"You can treat this like another all the same, but don't cry like a bitch when you feel the pain"
You're Going Down by Sick Puppies
"Order me to do something."
"What? You need to get out of here before Kelp finds out what I've done!"
"Order me to."
"Run, now!"
"No."
The human winced once, before running. A single glance from him highlighted his dazzling green eyes, and she glared at him. He simply nodded and he ran.
Captain Holly Short kept replaying the events of the night in her head.
I shouldn't have let him go.
Why did he make me order him?
Why did he feel pain when he said 'No'?
Holly couldn't make sense of the events. The section 8 guides on Lycans were pretty bare, due to their passivity, but one thing was made clear, they lack empathy. But this wolf didn't appear to be apathetic. He sounded sad in Texas, and he seemed resigned at the last encounter.
She shook her head, earning her a glance from one of the other members of the team. She smiled meekly, and he turned away. I have a feeling I'm gonna need Artemis for this one.
Kelp had chose to split the team, taking only two other soldiers to chase the wolf. If they captured him, she wanted – no, needed to find out what happened.
Part of her wanted this Lycan free... his leader tried to kill him, he must have done something drastic. From what they had learnt, Rudolph Gardner had a confidant, who they had established as Silver Stride, but he was part of the older order, and was not respected amongst the younger members.
Their source, apparently a Lycan still under the young Gardner, promised to meet them under the next full moon, tomorrow night, and give them more information on both Silver Stride and Ravager.
It all sounded too easy to Holly, and Fairy intuition was never wrong.
Foaly had been running Silver Stride's human face throughout human databases, but so far, no luck. When the centaur came back on the screen, no one was expecting a thing.
The centaur sounded frustrated when he spoke, "It's like he doesn't exist!" He cried.
One of the other officers spoke, "Don't they have long lives? Perhaps this guy is one of those...?"
A chorus of acceptance, but Foaly snapped at him, "Of course I've checked that, but humans haven't had image capturing for that long!"
Holly looked at the image she took when let him go. He was tall, a built quite strong, similar to Butler, but less mass. This man would pass as an army commander, while Butler would pass as front line man. Silver Stride looked like he been in wars too. He had a single scar down the left side of his face. It didn't affect the colour of his eyes however, both of them were a piercing green. A shiver went down her spine.
"Why did you let him go Holly.." Foaly's voice made her jump again. He wasn't on the big screen anymore, just in her ear.
"I d-don't know what you're talking about.." She replied.
"I've edited the footage, but I need to know why Holly... Lycans can't be trusted..." He said, his voice still sounding frustrated.
"You saw what happened... I need to know why he couldn't hit me... or even not do what I said..."
"Yes, but what if you kills again? Then someone will have died because you were curious..."
Holly knew he was right. "What about this source? How do we know its legit?"
Foaly sighed. "We don't. He wouldn't even give us a name."
Holly frowned, "But we're sending a team anyway?"
"I don't like it either..."
"What does Artemis think about all of this?"
Foaly sniggered, but Holly was baffled at why, "Heh, yeah, I was supposed to brief him, but I can't get through to him."
"What's so funny? And its not like Artemis to miss an opportunity like this.."
"Butler mentioned a family surprise..." Foaly sniggered again.
Lycans breed in humanform, and their offspring will always have the curse. This child's first transform will be during puberty. This generally coincided with other elements of the coming of age process, but they still have to eat a human heart and drink the blood of the alpha before the next surge of magical energy, or which was generally the next full moon, otherwise the curse would not take hold, and the child will become a pure human, despite one whom is athletically superior.
While this was originally compulsory, it was eventually up to the parents whether to allow their child to suffer the curse. The curse would only be passed down a single generation, meaning that the curse would end with that child. The liberalisation of this rule was one of the contributing factors to the decline of Lycan numbers. Many Lycans want to restore this law, but support is split almost fifty/fifty.
Excerpt from The Complete Works of Wolfenkindby Dr. K. Kopple.
"Butler, can I have a word?" Butler nodded towards Artemis I, and strolled over to his principle's father. "I need you to help a friend for a while."
Butler looked confused, his job was to protect Artemis, not his father's shady associates. As if Artemis the first could read his mind, "I know, this isn't what you're here for, but it's important.."
Butler, if he was a normal man, would have sighed. Instead, he simply nodded, "Of course Mister Fowl."
Within the hour, Butler was in a helicopter on his way to England. The mountain man shook his head. I should be next to Artemis, anything could happen. This time he did sigh, his father promised he had gone completely legal.
"This man is a friend, going though a similar moral crisis I had, from what I gather, his previous employer did not agree with the sentiment."
