CHAPTER 5: MARKING THE PATH
STILL AT LEP FORTRESS
Foaly had went back to his office and was watching the conversation on his spy cam. He had known right then what Hollies was thinking. He knew that Hollies loved, not had a crush on, but loved, Artemis Fowl the 2nd. She couldn't deny to Foaly even if she tried. He knew. Foaly laughed at the pairing to himself. Amusement was the only word he could think of to describe the relationship.
Hollies couldn't help being attracted to Artemis. There was something about him that she sensed that was sweet and caring. And his formal look made him look older and more mature than any of the other boys she'd ever had dated. She couldn't help but stare at him.
Artemis had been clueless until this point. He finally realized what it was. This girl was the girl from his dream, the girl he loved. She was really pretty. Really pretty. Now he had his chance to make his move. A mission, together. He grinned to himself.
Butler peered through the window and found Artemis and Hollies staring at each other. 'Yes! Go Artemis! It's about time!' Butler told himself.
"Well, Commander, I must be off. Papers to deal with and missions to go over with Foaly. Good day, Commander, Mr. Fowl." And she was out. Artemis leaned over and put his face in his palms. Stress was around every corner lately and now this. He was really attracted to her but forced Hollies to the back of his mind as he walked out the front door.
" Well, Holly, I must say that I… where'd she go, Butler?" Artemis walked out the door to find Butler and Mulch alone, Mulch sleeping.
" She went with her friend, Hollies. She seemed petty nice, excluding the whole horsy boy thing." Artemis chuckled.
" Did Holly say what we were supposed to do?" questioned Artemis.
" No," replied Butler, "She just left."
" Then we shall go find her!" declared Artemis.
As many times as Artemis had been to LEP, he did not know his way around. The names on the doors were Gnommish, but thank goodness that he could read it. Hollies Carris, Hollies Carris, he kept telling himself, but still no luck.
" She sure is pretty, isn't she?" Butler asked, grinning to himself.
" Who, Butler?" Artemis asked, trying to sound puzzled.
" Hollies," he replied.
" Butler, please! Have you gone mad?" Artemis did not want anyone to know.
" Alright," Butler said, but he knew better.
About five minutes later they arrived at a door with the name 'Captain Hollies Carries T.A.S.' But instead of going in, they listened through the door.
" Hollies, how have you been? Its been so long, you know," said, evidentially, Holly.
" Oh, you know, I've been jolly- right fantastic ever since I got this job. I love it. The over- ground trips and stuff. But I'm even happier since you're here."
" Thanks. How're you and Jacobb doing?" asked Holly.
" Not so great. I broke up with him, because… well… he was hitting me and stuff so… yeah…," replied Hollies, sounding very quiet.
Artemis suddenly felt a sudden urge of rage at Jacobb, whoever he was. He tried to silently shake off the feeling, but couldn't.
" Hitting you!?!?!" shouted Holly in disbelief.
" Yes, but he is in Russia right now trying to deal with the close encounter problems. I was so happy when he left. But I really don't want to talk about him. We really should get surveillance scans and possible location charts from Foaly," replied Hollies, trying to sound calm. " Oh, ok… sure."
Artemis had found his moment to come in. He, at that moment, casually walked into the room.
" Oh, hello Artemis. What took you so long?" Holly asked.
" The fact that you left me stranded, and you ask why it took so long?" Artemis sounded hysterical. Holly and Hollies giggled.
Holly raised her middle and index finger and said, " I swear I will never do it again," and then laughed some more.
" Ha, ha," said Artemis sarcastically.
"Let's go," Hollies said after a couple of minutes of light conversation.
" Hold up one moment," replied Artemis, still sitting in his chair.
" Yes?" said Hollies. " Well, I've got a question. How come if you are a fairy, then you are full size human?"
" Here we go," interrupted Holly.
" Well if you must know. My mother was a full blood fairy. And also a over ground fairy, located at very few locations. She one day met my father, a human, and fell in love with him. He believed she was a midget. They got married and had me. But right before my birth my mother told my father of how she was a fairy. He left her pregnant. When she had me, she knew I was fairy, but I had some… special extra perks than normal fairies. My mother lost her powers, but I didn't, for the simple reason because I am both," said Hollies quickly. " Now may we go?"
" Yes," replied Artemis, who got up out of his chair and followed them out the door.
" Foaly, any possible locations yet?" asked Butler as they walked through the automatic door.
" Yes, and some very good ones, I might add," replied Foaly with his normal 'full-of-it' voice.
" Ohhh, really?" said Holly, pretending to be interested.
" Ha, ha," mocked Foaly. " Hollies come here. Do you remember a few months ago we took in the Gallieya Stone to run 'tests' on it?"
" Yes," said Hollies.
" Well, we did more than just tests. We put an average locating device in it, a prototype. One of my own inventions. It seems to be working pretty well, too, because we've got a trail for the stone."
" That's great," said Mulch sleepily, who had just walked in the door.
" Well, when do we leave?" asked Hollies.
" Right now," said Foaly.