What up people. This is just a quick note to let y'all know that I'm aiming for the Lower Elements Chronicles to be a trilogy so when I'm done with this there will be two sequels. I'm still in the general planning stages so be patient because I SHALL update for you. And I don't own anything but the plot.Okay I'll shut up now, Krewella forever!

-Kaylin H

oooooo

Fowl Manor

Butler was far from stressed, he was downright confused,worried and outraged all at the same time! Was there even a word for that? Someone had stolen his charge's former body under his watch. Who would do something like that,he thought. What kind of motive would someone have to steel the body of a fifteen year old boy? For the first time in Butler's life, he couldn't think of anyone who had a grudge against the boy. Well, at least no one alive or not currently in prison, unless there was something Artemis didn't tell Butler before his death. Butler supposed it was a possibility that an old enemy could have escaped, but surely they would have heard something by now.

But,what the hell would they want with a dead body, Butler thought to himself. You don't exactly demand ransom for someone who's been dead for eight months. Now that's just ridiculous. No, whoever did this wanted to leave a message. The question was, "what kind of message?". Was it to scare them, or just for spite?

Butler's training did not prepare him for this. It was just to protect your principal no matter the cost. In the end, Butler even failed that task. Butler would not fail the second time. His charge was still barely alive, upstairs. Butler intended to keep it that way. No way would he let Artemis die, not again.

Butler sat in the security room, surfing through hours of tape. His eyes burned from staring at the bright screens. He was determined to find this culprit. Preferably before the rest of the Fowls came back from their retreat. He searched every inch of tape from the last twenty-four hours. Nothing. Not even a single breach in the system. This grave robber was clever, almost too clever.

After another long minute, Butler finally pushed the chair back and rubbed his eyes. He didn't want to stop, but he knew he had to. This event was taking a toll on him already. He looked at the clock mounted on the right. 11:45, almost midnight. He left the security room to check on Juliet and the twins. Juliet was traumatized from that afternoon when she found the open grave. Butler had never seen his sister so broken like that. Well, he guessed that these past few months had made all more fragile. And seeing an open grave without a body was pretty disturbing.

When he walked into the kitchen, he found Juliet and the twins there getting a snack before heading off to bed. It was past their bedtime, but today the Butler siblings made an exception. Juliet needed a distraction from earlier so she had to spend time with the twins.

"Still no word from them?", Butler asked his sister.

Juliet silently shook her head, not looking up at him. While the twins were eating, Juliet sat on a stool, leaning on the island in the middle of the kitchen by her elbows. Her shoulders hunched down as she continued staring off into space. Her eyes still red and puffy. An untouched glass of water sat in front of her.

Foaly left hours ago to track down Holly. If anyone could catch this robber, it was her. Butler knew however, that the good captain was stubborn and heartbroken. The odds of Foaly coming back with a broken nose were high. They knew Holly wanted her space but they all agreed it was time to drag her up here.

Butler sighed, walking over to sit down next to his sister. Juliet didn't even look up, continuing to stare at the wall. Butler placed a large hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?",he asked calmly.

"What do you think?", she spoke for the first time without looking up.

Butler looksed at her, concern written all over his face. Being a bodyguard, Butler learned how to read people just bye the look in their eyes. Juliet's were empty. Butler knew his sister was strong and she would be ready for action in no time, still seeing her like this...

"Juliet, I know that what happened this afternoon was difficult to take in but-"

"'Difficult to take in'?", Juliet faced her brother, shocked. "Really, Dom? I just witnessed a grave that was freaking BROKEN IN TO and all it was just 'difficult to take in'?". Juliet was mortified. Why wasn't her brother taking this more seriously. Artemis was his charge. Butler should be preparing for war.

She used his first name. She's furious. "Juliet we all witnessed the grave,but we should be considering what the next attack might be".

"What attack? Are they gonna kill us then dig us up? No! And you're the one who's not taking this seriously. All you've been doing is sitting in that stupid chair all night doing absolutely nothing".

Butler just stared at his sister. "You don't think I'm doing anything? I have been sitting at that desk for hours on end,watching the monitors and trying to solve this mess".

