The day Greg returned finally arrived much to Mycroft's silent chagrin, yes having Violet around had made his job at least fifteen percent harder but he'd enjoyed having the eight – almost nine – year old around. Still, she was a Lestrade and not a Holmes so Myc wasn't surprised when he found himself stood just inside the open front door with Gregory at his side while they waited for Vi to put her shoes on. Oh if there was one thing he'd always envy the policeman for it would be his daughter, his outgoing and intelligent little girl.
"I noticed Artemis wearing a bit of unusual jewelry, or her anyway." Said Greg as he rocked back and forth on his feet as if it were little more than a throw away comment.
Mycroft actually smiled at his friend. "Yes, and I hope she'll be wearing it for a long time to come."
That had the slightly older man beaming in that bold grin of his, the one which only came out when he was really, truly happy, and he clapped Myc on the back; an act which Mycroft had only ever had come from his friend thankfully.
"I'm proud of you, Myc. Really. She's an odd kind of girl but it's a good odd and it's your odd. You deserve to be happy."
Myc took a breath. "Thank you, Gregory, I am."
Violet, who had gotten her shoes on stood up to her full height only to dazzle them with her rich, brown eyes.
"Why is everyone happy? What's going on?"
That got a chuckle from her father. "Uncle Mycroft is going to marry Artemis."
At that Violet's eyes went wide and in an instant she'd grabbed a hold of her uncle's right hand.
"Can I be a flower girl? Can I wear a pretty dress? Is Aunt Artemis going to wear a pretty dress? When are-?"
The elder Lestrade cut her off. "Vi, calm down, they're not going get married for a while yet."
Mycroft crouched down meet the child's eyes, he couldn't help but smile softly at her clearly excited expression.
"You can certainly be the flower girl if you wish and I'm sure you're dress will be beautiful, just promise me you won't show Artemis' up." He teased softly only for her to nod frantically.
"I won't." She confirmed.
With a nod he stood back up only to find Greg half way through rolling his eyes.
"Great, now she's going to be looking at dresses for the next month." Though his words were mildly irritated Greg spoke with a smile.
Vi grabbed her purple teddy bear then while her father lifted up her suitcase, he only had one more day with her and wanted to make the most of it before she went back to her mother.
"Say thank you to your uncle for letting you stay with him."
"Thank you, Uncle Mycie." She said quickly.
Myc smiled in that way that wasn't really a smile. "You are very welcome, ma petite."
Truthfully that little girl was welcome any time of day, he loved having her around. In that moment of mental pause Greg had muttered his own goodbye and had set off towards his car with his daughter just a few steps ahead of him as she started on about wanting piano lessons. The British Government watched them leave from the doorway. Honestly he'd had a few second thoughts about encouraging Vi's interest in music, somehow he'd felt as though he'd overstepped but Gregory had apparently enjoyed that she wanted to learn; he'd wished he'd had more chances at her age as well as the incentive to learn new things. While Greg hadn't minded Myc still felt as though he sometimes lost control and started to father Violet rather than playing the loyal uncle as was his place. With a sigh he packed away those thoughts and closed the door into the darkness and instead went in search of his future wife.
~X~
The plan for attacking the old Nazi bunker that the remaining Hades operatives had been using to hide away. Everything was prepared and ready to go, so carefully plotted and everyone knew their part. Lady Smallwood still wasn't overly convinced but at this point she wouldn't ever be convinced and Mycroft couldn't have cared less, then there was Sirs Edwin, Percy and Jackson who had learned to do as Myc instructed because he was by far more intelligent than them; he was the one playing eight chess games at once and still winning. Sir Percy Statham didn't like it any more than Lady Smallwood did but Percy didn't like much of anything or that Artemis would marry Mycroft rather than falling for Percy's seductions.
Despite Holmes the elder having been keen to pounce work had been put on hold for a couple of days. He'd been forced to fly to New York at an ungodly hour then rather than going back to work in London had instead flown to the coast to wait for Sherlock and their parents. It was late July, the twentieth to be precise which meant it was Eurus' birthday, the first one since his family had discovered she still lived. They periodically went to visit her but this day would be different and not just because he was sleep deprived. Madelena and Siger Holmes seemed to have finally accepted and come to understand why their eldest had done the things he'd done, why Mycroft had gone along with Rudy's lie, however, that hadn't stopped him finding everything remarkably awkward; he probably always would.
