Amulet of Quietus
Disclaimer: Hmmm… I make no profit from this and the everything that isn't Colfer's is obviously mine.
Setting: Fowl Manor, Ireland Also, Ryukyu Islands, which are just south of Japan. And Artemis's plane.
Chapter 7: A Plot Unfolding
She was surprised to be here at all. The last she recalled, Artemis's plane was still in the air. Had she fallen asleep?
The cave was so much more dim this time. Anya sighed, knowing her mother would be disappointed in her for helping to catch the Worthy One. But she had her own motives, even if her mind wouldn't tell her what they were.
Mother? Are you here? We need to speak. I have many things to ask of you. A sudden gust of wind made her look to the cave opening behind her. Nothing. She looked back, and there stood the fire fairy who'd been in her village.
Anya, we meet again. The human had caught you, yes? Astonishing, Anya thought to herself.
Part of your Seer's vision I suppose? Who exactly are you? And why are you here?
The fire sprit smiled, perfect teeth showing. I'm called Ea, of the fire sprits in Africa. I lead my village there, and am also the Seer for my people. I am here to help you understand what you must do after this.
After what, exactly?
After the human had hold of the Amulet. When he uses it, he will lose all sanity, and then our world shall be in danger. The second sister will be sought out, and the third. I can not allow him to have those two.
And what, he can just keep the first? Anya shook her head. Why was she so worried about this girl?
Ea's smile enlarged, if at all possible. Feeling connected, huh? Must be the ancient bond.
There's a bond? Why didn't I hear about this before? The venom in her thoughts couldn't be kept quiet. She was begging to think she knew nothing.
There is a bond. In the original pack of Sisters, each sister had a faithful guardian to watch over her life. King Frond cared greatly for his daughters, but he lost them soon after the war. Their own guardians committed the crime, murdering the girls, and then hiding their items of power.
Anya's jaw was agape. But I would never kill that girl!
That is where you are both wrong and weak minded. The guardians killed the Sisters because they knew their power was to great. Silent Reaper begged that they kill her, begged them to end her meaningless life, and her sisters knew it would be a soulless life without her. They asked the same.
A meaningless life? How so? Anya interrupted.
Silent Reaper had seen too much death, had wallowed in it too long. She wanted to repent, but could save no one unless they were a trusted friend. So the guardians killed them, and hid their items. Each guardian took the knowledge of her items to a different type of fairy. The Amulet to water. The Ring to fire. And the Bracelet to earth. They are protected by the knowledge of those people to this day.
Realization suddenly hit Anya. You don't mean…You couldn't possibly…want me to…kill her? She received a nod. You're out of your mind! The girl's innocent!
Ea sighed. You will understand with time, child. If you truly value the lives of everyone on this planet, than you will end her life.
I would never do such a vile thing! And to even suggest it is evil spewing from your mouth. The girl has killed no one-
Not yet. When she had the Amulet, we shall see. Ea interrupted. She turned, looking at the Amulet. I wish I could destroy it every day. I would give my life to do so, but it is not possible. The human shall get his revenge, and then he shall search for the Betraying Angel. She turned back to Anya. Will you help us when that time come? Shall you end her life?
Never. She spat vehemently.
Then I shall take this into my own hands. Welcome into your powers, Guardian. Watch over Silent Reaper, and guard her life with your own, if you must. But know that she will one day fall, and your time will end shortly after hers.
Anya gapped at her. What? What's that suppose- the cave spun viciously, making her nocuous.
Anya bolted upright, finding herself again on Artemis's plane. Her face only showed the fear she was experiencing for a moment, and then a calm, emotionless face took over. She turned to Deidra, still sleeping, beside her.
"Dearest Reaper, let your sleep be undisturbed. This rest is the first and last you shall have for some time." She whispered.
Dark figures swirled before her. Deidra gasped, making out several people she knew. There was Jim, her friend from school. He was a total nerd, but she was too, so why'd it matter? Then there was Jamie, the prep that she despised. Queen of the Preps, slut, and all about jerk, Jamie's friend Martina showed up next.
What is this? My life or something?
Not quite. It's just people who've made an impact on your life. And people who you can kill. The voice was emotionless. It came from what she thought was behind her.
Turning, she noticed a dark clad figure, tall, with blonde flowing hair.
Who're you? She asked timidly.
No one of great relevance. I'm simply here as a back-up, should all else fail.
Dei didn't like the sound of that. All else fail? What do you have to do then?
His face shifted, or so it seemed. The cloak he wore made it hard to tell. Should the Guardians fail to kill you and your sisters in the end, then I shall end it for them.
Deidra yawned. She knew she was in a plane, being held against her will, and in all probability, she'd never she her family again, but that didn't mean she couldn't have fun imagining things flying by the window. Seeing as she still couldn't see out the far window, she could only guess as to what the earth far below looked like.
"Oh, look, there goes Artemis." She giggled, imaging the stupid kid falling hundreds of feet in a Bug Bunny type fall, only with a Daffy Duck landing. She felt the collar about her neck, hoping to find a catch of something that would allow her to take it off.
Cold, metallic, binding. Definitely not a necklace she'd be caught in. No opening either. Screw that plan.
Butler suddenly walked into the back of the plane, briefly glancing at her before continuing to the far back with a towel.
She heard the distinct voice of someone who sounded very angry.
"You could have warned me before making a sudden dive, Artemis! That was uncalled for, and we dwarves don't deal well with heights!" Deidra turned to see who was talking, but from her view over the seats, there was no one.
A figure suddenly appeared in the isle, walking down it unsteadily. He was short, ugly, and wearing something that didn't quite match. Dei smiled.
"Love the shirt. Orange is my favorite color." He looked at her, then to Butler.
