Sorry that this is late. And that the review count is going up. It's because of writing.
Butler walked down the stairs to the kitchen where he left Artemis. He could practically smell it burning. But when he entered the kitchen, expecting to see flames askew, he just saw Artemis putting the cooked food onto a plate.
"Make three." Butler said, entering the room.
"Of course." Artemis replied, grabbing another plate. He looked up from his work and smiled at Butler, "I am getting quite better at this."
Butler nodded and took a seat at a stool at the island. He watched Artemis prepare Holly's plate and without looking up Artemis spoke, his mouth a grim slash.
"I'm concluding that she talked to you."
"Yes."
"About?" Artemis prompted, looking up at Butler this time, eyebrow raised.
Butler looked away, remembering his promise to Holly. "Why don't you go and talk to her?"
"Because both of us know that she will not talk to me." Artemis stopped his preparing, putting his palms on the island and leaning on it.
"Give her a chance Artemis."
"I did, and she almost killed herself!" Artemis counteracted.
Butler sighed, not wanting to fight with Artemis. He shook his head and changed the subject. "You do realize her arms are going to get tired in that position."
"She had been subjected to training for years, I believe that she can survive." Artemis paused, looking back down and continuing his work, "Besides, it's more punishment for her. For trying to every attempt something so pitiful as suicide."
"Punishment? What, is she just going to be 'punished' for the rest of her life?"
"I will prolong it for as long as I can. That elf needs to learn her lesson." Artemis's voice raised.
"Sir, with all due respect, that isn't punishment. What you are doing is closer to torture than anything else. And on top of everything, you are the one who provoked her suicide attempt."
Artemis slammed his fists on the island, looking up and giving a startled Butler a heated glare, "By what?! Being nice to her? She did that to herself. All I was trying to do was treat her like a guest, like you requested!"
Artemis picked up the plate and walked around Butler muttering, "I have to go feed the hostage now, because she will certainly never be a guest."
Artemis paused before entering the room Holly was in. He sighed and shook his head, Butler was right, depression is a sickness and the elf had already told him that she would never forgive him.
Artemis opened the door up to find Holly not struggling, but just sitting there with her eyes closed. She looked as if she was sleeping, but Artemis knew better than that. He went to the side of the bed and sat down, calming his figure from his argument with Butler.
"Holly." He whispered quietly, gently shaking her shoulder.
The elf's eyes flew open. She looked up at Artemis, then glanced at the door. "Where's Butler?" She asked, obviously thinking that he was coming back instead of Artemis.
"He's downstairs. Now Holly, I have full intent to feed you. I just need you to answer a few questions first." Artemis started.
"No." She muttered, looking down.
"First I want to-what?" Artemis looked at her, surprised of her answer.
"You heard me, I said no. I am not going to answer any of your questions. I'm not telling you anything."
"Holly please, I am trying to be nice here. Just answer it. Don't you want to eat?" Artemis asked.
Holly thought about this, she was starving. But she didn't want to tell Artemis anything. She remembered her promise to Butler, then remembered her own dark thoughts.
'Nobody cares about you.'
'They want you to a suffer.'
'You are better off dead.'
Holly thought about it, and decided that with Artemis's temper, if she pushed the right buttons he would kill her himself. "I'm suddenly not very hungry." She said, turning her nose up to the food.
"Holly. You haven't eaten in three days. Don't lie to me."
"Don't lie to me either. You don't want me here."
"That's not-"
"Yes it is." She countered. Looking up at him.
"Holly I am just trying to help you."
"Then untie me."
Artemis shook his , "I can't do that. Holly I care too greatly for you."
Like your mother?"
Artemis's head snapped up at that. "What has that got to do with anything?"
"She is locked in the attic, beyond insanity to the point of near death. I want to know, is that going to happen to me?"
"Holly, that has nothing to do with you. You know nothing of her situation."
"Oh, I can guess." She half-laughed sarcastically. "And I know that you did something to her."
"You know nothing." He ground out, obviously getting mad.
"Let me ask you something, how many people are you going to hurt? First your mother, now me. Who else, your fath-"
That's as far as she got before he slapped her. Her head snapped to the side, the sound of the skin connecting ringing in her ears. A trickle of blood going down the side of her mouth.
Artemis exited the room in a huff. Slamming the door behind him.
Holly smiled through the pain and blood. She had found Artemis Fowl's limit.
Ok, so this week it is going to be different. IT IS MYSTERY REVIEW COUNT! You keep on reviewing, and when you reach the mystery number, the chapter will be posted! Good luck!