Chapter 5: Make 'em Cry
Holly waited patiently in Artemis' study with Juliet as Artemis and Minerva stepped over the threshold. Minerva was covered in something Holly could only hope (for the sake of the girl) was mud. But the smell of it told her otherwise. She couldn't help it, but a small smile crept across her lips.
Artemis forced Minerva into the closest chair. He stepped back and flicked on a light that he shoved in Minerva's face. It was as though he was a cop trying to scare the pants off a perp during an interrogation. It was a proud moment.
"Now, care to tell us what exactly you were thinking?" Minerva sunk down in her chair as a blush crept up her cheeks, at least it looked like there was a blush, Holly couldn't see much through the mud. "Well?"
Minerva sighed dramatically. "I was looking for Butler." Holly felt a pang in her heart at the mention of Butler. The guilt still festered inside of her for his death. It killed her, but she knew Butler's death was her fault. "I heard from someone online that I could find a way to save Butler from the afterlife. So I um."
"Went," Artemis was growing angry. But he still managed to appear calm. That was probably more scary than if he just exploded though. "Minerva, Butler is gone, chasing after fairy tales isn't going to bring him back!" Now it was Minerva's turn to get angry.
She jumped up off her seat, fuming, but still laughing. It was a chilly sound, to be sure. "What the hell do you call her?" She pointed at Holly. "You think most people will believe in her? But you did! Unlike you, I'm not so willing to accept Butler's death!" Artemis raised his hand as if ready to slap her. Only then did Holly interfere.
"Artemis!"she jumped to her feet, grabbed the mud boy around his wrist and shoved him into the corner. "I don't ever want to see you raise your hand to a girl again Mud Boy." That was what finally drove Artemis over the edge.
"Artemis! My name is Artemis! It isn't Mud Boy, Fowl, or anything else anyone wants to call me! I always call you Holly, but you can't show me the same courtesy!" Holly was taken aback. Artemis never spoke to her like that. "And if you can't show me some respect, then get out of my home!"
"Artemis." Juliet spoke so quietly, no one really heard her. "Artemis." She spoke louder this time. Finally Artemis was quiet. "I miss him too." Her eyes glistened, and a single tear ran down her cheek. Artemis' eyes had the same effect in them. Juliet jumped up from her seat and ran to her friend. She hugged him close, neither allowing themselves to cry. Minerva quietly stood up.
"I'm sorry, Artemis," she was crying freely. "But I miss him so much. I just had to try." Artemis put his hand up to stop her. He turned away from Juliet's fuzzy covered shoulder.
"I know." That was all he had to say. It was the only apology Minerva was going to get. Artemis pulled away from the younger Butler. She was so similar to Butler, but so much younger. Artemis never asked, but he always wondered if Juliet was really Butler's daughter. He always protected Juliet like a father would protect a child. He insisted that she live in Fowl Manor with them. That and Butler and Juliet's father died ten months before Juliet's birth. But he supposed that it was still possible that Juliet was his daughter. Just unlikely.
"Minerva," Holly interjected. "Why don't you go and clean up. We'll talk further in the morning." Minerva nodded. She smiled at Artemis before turning to leave. Artemis stopped her.
"Minerva," she turned back to face the young genius. "This conversation, never occurred." Minerva smiled. She was expecting to hear him tell her that he had a reputation to protect. He couldn't be seen in an emotional hug with his deceased bodyguard's sister. People would think he was out of his character.
"What conversation?" She turned around and left the room. Juliet couldn't help but think how great of an exit that young girl just made. Perfect movie style leave.
"Juliet?" Holly broke through Juliet's thoughts. "I think you should go to bed too," it was only then that Juliet noticed the anger in Holly's voice. She didn't want to be in the room to listen to it."
"You're right, suddenly I feel really tired." She ran out of the room as fast as her legs would carry her.
When the door shut behind her, Holly confronted Artemis. He held himself like a confident older man. Holly was impressed, even though she was angry. She walked closer to him till she was only a few inches away from him. "I don't ever want to hear you talk to me like that again, Mud Boy." She was quiet, but ever syllable oozed with malice. Artemis pushed into her.
"It's Artemis. I may have regained my composure, but that doesn't mean I've changed my mind. You are a guest in my house, and while I respect you, and your friendship, I still stand by my previous statement. If I was really your friend, you wouldn't insult me like that." He smiled a disgusting grin. "I'm not afraid of you Holly. You can hit me, or shoot me with your Neutrino. I don't care anymore." He finally backed off. Artemis may not be afraid of Holly, but Holly was certainly afraid of Artemis, at least at this moment.
He hadn't been the same since Butler's death. No one was. But Artemis' shift was extreme. All of the hard work she'd done to reform him was buried with Butler. Butler was the one who really helped Artemis change. He was one of his only friends. Butler was probably the only person Artemis ever truly trusted, no matter what.
Now, Artemis didn't trust anyone.
The silence was broken when a small pang echoed through the room. It sounded like it came from one of the computers. Holly searched around the several monitors till she found one that was still on. A small box separated into two rectangles and a few little pictures at the bottom. The label read "Instant Message." The top larger rectangle already had wording in it.
"Who put instant messaging on my computer?!" Holly took a step back to let Artemis in. She was fearful of the information as well. Artemis kept information regarding the People on those computers. If there was Instant Messaging, then the computer was linked to a modem. And vulnerable to any hacker in the world.
The People wouldn't be safe.
"This computer doesn't have a modem, it doesn't mean I don't have some form of internet, Holly. Don't worry, you're protected." She let out a sigh of relief. Though she didn't know how Artemis did it. But, that's why he was the brain, and she was just the brawn. "Hmm," Holly's fear grew back inside her gut. "That's interesting. Holly, come look at what this person said."
Holly moved closer to the computer. Artemis was right, it was interesting.