Chapter 7

Shiinmaru-dono: Heeeeeey! Six chapters and we're still going strong! #punches air# We need to know if we should have Rei rape Artemis; so review with your vote!!! Why is it that only one reader reviewed with a vote for one of the epilogue choices? I'm so sad now! TT.TT Tell us what you want and give us CC (no flames, mind you). #cracks whip, "Do the disclaimer, slave!")

Sho-dono: #Ignores Shiinmaru-dono completely#

Shiinmaru-dono: I'll deal with you tomorrow, Sho-dono. On with the fic!

Butler looked in his rearview mirror; he could not help feel greater unease towards Liam. Artemis was curled up in Liam's lap and Liam was holding Artemis possessively. This could only turn into a disaster, it always did. Why did Artemis have to torture him so? Butler sighed as he finally pulled into the drive way of the house he had rented for the period until Artemis deemed it time to go home. Now to wake them up. Butler was torn; he could rip open the rear door and tossing Liam into the nearby pond or blare the car horn.

Decisions, decisions; which should I choose? Blaring the horn would wake Artemis and give him an even worse migraine and throwing Liam into the pond would be most satisfying…Throwing Liam into the pond it is.

With his mind made up, Butler exited the driver's seat and opened the rear door. Butler carefully lifted Artemis off of Liam and placed him on seat next to Liam. Butler grabbed Liam and just as he was about to throw him into the pond, Liam woke up and countered the throw. Liam twisted his body and knocked Butler off balance, then grabbed Butler's arm and threw him into pond instead.

Ker-plunk!

Splash!

A thoroughly soaked Butler trudged out of the pond and sent a "death glare" in Liam's direction. Liam was laughing like there was no tomorrow as he carried Artemis up to the house. That brat is dead! Thought Butler as he followed the laughing teen up to the door and unlocked it. "Artemis's room is upstairs" he growled, still soaked.

"Thank you, Butler," Liam said feigning politeness, "now if you were to be so kind as to bring me some Chai tea and strawberry pocky that would be lovely."

A vein was pulsing in Butler's forehead as he watched Liam walk away, but his hating was interrupted by the phone ringing in the kitchen.

"Hello. This is the Fowl residence, who is calling?" the standard reply rolling off Butler's tongue.

"My name is Mother Alanna; the school told me that Liam left with Artemis Fowl. Is he there?" Alanna's melodious voice floated from the phone.

"Liam's here," Butler growled, his hatred rekindled at Liam's name.

Mother Alanna chuckled, "He threw you into something, didn't he?"
"How'd you guess?" Butler was somewhat mollified by Mother Alanna's good humor.

"Everybody growls like that when Liam throws them into one thing or another; you aren't the first nor will you be the last that Liam throws over his hip or shoulder," Mother Alanna replied, fully mollifying Butler with her words.

"Oh," was Butlers only response.

"Now if I could please speak with Liam it would be most appreciated," Mother Alanna continued, "it is a rather important matter."

"Very well," Butler replied, "Please hold for a moment." He placed the phone down on the table and strolled upstairs to Artemis's room and, without knocking, opened the door… to a rather odd sight; Liam was on the floor in a chalk drawn pentacle, he had several candles lit and was grind several herbs in a bowl. Butler noticed for the first time that Liam was wearing a pentacle around his neck. Butler then realized that Liam was chanting something softly.

"…Goddess bless this so it may null the pain within whoever consumes it. Blessed be." The candles went out as the last word ended; Liam poured water into his mixture and erased the chalk circle. He walked towards Artemis' bed and lifted Artemis' head up. Liam put the glass to Artemis' lips and tilted it upwards. Artemis drank the mixture and the grimace of pain on his face left. "Sleep well, Moons, and may your dreams be blissful," Liam said as he traced the ruin for protection on Artemis' forehead.

Butler cleared his throat to get Liam's attention, "Mother Alanna is on the phone and needs to talk to you." Butler, for the life of him, could not figure out why he didn't stop Liam from feeding Artemis that potion. "She says it's important."

"Thank you. Would you please take me to the phone?" Liam's voice was soft and sounded tired.

"Sure," Butler didn't have it in him to do anything petty towards the blind, exhausted looking boy in front of him, "this way."

When Butler led Liam to the phone and handed it to him the conversation that ensued between the boy and the nun was more than a little odd. For one, they were talking about some sort of ritual in a forest of some sort and something else that Butler couldn't make out. Once Liam had hung up the phone he announced, "Hey, I'm gonna go home ok? Habit needs help minding the munchkins," Liam then turned and walked towards the door and called over his shoulder, "When Artemis wakes up tell him I went home and that he should stay home tomorrow. If I don't find at school I'll come by with his homework and something nice."

"'Nice'?" Butler was officially worried.

"Yeah, a snack; I do know how to cook," Liam was smirking, "Do you know how to cook, Butler?"

This is war now, Liam. "Yes, I know how to cook," Butler was gritting his teeth.

"Bye now!" Liam walked out the door, a grin still in place upon his face.

Butler walked over to the nearest wall and started banging his head against it. I will get that boy if it is the last thing I do.

THUMP!

"Butler!" Artemis cried from the bedroom.

Shit! I forgot about Artemis! If Liam's "potion" did anything to hurt Artemis, I'll…

"BUTLER!" Artemis cried again.

Butler ran up the stairs, three at a time. By now, Butler was beyond frantic, he was worried shitless. Butler would have kicked Artemis' bedroom door down if it wasn't open. When he burst into the room it took him a few seconds to comprehend what was happening. Artemis was lying on the floor, upside-down, tangled by a bunch of bed sheets. Butler stared at the scene for a minute then let out a relieved laugh. And here I was thinking that he was in trouble.

"Butler, do you plan on helping me or just standing there like a fool?" Artemis asked as he tried to twist around and failing miserably.

"Sorry Artemis." Butler said softly "I thought that when you called something was wrong," After a few minutes of tugging and wriggling Artemis was freed.

Artemis looked around curiously, "Where's Liam?" he asked when he realized that the blind boy was gone.

"His guardian called and he had to go home to, apparently, help look after the other children."

"Okay, did he say anything else?" Artemis seemed over eager to Butler.

"He wanted you to stay home tomorrow and that he'd be by after school to help with homework. He said that he bring a snack with him," Butler really didn't want to tell Liam that bit of info. Artemis perked up at the thought of seeing Liam again. "Though it pains me to say this, I agree with Liam," Butler's face was a grimace of disgust.

"Agree with Liam about what?" Artemis was confused.

"You should stay home tomorrow; you have a concussion—" Artemis cut Butler off.

"My concussion is only a mild one and—" now Artemis was the one to be cut off.

"While we're in America I'm your legal guardian, meaning my word is final. You're staying home tomorrow, end of discussion," Butler turned around and walked out the door.

Shiinmaru-dono: #has Sho-dono tied with chains to a pole; is currently whipping Sho-dono# I told you that I would deal with your insubordination; next time you are to do as you are told! I do not take insubordination lightly! #turns away from Sho-dono# Reviews and votes are desired! Shiinmaru-dono out!

(Sho-dono is unable to talk during this chapter do to being punished.)