Chapter 10: An Unexpected Surprise

MINERVA'S P.O.V

I'm really irritated, exhausted and sweaty- Psychical Education was never my best subject. Just when I need him, he's not there. Déjà vu, I think to myself, laughing softly. Then I stop laughing. I throw myself into a corner, and listen.

"Artemis, if we're going to survive, I doubt I'll ever let you touch my Blaster."

"I only wanted to inspect it, Holly."

There's a hint of a whinge to his voice. I almost laugh, but remember my job. I flip out a pocket mirror, and check my reflection. I look like a deer caught in headlights. Perfect. Timing is crucial now. I add a few more shallow scratches, make it look like I've been attacked. And then, like a tiger in the night, I spring.

ARTEMIS'S P.O.V

"I only wanted to inspect it, Holly. Why don't you trust me?" I pretend to be wounded.

"A number of reasons." She begins ticking off using her fingers. "One; you kidnapped me. Two; you stole the fairy bible. Three; you blackmailed me. Four; you stole my gold. Five-"

"Shush!"

I'm listening now. I'm in alert mode, like a hunter. I can hear the faint sobbing of a girl. I may be just wishing upon a star, but I'm hoping its Hazel. Holly's listening too, her pointed ears perked up. The sobbing grows louder, as I walk ahead. In a dark corner, is the picture of a girl crumpled into a ball. She looks up, and my heart leaps. It's Hazel. Tears stain her face, a few on her eyelashes, her hair is wild and ragged, and deep cuts are slashed across her arm, but it's her.

"Hazel," I murmur softly. "You're back."

And suddenly she's in my arms, and I can feel the warmth radiate of her chest, and I can hear her beating heart, and there's nowhere else I'd be. My self consciousness returns, and I realise how ridiculous I look, and tear myself away from her. She looks devastated, but there's nothing I can do. Holly raises an arched eyebrow. I go red, and scuff the floor with my shoe. This isn't normal behaviour for me. Regain composure. I stand up straight, and look Holly in the eye. "Problem, Holly?"

"Not at all, Artemis."

It's a game of cat and mouse. I turn my attention to Hazel.

"What happened, Hazel?" I ask, concerned.

"It was awful," she shudders. "They tortured me for information, shouting at me. I could hear my own screams in my head, but I said nothing." She touches a deep wound, and flinches.

I feel waves of sympathy, and pity. Contain your emotions. I think sternly. This is no time to be weak. Holly looks shrewd, disbelieving.

"Hazel? Do you know... who did this to you?" Her eyes narrow.

"They didn't tell me their name."

That was said quickly. As if she didn't want to tell us,

"Are you sure? I often find criminals," She takes a look at me, "revealing their identity whilst gloating."

"I was not gloating," I mutter.

"I'm sure," Hazel looks back and forth to us, like a game of tennis. "They said nothing."

Holly says no more, but I can see in her eyes the matter is not finished.

She takes a few looks around. "We've got to go. No matter how fine a soldier Butler is, he can't hold up those goblins for much longer."

I nod, trying hard not to point out to Holly that Butler took on a troll last year, and won.

Hazel shivers. "I just want to get out of this place."

Instinctively, I take off my blazer and gently place it around her shoulders. They feel bony, and ridged. Holly raises her eyebrows a fraction of an inch higher, but I ignore her. I can't hide my feelings anymore.

HOLLY'S P.O.V

I know this isn't Hazel, but I can't reveal that to Artemis, he'll be devastated. I need to rescue the real Hazel. But how? More importantly, who is this imposter? I need to stop Artemis from falling for this girl, but I think it's too late. I know myself, as an elf, you can't control love. I could see in her eyes that this girl was not who she pretends to be. For a second, her eyes flashed red. That's not normal, not even for a fairy.

I'll have to assert myself as leader, and get Artemis out of this place. Then, I'll speak to the girl. Find out who she is and who she works for. There's always a lot more than revealed.

Strolling around the corner, are three goblins. They're boasting about their victories against humans, but I know as an LEP officer, most tales are made up. Few goblins actually have the brain power to know how to control a gun.

"Get back!" I hiss. "Goblins, twelve o' clock."

I've always wanted to say that. We jump behind a crumbling stone pillar, and wait silently. The goblin's voices grow louder as they draw closer.

"... And there was this one time, where I took on three grown, male trolls and won."

I roll my eyes. Only one person in the history to have beaten a troll single handedly was Butler. Clearly these goblins are all talk, and no action.

"How'd you do it, boss? How'd you do it?"

The two goblins cluster around the slightly bigger built goblin. He seems to be the leader and the other two goblins his mindless drones.

"Well, I... I don't like to brag, but-"

He stops abruptly, sniffing.

"Boss? What's wrong?"

"Shut up, you imbecile!" He snaps at one, who shrinks back. "I can smell sumffin. Human, by the smell of it."

I curse at Artemis silently. He shrinks further back into the shadows, holding his breath. Hazel's smiling, but I can't worry about that now. He inhales deeply a few more times, and shakes his head.

"Nah, nothing. C'mon boys, let's go."

The three carry on walking, listening eagerly to the "leader". Once they're fully out of sight, I let out a deep sigh.

"That was close. Too close. Next time, Artemis, don't wear cologne."

He's offended. "My mother bought it for me!"

"I think you smell lovely, Artemis," Hazel says, batting her eyelashes. Oh pur-lease. Lovely? I've heard drunken dwarves with better compliments.

"Let's move out."

I never realised how huge this abandoned warehouse was. We get lost several times, no thanks to Artemis's navigating. Finally, we reach a voice activated door, with a speaker panel.

"Let me try this." Hazel steps forward, and whispers a few words.

The door instantly slides upwards, sunshine shining on our faces. We're... out.

"How did you do that?" I demand, crossing my arms. "Magic? Trickery?"

"I-I don't know. I just spoke, and it worked. Technology's a mystery to me."

"Hm."

"Leave her be, Holly. She's been through enough already." Artemis is suddenly standing between Hazel and me, looking defensive. So now he's on her side. Don't be so childish, I scold myself. There are no sides.

"Let's get to the van. Foaly will be waiting for us. So will Butler and Commander Root, if they're still alive."

I stride past the two sickly lovebirds, completely forgetting Hazel isn't all she pretends. That was my first mistake.

MINERVA'S P.O.V

Thank God. That irritating elf has left. She knows I'm not really Hazel, and she'll intervene and destroy my plan. The next part is just as crucial as the last. I apply a layer of lipstick, knowing who ever touches the anaesthetic on my lips, the effect will be immediate. Knock out.

"Artemis, can I speak to you for a sec?"

He turns around, just as I predicted.

"Of course, Hazel."

"It needs to be in..." My eyes dart around. I'm an amazing actress. "Private." I finish.

He nods, and follows me around a side of the warehouse. As soon as we're alone, I push him into a wall.

"What are you doing?! Hazel!"

"I'm afraid Hazel's gone, mud boy. She's never coming back." I pout, pretending to look upset.

"Who are you then?"

I signal for him to come closer, and he obeys. I whisper in his ear, "Minerva's back."

"Minerva?! But I thought you had-"

I interrupt him by pulling him to my lips roughly. He doesn't respond at first, but he sinks into the kiss. Oh, Artemis. You bad boy. You should never interact with the enemy. My heart's thudding, and I can feel blood rising to my cheeks from being in such close contact with Artemis, but I need to stop. I yank him away from me, and at first he looks surprised. Shortly after, his knees buckle, and he falls to the gravel. I stand over him, and while his few seconds of consciousness wear out, I whisper, "Welcome back, Artemis."