Chapter 33

Where am I?

A/N:

Here's the next chapter. It may seem difficult to understand, but it'll come together in the end.

RECAP:

I opened the door and pulled myself to the bed. I was standing in front of it when I just let go. My body fell to the bed and I was overwhelmed by the comfort and warmth of it. That was the last thought I had before a deep and heavy blackness engulfed me.

Holly's POV:

My eyes flew open and I found myself in a strange place. I was in a large, dense forest that I had never seen before. And I have no idea what I'm doing here, but I feel compelled to go forward. In fact, I feel as though I'll never be able to move again if I don't go that direction.

So, I walk in straight through the dark, foreboding trees. There is something so strange and… terrifying about this place. I took me a few minutes to realize what it was. There was no sound at all. Everything was completely silent. That lack of sound was discouraging. In most forests there was usually the trill of a bird, the scampering of a squirrel, or the buzzing of some insect. But here there was only the slight thump as my feet hit the ground and the deep sound of my own inhaling and exhaling.

I felt the pull tighten in the pit of my stomach. There was no choice but to continue to follow it. As I walked farther and farther towards it, I could just make out… something.

At first the 'something' was so small that I couldn't tell what it was. For some reason, I walked even faster. I knew that I had to see it. When I got closer I could tell that it was a bright, shining, silver light. At the moment, it was just a tiny pinprick, but I knew that there was something amazing on the other side of the light.

Now, I know that following the light' is not something that a realistic or practical person would do. But as I cop, I have gained curiosity and know the value of taking risks. Besides, my nature wouldn't allow me to be either 'realistic' or 'practical'. It also wouldn't let me rest until I knew what was at the (proverbial and literal) light at the end of the tunnel.

Of course, I didn't really need the light. Somewhere deep inside, I knew that both the light and the pull would lead me to the same place. The question is: what will I find when I get there?

I continued forward, but the pull stopped. There was no force anymore, but there was the ever-brightening, blinding light that was just at the end of the tree line.

I stepped to the end of the trees, knowing that what I was looking for was right across that line. I felt myself teetering on the brink. What I wanted was just in front of me. I could step over the line and find out what it was that pulled me or just stand here and wonder forever, or until I went blind from the glare of the light.

As I trembled precariously on the edge, I heard a voice. Qwan's voice like it had said on the way back from Hybras. "Move towards the light." Qwan. I trusted him. How could you not? Though this could be a trap. "Move towards the light," the voice ordered again. That second order made up my mind for me.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the light. I have to admit that it was very... anticlimactic. The light was warm like a caressing breeze, but as blinding as the sun as I stepped through it. Then my body had melted through and I was past it. The light behind me had faded into nothingness and it was easy to see the stretch of forest that I had just walked through.

Yes, the light was gone but my body was still on autopilot. My feet dragged me straight to the ground in front of a massive, shining, silvery pool that seemed to be made out of the light that had led me there.

When I was right in front of the pool, my feet stopped moving and gave out from under me. So, I just sat there with my legs curled underneath me as I glanced at my reflection in the pool.

The reflection wasn't mine. Well... it was mine, but it wasn't. I know it doesn't make any sense. So to put it simply. It was me but noe the me who I really am. (much simpler right?) It was Holinda who was staring back at me from the depths of the silver pool.

Her hair was blond and her eyes were bright green. Her clothes were made up of a black miniskirt and a green tube-like top. Her skin looked tan and seemed to be glowing in the silver light that surrounded her. I held up my hand and she did the same. I couldn't resist glancing down at my own skin. I had expected to see the tan skin from the reflection, but my skin was its usual nut-brown.

"Surprised?" asked a deep, masculine voice from behind me. I admit that I jumped about a foot into the air. I had thought that I was alone. In fact, I had been sure of that. The only real alternative was that someone had snuck up on me. I know, it seems impossible. But as soon as that thought occured to me I tensed my body into fight mode.

"You didn't expect to see yourself like that, did you?" the voice asked getting closer and closer, but I still didn't turn around.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"You don't know?" he asked from right behind me. This would have been the perfect time to elbow him in the groin, but I just didn't want to hurt him on purpose. I wanted to hear what he had to say. He put his hands on my shoulders. They were large, warm, and comforting, but I spun around anyway and wan't at all surprised by who was standing there.

Artemis was there, wearing his usual black dress pants and inevitable white, dress shirt. "Artemis," I said seemingly emotionless, but inside, for some reason, I felt like smiling.

