Artemis Fowl: A Call for Help

Chapter 28

The past, 1995
Jade stood in amazement. She felt a slight pressure on her right hand, and realized that it was Artemis. He removed his hand from hers.
"Behold, the past." Artemis said rather melodramatically. He made a sweeping gesture with his hand.
"You were serious. You really did build a time machine." Jade breathed.
"I told you to trust me." Artemis retorted.
"Fine, I was wrong. Where are we, exactly?"
"Your mothers' childhood home. She is 16 right now. If you follow me and watch what happens, you'll understand."
Artemis walked toward a small house. It was made of pine siding, with a shingled roof. How can he just stroll around in the past as if it weren't any different? Artemis reached a bush and crouched behind it. Jade did the same. "It is three A.M right now, so she'll be asleep. This is when it happens." Artemis whispered.
The duo crept up to the window, trying to avoid stepping on plants and sticks. They peered in, and to Jade's amazement saw a younger version of Lana. She was sleeping peacefully, facing the open window. The moonlight shone through the window, illuminating her face. She used to be really beautiful, Jade realized.
But then something caught her eye. A slight shimmer, almost like heat emanating from the ceiling. "What is that?" she whispered to Artemis.
"Just watch." he replied. "I'll explain along the way."
The shimmer solidified, revealing a humanoid figure. Jade noticed that it hade pointy ears. "That is a pixie. And yes, they exist." Artemis explained. "They are not merely fairy tale characters. In fact, fairies are by far the more advanced species." The pixie landed on the floor, creeping silently to the bedside. The pixie put its hand above Lana, a purple glow emanating from its palm. It spoke something that sounded like gibberish. "What it says is not important, just what it means. She is telling Lana that when she turns 20, she will have a child. The pixie knows something about you. She wants you dead, Jade. Lana is to leave you as an infant to die. If that doesn't work, when you turn 15 Lana is to shoot you. That is when you are a danger to her. The light coming from her palm is magic. I can prevent this, also removing your mother's memory of anything she might have done over the years. Will you still trust me?"
"Yes. I will trust you once more." Jade replied.
The boy nodded. Now he spoke in gibberish, loudly. The pixie looked up, startled. The purple light stopped as her hand receded. Artemis said something else, scaring the pixie further. The pixie replied. Jade felt useless as she watched the exchange. Artemis stood up, right in front of the window. The pixie's finger tips glowed green, sparks traveling around her fingers.
"Get down! That light doesn't look good." Jade hissed from the bush. Artemis held up a finger, signaling her to wait. The pixie said something else, the light growing stronger.
"Cube, activate reflective shield." Just as Artemis said this, the light sped forward. If it wouldn't have been for the cube, Artemis would be dead. Instead the light bounced away, not three centimeters away from Artemis. It hit the pixie, and she fell limp.
"Your mother won't wake up for five hours. I'm going to get the pixie." Artemis clambered up into the window, rather slowly.
"The way this is going, we're going to need five hours to retrieve the pixie." Jade remarked.
"No, we're not. We'll be back in the present in five minutes." Artemis landed inside the house. "The pixie is rather light. Would you care to help me by taking her from me at the window? That would make this go a lot faster."
"Sure." Jade replied. Artemis hefted the pixie over the windowsill. Jade took her from him, easily holding the pixie. Artemis made it back over the wall, closing the window.
"In case there is any magical residue." he explained. "We don't want her to stay asleep for too long. I'll take the pixie from here. By the way, her name is Opal Koboi." Artemis cradled the pixie in his arms, carrying Opal away from the house. Jade trailed behind him, not sure what to do. They reached a wooded area, and Artemis stopped at what appeared to be a hole in the ground. He lowered Opal into it. He rested his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
Jade smirked. "I can tell you don't exercise enough."
"Physical fitness is not my forte, but I am skilled at many other thing. I figure that my other skills compensate for lack of fitness."
Jade laughed. "Whatever you say, wimpy. Anyways, why did you put Opal in a hole?"
"It is a safe place to put her so she can leave."
"I thought she was dead."
"No, just asleep. She won't wake up until sunrise."
"When do we get to leave?" Jade asked.
"Now, if you want."
"Yes. Let's get out of here." Jade decided.
"Cube, take us back to the present." Artemis extended a hand. Jade took it, and the process started all over again.