~ Drowning ~
A/N: Helloooo again. Hope you enjoyed the first chappie. Sorry if it seemed incredibly rushed. Thanks for the reviews, everyone!!
Umm . . . about the title of this fic. Well, uh, all I can see is, you'll see.
Disclaimer: Look for one of these in the first chapter.
CHAPTER TWO +++ A New Contact
Artemis Fowl II was fifteen years old, and he hadn't changed a bit-except for the fact that he was taller. Same pale skin, same black hair, same blue eyes. Same cool demeanor, same attitude, same intelligence. Same everything.
For Artemis, the last few years was a blur. A very confusing blur. He remembered his father being missing, then his father being rescued, but those were the only clear things left. What else significant had happened? Well . . . he had been sent to St. Bartleby's when he was thirteen. His mother had somehow, almost magically, reclaimed her sanity when he was twelve. But nothing else important had happened . . . not that he could remember, anyway.
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ARTEMIS FOWL'S DIARY, DISK 4, (ENCRYPTED)
I wonder where my father picked up the ridiculous notion of being a hero; that gold isn't the most important thing. How could he even begin to think that? Gold Is Power. Our family motto. How could he forget that?
Maybe he hasn't forgotten. Maybe he wants to forget. But why?
I'm upset that he's disappointed in me, disappointed in me for carrying on his criminal empire while he was missing. I don't understand this. I thought he would be proud.
Juliet is still obsessed with her "Princess Jade" wrestling nonsense. Butler seems . . . so different . . . like he's older or something. I've noticed this for the past several years, but it just happened so . . . suddenly. And he's only forty-two, but he moves like he's fifty-seven!
I suppose he's just losing his touch. I think I'm losing my touch as well. There is something missing, something very important, from my life. Something that used to be there, but isn't anymore. I don't know where this feeling came from; I'm just hoping it will pass.
I am trying to follow in my father's footsteps - the heroic ones. So I have temporarily forgotten my criminal enterprises. As soon as father regains his senses, I'll go back to my thieving, illegal ways. I only hope Butler is up to it.
In a week's time, Butler and I are going to meet a new contact of mine, Mel Diggs. This will be my last out-of-town meeting before I lay low with my father for a bit. It's odd . . . Mr. Diggs was the one who arranged the meeting, not me. Apparently, he has something very important to share with me. I'd best be on my guard. For some reason, I'm scared for Butler.
What on earth is wrong with me?
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FOWL MANOR, IRELAND
Artemis and his bodyguard, Butler, were preparing to leave for Paris, France, where Artemis was to meet his newest contact, Mel Diggs.
"What do you propose we bring, Artemis?" the manservant asked his charge.
For some odd reason, Artemis looked slightly uneasy. "Erm, weapons of course. And . . . um . . ."
Butler stared at Artemis. This was very out of character for the boy, to be so uncertain. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.
"What? Of course, Butler. I'm absolutely fine."
"Whatever you say, Artemis."
Juliet Butler flounced down the stairs, her wrestling bag slung over her shoulder. "Bye, bro. See ya, Arty. I'm off to a wrestling match!"
"Be careful, Juliet," Butler cautioned. "You're still very young, and not as strong as these guys."
"Please," Juliet snorted. "I'm twenty. I'm gonna win. Relax. PRINCESS JADE STRIKES AGAIN!" she yelled as she ran out the front door.
Usually, Artemis would roll his eyes at such immature behavior. But not today. He looked like he was somewhere else entirely.
"Um . . . Artemis?"
Artemis blinked. "What?"
Butler furrowed his brow. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. Of course. Let us depart."
With his eyebrows still raised questioningly, Butler followed Artemis out the front door. Something was evidently wrong with the boy. Must be something to do with being a teenager, Butler reasoned. But Juliet had never acted like that.
Butler mentally smacked himself on the head. DUH Juliet had never acted like that! Juliet and Artemis were two completely different people. Butler sighed. He worried for his charge.
And, for some odd reason, he worried for himself.