"So,do you know who I am?" he aksed and I could hear the ever-present smirk in his voice.

"It's not like you'd ever let me forget," I mumbled, thinking that he coudn't hear it. But, of course he would hear what I didn't really want him to.

"It's not like you'd ever want to forget. Not really," he replied.

I sighed. Does he always have to be right? No matter what he said or how angry I got, I'd never really want to forget Arty. He was my best friend and closest confidant. Without him, life would be boring, to say the least and different to say the most. Of course, that's if I was even alive after all of the attempts made to destroy the barriers between the worlds. To be honest, in a way the two of us always seemed to be straddling that wall. Perhaps there'll come a time when we both have to choose a side to stay on.

I didn't want to be wrong and give him the chance to gloat, so I changed the subject. "How did you know that I was me if I looked like this?"

"Holly, I would know you in a pitch, black room." I just rolled my eyes at his theatrics. He is so overdramatic.

"Any way, what are you doing here?"

"I would like to know the same thing," he said and even though he was behind me, I could tell that he was shrugging.

I turned around to fully face him. "What do you mean? And why can't I see your reflection in this pool?"

Artemis rolled his eyes at my questions. "If we're going to talk, we should do it in a more comfortable place."

I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows in a challenge. "And where would that be? The foyer. There's nothing here to sit on."

"I wouldn't be so sure," he smirked. "Look again."

This time I was the one to roll my eyes. Even he wasn't that good. But as I turned around I saw a comfortable benc appear, seemingly out of thin air and land softly on the ground. "How-?" I began but was cut off.

"Let's sit down first, shall we?" he asked taking my hand and leading me to the bench. He sat next to me and turned so that I knew that he was paying attention to me. Not that I could ever think differently. Everyone knows thath the thrill of new knowledge excites him to the point of indecency.

"Now that we're cozy, ask your questions," he ordered like I was a child. It was incredibly annoying, but I needed answers and I know sarcasm would only draw out the lecture.

"Where are we?" I demanded.

"Of course your first question would be one that I can't answer," he sighed.

"What do you mean you can't answer it? The 'great' Artemis Fowl knows the answer to any and everything."

"Yes, I know 'any every thing' you care to name. But this isn't my doing." Surprisingly. Usually, scheming plans were his doings.

"Fine," I huffed. "What led me here?"

"That pull inside of you?" he asked. "I have no earthly idea."

"Grrr, can you answer any of my questions?"

"I can answer any question but have no control on wheather or not that answer is correct," he smirked. "Ask away and perhaps fortune will smile on you."

"Fine, why can't I see you in the pool?" I saked glancind towards the open, silvery, glowing pool. For a second it seemed to shimmer as if it were a living being and was glad that I had mentioned it. But that is a ridiculous idea. It's just a small spring.

"As I said, I only have theories to the majority of your questions," he repeated. I was a bit frustrated, but knew that showing it would only lead to problems.

"Well fine," I submitted. "Tell me your theories." I wouldn't admit it, but they are usually right anyway.

"Thank you. I am usually right, aren't I?" he chortled and I jerked forward in surprise.

"You can read my mind here?" I demanded, worried about how this might effect our conversation.

"No, and yes..." he replied. "You somehow... 'beamed' (for lack of a better word) that thought at me. It was a bit like screaming, actually. And when you did that, I received it."

"Great," I groaned. "So, I have to whisper my thoughts now."

"Actually, I can't hear it anymore. You did something. Too bad," he chuckled but changed back to being serious rather quickly. "Now, would you like to hear my theories?"

"Nooo, I'm just waiting for the other criminal genius mud boy next to me to explain it," I rolled my eyes.

Artemis sighed, but didn't take the time to return another sarcastic comment. "Your first question was where are we. All that I know is that this is a place of magical construction. Of course, there are many types of magic."

"Yes, I know, Mr. Obvious. I took magic as a minor in college," I rolled my eyes. He always thinks that he knows everything and I was learning magic before he was even born. "Answer my next one."

"The second, what led you here. I believe it was the same force that brought you to this place."

"Well, no duh Sherlock," I said using one of Juliet's favorite terms. It wasn't like it was a big surprise. I wasn't a genius, and I could come up with these ridiculously simple thoughts myself.

