Author's Note : Hellow ! :D

Huge thanks to LN, KiaSunrise and Rival Argentica for their ever so sweet reviews ! Also a big thanks to SomeGuyOnlineXD, Djtommiet, Rival Argentica and BookFan98 for favoriting the story. All of you guys rock and help me get going :-)

Initially, this chapter was, like the previous, divided in two parts - one with Artemis and one with the fairies. But as the chapter dangerously started approaching TWENTY-FIVE freaking pages, I decided to cut it in half x') So only Artemis stuff in this chapter, and the fairies will go next. I hope you'll still like it this way ! :-D

Disclaimer : Eoin Colfer is the author of the Artemis Fowl series, therefore I do not own any of its characters. Many elements of this fanfiction (including its title ^^) are also inspired or directly drawn from the 1998 Japanese anime 'Serial Experiments Lain' (GO WATCH IT) even though it is NOT a crossover.

Author's Recommandation : I personally love writing and reading to music. If you're interested, I highly recommand listening to Neon Demon (main theme) by Cliff Martinez, from the eponymous movie by Nicolas Winding Refn (freakin aesthetical masterpiece if you ask me). This piece of music just really fits the mood of the fanfic !

Enjoy your reading ! :-)

Database #10 : Corrupted File

FOWL MANOR, IRELAND

Artemis turned, and turned around in his bed, unable to get to sleep.

Since he had started using the Wired on a regular basis, these past weeks, his insomnia crises had rarefied, then completely disappeared. He wouldn't say he had never slept better in his entire life ; but in a way, the Wired had filled all the empty, uncomfortable space in his mind. Entirely focused on his revenge scheme, benumbed by the painkillers, Artemis would just work until he collapsed out of fatigue. Not idealistic, but the young Fowl couldn't really remember a time when he had actually had a truly peaceful sleep anyway.

But tonight, even though his body claimed for rest, his heart refused to leave him in peace.

Artemis opened his sore eyes, and his gaze lost itself in the darkness of his bedroom. He had drawn the curtains, and there was only a small ray of daylight piercing through the room. The young Fowl watched the dust floating in the air, listening to the pulsing of his migraine. The alarm clock ticked on the bedtable – it was a quiet sound, but it pierced through the boy's eardrums like thunderclaps. He had locked himself up in his bedroom at around midday. It was about two p.m.

Artemis buried his face in his pillows, pulling the blankets closer around him. He needed to sleep. It wouldn't have bothered him so much, if his health condition wasn't so important. Important to the plan.

Suddenly, Artemis cowered in a crouched position, pressing both his hands on his chest, heartbeat increasing.

Thinking about the plan only made the sting in his heart worse ; at the point it became physically painful. Artemis closed his eyes as tightly as he could, and tried to breathe slowly.

I am the God of the Wired. I am the most powerful being on Earth. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing.

But something, deep within his heart, protested.

Nothing can happen to me. But if I make only one mistake…

Artemis reopened his eyes. He had never been the kind of child to be afraid of the dark, but for an instant, he felt as if the darkness in his bedroom was alive, absorbing the light, infiltrating every corner, creeping up the walls, pressing upon his skinny body.

The young Fowl tried to reason, to reassure himself. The plan had unfolded perfectly, up until now ; he had outthinked anything the fairies might attempt, always being several steps ahead. He had imagined, prepared and calculated all of the various pressure tactics at his disposal. Extremely careful to never put the People in real mortal danger.

But the depressurization of Haven City was one of the most dangerous thing he could do to the fairies. If they didn't make it in time…

Artemis shook his head vigorously, trying to temper the fear rising. The thirty hours estimation he had given them was quite generous, and they would most certainly be done with his command before dusk – their 3D printers were much more performing than humans', and the warning shot had been brutal enough to make sure they understood how serious the threat was.

But what if I am forced to stop the depressurization, for any reason ? That would mean loose all credibility…

That wasn't going to happen. Everything had been calculated, and re-calculated. The fairies had plenty enough time to do what they were asked to.

