Artemis looked at the fairy on the table. He could not believe that this diminutive figure contained power that could instantly command his will, since this creature was so, well, small. Short auburn hair, brown skin, child-like physique with adult proportions… Artemis felt a twinge of regret. If only he could keep both the lemur AND this creature. Artemis could already see future discoveries based on the untapped power and potential of this fairy and her race opening doors of opportunity. The figure in the bag moved her head, and her eyes met Artemis' gaze directly.
What?! One of her eyes is dark blue… the exact shame shade of blue that can only be found within the Fowl family! The blue that only Father and I possess! How?
Kronski interrupted Artemis' thoughts, scattering his theories on this phenomenon over the four corners of this world.
"Little Ah-temis, even though the lemur has escaped my grasp, this creature far exceeds the monkey's potential and worth. I have forgiven you. She has been found worthy to be executed in the hallowed halls of this great and mighty group!" Kronski giggled madly at his theatrics. He rather fancied himself as an actor. Kronski winked in what he thought was a friendly and happy manner.
Artemis scowled at having to stoop to the level of this mad human in order to get the money needed to find his father. Kronski's transparent attempts at being friendly were beginning to wear Artemis' nerves down. "The money?"
Another grotesque grin. "Here." A velvet drawstring pouch, produced seemingly out of nowhere, was placed into Kronski's open palm. He offered it to the aloof boy.
"Butler, verify it." Butler reached over and grasped the black bag. Placing a jeweller's glass in front of his eye, Butler opened the pouch, gently drew a diamond out of it and, facing the light, began examining it. Light bounced off the gleaming gem, dancing radiantly around the room.
Kronski was making the deal of his life. No one will ever doubt his credibility to lead the Extinctionists again! "Now, now," said Kronski in a hurt tone, which was ruined by the gigantic grin splitting his large flabby face, "Do you suspect me of swindling you? Don't you trust me?"
Artemis said coldly, condescendingly, "Nowadays one cannot be too trusting."
Kronski laughed shrilly. "Yes, I totally agree. Nowadays," he mimicked, his voice pitched high in a terrible attempt to copy the boy, "One cannot be too trusting."
Butler finished his examination. "These diamonds are definitely the highest quality diamonds on the market right now, Artemis. This one is, at any rate."
Artemis pocketed the black velvet bag. "Good. We will now take our leave." Artemis bowed mockingly in Kronski's direction and strode out of the room where the Land Rover from before was waiting. Nobody noticed a heat wave shimmering in the corner of the room, occasionally emitting sparks as it brushed the wall.
When the others were still crowding around the bag to look at the prone figure lying in it, Sana quietly crept away from the group and stood, half-hidden behind a potted plant, and waited until all the guards were looking away. She looked at Artemis, who had just pocketed the bag of diamonds, shielded. Sana mentally apologised to her Artemis and then made contact with the other.
Arty, it's me again. Where are you right now? What are you going to do?
I'm near the wall of the complex. I plan to infiltrate the place by assuming the persona of Malachy Pasteur, a young French-Irish heir to an abattoir empire.
Are all your preps ready?
Talk properly, Sana. Say words properly. Going back to the topic, yes, my preparations are ready.
Your younger self just left the place, so they'll probably head back to the Manor after this.
When does the banquet start?
Sana gritted her teeth. For the fiftieth time her elbow had touched into the wall in the narrow gap, causing sparks to emit from the contact and zapping her. She looked around furtively. No one seemed to be in the room. Good, she would not be noticed. Rubbing her sore elbow, she stealthily sneaked out of the place to the fake beach and lied down on the sand, the warmth from the sand and the sun seeping into her bones, relaxing the girl. The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over everything, and the rays glimmered over the waves. The wave machine whirred quietly.
Heya, Arty. I'm back!
The banquet starts at seven-thirty in the evening, three hours from now. Can I assume your help in the coming operation?
Duh. 'course I will! That's why I sneaked away from your younger self and the our younger self and the younger Butler.
