Stroke of brilliance after reading a particularly thrilling (yet somehow simultaneously disappointing) supernatural romance. That doesn't mean this will turn out to be a romance however...Rated T for tension, innuendos, future violence and so on and so forth. I might bump it up to M...but for now, I guess I'll let the kiddies read it. =)
Of course Eoin Colfer, I am not you so I do not have any claim to any characters found in Artemis Fowl the Series. I woke up especially early and just started writing...I have good feelings about this fiction and I hope it turns out okay.
Ciao, Scarlett Muse
P.S. This takes place after the Time Paradox...I haven't yet read the Atlantis Complex but as soon as I can get my hands on a copy I'll read it, savor it, worship it and then maybe incorporate a bit of it into the story. That is if it doesn't make things too complicated. Anywhoos, read on!
"Did anything happen yet?" Brian paced back and forth, his padded feet making little to no sound on the soft, green grass where he, Brooke and Melody were camped. Brooke's eyes barely fluttered as he stepped over her to continue his pacing and questioning. "Did the fever break? Has he responded at all to our presence? Is he reaching out to us yet?"
"No," snapped Melody, thoroughly annoyed. "For the umpteenth time, no, Brian! Nothing has changed in the two minutes since you last asked me. Trust me, you and Brooke will be the first ones I report to if anything happens but until then stop asking me…and for god sakes, stop pacing. You're breaking my concentration."
Brian looked at his senior partner apologetically before finding a patch of grass beneath an oak tree to sit on. Brooke shifted so that her head rested on his shoulder and he unconsciously placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. Her scent wafted up to him, calming him and easing the tension that had been steadily building inside of him.
"Sorry, Mel," he murmured. "Just…anxious."
"You and Yuri both," muttered Melody under her breath. The statement had been more for her own benefit than for Brian's but he overheard it anyway and his head perked up.
"This is really big, isn't it?" he said, eyes wide in amazement at the situation. "We haven't had anyone new in ages. It'll be interesting having another male around. I always did say there wasn't enough testosterone present…"
Melody said nothing, choosing instead to let her charge go off on a tangent on finally having someone his age to connect with who wasn't a female. She knew better than to get her hopes too high. For one, the boy might not even survive his turning and even if he did, his fate was not yet set in stone. He could reject his heritage and all that he was. That would lead to him going rogue and becoming a threat, which she couldn't allow to happen. If he did indeed turn rogue it was her duty to end him…permanently.
Of course, Brian didn't know this. He was here just in case things went well. As Yuri had pointed out, Melody didn't have the most patient nature. It was a sacrifice she had to make to be as startlingly efficient as she was. Brian, however, was incredibly charming for some reason and he would undoubtedly make the boy's transition much easier. That is…if the boy chose to side with them, rather than against them. In that case, Brooke would sedate him and Melody would…hmm. She didn't want to think about what she would have to do.
Melody broke out of her thoughts to realize that Brian was still talking. Why did so many people like him? The mystery would be as elusive to her as figuring out how many licks it took to finish a Tootsie pop.
Standing, she went to the edge of the bushes and watched the shadows play across the lighted windows of Fowl Manor. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, allowing voices and images to flicker in and out of her mind.
Is he any better…?
…no change…doctor?
Melody set her head down on the grass and rested. No change…of course there wasn't any change! She doubted that anything would 'change' for a while. She silently gave the project the stamp of two more days. Two more days of darting in and out of the bushes, waiting for the fever to break. Hearing Brian still describing the many ways he would spend his days with his new friend, she sighed. Two more days of listening to the tittering of her young charge. At least Brooke knew how to stay quiet.
"…and we can go and play by the coves…you know the coves I'm talking about, right, Melody? The ones with the mermaids and the baby sea monkeys?"
"Yes, Brian. I know what you're talking about…"
After a pause, she added, "Will you show him the apple trees too?"
"I completely forgot about those! That's an excellent idea, Mel. I can't wait to see his face when I show him the oldest one. It's huge!"
Melody smiled inwardly. Okay, maybe his youthful enthusiasm was just a little likable…
The smile quickly turned into a scowl when she noticed the small smile playing on Brooke's lips. Flipping over so that her back was turned to the pair, she allowed Brian to fill the silence as she slipped into a small doze.