Another reformer? You know the world is improving when the good guys go bad... Butler shook his head, before, the Fowls were simply misguided.
As he landed in a park, he rang the number Artemis Senior gave him. Someone picked up after the second ring.
"I assume that's you landing in the park?" The voice sounded calm, but the Scot was obviously breathing heavy.
"Yeah, what kind of trouble?" Butler asked. If it was dangerous he'd couldn't go straight back to Fowl manor.
"Heh, it's magical." Butler snorted, "but I'm pretty sure I lost them in the tunnel.."
"How sure are you?" He asked.
"Convinced their leader I wasn't worth it, he left with his dogs."
Butler nodded, "Impressive, where you wanna go?"
"Start up, I'll be there in a sec."
As the blades span, the a man climbed into the passenger side of the small craft. Butler appraised the newcomer. A well built man, with an unshaven face, and a large scar over his left eye. He even looked bad news, and Butler did not like the idea of taking him Fowl manor. Butler then noticed the man's arm, a single, deep wound spun the entirety of his limb. His wrist also showed signs of burn marks.
Butler grimaced as the man put his helmet on. This guy is a reformer?
"Names Levi, and just take us as far away as possible." He said, wiping his brow.
"Butler. Mister Fowl suggested his Manor, as you were planning to visit as some point anyway." Butler replied, putting the helicopter into the air.
"The Butler? Nice. And if that's what Artemis suggested, sure..." Butler glanced at the man again. He seemed to deep in thought. If Artemis can reform, I guess this guy could too...
Knight Wing, Aegis, Ares, Eos and Dark Blade were all waiting in the darkened room. Levi smiled as they sat around the circular table.
"What is the meaning of this Levi?" Growled Dark Blade. Like all of the Lycans, he was in human form, his blue eyes piercing.
"I have a... an announcement to make..." Levi licked his lips, "Rud was killed by a fairy."
Levi expected outrage, shouting, screaming, perhaps even been mauled to death on the spot. Silence? The silence was worse.
"You are sure?" Whispered Eos, the only female of the group.
"I chased her myself..." Levi rubbed the back of his neck, "I couldn't kill her..."
"Why not?!" Shouted Ares, true to his namesake, bring his huge fist down onto the table, "Why is the bitch not strung up for all to see?!"
Aegis simply chuckled, earning himself a glare from the short tempered Russian. Eos, however, spoke again, "Why would Nick lie about it?"
This time Dark Blade spoke, "The little runt is trying to usurp control?"
Levi's grimace was enough for everyone in the room. Aegis spoke, spewing wisdom, as the Italian Lycan tended to, "He has enough supporters in the ranks to prevent Levi standing against him, tell us what happened Levi."
Levi nodded, "Nick charged towards their Commander while Rud stood surveying the battle. The new bloods weren't following the plan and decided to feed, instead of focussing on the fairies with guns. Rud gave me the order to retreat and turned to Nick to do the same. As he was tearing a chunk out of their commander's leg, a female took to aiming her gun. Rud roared, and jumped in front of the shot. The lass looked terrified and ran, expecting Nick to give chase, but he didn't. He kinda fell to his knees and seemed genuinely remorseful. I charged at the lass and tried to kill her..." Levi looked at the ground.
"And?!" demanded Ares, "What did you do?!"
"I couldn't." Was the whispered reply.
"What?" Eos spoke again, "What do you mean?"
Both Dark Blade and Ares were fuming, Knight Wing and Aegis looked on impassively.
"The Wrath of the Alpha stopped me."
Levi was given four confused looks. Aegis, however, simply nodded. "Yes..."
They all turned towards him, "What is it Aegis?" asked Knight Wing. All of the others were waiting on his answer.
He stood, and walked over to where Levi was standing. "It hasn't happened in a while, before Rud ever became Alpha, but the Alpha is always the strongest of us, correct?" Aegis was at least six hundred years old, and had out lived three Alphas. He was also using the voice he would use when he spoke to the new bloods.
Five separate nods. Ares and Dark Blade had calmed, but it was the other three were paying the most attention, especially Levi.
"The Lycan who wanted to be the Alpha would have to challenge the current Alpha to single combat. The winner would be the Alpha." He leant on his hands, "I believe that this fairy has taken that mantle."
Gasps came from the normally boisterous pair, while both Eos and Knight Wing sported frowns. Levi, however, looked enlightened. "And that's why I could not kill her with out demanding single combat, because I hit her from behind as she was running, it was not honour bound."
Aegis nodded, "Yes, that is what I believe, if you ever meet this fairy, any of you, before you do anything else, test out this theory." He spoke waving his hands.
