Disclaimer: I own nothing that seems familiar.
Kelsey: I don't mind at all, I love it when my reviewers make guesses. Actually, your plot is close to mine, but not quite. Thanks for the review!
Aerin: Thanx for the spiffy reviews! ;) BTW, it was Emily who Artemis was talking to, Juliet's in America as a wrestler. Yeah, that "disobey" thing has been pointed out to me like a thousand times, thanks for caring enough to say something though. What do you mean a coincidence?
DemonOfShadow: Of course it is, I wrote it. OK, egotistical moment over. Thanks for the review.
Chapter 4
"What do you think that means?" Holly asked aloud, to no one in particular.
"That this tooth has something to do with Artemis," replied Foaly in his duh voice.
"Like what though? What could the tooth possibly have to do with Artemis?"
"I don't know," said Foaly with a sigh.
Holly's eyes widened slightly. That is not a phrase often heard by Foaly.
"I think that this has gone on long enough," she said, her famous determination returning to her. "I'm going to go have a talk with Artemis."
Foaly looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. "You sure that's a good idea? Root's still mad at him for getting his memories back."
Holly winked at Foaly. "Since when do you care about Root getting mad?"
Foaly smiled. "I think you should go talk to Fowl."
Holly landed perfectly on a brick ledge surrounding Fowl Manor. Any other day Holly would have taken the long road to Artemis' home, after all being handed a set of hummingbird Z7s was a rare occasion. Unfortunately for her, this wasn't any day. There was something creepy going on in Haven and she wanted it to end.
She glanced around, her eyes falling on the sneering gargoyle next to her.
"Yeah, you and me both buddy," she said with a tired sigh.
Not a moment later Artemis strode out of his vast manor doors to the Fowl Bentley, Butler close behind him.
Speak of the devil, she thought as she went to hover above them.
She looked around to make sure that no one else could see them before shutting off her shield and calling down to Artemis.
"Hey fowl," she said casually, "I've got a bone to pick with you."
Artemis looked up at her, surprise taking over his features for a small moment. Holly didn't believe his shock for a second; Artemis may have become a friend to the people, but leave a snake with it's head and it can still bite you.
"Captain Short," he said with an innocent smile. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Save it Fowl," She said, making sure not to let her own smile break over her face. "I need to talk to you and Butler in private. It's important."
"Now will you tell me what's going on?" Artemis asked as he locked the door to one of the manors many dens.
Holly settled herself down on the soft antique sofa across from Artemis and Butler.
"What do you know about dragons?" She asked.
Artemis shrugged. "Not too much, just that they ravaged Europe and Western Asia until the humans killed them off."
Holly glared at him. "They didn't 'ravage' anything Fowl, the mudmen killed them unjustly."
Artemis held up his hands in a peace gesture. "Fair enough. What do they have to do with me now?"
Holly recounted the whole tale for the two, not leaving anything out.
"So this tooth has something to do with me?" Artemis asked skeptically after she had finished.
"Look," Holly started, not bothering to hide her exhaustion. "I know it sounds stupid and crazy, but would I be here if there wasn't something going on?"
"No," said Artemis. "I don't suppose that you would."
"You can't think of anything at all that could tie you in with this dragon?"
Artemis placed his hands on his temples and shut his eyes. When he opened them at last he said, "No, I can't think of one thing."
Holly sighed. "Then I'll need you to come down to Haven, just let me make a few calls."
Rose Mare, Foaly's young elfin intern, sat staring at the tooth in wonder. Foaly was fast asleep, he had been working for two days straight and exhaustion had overtaken him. She was left alone, unwatched with the incisor.
It's so beautiful, she thought. How could anything that beautiful be so dangerous?
"I won't hurt you," she jumped as she heard the disembodied voice. It was a woman's voice, gentle and sweet. "I want to give you knowledge beyond what you could imagine. Knowledge of death."
Rose glanced at Foaly, still asleep. The voice didn't disturb him. Could he hear it at all?
"Come child," said the hypnotic voice. "Come share in my secrets."
"Who are you?" asked Rose in a scared whisper.
"I am a ghost," said the voice simply.
"The dragon's ghost?" Rose couldn't keep the wonder from her voice.
The lovely voice giggled. "Oh no my child, this tooth is simply my host for the time being. I am a human ghost."
Rose hand hovered over the tooth, the white glow turned golden and even more beautiful.
"What do you want?"
"To share with you my secrets, such a young pretty thing deserves to know much. Is it not knowledge that you crave? After all, you are a scientist," the voice was so beautiful Rose couldn't help but move closer.