But what if the Fairy Council just doesn't obey me ?

That was ridiculous. Of course they would obey. They were trapped in their bunker city, a knife under not only their throats, but all their citizens. They wouldn't even consider the option of disobeying.

But what if I loose control ? What if I miscalculated ? What if someone dies because of me ?

Artemis brutally pushed his blankets aside, and headed straight for his private bathroom. In the medecine cabinet, he grabbed a bottle of sleeping pills. As he swallowed one, then another, then three more, he thought back to his father's words, from a long time ago.

The path to wealth and success is not easy, and many things come with a price. In this journey, your conscience, my boy, is your worst enemy. If it torments you… just silence it.

Artemis drank a glass of sink water, and went back to his bedroom, already feeling groggy. He collapsed on his bed, forcing himself to forget everything about the plan, the Wired, the fairies, his mother, his fears, his doubts. Eventually, he fell asleep.

Only to get nightmares.

.

Butler was peeling potatoes for supper when he heard the floor crackling upstairs. He listened carefully, but the waterpipes noises indicated that Artemis was taking a shower. The manservant put some water to boil, and resumed the crafting of tonight's soup, lost in his thoughts.

He had always loved cooking, enjoying the artistry of flavor-combining and the peacefulness of the moment ; but lately, his heart just wasn't in it.

The bodyguard reduced the heat under the boiling water, and thought about calling Juliet, when he'd be done with the soup. He had been surprisingly pleased with her decision to quit Madame Ko's training and give up on her bodyguard career, but he missed her presence around, even if she had never understood the idea of meditating while cooking, and always kept on talking when they were in the kitchen together.

Butler shook his head with a joyless smile, as he poured the hot water in a teapot with some Earl Grey. Call Juliet, of course… and what would he tell her ?That he felt like being sixty years old, had unexplained heart seizures, and that his principle was slowly becoming insane and engaged in a revenge plan involving the psychological torture of a magical people, commonly known as fairies ? She would have him locked up even before he had finished his sentence.

The manservant heard footsteps down the stairs, and dropped the potatoes gently. He was pouring the Earl Grey in his charge's porcelain mug when Artemis entered. Butler had grudgingly grown accustomed to the boy's new hollow features and reddened eyes, but he was worried to see that his principle looked even more exhausted than when he had retired in his bedroom, nine hours ago. He wore his usual Armani suit, but his hair was still wet and messy, and his eyebags puffed. Artemis fell heavily on the nearest chair, massaging his face.

" You slept ? " the bodyguard asked, concerned, while putting the mug on the kitchen table.

" Barely ", Artemis answered, " and it wasn't truly restful. "

" When do you plan on… coming back to the fairies ? " Butler asked cautiously.

Artemis gathered his hands around the warm tea mug, and took a moment to reply.

" I've set an alarm on my cellphone. It will warn me one hour before the fairies are done with what I've asked them. "

Butler hesitated, wondering if he should insist or not, but Artemis felt his uneasiness immediately. When the young Fowl turned his eyes to him, there wasn't any glimpse of hesitation in them.

" It should be over in less than five hours. I guarantee you they are not really endangered. "

The bodyguard smiled weakly, and focused back on his soup.

" I'm preparing a butternut-potato soup, and there are also leftovers from the lunch's risotto, and some crème brûlée. Is that okay ? Do you want something else ? "

Artemis shrugged, his gaze vague.

" That seems alright to me. "

Butler felt a little knot in his heart, but said nothing, and focused back on the soup. When Artemis was younger, the bodyguard sometimes replaced the Manor's chef to craft the boy's meals, if his parents were having a professional dinner or similar things ; and Artemis would always thank him and give him warm compliments – even though the young boy had never liked dessert, he had never missed an occasion to praise the manservant's crème brûlée recipe. But lately, the young Fowl had just stopped paying attention to food, and it seemed as if his distaste for dessert had grown into a patent repulsion.

Butler wondered if there was a bad memory attached to this drastic evolution, but he probably would never find out. A few weeks ago, Artemis might have shared that with him ; but the young boy had brought their relationship back to the most strictly professional possible, and Butler had to admit that it really saddened him. He hoped Madame Ko would never find out.