Make your way to the banquet hall a few minutes before the banquet starts so you can sneak in with the other people going in. Hide somewhere safe with a good vantage point and then contact me.
Yarr-kay.
The connection broke. Sana spread her arms out. Huh? The sand around her body was flying! What the hell?... Oh right! I'm still shielding, aren't I?
Sana stopped shielding. Immediately, the sand stilled, and the sand in the air landed on the girl. Sana sat up and brushed the sand off her body. Lying back down, Sana contemplated looking for the older Artemis, but it was too comfortable in the sand. The warm caress of the sun, the warm softness of the sand, the soothing sounds of the waves…
Sana opened her eyes. Where am I? Bleary hazel eyes looked around, then snapped open. Swearing under her breath, she looked at her watch. What? It's seven-fifteen already?! Sana began to run towards the entrance. She remembered seeing a hall two minutes after driving through the entrance of the compound. Cursing Kronski for building the stupid compound so large, she increased her pace, feeling a stitch blooming just under her ribs. Sana was regretting lying down on the beach. Even though it was comfortable and let her relax after the meeting between Artemis and Kronski, she could not be late for the banquet, or Holly would be lost. Sana ran faster. Her breathing echoed through her being. The only thing she was aware of was the rhythms of her pounding feet, one after the other, counting down the time left before the banquet started. Suddenly, the pounding stopped, yet Sana was still moving forward, could still feel her legs running. Confused, Sana looked down. The road seemed very far away. Looking up, her eyes were level with the top of the window frames of the indentical houses lining the road. Before, her eye level reached just above the windowsill. Sudden realisation flooded through her body. I'M FLYING!! Or floating. Whatever. I'M FLYING!! Grinning elatedly, Sana ran faster, her legs now moving as a blur and maybe because her magic was moving her, not her body, her stitch disappeared. The houses sped past her in a blur.
Artemis looked around. After the Extinctionists had kindly lent them their Land Rover, Artemis had been sitting comfortably after getting Butler to rip out the fur lining the seats. Now however, he realised that they had left something behind in the compound.
"Butler, where's Sana?"
Butler did not turn around. The road was getting crowded around the airport. "She didn't come with us when we left. I thought you knew and so didn't say anything."
"Oh. She can deal with herself. She's got her credit card and passport with her anyway, so she can make her way home by herself, right?"
Butler in assent of the fact, grunted. Despite his words, however, Artemis felt a little guilt and worry squirming in his heart. He locked it, like the emotions before, away. Even if she is younger than me, Sana can look after herself. I'm not her guardian, nor was, is, or will ever be. Artemis hid behind and drew comfort from this flimsy argument.
Sana slowly ground to a walk as she approached the banquet hall. Limousines of every kind lined the drive. She put up her shield, and then began to edge into the crowd in the hopes of making it through the door. Even though she was being as careful as possible, because she couldn't see herself, Sana inadvertently bumped into a lot of people, giving them small electric shocks. Every time Sana crashed into yet another person, she mentally apologised to them whilst wincing at the pain. By the time she got into the banquet hall, Sana was seeing stars from the pain of every shock. She unshielded for the briefest moment to see where her hands were, and then Sana swung them up and smacked herself in the face. Her head now clear, Sana walked into the hall and then, making sure no-one was looking in her direction, unshielded and scrambled into a small nook hidden on the back wall of the room, where a hole let her see everything happening in the room. A powerful smell of incense and candles welcomed her as she climbed into the hole, trying not to cough. Sana folded her legs, trying to avoid soot and dried wax. Below her, the dinner began. She watched soups and other delicacies be served to the patrons in the hall served in skulls and skins, feeling her appetite going. She watched Kronski, wearing a ridiculous purple suit with an even more ridiculous hat introduce the entrée. She watched the acrobats chop up the ice so that the yellow fish could be served. She watched the meal progress, the people in it talking about something or other. She even watched a raven-haired young man with a goatee pick at his food.
Arty, look up towards the back wall, about two three metres up.
