The Angelic Paradox

Idiot Idiot Idiot...

Okay. I'm getting happy with this fan fiction. This is my favorite part. Um I love the way this is turning out. It makes happy. =¬J But ya' know, it's not over yet! Thanks for reading! You guys are the best!==========

I come to slowly, blue sparks dancing before my eyes. Holly leans over me.

"How ya' feeling, girl? That bastard really did a number on you."

I nod and sit up, "Good, actually. Lot better than I did before I passed out."

She chuckles and I smile, "World saving, huh?"

Holly nods, "And I don't think it'll be your last time though."

I groan, "Fantabulous. How do you stand it?"

"I don't."

"Ah poop sack," I swear, "Yes, I said poop sack. That is my personal swear word. Don't judge."

She laughs, "I wasn't. Arty is probably waiting for you in the hallway. He wanted to have a word with Sabriel."

"That sounds explosive. How are my parents? With me missing and all."

"Much as I hate it, I mersmerized them so they think you're spending the night at a friends."

I sigh in relief. I stand, marveling at my absence of wounds, "Andt thank you, Holly, for the healing. I owe you."

She shrugs, "No you don't owe me. That's what friends do."

I smile at the thought and close the door behind me. I see a figure hunched against the wall, his head in his hand and his body shaking with silent sobs. He is slouched and wears a once fine suit, now soaked with blood. My smile falters. My blood. Artemis.

"Arty," I whisper, inching closer.

He looks up at me and his face breaks my heart. his once neat hair messy and sticky with my blood. His blue eyes are red from crying. His face has to bloody hand prints. His lips are bloody from when he kissed me. Tears stream down his cheeks.

I reach out and brush away his tears.

"Emerald?" he chokes.

Instead of responding, I wrap my arms around him. He embraces me back but quickly lets go. I pull back and look at him quizzicaly.

His face reddens, "Your just wearing a t---towel. I don't want to give you the wr--wrong impression."

I peck his cheek, "Thanks."

He stares at his hands, "I---I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I caress his cheek, "It was my decison. You had no choice."

"I still feel guilty."

I snuggle into him, "Hey, I love you."

He just nods absently and I sit up, "Now, before I go give Swabe-Babe a good talking to, I wanna a good kiss. Nothing pathetic. Kay, bruh?"

Not waiting for his reply, our lips collide explosively. His hands grip my sides and mine are tangled in his hair. Our hunger engulfs us and the electricity flowing between us in dangerously high. My heart races as his fingers traces words into the back on my neck. 'I thought you were gone' comes first. Then 'I would've been gone too'. I kiss him harder until I can't breathe. I pull back and stand.

"Love you," I call over my shoulder as I head off to Sabriel's cell.

"Ah, my princess arrives."

I laugh, "Who wins now, Swab-zies? I told you so."

He chuckles, "Oh yes, I have clearly lost but are you sure you've won, my dear? My predicament was but the main conflict. And you, my dear, should know that no story is complete without minor conflicts."

I grit my teeth, "What are you saying?"

"Only the obvious."

"Which is?"

He shrugs nonchalantly, "Oh, just that Arty was using you the whole time."

I snort, "Yeah right. And I'm a fluffy unicorn that poops M&Ms."

"Isn't that what you told Artemis when he tried to tell you his identity?"

"No. I said a pink fluffy unicorn that farts rainbows and Skittles. There's a difference."

He rolls his eyes, "You're blind not to see it. Haven't you noticed how rushed your relationship has been? Or how after he saved you, he was distant. Or how you were consented to his plan because you think he loves you? You're just a fly tangled in the web of a Fowl spider."

I shake my head, but can't help the doubt growing in my stomach, "But---he wasn't going to use this plan except I made him."

"Oh, no, he manipulated you. Remember The Eternity Code? He knew just what Spiro would do. He knew just what you'd do and used to his advantage. Arty boy knew you had to really care about him to consent. He doesn't love you."

A tear trickles down my cheek, "And how come you know this?"

"I've been in his dreams. Once he pushes you off a cliff and watched you die. He laughed."

I swallow hard, my sorrow turning to rage, and storm out into the hallway. Man, am I gonna give that boy a piece of my mind.