The Angelic Paradox

Exceptionally Perplexing

CHAPTER THREE artemis p.o.v.

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been updating =( but my computer has been acting stupid. It seems to be working now so hopefully I can get back into the routine. Despite my idiotic computer, I didn't stop writing. Here's the next chapter.

I press my broad forehead against the cool glass, both surfaces moist with condensation, as the school bus jostles my fragile frame against the female to my right. Each jolt strengthens the scowl plastered on my face. Someone bearing as much intelligence as myself should not be obliged to such a revolting mode of transportation as bus-riding. Just simply the though of being stranded on the un-air-conditioned contraption full to the brim with teenagers, many who neglect personal hygiene and the use of antiperspirant, sickens me immensely. Yet here I am, glaring at the rough, greenish leather of the seat in front of me as the disgusting mechanism drags itself down the road.
Why, you ask, do I endure this seemingly meaningless waste of time? Why do I, Artemis Orion Fowl II, torture myself by trapping myself willingly in the suffocating, claustrophobic prison known as middle school? The answer is three words or rather, one name.
Emerald Lilith Tate.
"Art."
I glance up steadily, into her deep, chocolate- brown irises.
"Y'okay?" she asks in her soft vioce, its gentleness often distorted by the roaring flame of her personality.
I nod sluggishly in response, forcing the repulsive slang from my lips, "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks."
She smiles slightly and turns back to the idiotic adolescents we somehow trust with our next generation of homo sapiens, arguing loudly over careless, average teenager problems. Not like the stocks and bonds, the gold and fairies I have to contend with, not to mention saving the world on multiple occasions.
"Uh, Emerald, can you, um, meet me at Abbey Park at like 4:30-ish? I wanna tell you something kinda important," I pronounce, mimicking casual conversation exquisitely.
"Sure, I know the perfect place."
I nod, "Cool. That works. I'll meet you by the first bridge."
She grins, "Okee dokee then. See ya at 4:30!"