"The third question: why can't you see my reflection in the pool? I thought it would be quite obvious," he smirked obviously goading me after my repeated sarcasm. I'd like to say hat I didn't rise to the challenge, but I'd be lying.

"Well, obviously it's not obvious," I shrieked, throwing my hands in the air in frustration. "I need it in plain words. Just tell it to me." I don't know where the anger came pouring from but it exploded. And it flet good to let it all out at once. All of this frustration and excess emotion felt amazing.

"Just calm down, Holly," he placataed. "I'm sorry. I'll explain."

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my jangled nerves. "Okay," I mumbled embarrassed by my overly-dramatic behavior.

He put an arm around my waist gently. It wasn't a gross, groping way. It was more of a way of using physicality to calm me down. It was working. "You can't see me in the pool because whatever magic brought you here is just for you and only effects you. It shows your reflection of how you are to yourself. In fact, the silver is probably a color that reflects some hidden part of yourself.

"So, are you saying tht this place as made for me?" I demanded, all of a sudden feeling like a trapped animal. My claustrophobia was spiking and making it impossible for me to think. All I wanted was to get out of the tight space, before I could start hyperventalating.

"Well, to make it simple... yes." That was my out. I surged up, and took off running toward the edge of the tree line.

"Holly! No!" he called after me.

I continued running until I got to the edge of the trees. "Holly, no!" he shouted much louder and with more of a warning tone.

I still ignored him. There was a slight shimmer of silver, and I braced myself so that I wouldn't fall or bump into a tree. "Holly, there may be a -" he began but I took the step forward that would lead me to escape.

"Forcefield." That was the last word that I heard, before it was gargled off like it was coming from miles away or as if I was underwater.

Then a tingleing started and I somehow knew what it meant. If I could feel this pain then it would be the most excrutiating thing that I had ever felt. There was no way that my body could compensate, so it could only create a pathetic tingling to attempt to recreate it. But the tingling was fading away to pain, as my body found a way to betray me. The pain was sharper and deeper than anything that I had ever felt. My body was wracked with shakes from trying to keep myself standing up. Unfortunately, I failed and fell flat on my back. I began to hover inches from the ground.

There was a small, rational part of my brain that was still functioning through the pain. That part was screaming 'try to crawl out' at me. My body struggled to comply, but found that I couldn't move any part of my body. There was a blackness coming, and I knew that I was going to have to submit.

"Ar...Ar...Arte-mis," I groaned managing to push the words past my lips. Just as I finished that the blackness overtook me.

For a few moments, I heard nothing more than the labored sound of my own breathing. Then it was like I split into two bubbles. The largest bubble was fulled with me and my mind-numbing pain. The other, smaller, sphere was where a different, conscious part of me was sitting separate and watching. She felt almost no pain at all. So, now I was suffering but could see it in HD.

I watched my face contorted in pain and my back arched as if tyring to brace itself from the invisible onslaught. My hands were clenced and my auburn hair was matted to my face with sweat. But, I wasn't trying to win a beauty pageant. I was trying to survive, so looks were the least of my problems.

"Artemis," I screeched. The woman in the sphere turned so that she could see him. I don't quite know how to catagorize what I saw. If this situation hadn't been dangerous for hte both of us, then it may have been comical.

Artemis was running towards me, but from where I was everything seemed to be in super slow-motion. I could see every overly-exaggerated step as he raised and lowered his feet and pumped his arms. I could see his hair slowly sweep over his face. His eyes were the part that terrified me the most. They were hughe and filled with worry and fear. They almost seemed ready to brim over and I hoped they wouldn't because if he cried then I would too. And crying would just make this seem so much more real.

I felt awful. I hated to see him in this much pain. Elves are naturally empathetic, but I felt even more sensitive now. I was totally in tune with him, and it was ripping me apart from my very seams. I kept watching his progress. It was slow, but somehow I knew it just had to do with where I was.

He finally managed to reach the barrier. He looked at it,curiously like he was trying to find out how to get to me. I felt a glimmer of hope in the midst of my pain. Artemis was a genius. He would find an ingenious way to get out of here. But he proved my wrong when I saw his eyes widen in realization and him slowly stretching his arm to me. "No!" I screeched, but if he could hear me then he ignored me. Nothing was worse than watching him extend his hand in slow motion, knowing that he would just end up writhing in pain next to me.