Still, this was his sister's first birthday where her parents could be with her again and so they were going to Sherringford as a family. The auburn-haired man hadn't really spoken all morning or the night previous on the plane, not when he'd woken up, not when he'd gotten dressed or drunk his morning tea. Had he been engaged to a 'normal' person his fiancée would have tried to broach conversation much sooner but Mycroft was engaged to Artemis not some boring normal person, so she'd hardly even noticed the uneasy silence; oddly he'd been thankful for that. It wasn't until they were stood on the tarmac waiting for his parents and Sherlock to meet them so they could get on the helicopter that Artemis finally spoke to him.
"Why are you going if you are so uncomfortable?" She asked as they stared out towards the sea, the helicopter on their left.
Finally he spoke. "Because I owe that much to my parents and sister, I suppose. No matter what Eurus or I have done, what we've lied about she's still my baby sister and I have no right to avoid her on her birthday, not any more." There was a touch of sorrow in his voice.
"Were you like you were with Violet when Eurus was young?"
He nodded. "Yes, for a short time before she … showed her true colors. Since I'm so much older and my parents are unusual in their parenting I was expected to care for her and Sherlock and I did, I adored them, there was a time when Sherlock spent more time with me than anyone else, followed me around like a puppy, but I took a school trip and when I returned he'd met Victor. I became obsolete to Sherlock, and Eurus never seemed to want me around, I think it was because it was harder to fool me than it was Sherlock or our parents." He paused to sigh, Artemis had always been surprisingly easy for him to talk to, perhaps it was due to him knowing she'd never judge him. "I failed my sister and then I kept failing her even after Uncle Rudy took her away."
There was a pause, a strange one which left a change of energy in the air and actually had Myc turn to look at the raven-hair killer.
"I told you that you're like a lighthouse in a storm, though I don't think that is unique to me. We atypical people have to exist in the world 'normal' people have decided should exist, majority rule and all that. We don't understand it and differ from it, as do you, but you can see both sides. You can see the storm and you can see land. You're good like few people are so you stand tall as a lighthouse and try to guide us in, you don't make us conform, you just make it easier for us to co-exist."
Mycroft's blue-gray eyes stared at her. How could someone who'd been so emotionally abused and scared be so very wise? The taller man said nothing for two reasons, the first was that he didn't wish for one second to ruin the moment while the second was the squeeze in his heart, the love he held for this woman. Instead of utterances he bent down ever so slightly and gave her a loving kiss, cupped her cheek with his large hand. The pair only broke apart when they heard a car pull up behind them and turned to face it. Siger Holmes exited the black car first only help his wife out while Sherlock easily appeared from the other side of the vehicle and finally Doctor John Watson. Mycroft had suspected that Watson would be with them, normally seeing Eurus was just a family event but since Sherlock and the doctor had officially started dating he'd been worming his way more and more into things considered 'just family', made sense since John was family now.
Didn't take more than five steps for his family to reach Mycroft and his soon to be bride, the sleek black car drove away as if it faded from existence.
"Good morning, son, Artemis." Said Siger Holmes with a polite smile.
He ushered everyone into the helicopter and each slipped their headsets on as the craft took off. Artemis didn't speak, not that anyone had really expected her to, though Myc did notice the concerned sideways glances she got from his mother every now and again. It was clearly left to John and the white-haired Holmes to keep conversation going since they were the normal ones amongst the family. Mummy could often pass for normal, or at least she could until the topic of mathematics came up and then she revealed herself for the genius she was.
Much to Mycroft's pleasure the flight was an easy one and soon the black, unmarked, helicopter landed at Sherringford and guards guided them all inside and down to the first set of checkpoints where Madelena had her handbag confiscated and the present for her daughter x-rayed, while the others had their cellphones placed in a plastic tray for later; even Mycroft's was taken though a guard quickly presented him with a small earpiece so he could stay in contact. It was Artemis though who drew the most attention and – from the guards – a flash of fear. Many sets of eyes watched as she stripped off a pile of guns and knives, one of which had been concealed as her belt buckle – her shoulder holster was last to be placed in the gray tray a man held for her as if it were the murderous icing on the cake.
Already shocked by the level of weapons she'd got stashed away seemingly invisibly, Mummy and Father's eyebrows vanished into their hair lines when Myc reached into his tailored waistcoat and pulled out two silver magazines from the hidden pockets where he kept spare bullets for Artemis in case of emergency. He had never been one for guns but he'd certainly turned himself into a good weapons valet.