The silence grew thick between the two of them, only disturbed by Butler's knife expertly slashing the butternut. Artemis brought the tea to his mouth, but didn't drink, his eyes still staring at nothing in particular.

" Butler… "

The manservant rolled the butternut slices in the blender, along with the potatoes.

" Yes ? "

Artemis' fingers pressed harder against his mug.

" Is my mother… gone ? "

Butler held his moves, and turned around slowly. Artemis didn't flinch, but his gaze was now extremely focused, and his bodyguard knew him well enough to know what it meant – that the young Fowl was gathering all his will and determination, to keep himself from crying. A skill he had learned in his childhood – concealing the weaknesses. Another brilliant idea from his father.

The bodyguard didn't answer his charge's question – there was no need. He had followed his orders as professionally as always, and Angeline was certainly half-trip from Switzerland by now. Her absence was a painful, hollow presence on itself.

Putting his utensils down, Butler went by Artemis' side, and put one of his enormous hands on the boy's shoulder.

" That was the right thing to do ", he said gently.

Artemis closed his eyes, and nodded. When he spoke, he truly did his best to be as composed as always – but with the fatigue, he just couldn't keep his voice from shaking, even if only slightly.

" I know, but… it's still painful. "

The young boy paused.

" … I dreamt about her. I was trying to protect her, but the only way to keep her safe… was to have her forget about my very existence. "

Butler held his breath. It had been so long since Artemis had opened himself up like this, that the manservant had no idea how to react, or what to say. He just tightened his grip on the young Fowl's shoulder, tenderly.

He didn't speak, but there was no need. Right now, in the Fowl Manor's kitchen, as they just stood there side by side, silently, Artemis and Butler's bond had reconstructed, more solid and deep than ever. Artemis didn't need his bodyguard to say anything : he could feel the words just with the man's caring presence. The same simple, comforting presence that had accompanied his entire childhood, through the best and the worst.

You'll be okay. I'm here.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps in the corridor, and by the time Selene reached and opened the door, Butler was back to his soup and Artemis to his Earl Grey, both of them acting as if nothing had happened.

The young girl stood on the threshold, sensing that she had interrupted something, unsure what to do. Butler rescued her from her discomfort by serving another cup of tea and handling it to her. For some reason, he seemed… relieved. A little. Selene couldn't really manage to get why, because Artemis wasn't truly a pleasant sigh – now even more than usual.

She sat next to him at the kitchen table, and drank a sip of hot tea.

" … Are you okay, father ? " she eventually asked. " It seems like you didn't sleep well. "

Artemis nodded, without even turning to face her.

" I didn't, but I'm fine. "

The avatar waited, hoping for a "What about you, Selene ?" ; but it never came.

" You might want to leave the kitchen ", Butler said. " I'm blending the vegetables, it's going to be quite noisy. I'll tell you when supper is ready. "

Artemis grimaced at the idea of a loud blender noise, and quickly left, abandoning his tea on the table. Selene's heart flopped, and she hesitated for a second. But she stood up, and darted out the room.

" Artemis ! Wait ! "

In the corridor, the young Fowl turned his head, raising an eyebrow.

" What do you want ? "

Selene stopped. She instinctively started fiddling with her dress's cufflinks, but she didn't lower her head.

" What if… we spent some time together ? " she asked.

Artemis seemed truly surprised at the proposition. Selene took the opportunity, and continued :

" You're waiting for the fairies to be done with something, right ? Since you've got some time for yourself, and can't manage to rest, why not… I don't know, play a game with me ? "

The girl bit her lower lip.

" I've always wanted to play with someone, but there was nobody online that could match my skills. It was just boring, and not very funny. "

Artemis pondered, taken aback. At first, he wanted to reply that they were both too old for games ; but then, he remembered that Selene was technically only a few weeks old. He also recalled how his grandfather had taught him how to play chess, but never to dispute a single game with him.

The young Fowl's expression softened, and he gave Selene a little crooked smile.

" What game did you have in mind ? "

The girl's face brightened up with happiness.

" Abalone ? " she suggested.

" Interesting choice ", Artemis replied, " but I'd say too easy. What about chess ? "

Selene pouted.

" Too classic. I'd like to try something more… challenging. What about… "

She hesitated for a second, then snapped her fingers victoriously.

" What about Go ? "

Artemis smiled appreciatingly. The Chinese abstract strategy board game was an excellent choice indeed, for two minds like theirs. There wouldn't really be much suspense – of course he was going to win –, but that would keep his thoughts occupied.

He pointed his arm towards the living room, inviting Selene to follow him.

" Go it is, then. "

.

One hour later, the two youngsters were installed face to face, on the living room's expensive Persian rug, the Go board installed on the small table between them.

Artemis had offered to put on some background music, and the room was filled with the aethereal notes of Claude Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. The orchestral piece enveloped them in a soft, cosy atmosphere, silencing all peripheral noises from outside or from the kitchen ; Artemis and Selene were both entirely focused on the board, placing their stones carefully, one after the other.

Sometimes, Selene raised her eyes, and it warmed her heart to see how relaxed her father's features were. Suddenly, she smiled, and whispered, breaking the silence.

" I'm happy. "

Artemis raised his piercing blue eyes at her, and for once, he didn't examine her as if she was a lab specimen, or an inconvenience. He saw her as what she was : a true human being. His daughter. Even if only metaphorically speaking. He smiled back, and answered, also in a murmur.

" Me too. "

Then, he laid a stone on the board, capturing one of her largest territory, and chuckled at her discomfited face.

" Don't look so disappointed. Go is much more sophisticated than chess, it takes some time to master it. You're a fast-learner, already. "

" Can we restart another game ? "

Artemis checked his watch, but there was plenty of time.

" Of course, if you want. "

They picked their stones back, Selene taking the blacks, and Artemis the whites. The Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun record finished, and the first movement of The Sea started playing. Selene gathered her stones in her hand, and inspected the board, biting her thumb, taking her time to calculate her moves.

" This piece of music is truly superb ", the Czech girl said, while placing her first two stones on the board. " Debussy, you said ? "

" He is one of the finest impressionist musicians, in my opinion ", Artemis replied, placing his own white stone. " I've always been quite fond of nineteenth century French composers ; but my favourite is Erik Satie. "

Selene smiled, but she felt a flash of guilt piercing through her stomach.

She was sincerely happy to finally bond with her father, and learn more about him ; but she wasn't being honest with him.

Her true goal was to keep him occupied – and most importantly, occupied away from his digital devices. Artemis Senior had warned her that he would need some time to complete everything, and her mission was to make sure that he would be unnoticed by his son.

The young girl knew that Artemis wouldn't collaborate willfully if she told him the truth, and she knew that she was doing the right thing ; but she just couldn't help feeling guilty for manipulating him.

They kept playing for another full hour, listening to Debussy in a calm, respectful silence. At one point, Butler brought supper, and they ate all three together, leaving the Go board on spot ; and Selene was thrilled to see that the young Fowl didn't check his cellphone once during the meal.

She had assimilated his strategy from their previous match, and when they resumed playing, the game was much more tensed, their respective scores a lot tighter. Ultimately, even if she was really close behind, Artemis was still leading by a couple points, and Selene found herself in a desperate position.

Despite all her efforts to make the game last longer, there weren't many more interesting moves she could attempt, and logic would have her asking to end the match ; but she feared that Artemis would grow bored, and refuse to start another game. What would she do then to keep him distracted ?

" Selene ? Is everything alright ? "

The young girl raised her head hastily. Artemis frowned, suspicion already rising in his narrowed eyes. Selene's brain started overheating, trying desperately to find a satisfying explanation for her distraction.

Suddenly, her dilemma was cut short : Artemis' cellphone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, and his expression shifted completely, back to his usual severe and business-cold self.

" Finally. What had taken them so long ? " he snapped, almost contemptuously.

