Artemis Fowl and the Master Experimentation

Chapter 12

Artemis felt as though he was attached to the stone, like he and it were one thing and the thousands of voices channeling through him were a part of him also. He was in pain and confused, animalistic. He didn't notice exactly when the voices began to lessen, but he knew instantly when there was only one left, the voice of a pompous idiot, romanticising in his head. He wanted to throw something at it. He felt a clawed hand on his shoulder and he was pulled back into the world he was truly in, a grand cavern bustling with fairies and Skrix. His hand dropped away from the stone, finally, but the voice in his head remained as did the gentle chatter of the thousands of voices that seemed to be creating a white noise backing to his thoughts. 

"You brought them home," said a voice much nearer, "we could never give you anything in worth equal to what you have done."

Artemis looked through the fog of his mind to the small creature before him. He smiled faintly.

"I did what had to be done," he mumbled, then fell sideways.

He was unconscious before he hit the pebbles. 

The Void space was black and threatening. The voices surrounded him as he floated in the nothingness, they filled him. He felt all the things they felt and more. Then there was the voice of the idiot, with the name Orion. This fool was romanticising about winning the hearts of maidens and prancing around like a pillock. Artemis felt all of this Orion's memories of the fairy war, how Orion was a half human and was therefore an outcast. How he had desperately tried to fit in, but couldn't. He'd hoped that by fighting with the fairies he'd gain his place rightfully. But the memories began to slip away into Artemis and Orion became just a happy, romantic person. How Artemis detested that. Orion was everything he could not be.

"Faylinn," said Holly softly to the now awake girl, "do you know who your father was?"

Faylinn looked at her wide eyed, then shook her head.

"Your father was the last fairy prince," said Holly carefully.

Faylinn looked up, thinking this was all some kind of cruel joke. But then again, it all seemed to make sense...

"I'm half fairy?" she whispered.

Holly nodded.

"Half royal fairy," Holly added.

"But-" Faylinn began, but stopped.

 It all felt like too much to absorb, once she was nothing, just a girl in hiding with her mum and then she was an empty space, being pushed through the Void and now, she was a, a fairy princess?

"There has to be a mistake," she said, standing up, "I'm not, I can't be... Why can't you leave the fairy princess thing to the people that it's made for? Like Edward Cullen, or something."

"Sorry, what?" asked Holly.

"I- I don't know," said Faylinn, throwing her arms in the air.

 "Alright," said Holly, here's what needs to be done. You need to come underground with us, where you'll be safe from the Master, he won't be able to get at you there, the whole of Haven is on high alert."

"Why can't I just stay here?" she asked, turning to look out of the window.

"We need you," said Holly softly, "you may be half human, but you're the best we have. The People have been calling out for a royal on the throne for a several decades, your father never took the crown. He came to live on the surface for many years, then died up there. We need you, Faylinn."

"I don't want to go below ground," Faylinn whispered, "I don't want to be a princess."

"You'd be Queen," said Holly, unthinking.