Artemis Fowl: The Ballad of Frond
Chapter Four: Haven Girls Got it Unlocked
Ok, so, something was brought to my attention. The story as planned was going to drag on a bit. Like, Holly was going to fall for a DJ (which may or may not still happen, I'm not sure) and there was going to be a lot more "garnish" I suppose you would say, such as explaining the heritage of the Kelp's and other nonsense. However, I know to some degree what most readers are here for, so I trimmed it down quite a bit. This whole chapter was literally divided up into two or three longer ones, and I managed to condense into one more entertaining one. Maybe. Anyway, I'm gonna post another story on the more "lighter" side. Artemis will probably be a little more OOC in that one but hey check it out. Anyway, to get this story rolling more, I chopped out some of the fluff, but it's good just as well.
Kitsune, I'm pumped for your story contest.
Oh, and if Kelp's niece seems Mary Suish I did it like that intentionally. Enjoy!
One day, The Kelps woke up and decided they were only going to have beautiful children.
And beautiful children they had.
"Holy Frond," Mulch swore as he and Holly watched Norah walk toward 55th street. "You never told me Kelp's sister looked like that!"
"Watch it Mulch," warned Holly. "She's only just become of age."
The dwarf ignored her. "Of age or not I can see why Kelp would want her kept inside. Legs like that are just asking for trouble."
Holly rolled her eyes although let's face it—there was no denying Norah's beauty.
Her mother was a pixie giving the young fairy naturally slender, petite waistline and soft bone structure. Yet she had inherited the elfin height and the long, black, shimmering tresses that were trademark of the Kelp line. The hybrid could win a man's heart with the slightest purse of her full, heart shaped lips. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Norah's undeniable looks had not gone unnoticed by Haven's press. She was often the featured headline of the local tabloids, and had reached number two as the city's 'Hottest Available Fairies'. There was also the rumored calendar of which Norah had posed half naked in—but thanks to many political connections and LEP work, those never surfaced.
Norah's father, along with her two uncles, longed for the day his daughter would stop gallivanting around Haven and seriously think about her future. But the only thing Norah was interested was the here and now.
She walked down 55th, unknowingly being watched by her uncle's former flame and her henchmen, and entered an empty warehouse. Holly already knew where she was going. Kelp had enlisted Foaly to put in a chip diverging all text messages from Norah's phone to his own.
"Isn't that part of the whole problem?" Foaly asked, as he programmed the chip. "A slight privacy issue of sorts?"
Kelp scowled. "You don't know what have a teenage elf is like. Especially one who causes fender benders just by crossing the street. What does your kid do, Foaly? Design video games all day?"
"No. He's also working on hacking into the Moonlit Design's team network. Don't they make calendars?"
The two hadn't spoken since.
"Let's go," the ex Captain ordered. Stalking the socialite was a far cry from Recon work but it would have to do.
Naturally, Mulch could not be quieted. Since Holly demanded the radio silence despite the simplicity of their mission, he decided to interrogate her with some uncomfortable questions. "You know Holly you never told me why you were doing this for Kelp. Are you two possibly getting back together?"
"No," Holly replied a little too quickly.
The kleptomaniac cocked an eyebrow. "No?"
The fairy sighed. "It's not that simple."
Did she love Kelp still? Yes. But the council had made it clear they wanted a thick, concrete between Holly and any LEP affairs. Suddenly, it mattered a great deal that he was sharing the same bed with a certain Ms. Short. His career deadlock was slanting ever so steadily toward the opposite direction of promising, and more toward tunnel and garbage duty. Kelp insisted they could no demote him because he was dating her.
"So what if they do?" He shouted defiantly. "I can start from scratch."
It was the only time he had ever said it to her. After that, she demanded that he leave. He came home to find all his belongings neatly stored in boxes on the front step. Holly was not going to have the blood of his career on her hands. She would not let him throw away the best of his future for her. Since they had split Kelp was suddenly climbing the ranks again. Holly's heart ached for him but what could she do?
She wasn't prepared to make the most promising ranking officer on the LEP make that choice. So she made it for him.
"We need to focus on the task at hand," Holly replied coldly. Mulch clamped his mouth shut. Even he knew when to quit.
It was exactly as Holly expected. There, in broad daylight, was an illegal dance club. Choice of playlist? Mud Music.