Angeline Fowl wringed her hands as she paced outside of her son's room. She stopped abruptly as the door swung open and Butler stepped out, looking grim. Quietly, he shut the door behind him and sighed.
"He's still adamant, Angeline," murmured Butler gloomily. "No doctors."
"How could he not want a doctor?" Angeline trilled. "Maybe I should send for one anyway…"
Butler's lips tightened and his eyebrows furrowed in consternation. "Don't. He won't see anyone besides family and if we did call someone, he'd only lock the door and kick up a fuss. If…if he truly thinks he doesn't need a doctor, can we force him to see one?"
Angeline bit her lip. It was true. You didn't force him to do anything. He did as he pleased. Which, in hindsight, she really shouldn't accept but she did anyway.
"Oh, Butler…what's wrong with him?"
Butler shrugged helplessly. "A fever, perhaps?"
"I'm going in to see him," said Angeline finally. She clenched her fists at her side and looked heatedly at the door. "I'll make him see the benefits of seeing a doctor. Or at least one of his little…friends. The sooner he sees either one, the sooner we can get over this nasty affair."
Butler shrugged again, not entirely sure that there was anything the woman could do to encourage a change in opinion. Angeline strode forward and pushed the door open, her resolve swelling as the doorknob turned…
And then plummeting the minute she stepped inside the bedroom. Artemis Fowl II was seated in the window, looking outside, his shoulders hunched miserably and his hair unusually disheveled.
"Mother." He didn't even bother to turn around as he uttered the word.
Angeline closed the door after her, plunging the room back into darkness. Stepping forward she said, "I heard from Butler that you still do not wish to see a doctor."
"The doors aren't particularly thick, Mother. I heard your conversation. I still do not want to see a doctor and I will not ask Holly to come all the way to the surface to cure a minor head cold."
"But…"
"No."
Angeline frowned. "Artemis Fowl, look at me!"
Angeline's voice was sharp and her demand hard to resist. Artemis turned slowly and looked at his mother dolefully. Though the light was dim, Angeline was still able to make out the grim image that was her son.
His eyes looked bruised, his skin was paler than normal, his face was drawn and his raven hair clung to his forehead, glued down by the sheen of sweat that coated his face. Taking a breath and steadying herself, Angeline pressed on.
"Why don't you want to see a doctor?"
"Because I don't need one."
"You're a scientist, Artemis. Have you looked in the mirror? Have you seen yourself? Surely you can deduce that there is something wrong here."
Artemis blinked slowly. He realized this a long time ago, with the first migraine. It had been three days since then and he had been in and out of bed, alternating between feeling mildly under the weather and being in body-crippling pain. He knew that he should probably see someone but the thought of involving a doctor had him inexplicably terrified. So he settled for searching his vast store of medical books for answers, finally coming up with…nothing.
Irregular heart rhythms, labored breathing, muscle spasms, intense headaches, an inability to think past the foggy haze that was enveloping his brain…His books had suggested countless ailments such as hypocalcaemia, diabetes and even post-concussive syndrome but with a few tests he concluded that all of those suggestions were bull.
Artemis pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Mother, honestly, I'll be fine. Just give it a few more days." After a beat he added, "If my…'fever'…persists, I will see Dr. Wheeler. But give me some time, please?"
Angeline slowly began to nod her head. At least it was something. She still wondered why he wouldn't call a doctor but she thought it best not to argue. She didn't want to push too hard for answers and suddenly finding him rescinding his offer to see a doctor.
"Fine, Arty. Two more days and then we call Dr. Wheeler."
After his mother left, Artemis sighed in relief. After two more days, if his fever didn't break he would simply ask for more time. Something inside of him shuddered at the thought of some stranger studying him. Turning back to the window, Artemis watched the sun set behind the line of trees that dominated the horizon. It was a beautiful scene, the sky becoming an alluring mixture of fiery colors. However, the scene brought him dread.