They'd headed about two steps towards the next and final checkpoint when Artemis suddenly stopped and returned to the amazed man as he just looked at the weapons now in the tray. From her back pocket she removed a metal pen though when he tilted his head questioningly at her she pulled it apart just enough to reveal it was actually a concealed blade. It got tossed in the tray as well before she silently returned to her fiancé and her future family.
"Shouldn't we just put her in the box?" Asked Sherlock as they walked. "The sign says all metal objects and possible weapons in the box, we should sit her in it."
While the mental image was rather comical it wouldn't be happening in the near or distant future. John side as they approached the large door which hide Eurus away.
"Sherlock, darling, shut up."
No one said anything else about it, more focused on Eurus and trying to give her a birthday even if it was locked away in a sterile looking room. They passed through the main security gate and finally were allowed access to the Hannibal-esque cell.
Reapers hadn't ever been inside Sherringford before though Mycroft had wondered more than once what it would be like if people like Artemis had been the guards, would his sister have been able to take over? Could all of this been avoided or would they have aided her, they did work for those who paid after all.
Wordlessly they made their way inside to find Eurus sat Indian style in her white room so they could only see her left side as she faced the wall. Disturbingly though she rocked back and forth while her hair hid her face.
"Eurus, sweetheart? We came to say happy birthday." Said Madelena with a loving, motherly smile.
They were used to Eurus not speaking, it had become normal, but rocking was new. Out of habit Sherlock stepped towards the glass and tapped on it, a single knuckle and only one test to make sure the glass remained in place; a quiet fear Sherlock wouldn't admit to. Watson, however, crossed his arms over his chest and leant against the wall so he had a perfect view of the entire room, he'd not get locked up in Sherringford again, not again!
"What is going on, Myc?" Asked Siger.
Mycroft hardly even missed a beat as irritation flooded him. "That is what I would like to know." He turned his eyes up to the camera just behind him in the corner. "How long has my sister been like this?"
All was silent as he waited for an answer and something was muttered to him via his earpiece.
"And why wasn't I informed immediately?"
He cocked an eyebrow as he got informed that they had contacted him though he'd not answered his phone, must have been when he'd been on the plane that morning, although the fact they'd not called back was just lazy and would be dealt with.
The suit clad man turned back to his family as they continued to stare at Eurus as she rocked, it wasn't panicked rocking just a slow, calm rocking, hardly a real movement but her head nodding intermittently was what had Myc concerned.
"She's only been doing this since the early hours of the morning. Seems she must have had some kind of dream which triggered this."
"Maybe if Sherlock played?" Doctor Watson suggested.
Quite frankly it was a good enough idea to try and if they didn't do something soon Madelena would lose it. The Holmes parents sat back down while John stayed firmly in place in the spot he could control like the solider he was. Myc rejoined Artemis a little over the indicated line at the glass as Sherlock took out his treasured violin and started to play; the middle Holmes child had always played so beautifully. Sherlock played his most recent composition for almost two minutes before he realized it wouldn't have any effect and that they needed a new solution.
"Someone needs to go in there." Said the curly-haired brother. "I'll go."
"No." Mycroft was quick to say. "No, if she's been triggered she could attack you, she could try to reprogram you or any other number of things and you know it. You're cleverer than this, brother mine."
The younger brother scoffed at the elder one. "So what? You're going in? I don't think so, Mycroft, you'd rather hide in a closet than go in there again."
Mycroft didn't rise to the bait, instead he turned to his walking weapon of a lover.
"Artemis will go. She's trained to block any attack and immune to the reprogramming techniques."
"Is that wise?" Mummy worried from her chair.
Though she knew Mycroft loved Artemis and that the green-eyed woman wouldn't hurt them she remained cautious about having an assassin around. She'd killed all those people back at the house so very easily.
"Maybe it would be best. Artemis will be able to shop Eurus hurting herself should she try." There went Siger being the eternal voice of reason and optimism.
Missus Holmes didn't like it but accepted silently and Myc gave Artemis the go ahead nod, she waisted not a single moment in heading out of the room. A quietude settled over them as they all watched Eurus rock. Even when the white wall rolled aside and Artemis stepped into the cell Eurus took no notice.
Slowly Artemis stepped towards the youngest of the Holmes' and crouched down half expecting a punch to come her way.
"Eurus? Are you in there?"
Still no answer came and Myc wondered if he should have given her a quick run down of things she shouldn't have said when it came to conversation.
Emerald eyes peered over through the glass at them.
"She's muttering to herself really quietly, I think she's stuck in a memory or her mind palace or whatever hers is sculpted as."
It was Sherlock's turn to sigh in that exasperated way of his. "She needs shocking out of it."
"Yes," his elder brother agreed "something sudden to act as a sort of reset."
Artemis paused once she'd turned her attention back to Eurus then raised her hand to simply backhand Eurus across the face, it's the quickest and most simple shock Artemis could think of but before she could Missus Holmes was up from her seat.
"Don't you dare hit my daughter!" She turned to her daughter. "There must be something else."
"I doubt the lights on and off would be enough and clearly Sherlock's music isn't working."
"Sound possibly? We could set the alarm off for a short burst."
"No, she's clearly shut down to sound." Sighed Mycroft.
It was Artemis who cut through everything and got to a real solution. "I have an idea."
They all turned their eyes back over at Artemis who, without hesitation, cupped Eurus' cheeks and kissed in a sudden attack style kiss which instantly had Eurus stop rocking. Had she been paying attention Artemis would have heard the gasp which came from everyone behind the glass. When she pulled back she found Eurus staring at her with a blank expression Artemis had seen in the mirror many a time.
"Who are you?"
She questioned quietly, so very quietly and had there not been speakers running the others wouldn't have heard it. The question surprised them all because it's the first thing she'd said since she'd tortured her brothers and John. The dark-haired woman didn't seem surprised and took it in her stride.
"Artemis." She responded blankly.
"Reaper." Most people didn't know what a Hades Reaper was but Eurus had clocked it right away.
"Formerly."
Eurus' head tilted a little as they continued to have a whole conversation with single word sentences.
"Rare."
"Singular."
Suddenly Eurus launched forwards and knocked Artemis onto her back only to kiss her again, it wasn't a sexual action though many would have thought so, no, it was more a desire for human contact without knowing how to go about it. Easily enough Artemis flipped them and pinned Eurus down, forearm at her throat though Artemis didn't use any real pressure.
"No." Artemis informed firmly.
Eurus regarded the younger woman a moment as if assessing every shred of information she could and truthfully that was probably true.
"You love." She whispered and Artemis nodded. "Which one?"
"You already know it's Mycroft."
It was disturbing for no emotion to pass in any of the sentence they shared, but Mycroft knew that neither of them would have even noticed.
It was then that Artemis rose to her feet, a swift movement of blackness in the otherwise white cell. She held her hand down to help Eurus up and – amazingly – she took it to stand. Her family remained astounded at Eurus' sudden decision to speak but could do nothing other than watch on. Sherlock, Mycroft and every psychologist he determined smart enough not to trigger his sister or fall victim to her.
Sherlock caught one of his violin strings accidentally with his bow then, the note was short and quick but it stood out against the silence Everyone's eyes flicked to the violin for a split second before Eurus started to move, she stepped across the room to her bed where she lifted her violin into her arms and started to play. Artemis stood a second as if testing the waters as to what could happen, but when Eurus just carried on playing she backed towards the door until it rolled aside to let her to escape.
When she returned to the other side of the glass Mycroft instinctively snared an arm around her waist; subconsciously possessive.
"Eurus, talk to us." Pleaded Missus Holmes while her daughter ignored her entirely.
"She won't." Artemis informed much to Madelena's confusion.
As usual it was Mycroft rather than Sherlock who took pity on his mother and started to explain for her, or as simply and as best as he could, just as he opened his mouth Sherlock took up his violin once more and joined in with his sister.
"She will have only spoken to Artemis because she is like Eurus in a way, she's not family and creates no reaction in her memory. Eurus felt … comfortable around her. Now she's playing again she'll have slipped back into that hidden place inside her mind where she feels safe. I suspect only Artemis would be able to pierce it again."
"At least she approves of her future sister-in-law." Said Sherlock though didn't pause in his playing for even a split second.
Mummy shot her oldest a firm glare once she'd finally noticed the ring on Artemis' finger, that glare turned to a scowl. Meanwhile Siger seemed far more impressed and happy for his son, the eldest Holmes had always been the nice one.
"Engaged? You're engaged?!" She squeaked. "When were you going to tell us? We're your parents, Mycroft Reinhardt Amyas Holmes."