Bubble Holly looked down at my face. Now, there was nore than pain in my face. There was blatant fear and worry etched into my features. I knew that there was no way that Arty could take this pain. And... I didn't want him to. If I was stuck in purgatory then I at least wanted him to be in heaven. That was my last thought as huge tears rolled down my pale cheeks.

At this point, Artemis' hand was just an inch away from touching the barrier. "Noooo!" I screamed one last time, but it was all in vain.

I sat back helplessly as his hand got closer. It was painful to watch his hand slowly come forward to his downfall. I wanted to close my eyes. But forced myself to watch as his hand made contact. This was to be my punishment for acting too harshly earlier. He would be sucked in and I would have to watch him suffer, and know that it was my fault. Strangely enough, he wasn't sucked in and didn't howl in pain like I had. As his hands entered, they were covered by a bright silver light that heemed to spread warmth and comfort to where I was.

As soon as his hands were inside of the forcefield, they sped up to real time but I was still able to keep up with them fairly easily. I kept my eyes focused on the silver orbs as they reached my body. His hands shot out and grabbed me by the waist. When he touched my, the Holly in the orb drifted closer so that she could watch and relay information better.

I watched as Arty drug me through the gelatinous goo. He got me to the edge without any resistance at all. I was surprised by his strength. I hadn't expected him to be weak, but I'm not exactly a feather weight either. Though, in human terms, I probably was. At this point, I was at the very edge of the barrier. Arty tightened his grip around my waist and gave it one final tug.

As it passed through the membrane, the Holly in the orb flew and landed right on top of me. She matched her body to mine and melted right into me. At that moment, I felt better. It was like a part of me had been missing and I'd finally found it. Then, I popped out of the barrier and in to the night air.

"Ooof," I groaned as I hit the ground.

At first all I could do was pant as I tried to suck some oxygen into my deprived lungs. Artemis watched me warily and gave me a few seconds to catch my breath. Then, he was pulling me to his chest bridal style and I heard him murmer something. He proceeded to move as far away from the barrier as possible.

Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by Artemis's strength. He was carrying me without even a grunt or sway in his step. He sat down on the ground, leaning in front of the tree where the bench had previously been. He laid me in his lap so that I was looking up into a pair of mismatched and angry eyes.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," he ordered. "I almost lost you. Do you think that I could live through that?"

What? Did Artemis Fowl say that he couldn't live without me, Holly Short? "Sorry," I mumbled hoping that I hadn't misheard him. "I don't know what came over me."

"Sheer insanity," he replied, but his face seemed a bit less severe.

"I'm really sorry," I said, trying to pull myself up into a sitting position.

"You're still too weak to sit up," he said gently, but I ignored him and continued trying. Though, in a way he was right. I felt like all of my muscles had been grabbed and stretched as far as they would go and then some. Of course, I wasn't going to let that stop me. I continued struggling and managed to get up a little ways before falling right back down on his lap.

Arty watched me for a few minutes before sighing. He grabbed me under my arms like a child and lifted me up so that my head was cuddled in his chest. "Thanks," I tried to smile but it hurt my face too much.

"You're welcome," he mumbled, and it sounded like he was about to cry. No, the great Artemis Fowl couldn't cry. It was selfish, but if he started crying then I knew that I would too. And if I started crying then I wouldn't be able to stop.

"Artemis, why won't you talk to me?" I asked. "I'm the one who was stupid and got myself hurt."

"Yes, but as irrational as it is, I should have stopped you," he lamented and I was surprised. Artemis was the patron saint of 'not-changing-the-past-because-it's-impossible.' This was a strangely ludicrous thing to say. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd go on and do what ever you would have done if you had never met me. You'd be somewhere else, fall in love, and marry Minerva or someone very much like her," I said, grimacing at the thought of Minerva and how 'happy' they'd be.

"No. If I hadn't met you then, maybe that'd be possible. But I'd probably still be that twelve year old boy. The evil one and I wouldn't have my family at all. I shudder to think of how I would have turned out without you," he admitted. "But now that I know you, I know that I couldn't live without you, Holly Short."

"What?" I demanded looking up into those fathomless eyes..

"I hadn't planned on telling you like this," I murmered to himself, but I was close enough that I could hear any sound that he chose to make.

"Tell me what? What hadn't you planned on telling me?"

I hadn't notcied that I had lowered my gaze. Artemis clasped my chin and gently lifted it so that I was looking into his beautiful, mismatched eyes.

