Even though his surroundings were stark white and nearly blinding, somehow Artemis managed to fall asleep. Maybe it was because of the exhaustion of hours and hours of brutal torture, but it might have also been because of the blood loss caused by the same thing. Even then, his dreams were not pleasant at all, a pain induced nightmare making him wake up after what could only be thirty minutes.
It didn't matter either, because as soon as Artemis' eyes opened, the door to his cell did too. Artemis didn't look up. It didn't take a genius to realize who it was.
"Have a nice nap, Fowl?" Spiro's cold voice filled Artemis' ears immediately. The genius scowled, but didn't reply. That caused the villain to chuckle, but Spiro went on instead of dwelling in his silent treatment. "Are you ready to divulge that little piece of information to me yet?"
Artemis' voice was soft and hoarse, showing just how weak he actually was. "Are you deaf or just plain ignorant?" He replied bluntly, too tired to think of some witty and clever comeback. "I told you I will not assist you whatsoever in the takeover of the fairy race. Your threats on me and my family are not going to do you any good anymore." Butler is more paranoid than Foaly, my family will be just fine. He reminded himself silently.
Spiro sighed, "I figured you would say that. I would show you that my threats aren't bluffs, but it would take hours, even days, to bring your family here. Being an escaped convict, I have to flee that country by then. Cannot go to Ireland, since that is the next place people will look for me."
"And you can't afford to drag around dead weight." Artemis muttered, looking up at the criminal. "Like me."
Spiro chuckled, crouching down to Artemis' height. "You really are smart, aren't you, boy? Well, then why don't you till me what I'm going to do next?"
Artemis glared at him icily, thinking logically for a moment, before realizing what Spiro was talking about. Then, as quickly as the young man glared, his eyes widened to the size of softballs. "No…" He gasped, shaking his head slightly. "Yo-You can't do that!"
Another dark chuckle came from him. Spiro stood up straight and looked down at Artemis like he was a bug to be crushed under his shoe. "Watch me." The villain growled.
"You can't drag Terrence into this! He's your brother's son, your nephew! Doesn't that me something to you?"
"I'm not exactly the 'family' kind of person, Fowl. That brat doesn't mean much to me." He walked around the single chair. "Honestly, if I had my way…He never would have been in this world to begin with."
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?!" Artemis snarled, tugging at his bonds with rage. Surely, the genius knew that wouldn't break them, but he was just too d'arvitting mad.
"It means that I have no problem in killing or simply threatening Terrence. Especially when he knows nothing about his uncle." There was an evil glint in Spiro's eyes as he looked at Artemis. "So, for you to understand how serious I am, I will kill your little friend. I'll sit him right in front of you and Terrence can tell you all about how you betrayed him until I shoot him in the head. Then you'll get a front room view of the light in his eyes dimming to nothing."
"I'll tell him how awful his uncle is, how evil he is at that." Then maybe he can have a chance to get the hell out of here. Artemis thought.
That only caused him to shake his head and chuckle lightly, his voice deceivingly calm as he whispered, "You do that and I will torture the boy. I wont be quick either. Terrence will suffer more than I have to you in the past day."
"Why?" Was the young genius' only question.
"Because…I can. I want you to experience pain ten times more than I received after everything you have put me through. Even if I have to make your best friend hate you more than me in his final moments of life."
Artemis gave him the hardest glare he had ever given anyone in his entire life. "You are one sick bastard, you know that?" His eyes followed the villain as he walked to the cell door.
"Oh, trust me. I do." Spiro replied before walking out and slamming the door behind him.
Once Spiro was gone, Artemis tilted his head and closed his eyes, sighing heavily. He lost, and Spiro knew that. Terrence was just to break him down. It wasn't about getting the information from him. Millions of internet sites have accurate fairy data and where to find them. It was all over. Spiro would kill Terrence and them him, before Artemis could think of an escape.
Minutes passed before the door opened and voices rang out.
"I don't really want to see him, Uncle Jon." Terrence argued, "Honestly…I should probably just go back and take my classes for today."
"You should talk to the boy one more time, Terry." The nickname seemed odd and left a bad taste in Artemis; mouth. It sounded even worse with it coming from Spiro. "Just get everything out of your system before the police take him back to Ireland."
The two walked into the room just then, a guard closing the door behind them. Spiro was behind Terrence, so the man couldn't see the gigantic smirk on his face, but Terrence…Terrence was a mess. His usually light blond hair was shaggy and a darker shade and his face was worn out, his eyes having dark circles around them. His clothes were rumpled, as though he had slept in them and didn't have the energy to change them at all. Then again, Artemis should have known he would look like hell. With everything that had happened to Terrence, it was no wonder why the man was a mess.
"Gods, Terrence-" Artemis tried to speak, but was cut off when Terrence put his hand up to stop him. The blond shook his head sadly; slumping down in the seat that Spiro pulled up in front of the one Artemis was tied to.
Spiro himself was leaning against the wall behind Terrence, watching the two with a winning glory expression on his face. Artemis tried not to focus on the villain, instead concentrating on his enraged friend in front of him.
"I don't want to hear anything from you." Terrence started, "I just want to say what I have to say and then leave. Besides, I've heard enough of your lies." Artemis had enough sense not to speak. Especially not with Spiro still in the room.
"H-How could you not tell me who you were? Some rich criminal from the other side of the world? I thought you were my friend and all I was was…Was just a cover up!
"Every good time, every laugh, even every single serious moment we have had. It was hidden behind every lie you ever told me about your identity. I mean, were you just lying the entire time? Everything you ever told me, all the advice that you gave me for the past seven years? You were the closest thing I had to a brother, and now I can't trust you, Artemis. God, I can barely look at you!"
Spiro had a smirk on his face the entire time Terrence spoke. All the while, he slowly and silently pulled a small hand gun from his belt. Artemis tried not to pay attention to him, and tried to stay quiet. Death was better than the alternative torture for Terrence. If he thought he was horrible in his final moments of life, maybe he will know the real truth in death.
Spiro had the gun pointed directly at Terrence's head at the end portion of his speech. Artemis was sure that as soon as Terrence stopped talking, Spiro would pull the trigger. He tried to stay calm, but even for the genius, criminal mastermind, it was difficult.
"I just…I can't believe you would do that." Terrence muttered, looking down at the floor. He looked defeated, "I guess the only other thing I have to say to you is…Goodbye, Arte-"