Chapter One Birth
It all started out at birth. Yes, it was birth when I first laid eyes on the little boy who was my charge.
I was waiting outside while I heard Mrs. Fowl scream in agony and pain, giving birth to my charge. It was very funny, how I was to help Mrs. Fowl while she was pregnant. No matter what Mr. Fowl said to my uncle, there was still a reason for me to stay by Mrs. Fowl's side until the heir was born.
To this very instance, the screaming stopped, causing my heart to skip a beat. For some reason, I don't think I'm ready to take care of the heir who waits on the other side for me. No matter how long the sessions lasted, no matter how many times I've been told I was worthy of something higher, why do I feel lower than the person who waits for me on the other side? Why is that?
"Butler, is there something wrong?" Mr. Fowl asked, wearing the clothing appropriate for giving birth.
"No Mr. Fowl, why do you ask?" I asked, not even trying to take a peek at the baby inside.
"Well, I've called you several times. But never mind, I'm sure you're excited to see the baby!"
"Actually sir, I don't think that is necessary."
"Oh come on now! You, of all people, need to see the baby first. Besides, isn't that your job?" he asked me, urging for me to come in.
After a minute for so, I gave in to the protesting Fowl. Besides, it's not like I can keep avoiding him forever. My uncle would notice that something was up, and usually he has no time for trivial things. My uncle is a man of action and has no feelings toward the principle.
Entering into the room, I could see that the doctor who had been helping Mrs. Fowl and several nurses crowded on the sides of the room. In one movement, I ushered them to the door, as quickly and quietly as possible. Several minutes ago, before Mrs. Fowl went into labor, I had checked the room. Today, of all days, was when the doctor had expected the baby to be born. And as expected as he came, this was sure unexpected for me.
Laying my eyes on the bed, was Mrs. Fowl, cradling the baby in her arms. Shots of black hair were noticeable on the baby's head, his eyes closed to the world.
His skin resembled porcelain, and was as fair as could be. It was not dark, nor light, just fair. In my chest, my heart started to beat at unusual speed, seeing my charge sleep peacefully in his mothers' arms. Or so I thought.
Instantly, as if magic, his eyes opened. There lay eyes I thought I would never see. Clear, oh so clear.
His eyes were like skies of blue, when dust was passing over and night was beginning to rise.
Immediately Mr. Fowl asked "Would you like to hold him?"
My uncle, because of the fact he was in the car outside, I decided to hold him. If he had been here, I would've certainly refused. But who can refuse that baby, lying only a few feet away from me?
"Sure Mr. Fowl." I answered, taking the baby away from Mrs. Fowl.
Taking the baby, I felt relieved, shifting him in my arms to adjust my hold on him. Holding someone this small wasn't very new to me, since only four years ago my sister, Juliet, had been born. But it sure was a refreshers' course.
"Hi Artemis." Mr. Fowl said, waving at the Fowl in my arms.
"Artemis?" I questioned.
"Yes, Artemis. That is exactly what I am going to call him, right after the old man himself!" he exclaimed, grinning a huge grin.
"Mr. Fowl, I'm sure old isn't a word that will suit you in a million years." I retorted, while young Artemis started to wave his arms in the air, as if wanting something.
"Oh look Butler, look what he's doing!" Angeline said, pointing from the bed.
And there he was, young Artemis attempted to take my face.
"Artemis, I'm sure that's something you're never going to get, not in a million years." I said, tickling him under the chin, and returning him to his mother.
Both Fowls were so caught up with the new baby, they never took heed in what I said. Instead, they played many games with the baby, until he fell asleep. Meanwhile, I smiled for only a moment before standing back at my post.
I've never felt better about having a charge yet. For a few hours, I waited by the door, until the doctor came to take the baby from the Fowls, and placed him into the nursery.
That's when I followed him, all the way into the nursery. Then I watched him take him into a cradle, and place him there. He exited through the door, and that was that.
For many more hours, until the new day began, I watched the baby through the window every once in a while, just to make sure he was okay.
I started to hear footsteps when it was 8:00AM, a nurse coming around the corner with a clipboard and a smile when she saw me.
"You must be Mr. Fowl, the father of the new baby." she said, her wavy hair greeting her back with every step she took.
"Actually, I'm his uncle." I said, using the alibi we had used to get me into the hospital without being thrown out.
"Oh . . . okay, then where is Mister Fowl?" she asked.
"He's with his wife in her room right now." I said, remembering when he came here an hour ago saying that he would stay in Mrs. Fowl's room until he said otherwise.
"I see. Thank you Mister Fowl." she said, turning on her heel and going down the hall.
That's something I'm going to miss while taking care of Artemis, I thought, returning my gaze back to him. In that moment, another doctor had entered the room and was picking up young Artemis.
Uh oh, trouble, I said to myself when I saw that he was wearing a gun on his belt.
Entering into the room from the door his back was facing, I knocked out the troublemaker while catching Artemis at the same time. Surprisingly he was still asleep.
Placing him into his cradle once more, I shot a bullet into the guy's back, making sure that the gun was touching his back to muffle the noise.