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PARIS, FRANCE
Artemis seated himself at a small table in the corner of the café. Butler took up his position standing behind the boy.
"Do you have any idea why Mister Diggs could want to see us?" Artemis asked the Eurasian manservant.
Butler shook his head. "Didn't you say he had something to show you?"
"Yes. But how do we know that's the real reason?"
"True," Butler agreed. "We'd best be on the look-out."
(MEL DIGGS' POINT OF VIEW):
Mel Diggs scanned the crowd of people assembled in the café. The Fowl boy had to be there somewhere. He wasn't that hard to miss, with the huge man- mountain standing guard.
Mel Diggs was shorter than the average person. However, he didn't stand out. There were all sorts of dwarfs and midgets in the world these days. They weren't unusual.
Mel slipped his hand in his pocket. He felt the golden disk, the coin that he had received two years ago. Artemis would want it back. Even if he didn't know he wanted it.
"Mud Boy," Mel muttered under his breath. "Where are you?"
(ARTEMIS FOWL'S POINT OF VIEW):
Artemis looked to his right, and he saw a very short man making his way towards their table. Instantly, memories overtook the boy: dwarf, elf, fairy, sprite, gnome, goblin . . .
"Huh?" Artemis said aloud.
"Are you all right, Master Artemis?" Butler asked worriedly.
Artemis looked away. That was strange . . . "I'm - I'm fine."
Butler shifted his position so he could see his charge's face. And as he looked into those deep blue eyes, he saw . . . uncertainty? Fear? Remembrance? Whatever it was, it was very un-Artemis-like.
And Butler didn't like it. Not one bit.
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A/N: Sorry that was so short. OK, 3 guesses who Mel Diggs is. Teehee. Next chappie . . . REMEMBRANCE! MEMORIES! IT ALL COMES BACK! Well, it might all come back. Haven't decided yet. Ah well. REVIEW PLEASE! Oh, and I KNOW "Huh?" is a very OOC thing for Arty to say . . . but remember, just like Holly, he's not feeling like himself. THEY MUST MEET AGAIN!! R+R
A/N: Helloooo again. Hope you enjoyed the first chappie. Sorry if it seemed incredibly rushed. Thanks for the reviews, everyone!!
Umm . . . about the title of this fic. Well, uh, all I can see is, you'll see.
Disclaimer: Look for one of these in the first chapter.
CHAPTER TWO +++ A New Contact
Artemis Fowl II was fifteen years old, and he hadn't changed a bit-except for the fact that he was taller. Same pale skin, same black hair, same blue eyes. Same cool demeanor, same attitude, same intelligence. Same everything.
For Artemis, the last few years was a blur. A very confusing blur. He remembered his father being missing, then his father being rescued, but those were the only clear things left. What else significant had happened? Well . . . he had been sent to St. Bartleby's when he was thirteen. His mother had somehow, almost magically, reclaimed her sanity when he was twelve. But nothing else important had happened . . . not that he could remember, anyway.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +
ARTEMIS FOWL'S DIARY, DISK 4, (ENCRYPTED)
I wonder where my father picked up the ridiculous notion of being a hero; that gold isn't the most important thing. How could he even begin to think that? Gold Is Power. Our family motto. How could he forget that?
Maybe he hasn't forgotten. Maybe he wants to forget. But why?
I'm upset that he's disappointed in me, disappointed in me for carrying on his criminal empire while he was missing. I don't understand this. I thought he would be proud.
Juliet is still obsessed with her "Princess Jade" wrestling nonsense. Butler seems . . . so different . . . like he's older or something. I've noticed this for the past several years, but it just happened so . . . suddenly. And he's only forty-two, but he moves like he's fifty-seven!
I suppose he's just losing his touch. I think I'm losing my touch as well. There is something missing, something very important, from my life. Something that used to be there, but isn't anymore. I don't know where this feeling came from; I'm just hoping it will pass.
I am trying to follow in my father's footsteps - the heroic ones. So I have temporarily forgotten my criminal enterprises. As soon as father regains his senses, I'll go back to my thieving, illegal ways. I only hope Butler is up to it.
