Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N It's been such a long time since I updated this story. Now that school's out I should have more time to update, meaning more chapters for you readers! Yay! Maybe this time I'll remember to update, (smiles sheepishly). Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new chapter! Review when you're done!
The Memories of Holly Short: Chapter 4
Holly's eyes fluttered open as she strained to take in what was around her. What she found shocked her. She did not expect to be in her apartment with the notorious Artemis Fowl standing over her, looking at her expectantly.
Holly looked about the room, attempting to remember why she was in her apartment in the first place. She looked down and saw her blood seeping into the beautiful, hand-made couch. Holly immediately saw red.
Artemis knew this would happen. He knew she would get angry at the sight of her lovely couch being ruined and stained by her blood. Well she could just blame Commander Root for telling him to put her there. After all, it wasn't like that was his decision. No sir. Despite this logic, Artemis turned around quietly in an attempt to escape. He knew the Captain's rage could be uncontrollable at times and he didn't want to be on the firing end of it.
"Fowl," Holly started in a dangerously low voice. "I know that you're a smart mud-boy. Can you tell me what in Fronds name possessed you to put my bleeding self onto this priceless, CLEAN couch?"
Artemis could tell that his day was about to take a turn for the worse. He had never heard Holly talk in such a quiet, calm voice before. "Commander Root told me to put you there. Blame him for the destruction of your home, not me."
"And do you always do what your told to do by Commander Root, Fowl?"
Uh-oh. This wasn't going to be ending in a way that would be in anyway beneficial to Artemis. So, he did what he did best. He changed the subject.
"Could you explain some of these interesting photographs to me?"
Holly's eye twitched in annoyance. She glared at him and screamed, "GET ME OFF OF THIS COUCH, FOWL!" Artemis looked around, hoping that someone was still in the room to do this task for him. Alas, there was no one left. He would just have to do it on his own.
"And where would you like to be moved to? The equally cream colored chair, or the other cream colored chair?" Holly glared at him. How dare he be so, so, impudent. Did he not know how priceless these pieces of furniture were? He surely could have seen their beauty before he so carelessly placed her BLOODY body onto it. Holly could feel her anger being prepared to be unleashed.
"I really don't see the point in moving you. The couch has already been ruined. Why move you to another article of furniture? Then your entire set would be ruined. And that would just be a waste of furniture, don't you agree, Captain?" Artemis said suavely. Holly began to mumble in gnomish. Artemis could tell that the words she was emitting were less than friendly and probably involved a great deal of aggression and cursing.
Holly was, for the lack of a better word, pissed. This couch was a priceless family heirloom and Fowl was treating it as if it were some worthless piece of filth. However, as much as Holly dislike to admit it, Artemis was correct. As usual, much to her displeasure. But this logic did not stop her from standing up and attempting to walk to another room. And when I say attempting, I mean she began to fall as soon as she stood up. After all, she had had a rather large troll tusk rammed into her leg naught but hours ago. She quickly maneuvered herself so that she fell onto the coffee table.
Artemis was shocked. He couldn't believe that Holly would try something so incredibly stupid. This must be how someone with an average learning capacity in their brain thinks, Artemis mused. He, being a genius, had never tried to pull a stunt so extraordinarily dim-witted due to his extreme IQ and brain functions. His logic was impeccable. Obviously, Holly's was not.
Holly was now breathing heavily and clutching her leg in pain. Again, who could blame her? Her face was contorted in pain for the second time today. She had never felt so much pain. Save for the day she tried to ski off her roof, but that's a story for another day. It felt like her leg was on fire and her chest as well. She had no recollection of what had occurred hours ago.
Artemis, seeming to have almost read her mind, explained, "You were shot many times in the chest by goblins and a troll had it's tusk firmly embedded in your leg." Holly nodded in understanding. The story seemed to check out with her as she lay down onto the coffee table. She was still breathing heavily, as though that short use of energy had drained her.
"Fowl! You are supposed to be watching her. Making sure that she doesn't do anything too strenuous! How could you go and let her do something like that? I sure hope that you never have a chance to reproduce. I could only imagine how you would treat a baby!" Foaly scolded. Artemis deduced that Foaly must have had some sort of system in Holly's apartment that allowed him to touch base with Holly whenever need be. This time it was to reprimand Artemis.
"Foaly, I'm fine. I don't need Fowl to baby-sit me. I can handle it myself. Besides, I'm feeling better already." As if to prove this, Holly tried to move and only managed to put herself into more pain. She doubled over in pain and started gasping for breath.
"Fowl! This is a part of your job. Making sure she doesn't move around! Don't just stand there, DO SOMETHING!" Foaly raged.
"And what do you propose that I should do, Foaly. There is nothing that can be done to keep her from moving, save strapping her down to the table. And that would be highly unethical in my opinion. She obviously doesn't want any help. And if she is not willing to accept my help, then I do believe it is time for me to take my leave and return to my home. I am quite busy and I have more important things to take care of, business-wise, then sitting around here and watching Captain Short be helpless." Artemis declared.
"FOWL! YOU AGREED TO THESE ARANGEMENTS! YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE IT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DO YOUR JOB! AND THAT'S FINAL!" Foaly screamed. The communication link was terminated and there was no more sound coming from where ever Foaly was speaking from. An awkward silence fell over the room. The only sound that could be heard was Captain Short's labored breathing.
For one of the first times in Artemis' life, he felt uneasy and uncomfortable. All he wanted to do at the moment was to leave the apartment and go back to his manor and forget that any of this ever happened. However, Root had said that his next punishment would be death. With Butler not here, that threat could easily be put into affect and no one would be the wiser or able to complain, not that anyone in Haven would. Well, he would just have to outsmart Commander Root and his cronies. How hard could it be? I mean, after all, it wasn't like Root was a genius; his intellect could in no way compare with his own. Then again, with Foaly on Root's side, this task would prove to be somewhat difficult.
With a plan of escape formulating in his mind, Artemis began to feel a pang of guilt come over him. It didn't seem fair to just leave Captain Short to fend for herself while she was injured. After all, she had saved him and his companions on a number of occasions. He felt like he owed her something. Then again, Artemis Fowl doesn't do a favor for someone without being paid in full for his actions. Looking around the room, Artemis began to figure out a payment for his services. Like Holly said, these furniture pieces were priceless heirlooms. In other words, Holly had a rich relative out there someone. A relative that obviously loved Holly very much to give her such priceless treasures. For his good deed, this relative may feel the need to repay Artemis. This very, very rich relative of Holly's.
Artemis smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad summer after all. He would get payment in full for his services, and, if he played his cards right, get an explanation as to some of those rather interesting pictures.
A/N Hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you thought!