The nights were usually the worse. Already he could feel the usual symptoms that preceded a bad spell. His blood turned to icy needles and his limbs began to ache dully. His head began to throb and his vision blurred. He felt a guttural growl rip through him from the pain but then again, he could very well have imagined it.
Nothing seemed to be making sense to him these days…through the pain, he had the distinct feeling that he was running through the trees, his cells unanimously thrilled by the feeling of grass beneath his feet and leaves whipping against his skin. It felt so real…but then he would finally be released from his delirium and find himself wrapped in his sweaty blankets, his body out of breath and the exhilarating feeling fading into intense disappointment.
He resolved that should he ever recover, the first thing he would do is go for a run. A long, long run. And he would eat a big steak…forget the usual russet potato and mixed veggie adornments. He craved meat, possibly even bloody even though he had never been the type to eat anything that hadn't been professionally seared for at least an hour. His eyes rolled as a sense of nausea set in.
He felt alone and empty suddenly. He missed the twins and his father and wished they would hurry home from their trip in the States. So far, at least to the best of his knowledge, his mother had only told his father he had a minor cold. He had no idea when she would call him and tell him it was getting worse. She was probably making the call right now. He preferred to leave them worry-free but he couldn't even muster the strength to move, much less remind his mother to continue downplaying his sickness.
Another rumbling growl spilled from his mouth as a particularly bad cramp wracked his body. When it was over he went over his mental list of things he would do when he got better. First, that steak. Then the run. And then I will smother my family in hugs and kisses till even they get tired of my affection.
Artemis gave a weak attempt at a smile before grimacing as another cramp ripped through his body. Steak. Run. Kisses and hugs. Right, if I live through this.
Holly Short looked at the communicator, unsure of what she should do. Foaly rolled his eyes and snorted.
"Either call the Mud Boy or I will," he threatened, clip-clopping over to where Holly sat, perched on the edge of his desk, communicator clasped loosely in her hand.
Holly's hand tightened around the communicator and she looked up into the amused eyes of her long time centaur friend and then back at the communicator.
"It's not like I haven't," said Holly with a small shrug. "He just isn't picking up."
"Perhaps he's busy?" mused Foaly, rubbing his chin. "I haven't seen him come out of his house in ages. I would get you a video feed of him…but you wouldn't believe how paranoid the boy is. His network is all firewalls and pitfalls. The nerve."
"Yeah, because there's no reason to believe that we wouldn't spy on him," said Holly drily. Then she smiled. "Maybe you're right. Maybe he is just a little busy."
"And maybe…" continued Foaly conspiratorially, "I can just do enough digging to find Butler's cell phone number and just maybe place a call to him?"
Holly's eyes widened and she pulled her friend into a bear hug. "Would you?"
"Hold on a sec," he said with a wink, breaking free of her grasp and trotting back to his computers.
Contact with Fowl and simply all humans in general was strictly prohibited by Vinyaya, yet, knowing the extent of Holly and Foaly's relationship with the mud boy, she often turned a blind eye to their little chats. After a little tinkering with his hologram screen, Foaly stood back and looked at the screen expectantly. There was a dial tone and then a click as someone picked up.
"Hello?"
The voice sounded cautious. Obviously, not a lot of people had this phone number. And it didn't help that the number on caller I.D. showed up as 'unknown'.
"Butler!"
Instantly the voice on the other end warmed as Butler responded. "Holly? Holly, how are you?"
"I'm peachy," replied Holly, happy to finally reach someone. "I'm here with Foaly. Say hi, Foaly!"
"What am I? Four?" Foaly whinnied indignantly. "I can say hi if I want to! In fact, I will. Hello, Butler. How do you do?"
Butler chuckled. "Hello, Foaly. And by the way, the way you and Artemis bicker, one could wonder about your age, Foaly." There was a pause as the bodyguard remembered something. "You know, it's strange that you should call me directly. Normally you would call…"
Butler stopped and the line went silent. Holly raised an eyebrow. Butler's tone had sounded grim, as if something bad had happened.
"Is everything alright?" asked Holly tentatively. "I've been trying to reach Artemis but he won't pick up."
"Artemis is a little under the weather right now."
