Love Conquers All

Chapter 6

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! As 2017 comes to an end, I leave you with this, the climax (no pun intended) of this story (probably). Let's hope things start finally going their way after this, although depending on who you ask, things are already going their way ;) at the very least, they sure got a kiss for new years. Let's make 2018 a good one!

"Are you sure?" Artemis asked, eyeing the approaching cloud of pink nervously.

"Yeah, I didn't make the connection before but I remember now, we didn't need to worry about her finding unstable love potions, she was the one who made them in the first place!" Holly said bitterly, "I can't believe I didn't remember until now."

"No point in beating yourself up now," Artemis scolded circling the walls at a brisk pace. "Is there any way to counter it? Or get out of here?"

Holly flew up as high as she could without touching the gas that was steadily getting closer. "I don't see any openings, do you?" She asked, slowly examining each wall where Artemis couldn't reach.

"Holly there's no time at this rate, tell me if we can fight it first," Artemis demanded anxiously.

"Right, Holly said sinking a couple inches as the gas descended, "I wasn't really a big part of this particular case," she said, thinking out loud, "It was before I met you but, if I remember correctly, knowing what you're dealing with helps, it clears your head."

She paused trying to remember, "Anything else?" Artemis asked as Holly continued to descend.

"And it worked better on humans than fairies," she continued, "And-" she stopped to hold her breath. The gas was now forcing them to stay as low to the ground as possible. Then, they were fully enveloped in it.

Holly tried to avoid breathing for as long as possible but eventually, her need for oxygen won and she took a breath. Almost immediately, her mind became fuzzy and clouded. She turned to tell Artemis but the moment she saw him, all thoughts left her head. Had he always been so, breath-taking?

She shook her head and looked away, no she had to focus, he was human, this didn't even make sense, wait, what was she going to say again? She glanced back at Artemis again and froze.

Artemis was staring right back. In that instant, he felt like the world had stopped and that he had forgotten how to breathe. He struggled to regain his train of thought but felt as though he was trying to hold onto a breeze or carry water in his hands. His biggest pride, his mind had been stolen from him, and the worst part? He couldn't bring himself to care.

Puberty, whispered a thought in the back of his head but he pushed it aside, this was more than that, Holly was more than that.

Holly meanwhile was struggling between her sudden longing for Artemis and moments of clarity in which she was able to acknowledge how ridiculous the whole situation was. "Artemis-" she said, trying to do something to snap them both back to reality but was promptly cut off.

Artemis couldn't help it, she was staring back, and then she was saying his name, and then he was kissing her.

Holly instinctively leaned in but realised what was happening and pushed him off with much difficulty as her whole body screamed at her to stop, to just let things happen. "Arty, we have to get out of here," she said slowly.

"Get out of here?" Artemis murmured, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice as he paused. A moment of clarity flashed in his eyes but it was gone as quickly as it came, "But why would we leave when we could stay right here, together?" He asked quietly, pulling Holly closer.

"Arty, this isn't you talking, fight it, we have to get out of here," Holly said halfheartedly. "Remember?" What was she remembering? She had to remember something, "Love potions?"

Artemis paused, "Love potions," he shook his head, "No, you're right, we have to get away from this, pink haze." He stammered, finding it difficult to form full sentences.

"Yeah," Holly said nodding, "Right, and we have to, to do something, we still have to save-"

"Butler!" Artemis shouted, everything came rushing back to him and he gasped, "We have to help Butler, Juniper has Butler." He stopped, "Wait, what was I," he stared at Holly and felt his face heat up as he scrambled away from her, "Holly, I'm so sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."

Holly stood up, "It's fine, you weren't, we can do this, get up," she said reaching out a hand.

Artemis held his hand out to let her help him up then stopped himself and got up on his own, "I, probably shouldn't touch you right now," He mumbled awkwardly.

They stood there, staring at each other, even after realising what was happening, they still both found it hard to be the first to turn away. "I can't believe I couldn't figure it out on my own." Artemis sighed, "I guess I really need you with me, don't I?" He asked then stopped, "Or is that the love potion talking again?"

Holly took a moment to make sure she was thinking straight and said, "I, don't know, but I do know that we have to get out of here somehow."

Artemis forced himself to start walking away, "You're right, let's get started."

They began to once again survey the room, it was a slow process as every once in a while, the love potion would take hold and they'd have to remind themselves what they were doing again. At last, Holly shouted, "I found something, I think I can just hit that switch there, it might open some sort of entrance, after all, Juniper wasn't planning on abandoning this place forever right?"

"Holly, you're a genius," Artemis said grinning, "Try it."

With a click, the metal bars trapping them slid away giving them access to the doors once more. Holly flew down to him into his open arms, "We're free!"

"You did it," Artemis shouted back and kissed her again then realised what he was doing and let go of her, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that," he said quickly.

"It's fine," Holly replied breathless and blushing, "Let's just get out of here."