Chapter 6: War of the Artemis's

Alright this is the 6th chapter and I hope you all liek it. As I am sure you have all noticed by now, I have terrible spelling and grammer. I did reread this chapter though so hopefully this one is better. Thanks for reading and plz review. I lurv reviews.

Artemis had just gotten dressed when Zinnia walked into his room; returning his courtesy of not knocking.

"So what did you want to ask me?" she said looking at him innocently.

She had on a sky blue spaghetti strap shirt today and a blue jean skirt.

"Tell me the truth and all of it or I won't go to Atlantis," Artemis said it with more harshness than he had intended but if that's what it took, then that is what he would do. He refused to play a fool.

She started talking instantly telling him almost word for word what he had read. She looked scared like the thought of him not coming had nearly killed her. Once she stopped talking, she stood, staring at Artemis, waiting for his reply.

"And that's it?"

"Yeah."

"What about the war? How come there wasn't anything about it?"

"We have tried to be as discreet as possible and it did only start up a little while back. A few days, maybe a week. We came to Holly as soon as the problems started."

He still didn't believe her, but he just couldn't decide if she was lying or not. She didn't have that tell-trait. The one thing that a person did without realizing it when they were lying.

"I'm still not sure whether or not I should believe you and I am really unsure about whether I should even go."

Zinnia felt her heart drop. Don't say that was all she could think. You're my only hope. The sudden sense of hopelessness that washed over her like a rivers current, almost forced her to her knees. She thought she would faint and if her lie hadn't depended on her being kept together she would have. She would have fallen to her knees begging, begging for him to come. Pleading and promising anything, if only he would help her.

She felt ashamed. The fact that she was lying to him hurt her. The fact that what she was going to have to ask of him was definately more than he was ready for, filled her with so much guilt that the very weight if that feeling alone could have pulled her to the floor.

But she stood straight and chased her thoughts out of her head. Trying to concentrate on how she could make him want to go to Atlantis with her.

"Do you have a mall here?" she asked in an overly happy voice.

He looked at her puzzled. "Yes, we do."

"I have never been to a mall before. I've heard that they are great though. I have friends who have gone. They loved it," she sighed and sat down on his bed. She hoped the bait worked and that she had managed to get him off the subject.

"In my opinion, it really isn't all that great, but I would dare to assume that all girls are like that when it comes to shopping. I know how my mother loves it and Juliet even. Butler usually gets my cloths for me."

"Well then," she began as she looked curiously around his room, "what do you do for fun?"

His expression was blank and for a moment she thought he was going to laugh in her face, but he evidently decided better of it and regained his rigid composer.

"I haven't really had time for "fun". My life has been one hurtle after another and that is the way I like it. I like to keep myself busy."

"Oh…well I though I might go swimming. Do you want to go?"

"No, not really."

"Well would you show me where it is?"

He rolled his eyes. "I guess," he grumbled.

"Great…just let me…go and get ready."

Artemis sat in his room and waited for Zinnia to come back from her room. Swimming honestly. He hadn't been swimming in…wow…when was the last time he had been swimming…

Maybe he should go. He had been meaning to get into shape. Why not start with a few laps around the pool?

Alright, he decided, to the pool it is. He got up and miraculously found a pair of swimming trunks that fit. He went to his bathroom and put them on. Then he turned and looked at himself in the mirror.

You are one pale person Artemis Fowl, he though to himself. Well at least I'm not fat. He chuckled to himself, when had he started caring? He felt the tug of two people pulling at his insides at that moment.

One was a genius dressed in a black suit and a stone look on his face; the other was a more casual, laid-back version of the same person. They both had the same look in their eyes though. Neither one of them was ready to lose control. He closed his eyes and did some of the breathing exercises that Butler had made him so accustomed to. Where was Butler anyways? Artemis hadn't seen him all morning. Hard to tell. He had been a bit sneaky in the past few days. More so than usual.

Artemis heard his door open, again without a knock. Good thing I changed in the bathroom. He walked into his room and had expected to find Zinnia but instead he found Butler sitting quietly at his computer desk. The large man looked extremely nervous.

"Artemis, we need to talk."

Artemis felt something like a rock hit the bottom of his stomach. Butler never acted like this. Something had to be wrong. Horribly wrong.

"What about?"

"It's Juliet. She is….missing. I have been racking my brain all morning trying to figure out what to do. I have to try and find her Artemis you know that, but I don't want to put you into danger too. Then again though I can't just leave you alone. Especially if you want to go to Atlantis."

Butler looked at Artemis teary eyed. A thing that never happened. Artemis knew how much Juliet meant to him. She was all he had.

"You need to go find her and frankly I am rather upset that you haven't left yet. As for me, I will be fine by myself. I won't be going to Atlantis. Well…at least not unless you're here. And the manor is safe." Artemis gave his friend a reassuring smile. "Have you told my father yet?"

"He is next on the list," there was a long pause before he spoke again. "I really don't like this Artemis….leaving you, but I need to find Juliet by myself. The only reason she could have been kidnapped is if someone is trying to get to me and I really don't want to put your life on the line too….Just promise you won't leave the manor."

"I promise."

Butler got out of the chair and gave Artemis a grateful pat on the back. Then he was out the door and onto save his sister.

No sooner than Butler was out the door, Zinnias smiling face was in front of him.

"Changed your mind huh?"

Bewildered he just stared at her. Then he remembered the swimming trunks he was wearing and his last minute decision to "get in shape".

"Yes, I did."

He looked at his swim trunks for the longest time. Completely, more than completely aware of Zinnias eyes one him. Studying his every breath. She walked over to him and lifted up his chin.

"Sad really isn't a good look for you," she cooed at him in a sweet and hypnotic voice. A voice he would have, if he hadn't known better, sworn was laced with the mesmer. "I like you better when you're being arrogant."

He couldn't help but smile at those big blue eyes that were piercing him like daggers. She turned away and walked to the door.

"Are you coming?" she asked tauntingly over her shoulder.

"Why are you afraid to go by yourself?"

"That's better."

Artemis lead the way down to the pool and with every step he felt himself being pulled more towards the casual genius. Then the realization finally hit him; since when did being a genius mean he couldn't have a life. Well…taken into consideration up until know that is what it had meant, but not anymore, he thought as he walked over to the table beside the pool.

How was it that he had been so smart for the past 16 years and still over looked so many important lessons? Butler had been right. Life was unavoidable.