Disclaimer: I seriously do not own Artemis Fowl or anything realted to it.
Oh, and sorry I have all these boring disclaimers.
It had been two weeks. Two weeks since he had waved his father goodbye on the ports of Dublin. Two weeks since he had taken charge of this family. And exactly one week since the Fowl Star had sunk, leaving him in charge of the Fowl Empire.
And now his father was missing, possibly dead. The Major's body had turned up in a morgue in the Bay of Kola. He had been his father's bodyguard – and Butler's uncle.
It had truly been the Bay of Kola that night, Artemis thought, thinking of the 200,000 cans of cola aboard the Fowl Star that night. But he quickly scolded himself. Father is gone, possibly dead, and all I can think about is a few cans of cola?
Even with his immense intellect, Artemis could not wrap his head around the fact. His father had been one of life's few constants – Artemis would not, or perhaps could not think of a life without his father. He let a single tear roll down his cheek. During the day, he would be emotionless. Like a true heir to the Fowl Empire, for the sake of his father, his mother, and possibly himself. But at night, when he was by himself, he would grieve.
His mother hadn't taken the news well. She had retreated to the attic at once, the very room which his parents would spend most of their time together. As the days passed, his mother spent more and more time there. It was bad for her, Artemis knew. But she was becoming more and more unstable as time passed. He could tell by that glint in her eyes.
Artemis leaned back on his chair, rubbing his temples with the tips of his fingers. The Fowl Empire was in a serious state of disrepair. His father had invested most of the family fortune on the latest trade – one that had faied miserably. With most of the assets and it was only a matter of time before all kinds of associates came closing in, determined to get their slice of the cake before only the crumbs were left. Yes, he had a lot of work to do. If only…
Artemis Fowl Senior had invested most of the family's vast fortune on the shipment of cola to Russia. It will work, his father had insisted. Since the downfall of Communist Russia, Artemis Fowl Senior had been itching to open a pipeline of trade to Russia. He had finally got his chance – by producing a shipment of duty-free cola. He had obviously not counted on the Russian mafia to shoot down the Fowl Star.
Already, his father's team of smugglers and metal men had gone. Who was next? His associates? His bands of thieves? His mother? And with her, Artemis himself? Artemis did not know.
But before Artemis Senior left, he had told the younger Artemis:
"Look after your mother while I am gone. And don't let her squander the family fortune, eh?"
These became the words that Artemis Junior would live by after his father's supposed death.
Another memory washed over him. His father was reading the Wall Street Journal, and showing sections of it to him.
"Look, Artemis," He'd say. "Everything else falls, but gold stays steady. And that is because there isn't enough of it. And there never will be. Buy gold, boy, and keep it safe."
Aurum Potestas Est. The family motto. Of course. It seemed so fitting now. Artemis smiled – a smile that he would use often in the years to come.
An idea seemed to come to Artemis. A way to restore his family fortune. Gold. I need gold. It may take me months, maybe years, , but I will do this.
Aurum Potestas Est. Of course. Gold is power.
Did you like this story? If you did, please, please review. And if you didn't, you can review, too!
I didn't realise that it was so short until I uploaded it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!