I Could Smell The Roses

Kidnapped

Artemis POV

I am running away from Holly. Running away from the problems that I caused myself. Again. I don't know what came over me. But I know something. She's not a bad a kisser. I shake my head. No, no, these thoughts are wrong. I push them out my mind as I turn into an alley and lean against a wall to catch my breath. I'm an simpleton. A complete simpleton. This version of me, I don't like it. The other version was easier to control. Boy, I could hold in my emotions all right. But I was never that good at holding them in around Holly. She left me open like a field. None the less, I will become myself again soon. Just a couple more memories. Perhaps Holly and I can get them over with before she decides she wants to talk to me about it. It's difficult in my position. I don't feel like a whole person. I feel like I don't have a personality. The sooner I regain my memory the better. I probably predicted something like this, but maybe not on the scale that I've created up. I ruined it for myself. I sigh. Then look around. The alley way seems vaguely familiar. Then I remember the dirty walls and graffiti. It's the same one where we saw the creature that's been the only thing to preoccupy my thoughts recently. I perk up. It never occurred to me to examine the alley way. The evidence would probably been erased, if I was to scare someone. But there is no harm in trying. I stand and close my eyes, remembering the exact place of the thing we heard. I reenact the scene in my mind and move forward. The thing, or werewolf, was standing behind the bins. I open my eyes and kneel down behind the bin. I breathe through my nose. Same smell of damp fur. Obviously this is the werewolf's hideout. It's probably been here recently. I examine the ground. I find a small hair, long and silver and observe it. It seems normal enough. In fact, it could be elf hair. I remember Commander Vinyaya. Now what happened to her. It infuriates me so much that I can't remember that I bang the ground. Then I sense something behind me. Something looming. A shadow passes over my head. I sit very still and don't move. Then something heavy sacks me from behind and I'm out cold.
----
The first thing I think when I wake up is, five. Five, five, five, five, five. The five stages of grief. Fives are important, remember fives. As long as I have fives- some voice interrupts my train of thought, which is lucky, since, I realise, I was about to think of a sentence with over five words. But at least it wasn't four. Fours are very bad. Then I have to breathe deeply because I used a sentence with four words. Back to the deep voice.
"Hello Artemis." It says, slightly mockingly. I look up. I'm in an old LEP interrogation room, I'm sure. It must be abandoned. Then I notice the bear like thing in the middle of the room. It's a werewolf. Got to be. I smile mentally. My theory was correct. I feel more like myself again. Composure comes over me,
"Hello." I reply evenly. The wolf moves forward do I can see it clearly. It is a huge thing, at least seven foot tall, with long, flowing silver hair covering the body. It corresponds with the hair I found on the ground. The wolf has long powerful arms that end in paws with, more dangerously, claws. Same goes to the legs. It's snout is long and the nose at the end is wet and always sniffing the air. It has yellow eyes, bright and alert, but with hints of intelligence in them. I can tell me this is not a species to be reckoned with. The werewolf regards me as though I might pull off something out of the blue. Which might have happened if I had been ready. But these creatures have caught me off guard.
"We werewolves are a great admirer of smart genii." The werewolf drawls.
"Especially ones that know the fairy folk. You have caught our attention for quite a while, my young sir." I half smile.
"What do you want with me?" The werewolf straightens.
"You like it straight to the point, I see. Well, there is no need to play for time with you apparently. But you know the answer to this question yourself." I nod. I had it coming.
"I can't be money, because you could simply rob something. Wouldn't need me for that, despite the usefulness of using me as a mastermind. But I happen to know a little about you and you're brothers, who are no doubt listening. The werewolves, throughout the time of the faries, have not been recognised as worthy. When Frond was King, he decreed werewolves should only exist as slaves, nothing more. You want recognition, you want power, you want revenge." The werewolf's face showed an expression of surprise for a moment, then it's eyes narrowed.
"We have underestimated you, Artemis Fowl. It will not happen again, I assure you. You are right of course." I frown.
"Then tell me, what use am I?" The werewolf smiled and revealed a quick succession of fangs.
"You are one of the most famous humans above ground and below it. You are The People's link to the surface. You have saved them time and time again. I cannot list all the lengths they'd go to to protect you. They have built up a trust in you. But what if that trust was to break? What if it looked like you betrayed them? They would be defenceless. They would run around like headless chickens, thinking about the motive, but missing it completely. It was a distraction. Then we will attack, and Frond's work against our fathers will be avenged." The wolf spoke with such passion I felt like I wanted to help it. But that thought disappeared quickly.
"Smart. I would expect nothing less from you though. But if we could negotiate-" the werewolf cut me off.
"That is your fault. You always negotiate. At some point you will realise that it will not always work. Now is the time." It wagged a finger at me.
"Do not attempt mind games against us, Mud Boy." I am surprised. But it is right, of course. I must form my plan upon a different route.
"I won't agree to do a ransom note. You'll need my voice to do so at the very least. I refuse to participate." The wolf grinned it's horrible grin,
"There is no need for your voice or body. We simply need..."
"Just me." I say, a horrifying thought occurring to me.
"You're going to clone me." The werewolf howls in pleasure,
"How ironic." I am losing control.
"Don't do this. Please don't do this. I am warning you." The werewolf chuckles.
"Seems you're slipping into a four word sentence pattern." I lose it completely. I feel my personality slipping away. Orion whispers in my ear.
"I am coming my princess!" I close my eyes. When I open them again, I am trapped inside the familiar study in my brain.
"Hello, my good friend." I hear that idiot Orion say pleasantly. The werewolf cackles.
"Wonderful. His split personality is the opposite of him." I sit down in my chair. There is only two good things that has come out of me being here. It gives me time to think. I also now know what happens to Commander Vinyaya. I wonder how my memory has been regained. Maybe the silver wolf gave my subconscious a rattling when it hit me. Perhaps that released the memories. I'm very close to regaining all my memories. If only the wolves would give something away to make me remember everything. Then everything fit into my timeline properly. I adopt a zen pose of mind and sit in a mediative position. I ignore the words coming from Orion mouth and the cloning process and think and focus. I don't know how long it is until I next open my eyes. But when I examine the screen, I see that Orion is being leaded down a corridor past cells. An old LEP jail. That thought occurred to me in my state of mind more than once. I am calm. Theories are starting to turn in to facts. Better already. A brown haired wolf this time leads me into an empty cell.
"These are you're quarters, smarty pants." I look up. Is it possible I've got an idiotic wolf as a companion?This is a chance for me to find things out. If only I was calm enough to be the one in control at the moment.
"Wonderful!" Squeals Orion excitedly. I roll my eyes. The brown wolf cannot resist a jibe.
"Now, we wouldn't want to upset that lovely lady you've got back home, do you. Be good or we'll kill her!" It laughs as it walks away.
"Love is a fickle thing." All the wolf sees is a pouting Orion. What it doesn't see is Artemis Fowl, trapped inside my own mind, having a memory regaining fit.