Ares broke the following silence with another fist onto the table. "Fairies can't become Lycans!"
Dark Blade stood with him, "Yeah, and why did the Wrath happen when I spoke up in the Gathering?"
Aegis raised in hands towards the irate Lycans, "I believe that is because he has his father's blood. Any of Nick's offspring would have to go through the rite of passage like all of us, and then defeat his father. This is curious..." Aegis slid back into his chair, "Two Alphas?"
Ares hit both his fists on the table, cracking the Oak. "Fairies can't be Lycans!" He repeated.
Aegis did not even look up. "Says who?"
Levi chuckled, "In theory, anyone could do the rite, Fairy, Human, Dwarf, it was never that specific." He ignored the glare from Ares.
Eos spoke up next, "So if I'm not going crazy, we should actually turn to his fairy for leadership?"
Both Knight Wing and Levi chuckled, "She's probably a better leader than Nick." joked Knight Wing.
Ares shook his head more. "Nick isn't the best leader, but a fairy?"
Dark Blade agreed, "I can't say I'm happy with this..."
Eos stood up, "If anything, we need to confront Nick."
Ares almost spluttered, "So he can tear us a new one?"
Knight Wing smashed his fist onto the table, "We can't let him just take over like this!"
"One of us should challenge him then..." Whispered Aegis.
Dark Blade jumped at the chance, "Yes. Let me, I will have the usurper's head."
Aegis shook his head, "Don't be a fool. We need both a strong leader and fighter, not just the latter."
All of the eyes turned towards Leviticus. He simply sighed. "It's late, and I'm not going to rush into any late night plans. We'll meet again in a few days to decide what we'll do."
"I agree, same time next week?" Asked Knight Wing. A chorus of nods. Levi sighed again.
"This can't end well. What ever happened."
The five other's dropped their heads. If Levi lost, then they would all die.
"Levi! My old friend, come here!" Artemis senior brought the bemused Scot into a big hug.
"Woah!" Levi wasn't expecting his old business partner to be so... warm. He returned the hug though.
"Come, come on, I want you to meet my family!" Artemis said as he pulled away.
"I've been here not even two minutes!" Levi cried.
"So? My eldest son came back from his trip a few hours ago, but he's retired to his room, and we have a ton of food to finish. If I recall, you had one hell of an appetite!" Both the adults laughed, and Levi contemplated his friends almost radical transformation. He hadn't spoke to since he got back, but he heard the rumours from his old associates.
"Ole Fowl gone good ya know?"
"Yeh, fecka's missin oot in ma opinion."
Levi was actually glad his old friend had found peace. He remembered the coldness of the meetings,. In expensive hotels, it was great money, but he was always nervous around him his intimidating Butler. He would never have said the words 'meet my family' before.
"Oh hello!" Mrs Fowl met them in the kitchen, and Artemis was not kidding. There was a large oriental buffet on the large table and that made Levi laugh.
Angeline seemed cautious of Levi, and he did not blame her. She stood between the big man the room where he could hear voices. Her sons.
"Greetings Mrs Fowl, my name is Leviticus Dunkeld, but please, call me Levi." He said, with as much warmth as possible, kissing her hand.
She seemed to scowl at his attempted chivalry. Artemis simply laughed nervously. "Don't worry about him Angel, he won't be staying long."
Levi did a double take. "I'm staying, Artemis?"
Artemis put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, still smiling, "Getting on the straight and narrow isn't going to be easy. I had to get kidnapped for it to dawn on me."
Angeline scowled even more when the door opened.
Artemis strolled into the kitchen to glanced at his family. He saw the visitor, who he regarded with barely veiled contempt.
"I came down for a glass of water," He turned to Butler, "I take it your trip was productive."
His father simply sighed. "Artemis, this is Levi, he will be staying here for a while..."
Artemis looked at his mother, who was obviously not happy with this arrangement, neither was Butler. To his surprise, even the newcomer seemed slightly nervous.
"His purpose?"
"He's trying to leave a life of crime." Said Artemis Senior jovially.
"And apparently, your father has little faith in me to do it on my own..." Levi chuckled nervously. Angeline simply glared at him.
"Timmy, dear, just make sure our guest does not overstep his boundaries." She called her husband by his pet name before leaving to watch Myles and Beckett.
Artemis the first simply sighed. "I'm sorry fo-"
"I understand her fears Artemis." Levi waved his apologies away. "May I have some of this delicious looking food?" He said with a smile.
Artemis I returned his smile, "Help yourself my friend."
"I'll hold you to that." Levi said with an exaggerated wink. Artemis Senior simply laughed as he left the room.
