Author's Note: I've been sick for the last few days so I wasn't able to write much and I wanted to make the chapter a pretty good one. I've also just finished reading 'The Supernaturalist' and 'The Seventh Dwarf' which both rock. Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
If you want me insert any old characters back into the plot or new stuff, you can suggest them and I'll think about it. Oh yeah, to jadestar123 I think Artemis if 15 in the EC, I'm not sure.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Artemis Fowl characters, only Phel and Mucus.
Chapter 5: Black Magic
On road in Ireland
Artemis gripped the steering wheel tightly, a look of frustration on his face.
Why didn't the cars move to let him through? How did you indicate you were turning? Why were there cameras next to the road?
For once, he didn't have time to answer the flood of questions in his head. His attention was fully focused on the road. His hands trembled a lot, causing the car to jerk left. This was not what geniuses were made to do. In the front passenger seat, Holly gripped the edges of her seat, the only way to stop her falling off the seat. She had tried to direct him in the right direct, but had given up after just five minutes. Mulch sat in the back seat, cursing the slow traffic and making rude gestures to the drivers who hogged all the lanes. He was also applying another layer of thick sunblock at the same time.
"This is so annoying! Why did you buy a fast car if we can't go fast?"
Either he didn't hear the dwarf or he just ignored him but Artemis did not reply. The traffic moved so slowly that a tortoise could have raced it and won. This was the problem when the holidays had just started.
After a while, Artemis Fowl had managed to find the basics of driving. They came to a halt at the traffic light. In other words, Artemis jammed his foot on the brake. Holly was winded by the sudden force and Mulch hit his head on the seat. Artemis took the chance to wipe the perspiration from his brow.
"This is most tiring," he moaned. "I don't see how most people make it seem so effortless."
"You're not doing too badly, Mud Boy," said Holly. She crossed her fingers behind her back.
"But what happens in the unlikely event of a police officer asking for my license on account of reckless driving?"
"Give them money. Isn't that what you're meant to do?" shrugged Holly.
"If you really don't want to drive, I--,"started Mulch.
"NO!" yelled Holly and Artemis at the same time.
"Sheesh. Did you really have to shout," grumbled Mulch.
"Are we meant to answer that question?" asked Holly.
The light turned green and they were on the move again, only to get stuck in another traffic jam. They all let out a simultaneous long sigh.
Secret Tunnel
The mist had cleared and standing in front of them was...-a dragon! It's sharp claws glistened as brightly as it's two ruby red eyes. It's hard, shiny scales were the colour of the darkest night. The most imposing thing was it's size. It was the biggest thing Foaly and Root had ever seen. It glared down at them imposingly. Only one thing kept it from attacking them. It was in a cube of crystallized rock.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
The voice echoed around the chamber, breaking the elf and centaur out of their trance. They looked up and saw an elf standing on a pile of stone tablets. He was wearing a cape and holding the commander's Tri-Blaster and looked strangely familiar.
"Cudgeon?" Foaly asked, confused.
"Guess again, centaur," came the amused reply.
"Um...Opal Koboi?"
"Do I look like a girl," snapped the figure. "No, I'm..."
He jumped off the pile and landed light-footedly next to them.
"You are Cudgeon. Liar!" said Foaly, disgruntled.
"For the last time, I am not Cudgeon. I look like him because I'm his brother."
A memory flashed from the back of Root's mind. He had seen this elf at his and Cudgeon's graduation ceremony. He had been smiling and cheering for his brother. Now he was the opposite.
"I know about what you did to him a year ago," the elf continued. "You dishonoured him, deformed his face and because of you --"
The elf had let his cool composure slip and was now shaking with fury. He hefted the Tri-Blaster and pointed it dangerously at Root's head.
"It was his fault. He betrayed us during the Fowl Affair and went seeking revenge with help from goblins," pouted Root, his face turning red with rage.
The elf didn't lower the weapon. His eye twitched slightly.
Whoa! This guy is unstable, thought Foaly.
The goblin that had spoken to them in the Ops Booth was suddenly at the elf's side. They hadn't noticed him come in. He was large for a goblin and had a ring through his right nostril.
"C'mon, Phel," he grunted. "You've got betta things t'do instead of taunting LEP members." He spat with disgust as he said the last words.
"You're right, Mucus," Phel sighed and handed him the blaster. "I've got a city to cause havoc in and then take over."