Foaly and Holly exchanged looks. Last time a member of the Fowl household had been sick, it had been with a presumably extinct disease that had severely crippled the population of the People…it had later turned out to be a crazed, time-travelling pixie possession but the sentiment remained the same. When a situation involved Fowl, it was never something simple.
"What do you mean, 'under the weather?'" repeated Foaly.
"Exactly that," answered Butler. "He's been incredibly sick…and he refuses to see a doctor about it. He insists he'll get better on his own."
The whole situation sounded suspicious. Why would Fowl turn down the help of a doctor? Unless the sickness was magic-induced and involving a doctor would compromise the secrets of the People…
Foaly raised an eyebrow at Holly. "Perhaps…Holly should take a look at him…"
"No," Butler quickly said. Too quickly.
"Why?" asked Holly warily. "I'm certain I can easily fix him. I could swing by on one of my surface missions. In fact, I have one coming up in an hour or two."
"Artemis emphasized being left alone," Butler explained, realizing the entire situation would seem suspect. "He's certain he can sweat this out. He was intent on not being a bother to the People for what he described as a simple 'head cold'."
Holly sniffed. "I'd still like to see him. Never can be too careful."
Butler sounded hesitant but also a little relieved. "If you insist. I don't know if Artemis will welcome your presence but then again, his moods have been flighty."
Holly nodded but then realized this wasn't a video chat. "Right. I'll be there soon. Maybe by tomorrow morning?"
"Great. It was nice talking to you, Holly, Foaly. But if you'll excuse me, I must take this soup to Artemis. I'll see you soon, Holly. Goodbye, Foaly."
Holly and Foaly uttered their goodbyes and hung up.
"Sick, huh?" said Foaly ruminatively. "What do you think, Holly?"
"I learned not to think when it comes to Artemis," said Holly wryly. "There's no way you can deduce what he's up to unless he wants you to. Trying will only give you a major headache. Hmm…I should tell Vinyaya…"
"That you're off to see the Mud Boy? Don't be daft, Holly. She'd send you with a platoon of LEP officers. It would be quick and painless to just run by and see Fowl yourself. I'll mention it to her sooner or later while you're topside so that you'll have enough time to finish before she she gathers a small army."
Holly nodded. It was true. Vinyaya didn't trust Artemis in the slightest and sometimes went overboard when it came to matters that concerned him. And plus, she really wouldn't feel right being responsible for having a dozen or so lasers aimed at him while she treated him. Especially if his illness was as bad as Butler's tone insinuated.
"Well, off you go, young elf," said Foaly, shooing Holly from his office. "Unlike some people, I have work to do. Not everyone has time to go and make social visits all willy-nilly.
Holly wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him. She hugged him and left.
She was going topside, so that put her in a good mood already. Even if Artemis had gotten himself into trouble, she didn't mind bailing him out if it meant feeling fresh air gracing her skin again…and she never did mind the amazing adventures that she and Artemis always got sucked into. Picking up her pace, she hurried through LEP headquarters, already anticipating the excitement to be had.
For some reason, the entire thing reeked of another whirlwind adventure and she was ready to get swept up and away.
Avalon, South Sector
Yuri pleaded with the gods to give her some restraint as she watched the two young girls slink into her office. Ollie and Trickle had their hands clasped behind their backs and their eyes were downcast in a sign of submission. They were both bloody and bruised, their normally pressed and cleaned white shifts were torn and stained with equal amounts of blood and dirt.
"What happened?" she asked coldly, her voice all steel and ice.
Both girls started at the same time and all Yuri could make out was a babble of accusations. She held up a hand for the pair to stop and they did, almost as if she had flicked a switch to turn off their voice boxes.
"Actually, I couldn't care less how this fight was started," snapped Yuri, her features dark and unrelenting. Her blue eyes fixed both girls with a gaze that could cut through iron and they both trembled under it. "You'll both be doing night duty for the rest of the week, especially since you have such bountiful energy. We are on high alert and you two can't even pull yourselves together enough to stop fighting. Save your energy for the rebels and don't let me catch you fighting again! If I so much as catch a single ill-aimed elbow or foot, I'll rip a strip off of both of you! Now go!"