Ooh, full name, she was genuinely angry. Mycroft just gestured softly in that dismissive way he had when he didn't wish to say much more in a subject. Missus Holmes just continued to alternate between staring at the emerald on Artemis' finger and scowling at her son.
"I, em, I forgot."
Madelena cocked an eyebrow as the music continued. In his defence he had been trying to destroy a scarily organized cult of assassins.
"Forgot? How on earth do you of all people forget something like that?"
Siger took that as his moment to cut in and neutralize the situation.
"Congratulations, son."
Mycroft took a calming breath. "Thank you, Father."
The white-haired man turned bright eyes to the former Reaper, Sherlock's and Eurus' melody as a gentle background noise.
"Welcome to the family, Artemis."
The former Reaper stared at the eldest Mister Holmes for a second or two before she responded with a quick thank you of her own simply because she'd heard Mycroft say it as well. Fortunately for Artemis the words seemed to placate her soon to be father-in-law.
"Well, we need to book a church, then there's a dress and the dinner. I assume you'll want that policeman of yours as your best man." Mummy began which had Mycroft stare open-mouthed at his mother for a moment; how had she gone from aggressive irritation to planning the wedding so quickly?
No matter what had gone through his mother's mind Mycroft knew he needed to slam the brakes on before she got too far or Sherlock decided to be a dick.
When he spoke there was far more exasperation in his voice than he'd intended. "Mother, Artemis and I do not desire a large wedding, neither of us are religious and are not marring so other people can have a party."
Madelena opened her mouth to say something, complain or insist upon a traditional wedding, but once again Siger came to the rescue.
"I'm sure whatever you decided will be perfect for the two of you. We are gaining a daughter-in-law and are happy for you. Now," he said cheerfully as he turned his attention to his wife "today is Eurus' birthday and I for one would like to see her open her present once she's finished playing with Sherlock."
That got Missus Holmes to finally close her mouth and free everyone from the subject as she turned herself back to Eurus' cell. Mycroft met his father's eyes and silently mouthed 'thank you', Myc had always been grateful for his father's way of slowing his mother down when she started acting like a boulder chasing after Indiana Jones.
With the subject of Mycroft's and Artemis' upcoming nuptials sat off to the side for later they all stood or sat and listened to Sherlock and Eurus. After a while the British Government found himself wondering if having his sister interact with his future wife may have actually been good for her in the long run.
Once Sherlock had put his violin away and the music had ended the white-haired man stood and slipped Eurus' wrapped present into the blue pass and was pleased when she took it out rather than ignoring it entirely as she had everything they'd said since arriving at Sherringford. Frankly Missus Holmes was a little jealous of Artemis for her brief conversation with her daughter.
Several sets of eyes watched on as Eurus removed the yellow wrapping paper with calculated precision rather than ripping it away as most people did. Inside she found a small, wooden picture frame with 'Holmes' carved neatly into the frame. Mycroft had made sure the glass had been removed from it of course, normally it would have been replaced with acrylic but even that Eurus could turn into a weapon should the mood take her. Either way his younger sister didn't seem to notice, or more likely care. The photograph in the frame was of all five family members when Mycroft, Sherlock and Eurus had all been kids. Mycroft hated pictures of himself, especially when he'd been a child and had honestly done his best to destroy all of them that he could get his hands on, however, his mother had always been good at hiding the family albums from both her sons.
"Do you like it?" Missus Holmes asked with a loving, motherly smile. "It's that week we went to the beach and Sherlock tried to build a catapult to flu over the pier."
The auburn-haired Holmes had hated that vacation, he'd never liked the beach, sand needed to stop existing in his opinion. It had been shortly after he'd returned from boarding school for the holidays when Sherlock had decided he hated his brother.
Eurus still didn't look up, speak or let out any indication she'd even heard them and it made her parents deflate. Myc leant down slightly to whisper instructions in Artemis' ear.
"Kindness and an expression of love." She said, her calm voice cut through the quietude.
"Yes." She finally responded.
Seemed the eldest Holmes child had been correct and Artemis could punch though into Eurus' world, or at least partially. Perhaps he could use that to get his sister to be more talkative though that was a question for another day for sure.
She set the picture down on her basic, white desk so it faced the glass wall rather than her bed or any other more easily seen spot but Mycroft nor Sherlock were surprised and no one else decided to question it which was probably a blessing. Artemis didn't speak again, nor did John, they were the onlookers in this, a part of the family but not by blood and easily ignored in these moments.
