Love Conquers All

Chapter 3

Artemis ran down the hall, hoping he had remembered the map correctly. Far behind them, the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard as an army of soldiers chased after the trio.

"This way," Artemis shouted and ducked onto a narrow hallway, branching off to the side.

"I hope you're right or we're trapped," Holly called back, glancing behind her to see the soldiers hot on their heels. There were at least a dozen elves and they were all dressed head to toe in battle gear. None of them, however seemed to carry weapons. What surprised Holly most of all, however was that none of them bore the bloodshot eyes of someone who was mesmerized.

"Maybe we can reason with them," she said as the soldiers drew ever closer. "They don't look mesemerized."

Artemis shook his head, "No way, if it doesn't work then we've laot our head start."

Holly ignored him and turned around, "Hey, stop! You don't have to do this, we aren't here to hurt you." She said putting out her hands.

Artemis scowled and turned around, "What are you doing?" He hissed, grabbing her arm. "We have to get out of here."

"If we can get them on our side we can- ahh!" She was cut off as the soldiers reached them and the closest swung out at her. She jumped back just in time to avoid being punched in the face.

"Listen to me," she said backing up, "You're working for a psychopath!" She shouted.

The one who tried to hit her continued forward and narrowed his eyes, "Do not speak of her in that way," he spat, "She is good to us when none of you were. Her love is strong and we serve her."

Holly blinked in surprise, "Love? How can you love her?" She didn't have time to get an answer though before they began to attack again.

"You were right Artemis, we have to get out of here." She said regretfully. Butler pulled her away and pushed her in front of him.

"Run! Both of you!" He yelled, "I'll be right behind you." With that he turned to fight. It quickly became apparent that he would not be able to hold them off forever.

Artemis reached towards butler, "We aren't leaving you here," he said firmly but Holly held him back.

"Think Arty, what were you telling me earlier, we have to go. Now!"

Artemis hesitated for a moment then sighed and nodded, "Let's go. The sooner we get out of here the sooner we can get reinforcements."

The two of them raced down the hallway and made it out a side door. They ran towards the plane still parked outside and boarded as fast as possible.

"Back to headquarters," said Holly, taking control of the plane.

Artemis nodded looking worriedly out the window. He stared at the faint patch of haze from where they'd escaped. "I hope Butler's ok." He murmured.

Holly gazed at him sympathetically, "He'll be fine. He's been through worse."

He smiled softly, "Yeah, you're right. I mean he came back from the dead once."

Holly laughed, "Not many people can say they've done that."

"True."

Soon they were back in LEP headquarters. Trouble and Foaly were there to meet them. "How did it go?" Foaly said upon seeing them.

Trouble glanced around, "Where's Butler?" In a place built for eleves, there weren't many places a man like Butler could hide.

"The sprite's for real," Holly said hurridly. "We were ambushed soon after our arrival. A dozen or so eleves none of them appeared mesemerized."

"Butler stayed behind to buy us time." Artemis cut in. "We have to go back and help him."

"Wait, you say there were people helping her out of their own free will?" Trouble interrupted surprised.

"Well they seemed a bit, off." Holly recalled. "They kept saying how she was good to them when we weren't. And they mentioned loving her. That doesn't seem normal."

Foaly paled, "Good to them? Holly you didn't recognize any of them did you?"

"We were kind of busy trying not to die and speaking of which, we should be gathering forces to go help Butler." Artemis said impatiently.

Holly nodded, "Agreed, why do you ask? Should I have recognized them?"

Trouble turned to Foaly, "Are you suggesting this has something to do with the jailbreak last week?"

"What jailbreak?" Holly demanded.

"You didn't tell her?" Trouble yelled.

"I'm sorry, I was busy and forgot and."

"Everyone shut up!" Artemis commanded.

Everyone listened instantly. You do not want to be on Artemis Fowl Jr's bad side.

"Let me get this straight." He said glaring at Foaly and Trouble, "There was a jailbreak a week ago that neither of us were informed of. You think this might be Juniper's work and now she's gotten them to work for her?"

"Correct." Said Trouble. "Although how we do not know."

"They mentioned love, are love potions a thing?" Artemis asked.

"Not officially," Foaly replied, "There was some talk of them a few years ago but it was highly experimental and highly dangerous. If Juniper has somehow gotten her hands on some this could spell disaster."

Artemis sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Great."