Both girls whimpered and left sulkily, not even daring to argue with their leader. Yuri stood and followed them to the door, closing it after them. She hated to be so hard on her little ones but in all honesty, they weren't so little anymore. And she couldn't brook any nonsense, especially since the tide of rebels was steadily rising, threatening war. Various meetings had been called between group leaders and still, no sufficient solution had been reached. For every rebel that they crushed, two more seemed to pop up.
Yuri ran her hand through her long, straight black hair. Well, could she call it black hair anymore? She found several gray hairs in her long, thick mane while brushing it that morning. She was much too young for salt and pepper hair, she thought.
"Mmph, worrying again?" rumbled a deep voice from behind her.
Large, strong arms ensconced her waist and pulled her up against a rock hard chest. Her mate, Taylor, had somehow slipped into the office unnoticed by her and was now nuzzling her hair lovingly. Yuri sank back into his embrace, allowing herself a few seconds of bliss before pushing him away.
"I must worry, Taylor. These rebels…hot-headed as they are, they don't realize the bloodshed that can occur if they tried to start a fight with the humans. We have fought so long and so hard and we have lost so much, just so that the humans can forget we even exist. And now they want to throw all that sacrifice into the wind and start a war."
Yuri rubbed her face tiredly. What to do?
Taylor took her hands from her face and smiled at her, his chocolate brown eyes melting the rising sea of tension in his mate. "We will figure it out as we go along, Yuri. That is what we have always done and that is what we will always do. All we can do is prepare for whatever comes next, which is either the rebels succeed and we send the young away while we deal with the backlash…or the rebels fail. And we squash them for good and move on with our lives."
Yuri pouted. "The chances of the latter?"
"Very slim. But things change. Anything else to worry about?"
"The boy…in Dublin…"
"Oh, yes. Him."
Without even looking, Yuri knew Taylor was smiling. He was looking forward to having another boy in the pack.
"Yes, him," said Yuri exasperatedly. "I've read his file."
"And?"
"Did you know that he has contact with the People?"
Taylor tensed and Yuri couldn't help but feel a wave of pleasure at having her mate finally take something serious. "The People…?"
"Yes," affirmed Yuri. "The People. He was moving mountains well before the water dried behind his ears. He's apparently some kind of genius. I would be happy to have a new addition to the pack but having him join us would lead to some very…difficult…complications. The People don't know about our existence either. And I'd like to keep it that way, if it can be helped. No need to rock the boat."
Taylor frowned. "But I like rocking the boat with you…"
Yuri laughed and swatted him. "You know what I mean! And his case is even more curious, you know? How many instances have you heard of our kind abandoning their child for the humans to raise?"
"Not many. But it does happen."
"Yes…but for some reason I feel his case was different…Really, the nerve of some parents dumping their kids with the humans. How desperate do you have to be to do that?"
Taylor nodded. "Very. But we shall see what happens in his case. Maybe we can have him fake his death. At least we won't have people digging around looking for him."
Yuri raised an eyebrow. It seemed a particularly dark business having the boy fake his death and thus causing the grief of whosoever he had connected with in his brief life as a human. But then again, it would be utterly necessary if they were to take him in.
Hmm…Artemis Fowl…what is your back story?
"You're doing it again," rumbled Taylor squeezing Yuri around the waistline. "Stop worrying."
"Hmph! One of us has to worry around here! But now I'm worrying about that smell…don't tell me…"
"Irene has cooking duties tonight…"
Yuri swore. "If the rebels don't put me in the grave soon, that girl's cooking will."
Others must have had the same idea because soon after the smell began to permeate the office, she heard groans and complaints from all around the compound. Chuckling to herself, she took her mate's hand and tried to see what she could do about damage control in the kitchen…
I hope you enjoyed your read thus far. I left their species purposely ambiguous because I wanted to know what people would want them to be...I have an idea of what species I want them to be but I'm not sure...so send me suggestions and who knows? Maybe I'll run with one of the spitballs...clone you and then keep you in my basement to supply me with endless ideas...MUHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, kidding. But yeah, review? I don't care if it's bad or good (though I have a preference for good reviews), so long as you explain what you like and don't like. =) Ciao once again, the Scarlett Muse.
