A/N: OK, here's my next chapter. Hope ya like it!
Chapter 9: Consequences
Althuna took another step forward with an evil gleam in her eyes. The sparks began to become more erratic and out of control as they danced along and around her fingers, weaving patterns in their wake. She took another step as she aimed her arms at the three in front of her, ready to fire the sparks and kill all three. Unfortunately for her, she didn't get the chance because at that moment, Holly acted. She took a step forward and stood in front of Artemis and Foaly, shielding them from the sparks. When Holly next spoke, her voice was layered with the mesmer but Althuna fought it.
'Stop!'
'No!' Althuna took another step forward.
'I said stop! Don't make me kick your ass 'cos I will if I have to.'
Holly could see it in Althuna's eyes. She was fighting it and she was winning. Holly turned quickly and pushed Artemis and Foaly back out of the way. Then she turned again to Althuna who was still fighting the spell. Before Holly even had another chance to say a word, Althuna had thrown the spell off completely and was moving towards Holly again. At that moment, the soldier in Holly took over. Butler was on the floor and Artemis and Foaly were pretty much useless in a fight so it was up to her. Holly reacted before Althuna could and she kicked the girl in the stomach. Holly danced around, landing a punch to the girls face. Next she tried to punch her again but the girl caught her hand at the wrist and kicked Holly full force in the face. Something cracked, and when Althuna pulled her foot away, there was blood pouring down the elf's face but the flow was soon stemmed as blue sparks of magic healed her wound. It went on like that for a while, when Holly got hurt, blue sparks fixed the wounds and when Althuna got hurt, red sparks fixed her wounds.
While this was going on, Artemis and Foaly were watching dumbfounded while the two girls beat the crap out of each other. They both heard the occasional, 'D'Arvit' leave both of the girls mouths and a couple of other swear words in other languages, which, unfortunately for him, knew. At one particular swear word that was very rude, Artemis held his hands over his ears for a minute until the words stopped. Soon, both were disrupted by their thoughts when Holly head-butted Althuna and dropkicked her to the floor. The girl was left moaning on the floor until, after he had regained consciousness, Butler came over and pinched the nerve cluster at the back of the girls neck and she ceased her moving. Artemis and Foaly then decided it was safe enough to come over then.
'Well done, Holly,' said Artemis as he clapped his hands to her.
She glared at him. 'You could have at least helped.' She then rubbed the back of her neck and wiped some of the blood of her face. 'Man, that girl's got a mean kick.'
'Sorry to break this up but shouldn't we do this before she wakes up again and another fight happens?' said Butler. The others nodded and Foaly clip clopped over to the unconscious girl. Foaly pulled the handcuffs out of the bag he was carrying and put them on the girl. They locked in place with a click. Just then, Artemis thought of something he hadn't before. He turned to Foaly.
'Foaly, have you ever heard of the Ebony Key?'
'Yes, why?'
'It just, this girl has been looking for it. She wants to use it.'
Foaly glanced up from what he was doing to look at the pale youth. 'Really?'
'Yes. Do you know where it is?'
'I do but I'll tell you later so missy here doesn't hear.' Artemis nodded and Foaly turned back to his work. A moment later he stood up and pulled the demon warlock book from his bag. 'Fowl, Butler, you both know how to read Gnommish, don't you?'
'Of course,' Artemis said, the typical arrogance showing through once again.
'OK, here's what we do. We stand in a square around the girl and chant the words. Just copy what I do. Once we're all saying it, we say it four times and then a red light should come out of the girl. I have a jar here to catch it in,' Foaly explained.
'That's it?' said Holly unconvinced.
'Yep. We ready?' Everyone nodded so he started to chant the words in Gnommish. Artemis paid particular attention so he could get the words perfect. After a few moments of listening to Holly and Foaly, himself and Butler joined in the chant. As they all said the words, a red light shone out from the girl. Soon the light became brighter until a red fog was settling around. After they had chanted the verse four times, they stopped and the light and fog left the girl completely. Foaly held the jar out to catch it but instead of it going in the jar, it aimed itself at Artemis. The boy was thrown backwards as the red light covered him and then dissipated. Everyone rushed over to him to see if he was all right. He sat up and looked a little dazed.
'Artemis, are you all right?' Butler asked.
'I… I think so.' As soon as he had said those words though, there was a crackle and the red sparks that had so recently danced along Althuna's fingers, now danced along his. After a moment of staring at the sparks, Foaly spoke.
'That's not good.'
'Well-done, Mr stator of the obvious. Of course it's not good,' said Holly, her usual sarcastic self. At that moment though, no body was paying attention because Artemis fainted, falling into a world of darkness, away from the comforting voices of his friends.
A/N: There we go, that's chapter nine. Hope ya liked it. Will update soon, promise!