My apologies for the long period of time I took to put up a new chapter for this fiction. I've been wrestling with a case of writer's block.

I tried to contact a couple different Beta-Readers but no response so I'm just going to wrap this up here. Hope I ended it well enough...

The "Lucky" Black Cat

Chapter 5

Sissel

I couldn't help noticing that Artemis walked with a gentle but somewhat business-like strut as we entered the park. He didn't exactly march like a soldier or a high-strung businessman but he didn't just walk like the average teenager either.

I'd found the way some people walked really reflected their personality. A certain other detective I knew had a very interesting walk and sometimes half-danced his way to his destination. Artemis's walk was one that seemed to reflect some conflicting qualities: he was a teenager, someone who should be free-minded and loose… but I'd experienced his very formal manner of speech and way of doing things firsthand and this also showed slightly in his step. This blended with his youthful appearance made it hard to tell if he was trying to reflect a professional air or if there was something else to him.

What kind of history did this kid have that resulted in this? Everything about him seemed to be hiding something more but I had no ideas what those secrets might've been.

###

We soon arrived near the fountain where everything had taken place ten years ago.

"Hm, so this is Temsik Park?" Artemis murmured, calmly looking around. His eyes fell on the park mascot perched high up on the top of the fountain. I hopped up on the fountain edge and connected to Artemis.

"I understand that's the park mascot up there, it's supposed to resemble a bagworm or something like that… gave me some trouble in the past but it was also key in preventing Yomeil's death ten years ago." I explained.

Artemis smiled slightly but otherwise didn't respond. He sat near me on a local bench and interlaced his fingers, which he rested his chin on, evidently thinking. His bodyguard gazed around, searching for hostile persons around the park.

A minute or two later, Jowd came jogging into the park and saw me sitting next to Artemis. I padded over to him and jumped into his arms, where I contacted him.

"I think I've managed to give him a change of heart Jowd… but I really don't know. He's a puzzling kid."

Jowd nodded slightly and walked up to Artemis. Butler moved to defend his charge in case Jowd wasn't friendly.

"Artemis Fowl, I take it?" Jowd said. The boy looked up from his thoughts.

"And I take you are the owner of Sissel?" Artemis responded. Jowd nodded in confirmation. Artemis stood and calmly walked over until he was a few feet from the detective, enough that his guard could act if Jowd attacked.

"A local police detective. How interesting…" Artemis commented after looking over Jowd.

"I've heard of you Fowl. I've heard you're here because of the meteor." Jowd said, some tension creeping into his voice. Artemis looked up but didn't confirm or deny the statement.

"If I may ask, where you did you hear that?" Artemis said, obviously feigning some ignorance. Jowd, to his credit, tried to play ignorant himself.

"I heard from one of my fellow officers…" However I could see in Artemis's mismatched eyes that he wasn't fooled.

"Are you sure about that detective? I now have reason to believe we both know more about Sissel there than you're letting on." The boy said with a cool smile. Jowd averted his eyes, clearly unsettled by Artemis as I had been on our first meeting.

"I've had the cat for ten years now. Nothing unusual…" Jowd muttered, an obvious lie if you knew even a little, which Artemis did and more.

"Really Detective..." Artemis said his tone implying he was stretching his patience "If you're going to try and hide the truth from me, you could at least make the challenge worth my time." Jowd made eye contact with Artemis again, not looking too surprised. Artemis focused his gaze on me as he continued.

"A ten-year old... kitten? The cat looks rather young for one so old for a feline." Jowd continued to stare Artemis down as he apparently thought over what to say. After a few seconds that felt rather long, he finally spoke.

"Sissel is... unique." The detective admitted "But I'm telling you now: you should leave the meteor alone. It's for your own good." Jowd said, trying to be firm.

"And what if there is an aspect of the meteor that could be used to help people of the world?" Artemis argued "I wish to research the meteor, not just for knowledge but to help." The doubt Jowd held on that statement was clear though. He wouldn't believe Artemis was doing this for charity. The young genius apparently saw this and he sighed, looking somewhat annoyed.

