Antiochus Grimm
Artemis and Juliet were led to a grand dining hall, complete with elegant medieval tapestry hanging on the walls and a magnificent chandelier hanging overhead. Beams of sunlight shone through the stained-glass windows enhancing an already majestic atmosphere. Before them was a set of silver cutlery on a regal oak table.
Artemis thoughts were all awhirl. There they were, led willingly, without restraint as if they were indeed guests in this splendid mansion. Artemis' nimble mind, for a moment entertained plans of escape. But, despite the apparent lack of precautions their captors had taken to prevent this possibility, Artemis dared not put anything to action. He was, in fact a little intimidated by the sheer daring of the men he was facing. The remarkable abduction scheme, accomplished with precision planning and state of the art technology was something that even he would be proud of. The risks taken to bring them here were enormous; and for what? To talk about fairies?
Artemis had always been a firm believer in the paranormal. Fairies, in particular had long captured his interest. He had sought to find ways to prove their existence and indeed had a long-forgotten plan drawn up some time ago to accomplish this. Interest had however waned the past few months; Grimm's apparent fervour seemed to be just the thing to rekindle the passion. Artemis wondered if this was the real reason he was playing along with Grimm: perhaps they shared a common yearning to believe in a world beyond their own.
Behind Artemis, Grimm had ambled down the stairs in a most gentlemanly manner: perfect posture, quiet footsteps emphasizing the old-world charm he so generously exuded. Sergio scurried ahead of them impatiently in an almost ferret-like fervency.
Artemis glanced at Juliet, who immediately looked away. It was evident that they were not on speaking terms right now. Artemis frowned. He would certainly need her cooperation if things turned nasty. Maybe he had been just a little harsh on Butler…
"Please, take a seat. The meal will be ready shortly." invited Grimm in a disarmingly cheerful tone. "We're having the house specialty today: filet mignon, medium rare."
Sure enough, a peach-orange metallic mechanized trolley soon rolled in from the entrance. On its surface were four plates of sumptuous steak and four glasses of water.
"Meals on wheels," Artemis muttered, "looks like somebody's been keeping up with the Jones's"
Of course, a wheeled robotic table was no mean technological feat. Artemis was sure he could get one up and running himself with a few hours worth of tinkering in the garage, possibly with a more tasteful colour scheme. But if the entire evening's episode was designed to impress him, it certainly succeeded. This Grimm was no ordinary adversary.
Artemis stared at the contents of his plate, wondering whether or not it would be wise to accept Grimm's kind invitation. Artemis shook his head, deciding it was unlikely that the meal was laced. Grimm has had enough opportunity to kill him, and would probably want to deal him death in a more gruesome, imaginative and fun way than by poisoning.
Juliet had apparently reached the same conclusion and was already digging in. Grimm and Sergio were carving up their steaks. Artemis was about to do the same when a chunk of meat hit him squarely on the forehead.
"Dear me, that's rather unladylike behaviour" Grimm commented dryly.
As the chewed-up piece of beef slowly slid down his face, Artemis could not fail to notice Juliet's cheeks turning from green to bright red. It certainly was an embarrassing moment for poor Juliet, but Artemis couldn't help but marvel at the distance that girl could spit…
"This steak is absolutely revolting," Juliet fumed. She then took one look at Artemis and giggled an apology. "Oh, and sorry, Artemis."
Artemis glared at her as he wiped off the last of the chunks off his brow.
"It can't be that bad, surely?" Grimm pondered, as he lifted a piece into his mouth.
Grimm chewed on his piece for a little while, and then calmly swallowed. He then turned to Sergio, who was seated right beside him.
"The salt is in the blue packets, right?"
"No, Senõr. Salt is in the brown packets. Blue packets contain coffee."
"Coffee, Sergio?"
"Si Senõr."
Grimm let out a hearty laugh. "Well, thank goodness this little mystery's been cleared up. Now we can get back to dinner."
"Dinner?" Artemis gave him an incredulous look. "You expect us to finish this?"
"Why not? You're not allergic to coffee, are you?"
Artemis decided against arguing and chewed upon the gruesome concoction, deep in thought. He didn't think the comedy routine looked deliberate, but he had difficulty believing that the man who carried out his complex kidnapping so flawlessly could not distinguish salt from coffee. Antiochus Grimm was a very strange man indeed, even to an Artemis Fowl who had met more than his fair share of eccentrics. Still, Artemis reasoned that he had better oblige him, and braced himself as he swallowed.
Juliet however was far less accommodating.
"I am NOT eating this slop!" she insisted. "And you are not going to make me."
She said this with more than a hint of malice, and Artemis was at once apprehensive as to how Grimm and Sergio to react. "We are still prisoners and they are still captors, no matter how much they try to pretend otherwise…" Artemis hissed, but Juliet pretended not to hear him.
Much to Artemis' relief Grimm and Sergio didn't seem to make too much of Juliet's rebuke.
"Senõr Grimm insists that he prepares your meals himself, for security reasons. He takes great pride in his culinary skills, and has put a lot of effort into today's meal. Filet Mignon cooked with coffee maybe a bit… unusual but I'm sure it's at least palatable." intoned Sergio calmly. Artemis could not help but notice that Sergio had discreetly shoved the contents of his plate into a nearby potted plant.
"Security reasons?" Juliet asked.
Grimm put his fork down. There was a foreboding, dark look in his face. "There are people out there after me, possibly after you too. I cannot tell you anymore, but we have to be careful- and you will have to trust me."
"Why yes sir, of course. A strong feeling of mutual trust is important in any kidnapper-abductee relationship." said Artemis, sarcastically.
Not for the first time, Grimm ignored Artemis.
"Please, do finish your meal. You'll need your strength; we have a lot of activities planned for you."
"Activities?"
Grimm took a sip off his glass, the put it down and flashed a menacing smile.
"Perhaps I'd better explain. I've brought you here because you both have had previous encounters with fairies…"
Juliet rolled her eyes. "No, we haven't. I don't recall-"
"Yes, exactly! You don't recall anything!" Grimm stopped her in mid sentence, with excitement bordering on manic vigour. "I have reason to believe that your memories have been tampered with; replaced, removed. The fairies did this to keep their existence secret. But we- Sergio and I have come across certain methods to recover those hidden recollections."
Artemis pondered this for a moment. Strangely, he found it all vaguely plausible. There have been times where he had felt that things were going awry inside is head- flashes of memory which seemed out of place, unfamiliar recollections of faces and places, inappropriate outbursts of emotion- could these be signs of brainwash?
Not word was spoken as they finished their meals. Artemis cast a look at Juliet. She was eating her steak, wincing at every bite; apparently deciding to give in seeing as that no other food was available. "Probably a wise decision." Artemis thought to himself. "We need to keep their strength to face whatever lies ahead."
After around half an hour, Grimm was the last to conclude his dinner. He then stood up and after a short pause announced "Sergio, lead our guests to their rooms. Our first session will start in an hour."
Sergio nodded. He beckoned Artemis and Juliet to follow him as he set out for one of the long corridors. They hesitated for a moment, and then complied.
"I'll have to find out a little more before making my move." Artemis muttered to no one in particular. "Things are getting interesting. To escape now would be… premature."
Artemis could not help but notice Grimm, still in his dining chair, staring, almost wistfully in Juliet's direction as she strode down the dark corridor. This in itself was nothing unusual- Juliet certainly had her admirers. But Grimm had on his face not the expression of passionate longing or lecherous desire evident in most of Juliet's male devotees, but instead a deep, solemn, ominous look that Artemis couldn't quite put his finger on.
Was it fear?