"I...I love you, Holly Shoryt. You're my best friend an one of the real reasons that I am the person that you see before you."

"Artemis... what are you saying?" I asked. The words that I thought that I had heard couldn't be real. My ears must just be ringing from earlier.

"I love you. When we first got back from the past, I was... confused. You can't imagine how frustrating that was for me. It took me a while longer, but I finally figured it out. All of the frustration and confusion was because I'm in love with you."

"Artemis, you can't love me. It's impossible," I said. He was still holding my chin up, so I was forced to continue looking at him.

"Holly, Holly, Holly," he admonished. "Haven't you learned by now? Doing the impossible is commonplace for me."

True. How many twelve year old humans had managed to discover a supposedly mythical race and kidnap one of them? How many can stop a goblin rebellion, save his father from the Russian mafyia, and defeat a criminal mastermind who is twice his age? Not to mention foiling an evil pixie's plan, saving a species from extintion, and battling an mean, heartless version of himself due to the time stream. All of which most sensible people would call impossible. Of course, those people don't know Artemis.

"Fine, you're amazing at saving the world and proving people wrong."

"Thank you. I try and succeed with amazing finesse," he smirked in his usual cocky way, but then he got serious. "Trust me, I really do love you. More than anything."

"Why?" I mumbled.

"Why wouldn't I love you?" he asked. I realized that he was saying 'love' as much as possible to drum it into my head. It was a neat psychological trick that negotiators often used. The whole 'we are your friend and won't hurt you thing'. Of course, that 's before they're arrested and sent to jail. At the moment, I knew how frustrating and hard to ignore it could be. "You're pretty, smart, clever, funny, trusting, kind, compassionate, and most of all: you've been there for me and changed me for the better."

"I...I don't know," I mumbled unsure of what I didn't know.

"Can you honestly say that you've never felt like you may feel the same way for me?"

"Maybe," I admitted. "Maybe in the gorrilla cage and on the car when we were in the past."

"But when we got back you repressed all of what you may have been feeling, didn't you?" Grr. I know he has a degree, but does he have to know all of what I'm feeling. I'd love to have a secret for once without being psychoanalyzed.

"Yes," I whispered quietly. "I didn't want to think about it."

"I did the same, but eventually it caught up to me like everything that one represses. It came crashing down and I couldn't escape it any more: I'm in love with you." He looked so honest and sincere, but I know how well he can deceive. This is probably just another means to an end.

"Who are you fooling?" I chuckled harshly, without mirth. "You only love gold."

"Gold," he snorted, very unlike himself. Of course, tonight, everything about him was unlike his normal self. "No longer animates me. It means nothing to me in comparison to you. Aurum est non potestas. Amor est potestas."

I can translate any language that he could think to speak. Even the ones that are considered 'dead' or 'ancient'. He had said that 'Aurum est non potestas'. That means that gold is not power. That is no so surprising considering how much he has changed. He's given up gold before. No, it was his next statement that floored me. 'Amro est potestas'. Love is power.

This is nothing that I had never imagined that I would hear Arty say. He was usually so... emotionally clueless. So, hearing him talk about love so freely was strange, and made me feel like the awkward teenager. Because, I wanted to deny the truth in his words, but I also wanted him to be telling the truth. I suppose there's only one real way to know.

"You say that you love me," I repeated.

"Obviously," Artemis said trying to veer away from his normal sarcastic approach to repeated questions. I appreciated it, but (I'll never admit this) I like his sarcastic side very much. It's part of him and not a part that I would want to change.

"Prove it," I challenged.

"I thought you'd never asked," he grinned predatorially.

Then he began leaning down toward me, slowly and deliberately. I knew exactly what he was doing and knew that he would have stopped if I had asked him to. If I had wanted him to. Somehow, I don't think that I did. That little part of me wanted to see what would happen and reciprocate as much as possible.

Artemis continued moving forward slowly. He stopped just centimeters from away from my face. I knew that his was his way of giving me a last chance to pull back or object. Once again, the rational part wanted to object, scream, or pull away but I couldn't.

I just sat there as Artemis closed the distance between us. His lips met mine and began to move in a complex dance. My lips were solid and unmoving at first, but quickly fell as Artemis attacked my lips with all of his skill. Let me just say that that skill was very impressive.

I've always heard of kisses described as passionate, and had no idea of what that meant. I can't say that anymore. It was warm, passionate, and... almost overwhelming.