Looking back at Artemis, who was still sound asleep, I quietly removed the body in a manner that no blood came from his body and stained the floor. Right now I had my gloves on, so I wouldn't leave fingerprints.
Going down the corridor and dodging people when they came about, I was able to take the body outside and dump him into a dumpster. Then, I retraced myself to see if any blood was on the floor. When I found nothing, I went back into the nursery, making sure there was no one in there first before checking out Artemis. He was still there, thank goodness, and then I checked for needle shots. None except for the obvious places where the real doctor had done them earlier.
Closing the door quietly, I returned to my post, so that way no one would notice that I had left.
Madame Ko would so be mad at me right now if she knew about what just happened. Breaking one of the madame's rules, even the minor ones risked the principles' health. That would mean that I would lose my graduation tattoo, losing my privilege to take care of Artemis. Now that's something I would never want to do. But I couldn't just take the baby with me. That would be just traumatic, especially is someone noticed that he was missing. Something I can't risk either.
After a couple of minutes, Mr. and Mrs. Fowl came around the corner, with the doctor, the real doctor this time.
"Hello Butler, I'm sorry if you didn't sleep any last night." Mr. Fowl apologized.
"That's okay Mr. Fowl. It was for the good of your son anyway."
"Yes, quite true, quite true."
"Hmm, I wonder where my assistant is?" the doctor said, looking around the corners.
"Assistant sir?" I questioned.
"Why yes, my assistant! He was suppose to administer a shot to the young Fowl boy. Hmm, he's been arrested again I guess. It's just that he has this habit of placing the syringes in his pocket. For the past week the guards have noticed and keep arresting him because they think he has a gun in his pocket."
"Pocket sir?" I asked again, hoping the man I shot wasn't him.
"Yes my boy, the pocket. Why, have you seen someone by that characteristic?"
"No sir, I'm just making sure I have the facts right."
"Okay then. Very well then." he said.
"Sorry I'm late Dr. Houston." a boy said, running with a syringe in his hand.
Man that was a close one, I said to myself as the boy administered the shot. Good thing I got the right guy. I better not make that mistake again, and better check him out.
Once the boy gave Artemis the second the shot, the events passed by very quickly. Before I knew it, I was in the car, with my uncle driving the car.
I was holding the baby again, while the Fowls were across me, sleeping peacefully. The ride home would only take fifteen minutes, but to the door it would take twenty minutes.
Artemis, well, the second one, was sleeping peacefully in my arms. I started to smile, I very small one, but a smile nevertheless. From the window in front of him, my uncle could see me smiling, only to have the sight warm his heart.
Domovoi reminds me so much of my brother, Major Butler thought, continuing the drive. It was silent, but relaxing all the same. It was good to have some peaceful moments, no matter how rocky the family history. And the chaos the family caused along with it.
Back to Butler, he was still holding the baby, who, after a few moments had opened his eyes. Those stunning eyes caused shivers to come on his back. How could a young baby, not even a day old, do something like this to him?
Once again the baby started to reach, trying to grab Butler's face.
Butler smirked a one sides smirk, and started to adjust his hold on young Artemis. No matter what Artemis did, he couldn't reach Butler's face. So he did something else instead. He curled up into a ball and returned to slumber world. This made Butler smile even more. Artemis was not like other children he could very well see, which would affect his stages of growing up, and sooner of later, puberty. I vowed to make sure he would always be there to help him, no matter what the case.
When the car stopped, Mr. and Mrs. Fowl woke up, Mrs. Fowl scooping up her baby while the three Fowls entered their home.
"So, you like him, don't you?" the Major said.
"Yes, why wouldn't I? He's my charge." I said professionally, returning back to my usual self.
"I can't say anything to you, honestly Domovoi. But I swear, if you go deeper than that, I will have to kill you. That's something that no one human can do, because it's a sin."
"Why would I think like that Major? Besides, I need to go protect my charge. You need to too." I said, leaving the car.
I felt weird talking to my uncle like that, but why would he think I would do such a thing? Was I giving hints?
Enraged, I entered into the house and started to look for Mrs. Fowl and Artemis, who were in the nursery, Artemis's new room.
She was settling Artemis down into his crib, and turned to face me.
"Are we having lunch here or eating at Point Haven?" I asked, so that way I would know what to do.
"I'm going to eat at Point Haven with a few friends of mine. Timmy is having a meeting at noon with some of his clients and of course, is taking the Major. That just leaves you with Arty, okay." she said.
Already, even though it's almost been a day, she had developed a nickname for her new son, her only son at that. See, Artemis is the firstborn of Mr. and Mrs. Fowl.
"Yes ma'am." I said, relieved. That just leaves me alone with Artemis. That can't be too hard, right?
After a few moments, everyone left, leaving me with the baby, still sleeping.
Sighing, I headed over to the window, gathering Artemis from his crib and sitting down in the rocking chair, cradling him. Sooner or later, before I know it, Artemis will grow up, and so far, just having in my arms makes my soul flicker. Remembering what my mother said to me a long time ago, my heart skipped another beat, twice in one day, but for a different reason. I can tell my job is going to be very interesting as Artemis gets older.