Holly- Mesmering Juliet

  'Oh, it's you. How did you — '

  The fairy interrupted with a wave of her hand.

  'Why don't you take off those glasses, Juliet? They really don't suit you.'

  She's right, thought Juliet. And what a lovely voice. Like a choir all on its own. How could you argue with a voice like that?

  'Sure. Caveman glasses off. Cool voice, by the way. Doh ray me and all that.'

  Holly decided not to try deciphering Juliet's comments. It was hard enough when the girl was in full control of her brain.

  'Now. A simple question.'

  'No problem.' What a great idea.

  'How many people in the house?'

  Juliet thought. One and one and one.

  And another one? No, Mrs Fowl wasn't there.

  'Three,' she said finally. 'Me and Butler and, of course, Artemis. Mrs Fowl was here, but she went bye-bye, then she went bye-bye.'
...
  'Has anyone else been here. Anyone like me?'

  Juliet chewed her lip. 'There was one little man. In a uniform like yours. Not cute though. Not one bit. Just shouted and smoked a smelly cigar. Terrible complexion. Red as a tomato.'

  Holly almost smiled. Root had come himself. No doubt the negotiations had been disastrous.

  'No one else?'

  'Not that I know of. If you see that man again, tell him to lay off the red meat. He's just a coronary waiting to happen.'

  Holly swallowed a grin. Juliet was the only human she knew who was probably more lucid under the mesmer.

  'OK. I'll tell him. Now, Juliet, I want you to stay in my room, and no matter what you hear, don't come out.'

  Juliet frowned.

  'This room? It's so boring. No TV or anything. Can't I go up to the lounge?'

  'No. You have to stay here. Anyway, they've just installed a wall television. Cinema size. Wrestling, twenty-four hours a day.'

  Juliet almost fainted with pleasure. She ran into the cell, gasping as her imagination supplied the pictures.

  Holly shook her head. Well, she thought, at least one of us is happy.

-Artemis Fowl, Chapter 7