I'm back. Many happy returns of the day to the lot of you. I have nothing to write by way of introduction today. That I can think of. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews. Keep it up.
One item of news, though, I suppose. I have officially started the story for next year. David, it'll be over two hundred pages, and I swear to write it in under a week. Even if it's not healthy.
Ahava: Love you too, Katie. Anyway, hurry up and update your own story.
aperfectattitude: I don't know. You might have, but you're one of my most faithful reviewers by far. You can catch up this weekend.
Genius: Hey, you're new. Lovely. Anyway, there will be no fairies in this story. It ruins my plot to bring them in. I think their all still mind wiped in this one. It makes better sense.
notdapunkprincess: Ah, we have someone new. I'm glad to be on your alert list, though through May 26th, I'm afraid I'll be updating everyday. Next August, however, I'll wait a week or so between updates. I'm sorry Juliet cried. It hurt, obviously.
The Blazing Blade: But they believe me! Look how many reviews I got! And I solemnly swear to write the whole thing in under a week. All two hundred plus pages. (It came from a very strange dream. But you'll hear more about that next August.)
Trouble Kelp: Heh heh. Glad you agree about Juliet. I love being right.
Disclaimer: Juliet Butler and all references to the Artemis Fowl series are in the sole possession of Eoin Colfer. I do not own anything except everything else.
Juliet inclined her head slightly. "Chance."
He turned to Justin then, with a slight frown. "Did you try to kill her? She looks like she got run over by a semi."
Justin flushed. "She…"
Chance waved him away with a shrug, and turned his attention back to Juliet. "Come. You haven't eaten breakfast yet. Then we will talk. You may be more truthful than Justin with me. We'll see."
"Perhaps." Juliet moved forwards past Justin, with a slight laugh under her breath that only he could hear.
Everyone except Chance took a small step backwards as Juliet went by, which she noted with great satisfaction. She had obviously made an impression, both in reputation, and in appearance.
After they had eaten, Juliet only a little, since her fingers were hurting worse than ever, Chance escorted Justin, several of the men, and her, into a large den, and motioned everyone to a seat. "Please, I'm curious. Explain what happened. In detail. People have been very vague lately, though everyone's attention seems to be focused on what's happening here."
Justin risked interrupting. "I believe Liam took quite a few photos, if you'd like to see them."
Chance scowled at him, but nodded. "Yes, I would. Next time wait."
Liam bounced up quickly, handing off a stack of photos that he had printed out from his cell phone. That was advantage to having a phone on him. He could document everything.
The first picture was really quite funny. It showed Juliet punching Justin in the face, and had caught it as Justin was in the act of toppling. "Well?" asked Chance.
Juliet shrugged. "He was lying through his teeth, and I knew it, but they were already coming up, and I wasn't about to just run. I pushed him over, took the motorcycle, and left."
Snickers. Even Chance had a hard time keeping his face straight. "I see. He couldn't block?"
"Not really. I think he underestimates women. Like Axel did."
Chance winced. "Yes, I think he did. I never really understood exactly what happened. Surely you must have been provoked to have injured him so badly. What did he say?"
Juliet glared at him very hard. "That would be better left unrepeated. But what he said deserved more than I did to him."
"I think I know what he said," muttered Chance. "Ah well, he got what he deserved. And the next picture? What about it?"
She was just going off the edge of the river walk over the water.
"The motorcycle was running out of gas, and they were too close. I knew they weren't going to follow me into the river, so I jumped it."
He nodded, setting it aside, and picking up the next, as she dove into the water. "And then you dove."
"Obviously."
"And then we have a picture of you out of the river that evening. You're in pretty bad shape. I assume you went through the rapids?"
"Any other great words of wisdom?"
The room looked at her. Finally, Chance shook his head. "You know, when I first saw you, I could have sworn you were the carbon copy of your brother. I've changed my mind now. There's something different about you…"
Juliet smirked. "It wouldn't have anything to do with my attitude, would it now?"
"That too," remarked Liam cheerfully. "I noticed that."
Everyone glared at him. "Liam?"
"What?"
"Shut. Up!"
Juliet ignored it, and glanced at Chance out of the corner of her eye. "Right. I didn't make the helicopter. My injuries slowed me down. Stories are over. What are you going to do with me?"
"A bit blunt, aren't you?"
"I have a right to be."
"And what right is that?" Chance stood, handing the photos back to Liam with a challenging shrug in Juliet's direction.
