Artemis came in about an hour after I'd woken. He'd taken off the blindfold, thank Frond. But now I could see that horrible false concern on his face, that made me want to punch him.
"I'm very, very sorry I hurt you, Miss Short. Will you forgive me?"
"What are we, a comedy show?" I forced a laugh. "Oh, you were serious. You actually think I'm going to forgive you."
"Are you hungry?"
"Are you stupid?"
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"Do you or do you not want food?"
I cocked my head. "Aw, is wittle Arty losing his temper?"
"Does little Holly want to lose her life?"
"Touchy."
I was trying my best not to laugh. It's brilliant winding him up, it really is.
"I'm trying to look after you, Holly. I don't want you to starve."
"Well, I'd rather starve then stay here with you."
He left then, looking ready to murder. I held me head high-or, as high as I could chained to a bed. But Artemis wasn't going to give up.
He came in with a plate of food, smirking. My stomach grumbled. He smirk worsened.
"Hungry, are you? Lucky I feed you, isn't it?"
Something was wrong. Very wrong. Artemis? Nice?
"Did you not hear when I said I'm not hungry?" Just because he was nice, doesn't mean I had to be.
He pushed the plate onto my lap. There was a mad spark in his eyes. "Eat it."
"No thanks."
"Eat it."
"Nope."
"Eat-"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I feel sick."
The mad spark was replaced by concern. "Really?"
"Yep."
"What kind of sick?"
"Like, I'm going to throw up."
"Why?"
"You're here."
He scowled, pulling a knife out of his pocket. I flinched.
"I'm sorry, Arty, you know I didn't mean it." Ugh, sucking up. I was ashamed of myself.
He laughed. "Really? Do you love me?"
I tensed. "Um - maybe?"
He flashed the knife, putting it at my throat. "Do you love me, Holly Short?"
"Yes," I whispered. "Course. What's not to love?"
He laughed again. "Good. Now- eat."
I eyed the knife warily. "Yeah. You know what, I might just do what the madman with a knife says."
"Another quick tip - don't insult the 'madman'."
"Yeah, good, thanks, I won't." Gibberish. Probably because of my shaking.
He laughed, stroking my hair. "Good girl." He pushed the plate onto my lap, smiling. But not smiling like a normal person, more like a tiger about to pounce.
But I quite suddenly decided I didn't care any more. I doubted he'd really kill me so why not push him to his limit?
"You know what? I've changed my mind. I'm not really all that hungry."
His tigery smile widened. "Well, it's not up to you, is it?"
"Technically, it is. Cause you can't force me to eat."
Wrong thing to say. Artemis smirked. "I disagree. I can force you to eat."
"Go on, then, try."
He hesitated slightly, just like I knew he would. All talk, no action.
"Wuss." The word was out of my mouth without me registering the fact. Artemis' face was like thunder.
He suddenly crept onto me. I was trying hard not to shake. "Wuss, am I?" He took a small bit of sandwich off the plate. "Say ah."
I should have been in tears by now, shaking and begging for him to let me go. But I'm an LEP officer – a good one, too. Not only brave in the face of danger, but also just plain stupid in the face of gorgeous kidnappers.
"What am I, two? Just try and-"
The knife was out again, put at my throat. "Go on, say ah." No response. But I could practically read his mind. He knew me inside out.
He began to tickle me.
That was my one weak spot. Well, that and water. I thought it was a good weak spot for an LEP officer to have. How likely is it that Opal Koboi would tickle me? I don't think so any more.
"Please stop," I begged.
"Eat."
There were tears in my eyes. "I'm not hungry."
"Too bad."
"Please," I whispered. "Please, I don't want to eat, I can't."
"Why not?"
"I don't feel well," I lied.
"That's what you said last time."
"Please." A tear dripped down my cheek. "Please, I don't want to eat."
"Open your mouth."
I kicked him. "No! I'm. Not. Hungry."
But he wrenched my mouth open, laughing maniacally. With uncharacteristic force he pushed the bit of sandwich into my mouth, clamming it shut, while I struggled.
"Now swallow."
I couldn't speak, but the smirk was enough. Try and make me, Mud Boy