A/N: Many, MANY thanks to Demetra for helping improve the quality of this fic by becoming my beta!

Chapter 4: Unleashed Rage

Thorn arrived successfully at Fowl Manor. Again, she emerged by crackling shadows, outside, right by the service door. 'Couldn't be easier…' She thought, and concentrated to vibrate to sneak in unseen. It was right on that moment that reality struck her hard: she had no magic.

'What?! H-how can this be?!' She was talking to herself while looking to her own hands. She tried to emit some magical signal, spark, anything, but it was useless. The power of the People's magic comes from life itself, and as she wasn't alive anymore, hers simply disappeared. For a moment feelings of desperation due to the great loss, as well as anger for knowing that Holly is the reason she lost her magic, took over her, fueling her hate.

Her hand clenched, drawing some blood. 'Holly will pay for this…' She reached the manor's shadows and entered them once again, but this time, she just wandered around the same spot, looking at its rooms from the many dark spots produced by the furniture, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Holly and Artemis were finishing their tea while talking about day to day stuff. If she still had some magic, she could mesmerize Butler and make up some excuse to separate those two. The bodyguard was at the kitchen, getting the dinner ready, so she only had to get rid of the mud boy. But as if he read her mind, he got up and went upstairs, leaving Holly alone.

Perfect. She waited a few more seconds before beginning.

"Ho-lly…" the sweet voice was heard in the room. The elf was startled and quickly got on her feet. She looked around, but couldn't find anyone. Well, that mansion always creeped her out, and she never stayed alone in a room there. Maybe she was imagining things. She lifted her arms and stretched a bit, closing her eyes, and relaxed. She could use a vacation.

When she opened her eyes, someone was right in front of her. Someone who looked just like her. Thorn was smiling widely and the shine in her eyes reflected a bit on Holly's face, and before the elf could act, she grabbed her by the neck and lifted. "What's the matter, captain? Don't you recognize me? Don't you recognize… yourself?"

Holly reacted quickly. Using her legs she managed to kick that imposter right on she chin, forcing her to free her. She landed with her back on the ground as the worldless staggered backwards. Holly quickly drew her gun but as soon as she got her targeted, she kicked her neutrino away and afterwards, her face. "It's no use, I know every movement you'll make!"

Magical sparks were already repairing the damage. Thorn glared at her. "Magic! You bitch, because of you, I don't have it anymore! You robbed me of my magic!" She pulled Holly upwards and punched her twice in the stomach, and before she could react, held the back of her head and smashed her face against the corner of a beautiful and solid wooden cabinet, leaving her to fall to the ground. The worldless was absolutely euphoric about this situation.

Thorngrabbed Holly by her hair and pulled up. She was still trying to breathe, especially after the last hit which broke her nose, but managed to let out a faint whine. Her senses started to get numb. "And now… I'll make it even for us both! You robbed me of my life, and I'll do the same to you!" She let go of her head, which hit the floor hard, finally knocking her out and drew out her gun. Before she could put an end to it once and for all, someone came through the door and shot her thrice, hitting her on the left shoulder and arm and left leg, making her fall to the ground. It was Butler, and Artemis was right behind him.

"Whoever you are, imposter, bear in mind of security cameras inside the place you're going to try and murder someone. And more importantly: do it faster," the Irish boy said. They were still walking over to her, and when Thorn tried to point the gun to Butler, he shot her hand, disarming her. "We need her alive, Butler" Artemis said while reaching Holly and pulling her away.

'No!' Thorn thought 'It can't… it can't end like this! I was so… close…' She tried to move, but her wounded limbs didn't obey her. The pain was settling in, and she couldn't do anything.

"Drop your weapon," the worldless who had just entered the room and was standing between Butler and Thorn said. He had his shadow on, making him look quite menacing. "Or people will get hurt." The bodyguard didn't have to think to act in this situation: the new person was in melee range, so the best alternative was to neutralize him and ask questions later. He moved in to immobilize him, but his arms went through him as if he was some kind of ghost. Then he noticed his glowing blue eyes. "Wrong move," Jake said, and moved to the side, grabbing Butler's arm and pulling it towards Thorn. The giant Eurasian was already unbalanced due to the failed immobilization attempt, and his weight accompanied Jake's pull, that suddenly pulled him upwards and grabbed his face, pushing towards the back and to the ground, making him hit the floor violently. To make sure he wouldn't cause more trouble, Jake kicked Butler with an abnormal strength, that sent him flying across the room and landing right over a cabinet, destroying it. He didn't get knocked unconscious though, but he surely broke a rib or two on the impact, making it painful to move.

Jake quickly turned around and took Thorn in his arms, leaving the room by jumping out the window and delving back to Nowhere through the mansion's shadow.

Artemis did not know who the person was and her reasons, but he was sure she was going to come back. For a moment he considered the possibility that she was Opal, but the pixie would never risk a direct confrontation. This was a new enemy, one that wouldn't stop until it took Holly's life.