In a week's time, Butler and I are going to meet a new contact of mine, Mel Diggs. This will be my last out-of-town meeting before I lay low with my father for a bit. It's odd . . . Mr. Diggs was the one who arranged the meeting, not me. Apparently, he has something very important to share with me. I'd best be on my guard. For some reason, I'm scared for Butler.
What on earth is wrong with me?
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
FOWL MANOR, IRELAND
Artemis and his bodyguard, Butler, were preparing to leave for Paris, France, where Artemis was to meet his newest contact, Mel Diggs.
"What do you propose we bring, Artemis?" the manservant asked his charge.
For some odd reason, Artemis looked slightly uneasy. "Erm, weapons of course. And . . . um . . ."
Butler stared at Artemis. This was very out of character for the boy, to be so uncertain. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.
"What? Of course, Butler. I'm absolutely fine."
"Whatever you say, Artemis."
Juliet Butler flounced down the stairs, her wrestling bag slung over her shoulder. "Bye, bro. See ya, Arty. I'm off to a wrestling match!"
"Be careful, Juliet," Butler cautioned. "You're still very young, and not as strong as these guys."
"Please," Juliet snorted. "I'm twenty. I'm gonna win. Relax. PRINCESS JADE STRIKES AGAIN!" she yelled as she ran out the front door.
Usually, Artemis would roll his eyes at such immature behavior. But not today. He looked like he was somewhere else entirely.
"Um . . . Artemis?"
Artemis blinked. "What?"
Butler furrowed his brow. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. Of course. Let us depart."
With his eyebrows still raised questioningly, Butler followed Artemis out the front door. Something was evidently wrong with the boy. Must be something to do with being a teenager, Butler reasoned. But Juliet had never acted like that.
Butler mentally smacked himself on the head. DUH Juliet had never acted like that! Juliet and Artemis were two completely different people. Butler sighed. He worried for his charge.
And, for some odd reason, he worried for himself.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
PARIS, FRANCE
Artemis seated himself at a small table in the corner of the café. Butler took up his position standing behind the boy.
"Do you have any idea why Mister Diggs could want to see us?" Artemis asked the Eurasian manservant.
Butler shook his head. "Didn't you say he had something to show you?"
"Yes. But how do we know that's the real reason?"
"True," Butler agreed. "We'd best be on the look-out."
(MEL DIGGS' POINT OF VIEW):
Mel Diggs scanned the crowd of people assembled in the café. The Fowl boy had to be there somewhere. He wasn't that hard to miss, with the huge man- mountain standing guard.
Mel Diggs was shorter than the average person. However, he didn't stand out. There were all sorts of dwarfs and midgets in the world these days. They weren't unusual.
Mel slipped his hand in his pocket. He felt the golden disk, the coin that he had received two years ago. Artemis would want it back. Even if he didn't know he wanted it.
"Mud Boy," Mel muttered under his breath. "Where are you?"
(ARTEMIS FOWL'S POINT OF VIEW):
Artemis looked to his right, and he saw a very short man making his way towards their table. Instantly, memories overtook the boy: dwarf, elf, fairy, sprite, gnome, goblin . . .
"Huh?" Artemis said aloud.
"Are you all right, Master Artemis?" Butler asked worriedly.
Artemis looked away. That was strange . . . "I'm - I'm fine."
Butler shifted his position so he could see his charge's face. And as he looked into those deep blue eyes, he saw . . . uncertainty? Fear? Remembrance? Whatever it was, it was very un-Artemis-like.
And Butler didn't like it. Not one bit.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
A/N: Sorry that was so short. OK, 3 guesses who Mel Diggs is. Teehee. Next chappie . . . REMEMBRANCE! MEMORIES! IT ALL COMES BACK! Well, it might all come back. Haven't decided yet. Ah well. REVIEW PLEASE! Oh, and I KNOW "Huh?" is a very OOC thing for Arty to say . . . but remember, just like Holly, he's not feeling like himself. THEY MUST MEET AGAIN!! R+R