Arty's mouth moved with mine and as soon as he saw that I wouldn't resist me, his hands began to move. He grabbed my waist and turned me so that I was straddling his lap with my legs wrapped around his waist. Amazingly enough, he managed to do all of that without once breaking contact with my mouth.

At first, I expected massive pain to flare up, but it didn't. As soon as his lips met mine, a cooling sensation, much like healing, swept wherever he made contact. In seconds, my lips felt like I had never hit that forcefield. It was ... amazing... magical.

I started feeling even stronger as I crushed my body as close to his body as I was able to. Both of my hands were in his hair to pull him to me. He didn't seem to mind as he crooked one arm around my waist and the other on the back of my head.

My mouth opened in a moan and an invitation. Artemis accepted and entered. His tongue was warm, teasing, and sweeter than anything that you can imagine. It played with mine as I savored the taste. I love human chocolate, but no candy could ever be a sweet as his mouth was.

We continued on in this exploratory fashion until we were both gasping for breath.

"That... was..," Artemis panted.

"Amazing," I huffed trying to catch my breath. Let me just say that training with the LEP and running constantly never prepared me for this.

"I couldn't have said it better myself," he grinned.

I rolled my eyes as I thought of his massive vocabulary. "Somehow I doubt that." He smirked but didn't say anything to incriminate himself. Smart man.

"I... I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked, concerned. At that moment, I remembered the healing touch that his lips had spread to mine. I raised my finger to touch my still slightly tingling lips and that's when I realized where I was still sitting. Or rather straddling. I was wrapped with my legs tight around his waist. It was comfortable and I didn't want to move, but it wasn't a 'talking friendly' position So I braced my still pained legs and slid off.

He started to protest, but I curled into is side so that I was next to him and practically in his lap."You weren't comfortable?" he asked.

"Very. But straddling a hormonal teenager doesn't seem very smart."

"Hormonal? Really, Holly," he tutted. "Regardless, for the second time, did I hurt you?"

"You didn't seem to care about how comfortable I was when you were ravishing me with your mouth."

Instead of getting angry or blushing, he chuckled. "I wouldn't call that ravishing you with my mouth. I'd hardly say that that one kiss stole your innocence."

"You mean two kisses, of course," I corrected.

"Two kisses," he ammended. "Two astonishing, astounding, amazing kisses. Two bewildering, mind-blowing, electrifying, impressive, staggering kisses. Two startling, striking, stunning, stupefying kisses. Two unbelievably wonderful kisses."

Wow, that was a lot of adjectives. Though I couldn't deny the truth in his words. Just the mention of those kisses made it a bit hard to breathe as I remembered how his lips had attacked mine. "True," I smiled still a bit breathless.

"Not to interrupt the moment but I didn't hurt you did I?" Ugh, this question again. It was getting very annoying very quickly.

"Has anyone ever told you that you can be annoyingly persistent?"

"Perhaps, but you must admit that persistance does pay off," he smirked.

"Perhaps, but you must admit that most of the time it's just annoying."

"Regardless," he grinned. "Just please answer me."

Trust Arty to be the overprotective type. "Actually, your lips kind of made the pain go away," I admitted.

"Really?" he asked. "That's fascinating."

"Yes really," I said resisting the urge to giggle. "Though, I'd hardly call it fascinating."

"How oftend does this happen?" he countered. D'arvit! He had a point. I've never heard of anything like this happen in my magical studies. Though, I suppose Artemis is the type to be the first to do something.

"Okay, point made."

"Hmm, would you mind if I experimented with it?" he asked with a gleam of interest in his eyes.

"I'm not going back into that forcefield again," I warned. I didn't really think that he'd try to make me, but with Arty it's always best to state your intentions from the get-go.

"I would never put you into danger like that," he promised. Even when you know something without a shadow of a doubt, you still find it better to hear out loud. You feel validated and warm and tingly inside. At least, that's how I was feeling.

"I don't know...," I said, nervously biting my bottom lip.

So when I didn' automatically agree he had to play his trump card. "Please?" he begged with his eyes smoldering. At one point in time, this is going to stop affecting me. It won't bother me and make me give in when he asks nicely. But at this time, it's so novel and strange that I can' help but submit.

"Fine," I huffed.

"Thank you, Holly," he said with a dazzling, mind-numbing smile. "First of all, I need to ask a few questions for the sake of experimentation."

