Artemis Fowl: The Unpredictable Future

Chapter 14: Centaur Of Attention

Holly was forcefully woken up by someone shaking her shoulder. She groaned in protest and pulled the covers over her head, not in the mood to get up. Just stay away from me, Holly. Artemis' words being the first solid thought in her mind, she let out another deep groan. "Please, not now Rachel. I'm tired and not in the mood."

"C'mon Holls. Get up."

Wait, I know that voice. She immediately sat up. "Foaly!" she yelled, jumping up to her feet and embracing her dear centaur friend.

He hugged her back. "Nice to see you too, Captain." He smiled and pulled away, keeping his hands on her shoulders. "Gods, you don't look a day older since the last time I saw you. Oh, right-uh. Rachel is in the shuttle already, we should probably get going." He started to walk off. He turned around and motioned Holly to follow.

"Wait... what about Artemis?" she asked.

Foaly didn't look her in the eyes. "You know, a lot has happened since you disappeared. I can't wait to tell you how the People were able to come back onto the surface."

Holly put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. "Foaly?"

The centaur looked down and fiddled with his fingers. "Um..."

Holly gave him her best death glare, "I haven't been in the best mood lately and for some reason, I just really want to punch something in its' stupid, quiet, centaur-like face right now."

"He didn't want to come," blurted Foaly.

She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, "Where is he?"

"He took the horse and some supplies and said he wanted to wait until I got here before leaving. He didn't tell me where he was going."

Rachel's head poked out from the shuttle door. "Holly! Let's go! They said we can crash at their place. It'd be a really nice change from this gloomy cave."

"No! I am not leaving without Artemis." Holly crossed her arms. "He'll be back and I'm going to wait for him right here so I can give him a piece of my mind! That jerk face..."

Foaly rolled his eyes and trotted back over to Holly. He let out a slight sigh and picked up the tiny elf, holding her under his arm.

Holly squirmed as she tried to get out of Foaly's grip. "Let me go! I am a lady D'arvit, this is no way to treat one!" She began smacking her tiny fists against Foaly's horse half and kicking her feet in the air.

Foaly couldn't suppress the laughter heaving in his chest, "Strange. I can't recall a time Captain Holly Short used her gender as an excuse." He carried her into the shuttle and sat her down in the seat next to Rachel. On her other side, Caballine, Foaly's wife, was surprised to have seen him handle his friend in such a crude manner.

Holly crossed her arms, clearly irritated. Caballine leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry dearie, I'll take care of him later." Giving Holly a smile, she turned and narrowed her eyes at her husband, who pretended he wasn't intimidated. It was obvious that he was. He quickly sat down at the drivers' seat and started the shuttle. Caballine returned her attention to Holly, who appeared to be sulking. "Well then, I've met your friend Rachel here. She seems quite nice. How fortunate that you were able to make a friend through these traumatic experiences. You must be the famous Miss Short. I'm glad to finally meet you."

Holly nodded as she looked out the window, "I'm sorry Miss Caballine. I don't mean to be rude. It is really nice to meet you too, but I'm not in a good mood to really talk right now." She sighed.

Caballine nodded. She only had a faint idea of why Holly was upset. Rachel was bobbing her head from side to side with a smile, "I've never been in a shuttle before. I wonder what-" Before she could finish her sentence, Foaly revved up the engine and took off, full throttle. "Wahhh!" Rachel screamed in surprise before catching her breath and holding onto the seats' armrest as tight as she could. Caballine let out a laugh, while Holly was still preoccupied staring out the window.

It took nearly half an hour before Foaly landed the shuttle. In the middle of a forest clearing, stood a secluded building. It had vines crawling up one side of the house while the other side seemed to be hidden behind a large ash tree. It was a modest looking home. As they exited the vehicle, Rachel raised her hands above her head, "Woo! Let's do that again! Mr. Foaly, you are one crazy driver." She patted the centaur on his side.

He smiled in response as they approached the door to his and Caballine's home, "Welcome to my humble abode fairy friends. Look how cool this is." He pulled the door open, closed it, then pushed it open. "It opens both ways!" He held it open for his wife and guests to enter, bowing his head slightly as they walked past him.

Caballine eyed at him on the way in, "This act of chivalry won't save you from getting an earful later." He sighed out a smile.

Rachel poked at the door as she walked inside, "Holy snaps man, that's so cool!"

Foaly smiled at her too, "It was the one thing I was looking forward to doing when building this place."

He looked down at Holly as she passed by. She kept her gaze at the ground, "Could you tell me where I will be able to lie down for a nap?"

He pointed inside the house, "Sure Holls. You can use the guest room by the bathroom. Down the hall and third door on the right."

She looked up at him and forced a smile, "Thank you Foaly, I mean it." She returned to looking at the floor as she walked to the aforementioned door, closing it behind her.

Rachel scratched the back of her head and let out a nervous laugh, "I don't suppose I could borrow a separate room then?"

Holly plopped herself onto the bed, burying her face into the pillow. She groaned loudly before rubbing her face into it. The last time she was on an actual bed, she was lying next to Artemis. When he first kissed me. She shut her eyes tight against the pillow before she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. Turning her head to the side, looking at the wall instead, she grumbled, "Foaly, Rachel, Caballine, I just need some time to myself if I could. Please just leave me alone." Without hearing a response, the hand lingered on her shoulder for a few seconds before retracting. Holly listened as the footsteps trailed away from her. Footsteps? Not hooves and they sound a little heavy. She turned her head in time to see a single shoe leave her room, it looked like it would be a pair of dress shoes. "No wait, I...!" She rolled off the bed and ran to the door, poking her head out to look down the hallway. She was confused to see that no one was around. She stepped out of the room and began walking around the house, refraining from entering any closed doors. Shortly after, she found Caballine, who seemed to be preparing a meal in the kitchen.

"Holly dear, is everything alright? If you're looking for Foaly and Rachel, they are out in the backyard. She wanted to see the garden I've been tending to, but I got a little preoccupied."

Holly frowned slightly. Holly dear, that's what he called me. "I'm sorry Caballine, I didn't mean to bother you. I was just wondering... If we are the only ones inside right now."

She looked up at her, showing concern, "With those two outside, you and I are the only ones inside unless you brought another guest in your pocket." She laughed, "It may not look like it, but this house is literally a fortress." She sighed happily, "Foaly has a tendency of overdoing things when it comes to security. No one can get in here without his or my consent."

Holly gave her a convincing smile, "It's good to know he hasn't changed after all these years. I don't suppose that there is a shower I can borrow? As I'm sure you saw, I've been sleeping in a cave these past few days. I feel filthy."

"Oh of course. It's in the door inside your room. It's not a second closet, it's the bathroom. I took the liberty of buying some new clothes for you too. Foaly gave me your estimated measurements and I put them in the drawers of your room. I really hope you'll like them."

Holly bowed her head slightly at Caballine with another smile. Genuine this time. "Thank you very much. You are too kind." She turned and walked back towards to her room. After rummaging through the drawers, she picked out a set of pajama clothes before going into the shower room. She was happy to see that Foaly's estimates were surprisingly accurate. "Daring Foaly. Truly daring to guess a woman's clothing size."