Artemis Fowl and the Rise of Angels (Sequel to Constantine)
“So technically, you two are already married.” Constantine said to Artemis, holding a pool cue in one hand, and a glass of whiskey in the other. The two were in the Fowl Manor den, a spacious, green room modeled after the french smoking parlours. On one end there was a fully stocked bar, and in the middle was a pool table. A large, multi-paned glass window with white trim took up most of one wall, and provided a spectacular view to the backyard of the manor, and since it faced the west, sunlight streamed in during the afternoon.
“Yes, we are bonded by elvish, and magical, law.” Artemis was across the pool table from Constantine, holding a similar pool cue, but drinking only mineral water. He looked at Constantine, who stood silhouetted against the window. He was dressed in all black, which matched the color of his hair on the back of his head. His power, as it turns out, had not completely returned after bringing Butler back from the dead, and his hair color was one of the most easily recognizable physical measurements of that. Most of his hair was still blonde, cut short and spiked up, with a few awkward strands falling down his forehead, but on the back of his head, there was a shock of jet-black hair shooting up from his neck.
Constantine leaned over the table and lined up a shot with the fingers on his left hand. “Talk about trapping a man.” He fired off the cue ball, and it ricocheted around, knocking in two different solid color balls. He missed his next shot by a hairs width.
“I'm not all that bothered, to be honest.” Artemis said, smiling while he examined the layout of the colored spheres on the table. He lined up a shot, took it, and knocked in three separate striped balls. “I am certain it would have happened eventually one way or another.”
“Well, that's good at least.” Constantine lackadaisically knocked in the ball he had originally missed, and lined up a shot with the 8-ball. “I once knew a beautiful blonde, drove me to drink.” He missed the corner pocket, and he had hit the cue ball too hard, it bounced around, and sunk into one of the side pockets. He stood up from the table, his mouth tucked in to an accepting smile, and toasted Artemis with his glass of whiskey. “Only thing I've ever been indebted to her for.” He drained it with flourish, and set it down on the bar. Artemis chuckled at the display.
“I did not know you were a fan of W.C. Fields.”
“I didn't know you knew who W.C. Fields was.”
Artemis smiled smugly. “Of course, I try to keep up to date on most modern culture.”
Constantine rolled his eyes. “What are you going to tell your parents about Holly?” he held up the triangle. “Re-rack?”
Artemis nodded. “The truth will have to do, there's a chance the baby will take after her -”
“With your looks you better hope so.” Constantine goaded as he placed a number of balls into the triangle.
Artemis shot him a withering look. “AND, if it's going to be pretty hard to hide if it's born with pointed ears. That's also why it's going to have to be born in the Manor.”
“Ooh, Holly's gonna love that.” Constantine said, not looking up, busy racking the balls. He slid the triangle back into its slot, grabbed the cue ball, and rolled it to Artemis. “Have you finished analyzing that portable pituitary stuff?”
Artemis set the ball on the little blue chalk mark on his end of the table, and leaned over it, lining up his shot with the cue. “Yes, I finished yesterday, the substance cannot be used on a newborn. After a few months it should be safe, but it would mess with the newborns system too much. I don't even think Holly should use it the last two months of the pregnancy.” He rammed the cue home, and even knocked in two solid-colored balls.
“Arty, Conny, dinner is ready.” Holly had poked her head in through the glass french doors.
Artemis turned around. “We'll be right there.” She nodded and left. Artemis went to hang up his cue on a rack across from the bar.
Constantine however, didn't move. “She made you dinner?” He looked at Artemis, thoroughly confused.
Artemis shrugged as he walked toward the door. “I guess.”
“How'd you get her to do that?”
Artemis just laughed and left, leaving Constantine alone in the room. After a second, he rushed to hang up his cue and follow Artemis. “That wasn't a joke!” he called.
Dinner, as it turns out, was cooked by Juliet, Holly was just the messenger. It was just a simple lentil soup, that Constantine, Artemis, Holly, Juliet, and Butler all got a chance to enjoy. However, Butler had to leave early to pick up the other Fowls at the airport, and Juliet had to take her bowl to the security room, to fill his post, which left Constantine, Artemis, and Holly sitting in the kitchen to eat at the island counter.
“So Constantine, did you complete that “business” you so ominously said you had to attend to when we got back from Russia?” Holly asked, pointing her spoon at the man clad in black.
“Why yes, thank you for asking.” Replied Constantine, with a sickly sweet smile.