"Of course, Dr. Fowl," I replied rolling my eyes. Trust Arty to get professional. I wonder how many human doctors make out with their patients before working on them. My guess is quite a few.

"Strangely enough, I don't have a doctorate in the name Fowl," he grinned.

"You're so paranoid that I'm really not surprised," I chuckled.

"Paranoid? Me? I'd say that I was more cautious. If you want paranoid then call Foaly; that's more of his forte."

"Point made," I acknowledged. "Let's do this stupid 'experiment'."

"Now, are you still in pain?" Of course. Right back to business. Not even another sarcastic comment.

"Yes," I answered sweetly. "On my arms and legs."

"Could you rate the pain on a scale of one to ten and then describe how it feels?"

"From one to ten? I'd say either an eight or nine, but I can think around it for short amounts of time," I said. "It feels like little flames licking my skin repeatedly. Once the flames stop it's like someone is pricking me with needles tipped in acid. Or... never mind."

"No, you should tell me so that I can do my best to analyze this," he ordered.

"It feels like mini-Abbots are stabbing me with his sword all over my body," I told him honestly. I pretended not to notice his wince as he thought about the time when I he saved me and brought me back. I gently caressed his face, inviting him to move on.

Luckily, Artemis took my hint and didn't say anything else about it. "Now, you may find the following procedure invasive. If you do, then you may ask me to stop at any time and I will. Is that clear?"

"Yes," I smiled. "I trust you."

He didn't say anything else as he took my hand. He softly place his lips to my fingers and kissed them. Then, his lips started moving slowly upward to my shoulder. It was amazing. His lips left a cool, tingling, numbing sensation wherever they touched. It felt like I had just been given a huge shock of healing magic.

His mouth seemed tease my skin and slide slowly forward. It was driving me crazy. So crazy that I couldn't keep back the moan that escaped my lips. "Artyyy," I moaned. I felt Arty's mouth quirk up in a smirk. He began teasing me even more and even nipping the skin a little. I tried to hold in anything that would give him ammunition for later, but I didn't have the power to keep silent.

"Oooooh, Arty," I groaned even louder. "That feels so good."

I hadn't really expected him to leave my moans alone. He had to make a comment. "I take it that you're feeling better."

"Yes," I groaned. And that was all the signal that he needed to do my other arms and legs.

I would like to say that I didn't groan anymore, but that would be a degree of lying that I am not comfortable with. I moaned and groaned his name plenty of times. Especially when he reached my thigh and the crook of my elbow and knees. After what seemed like a mind-numbingly long time, he finished and I felt strong and whole again.

"Thank you," I smiled as he sat back up.

"It was definitley my pleasure," he grined, probably preserving this memory somewhere in his huge brain. I'd like to say that I pushed him away or screamed or slapped him, but once again that is a degree of lying that I'm not comfortable with.

"I love you, Holly," Artemis said looking at the silver pool which was pulsing with an even brighter color than before. In fact, the pool seemed to have a happy and excited mood. I just sighed. I had been expecting Arty's word and wasn't the least bit surprised.

However, his next question did surprise me. "Well, I've told you, repeatedly, how I feel. I would like to know: How do you feel?"

"I don't know," I replied, self-concsiously. "I feel... warm and at peace at the moment. I... like being this close to you. It 's not as bad as I thought that it would be."

Artemis smiked a bit more. "Thank you. That's all I ask, is for you to tell me how you feel. I'll always accept it, even if it's not what I want. Though, I do wonder if you feel more than that..."

"Maybe," I smiled coyly. Though, even I'm not sure if I really do feel more or not. "Maybe not. You'll just have to find out for yourself."

"Oh, I intend to," he assured me with a mischevious smirk and I rolled my eyes. "One more thing..."

I sighed in defeat. "Fine, what?"

He bent and pecked my lips with his. Next he put his lips on my neck and nibbled which made me moan his name again. Then his lips were atm my ear and he was whispering. "I love you even more when you moan my name like that."

A/N:

Woo-hoo! Another Chapter down. Thankfully, I won't be doing this in Arty's POV. So, the Phenom chapters are officially over. (don't cry too much…J)

Oh, from now on I will update my one of other stories and then come back to this one. That way I can finally finish those. Anyway,I hope to update this story soon. Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and remember to review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)

Remember: Reviews = happy camper. Happy camper = quicker updates. Quicker updates = you reading more. It's a cycle. Keep it going!

Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette