Recap:
Artemis Fowl was in trouble. He had attempted to lie to the most powerful Vampire Lord in Europe, and now was slowly being drained of all his blood.
So much left undone, Artemis regretted not having the chance to say goodbye to his family and friends. If only...
Six minutes after Lord Damien Ventranari began to drink Artemis Fowl's blood, he finally stops. He carefully withdraws his fangs from Artemis' neck, and releases his hold on the young mans body. It quickly collapses to the ground, limp and offering no resistance. Snow cushions the fall and only a soft thump can be heard, the rest of the forest is dead silent.
There is a pause, and Lord Ventranari speaks, "I see... How fortunate for you Artemis Fowl the Second. I have looked deep and decided that I like you. You are clever and brave, and a most stubborn mortal. I have seen your motivations and have decided that they suit my purposes.
I accept your offer of alliance. The terms shall be as you set forth, and all the European Vampire clans shall sign."
The other clan lord in the ring look on, surprised at this act of mercy. There are some angry glares as Ventranari dares to speak for all of them, but the wisest know that in the end they all shall do as Ventranari wishes.
The body on the ground moves slightly, and his eyes flutter open. "I don't suppose you'd mind helping me stand up?" Artemis whispers weakly.
Damien laughs darkly and reaches out to pull Artemis upright. "Don't ever attempt to lie to me again boy. You might be able to hide it from a lesser vampire, but I am not as easily fooled. Now I suggest you go before one of us decides to finish you off. You are so weak, you are practically declaring yourself as prey. Not everyone has as much control as I."
Damien then lets go of Artemis, and as he sways almost drunkenly trying to keep his balance, Artemis whispers the word to activate one of his portkeys. With a dizzying whirl, he is whisked off his feet and swept away back to Hogwarts.
The spinning of the portkey quickly renders Artemis unconscious, and he falls to the floor on the path outside the gates leading into Hogwarts, the closest a portkey will take him. The light of the moon falls across his paler than normal face, as his body goes into shock from the blood loss.
Artemis wakes up head pounding and feeling nauseated. Keeping his eyes closed he listens intently, trying to figure out where he is. It feels as if he is in a bed, with cotton sheets over him.
Somewhere he can hear water dripping constantly, a soft faraway sound. He can hear someone wearing hard boots walk over to him, it sounds like the floor is hard, stone or possibly tile.
"Awake are we?" Comes the sardonic voice of Severus Snape.
Darvit, out of the frying pan and into the fire as the saying goes. Well, at least I live, and no doubt he aided me.
I wish I didn't feel so miserable though, he is going to attempt to use my debt to him and try to get something from me, and I don't feel up to bargaining at all.
Deciding to risk opening his eyes, Artemis looks up to see the ceiling of a dank and moldy looking room. Rotten looking wooden beams run across the ceiling and a single floating candle shines into his eyes, making him regret the action as his head now feels much worse than before.
This does not look like the Hogwarts dungeons, this is unfortunate...
He is also very certain that attempting to move would be very painful, and unwise.
"Well well well, you certainly had a rough night. Partying with vampires were you? Couldn't help but notice the bite marks, and loss of blood. Took two blood replenishing potions to keep you from deaths door."
Artemis thinks about responding, but the swollen throat and throbbing head conspire to keep the normally sarcastic response from escaping. Probably for the best, since he might not be able to manage a proper Russian accent right now.
"Boy, you owe me a life-debt. If it weren't for me, you would have likely died. I happened to notice you as I was leaving Hogwarts, and since I could hardly delay the people I was meeting tonight nor could I simply let you die, I decided to take you along." Snape says this menacingly, as if he is not happy with this turn of events, but unable to change anything.
Interesting...
A door creaks from an unseen corner of the room, and an older man with long platinum blond hair comes into view. Artemis gets a sinking feeling in his stomach as he recognizes the man from his briefing on known death-eaters.
The man speaks in an oily tone clearly pleased with himself, "And isn't it a fortunate turn of events for us indeed that you have all but dropped into out laps? I've heard quite a bit about you boy, and I am so pleased that you are alive and well..."
The unspoken "for now" seems ominous.
Lucius take a moment to look over Artemis with the same level of interest you would give to prey you are about to chase down.
"It is a good thing though that I was also late to today's meeting, or else I might not have spotted you being brought to Snape's rooms here. And I have wanted to meet you for a while now boy."
Artemis inwardly winces at being called 'boy' by such an arrogant prick, but maintains a calm outward appearance. After all, the only way to turn a situation this out of control to your advantage, is to pretend that it is all going according to plan...
This was NOT part of the plan. I was supposed to arrive at Hogwarts safely and take a blood potion I had on me, for just such an event. But the spinning proved too much, and I never anticipated being drained so much. The vampire took too much.
