Chapter II

After Holly had received a call from Julius, she'd dragged him into the library for some questioning. All hopes of her forgetting why she came flew out the window. Artemis was now sitting in the chair across from Holly, obviously bored with all the questions she had asked him about the mind wipe. How did he get his memories back? Was anyone else involved? He sighed again. "Holly, must we really do this now? There are far more important things I need to attend to."

She glared at him. "Not until you give me some answers, Fowl!"

"Very well," He sighed, "Do you remember the golden medallion you gave me?"

When she nodded, he described in detail how he had disguised a computer disk with his journal and other files that had to do with The People, to look like the medallion, and then gave it to Mulch. "He would soon afterwards give it back to me, and then my memories would be returned, as well as Butler's and Juliet's."

Holly's mouth had dropped open, and now she was staring at him. "But I mesmerized you!"

He nodded and smirked. "Yes, I'm quite aware of it."

Her frown only deepened. "And you're not going to tell me how you did that, are you?"

He shook his head, and smiled slightly. "No."

She groaned. "D'arvit."

This only added to his smug smile.

Holly sat down beside him on the couch in the library. Artemis put the book he'd been reading down and studied her face intently. "Holly, what's wrong?" A hint of concern in his voice. She looked frustrated and pained at the same time. He was startled at how close she was. Before he had a chance to say anything else, she pressed her lips to his. It was incredible. His arms rested on her waist, but the moment lasted only a few seconds before it broke. Artemis pushed her away gently. "Holly, no." He looked distressed, and turned away. He stood and began pacing.

"I'm a criminal, you're an officer. It would never work."

Holly's shoulders shook with sobs. "Artemis, you will never know how much it hurt me to mind wipe you! I regretted it every day after! Don't you understand? I love you! It doesn't matter who we are." She pleaded.

He did love her, but now he called out hoarsely, "Juliet!"

A few moments later, the teen appeared in the doorway. She looked at each of them in confusion. Artemis was paler than usual and stood with his back to Holly. Tears appeared in his eyes, and he hurried out of the room. Holly's shoulders shook with silent sobbing. Her green eyes were red from crying, and before Juliet could say anything, she ran out of the room.

Juliet looked after her, surprise and puzzlement written over her pretty face. Later, she told Butler about it, and he glanced at her in concern. "Let's wait it out. If Artemis wants to talk about it, he will. But for now, don't say anything." He advised.

Juliet made a face."But what if-"

Butler raised his hand to silence her. "No buts, this is none of our business."

She nodded and sighed. Her brother was right, of course, but she couldn't help wishing she knew what was going on.

Butler and Juliet were sitting at the kitchen table when Artemis and Holly came in through separate doors. They saw each other at the same time and averted their gaze. The two at the table noticed, but Butler quickly turned back to his newspaper. Unlike him, Juliet watched them with obvious interest. That is, until Butler nudged her with his elbow.

"Owww." She squealed, but quieted instantly when she received a frosty glare from Butler.

Artemis poured himself a cup of coffee, and was about to leave when Butler asked him, "Aren't you going to eat something?"

He shook his head, nervous when he noticed Holly watching him. "I'm not hungry. I'll be in my room if you need me."

Butler nodded and frowned when Artemis left the room hurriedly. His clothes had been rumpled as if he'd slept in them, dark bags were under his eyes from lack of sleep, and now he didn't have an appetite.

"Hmm." Juliet shot him a hopeful grin.

He shook his head and she crossed her arms. "Humph."

Holly didn't seem to notice the pair's strange actions, but left after pouring herself a cup of coffee.

Juliet wouldn't let her brother off so easily. "Pleeeaaaasee!"

He shook his head firmly again.

"Oh, c'mon! There was obvious discomfort there!" She exclaimed.

He set down his paper and sighed. "What did you have in mind?"

Her smile widened. "The elevator."