Sana saw the raven haired boy with the goatee look up in her direction from his meal. All around him, the Extinctionists were making small talk about animals and killing animals. Artemis was an island of calm and sense in a sea of blood-thirsty, animal killing sharks. He smiled.
Is that your hand waving in the crack in the wall?
Sana withdrew her arm.
Yep. It's quite amazing that there is a niche back here. Because there's a hole in the bit in front of me and I'm sitting on dried wax and soot marks, I think it's for a candle or something. There's heaps of these little nooks all along the walls. Probably put candles in here and then darken the place up for some effect or other. Anyway, what are you going to do?
During the trial, I will defend Holly's case. To trick them, I will need to use, as you would call it, a magic trick'. Then I will attempt to get Holly out of here. When that happens, I need you to help us get out of here, since you know the layout of this place the best. We will meet at the main entrance. If all fails, regroup at the souq.
Right. Got it. Ohh, the thing's starting.
Kronski stood up and began to talk. Artemis turned his head back to the podium. Sana followed suit, just in time to see Kronski press a button on a remote control, and the metal floor of the hole in which the yellow fish were carved out of the block of ice opened, revealing a pit underneath the hole, the opening criss-crossed with multiple laser beams.. Kronksi threw a melon into the pit, breaking one of the beams. Immediately the pit was filled with blue-white flames, burning the melon to a crisp. Sana felt sick. These people did this every year to some poor innocent animal? This was the fate that awaiting Holly? The instant after that thought crossed Sana's mind, Holly was revealed strapped to a baby's chair. A live camera feed showed her pointed ears. Sana felt the rich lunatics beneath her notice Holly's pointed ears and then look at each other in glee. Their hate and bloodlust was suffocating.
"We got ourselves a fairy."Sana watched in silent fury as the Kirkenhazard guy shook Kronski's hand and clapped him on the back. It was sickening to watch their glee and happiness at having another race to prosecute and kill.
Holly?
Sana, is that you?
Yep. Arty's here to rescue you. When he wins the trial thing and frees you, come to the main doorway and I'll lead you guys out of here. Even though it's pretty easy to get out of here, I think Arty expects fights and chaos and stuff to block the exits, so that's why I'll lead you guys out. If not, go to the souq from before.
Okay. Thanks again, Sana. Go listen to what's going on right now. See you later.
Sure. See-ya!
Sana's attention went back to the scene. Kronski was speaking again.
"But who will defend? Which unlucky member will draw the black ball? Who will it be?" Kronski nodded to someone. "Bring the bag."
Artemis, where are you? Sana silently urged, her muscles tensing with anticipation.
"No need for the bag. I will defend the creature." A slender man with a goatee and tinted glasses stood up.
"And you are?" Kronski asked uncomfortably. Sana caught her breath, but seeing Artemis so unruffled helped calm her down.
After a while, Kronski smiled in what was supposed to be a charming manner. "Master Pasteur, we are delighted to welcome you to Morocco. But, tell me, why would you wish to defend this creature? Her fate is almost certainly sealed."
"I enjoy a challenge," Artemis replied. "It is a mental exercise."
The verbal sparring went on. Kronski seemed to be getting more unnerved by the second. "Be careful what you say, Pasteur. You tread on dangerous ground."
"You mean I could sleep with the fishes. You would kill me, Doctor? A mere boy. I don't think that would bolster your credibility much."
Sana smiled gleefully. Artemis was getting serious.
"I don't kill humans. Just animals. Like the animal in this cage." Kronski's smile was way too fake to be taken seriously. He was also losing control over the crowd. Many people were silent after Artemis' little spiel about the organization losing its way. Sana could practically hear Kronski's mind whirring away to try take control of the situation. Sorry, Kronski. You might have won if it was someone else, but this is Artemis, the certified genius. You're going down! Sana smothered a giggle at Kronski's plight.