"Fowl..." Jowd said, and I could tell he was remembering ten years ago "Believe me... no good can come of the meteor for mankind. There are too many who would abuse its power. How can I tell you aren't one of those people?"

Artemis opened his mouth to make a rebuttal but he closed it again, shaking his head with another sigh. The boy raised a hand and rested his fingers across his brow, thinking for several more moments before actually speaking.

"Point taken Detective. Short of giving you a complete synopsis my history, and I doubt it would relax your concerns, I have no reliable way of proving my most probable intentions to you. However, your friend there in your arms has chosen to trust someone like myself." Artemis said, clearly speaking of me "Can you at least share with me what you know about the meteor and I shall promise I will not bother the meteor further?" Jowd thought over the boy's offer and considered his point. It was true I had decided to trust him but I had had my doubts about it from the start and those doubts had grown over the short time we knew each other.

The discussion had hit a stalemate; Artemis probably wouldn't be talking Jowd into sharing information and it seemed the boy wouldn't back down. I got down from Jowd's arms, jumped up on the bench, and connected to Artemis.

"Fowl... Yomeil was rendered immortal by the meteor... you should realize that. And that immortality twisted his mind. He lost a lot and couldn't take it but he couldn't move on either."

"Not all people live under the same circumstances Sissel." Artemis responded coolly.

"You would like the idea of being forever trapped, never fitting in with the world again? Immortality seems appealing Artemis but it does not have the glory it appears to hold. You will want to have life... a true life like you do now."

"And yourself? I do not see you sulking about, unhappy with your position in... life." Artemis pointed out, an awkward pause included because I wasn't exactly alive so it was questionable to use the term "life".

"I never had much of one to begin with Artemis..." I said sadly, I was admitting my lowly position in life and death after all "This is a power I only enjoy because I've never drawn much attention in the first place and I don't mind watching others live their lives. You've also decided to trust me, by returning my body, so I ask you to trust me again: leave the meteor alone. Its power will only bring you grief; it already has once and I prevented that. I cannot trail you forever, preventing it every time."

Even though his thoughts were still hidden, I could see the conflict in his expression. This boy wanted to do his research, if only for knowledge... but I had managed to show that that knowledge could also bring pain. Artemis finally rolled his eyes in a very teenage-like manner before speaking aloud.

"Alright Detective... I suppose I understand."

Jowd glanced at me and I just returned the gaze, blinking rather innocently at him. Jowd nodded.

"Thank you." Artemis closed his eyes as he took in what he had just done. He then spoke.

"Admittedly, I still would like to know about this meteor but... if it really is a danger, I would rather not complicate my bodyguard's job any further than it already is." he finished, looking up at Butler with a small, joking smile. He was making an excuse just to be amusing, even I caught that. Butler didn't respond but looked like he would've liked to roll his eyes as well.

Jowd smiled, appreciating the understanding.

"Well then... if our business here is done, I'd like to get Sissel here back home." Jowd said and I got up to follow him.

Artemis

We were just leaving the park. I was feeling rather odd having decided to do as Sissel had asked and not researched the meteor further.

Then I noticed Sissel come running up behind me and Butler looked back as he noticed. I knelt down as Sissel came close so he could tell me what he wanted but before we made contact, I heard a gun being cocked and I looked up.

There was a man much like the one who had been named "Tengo" standing there, aiming a shotgun adorned with gold at Butler. Unfortunately, it seemed that Sissel had distracted Butler long enough that the man had focused his aim on Butler before he could draw his own weapon. A quick glance around served to give me doubts Sissel could do anything to help in this situation.

"Easy there big man..." the hitman said tensely "I'm after the boy there so if you'll just step aside, I might not put a few dozen holes in you. Lucky for Tengo I was in the area to pick up what he messed up on. He'll owe me one."

Then a man dressed in a crimson suit ran at the hitman. The man in question had just been passing by but apparently had decided to be a hero. The hitman evaded the intial attack but before he could shoot the newcomer, the man grabbed the shotgun and they started to struggle over it.

