Artemis Fowl: The Unpredictable Future

Chapter 1: Vacation

Holly opened the driver side door. "Come on, Mud Boy," she said as Artemis stuffed their bags into the trunk. "There's no time to waste."

"What's the rush? We will get there eventually you know." Artemis sat down in the passenger seat.

"I know that. I'm just excited to drive and get there." She sat in the drivers' seat and started the car. "I haven't been to an old battle fort before and I've certainly never driven a multi-million-dollar vehicle. The GPS says we will get to the airport in forty-five minutes. I bet I can get us there in fifteen in this baby." She stroked the steering wheel slowly as the engine began to purr. Artemis had gotten permission from his father to borrow the dark blue Bugatti for his trip to the airport. He figured Holly would enjoy driving a high-powered machine like this. A devilish grin appeared on her face as she floored down the gas pedal, barely giving Artemis time to brace himself and buckle up.

Upon arriving and walking up towards the hotel desk, it appeared as though a young man was accompanying a child. Standing at barely three feet tall, she only came up slightly above Artemis' waist line. The desk clerk leaned down to look at the child, only to realize she didn't look like one. Perhaps she was one of those 'little people'.

"Hello, welcome to the..." The clerk narrowed her eyes, "My what... lovely ears, miss."

"They're obviously surgically done. Or maybe you think I'm a fairy or something. And I thought older women were supposed to be smart." Holly looked sternly at the woman as she messed with her hair to try and cover the tips of her ears.

Artemis stepped up before the clerk could retort back. "Reservation for Fowl, please." Holly looked up at him, surprised to hear his accent. It sounded strangely American and not his normal Irish tongue.

The concierge woman curiously looked at the strange couple, "A single room for the pair. And your parents will be checking in as well, I hope?"

Artemis calmly put his credit card up on the desk, "Just the two of us, thank you. I assure you we are quite mature for our age. To ask of our parental guardians is almost insulting, wouldn't you agree?"

"My apologies, sir. I didn't intend to..."

Holly stepped forward. "He's just being difficult. At least you don't have to deal with him all day. Don't worry, I'll keep him in check."

The clerk eyed them for a moment then turned around and got their room key. "Here you go young man. Would you like a lollipop to go with that?"

Holly couldn't help but let out a slight giggle, "Arty doesn't like lollipops."

He sighed, "I am not six or seven. I hope you understand." Artemis put his hand on Holly's shoulder after grabbing the key and walked with her into the elevator.

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" He said with an annoyed look.

She held in a laugh and tried her best to look innocent; twirling her hair and looking to the side, "My, what ever could you mean?"

He sighed once more and kept silent, causing her to giggle out loud. He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Honestly Holly, it has been nearly seven years since that incident."

She playfully punched him in the arm, "By the way, what is with that new accent of yours?"

Artemis straightened his tie and cleared his throat, reverting back to his natural vocal tone, "We are on vacation and I figured a change of dialect would simplify the number of stares we will be getting if people here don't believe I'm a foreigner." Then changing his accent back to his new midwestern tongue, "At least my accent can be altered, unlike some things that would draw attention." He smirked as he pinched the tip of her ears, causing her to shake her head from his grasp. She punched him again in the same spot, a little less playful. He rubbed his arm but never wiped the smirk off of his face. Holly crossed her arms and silently pouted.