Artemis Fowl: A Call for Help

Chapter 16

Outside of Tara, Ireland

Artemis and Holly exchanged glances. This was not good. A voice broke the silence.
"You will live to regret saying that, pixie. If you so much as touch Artemis, I will make you wish you were never born." Butler threatened.
"Oh really?" Opal asked.
She raised a hand, pointing it directly a Butler. A flash of blue light emanated from her palm, hitting Butler. He groaned, then fell. Artemis dropped to his side, expertly checking his pulse.
"He's alive, but his pulse is a little slow. We should be grateful he has a pulse at all." Artemis reported.
"Now for you. Opal said, looking directly at Trouble.
This time, the light was red. Trouble started his wings just in time, flying over the blast of magic. Opal was shocked, but her desire to kill returned. Opal aimed another beam of light, this time it clipped Trouble's wings. The engine spluttered and died, sending Trouble in a free fall back to the ground.
"Oof." Trouble said on impact with the hard ground.
Holly took a shot with her Neutrino, aiming directly at Opal's head. It would have hit its mark, had it not been for the magic swirling around Opal. Instead, it seemed to soak into her, giving her more power. Opal smiled, and aimed her next shot. This time, the Neutrino burst Holly had just shot went flying at Trouble. It hit him, knocking him unconcious.
Holly was talking into her helmet michrophone, telling Foaly their situation.
"I'll send in a team. Well, I'll make Commander Root send in a team." Foaly said. "If you need any help just tell me. I will do anything I can."
"Thanks Foaly."
Opal was floating a few feet above them, an evil smile adorning her face. "Who's next?" Opal asked.
"You are, pixie." Holly yelled. "Neither of us will go down without a long and difficult fight. And I don't think that you can last that long."
"Well that settles it." Opal said, pointing her index finger at Holly.
A dark purple beam came from her fingertip. Holly managed to dodge most of it, but her foot was caught. Unlike the other spells, this one made her unable to feel her foot. She can paralyze me. Then I can't protect Artemis. This conclusion was heartbreaking. Holly remembered what Opal had said, "In fact, I don't just want you dead. I want your final minutes to be the most agonizing ones of your life."
Holly had no doubt that Opal would live up to her promise. Opal smiled down at her.
"I am going to kill you in the most unpleasant way possible. You are gradually going to lose control of your body, peice by peice. And you," Opal said looking at Artemis. "will have to watch as I torture her. You will be powerless to save the one you love."
Another beam of light came, this time it hit her right hand. Holly could no longer shoot a gun.
Artemis was trying to think of a way to get them out of this. I can't use electricity to shoot her. It only fuels her powers. Maybe if I shot her with Butler's gun...
Artemis saw Holly fall to the ground. He resisted the urge to run to her side. Artemis edged toward Butler. It was imparative that he got the gun before Opal could murder Holly.
Artemis reached his friend, and saw his gun on the ground in front of him. He quietly retrieved it, hiding it behing his back. The gun was too heavy for Artemis, but it was their only hope.
Artemis hefted the gun, positioning it so he would have a clear shot at Opal.
"Hey, Opal!" he called, getting her attention.
Opal spun around to face Artemis. Her eyes widened. How can he pick that up? He couldn't even carry a fairy weapon.
"Say goodnight." Artemis said.
He pulled the trigger. The recoil sent him flying backwards into the stone wall. The bullet was on course for Opal, and she was too shocked to move. Opal watched the bullet come closer and closer, as if in slow motion. Even if she would have tried to escape, it would have been impossible.
Either by luck or because of a good shot, the bullet hit its target. Opal's body went plummeting to the ground, tendrils of magic receeding. She landed with a sickening thunk. Blood seeped from the wound, dripping onto the grass. Some tiny sparks played about the wound.
Artemis stared at Opal's body. Did I really just do that, he wondered. Exauhsted, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. It had been a long day, and it was far from over with.