AN: Now that we've been all rested for the summer, I believe I have somewhere to kick off of…cliffhangers, anyone? XD
Chapter Twelve: Look at MeYou may think you know
Who I really am
But you'll never …-Christina Aguilera, Reflection
Outside the recreation room, Anderson Estate
The glass wall was cold and stuck to the sweaty palm of Artemis' hand. He made a disgusted sigh and hurriedly wiped his hand on his pants.
Footsteps rang out behind him. Artemis spun around just in time to see a maid scurry into another hallway.
"Josh, isn't there a key we can use?" he asked impatiently. Behind the glass a whole entertainment system had been set up: on one end, a television complete with a hidden DVD library; at the other end, a computer system with all the shades of iPods there ever were (and a few Artemis suspected had not yet been released.)
From this angle, outside the pool water threw strange glowing shadows on the walls, and the reflecting glass reminded Artemis of a chilly Victorian novel he had read once. Of course, it had been trash—but still—this was the kind of house that things went bump in the night. Cold, filled with strange and dark objects.
Josh was twisting the doorknob forcefully to no avail. "I asked the maids already, mate. None of 'em can find it," he moaned.
A giggle. Artemis swiveled and stared through the glass. Where had that come from?
Josh made a confused face. Artemis was rather reminded of a monkey.
Artemis crossed his arms and leaned against the glass wall nonchalantly as if nothing had happened.
Another giggle. More high-pitched, this time. Josh's mouth dropped open and he jumped away from the doorknob as if he had been shocked. "The house is haunted!" he whispered in a small voice to Artemis.
At this, Artemis allowed himself several snickers of high contempt. "Silly boy, do you still believe in ghosts?"
Josh's eyes narrowed into small slits, until all Artemis could see was the small flash of each eye, one green, one blue. A combination most of the boys at the school would refer to as weird, scary, or even…paranormal.
But that was only in Artemis' vocabulary. And he knew that occasionally along the genetic line Josh Anderson could have very well had a few misplaced DNA strands here or there and he ended up with the chilly combination of green and blue.
CRASH.
"SHUT UP, OKAY!" Josh shrieked angrily, sending a bowl of fruit smashing into the floor. A pear smashed into the floor, and Artemis was surprised to see that it was an actual pear. "WE'RE IN IRELAND! NONE OF THIS FREAKY WITCH STUFF HAPPENED IN AUSTRAILIA, DAMNIT!"
Artemis raised an eyebrow, picking up the smashed pear to busy his hands. Although he was still composed, inside his heart was beating rapidly. Strange high-pitched giggles. A door that wouldn't open. Glowing shadows on the wall. "You lived in Austrailia?" Artemis asked curiously, turning the pear over and gazing at the purple Real Genovian Pears sticker.
"For four years, yes. Born here, though." Josh looked around nervously, breathing in and clenching his fist. A vein was popping out of his muscled arm.
In this light the water was reflected onto his green eye…and Artemis suddenly was a little afraid. He took a calming breath to collect his thoughts. I am outside a glass room with the answers to all my questions. I am standing next to an Australian outback boy who plays football. The shadows on the wall are reflections of the water…reflections…reflections…
One shadow danced dangerously close next to Josh. Artemis stared at it, transfixed. The strange glowing greenish blue light spiraled gently across Josh's nose, then his eyes…
"Get it off me," Josh said with a whisper of fear. "GHOST! GET IT OFF!" he said, his voice climbing a crescendo of terror.
Artemis tossed the pear and caught it. Again. Breathe in. Breathe out. It was like meditation again, right? "There is no ghost," said Artemis in what he hoped was in a very bored tone. His heartbeat said otherwise. "There is no magic, and there is no—DAGGGH!"
A leprechaun had suddenly appeared behind Josh. Artemis's mouth dropped open for a second and the pear smashed into the floor in all its dead Genovian glory..
"Where? WHERE IS IT?" Josh shrieked, spinning around. Nothing. Gone. The leprechaun.
Artemis closed his mouth and wondered if he was going crazy. Hallucinations. It must be the drinks, he mused.
I didn't have anything to drink.
Now Josh was staring at Artemis like a maniac. Artemis turned his head ever so slowly and stepped away from the glass wall.
Inside the glass room, a leprechaun was dancing. It was short. Almost as tall as a human dwarf. A little on the heavy side, though. With red hair and crazy spinning eyes. And a big green hat with the bloody fat clover jammed into the band.
Artemis stepped away from the glass, unable to tear his eyes away from the creature. It was making silly faces at them. The tongue waggled and the eyes spun in directions Artemis didn't think were possible.
"Oof," said Artemis.
Josh Anderson—a very shaky Josh Anderson—had hugged him round the middle and was trembling. "There it is again," he whispered.
The leprechaun giggled delightedly and pointed at them. Then it disappeared again.
"How long has this been happening?" Artemis asked in a hoarse whisper.
"Ever since I moved into this haunted house," Josh whispered back.
Artemis' breath was speeding and he let his own heartbeat try to settle down. Josh's heart—he could feel it from behind him—was scattering to heavens know where.
"I think it's gone now," Artemis whispered back. "You can let go of me. I think you've nearly broken my ribcage."
Josh let go of Artemis and stepped back as if he had just realized he had huggled the social leper of St. Bartleby's. "Don't—don't touch me ever again! And—this—this—never happened!"
"Nyah, nyah, nyah!" a small voice—a little old man's voice—squeaked.
The leprechaun materialized in front of them and picked up the fruit basket and lobbed its contents at them. Artemis ducked just in time to avoid being smacked in the head with an apple. It crashed into the glass wall behind him and Artemis sprang away as the shattered glass started to rain onto the floor.
Somewhere a distance away several girls screamed.
Josh screamed as well, joining in the duo song of panic and started to run down the hall way. The leprechaun chased after him, pelting pears and bananas.
Artemis realized his hand was bleeding. The glass—Artemis hurriedly licked it to seal the wound with saliva until he could receive medical attention.
The red-haired leprechaun looked back once and both of the crazy eyes fixated on Artemis. "You haven't seen the last of me yet, Artemis Fowl!" he shrieked with a malicious giggle.
A/N: Okay, so I lied. Sorry. It kind of…spontaneously combusted as soon as I stuck the ghost in there. XD But up next…the girls! Oh, and what is Holly Short doing inside the Anderson estate? Oooh---and watch out for the glass. It's sharp, doncha know. : Watch out for chapter thirteen, the Diamond Dogs! Diaaaaaaamonds….are….a….girls….best….friend! boop de doop! XD Again, loads of thanks to my beta Aryn.