Chapter Four

DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own AF. As much as I regret that. I can not even boast a style comparable to Eoin Colfer. But, I do own Cantata and John. Too bad I don't like those characters much.

"Hello, my fairy friend," Butler said politely to the centaur standing outside the front door. "Won't you please come in?"

"I'd be delighted," the centaur drawled. He was a tall figure, his hair dark reddish-brown, and was certainly more striking a figure than Foaly. For one, he didn't have bald spots on his hindquarters. His grace was also something that Foaly, with his four left hooves, could never imitate. "My name is John." He stepped inside.

"Do you have a special purpose here?" Butler inquired casually. His hand automatically reached for his Sig Sauer, then he drew it back. He didn't want to alarm his guest. Yet.

"Certainly I have a purpose here," John said, voice soft. "I expect you'll find it out sooner than you like." Butler glanced at him.

"Are you here to see Artemis?" he asked brusquely. The younger brother he'd never had. This centaur boded ill news for the young Fowl heir. Butler could feel it.

"How is he doing?" the centaur asked nonchalantly. "Well, I hope." Butler's hand tightened on his Sig Sauer. It was almost like this John creature knew...

"He's doing fine. Why wouldn't he be?" Butler asked sharply.

"Oh, so he hasn't told you," John said. "As we expected." Butler's eyes narrowed. He liked Foaly much better than this quietly sinister thing. Should he even show him in to Artemis, he wondered.

"Butler?" Artemis's voice crackled over the intercom. "Please bring our guest in to me."

John smiled. "You heard the man."

Butler scowled at him. "You're not going to try anything," he said to John, enunciating every syllable. "Not. A. Thing."

John cocked an eyebrow. "I wouldn't dream of it," he said airily, smirking. Butler's senses were tingling.

"This way," he growled, and pushed the centaur ahead of him, glancing up at the intercom. Artemis knew what he was doing. Butler could trust Artemis.

But then the image of Artemis crying came back.

&&&

"John, is it?" Artemis asked, lacing together his fingers. The Irish boy looked with curiosity on the centaur. "What brings you here?" They were in the office, Artemis and Holly both sitting on office chairs, holding lemonades. Artemis had offered John one, playing the good host, but John had declined, shuddering at "Mud Man food" - resulting in Holly narrowing her eyes. So he was one of those fairies.

"Oh, I'm here on a mission," John said quietly. "I'm here to exterminate Captain Short."

Artemis's eyes widened, and Holly sat bolt upright in her seat. She hadn't packed her Neutrino, for heaven's sake, why hadn't she packed -

"Oh, very funny, Mr. John," Artemis said softly. Dangerously. His blue eyes glittered.

John's own eyes narrowed. "A nice joke, indeed," he said without any trace of humor.

&&&

Belowground, Cantata rolled her eyes, watching the proceedings through John's iris-cam, filched from the LEP. Could he be any more dramatic? Just get on with it, John, she groaned inwardly. Kill the elf already. We've got business with Artemis, or have you forgotten?

&&&

"Is this room secure?" John asked Artemis.

"Yes," the young man answered tersely. "Do you have a reason for asking?"

The centaur smirked. "Well, I don't want anyone to hear our conversation except...us. You're not as smart as rumors say you are."

Holly jumped up. "Artemis's IQ is probably three times as high as the number of single hairs you've got on that fat behind of yours."

"Holly," Artemis warned her quietly. This centaur wasn't going to be messed with.

John's smirk widened. "Oh, Artemis isn't as smart as he'd like you to think, Captain. Would you like me to fill you in before you die?"

"You're a liar. What could you tell me about anything?" Holly retorted.

"Oh, I could tell you quite a few things," John sighed, looking at the ground. "For one, I could tell you that Artemis's brain is dying. And with it, him."

Holly opened her mouth to say, LIES! But then she looked at Artemis. To her shock, he had closed her eyes, but not before she saw the fear in them.

It was true.