I perch on the edge of the small wooden bridge, dressed comfortably back in one of my suits rather than that teenager rubbish. My reflection stares back at me in the rippling stream, my appearance perfectly sharp and clean, the way I prefer it to be. Yet, something nags at my subconscious, making me feel a little... off, for the lack of a more descriptive term. Of course, this anomaly is no mystery to me. It is obviously the girl, Emerald. The very girl I got murdered and then had to save again. The very girl who's twisted into my world of endless catastrophes. The very girl who would go on and change the Earth tremendously, was it not for my interference.
Part of me, the cold, heartless, logic-driven part, reasons that he was already quite knowledge- able of her potential and knew prior to our encounter, Emerald Tate also stood a chance at quenching the flame of his melodramatic quest for world domination, that all I contributed to the matter was prompting our alliance. I know in my heart, though, that this is my battle to duel Sabriel and Miss Tate may improve the probability of my victory.
"Whoa, you're all dressed up," a feminine voice says from behind me.
I look up, my gaze catching hers, those eyes that sparkle with optimism and playful mischief, "Hello, Miss Tate."
"Miss Tate. Fancy, but I do insist you call me Emerald," she replies as she slides down next to me on the wooden ledge.
I shrug nonchalantly, "If the lady insists upon it, very well then."
I smile slightly as she laughs, but my heart pounds and my pulse echoes in my manicured finger- tips. Nervous energy courses through my veins. I don't necessarily have to confess my true identity to her, she could just go on believing I'm an average Irish teenage immigrant with a slightly more accelerated IQ than most, under the simplistic name Art Cofer, not Artemis Fowl II, a juvenile genius with a shady past full of scenes from a fantasy book. I stare at my own sapphire-blue eyes reflected back at me in the stream. I could be her Art, pretend I really am that character, live Mother's dream and be normal for one time in my life.
No.
I can never be classified as normal and neither shall Emerald Tate.
I clear my throat, "I wanted to discuss something of importance with you...You had mentioned you knew of an ideal location to conduct such business?"
"Ooooo big vocabulary. You sound just like Artemis Fowl," she giggles, unaware of how true that statement really is, "But yeah. I do. Once upon a time, I was bored, went exploring in these very woods, and discovered an overgrown trail and makeshift bench made of concrete slabs. It'll be quite sufficient to 'conduct such business'."
"Very well," I stand, and offer her my hand to hoist her onto her feet. She takes it and I am filled with the most peculiar sensation, not the negative connotation usually associated with the word peculiar, but like a delicate red rose in a bed of smiling day lilies sense of peculiar. Not unpleasant, just...different. Her touch is smooth and soft, gentle against my palm, soothing, in a peculiarly familiar way.
Reluctantly, I release her hand from my grasp, my fingers lingering on her skin. We continue down the path as if that electricity hadn't coursed between us. She strides ahead of me on the asphalt, her black boots tapping against its surface as she rambles to fill the silence.
"I was bored so I named every feature that matters on my map to this place. The bench itself is called Bloodstone Bench 'cause I couldn't think of any gemstones that start with a B off the top of my head, so yeah----"
"The Beryl species," I suggest.
She shrugs, "Dunno. Anyway, um, the path is called the Serpent's Trail 'cause that's what it looks like to me. The bridge we meet on I call Commander's Crossing and at one point, I carved IN MEMORY OF COMMANDER JULIUS ROOT into the wood, but it got weathered away."
My heart twists at the mention of Root. We definitely possessed what Holly would call a 'love/ hate relationship' but he still played a tremendous part in my transition from teenage criminal mastermind to a general teenage mastermind, reluctant savior and sacrificial lamb for humanity. How I got from plotting against the world to saving it on more occasions I can count on one hand. How I went from bad guy to good guy, if you will.
"This is called Emerald's Glade, my glade, I guess really..." she explains as we suddenly veer of the Serpent's Trail into a semi-circle clearing cut of by the path, "Now, you find the Trail of Roses. It's obvious if you're looking for it."
I scan the tree line, searching for a path that she claims is hidden in plain sight. Branches and brambles tangle together in the foliage, densely entwined, impossible to interpret what's behind them other than more branches and brambles. Eventually, I see it, the dusty, brown dirt clawing its way in. I point it out to Emerald and she grins at me, pleased.
"C'mon then, Art!" she laughs as she directs me onto the Trail of Roses.
"Et voila! Bloodstone Bench!"
I smile at her, cherishing this moment where she is still ignorant and naïve. I slowly sit down as does she, on the concrete seat, examining my fingernails to delay the now inevitable conversation ahead.
"Sooo...what'd ya wanna talk about?"
I gulp, "Myself."
She raises her eyebrows, "Ohh, mysterious."
"Very well then. Do you remember how I told you my name is Art? Art Cofer?"
She nods.
"That was a lie. Art is not who I am," I swallow hard, "Artemis Fowl the second is my true identity."
She bursts out laughing, cackling loudly as my face turns redder and redder, "Oh, Art, you are just hilarious. Now seriously, what did ya wanna talk about?"
"I'm not kidding, Emerald. My name isn't Art. It's Artemis."
Her face suddenly hardens, "Yeah, and I'm a pink fluffy unicorn that farts rainbows and Skittles. Stop playing around, dude. It's only funny one time then it's just mean."
"I'll...I'll prove it to you," I stutter desperately.
She snorts, "Oh really? Go ahead, Artemis."
In response, I take out my cell and select Holly's contact. It doesn't even ring.
"Back up? On my way," she says and hangs up without a word from me.
"Who's that? Your mom?"
"I'm not lying to you, Emerald."
She rolls her eyes, "You see rainbows coming outta my butt? Do I look fluffy to you? I don't think so, and I am not an idiot so you can back the crap off, okay? Okay. B-bye then."
Emerald tries to brush past me, but I block her exit causing her to sigh in exasperation, "Move, Art, before I give you a monstrous bruise to match your eyes."
"I am afraid you shan't do such a thing, Emerald. Just wait a few more moments until Holly arrives," I beg.
She rolls her eyes once more, "Not a chance. Nice try though."
Again, she tries to glide past me onto the Trail of Roses, and I start to reach out to halt her progress but Mother Nature is one step ahead of me. She trips over an elevated tree root and tumbles into my arms, both of us wearing stunned expressions. Yet, neither of us pull back.
Her face enchants me as I stare into her captivating eyes, the color of fresh shavings of rich, pure dark chocolate with a smudge of caramel on the left iris. Her hair tumbles down to her shoulders, somewhat curly and straight at the same time. Her features are more hypnotizing than a fairy's mesmer, more beautiful than one metric ton of pure, 24 carat, fairy gold in small, unmarked ingots, and more satisfying than the flawless execution of a flawless plan. Her eyes portray a hurricane of emotions dueling in her head, uncertainty seeming to claim victor of the merciless battle that rages there.
My head starts to dip, my spine curving slowly, my face evaporating the distance between us. Before I can register what I'm doing, my lips press against hers, parting slightly. My hands rest hesitantly on her waist as she tilts her head to deepen the kiss, sliding her soft palms over my cheeks and caressing my skin. I close my eyes and bask in affection...
Then she remembers who she's kissing.
She jerks out of my arms, breathless and wide eyed. She stares at me for one stunned moment then spins on her heel and races down the trail. I bolt after her.
I stop abruptly when I catch a glimpse of a familiar figure hovering at the end of the trail.
Holly raises her eyebrows as Emerald skids to a stop, "Who knew you were such a good kisser, Fowl?"
Emerald faints and topples to the ground.