The book begins some months after The Opal Deception, in Barcelona; Spain, where fourteen-year-old Artemis Fowl Junior and his bodyguard, Butler wait for and eventually encounter a demon. Artemis is taken into the past and meets Guadi. He returns because Butler was wearing a silver bracelet sent by Juliet "to ward off evil spirits." Meanwhile, Wing Commander Vinyáya brings Holly Short and Mulch Diggums to secret organization Section Eight, which monitors demon activity. There, Foaly informs them that the young genius was able to predict a demon materialization, something they could not do. Holly is sent to ask Artemis how he could do so.