"Does this mean she gets to stay awake, or are you going to sedate her again?" h asked.
Butler looked at Deidra. "No loud noises." She nodded, and he walked into the cabin.
"So, um, what are you?" she blurted out. The odd man starred at her, looking slightly amused.
"I don't look human to you?"
"Nah, even my old man doesn't dress like that, and man does he need help with his fashion statements!" She laughed, but the man didn't. Evidently, this wasn't a statement. He held his chin high, trying to look dignified.
"I, dear girl, am a dwarf. Mulch Diggums at your service." He smiled, his beard moving out of the way to show of an overly large mouth, with block like teeth.
"Yikes, those thing look like they could take out an eye, or chunk of skin." she giggled, imagining him doing that to Artemis.
"Something like that." he said, thrown off by her laughter.
"So, any idea where we're going?" she asked him.
"Well, I think it's the Ryukyu Islands, but-" He cut off suddenly, his face a light shade of green. "Excuse me." The dwarf rushed to the back off the plane. Dei heard him gagging, and then emptying his stomach. Yuck.
Before he made it back, Artemis walked into the posterior of the plane.
"Uh oh, rich snob alert." Deidra muttered. His eyes snapped over to her, and she smiled sincerely. "Truth hurts, huh?" His eyes read like a child's book. Death was on his mind.
"Trying to antagonize me will not work, dear girl. And it won't improve your situation at all."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch you pretend not to be mad." She giggled again, his glare like a flame burning into her. He decided to ignore her, and continued on with whatever it was he was thinking about. "The Ryukyu Island chain is just ahead. Once we land, Anya will guide us to the cave, and you will grab the amulet."
Deidra's lost look gave him reason enough to continue explaining. "The Amulet of Quietus is the item of power for you, the Silent Reaper. This item-"
"-enables me to kill people, I know, I know." Artemis's face went blank. "I…had a dream about it, ok? I just didn't think we were talking about the same thing."
"Why didn't you mention it before?" He asked icily.
"What, while I was out cold, or while your monkey was beating me up?" She retorted. "Besides, with all the excitement of being kidnapped and all, I kind of forgot." He scoffed at her, making her want to smash in his face. "Something funny, snob?"
"Oh, nothing. Just think about how my revenge will work out." Dei glanced at Anya, thinking the boy was insane. She had to ask the one question that needed answering.
"And when you get your revenge, what then? What happens to me, and her?" Artemis turned away, looking out a window. Dei could just make out his face, one that looked rather confuse.
"I haven't figured that out yet." He lied. He knew what he was going to do, but it wasn't the right time to tell her. No one liked to think they were going to be a slave for the rest of their live, least of all bratty girls.
If he could, Artemis would brainwash her, like Anya. With her power and willing obedience, he could rule the world. His family could be the richest, most famous, and respected family on the planet. And with his genius, the fairy world would have accept him, or face extinction.
"Sir, the islands are dead ahead." Butler called from the front. Artemis stalked into the cabin and strapped himself into the co- pilot's seat. It was almost time.
After stumbling through the thick forest on the island, Deidra was almost relieved to be inside the cave. It was colder, but nothing in here snagged her clothing. With Artemis and Anya in the lead, and Butler brining up the rear, Deidra and Mulch trekked along at a moderate pace.
"This is it." Anya said. Her voice still lacked any passion. Deidra envied her, wishing she could achieve a voice like that.
Butler grasped her arm, pulling her toward the center of the large cavern. The Amulet of Quietus was there, just like in her dream. But would it freeze her this time? She turned to Artemis, fear evident in her eyes.
"Take it, Deidra." He whispered. Butler pushed her toward it, and after she regained her feet, the girl walked up to the pillar. Dei reached out, hand brushing against the stone. This was what Artemis had ordered her to do. With the necklace on, she could not escape. She grasped it, feeling it's power-
People screaming. Cold air rushing past her.
No! This can not be! Not again! The voice was of someone she didn't know. Several others screamed along with it.
History repeats itself. Destruction is coming. A different voice panicked out.
If history truly repeats itself, than the Mercenary shall rise again. And yet another voice.
But the people who will die- It was the second voice who said this.
Shall die. This was from the man in her dream before, the one cloaked in black, with the blond hair.
Mercenary! You return. The second speaker again.
I do. And I shall do my job, but only when it is time. When the Sister's have seen what destruction can be wrought by their power, they shall ask for death. He looked at Dei, and she saw his eyes. Red, merciless. Should their Guardians fail, I will destroy them.
Deidra fell backward, her rump hitting the floor before the rest of her. The Amulet sat in her hand, cold, malicious. She regained her feet. Dei turned fully to him, holding the Amulet up.
"Here you go, brat. What do you want to do now? Play dress-up?" His vampire smiled shone in the dim light. Dei shivered. She had a very bad feeling about this.
"Now, Silent Reaper, we get revenge."
Author's Note:
Took me forever, I know! My family's a little busy. We're planning on moving to the eastern coast, somewhere around/in Pennsylvania. But it's very difficult and stressing to move, and I don't get to use the computer much. My parents use it to send their resumes to people.
I hate to break it to you guys, but this story is coming to an ending (one more chapter!). No, I'm not just going to kill it, it keeps going. This is a trilogy, after all (One story per sister). A second and third story follow. Heck, it might turn into four stories. The final one would be an ending story, based on everyone, and from a general point of view, not like this. (You know what I mean, how I keep switching betwixt and between Artemis, Anya, and Deidra, and even Butler.)
Email me or review. Tell me what you think. And here's a thanks to my reviewers. Lol, Thanks! And Heather, dearest, do not turn into Jessica. We both know that would be a disaster. (Heather and I are friends in real life, if your wondering.)
Thanks for reading.
Finelley