Every single time Kronski said something, Artemis rebutted it with his own argument, destroying Kronski's claim into little bits. Even after Kronski's mad speech, complete with twitching fingers, Artemis was calm, a bemused expression on his face. He glanced towards the back wall when Kronski had the whole audience's attention, and gave the smallest smile ever. Sana did not miss that smile. Sana smiled in anticipation of Artemis' speech. Then Kronski finished, and Artemis stood up for his speech. Even though Artemis talked normally, his voice carried to the back of the room. When Artemis had finished, Kronski was practically crowing with delight.
What the hell, Arty? Sana raged, shouting her thoughts into his mind. That was the most generic speech EVER! What happened to your genius-ness?
Wait, Sana. I know what I'm doing. Trust me.
Okay.
Sana subsided into a wary silence. Kronski began to stir up the crowd's bloodlust, stoking it to an even higher level than before. Then Artemis revealed his trump card.
"This creature was not our original defendant. Up until yesterday we had a lemur. Not quite a monkey, Mister Kirkenhazard, but close enough. I say we had a lemur, but in truth we aloes had a lemur. It went missing at the pick-up. Then, and this is important, then we were sold this creature by the same boy who almost sold us the lemur, undoubtedly paid for from Extinctionists' funds. Does anyone else think this is a little off? I do. This boy keeps his lemur and sells us a supposed fairy."
"Supposed fairy?" Sana could see the perspiration forming on Kronski's upper lip.
"That's right. Supposed. We have only your word for it, and of course that of Mister Kirkenhazard, who apparently is your worst enemy. Nobody is falling for that ruse, I assure you."
"Examine the thing yourself. This is an easy argument to win." Kronski was getting extremely nervous.
"Thank you, Doctor. I believe I shall." Artemis approached the cage.
Sana was waiting for this moment. This was the moment Artemis will rescue Holly using the sleight of hand thing!
Artemis told everyone about his x-ray camera on his phone, and then passed it over his hand. Sana looked, along with everyone else in the room, up into the screen, where his hand showed up, his bones bits of shadow in white flesh.
Kronski attempted to grin. The smile did not even curve upwards anymore.
"Do you have a point, Pasteur, or are you just showing us how clever you are?"
Artemis replied, a slight tinge of smugness in his words, "Oh, I have a point, Doctor. An the point is that were it not for the wideness of the brow and the pointed ears, this creature would seem remarkably like a little girl."
"A pity about the ears and brow. But for them you would have an argument."
"Precisely." With that, Artemis passed the phone over Holly's face. The x-ray vision of Holly's face came on the screen: dark shapes were seen on Holly's temples and ears.
"Implants." Artemis positively crowed. "Clearly the result of surgery. This fairy is a clever fake. You have tried to dupe us, Kronski." The crowd went mad with fury. Amidst this chaos, Sana noticed a tall, hulking man enter the room.
Butler? But didn't they go a while ago? What's he doing here? Where's Arty-from-my-time?
Kronski's voice blasted the thought out of her head. Sana's ears ringed with the practically screamed words.
"This is ridiculous. If you have been tricked, then so have I. No! I will not believe it. This boy, this Pasteur is lying. My fairy is real. Just give me a chance to prove it."
"I have not finished, Doctor," Artemis cried. He stepped to the dock. "These ears do not seem right to me. And your friend Mister Kirkenhazard was most gentle with them."
For several moments, the camera's view was obscured by Artemis' arm. Everyone stared in anticipation at the cage.
Holly? What's happening?
Artemis is sticking a Nu-patch onto my ear. He's very bad at this sort of thing, isn't he? So clumsy.
Yarr. I know what you mean. Thank God this crowd is so dumb. Be careful of Butler. He's here too.
Really? Holly's astonishment was cut short.
Artemis held up a crumpled, flesh coloured thing. "It's a fake," he called. "It came off in my hand."
Holly turned her profile to the camera. Her ear wasn't pointed anymore. Artemis' face was flushed with triumph.
Good job, Arty, sent Sana. I would never have expected such a good trick from someone who's only good with his hands with needles and test-tubes and minute machinery.
