Artemis Fowl: The Caper at Howlers Keep
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl in any way shape or form
Excerpt from the diary of Artemis Fowl: "I shall unleash my plague upon the earth, a crime wave the likes of which have never been seen before. The world will remember the name of Artemis Fowl…"
The Iron Gate to Fowl manor hung slightly ajar. For a thief, that was just about the last thing you wanted to do when robbing Fowl Manner as Butler could spot a fruit fly in the surveillance monitors. The slightest sign of intrusion and that poor little fruit fly will hate you forever for getting it incinerated by the nuclear missile headed your way. Of course, there weren't many thieves stupid enough to rob a house belonging to the greatest criminal mastermind of the time with such a lame precaution being their only means of escape. Unless it was all done intentionally, and the message was "catch me if you can".
Butler had spent the nearly two and a half years since his untimely brush with mortality sharpening his talents as a body guard. He seemed to recognize that something was amiss, as the incident itself had left him half as capable as he had been before. However, as Butler didn't remember why he seemed to have grown old over night, due to Foaly's mind wipe, his inability to perform as he once did constantly frustrated him. But the frustration also fed his determination to better himself. He had discovered many ways of conserving oxygen and reducing his own exertion by channeling his chi. He had also sharpened his mind so acutely in attack and defense tactics, scenario execution, abstract resourcefulness etc., that in a battle of wit, Butler was unbeatable. Unfortunately, Artemis's wild adventures were hardly ever theoretical, so Butler quite often found himself left at home, or stuck doing lookout.
In fact Butler found himself becoming increasingly bored. So bored, it took him a while to realize "Oh my goodness, the gate is open." It hadn't been a minute ago. It was strange, he hadn't seen anyone there. It seemed to open almost by magic. Just before Butler leapt to his feet he caught a glimpse of the person just as they passed out of the screen. They seemed to be heading to the front door which was odd, but it was also odd that they seemed to be far smaller than an adult. But in the end, as Butler ran for the door as fast as his disability would allow, he decided that it didn't matter. Anyone capable of getting to the front door without tripping any of the security alarms was a danger to the principal and had to be dealt with.
Let's face it, whoever was on the other side of the door was dead unless they could come up with the most gut wrenchingly unexpected sentence in all history. Butler swung in the door, simultaneously taking aim and found a little girl in a long black coat, with tiny freckles and long dark brown hair she had tied back in a long French braid. And most strikingly, she had stunning blue eyes. Everything she wore was black, except a little gold locket hung around her neck and a silver chain that hung down below the rim of the shirt neck. She stared up at Butler with her piercing blue eyes and said "Hello, Domovoi."
Fowl Manor was always beautiful this time of year. The early morning sun was shining through the puffy clouds in dusty glowing rays like it does in romantic paintings. The crystal water was trickling noisily and sparkling in the outside fountain; and the small chubby birds were chittering excitedly in the expertly manicured trees.
Artemis Fowl was sitting at the dining room table having finished the breakfast Butler had prepared for him. He took a moment to think and enjoy his glass of tomato juice. If in fact Artemis Fowl could enjoy anything. Ever since he had lost his memories of the People, Artemis also lost every shed of the person he was becoming. There were only certain times when he was watching his parents that he thought he could be like them, but in the vast expanses of time between those brief experiences, he was exactly like he was before he had ever come in contact with the fairy people, and before he had met Holly.
Looking at Artemis as he sat at the table with the morning light from the tall white-paned window pouring over him, he would seem to have grown considerably. He was tall and slender, but not thin. Having noticed Butler's physical decline, Artemis had taken it upon himself to be able to perform in difficult situations. This had taken some time away from his plans to expand the family fortune, but now he was adequately strong and agile and an exceptional marksman. His face was more mature, which pleased him as appearances were everything, but his hair tended to fall into his face, not wanting to be gelled back in the business style it had always been in, no matter how he tried to make it stay. He still wore his two piece suits on business and at home, but today he was wearing his boarding school uniform. He was planning on showing up for a short time and then leaving under the pretense of having had an episode. Then he would be off to Italy, where he was sure to find a certain pair of golden amulets he was very interested in. they had once belonged to the Medici's. They were said to have been buried with the last of the family, but in a recent excavation when the graves were unearthed, the amulets were no where to be found, supposedly stolen around the time of the famous flood. The Medici's had been very smart, the way they constructed the tombs to fend off grave robbers had made it difficult for even modern scientists to enter. And when they found nothing, and the graves in disarray from being so unceremoniously plundered, it had all seemed for not. They had, however, overlooked one very important detail and Artemis intended to exploit it.
It was going to be tricky. Artemis thought, smirking. It was a vampire's smile. That was another thing that was different about him, he was starting to take great pleasure in his work as a thief. It was exciting. He had always been the hunter, but… somehow this was different.
He got up, leaving his plate at the table, but taking his half finished glass of tomato juice with him. He headed up the curved staircase and down the hall to his room. He was lost in his own thoughts and plans. Half of the fun of his job was the anticipation. His mother was away at a hot spring on Okinawa, and his father was away on a business call, they both weren't scheduled to be back within three days at the least, and he was off to do what he did best. Not a bad way to spend one's sixteenth birthday.
Artemis reached for the handle of the door to his room.