"Is that all you bad guys do?" asked Foaly.
No-one replied. Instead, Phel and Mucus took the liberty of tying their captives together and binding their mouths. They were then led to a small room that lead to one side of the main room.
"Soon the dragon will be able to roam the skies," said Phel wistfully. "It'll be able to wipe out the Council easily."
He laughed. "But you can have the honours of being it's first meal when I awaken it from it's long sleep."
He flicked his cape before he and Mucus went out, locking the door behind them. As they walked out of the main room, the key was tossed carelessly into the furnace.
Limerick
Butler burst through the doors of the shop marked "Optical Illusions-Specialist in Lens & Glasses". The shop was empty apart from a lady examining the stock. Butler frowned. Where was Padriac? Suddenly, there was a rustle and a man toppled out of the back room, his arms laden with boxes. One box sat precariously on the top.
"Um, do you want a hand?" asked Butler.
He easily took the pile of boxes from the man. The man's glasses slipped down his nose as he eyed Butler with surprise.
"Oh, it's you Butler," he replied, pushing his glasses back up.
His tangled brown hair stuck up at odd angles, making him look like a strange bug-eyed martian.
"Have you done that check on the lens like I asked you to, Padriac?" Butler set the boxes in the corner.
"If I say no, will you promise me you won't break my neck?"
Butler sighed and lifted Padriac off the ground. "I've been in Limerick long enough and I really should be getting back to Artemis. You guaranteed to me that you would've checked it by today."
Padriac trembled. "I-I've been busy. A new shipment just arrived and I've been unloading. If you really want, I can examine the lens today."
Butler nodded and let him go. "OK, but make it quick, I'm getting old here."
Padriac nodded and fumbled with a ring of keys in his pocket. He pulled one out and slipped it into the lock of a door marked 'Examining Room'. The lock clicked and he opened the door. Butler slipped in after him, and shut the door.
Optical Illusions, Examining Room
There was only one word to describe the inside of the room. Chaotic. There was a single desk in the corner of the room that held various strange gadgets and equipment. The only light was provided by a flickering halogen globe on the ceiling. What looked like a chemistry set sat nearby, surrounded by many vials containing clear liquid.
Padriac scratched his head and looked around the room. "Now where did I put my examining kit?"
Butler rolled his eyes and picked up a silver case from the floor.
"O-oh, thanks," Padriac stuttered, entering in an access code.
He flipped the case's lid to reveal an assortment of hi-tech gadgets. He took a small lens from the set. He then took the glass from one eyepiece and attached on the device in it's place. Padriac fiddled with the lens, adjusting it and squinting through it.
"OK, I'm ready."
Lower Elements, Howlers' Peak
Opal Koboi sat in the cell, surrounded by goblins. The council had seen fit to put her in there due to the trouble she had caused in the last incident. She was quite used to them and they had accepted her in their "group". Currently, they were all crouched around the bench in the side of the cell, playing a game that required little brain. This was good, as most of them only had that much or less.
"C'mon, roll!" hissed one of the goblins.
"Keep your skin on," she replied, calmly. The pixie rolled the dice. They landed on double six.
"You won again?" asked the goblin in surprise. "I bet you rigged it."
Opal sighed. "You think I would sink that low?"
The goblin never got to answer the question because the foundations that were underneath their feet suddenly rumbled and moved. The goblins just stood there blinking stupidly. Opal immediately crouched herself in a defensive stance. The door suddenly collapsed and a goblin and elf stepped into the cell.
"Mademoiselle," nodded Phel. "I am pleased to finally meet you."
"Cudgeon?" asked Opal.
"A common mistake. No, I'm his brother, Phel. I've come to free the goblins if they agree to help me progress to a higher status. I had my posse of already loyal goblins blast a hole in the building. They wanted us to free their brothers, so I complied."
"You knew I was in here. What do you want from me?"
"An informant said that you had more brains then the centaur so I want you to help me with my plans."
Opal thought about it for less then a second. A major part in the plot, freedom and maybe even power. What else could she ask for?
Phew! I managed to finish the chapter and slip Opal back into the story. I think I'm making the scenes a bit too short, I'll try to make them longer next time. I'm sorry if the chapter was a bit short, but I'll put much more in the next one, I promise!
Please R&R! Bye!