I couldn't believe what was happening, my entire world was collapsing around me... and for some reason the fate of the Cirque had been thrust at me by someone who had no right handling it in the first place. I needed some thinking time, I had to decide what was to be done.. but it wasn't just my choice. I knew what I wanted, and that was for Fowl to be as far away from my home, or what was left of it, as possible. But for the Cirque Du Freak to continue, we'd need a leader, someone who could not only look after it, but also someone who could afford to fund it. Without the money we needed the Cirque would be unable to continue performing. It was obvious that Artemis Fowl had money, lots of it, and he also had a lot of interest in the Cirque Du Freak. I wasn't sure why, something didn't feel right to me, but I could see no other option. For the time being, we would have to surrender to Artemis Fowl and let him take over the Cirque Du Freak. I hated the idea, and I knew that the others would too, but it was our only chance.
I walked along the side of the road, enjoying the silence and peace of the evening. I turned and looked over my shoulder as I heard the engine of an oncoming vehicle. It was a black car, it looked expensive, I'd never been into cars so I couldn't say what make it was. It slowed as it came towards me and my heart rate began to pick up pace. Too many bad things had happened to me recently, all I needed was for something else to go wrong. I stopped walking and turned to face the car, readying myself to fly if there was any trouble. The car stopped beside me and the door opened, a face peered out, staring at me suspiciously.
"Oh it's you," I growled, "What do you want now?"
"Kinsey Owington?" Artemis Fowl asked, as though we'd never met. I wasn't quite sure how to react. Was he trying to play a mind game with me?
"You know damn well it's me," I said uncertainly.
"We need to discuss something... urgently," Fowl said, sounding like he was trying to keep a lid on his desperation.
"We've said everything that needs to be said," I growled.
"Kinsey, you don't understand. You think that you have been talking to Artemis Fowl but that isn't me. He is an impostor using my name and face," Artemis Fowl said. I gulped, unsure of what to do, what to believe.
"And I suppose Mr. Butler is an impostor too?" I asked.
"Yes, of course. I know it is hard for you to understand, but get in the car and I'll fill you in as best I can," Artemis offered but I shook my head.
"No, you step out here. Last time I got in a car with you a few hours later I had my arm broken," I said, stepping back from the car.
"I assure you that was not me, but if you don't wish to get in the car I suppose I'll have to join you out there, I'm just worried about how cold it's going to be, I've only recently recovered from a rather bad case of pneumonia," Artemis Fowl sighed, but then stepped out of the car. Moments later he was followed by Mr. Butler, who told their driver to stall the engine and then came to stand protectively behind Artemis.
"I don't have much time so listen carefully," Artemis said, quickly. "Two months ago I began work on a project concerning vampires," my mouth dropped open, " don't look so surprised that I know about them Kinsey, I know a lot of things most others don't. Anyway, for reasons of my own, I was researching the reason why vampires cannot reproduce and it all came down to the said creator of vampires, Desmond Tiny." Artemis paused to look at me, judging on my reaction, he must have been satisfied because he continued. " I tracked Desmond Tiny to the realm of the Demonata, where he has been staying for the past few centuries, and I arranged a meeting with him to discuss the issue concerning the vampires."
"You met with Desmond Tiny?" I gasped.
"No... I never got that far. Before we made it to Addling Wood, where we had arranged to meet Tiny, we were attacked in the Demonata's realm by two spirit demons. One is named Azra and the other named Krifta. They have been waiting for decades for human hosts to bring them to our world so they can take it over and enslave its people. Butler and I were the perfect victims, they possessed our bodies and took over our minds."
"How did you escape?" I asked, intrigued by the strange story.
"We didn't," Artemis replied bluntly. "The spirit demons become exhausted from using our bodies and must take small rests, but soon they will be back, banishing mine and Butler's original souls to Oblivion where we are powerless to stop what they are doing."
"But... but how does this involve the Cirque... how does this involve me?" I stammered, my head spinning.
"Azra and Krifta plan to destroy the strongest in this world first, leaving the weaker vulnerable and without help. The performers of the Cirque Du Freak all possess strange powers that could possibly bring the downfall of the demon spirits... but it also has connections to the vampire and vampaneze race, probably the only band of creatures strong enough to stop Azra and Krifta from taking over the world." Artemis said, he was talking faster and faster. I wasn't sure whether to believe him, but I did agree that he seemed different somehow to the last time we'd spoken.
"What can I do about it?" I asked quietly.
"I haven't worked that one out yet," Artemis replied. Suddenly I saw Mr. Butler's muscles tense, his face became worried.
"Artemis... they're coming back," he stated.
"I know," Artemis replied, looking up at his bodyguard, what looked like fear in his eyes. He gulped and turned to me.
"Kinsey, you have to go, now, they know that I have told you, we share the same minds, and they will kill you for your knowledge," he gabbled desperately.
"But.." I began.
"No! You must escape quickly now, before they capture..." he stopped and his face contorted with pain. He pressed his hands to his face and shook his head violently, squeezing his eyes shut. Behind him, Mr. Butler fell to his knees and bowed his head, grabbing at the grass, groaning. Artemis cried out, a cry of defeat, and then collapsed to the ground, trembling. Then he was still. A few moments later he sighed and scrambled to his feet, then began to dust himself off. He looked up and his gaze fell on me and I instantly knew something was wrong. Something in his expression had changed, there was something different in his eyes... something evil.
"Hello Kinsey, I see little Arty has enlightened you to what is really happening... pity, I was beginning to like you," he grinned. I turned on my heel, clenched my fists, and ran...