Chapter Three
Fowl Manor, a few miles north of Dublin, Ireland
Artemis sat in his chair, eyes closed and showing very few signs of life. To the casual onlooker, he could have been asleep. Or dead. In truth Artemis was lost in thought, worrying about Butler.
The injuries he had received from... whatever that woman in the alleyway was (he had no doubt that she wasn't human) hadn't been serious but Butler had fallen unconscious almost as soon as they got back to Fowl Manor. Artemis had guessed that it was some kind of venom or toxin and had taken a blood sample to find out what it was and if he could cure it. But before he could finish, Butler had woken up.
Butler had physically changed. There was no doubt the he was even bigger that before, almost seven and a half foot tall. His skin that was usually tanned from spending time outdoors, was as pale as death, and his eyes were the same bloodred as the woman that had attacked him.
The way he acted was different also. When he first woke up he sat there almost as if he couldn't hear Artemis talking and then he ran down and locked himself in one of the basement rooms. Artemis observed him on the security cameras; for the most part he remained completely motionless, so still Artemis couldn't even tell if he was breathing (or if he needed to). And when Artemis went down to talk to him, every muscle in his body clenched and after a while he started twitching and shaking. It was as if he was having difficulty controlling himself, which was impossible Butler had more self-control than any man alive.
Artemis's Eyes snapped open. Could it be? Artemis had already discovered one race of mythical creatures, why not another? But first he had to check if his theory was correct. Artemis raced off to the Basement, gathering equipment as he went: stethoscope, thermometer, portable X-ray machine (an invention of his), and the brain sensitive camera (see chapter one). Now, what else would he need?...
The Volturi tower, Volterra, Italy
Aro sat and observed their guest.
She was pale with dark shadows under her eyes, like all vampires, and quite short, around five foot six. Her dark red hair fell, down her back like a waterfall of fire, to her waist. Her nails were sharpened to points and were painted the same shade as her hair. She wore a nervous expression on her, pale heat shaped, face.
Caius sighed impatiently and glared at the Irish vampire. Marcus sat with the same bored expression that he always wore, glancing at the woman as if she were a piece of dirt on his shoes. The woman fidgeted nervously. They were all waiting in a deathly silence, waiting for him to speak. Ahhh sighed Aro how I love this power of mine, he thought to himself.
"Well," he smiled, "It's a pleasure to meet you miss...?"
"Walker, Lauren Walker, sir," she almost whispered.
Sir! She was calling him sir! Ahh this authority, it was like a drug! And the fear in her voice! Truly Aro loved his unique position. He could imagine no other life that would suit him better than being the leader of a vampire coven.
Lauren scrutinised Aro, as if memorising his every detail could save her life. (Now I can't remember exactly what he looked like so I'm going to make up something about the stuff I don't know ok?) His skin was papery, like onion skin, and almost translucent with age. His short hair was as black as raven feathers and was longer at the back than at the front. His eyes, which were the normal bloodred for vampires that preyed on humans, were clouded a milky white with cataracts, yet the intelligence and cunning still shone through.
"Now Ms. Walker, I am told that you are here because you have some information, something you wish to tell us?"
She started stuttering nervously when Aro held up his hand and silenced her.
"Now my dear don't you think it may be easier if you just showed me what happened instead?" He smiled again and held out his, dry, papery, hand.
Slowly she extended a shaky hand and lightly, as if mere contact would burn her, touched his fingertips. They stood like that for a few seconds before Aro spoke,
"That's an interesting story you have there Ms. Walker," slowly Aro sat back down and laced his fingers together, like some cliché evil villain.
"Mind explaining to us Aro? We don't like being kept in the dark, do we Marcus?" Caius scowled and glanced at Marcus for his support. Marcus sat back with his bored expression plastered on his face and rolled his eyes, as if he couldn't care less.
Aro smiled, and briefly outlined the situation.
"I think the solution is clear, don't you my brothers?" Aro turned towards his fellow co-leaders.
"Because I think Felix and Demetri understand exactly what this problem requires. Don't you boys?" cruel smiles lit up the faces of the two vampires as they bowed to Aro before turning to leave.
"Oh before you go, you two, remember, I want them alive for questioning so be gentle." Aro his face serious. The grins on the faces of the two henchmen shrunk before they again bowed and turned to leave.
"Now Miss Lauren Walker all that is left to do is wait. I hope you don't grow bored of our hospitality. And you better hope we don't get bored of you." Aro's cruel laugh echoed around the hall and the by now Irish vampire was beginning to wish she'd never come to Italy.