Artemis Fowl and the Master Experimentation

Chapter 18

Holly slid out of the room, closing the door behind her and marched down the corridor, sliding the visor on the helmet down so that only a small portion of her face was visible. There was a set of double doors at the end of the corridor, which she waved the key card at and they swung open. Behind them was a pair of bored looking guard fairies leaning on a wall either side of an empty cell.

"Did you see the Gnomies, though? That was a ridiculous game of slime-ball. Four to three!" said one.

"Yeah, but those Knolls are tricky customers-"

Holly cleared her throat in the gruffest ay she could, making both of them look at her.

"I've been told to collect the Fowl boy," she said.

"You missed him by about ten minutes," said one of them in a bored way.

Holly did a mental fist pump at the correct assumption that this was Artemis's cell.

"Where'd he get taken?" she asked.

"Operating theater," said the other guard.

Holly frowned, she'd have to think of something.

"Damn," she said, "he hasn't been here that long. I heard that they got a new toy back there when he came in."

"Yeah?" one of them said, interested.

"Yeah," Holly replied, praying that this would work, "of the female persuasion. Couple of the guys are in there with her now, but if you go wait outside the door, they'll probably'll be done in a few minutes. If you know what I mean."

The two guard fairies gawfed a bit.

"Yeah, shame we can't leave our posts," said one.

"How's about you go? I'll stay," said Holly, her heart pounding away.

"I dunno," said one, "you're not on the security, are you?"

"No, I'm not, but I am level 1," she said, flashing the card at them.

They shrugged at each other and made their minds up.

"Sure," they said, "but keep an eye out, we heard that there may be a stupid rescue attempt. Again."

Holly laughed.

"Yeah right," she said, "like any of their lot could get in here."

 When Artemis was pushed back into the room on a gurney, there was no-one on the door. The Master cursed to himself, he knew they should have hired brains rather than muscles, but what you were given was what you got. He shook his head, planning a nasty punishment for the slacking guards. He was so distracted that once he had unstrapped the shaking and sweating Artemis, he didn't notice the slight shimmer in the corner of the room.

Holly watched the Master go, thanking her lucky stars that today seemed to be going so well. But her luck was bound to run out sometime, probably soon. So she came forwards, looking over the shaking and writhing Artemis. He was moaning and gibbering, but he was still awake. His right fore-arm had been cut open and sewn shut again, whilst he'd been awake. Holly felt sick to her stomach, but as she watched blue sparks traced over Artemis's skin and tied shut the cut, making it as good as new. How had the Mud-Boy gotten magic? He must have stolen it.

"Artemis?" whispered Holly.

The teen's head flopped to the side she was on.

"Hooolly?" he slurred.

"Yeah, it's me," she said quickly, "you need to be quiet, ok?"

"Shhh," said Artemis, then giggled.