"Oh and how did that work out for ya!"

"There wasn't even a security breach until the alarm went off. Not one thing was out of place", Butler tried to explain.

"Of coarse there wasn't. What kind of criminal is moronic enough to leave the cameras alone. Who even puts a camera on tombstone? A freaking tombstone!".

"Juliet."

"No,Butler. I'm done with this nonsense. We need to take action ourselves. I seriously doubt that Holly will be able to do anything".

Not this conversation again. "Juliet, I know you're upset with Holly but-", he was cut off by another one of Juliet's rants.

"Holly has done nothing to help us, to help him. Do you really think she'll help us now",she pleaded.

Butler stared thoughtfully towards his sister. He had to take her words into consideration. In a way, Juliet was right. Holly has done absolutely nothing for Artemis or them, whose to say that she would now. For two months all Holly got was sympathy instead of encouragement. Perhaps now was the time to shine a new light.

The twins,who where quietly watching this argument unfold, were oblivious to the whole situation All they picked was the fact that an item had been stolen that afternoon and all the Butler's were doing was watching a grave. Well Myles tried his best to connect the pieces while Beckett was pulling his sandwich apart and making figures with the turkey. Butler was about to speak when Myles beat him to it.

"Butler, Juliet?",the siblings turned their attention to the four year old. "Is something going to happen to Arty? And what happened with Holly?". Beckett looked up from his food creations to join in the conversation. Both he and his twin have been concerned with their older brother and wanted in. For four year olds, the two had a strong intellect of the sorts,even Beckett who had been deemed an 'idiot' by Myles. All they want is know the truth. Of coarse the two have the knowledge of fairy kinds' existence, hence their knowledge of Holly whom they've grown very fond of. They thought of Holly like a sister and held the same concern for her.

Butler gave the young boys a sad smile. "Boys, Holly has just been wanting space for awhile. She's having a hard time because of your brother's condition and that is why she hasn't been able to visit", he tried to explain to the boys. Butler could see that the fact they haven't seen Holly because of Artemis' health made their sad expressions harden. "As for your brother, he should be fine as long as you two don't try to break into his room again". Butler glared at them, playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

Beckett reddened from embarrassment while Myles' eyes widened. Butler turned to Juliet who was glaring daggers at him. She was about to storm out the kitchen when Butler's ringtone filled the silence. He took the device from his pocket then accepted the call.

"Yes?"

Foaly's voice was on the other end. "Butler, it's me. Get Juliet and meet me outside,now."- the line went dead.

Butler looked up at Juliet who had an eyebrow raised. "That was Foaly. We're meeting him outside", he said flatly.

Juliet groaned as her brother already walked out the door. "You don't say."

oooooo

As Foaly cut off the connection, he landed the borrowed LEP shuttle in the field just outside the front door.

He glanced towards Holly who didn't speak the entire ride. She sat in the copilot's chair, eyeing the control panel with that longing need in her eyes. Once safely landed, Holly unbuckled herself from the chair then moved to the automatic door like a robot. She waited as Foaly made his way over to type in the code for the door. Foaly had this shuttle made for his own, personal use;it therefore included more security features than a standard LEP shuttle.

Foaly trotted out with Holly shadowing behind like what humans like to call an 'emo teenager'. As the cool, midnight air touched Holly's skin she couldn't help but remember what it was like to fly on the surface-even the few times she'd visited her best friend at his bedroom window at night, trying to find an excuse to see him. Not anymore.

Foaly noticed his friend's expression fall when she first caught sight of the Victorian front doors. How Holly was able to endure the knowledge of the 'incident', Foaly was not sure. Maybe the old captain was still in there somewhere.

The two saw the doors swing open as the Butlers came rushing out. As soon as they saw Holly, they stopped in their tracks. To be expected, she thought. After being gone for so long, she had no way of telling how they would feel if she suddenly showed up on their doorstep. Would the hug or shoot her?

She stood beside Foaly as the two walked up to greet them. Butler's reaction surprised her. He walked up to her and smiled, hopefully.

"Good to see you, Captain." he said, shaking her hand.

