A/N: WHOA. I GOT A LOT OF REVIEWS FOR THE LAST 2 CHAPPIES!! Thank you all so much!! I feel special now. [and don't say haha yeah special ed..] You all are so lovely. My lovely lovelies. Well, as for a change in the story: this chappie's gonna be in ARTEMIS'S PoV. Yes, that's right Artemis. At first, I was just going to do this for a change in the story…a little variety, you know? But then a reviewer said that it would be good because then instead of just seeing Amalia's view on everything, you would see Artemis's view, too, along with what he thinks of Amalia.

Well, I believe some thanks are in order.

Dr. Whom- I'm so glad you're flattered. You've become one of my favorite reviewers. [And I'm not just saying that either.] Yeah, I know the pain of how English teachers talk. My old English teacher used to say stuff like 'Bravo' and 'Dandy', too. It got extremely annoying after awhile. Keep reviewing please, O Ye Faithful Reviewer.

Dragon-breeder92- I'm so happy you like my story! Major compliments. You should write a story, too. I'll look forward to reading it. You are one evil person, hehe. Nahh…I don't know if I'm going to humiliate Artemis…yet. But I like evil people, so that's just okay! I love the great reviews! Keep 'em up!!

La-dee-da22- I'm glad you like my story. Keep up the reviews!

Remus Junior- Yes, I suppose it IS cool that Arty's a bastard. Heh heh.

The CheezHead- THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUGGESTIONS! Haha…a cheerleader on speed. They will come in handy, I mean it. Once again, thank you! And don't forget to review!

And to all my other stupendous reviewers! Mwah! Now on with the story…muahahahaha.

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Chapter 15

Of Dances and Discoveries

-ARTEMIS'S POV-

I offered Amalia my arm, and she took it, although it seemed with much reluctance. She cleared her throat. "So…erm…should we go in?" She asked.

"Yes, I believe so." I answered.

We walked in, the flashing lights bouncing off the crystal and diamond chandeliers blinding my eyes. The ballroom certainly was beautiful. The tiled floor was polished to high shine and a pleasing, oak color. Magnificent paintings hung all over the gigantic room. A small quartet was situated in the corner of the ballroom, playing a lilting tune. People in costumes and all different kinds of masks danced about, or were sipping punch and probably beer, judging by the looks of their appearance.

I checked my mask, making sure it was securely on. That night I was dressed as Zorro. I had spiked my hair, something I rarely do. As a matter of fact, I don't think I remember ever doing it, quite frankly. I was surprised that Butler had let me go to the Halloween Masquerade unaccompanied by him. Normally he insists on escorting me everywhere outside of the Manor, as much as I protest sometimes. But there's a first time for everything, I suppose. A familiar, frustrated voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Fowl? Fowl?!" I snapped my head around. "Okay. I'm going to go get something to drink, alright?" Greenwich asked me.

"Go ahead; It's fine with me." I replied. She looked at me for a couple seconds, but rolled her eyes and swaggered away, sticking her hand out into the face of a nearby young man, obviously telling him to get out of her face. I chuckled to myself. At least she's got attitude…although I must admit, it will be her downfall, I thought to myself. I looked over in her direction again. Hopefully she won't try anything sneaky tonight. I sat down, propping my leg up on another chair next to me. I casually leaned down, pretending to tie a bootlace, while actually feeling for the knife I had taken from my father's study and shoved into my boot. Finding it there, I patted it, smirking. I barely knew how to use it professionally, but I felt safer with it there. There was also a matching sword at my waist, which made me feel even safer. At least I knew how to use THAT.

I stood up and surveyed my surroundings, examining all of the dancing shapes and forms. I looked over into a knot of pretty, young girls and caught a couple of them looking at me. They immediately turned away, blushing slightly. I frowned. Another thing I didn't know how to deal with. Girls. I sighed and walked over to them. "Hello…My name is Artemis. Yours is…?" I trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air.

A girl with blonde locks dressed up as the Tragic Queen fanned herself and replied: "My name is Erin. Erin O'Malley. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Artemis." She held out her hand, letting it dangle, suspended in the air. I looked down at it, not sure what to do. I took it into my own, bending over slightly and brushed my lips against it. The girls behind her giggled giddily.

I cleared my throat. "Ahem…" I heard the band strike up a slow song in the distance. "Would you…er…like to dance…Miss O'Malley?" I looked down at my boots, blushing a little, but nothing compared to the Tragic Queen's face.

"Oh! Why, yes! I'd love to! Thank you!" She responded, taken aback with surprise. Her friends all looked on with jealousy. I wasn't quite sure why they were jealous. I'd never danced with a girl before, except a couple daughters of some of my father's "business" partners at formal parties. Even then, that was awhile back. Not entirely sure of what to do, I led her out onto the ballroom floor.

The dance was what seemed to me a waltz. I panicked…how does one waltz? I had absolutely no clue. The girl looked up at me and I guess saw the uncertainty in my eyes. "Um…" I was embarrassed a bit.

"It's simple, don't worry. She took one of my hands and bent the fingers around her petite ones. Another hand took mine and placed around her waist. She placed her hand on top of my shoulder and began speaking into my ear. "1,2,3…step to the count, Artemis. 1…2…3…Very good. You're getting it quickly." I soon found my way and was dancing exceptionally in my opinion, but probably terribly if you asked an innocent bystander. I shifted my weight and looked at the girl dangling on my shoulder. She seemed…perfect. Almost too perfect. Something was most likely wrong. The hairs on the back of neck pricked up a little. What's going on? This is just some random girl you've decided to dance with. Nothing could possibly be wrong…it's just some random young woman, I reassured myself. I looked over my shoulder and noticed a familiar lady pirate staring. She looked away quickly, throwing her head back and downing her punch, a light red tinge creeping into her cheeks. I smirked, thinking smugly to myself, Ha. Serves her right. I inched Erin and me over a bit closer to the punch bowl, so I could fully rub it in that I was dancing with some other girl rather than Amalia.