"The right I gave myself. I don't advise you to argue with it either. People who do, generally end up alongside Axel. That's what he did, by the way. Challenged one of my fundamental rights. I find it is best to be blunt about things. It gets you places faster."
"Very well," said Chance. "I shall be blunt too, then. That's not for you to know. Yet."
"Then I would appreciate some sleep."
"I'm sure Justin can show you your room." Chance ignored the look of protest from Justin, and sat back down. "You will of course, cooperate with us, and stay in the room provided for you. Any attempts to escape will result in punishment."
"Why?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Juliet scowled at him reprovingly. "It's only natural for me to try to escape. Would you punish me for needing water to live?"
"It's only natural for me to punish you for escaping. I'm sure you would do the same." Chance nodded to Justin, and leaned back.
Justin took a hold of her neck, and pulled her out the door. "Come on, and please behave yourself. I'm tired, and I don't feel like fighting with you. Not now, okay?"
Juliet did not argue. She did not feel like it either. Right now, all she cared about was bed.
The room was small, and square, and definitely concrete, but the bed was soft, and had plenty of pillows and blankets. It took up most of the room, leaving only a few feet to walk up and down, and enough for the door of the bathroom to open nicely.
"Don't call for anything unless you need it. Food will be brought to you at regular hours. Our doctor will bring you a pain reliever in a bit. Don't try to get out."
"Don't worry," yawned Juliet. "I'll get at least a few days of sleep before trying."
"Whatever."
He slammed the door especially hard on the way, but Juliet didn't notice, because she was already asleep, sprawled across the bed with her arms in the pillows.
Two hours later, she was poked awake by a small, and mousy kind of man, who looked as though he thought she would eat him. "I'm sorry to wake you up— I have some pain… reliever, if it would help. I didn't know… perhaps you would sleep better? No. Maybe not. I just thought I'd try and see. I'm very sorry for waking you up!"
Juliet opened her mouth, and took it silently, watching him the while. "You're not one of them, are you? Just the doctor."
"Yes, that's right. Just the doctor."
She rolled over on her back, watching him slide a needle under her skin. "That is to stop the pain, and not anything else, isn't it?"
"Just— just the pain," he stammered.
"Well thanks. Now I think I'd better get a little more sleep. If you don't mind. I'm very tired."
"Yes, yes, of course. I'm sorry."
Juliet waved him away, and dropped her head back into the pillows, shutting her eyes again. The poor man was past help. Why bother? Besides, she was very tired.
Chance finally picked up his cell phone, as it rang for the third time. "Hello?"
"My sister. What did you do with her?" There was no mistaking the voice. It boomed out of the speakers, filling the room.
Quickly, Chance shut them off, motioning the startled men out. "Who gave you this number?"
"That is not for you to know."
He knew it would be no use pressing the point, so Chance shut his mouth, and waited for Butler to go on. This could get interesting. Very interesting. Give it a few minutes. It would get there.
"My sister."
"What about her?"
"How is she? The last time I talked to her, she was about to collapse! You did give her some kind of medical attention, didn't you?"
Chance didn't answer. He was thinking.
"Didn't you?" The fury built in his voice, threatening to spill over into an explosion.
"What? Oh. Of course! She is, after all, family."
You could almost hear Butler blinking on the other end. Of course, she wasn't family quite yet, but Chance intended to make her such. So they would have legitimate claims on both the Butler, and the Butlers themselves. Juliet was important to them.
What came out, when Butler opened his mouth, was not worth writing down on paper, as it would have disappeared in a heap of ashes soon afterwards. In fact, most persons wouldn't have been capable of listening without burning their ears off the sides of their heads.
"I'm sure you'll be happy to cooperate with us, concerning this matter. Let me assure you she's being treated well, and receiving all the medical attention she needs."
On the other end, Butler said one more naughty word, and hung up. Chance smiled. It wasn't everyday, after all, that one got to rile the great Butler.
But enough of the victory boasting. He had to make his claims true. People would be talking in just a few minutes. He would have to assign Juliet to one of his men.
And we all know who it is, don't we? When you write me, tell me how you think they should fall in love. I don't mind forced marriages, but only if they fall in love later. Otherwise, I simply cannot stand them. I think they're a horrible thing to do to people. I mean, you're stuck with that person for life. If you don't love them, you might as well have a heart attack right now.
Anyway, like always, write me, review, give me ideas… blah, blah, blah. I will update Monday.
Tah tah for now!