Myles was pacing the floor anxiously, something that had become a bad habit over time. Beckett was leaning in the doorway, watching his brother for a moment before clicking his tongue to get his attention and saying. "It's locked in the basement."
"Good." Myles said, keeping up his pace. "Now we have to think about her first approach to it. We have to get our point across about Artemis, and hopefully it will know a shred of information about him."
"And help us." Beckett intruded. However, Myles just furrowed his eyebrows skeptically.
"I was thinking about that." He muttered, his pacing increasing in tempo. "What if these fairy people had something to do with Artemis' disappearance? Maybe because of knowing about them. Now that we sent out the signal to them-"
"More will be coming." Beckett sighed. "Even I can see that."
Myles nodded, "The sedative I put in the fairy won't last long. We should go down now and question it about all this."
The boys walked down to the basement in silence, only getting one confused look from Juliet before reaching their destination. When Myles unlocked and opened the door, he saw that Beckett hadn't put their hostage on the cot in the corner of the room, but tied her to a chair in the middle of it. He had also blindfolded and gagged her, and the tranquilizer had worn off. She was struggling against her bonds harshly.
"You know...You did not have to do all that." Myles mutter, walking to the fairy.
Beckett followed behind him, shrugging. "I know. Just seemed like a nice touch."
"You watch too much television."
"You read too many books."
Myles rolled his eyes, his focus turning back to the little person tied to the chair in the middle of the room. The fairy had stopped flailing ever since the two had started talking, Myles guessing that it did that so it could hear better. The teenage genius bent over, murmuring in it's ear. However, due to the closeness of the situation, it seemed louder to Holly.
"Nod if you promise not to scream if I take off the tape." He said lowly. Holly nodded. Myles glanced up at Beckett, who nodded, before reaching up and ripping off the tape.
Holly winced at the pain that shot through her face as the adhesive bonding was ripped off. She took a deep breath and licked her lips to get some feeling back into them before starting to talk. "Myles...Beckett…" She said slowly, as if she was trying to hold back her anger or talking to five year olds. "Where is Artemis?"
Beckett scoffed, "As if you don't know."
Myles rolled his eyes at his brother, giving him a look that clearly meant to shut up. "How do you know our names?"
"Yeah." Beckett interrupted. "Get it from Artemis when you probed his brain?"
"I'm not an alien, Beckett." Holly deduced. "At least, I think it's Beckett." She shrugged, muttering. "Sure sounds like it…"
"You are to us." Myles said, glaring at the elf. "You aren't human, at least. Your bone structure is completely different."
"Yes, Myles. I may be. But shortness and pointy ears does not an alien make." Holly took a deep breath, leaning back into her chair. "Just get Artemis, he'll explain everything."
There was silence, and even more silence before Myles sighed. "Artemis isnt here."
"Where is he? In a meeting?" Holly's heart rate increased, she knew what was coming.
"He…" Beckett trailed off, looking at his brother for some help.
"Where is he?!" Holly yelped, causing the twins to jump. She was panicking, for reasons they did not know of. "Take off this damn blindfold!"
Myles, shocked of her sudden outburst, "No."
It was Beckett who answered. "We haven't seen him in two years. No one's heard from him in a month."
Holly turned away, shaking off what Myles said. "You don't know where he is?"
"No, he never told us. But-" Beckett was interrupted by Myles giving him a concentrated stare.
"It doesn't matter where you misplaced your 'test subject' or whatever he is to you. How do you know him?"
"I…" Holly paused, swallowing hard. "I was his friend…"
"Was? As in past tense?"
"Yes. I haven't seen him in seven years."
"Would anyone else of your species know where he is?" Myles kept interrogating her as Beckett stayed quiet near the door.
Holly paused for a moment, thinking. "I'll only answer that if you take off this blindfold."
Myles looked back at his brother. The blonde just shrugged at him, "Why not?"
Myles nodded solemnly, walking back up to the elf and untying the blindfold. Holly blinked a few times before looking up at them. Her eyes widened upon seeing the twins.
"You two have grown up so much." She gasped, looking at one teenager to the other. "How old are you?"
"Grown up? You've met us before?" Beckett said, stepping up closer to her, standing next to Myles.
"Yes, I have." She smiled sourly, "About seven years ago."
"We were six." Myles said. "Childhood memories fade over time, and the scarcity of us knowing about you and your race might have helped the the forgetting of you." He looked at Holly. "It doesn't matter now, however. Do you know where Artemis could be?"
"If I keep asking you, why do you think I know?" Holly scoffed. "You probably know more than me…"
"And why would that be? Based on a quick glance at your clothing, I can tell that you are more sophisticated in technology. Couldn't you just trace where our brother is?"
"Artemis doesn't want anything to do with me. Anyway, even if he did, I couldn't have. I'm under strict orders not to have anything to do with The Fowl's anymore."
Myles glanced again at Beckett, confused. "Then what are you doing here?"
"The signal that I'm guessing you two sent off." Holly bowed her head, the impression of not seeing Artemis finally submerging into her brain.
"Would anyone that knows you be able to find Artemis?" Myles cocked his head to the side.
"Possibly." Holly said, thinking about Foaly. She struggled once at the bonds on her hands. "Will you untie my hands now?"
Myles pretended to think about this for a minute. "Hmm, nope." He went over to her, putting the tape that was her makeshift gag over her mouth again. "I'm thinking more along the lines of holding you ransom. Your life in exchange for the coordinates to where our brother is."
Holly's eyes widened again as she watched the two walk out of the room and close the door behind them. She thought about the situation for a moment. The council couldn't know about this, her there in Fowl Manor. She would lose her job for sure, maybe even be exiled from Haven. Yet, there was no way for her to stop Myles and Beckett and to make sure Artemis was safe.
Holly leaned her head back once again. In short, she was screwed.