"You won't hurt me?" Rose asked.
"Why of course not, why would I want to hurt you?"
Rose smiled and ran the tip of her index finger across the incisor, cutting it slightly at the point.
The sensation of the cut was breathtaking at first, and then it grew painful. Rose's breath came in short gasps and she paled. Veins were growing underneath her skin as if they were about to burst and tears ran down her cheeks. The energy vanished from her body and she fell in a heap on the cold floor of the ops booth.
Artemis and Butler zipped themselves up in their pressure suits. They were Foaly's creations, of course, to help when the LEP was forced to bring the two down into Haven. Without the suits, the pressure underground would kill them. It was top secret, the LEP wouldn't want the civilians to know that the supposedly mind-wiped public enemy number one was being brought down every so often to their final frontier.
Though Artemis was going down their pretty much on trial, he was happy to be in Haven. With a simple note Emily thought that he was off on business, so he gets to be away from her annoying nature. That was a major plus. And who knows? Maybe those strange riddles he's been receiving are tied in with this tooth.
Holly ushered the two mudmen into the secret entrance of the LEP station. They careful headed to the ops booth, not wanting to be seen. Root and Foaly were waiting for them there.
"Well it's about time," said Root when they entered, not straying from his usual charm. "What are you up to Fowl?"
"Nothing at all," said Artemis innocently.
"Yeah right," said Root. "Hey Short, you wanna know what happened while you were gone?"
Holly swallowed. Something was seriously wrong.
"While the pony here was taking a nap," Root took a moment to glare at Foaly. "Young Mare touched the tooth, had her magic and about a quarter of her blood drained from her. This is worse then the first case for one big reason. She's the head councilman's daughter, and he controls our funds. When he finds out that we weren't even keeping the tooth under close watch he'll be livid."
Holly shut her eyes for a second. Maybe it would be better to get rid of the tooth.
"There's something else. She had cuts on her arms that spelled out words," Root pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "This is what it said."
Holly unfolded the paper and read silently. She felt Artemis staring over her shoulder at the writing.
I am unprejudiced, unbiased
I slip through the fingers of the rich
And poor
I am everything to most
And nothing to some
I am invisible to those that lack me
But clear as day to those that have me
I am in the center of unloved
I am sought after and hunted
And those that do find me
Let me slip away again.
"What is this?" Holly asked, staring at the paper confused.
"A riddle," Artemis said before anyone else had a chance to. "The answer is love, or possibly lost love. I've been getting letters with things like this for the past week. Mine have been signed 'Salina Rodina.'"
"Who's that?" Holly asked.
"I have the slightest idea, and trust me I have looked," Artemis replied.
"Well Fowl, I don't know if you're behind this or not and frankly I don't care. You'll be staying here until we figure this thing out," said Commander Root, snatching back the paper from Holly.
Artemis shrugged. He didn't really mind, he wanted this mystery solved as much as they did. And after all those years of simple burglaries and such, he needed a good adventure.
Holly sat by the tooth with a neutrino in hand. She, Butler and Root had been taking turns guarding it, not even sure what they're guarding it from.
Holly turned to stare at the tooth and it glowed brightly. Foreboding built up in her chest.
"I've been waiting for you captain," a gentle voice with no apparent owner said.
Holly jumped to her feet. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
"I'm not hiding Holly, I'm right here."
Holly looked around the room, not seeing anyone. Then with a fear rolling around in her gut she turned to the table, where the tooth lay shining brighter then ever.
"Aw, you've found me."
"What do you mean you've been waiting for me?" Holly asked, inadvertently taking a step forward.
"Exactly what I said. All night I've been sitting here waiting for those lugs to leave and for you to come. At last you have," the voice was sweet and gentle, but Holly sensed an evil coming from it.
"What do you want with me?" Holly asked. She knew that she should have called the commander the second she heard this thing talking, but something was holding her back.
"Oh don't say it like that captain. I'm not going to hurt you, actually I want you to help me. I've been stealing magic from all those other elves so I could make the transportation from this holding to someplace else. You see, I need a body."
"A body……….." Holly didn't even have to finish her question, a form suddenly rose from the tooth, a woman all clad in white with a transparent figure.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit."
Holly fired at the creature, with no outcome.
The woman smiled. "Now, resisting won't help."
Her form flew at Holly and vanished inside of her. Holly collapsed on to the floor.
A/N: Dun dun dun. Please review.