Chapter 8: DNA

MINERVA'S P.O.V

Focus. Focus on the task at hand. I needed to calm down, catch my breath. I took this opportunity to look at the girl I'd captured. She was pretty, in a dark way. Her auburn eyes fell into her olive coloured eyes, a shadow over them. Her skin was the colour of ivory. I felt pangs of jealousy. I used to be pretty... I just wish Artemis would look at me the way he looks at her. Once I've seen his dead body, I can rest. I gingerly touch my tightly packed blonde curls. They've gone wilder over the past few days. It's the stress; it's getting to me. After all this is over, I need to go home and sleep. Home. I knew it was just my imagination, but I could smell the fresh salt of the sea by my home, hear the laughter of my little brother. I rubbed my bloodshot eyes wearily.

I checked the prisoner. Still asleep. Excellent.

"Grovel!"

The creature scuttles out of the shadows.

"Yes, mistress?"

Ugh. Disgusting goblins.

"Take a DNA shot of the prisoner. I'm going to need it."

He returns my grin. For such a sickening creature, he has a delicious sense of humour. He slinks into the shadows, returning with a metre long needle. It glints in the night. Grovel sinks the metallic point into her ivory skin, forcing blood out. After some time, he yanks the needle out. I wince for some reason.

"DNA ready, mistress."

"Good. I need to be prepared."

"Of course, of course, mistress." He croaks.

"Have you taken your medicine, Grovel? Your voice is getting worse."

He snarls, revealing his sharp teeth. I snap my mouth shut.

Years ago, I met Grovel at a B'wa Kell hang-out. I discovered he had a throat infection from an attack from an LEP officer. To my delight, I found his hatred for the LEP and Artemis Fowl. Revenge is going to be sweet.

"Grovel, my drink."

He blends the DNA, forming it into a delicious beverage. I snatch it from his talons, and drink it in one gulp.

"Good as always, Grovel."

He smiles smugly. That reminds me of Artemis, I realise.

"Your head doesn't need to get any bigger."

His smile rapidly vanishes. It's replaced by my own, until the pain hits me. I'm screaming, my hands balled into fists as I crash to my knees. Pain floods all over my body, my insides burning, turning from inside to out. Grovel watches me sadly.

"Good luck, mistress," He whispers, before adding, "You'll need it."

The pain is gone as quickly as it came. I take a deep breath, and stand up straight, brushing off clinging dirt. I'm eager to take a look in the mirror, but I have to wait while Grovel fetches one.

The mirror he brings is scratched, with a few cracks, but I see my reflection crystal clear, and gasp. I brush my auburn hair from my olive green eyes, stroke my smooth ivory skin. I'm... beautiful. Grovel thinks so too. I catch him admiring me. I'm not going to have a scaly, warty goblin fancying me.

"Get back to work." I say sharply.

He nods, and departs. I ignore his insane mutterings. The next part of the plan has to be vital. I need Holly and Artemis to catch me terrified. I ruffle my hair till its wild, smudge mud on it, add a few scratches of mud, and study my reflection. Satisfactory. I open the door and walk out casually, before quickening my pace to a sprint. I need to find Artemis.

BUTLER'S P.O.V

This whole place was crawling with goblins. At every turn, there were at least ten of them, in a gang. Goblins stuck together in situations like this.

"There's too many. We need to retreat."

I turn to Root, surprised. He's a fine soldier, determined to fight till the end. Why would he want retreat?

"Not on my watch."

I cock my gun, pointing it ahead of me. Just wait, I think. With patience becomes great reward.

Suddenly, a group of goblins spring ahead. It's not a surprise attack, there's no technique in it. It's out of stupidity. I try to concentrate on each goblin in turn, which is harder than it looks. I take several down, before my blaster runs out of juice. I'm not dead, yet. Time to perform what I've been practising all these years. Martial arts. Remember, surprise is the element.

Then I attack.

FOALY'S P.O.V

This is a disaster, everything's falling to pieces. Butler and Julius are stuck with crazed goblins, Artemis and Holly are running havoc, and Hazel remains captured. I take a good look at each screen. On one, Butler seems to be performing complicated moves, taking several goblins at once. Impressive. I wouldn't want to be the poor goblins that are in his way. I noticed in the screen showing Holly, she used a Swiss army knife to escape. And she said mud man technology was useless...

I've always been the techie. Always have been, always will. When it comes to missions, I stay behind in a suspicious white van making sure nothing goes wrong. That's why I've always admired Holly; she's always out there, always ready to jump into missions she doesn't even know what she's facing. In a way, I wish I had the courage to help, but I doubt I'd be of much use. My genius helps, anyway. If only they appreciated it...

I watched the second screen closely. This was Holly in action, which I found myself watching numerous of times. I sighed. Always watching...

Still, at least Colette likes me the way I am. Not jumping into action, just in the background. If she liked those flashy, show-off centaurs, she wouldn't be dating me. I think...

For some reason, I found myself reminiscing about my childhood...