Young Artemis watched this interaction with interest. This man, who looked in late twenties, was acting as if he had been friends with his father since childhood. His father did not have friends, at least, not until recently.
"How did you know my father? If you don't me asking..." He asked.
Levi almost spoke with a mouth of sushi, but caught himself. After he had finished, "Honestly? I tried to take Butler's job." Butler smiled, and Levi laughed.
"Yes, I remember you now, it wasn't close, but it was the first time someone else offered." Levi laughed laughed louder.
"Yes, and while I never got the job, your father did hire my outfit for other jobs though." Levi smiled at young Artemis.
Artemis wasn't sure what to make of the Scot. He seemed like he had great emphatic control, but also seemed to checking every possible exit. A mix of Butler and Holly perhaps?
Butler also noticed Levi's movements, but decided he wasn't looking to harm his friend's family. He was simply a soldier. Artemis came to the same conclusion.
"Which wars have you fought in?" He asked.
Levi's smile dropped fast, which was noted by both Artemis and Butler. Levi's eyes also dropped. "The most recent was the Falklands... I left the Army after that.."
Butler nodded sympathetically, but Artemis did not. Artemis could tell the signs of someone telling only half-truths. Knowledge is power.
"Have you lost someone recently?" He asked. Butler simply shook his head, typical Artemis.
Levi's eyes never left the floor. "Yes, earlier in fact... that's why I asked your father to help me.."
Artemis frowned.
Levi looked up, and looked at the young Fowl in the eyes. His mismatched hazel and blue eyes.
A five year old could not have noticed the sudden change in Levi's behaviour. He jumped back, leaning against a counter.
A moment of shocked silence, and Artemis spoke, "Are you okay Mr...?"
He shook his head violently before leaving the room in a flurry.
Both Butler and Artemis exchanged confused looks. "He must be tired..." Suggested Butler. They both knew that that was not the case.
Hazel and blue... blue and hazel... their eyes...
How could I have not noticed? Her scent was rife throughout the Manor... every single person reeked of magic...
Do they know?
The young lad must... his hazel eye was teeming with magic...
Levi looked back the house. Full moon tomorrow... if I wait... she might come here...
"Has anyone seen Levi?" Artemis Senior asked his family as they set down to have their breakfast.
Young Artemis and Butler exchanged glances, but did not say anything. Angeline spoke, vehemence obvious, "Have you checked local prison dear?"
The atmosphere was horribly stifling for Artemis, and he had not heard from Foaly or Holly all night.
"Father, I'm also terribly worried about our guest, but Butler and I have work that has to be done." His father frowned, but waved his anyway.
As Artemis sat down at his computer, the opening of his window gave him a ghost of a smile. He could not hear Holly's footsteps, but he waited for the perfect moment. The second Holly was about to try and scare Artemis Fowl the Second -
"Captain Short, can I help you?" As he span in his chair. Holly fell back clutching her chest.
"You conniving son of a gun. How did you know?" She cried, her breath heavy.
"You sound like an elephant, please, I have a busy schedule." He said, an amused look on his face.
Holly hit him playfully, chuckling. "We need help, but Foaly was refusing to talk to you because he wants the glory."
"About?" Artemis asked.
Holly furrowed her brow, "The Lycans," she informed him, "We chased him... even hit him at one point, but he... erm... escaped from me and Kelp chased him. They were convinced he wasn't worth being killed, but he escaped and we lost his trace."
"Do you have an image of him in Humanform?" Artemis asked. He noticed her stumble, more half-truths.
"Yeah, erm..." She pulled out her communicator, and showed Artemis the image of the scarred human. "From what we can tell, he's pretty tall by human standards, he great at killing and has the weirdest eyes, they're like -"
"An emerald green?" Artemis suggested, and Holly's mouth dropped.
"How did you... you can't see them on that picture..." She stuttered.
"Yes I know, I think I might have met him last night."
Holly did a double take. "Artemis?!" I can ask him what happened! "Where is he?!"
"He looked into my eyes and he fled. I have to assume he saw your eyes through mine." Artemis turned to his computer and started to type. "He calls himself Levi and he worked for the Union of British Assassins, he has a military background, he said he was involved in the Falklands War."
Foaly spends all night and finds nothing. Artemis sees a picture and he's already met him.
"I need to speak to him Artemis." Demanded Holly.
"Ah yes, is this when he 'escaped from you'?" Artemis asked, physically doing the air quotes around the words.
Holly closed her eyes. "He did something weird and I want to know what he did."
Artemis started to check the security cameras. "Then lets get started shall we?"