had once sat in the Tithien palace throne room; that is until she had blasted it with a fire ball in her dragon form. She had taken it back to her castle as a prize, a symbol of her absolute authority. She needed only one thing to complete that authority. Meru smiled her poisoned-honey smile, Arty belonged to her now.
"Milady," Meru turned her attention to one of her beasts, whom was about to announce the arrival of her General. "General Feardorcha has come with news." The donkey-faced beast bowed and walked backwards out of the way of the opening doors.
The doors went floor-to-ceiling and without the balancing spell they would have been almost impossible to push open. But they opened easily before General Feardorcha. "My Queen," The man was handsome she had to admit, as he swaggered a bit too proudly up the hall to her throne, but her only use for him was his skill in battle.
The man bowed deeply before her, but not deeply enough. Meru pursed her lips. "Ah, General, tell me, what is the news that you have brought me?"
Feardorcha smiled proudly, "The army is ready. The number you asked for has been achieved. We can go to war at your command, my love." He bent over her hand and kissed it too many times to be only of courtesy.
Meru didn't pull her hand away, she needed this man under her complete control; instead she smiled at him sweetly. "Is that all you have to tell me?"
Feardorcha's face fell. "Well love, there is some bad news..."
Meru's face hardened instantly. "What kind of bad news?"
The General shifted on his feet, fear in his eyes. "Well, I have been informed by very accurate sources that Rhane has managed to bring the Queen into the Realm."
Meru shot up from her seat. "What?!" Fiery rage sparked from her blood red eyes. "I thought I told you to have the way sealed!"
Feardorcha took a step back; Meru was known to spit fire when angry. "I'm sorry, love, but somehow they got past our defenses..."
The demon goddess raised a hand to strike him, but she held it back. She needed this man. "Of course, Feardorcha, it wasn't your fault, such a thing can be forgiven." Meru lowered her arm, her sweet smile back on her face.
Feardorcha relaxed. "Yes, thank you, milady. Shall I send out search parties to find them?"
Meru smiled maliciously. "Yes, I want Katherine's head to hang on my wall, and I want that Rhane in a cage." She leaned in close to Feardorcha. "Oh, and General, I want this done quickly, or you can be sure that heads will roll, and not just the heads of my enemies. You understand?"
The General nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, of course milady. I understand completely."
Meru nodded as a dismissal and General Feardorcha scurried away between the long rows of tall stone columns and hideous guards. As the enormous doors closed behind him Meru sat back in her twisted throne. Rhane and Katherine could prove quite a disturbance to her careful plans. If Katherine started remembering things and Meru wasn't able to sacrifice Artemis in time then everything would be spoiled.
The evil dragon queen smiled. A ghoul or two should take care of her two sole adversaries.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: A short chapter, I know. But I promise the action starts in the next chapter. All I have to do is write it up... PLEASE REVIEW! Pretty, pretty please?
Replies to reviewers:
ednra: You could at least do better than that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crouching Secrets, Hidden Memories
Chapter 6: Bad News
The high-heels of her slick black boots made sharp clicking noises echo down the dimly-lit marble hall. Meru was scowling; it would take more effort that she had thought to persuade the boy to her will. Apparently, even when he didn't even really remember them, his old memories still had an effect on his attitude towards her. But what annoyed Meru the most was that Rhane had managed to get through her defenses, Artemis wasn't supposed to remember her at all. And unfortunately, Rhane had broken through her spells on Katherine, or Belle, whatever she called herself now.
Meru threw open the doors to her throne room. She walked across the cold stone floor, mentally smiling as the hideous beast guards of hers winced at the sharp clack of her boots. But the guards stood erect, their heavy armor hindering them not at all and their weapons cursed so that any wound caused by them would poison the receiver; no matter how small the injury was.
When she reached her black throne Meru turned on her heel and sat down, lounging back against the cruelly twisted metal of the enormous chair. She smiled to herself and stroked one twisted black armrest. The throne had once sat in the Tithien palace throne room; that is until she had blasted it with a fire ball in her dragon form. She had taken it back to her castle as a prize, a symbol of her absolute authority. She needed only one thing to complete that authority. Meru smiled her poisoned-honey smile, Arty belonged to her now.
"Milady," Meru turned her attention to one of her beasts, whom was about to announce the arrival of her General. "General Feardorcha has come with news." The donkey-faced beast bowed and walked backwards out of the way of the opening doors.
The doors went floor-to-ceiling and without the balancing spell they would have been almost impossible to push open. But they opened easily before General Feardorcha. "My Queen," The man was handsome she had to admit, as he swaggered a bit too proudly up the hall to her throne, but her only use for him was his skill in battle.
The man bowed deeply before her, but not deeply enough. Meru pursed her lips. "Ah, General, tell me, what is the news that you have brought me?"
Feardorcha smiled proudly, "The army is ready. The number you asked for has been achieved. We can go to war at your command, my love." He bent over her hand and kissed it too many times to be only of courtesy.
Meru didn't pull her hand away, she needed this man under her complete control; instead she smiled at him sweetly. "Is that all you have to tell me?"
Feardorcha's face fell. "Well love, there is some bad news..."
Meru's face hardened instantly. "What kind of bad news?"
The General shifted on his feet, fear in his eyes. "Well, I have been informed by very accurate sources that Rhane has managed to bring the Queen into the Realm."
Meru shot up from her seat. "What?!" Fiery rage sparked from her blood red eyes. "I thought I told you to have the way sealed!"
Feardorcha took a step back; Meru was known to spit fire when angry. "I'm sorry, love, but somehow they got past our defenses..."
The demon goddess raised a hand to strike him, but she held it back. She needed this man. "Of course, Feardorcha, it wasn't your fault, such a thing can be forgiven." Meru lowered her arm, her sweet smile back on her face.
Feardorcha relaxed. "Yes, thank you, milady. Shall I send out search parties to find them?"
Meru smiled maliciously. "Yes, I want Katherine's head to hang on my wall, and I want that Rhane in a cage." She leaned in close to Feardorcha. "Oh, and General, I want this done quickly, or you can be sure that heads will roll, and not just the heads of my enemies. You understand?"
The General nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, of course milady. I understand completely."
Meru nodded as a dismissal and General Feardorcha scurried away between the long rows of tall stone columns and hideous guards. As the enormous doors closed behind him Meru sat back in her twisted throne. Rhane and Katherine could prove quite a disturbance to her careful plans. If Katherine started remembering things and Meru wasn't able to sacrifice Artemis in time then everything would be spoiled.
The evil dragon queen smiled. A ghoul or two should take care of her two sole adversaries.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: A short chapter, I know. But I promise the action starts in the next chapter. All I have to do is write it up... PLEASE REVIEW! Pretty, pretty please?
