I'm on a roll, huh? Guess watching the movie motivated me more than I thought...
Artemis closed and locked the bedroom door behind him. The lock he placed on the door was activated from his phone, so with a press of a button, it could be engaged and disengaged. The man made sure the door was secure by turning the gold engraved doorknob. Then, he sighed and started heading downstairs.
Everywhere he turned, he felt stiff and on guard as though something was going to jump out at him. Honestly, it was giving him a headache. It was dizzying, listening to Holly and the others, seeing pictures, trying to feel safe in this uncertain environment, and worrying about Hawthorne all at once. The hardest part was making sure Holly was safe, but also threatening her life all in the same breath.
Eventually, Artemis made his way down to the kitchen. Butler was sitting on a stool in there, flipping through a Sig Sauer magazine and barely looking up when Artemis walked into the room. "Where's the other one?" He asked smoothly, very cautious, and glanced over at the bigger man as he went over to the refrigerator.
Butler looked up from his magazine, making sure that his own hands were visible at all times. "He went to his guest room." He answered nonchalantly, looking back down. "It's been a long day for him."
"Are you going to tell me what that bright light was?" Artemis asked, looking through the fridge for something he could make.
"Are you going to tell me how Holly is?" Butler watched him, raising an eyebrow. The image of Artemis' knife plunging into Holly's side replayed in his mind as he said it.
"Touché." He mumbled distractedly. However, Artemis was anything but distracted. His ears tuned to any noise Butler might make moving as his eyes were locked on the stainless steel shelves in front of him filled with different kinds of food.
Butler observed him rummage through the refrigerator for a moment more before sighing. "You are aware that Holly is a-"
"Vegetarian?" Artemis pulled away from the fridge, leaning against the door and looking at Butler. "Yes. I am aware. I don't starve my prisoners."
"Is that what she is to you?" Butler raised an eyebrow at him. "A prisoner?"
Artemis didn't say a word, refusing to answer that question, but shooting Butler a look to not push him farther. He sighed after a moment, turning his eyes back to his task at hand.
Butler paused for a moment, his eyes scanning Artemis. "Waffles."
That caused Artemis to sigh and stand back up straight again. "Pardon?" He asked, mildly annoyed that his train of thought was once again disturbed.
"Holly likes the waffles that I make," Butler told him. "There's probably a container of batter in there from a few days ago, and the press is over there." His finger pointed to the end of the marble counter where the waffle maker was. "There's also strawberries in the fridge and vanilla in the cupboard."
Artemis nodded for a moment, his eyes glancing from Butler to where he was gesturing to. He reached in the fridge and grabbed the batter on the shelf. He nodded without thanks and went over to the waffle press to turn it on.
Butler looked back down at his magazine. "I see you favor the Glock 17." He murmured, shooting a glance at Artemis' waistband to see the handle of the handgun poking out.
Artemis' eyes cast over to him again, facing sideways by the machine so he could keep watch on Butler. "And you, the German market."
"You know your firearms." Butler crossed his arms over his chest. Artemis' heart rate increased a little at the moment, but he didn't move to his weapon.
"Have to," Artemis replied, flipping the machine over. "When you're in a fight, you-"
"Need all the information you can get to win." Butler finished for him, his eyebrows furrowing. It was the exact same thing he was taught at the academy at a very young age.
Artemis took the waffles out, plating them and cutting the strawberries into quarters before placing them on top of them. "I see we have similar beliefs when it comes to combat." Artemis then turned to Butler, plate in hand. "It would be a shame if we had to use it against each other."
"Agreed." Butler stared back at him. He couldn't believe this was Artemis standing in front of him. He was much taller than he expected the boy would grow, and his hair wasn't slicked back at all as he had it 10 years ago. His suit was gone, and now he was talking to him with thinly veiled threats.
Artemis nodded, taking a step forward and looking down at the island countertop Butler was sitting at.
Suddenly, he felt lightheaded and a bit dizzy. He put the plate down, leaning against the counter and closing his eyes for a second.
A flash of light beamed in front of his eyes and Artemis felt like he was in a familiar place. He could smell something in the distance, but it was no longer just the fragrance of batter baking. The scent of mild bergamot was in the air and Artemis felt as though there was heavy steam rising to his face, leaving a hot dew across his top lip. He couldn't see anything but could hear someone behind him shuffling about.
With a snap, Artemis was then back in the kitchen of Fowl Manor. He looked around a Butler and the concerned expression on his face. "Artemis, are you alright?"
Artemis brushed it off, picking up the plate of waffles again. "Yes, of course." He acted as though the question was ridiculous. However, in the back of his mind, the odd feeling of deja vu couldn't be shaken quite so easily. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a prisoner to feed."
Butler looked back at Artemis as he left the room swiftly, nodding thoughtfully.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Holly looked up at her shackled right wrist, tugging at it mildly. A voice in the back of her head told her to not do that. Her wrists were still a bit raw from being tied down and struggling for the past few days, and Artemis would not be happy if he found out she was trying to break loose.