“Where did you disappear to, anyway?” Artemis asked.
Constantine shrugged. “To take care of some business.” Holly rolled her eyes. Artemis resisted the urge.
“So, Arty, what are we going to tell your parents.” Holly asked, directing her attention to her boyfriend.
“You haven't told her yet?” Constantine asked, the amusement showing in his eyes.
“I haven't had the time.” Artemis said out of the corner of his mouth.
“Well what exactly have you two been up too?”
“I really don't think that's any of your business.”
“Well I really don't think that -”
“HEY!” Holly interrupted the exchange.
“Yes?” They said in unison, feigning innocence. She nearly slapped them.
“What haven't you told me yet, Artemis?” She spoke as one would to a misbehaving kindergartener, slow and threatening.
Artemis took a deep breath and started talking, explaining everything he had already told Constantine. Holly just sat there, quietly, resting her elbows on the granite countertop. When Artemis brought up the whole “birth in the manor” thing, Holly groaned and put her forehead on the granite, but all in all, she took it rather well.
“Also,” Artemis continued after the long exposition. “We're probably going to have to suffer through a Christian marriage, most likely Catholic.”
Holly's ears perked up at this. “Why's that?”
Holly hung her head. “So we're going to take a time-honored, sacred tradition about holy love between a mud man and a mud woman, and just trample all over it?”
“Oh, maliciously.” Constantine muttered. Artemis ignored him.
“Asinine, I know, but that's the way my Mother was raised, and she will want to adhere to it.”
“Will it have to be in a church? I'd rather it be outside, in the sun.”
Artemis thought for a moment. “I might be able to convince Mother of that, but having a priest there will be paramount.”
Holly groaned, but let it drop. The trio continued to eat, talking about different things, but no one really saying anything. Constantine volunteered to do the dishes, and just as he was finishing, they heard the door open and close, and the unmistakable cry of young children.
“Well, you're parents are home.” Constantine announced, putting the last of the bowls in the wooden cupboards. “And you have things to discuss, so I think I'll just go home. I'll see you guys later.” And with that, without giving them time to respond, he slipped out the screen door that connected kitchen with the side of the house.
Artemis watched him go. “Heart of a lion, he's got.”
Holly put her arms around his left arm, resting her chin on his shoulder. “C'mon, let's go greet your parents.” Artemis nodded and they went to meet them at the entrance hall.
When they reached the entrance hall, Myles and Beckett, who had been chasing one another in circles, chorused “Holly!” And went to hug the woman around the knees.
“Glad to know I was missed.” Artemis commented, watching the display, but he was smiling nonetheless.
“Oh you were missed, darling!” Called Angeline Fowl, who was still standing at the door with her husband and Butler, who was performing the impressive balancing act of carrying five different suitcases at once. “Come here.” She said with her arms wide open.
Artemis had to suppress rolling his eyes as he went into his mother's hug. “Welcome home Mother, Father.”
This time, Artemis did roll his eyes. “Mom, Dad.”
Angeline smiled, kissing him on both cheeks. “That's better, and don't roll your eyes at me.” Artemis senior beamed.
“Welcome back Mr. and Mrs. Fowl, I take it your trip went well?” Holly said as she struggled to walk forward, with the twins hanging off either of her legs.
“It went wonderful, Holly dear, thank you for asking. Myles, Beckett, stop that, let Holly go.” The twins dropped off Holly's legs, letting her walk forward and be met with the same intimate, french greeting that Mrs. Fowl had greeted her song with.
“What have you two been up to all this time?” Artemis senior asked.
His son resisted the urge to glance at Holly. “Just business, as usual.” He said. His father looked at him skeptically, but Angeline cut him off before he could say anything.
“Speaking of which, whose Cobra was that outside?” she asked, referring to the car Constantine had parked in the driveway.
“That was Constantine's. you remember him, don't you?”
“Oh yes of course, your friend!” Angeline exclaimed, clasping her thin, delicate hands together at her chest. “How is he?”
“He's doing well, but he just left.” Artemis said, he was now standing next to Holly, with either twin on either side of them, across from the parents. Butler was now walking precariously up the grand staircase, to drop the suitcases off in their respective rooms.
“Oh, well that's OK, I'm sure we'll see him soon.”
“Yes.” Artemis replied. “Mother, I mean, Mom, and Dad?”
“Yes dear?” Angeline asked, smiling.
Artemis gulped, no turning back now. “Would you two meet us in the den in five minutes? Holly and I have something to tell you.”