When they left Eurus several hours had sailed by and in all that time she'd not made any response to anything again; back to normal then, Mycroft had thought. They all went back through the checkpoints to gather up their things and, as expected, Madelena, Siger and Doctor Watson stared at Mycroft's fiancée as she put all her weapons away only for them to strangely vanish save for the two guns always in her shoulder holster. Yes, it seemed a little excessive to outsiders but Artemis was the brawn in their relationship and Mycroft had no plans to try and change her.
Once on the upper levels a short, blonde woman quickly descended a set of stars tucked away in a corner and hurried after Mycroft.
"Mister Holmes." She called out.
Three men turned to face her questioningly but it was only Mycroft she wanted and they all knew it. He quietly left the group and let her take him a few steps aside. This was Iris Fuller. After the previous governor had shot himself Mycroft had made sure to hand-pick his replacement with a crucial eye, Iris Fuller had been the result; a woman of around Mycroft's age with short blonde hair and gasses.
"Yes, Missus Fuller?"
"Kenneth Druitt has been causing problems again." She sighed, her Welsh accent thick. "He's attacked three guards in as many days and has had another escape attempt. I wish to upgrade him to Level One and have him placed into a cell like your sisters."
Though she ran Sherringford now she still needed to gain Mycroft's authorization to upgrade threat levels of patients.
"Druitt is the child murderer, yes? The one with the severe hatred of women." He left out the enjoyment of engaging in cannibalism.
Iris nodded while his family tried to pretend they'd not heard the words 'child murderer'; John found himself thinking the sooner he got back to Baker Street the better because then he'd be able to hold little Rosie in his arms. Yes, Missus Hudson would always keep Rosie safe but that didn't stop the war doctor from wanting to hold his little girl.
"Yes," Iris confirmed "he is, sir. He felt it was his innate right to kill and it made him feel powerful according to his file." The blonde didn't say more on the subject fully aware the entire Holmes family was stood there pretending they weren't listening. "May I upgrade him?"
Myc opened his mouth to answer but Artemis jumped in first.
"Let him out." She stated simply only for everyone to stare blatantly at her as if she'd just suggested swapping the English flag out for a live crocodile that had been spray painted pink.
"Out?!" Iris Fuller half asked and half demanded. "He'll kill everyone he can get his hands on."
The suit clad man's brow furrowed. "Why do you want to let him out?"
"So he feels powerful, lucky and possesses a wave of success before I knock him on his ass and throw him back in his cell."
Myc paused, thought about it and then nodded. "That might actually work."
Iris looked horrified. "What will?"
"If Artemis defeats him quickly and without much effort as she certainly will then he will be humiliated before the rest of the cell block. Being beaten by a woman who is many years his junior in front of people he has decided he is stronger than will be humiliating to the point of shame. It will calm him down and could actually aid his therapists break down some of his walls."
Quite frankly John nor Sherlock were all that sure of the plan though Sherlock didn't care much but it stuck with John a while longer. Doctor Watson had seen a fair few therapists especially when he'd first gotten out of the military. Still, it wasn't really his place to butt in with this.
Myc looked back to Iris. "Clear the block of guards and staff, switch on the emergency lights and blare the fire alarm before you open his cell door. That'll get the other prisoners' attention focused on him."
The blonde didn't like it but Mycroft Holmes wasn't a man one argued with. "All right."
If this did teach Kenneth Druitt that he wasn't a supreme being he pretended himself to be then it would be a boon. The plan was long-winded and certainly not supported by day-to-day psychological medicine but day-to-day wasn't exactly what they did at Sherringford. That was how Iris Fuller found herself stood in the large, glass conference room with the entire Holmes family and Doctor Watson as they watched the screen set up against the wall. Through the cameras they saw the red emergency lights click on and the alarm sound through Cell Block B. Quickly a commotion broke out among the prisoners and then Kenneth's cell clicked open.
Druitt paused a moment clearly not believing what was happening but his overconfidence soon took over and got the better of him. He looked around for guards but somehow didn't grow suspicious when he didn't find any, instead he started to march from his cell and along the cell block hallway. Eventually Druitt rounded a corner and stopped dead when he spotted Artemis stood at the end of the hall which held a bank of cells on either side. The middle-aged man grinned sadistically.
"Hey, little girl."