"We have to get Norah out of here!" Holly shouted over the music. "Mulch? Mulch!"
The dwarf was dancing between to scantily dressed sprites. "Yeah girls. I could tell you a lot about L.A., if you know what I mean." They giggled flirtatiously. Holly did a mental head smack. Looks like I'm on my own for this one.
She squeezed through the sea of dancers ignoring the catcalls, butt grabbing, and most annoyingly the occasional: "Hey grandma! The senior citizens home is on the next street!" Holly did not appreciate the comments. She wasn't that old, or old at all. Maybe Bile was right. Maybe the future generation was becoming more ignorant like the Mud Men. Listen to yourself, she berated silently. I sound like a five hundred year old gnome croon! Where is that stupid girl. D'Arvit!
"Alright folks we got a special treat for you!" The DJ announced. "Tonight, our favorite topic of choice, the eye candy of Haven City, the rebellious and undeniably hot item…"
"Oh gods no…" whispered Holly. Even Mulch was a dumbstruck.
"…will be putting on a special performance for you in honor of the newly enstated ban on 'Mud Music'! So Bile thinks we're vile? We're gonna destroy our own race? Know what? He might just be right! We're releasing the music on the airwaves tonight so if you're out there listening tune into 91.3! HIT IT MS. KELP!"
The spotlight went on to the front of the stage. Holly blanched. The infamous niece was wearing nothing but glitter and an almost see through metallic leotard. She turned around and began singing.
I'm feeling sexy,
I wanna hear you say my name…
"D'ARVIT!" Holly yelled, now running. Groups of male fairies were videoing the performance. They shouted crude obscenities at the shameless hybrid, their lustful eyes never leaving her revealing dress. Even if she was stopped, which was a stretch at this point; Holly knew the performance would go viral. There would be no mistaking Norah as the culprit and she would face persecution.
Make sure she is safe.
Norah wasn't safe. Not at all. Holly shoved her way through the crowd desperate to reach her, to fulfill a promise. How can I do that when the girl is deliberately putting herself in harm's way?
The next seven seconds were a blur.
First, the lights went on. There were screams, bodies running, glasses broke. Chaos. Holly glimpsed a team of fairies running in from the main entrance. Armed with buzzing batons, they wore all white with the emblem of their religion on the chest. However, this particular kind of weaponry did more than give a little shock. Those who were hit fell to the floor, screaming in agony. More so than necessary. Holly's eyes focused back on the stage.
Norah stood staring wildly at the madness. She did not notice the fairy in white creeping behind her.
When her brain synapses finally began connecting, Holly was hit in the spine by one of the lethal batons. She fell to the floor, withering. Get up! The LEP in her ordered For a moment, the LEPrecon officer managed to lift her head. She was hit again.
Nothing.
Mulch was too late.
He saw Holly and his attention was distracted long enough to be hit in the neck by a dart. Instantly, he was paralyzed. The fairy behind Norah shoved a bag over her head, and dragged her off the stage. Mulch tried to do something—release gas, move—but couldn't.
"No grand escapes for you tonight, little dwarf."
It was Ark Sool.
Earlier that day Ark Sool had been in an unusually good mood. In fact, he had been so all week. Whispers followed him wherever he went. Was that a smile on his face? Whatever for?
No one could guess the reason. And even if they could, they would find the source of his newfound gaiety too abhorrent for words.
The Ruins of Frond had been closed to the public for centuries. It was sacred ground. Only those who were Chosen could enter without being cursed with bad luck. Sool knew he was one of the Chosen. He knew because he was keeping something holy within the walls, something that would bring him to the ultimate Enlightenment. Or so he had been told.
Sool was willing to believe anything for power.
He strolled into the ruins, as he would go into his office. He clicked on one of the monitors and stared at his prize. The girl. The virgin half-breed. He felt himself rise at the sight of her milky skin, full lips and mysterious eyes. He would have liked her hair to be longer perhaps, or maybe a fuller chest. This human was impossibly thin and taller than he expected. But it would have to do. It had been so long since he had a human.
His cell phone buzzed. "Sir. We have a confirmation on the location of Kelp. Proceed as discussed?"
"Yes," he ordered.
Soon, you will be mine.