Artemis' tone was bemused. Thanks, I think? Artemis squeezed the bandage into a small compact ball.
"Is this the man we want to lead us? Has Doctor Kronski displayed sound judgement in this case? And supposedly," Artemis threw the ear to the ground. "This creature can hypnotise us all. I rather think her mouth is covered so she cannot speak."
Artemis ripped the tape off Holly's mouth. Sana winced at the sight, looking on as the drama unfolded on the stage. The whole room turned quiet.
Holly began to sob. "I didn't want to do it."
"Do what?" Artemis prompted. Sana saw the people below her sitting on the very edge of their seats.
"Doctor Kronski took me from the orphanage. He told me if I had the implants, then I could live in America. After the operation I changed my mind, but the doctor wouldn't let me go." Sana smirked at the story. Were fairies all this good at making up stories on the spot?
"An orphanage," Sana could hear the (fake) suppressed excitement in Artemis' voice. "Why, that's bordering on the unbelievable."
"He said he'd kill me if I told."
The outrage Artemis showed was shared by everyone in the room. They all began shouting at once, some waving forks and knives in the air. Artemis' voice rang out clearly over the noise.
"He said he'd kill you. And this is the man steering our organization. A man who hunts humans as well as animals. You sir," pointing at Kronski, "are worse than the creatures we all despise, and I demand you release this poor girl."
Kronski tried to salvage the situation. He even drew out Holly's gun. Sana's breath caught once more, but the look on Artemis' face calmed her down once more. The gun, when shot, emitted one single spark. Sana smiled, an expression mirrored on her adoptive brother's face, shielded and began to make her way down the wall, stopping just in front of the guards in front of the doors. Suddenly, phones began to ring in the hall. On the screen, a video began to play, showing a Kronski wearing a camouflage suit squealing, balanced on one leg. Sana recognised the souq immediately. Arty-from-my-time, did you do this? Is this why you sent Butler back? Holly was about to be rescued! Anyhow, must get to Holly.
The situation began to turn ugly. Guards poured out of the nowhere and secured all the exits. Upon seeing this, all the rich patrons in the room began to go berserk, trying to find a way out of the hall. On stage, Artemis was helping Holly up on her feet, the two of them dashing towards the cage, hiding behind it. Sana lept down into the chaotic crowd, losing sight of the pair, and tried to make her way towards them. She felt the two guards behind her collapse. Everyone, noticing the unguarded door, rushed towards it. Sana squirmed through the crowd like a salmon swimming up a waterfall.
Sana contacted Holly. Holly! Where are you?
Near the unguarded door. Artemis is still in there somewhere!
What?
Sana broke contact and lunged through the crowd wth a new ferocity, trying to reach Artemis. Soon she broke through the crowd fighting at the door. Sana saw Artemis grappling with Kronski on the stage, falling hard through the chair on which Holly had sat on only a few minutes ago. She ran desperately towards the fighting couple, power of flight forgotten. Artemis was kicking and punching for all he was worth, but Sana could see that his attacks lacked power. Several guards noticed her presence and tried to block her way, but Sana dodged them all, her eyes never leaving Artemis, and lept on to the dock platform on which they were fighting. She saw Artemis' heel hit Kronski's breast pocket, where the remote control for opening the platform was stored. Sana felt the floor give way below her, and, grasping the falling Artemis' hand, was consumed by blue flames. The last thing she saw was Kronski supporting and hoisting himself up by the railings surrounding the pit with murder written all across his flabby, ugly face.
Holly stood, near the unguarded doorway of the banquet hall, raking her eyes over the room over and over again, looking for Artemis, whom she had lost in the chaos that ensued, and Sana, whom she was supposed to meet. The hall was deserted.
The souq. I will find them at the souq. She turned resolutely away, and plunged into the night.
Heey, people!
Opal's coming into the scene soon. That'll be super interesting to write about. Looking forward to writing Sana and Opal's meeting!
Et-R