Artemis didn't acknowledge him, no, instead she crouched down and slid something quickly down the hall to him, when it skidded to a stop at his feet he cocked an eyebrow at her. A knife, that had the prisoners fall silent.
"What is this then?"
"Me giving you a chance."
Back in the conference room Mycroft's blue-gray eyes snapped down to the pile of weapons he'd insisted she left on the long table. Guns, knives, that odd little pen, it was all there … wasn't it?
Druitt chuckled. "Don't know what the fuck is going on here, girly, but I'm gonna gut you … and then I'm going to eat you."
Artemis truly wasn't phased, not for even a split second. Kenneth Druitt wanted to be feared but she didn't fear anything.
"No you're not but believe that if you wish."
The older, chubbier, man snarled. "Fucking whore, show me some respect!" He grabbed the knife.
"No." Answered Artemis in her usual blank tone, it hadn't been designed to piss Druitt off but that was exactly what it had done.
"Bitch!"
Then he launched at her, straight down the hall like an anime character running at full speed. In a seemingly simple, smooth motion Artemis dodged the attempt to plunge the blade into her stomach and practically clotheslined the cannibal.
"Not exactly Hannibal Lecter." She said to herself as the memory of Mycroft gifting her 'Red Dragon' while she'd been in her own cell.
There was a round of laughter from almost all of the other prisoners, especially those who had a good view of Kenneth face. Clearly in pain he hissed and pushed himself back up to his feet while Artemis just stood by patiently. Druitt came at her again. This time she caught the arm with the blade and kicked him in the back of the knee which sent him down to the hard floor once more.
Mycroft sighed from the conference room and leant down to press the button on the microphone which sat on the long table.
"Please finish this, there is a storm coming and I'd like to return to shore."
Artemis didn't respond – not that he'd expected her to – but the next time Druitt came at her she dodged the knife, spun around behind him, placed another kick and he fell down onto his face. To the others who watched her though the screen she looked disinterested but Mycroft knew Kenneth Druitt actually had all of her attention, Artemis was just using the minimal amount of attacks needed to put him down because it was more efficient.
Green eyes watched as Druitt flipped himself over just in time to have Artemis' black boot placed firmly at his throat to keep him in place. There were wolf whistles here and there around her, it wasn't every day they say Druitt – the asshole who thought he ran the cell block – put in his place by a hot girl who looked like she didn't weigh more than a feather even soaking wet.
The cannibal reached for his knife and managed to pull it towards him with a single finger until it was close enough to grab while he spewed insults at her, most common of which was 'fucking bitch'. He tried to thrust the knife deep into the leg which pinned him in place but Artemis had been watching him the entire time, without hesitation she snapped two fingers which cracked with a sickening sound, a sound which had Mycroft holding his hand close to his chest as he remembered when she'd broken his pinky. Artemis caught the knife and slipped it into her belt as her boot pressed harder against Druitt's throat.
Choking was a fascinating thing really, one couldn't just put pressure anywhere on someone's neck and hope for the best, no, to kill oxygen and blood to the brain being cut off was for the best, but Artemis wasn't trying to kill Kenneth Druitt she just wanted him unconscious and so after a while of her heel preventing an intake of breath the cannibal's eyes fluttered then slipped shut. The other prisoners fell silent at the sight, they were all monsters in their own right but none of them had just felt nothing as they choked a man; some of them even started to wonder why she was on that side of the bars while they were on the other.
Artemis didn't look as though she'd noticed the prisoners, just grabbed Druitt's left ankle and hauled him back to his cell in silence.
Everything was quiet after that. On their way back to the mainland neither Holmes parents spoke and Mycroft knew it was because they'd now seen what Artemis was truly capable of. They knew she'd killed people from the roof of their home, yes, but they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, now they had seen the things Artemis could do.
For a smart man, the most intelligent of the Holmes brothers – rather than the Holmes children he begrudgingly admitted – he was remarkably dumb. What he'd let Artemis do hadn't actually been to help Kenneth no matter what they'd said, it had been to destroy his reputation within Sherringford, to make controlling the populous far easier on all in charge. Maybe it had been a little selfish. Still, they were on their way home and there wasn't anything Mycroft could do about it.
Sherlock had already been instructed to take their parents to Baker Street so they could see little Rosie for a while, so as soon as they'd landed they'd headed off with Sherlock and John leaving Mycroft stood alongside the killer.
Myc took a breath as his car approached. At least now with his parents out of his thinning hair he could get back to work.