She glared at me and moved over a bit so that she was farther away than before. She looked disgusted, but that was her problem. Not my own. I looked down at my dance partner again. She WAS perfect. She looked back up at me with chocolate-colored eyes. "Something wrong?" She asked innocently.

"No…nothing. Just thinking," I said.

"Oh, I see. Hopefully I'm in your thoughts?" She grinned up at me seductively. I looked at her again and leaned in, fully prepared to kiss her, when I my eyes caught a movement in the corner, near the punch bowl. My eyes scanned the area, looking for something suspicious, but I fund nothing. I leaned in again, whispering an apology. This time our lips met. When I broke apart from her, I saw something moving, more like thrashing, again in the shadows.

"Can you excuse me for a moment...?" I faltered. This can't be happening. The best kiss in my life and I…I forgot her name! "Ahem…" I cleared my throat once more. She looked at me with anger, disgust, and lust.

"You FORGOT my name?!" She slapped me with all of the force in her delicate hand. "I cannot BELIEVE YOU!" She stamped off to her knot of admirers, pouting. I felt my burning cheek with one hand. Women, I thought to myself. I walked off into the direction of the thrashing. As I got closer I heard a shriek and shout.

"What the hell are you doing?! LET GO OF ME!" I heard a smack and saw a disgruntled pirate run out from behind the refreshment table. In my rush to get to the place, I headed straight into the figure, causing us both to fall over, the young woman falling on top of me. I looked at her.

It was Amalia.

"What happened? What's going on?" I asked. "Why were you behind the table?" She rolled off of me. Just then a medium-height young man stepped out from behind the table, his fists balled up, ready to strike. I felt my boot, making sure the knife was still there. My hand lingered there, poised to pull it out, no matter how inexperienced I was with it.

"Amalia! Get over here! You need to leave here! HURRY! Let's GO!" the young man emphasized his words with dramatic hand gestures. He has night-black, curly hair, very similar to Amalia's. They looked a lot alike, except instead of emerald colored eyes, the young man had more honey-toned orbs. When I looked at them, it felt like they were piercing my very soul. He motioned to her once again. "Come ON, Amalia. Don't disobey me!" He raised his hand in a threatening manner.

"Shut up, Pat! SHUT UP!" She shrieked. People were starting to turn around and look at us curiously, now.

Pat? Who's Pat? Who IS this young man? It suddenly dawned on me. I remembered the research I had done on her. Supposedly her whole family had been killed off. Her mother, her father, her little cousin Camille, and her older brother…

Pat. Where were they leaving? Why? "Can we take this outside, please, sir?" I asked, trying to be civil. What was going on here?

"Yes, Pat. Please." She pleaded.

"Alright…I suppose. Let's step out." He consented. He grabbed Amalia's arm and pulled her towards the door. I didn't like the way he handled her. Did I just think that? Why should I care how he handles her? She not my problem. But still, as I looked at her, she looked suddenly dejected, depressed, downcast. And the way he handled her still bothered me. He acted as if she were some sort of prize he had won and didn't want to share with the others. We picked a small picnic table off to the side of the archway entrance. I took the time to examine "Pat". He was dressed as a soldier, with a camouflage scarf with holes for eyes tied around his forehead and around his honey-brown orbs.

I heard someone mumble something incoherent. "Don't talk to me that way, bitch." Her brother shouted. He was obviously drunk. He raised his hand to strike her once more, but I stopped him.

"Don't."

Butler drove up just then and honked the horn. We all looked up like deer caught in the headlights. "Time to go, everyone. Come now, hop into the car."

I turned to Pat. "Would you like to come back with us, and we can discuss these matters further?" I asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I would." He slurred. I went and told Butler, whispering to him to keep his eye on him. Butler acted all smiles, patting the seat next to him up front when Pat stumbled to the car, caught up in a drunk stupor. In the meantime, I escorted Greenwich to the seat in the back, so her brother couldn't eavesdrop on us. Not that that would happen anyway: Butler was chatting up a storm, all the while throwing glances back at us.

I looked at Amalia. "Are you alright? What happened?" I questioned.

"I'm fine…I'm fine…just…nothing happened. Nothing. Don't worry about it. It's not your concern." She suddenly became defensive.

I shrugged, trying to do so inside, but I couldn't get the image out of how he dragged her by her arm out of the building. "Are you sure?" No answer. "Amalia? Are you sure you're okay?" I repeated. Once more, no answer. I looked over to her, chuckling a bit at what I saw. She was slumped over, fast asleep, snoring slightly. Haha, what a sight, I thought. I reached over and nervously put my arm around her shoulder, afraid to wake her up. That girl had a bloody anger problem. I pulled her towards me until she was resting on my chest and shoulder area. I shifted uncomfortably. Amalia said something incoherent in her sleep and let out a loud snore. I rolled my eyes. Women.

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Well? Should I do that more often? Tell me if I should and I'll consider it! Keep the reviews comin' people!! My goal's 40!! Come on! I'm not adding the next chapter until Review #40. COME ON!! GIT THOSE FINGERS TYPIN' YE SCURVEY DOGS!!

Ok, well then. Another chappie has come and gone.

-Sniff- I remember those days when I wrote my first chapter… -sniff- 'Kay, I'm done. Haha, yeah I know…that was scary.

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