"You too,old friend."She smiled.

Holly turned to Juliet who did not look very pleased to see Holly. Juliet folded her arms over her chest, refusing to look the elf in the eyes. Holly didn't exactly expect a warm welcome in these conditions, but, she did not want her friends angry with her;even if she was angry with herself. Holly took a deep breath and stood before Juliet. The young women finally raised her head to gaze at Holly, who extended her hand to Juliet. Juliet hesitantly, took the hand and shook it. Holly smiled warmly, as Juliet relinquished her hand and silently nodded.

Now back to business,Short. "Butler, I'm afriad this isn't a good time for a reunion. What happened?" Holly asked.

Butler's expression turned grave, as he inspected their surroundings. He jerked his head in the direction of the Victorian door, indicating that they go inside. They all followed suit and entered the manor,all looking out towards the estate, skeptically. For they couldn't know if the culprit could be watching that very second.

oooooo

"So, the robber left no trace at all?", Holly wondered. "Impossible. There's got to something we can use."

"I agree, Captain. But, this robber had resources. It was like they knew the manor, how to get around unnoticed.",Butler spoke up.

The gang met in one of the conference rooms to get Holly up to speed. Foaly brought up his computer to document what they knew. Holly was pacing back and forth, trying to make sense of this.

"They knew how to get around",she muttered to herself. "Is it possible this grave robber is an old friend of ours?"

"We thought about that too.",Foaly jumped in. "There's no one alive who the Mud Boy had issues with. Well except for Spiro, but he's still in prison. And grave robbery is to messy for his style".

"Artemis is the son of a former Irish mobster,and there's no one who could still have an axe to grind?",Holly offered.

"Point taken,however the news of Artemis' death in the first place might have caused them all to lay off.",Foaly said as a matter of factly.

The room went quiet again. The only thing they could hear were their own thoughts as they pondered their next move on the situation. They would first have to figure out what the situation was. They had no evidence, no trace, no suspects, no nothing! The enemy was a cunning cat, probably mocking them this very instant;or maybe they've been spending too much time with Foaly and his rants.

Holly paced back and forth,back and forth, assessing the facts. This was part of her training. Tracking down dirtbags and petty theives. How do you track someone who can't be tracked?,she thought. The pieces of the puzzle were to scattered to be put together. Someone who knew the manor well and left without a trace, quite possibly a fairy, but this was Artemis Fowl they were talking about. If a fairy had robbed the manor, his technology would certainly catch them. So how did they get past the trigger in the first place? The big question. Butler had said that the trigger was the most sensitive out of all the alarm systems.

Holly knew that Artemis had been working relentlessly on the whole system before the berserker incident. She remembered calling him one day while he was working on it and getting a very long,tiring speech from him on why he was being so thorough. Holly smiled at the memory. She hadn't even thought about Artemis until now. Her smile faded as she realized why she hasn't visited in the first place.

"How is he?" she asked in a meek voice.

Butler looked up as the elf spoke. "He..." Butler struggled to find his voice. "He hasn't been getting worse, but he isn't getting any better."

Holly nodded, still deep in thought. She didn't even think to ask about his condition before. She always had to find constant distractions for herself to keep her mind off Artemis. Normally when something happened, she would bury herself in her work as a distraction. Being in the LEP reminded her too much of their adventures.

Juliet who sat quietly in a corner, finally spoke up after a long time of silence. "I'm gonna go check on him."

Foaly moves out of her way so Juliet could walk out the conference room.

Again the room was silent. Foaly just rolled his eyes and looked at Holly. "So, any ideas, Captain?"

Holly kept pacing. "The robber couldn't have been a human. No, this is too clean for humans." She declared. "It's obvious a that a fairy did this, but your right. I can't think of any other fairy that would have..." Holly trailed off, deep in thought.

Foaly and Butler both glanced at each other then back to Holly curiously. "Would have what, Holly?" The centaur urged.

Holly's head shot up so quickly, you could almost see the lightbulb above her. "I might have an idea about who-"

She was cut off by the sound of glass breaking and someone screaming, echoing through the manor.