Artemis Fowl

Fowl Secret

It has been ten years since anything had happened to Artemis, other than Holly giving birth to their female child, Mika. Mika is now six years old and is just like her father, except for the looks. She looks like her mother and her father, but more like her mother. She's a crafty child and is always creating things—things much like the C-cube that Artemis created years ago.

Her parents try their hardest to keep her away from anything that could get her involved with the LEP, but just like Artemis, she always finds her way out of a situation.

Last year, when she turned five, she made the C-sphere. She named it after her father's invention, but decided to change the shape.

Butler still stays in the house, but is no longer Artemis' bodyguard. Artemis doesn't have a bodyguard anymore, only a family.

Mr. and Mrs. Fowl have moved out of their Manor and now live somewhere in America.

Artemis was in his study working on a book he was writing. Mika walked in and sat on his lap.

"Papa, what are you writing?"

"I'm working on a book."

"What's it about," Mika asked in a genuine baby voice.

"It's a fictional, happier version of my life."

"You're not happy. Why not?"

"I'm happy, Mika. My past is behind me now and I have you and your mother."

"Papa, what am I?"

"Huh...? What do you mean, sweetie?"

"What am I? I don't look like you or Mama? Why don't I look like someone?"

Artemis sighed. "Let's go find your mother. We need to talk to you about it, together."

Artemis stood up and was guided by his daughter's gentle hand.

"Mama, where are you?"

"I'm in the kitchen, Mika. What's wrong?"

Artemis and Mika walked down the stairs and stood in the kitchen doorway.

"What's wrong, Artemis?"

"Come here," he said softly.

Holly came close to Artemis and he whispered in her ear what the problem was. All Holly said was, "Oh."

Artemis walked Mika into the living room and sat her down in between her parents. "Mika, you are special. You're a one of a kind child. You're neither human nor elf."

"Then... What am I?"

"You're a half human half elf."

"So... I can't be normal. I won't go to school."

"You're going to school," Holly said. We can use magic to round out your ears and shorten your nose to a human length. You have a human skin color, so that should be fine."

"Can't I go to fairy school or something?"

"No, I'm sorry," Holly said. "Your father and I have agreed that it would be safer if you went to a human school."

Artemis nodded. "Humans will accept you much easier than the fairies would."

"Why?"

Artemis pursed his lip and looked at Holly. Holly was doing the same, but she was trying to think of an answer. She sighed and gave up. She made up a fake excuse.

"Mika, fairies aren't that nice, especially elves. They tend to stay underground, away from the humans. They're not very accepting of any species outside of their own."

"But why?"

"I don't know," Holly said.

Mika looked at her mother and father. "When will I go to school?"

"In three months you'll be going to a public school. You'll be starting elementary school," Holly answered.

"Will I make friends?"

"Only if you try to, and then some people will just want to be friends with you. You won't even have to try. Just be your self and be kind to other people. You'll do just fine," Artemis answered Mika's question.

Mika sighed. "Okay." She looked at her father. "Can I have slumber parties like normal girls?"

Artemis looked at Holly. "I'm fine with it, but what about you, Holly?"

"Sure, Mika. You can have slumber parties."

"Thank you," Mika said and leaned against her father's shoulder.

"Holly, I have to go and get back to work. I need to work on her paperwork, so she'll be ready for school."

"Okay, but don't over work yourself."

"All right, Holly."

"Bye, Papa."

"I'll see you before you go to bed, Mika."

Artemis walked off to work on the paperwork. A few months later, Mika went to first grade.

It's been eight years since then and Mika is having a sleepover at a hotel. Holly is taking the two girls and Artemis is staying home. Butler's cousin lives with them, now. He's only twenty-five, but he's almost as good as Butler. He's good, but he could never be better than Butler. No one could.

"Artemis, are you okay," Butler asked.

"I'm fine. I wish you would stop worrying about me."

"Sir, you've been so sick lately. I was just making sure…"

"I'm fine, just go on…" Artemis coughed and stood up. He shoved Butler out of the door and outside. "Go on and be with your family."

"But what if-"

"Just go." Artemis closed the door and went to his office. He coughed all the way there and collapsed into the chair.

He relaxed in the chair and thought about calling his family, but decided against it. He lifted his hand to his heart and he smiled. He closed his eyes and his arms dropped down to his sides, off the chair.

Around five o'clock in the morning, the phone rang. Artemis didn't wake and the person gave up. The door bell rang about an hour later, but the person didn't waste time waiting for Artemis. The knob turned and Mika walked inside. Her mother was behind her and shoved Mika quickly through the door.

Holly ran to find Artemis. He had his office door closed and she didn't see him. "Mika, do you see your father?"

"No, ma'am…"

Holly opened the office door and ran to Artemis. She shook his shoulders and called out his name. "Mika, call the hospital!"

Artemis opened his eyes and stared into Holly's. "Holly… What happened…?" Artemis coughed and closed his eyes again.

"Hush, don't speak. You need to rest."

With his eyes still closed, Artemis smiled at Holly. "I'm okay… Don't call the hospital…"

"But Artemis…"

"Don't. Please…"

"Mika, don't call!"

"But… Why not…?"

"Come here, Mika," Artemis said weakly. She did as she was told and Artemis opened his eyes.

"Yes, Father…?"

Artemis coughed before he could get a word out to his daughter and wife. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and closed his eyes tightly again.

"Artemis!"

"Father," Mika squealed.

He relaxed in Holly's arms and fainted. His breathing was heavy and labored. Holly fretted over her unconscious husband and told Mika to call Butler instead of the hospital. Butler arrived in five minutes flat. He rushed in to find his job on the ground with blood coating his perfectly white shirt.