I then heard Sissel just in front of me yowl. I looked quickly between them. It was obvious from his reaction that he likely knew the man coming to Butler's defense. My old friend though was focused on my protection. He wasn't going to move in to attack either man and leave me undefended from another possible threat. However, if this hitman were competent, this other man would likely be dead before Butler intervened.

"Butler!" I called "Don't worry about me! Neutralize that hitman immediately!"

Butler obeyed the order with barely a hint of hesitation and moved in follow it. No more than five seconds later, Butler had the hitman falling to the ground unconscious. I stood up and approached the other man, who was staring at Butler in shock. Butler's mass tended to have that effect on people. The man was dressed in a fancy crimson suit that I would've found too tacky to wear myself. He wore a black shirt with a white tie underneath and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of designer sunglasses. His blonde hair was... absurd to be frank, as it towered up over his head in a tall cone, the tip reaching around Butler's chin.

"Thank you for distracting that man. If I may have your name?" I said courtiously.

He tore his eyes off of Butler and looked at me.

"Ah... yeah... think nothing of it... name's Yomeil." he said, clearly trying to get over the shock of seeing someone so massive as Butler.

Yomeil... Sissel's old friend?

"Do not worry about Butler. Being that you probably just saved both our lives, he won't harm you." I assured Yomeil. He stepped back from Butler and relaxed a bit.

"Well, I probably ought to get going..." It seemed Yomeil was a bit shy about being recognized for his heroics.

"I told my old friend here to rescue you because of an old friend of yours." I said with a friendly smile and glanced back. Sissel came running on-cue.

Yomeil looked quite surprised and caught the black cat as it jumped up on him. After several moments of looking at each other, Yomeil looked at me again.

"Artemis Fowl, right?" he asked, I nodded in response "I think you made a very wise choice to leave that rock alone. As I believe a particular someone told you, it once ruined my life. It's only thanks to them that my life is so much better."

I just listened.

"Believe me, Artemis Fowl: you should appreciate life. It can never be replaced once it's lost forever. Well, anyways maybe I'll see you around. I gotta go!"

He then gently let Sissel down on the pavement and jogged away.

I knelt down again and petted Sissel, who contacted me.

"Thank you..." the cat's other thoughts were little else but immense gratitude. I didn't ask about Yomeil further... I'd already decided not to look into the meteor... and I didn't wish to tempt myself to look again.

"So, what have you chased me down for?" I asked.

"The detective wanted to invite you over for a meal. He thought we could at least part ways without any hard feelings. I think we'll be leaving without those either way now." Sissel chuckled as he finished. I found the offer to be very polite but...

"Forgive me my feline friend but I will have to decline. I have a school tour to rejoin so I can inform them I need to head home for some urgent business. I'm afraid I have some rather high tastes..." I admitted "Perhaps another time if we meet again."

The cat purred nonetheless.

"Hopefully if we do meet again, I won't need to save your life again." Sissel laughed.

"Alright, head back to your owner, Sissel." I said aloud and stood up. Sissel turned, giving me one final glance "farewell" and then turned and ran back the way he had come.

Butler took the moment to ask a question.

"If I may Artemis: there's something about that cat I can't see, isn't there?"

I gave him an amused smile.

"I imagine you figured that out when I first picked him up, yes?"

"You are not one to care about animals, Artemis. And I know a corpse when I see one. That cat was clearly dead but is up and moving."

"So he is..." I said quantly. Butler didn't bother digging for details how that was possible. He's already encountered fairies... one of which had saved his life. A cat saving mine, even if he didn't know how, wasn't that different.

"Now then Artemis, let us get you home before another hitman attempts to assassinate you."

I nodded and followed him to the car, calling the local police station on my cell phone so the unconscious hitman would be taken away. He would be waking up in jail on charges at least for having a weapon, if not more.

As for Butler and I, we were heading home. The fairies would've been interested in the meteor... perhaps Holly especially...
But I had promised Sissel to leave the meteor alone. Perhaps sometimes it is better not to avert a fate...

I would not forget the black cat.

THE END