Disclaimer – My psychologists have convinced me I am not Eoin Colfer. Which means Artemis Fowl and all of it's counterparts belong solely to him.
The next morning Artemis was woken by the sun shining brightly through his dark, two layer curtains. One was a layer do blackout curtains, the other a layer of black satin. The flimsy material of satin was too thin to black out much light, not that on most days there was a lot, so Artemis had added a layer of blackout curtains, facing outwards, to keep the sun from shining any more than was sufficient. Which meant none.
The reason Artemis had been awoken was not because the curtains had failed their job; no it was because Juliet had flung them open. Artemis sat up feebly, barely awake.
"Hey." Juliet said, her features lighting up. She was wearing a sleek black headset, small and new age looking.
"Good morning, but why did you see it unsurpassable to wake me?" Artemis asked the nearly dolt teenager. "Because it's two o' clock in the afternoon." Juliet answered him. He had slept late, something very unordinary for the child genius. After his parents' accident, he had confined himself to his room mostly. Concoting new inventions that he never could have thought up. A camera operating from a contact lense. He had never really thought of a reason for why he needed it, but he had an impulse to build one. Artemis predicted an "and".
"And I'd like to have a friend over..." Juliet continued.
"Fine, just act as responsible adults, and complete your days' tasks." Artemis answered the girl with the young features, and bouncy blonde hair.
Juliet smiled a thanks and removed herself from Artemis' quarters, shutting the curtains as she did.
Juliet had returned after the accident, putting her wrestling career on hold. Actually, she didn't have a career yet. She had never even made it to try out for the wrestling team she had aspired to join. One of the men waiting for an audition as well had kept hitting on her, and she eventually got very irritated. She threw him halfway across the room in an Aikido defensive throw after he had tried to hold her hand. It had gotten her thrown out of the auditions quickly. Even though she was probably the best wrestler there.
Artemis doubted he would get back to sleep now. He rose from his bed. The silk sheets and down comforter-black and rich, deep red- were mangled from his tossing and twisting all night. Nightmares don't tend to encourage still sleep.
The teenage male looked himself over in a victorian mirror. Authentic, unlike Dr.Po's chair. His black dress shirt and slacks where wrinkled, the buttons on his dress shirt half unbuttoned, revealing a pale but toned chest. His longish hair was a bit matted and tangled, going in every which direction. He sighed, pulling off his dress shirt. He had grown quite a bit in the last few months. He was about 5'8" now. His dress slacks were a bit to short. He would have to go to buy new clothes today. That could be his days' task. New clothing that actually fit. He would go with Butler, and Juliet to Dublin. Juliet and her friend could wander through the outlets while Artemis and Butler aquired the young master a wardrobe.
Artemis picked up the headset he had egineered for Butler and himself to wear for communication. The idea had first bloomed into his head while he was searching around the house through the intercom for Juliet once. It was rather time consuming. He had given one to Juliet, Butler, and had a few spare in case of injury to one of the communication devices. He nestled the hadset onto the groove in his ear, it was already contoured to fit. "Butler?" The young master asked after flicking the headset on.
The manservant answered with a "Yes, Artemis?"
"I would like to go to Dublin today to fetch a new wardrobe, mine, it seems has become too small. Juliet is going to bring a friend, I suppose."
"Okay, sir." replied the near-giant.
It was about this time that Artemis noticed the blurriness in his vision. He blinked a few times, while walking to the basin in his restroom to wash his face and flush his eyes. It occured to him that all of the times he had pulled all-nighters in front of his computer screen or reading in dim light had taken a toll on his vision. He would need to get a pair of glasses while he was out.
Stripping completely, he threw his used clothes into the stainless steel mesh hamper in his batheroom. He turned the shower to luke-warm and entered, trying to wash away the past few months. Even though he tried, he was nearly always plagued with an infinite sadness. A sadness that drew tears from his blue eyes while he showered, and a sadness that caused him to maul his left arm. He glanced now at that arm. I held a few pale pink, unrisen scars. The kind caused my shallow wounds. The ones that would fade with time.
45 minutes later
Artemis trailed down the stairs easily, dressed freshly in an older Armani suit. It was black with slight silver pinstripes, with a deep blue dress shirt underneath. Artemis surveyed the lounge, it was peaceful. All except Juliet, who was blabbing to her friend. Artemis recognized the friend nearly immediately. It was the waitress from the night before. But, now she looked quite different. Black eyeliner, and red lipstick on her face, though it didn't make her look like a clown. It made her look...rare, like a tempting treasure. She was wearing a black satin corset, and a pair of old wonr jeans with rips nearly everywhere, underneath those a pair of black and white tights, converse all star sneakers with writing on every available space on her feet. A bag was slung over her small shoulder, hitting her at the hip, meant to be a mix between a purse and backpack, about large binder size, black decorated with random drawings in metallic silver, stars, symbols. She appeared to be a typical American teenager.
Artemis caught her gaze. Those green eyes again. The three deminsional mint-emerald green eyes. Artemis was paranoid enough to wonder if it was a coincidence or not. "..and that's Artemis." Juliet continued to her friend. The friend nodded, saying something in a voice different from Juliet's boisterous one, it was soft and calm. It was the kind of voice that could convince you to do anything. The same kind of voice Artemis' mother had owned.
"Ladies are you ready to depart?" Artemis asked the two girls. Claudia nodded, while Juliet answered with a yes.
"Butler, are you prepared?" asked the youngest, and only Fowl, into his headset.
"Yessir." Came Butlers reply. "I am ready with the Bentley."
Artemis nodded. "Very well then, I will see you soon." He said, shutting off the microphone on the headset.
Artemis pulled a headset matching Juliets' from what seemed to be nowhere, handing it to the four-foot-eleven waittress. "You may need this." He said, while she installed it onto her ear all too easily.
Artemis set off to the garage, with the two females following him. He got into the front passenger side while the two clambered into the back together.
The whole trip the girls in the back occupied themselves. Claudia sometimes pulled a CD player or a book from her bag, or talked to Juliet. Artemis noticed she was quite intelligent, or at least acted like it. He knew Juliet wasn't exactly Special Needs, but she could be a bit dense at times. This girl seemed to be mature. Artemis occupied himself with common conversation with Butler, or watching the Irish terrain go by.
Artemis stood as still as he could so the salesman could take his measurments. "I believe we already have your size here, sir. We won't have to order." The salesman spoke sheepishly. He had dealt with this particular Fowl before, and it had not been pleasant. "All the better then." Artemis snapped. "Then make haste, would you? I can't stand like this all day, my calves will cramp." The teenage Fowl was having all too much fun terrorizing the poor tailor. The salesman was quite broad, with greying hair, and an oily complexion. He thrust a set of pants, jack, and shirt at the teenage billionaire.
Artemis quickly dressed in the new suit, it fit quite well. "This one seems fine." Artemis said, adding an order of about a dozen suits, a few pairs of dress slacks and a few new shirts. "And bring me the tab would you?" He asked the flustered salesman, who did as he was told. Artemis signed off on the purchase and handed the bag filled with boxes of clothing to Butler.
It was at this time that two things happened. The girls entered the store, lauging and carrying a few bags each. The second would be that A strange man decided to pull a Beretta nine-milimeter from a middle back holster, and aim it right towards the head of Artemis Fowl the Second.
End Chapter 2-