Now I'm trapped inside a dank and dingy room with two death-eaters. Hmm... I suppose the plan could work just as well with this twist, might even work better if I survive. I wonder if this is a permanent headquarters, or simply a temporary one...
Very good odds on the Dark Lord himself getting involved. I left myself vulnerable, and now I'm getting drafted. Great... He thinks sarcastically. This night gets better and better...
Better attempt speech before they think I suffered brain damage.
In a raspy tired sounding voice he manages a wavering "I too..."
Horrible, I sound weak...
Artemis coughs and tries again, "I too have heard a lot about you sir, I must say it is a pleasure to meet you as vell. I do vish this meeting had occurred under better circumstances, seeing as I am unable to even get up and greet you properly."
"Oh, that is no matter Fowl. Snape will have you fixed up with a few potions, and by then the preparations should be complete. I hope you find this party much more enjoyable than your ill fated one with the vampires. Hopefully this time you don't come so close to dying." Malfoy smirks and walks away to the door.
"Once the festivities are complete, I look forward to having a chat with you Fowl..." Is his last parting shot before he leaves and the door closes.
Artemis's eyes flicker back to Snape, the man looks as if he is suffering a nasty migraine. As Snape turns his body and attention back to Artemis, he lets his eyes close once more, to block out the candle light, and make Severus not realize he was being watched so closely.
After a few minutes Snape sighs and holds out two potions. "Drink this, you will want to be at your best as fast as possible."
Artemis of course briefly checks each potion before drinking it, to make sure its not harmful. "I see that you chose the milder pepper up potion to go along vith the restoration potion. No doubt this is to prevent the Addersworth effect that a proper energizing potion vould have?"
"As amusing as it would be to see you suffer severe nausea, you are going to be in enough pain this afternoon to satisfy my desire to see you punished for such sheer idiocy. Never thought I would have occasion to call you a dunderhead, but I can think of nothing else to describe someone who almost died at the hands of vampires."
Severus turns around to stare at something on a wall. His voice goes dangerously soft, "Did you think it would be amusing, playing around with vampires? Did you think you would be in no danger, to not even wear a simple amulet that prevents them from touching you? Did you perhaps believe you would somehow impress them enough to gain immortality?"
Lovely, Artemis thinks sarcastically. I cannot tell him the truth, especially not that any protections against vampires would have soured the deal. But I refuse to let him think I was an idiot, thrill seeking at some party. How to salvage this...
"Do you really think I vould be so careless Severus? Yes I vas at a party, but there vere no vampires invited. I vas attacked ven I vas finished escorting a young lady home.
I should have known better perhaps than to return to Russia for a simple party, but vithout advance notice, I had doubted my parents enemies vould have been able to prepare something so quickly."
The only reply Artemis gets is a snort of derision. After a few seconds, Snape turns around again, and begins to give Artemis instructions.
"You will be presented to the Dark Lord later tonight in a special ceremony. You will be expected to take the dark mark and join the ranks. If you wish to refuse service, let me know now so I can kill you painlessly. If you refuse in front of him, it will not be a painless death."
A brief pause, but when no objection is made, he continues.
"When you see the Dark Lord, drop to your knees and crawl the rest of the way there, and kiss the hem of his robes. Back away still on your knees and then once you are an appropriate distance away, you may rise again. Normally you would rise so that you join the circle of other Death-eaters, but today only, you will be front and center, so don't back up too much.
The Dark Lord will question you, answer him as truthfully as you can but try not to say anything that will get you killed. Always refer to him as 'My Lord'.
There will be a large snake around, ignore it. You will likely be tested. Do whatever is asked of you the best you can, and show no hesitation or squeamishness. It will not help the victims, they are doomed either way, but you will be jeopardizing your own life.
If you pass, you will be given the mark, it is painful, but try not to cry out. You will then be given a mask, and told what your assignment will be. I have no idea what the Dark Lord will have planned for you, it could be anything from getting a job somewhere so you can be better positioned, to making or acquiring something for him.
You won't joining the permanent attack squads unless your cover is blown and you are revealed as a death-eater. You will also be given a small room here at headquarters, for use while you are summoned.
Any questions?"
Artemis shakes his head mutely. Everything seems to be explained, and nothing he can say will change the fact that he is trapped and will soon have to do something utterly tasteless and disgusting. And no doubt, he will have to pretend to enjoy it and seem willing.
At least I have the location of their base now. I can start planting bugs, claymores, a blue rinse bomb and a few other surprises, and hopefully learn more about how to kill this cockroach of a man. This could help planning immensely.
Snape leaves the room with what could almost be a pitying look, or it could be a look of loathing, it is hard to tell in the dim light.
Artemis slumps prone in the bed once more to think, plan, and generally feel miserable.