Instead, she huffed and plopped her back against the headboard, looking around the room. The lock had clicked into place after Artemis had left, and it didn't take a genius to realize why Artemis had chained her to the bed. Although the lock needed his authorization, he didn't know what was hidden in this room that could be used to pick or pry off the lock.
Not that she would do that, of course. Frond, she had been trying so hard to earn Artemis' trust the past few days that trying to escape and talk to Foaly or Butler would just set her backward. She had no idea what she was doing half the time, or if it was even the right choice, but betraying Artemis didn't exactly seem like the way to go. Especially with that choker around her neck.
Speaking of it, Holly tried to not scratch at her neck much. Artemis had warned her not to, probably because of the poison he threatened to inject her with. It was controlled by Artemis, but it could most likely also be released if it was jostled too much. She could feel something sharp poking into her neck, which was making her want to move the choker. Still, she had to remind herself of Artemis' words and refrain. She didn't want to find out what the poison did to her.
When the lock disengaged 5 minutes later, Holly sat up and frowned. Artemis was back so soon? Did he get lost? It seemed unlikely with his mindset that he wouldn't be able to get around without ease.
"Holly?" A higher voice than Artemis' rang out, and Holly's hazel eyes flicked up to meet dark brown ones.
"Foaly?" She murmured, confused.
Foaly sighed with relief, closing the door carefully behind him before rushing up to her. "Gods, Holly!" He was able to get up on the bed with little struggle, still not used to his legs in this human-form. "Are you alright?" He lifted the left side of her shirt slightly, looking at the bandages on her hip.
"How did you get in here?" She hissed, not pulling away as she looked up in shock at him.
That just caused him to roll his eyes. "You doubt that I'd be able to get through that simple wireless lock?" He brushed his fingers over her side, and Holly pulled away. "Are you alright?"
Holly nodded, "Yeah. He took care of it."
"The same 'he' that stabbed you in the first place?" Foaly shot her a look of disapproval.
"You backed him into a corner using that light on him." Holly pointed out, pulling her shirt down and looking at Foaly. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm checking on you. The big guy and I were worried after he hurt you."
That just made Holly roll her eyes. That wasn't what she was talking about and he knew it. "Why are you here at Fowl Manor, Foaly?"
Foaly sighed, looking at the handcuff around her wrist but he knew he shouldn't mess with it. "Root sent me up here. He's worried sick, and thought that Butler could help us find you."
Holly scoffed, looking down as she thought through it. "So, he doesn't know about Artemis? That I'm here?"
Foaly shook his head, "No. And I didn't want to risk your life by communicating with him." He glanced at the choker around her neck. "Does it hurt?"
"No." She answered, "I mean, it's not the most comfortable but I can live with it."
"I can take it off." Foaly offered, "It doesn't look very complex." He reached up to check it, but Holly grabbed his wrist with her free hand.
"No," Holly answered, shaking her head. "Look, Foaly. I've worked hard to gain Artemis' trust. It's not an easy thing to acquire. I'm not going to try to hurt him."
"Even if he's hurting you?" Foaly countered, and Holly looked down. She couldn't look at him, knowing he was right. "Holly, I know you care about him. He was your friend at one point."
"I know how much I can handle," Holly whispered, her throat sore from trying to hold back a sob. What he was saying was cutting through her sharper than the knife had. "Foaly, I don't care what he does to me. He needs someone on his side."
"We're on his side." Foaly took his friend's left hand, squeezing it tightly. "At least, we're trying to be. But he's not letting us."
"He's been through things." Holly looked up at him, her eyes wet. Foaly sighed, shaking his head. "More than most people have, Foaly. And now he has people trying to hunt him again. He's scared, and if I leave him…" She sighed this time, "He'll feel like he has no one."
"Fine." Foaly nodded, "I understand, Holly. But you have to realize how hard it is for me and Butler to just sit back and watch this."
"Give him time." Holly murmured, pulling her hand away. "You should go. Before Artemis gets back."
Foaly nodded again, getting up and looking back at her. "You care about him?" He asked.
Holly thought for a moment before licking her lips and nodding back. "Very much."
He just sighed, turning and leaving Holly there. Holly took a deep breath, leaning her head back against the headboard behind her and looking up thoughtfully. She heard the lock engage again and couldn't hold back the sob that threatened its way through her mouth again. She covered her mouth with her hand, closing her eyes tightly.
It hurt, much more than she would ever let on. She couldn't tell if this was worse than losing Artemis in the first place. All Holly knew was that she had to keep pushing on, even if it hurt. Even if she wanted the choker off and wanted her wrist to be free from the handcuff. Foaly just reminded her of that even more.
It. Hurt.
I'll be replying to comments in the next chapter tomorrow. So. Ask questions. Make comments.