The young Fowl started typing to cancel the alarm, and stood up, abandoning the Go board and his daughter behind him. Selene immediately rushed to follow him, her heart pounding.

" The fairies are finished ? " she asked, while they crossed the corridor and started climbing the entrance hall's large stairs.

" Almost. I programmed the alarm with comfortable margins – I don't want to risk being late. " Artemis answered, almost absent-mindedly.

Selene panted. Her physical condition was still shaky at best, and the young Fowl was walking fast. The young girl felt a ball of apprehension falling upon her stomach. What if Artemis Senior hadn't finished what he had planned ? She didn't even know what he had planned !

But she found out soon enough.

When Artemis reached his office, and typed the digicode's password, a small red bulb beeped almost mockingly.

The door remained sealed shut.

Artemis stood astonished for a long moment. Then, a cold, murderous hatred started to grow in his eyes, and Selene took a few steps back, freaked out.

The young Fowl turned his head to her, slowly, like a wolf ready to attack. His voice was low, and threatening.

" Selene… what have you done ? "

The Czech girl found herself unable to move at first, petrified in terror ; then she panicked, and ran away, as fast as she could.

In a very unlikely fashion for him, Artemis started running after her immediately. His blood was boiling with rage, providing his muscles with a speed and strength he didn't know he possessed.

He should have known. He should have known that Selene would betray him, sooner or later. Once again, he had let his guard down, and forgot everything about his childhood's business lessons.

Never trust anyone.

His fists clenched as he ran down the corridor and into the stairway. He should have known. He should have known how dangerous she was – she knew every single one of his weaknesses, and of course she did : she shared them all. Selene had fooled him. She had endeared him, and stabbed him in the back. But that wouldn't happen again.

She's not getting out of this unscathed.

At the bottom of the stairs, Selene, panting heavily, started to slow down, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest. Suddenly, Artemis' fingers clenched on her skinny arm like a hawk's claws, and she screamed.

" By God, what is going on in here ?! "

Both Selene and Artemis jumped, startled. The Czech girl swallowed, still terrified, and the young Fowl felt as if his heart had stopped beating.

His prosthetic leg and Victorian cane clicking on the floor alternatively, Artemis Fowl Senior, still wearing his expensive Burberry coat, stood in the middle of the main hall, towering the two small teenagers with his full height, fire darting from his eyes.

Much like his son, the elder Fowl was famous among the international organized crime network for his unwavering calmness, and his never flinching, perfectly-controlled temper.

But no one in the organized crime network had ever dared attacking his wife.

" Artemis Fowl the Second ! You better explain yourself, AT ONCE ! " he yelled, his deep voice echoing on the marbled floor and stained glass windows.

Alerted by the screaming, Butler irrupted in the entrance hall, Sig Sauer in his hand, and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw his charge's father, who gave him an infuriated look that would have made a Mafiya Godfather shiver.

Taking advantage of the diversion, Selene escaped her creator's grip, and ran away, in the depths of the Manor. Quickly, Artemis regained his composure, becoming, all of a sudden, dangerously calm. He turned to his bodyguard, his voice cold and ruthless.

" Go get her, Butler. Lock her somewhere with no phone or Internet access, and make sure she doesn't escape. "

" But… "

" Butler, that's an order. " Artemis cut, firmly.

The bodyguard hesitated, but there was nothing he could do.

" Get out of our way, Butler ", Artemis Senior said menacingly, pressing on the manservant's name with despise. " I need to talk to my son in private. "

The manservant lowered his gun, and obeyed, heavy-hearted. It had always been cleary stipulated in his contract, which he had signed a few months before Artemis' birth : he wasn't, under any circumstances, to interfere with his charge's kinsmen' parental authority. Despite his own opinion in the matter.

Artemis Senior waited until Butler's footsteps had faded away, then turned back to face his son. Artemis had prepared himself mentally, but the look of disappointment on his father's face was something he would never grow accustomed to. It was too painful. But he concealed the wound, deep within, and stared back. Yet, something was strange : it was easier than usual.

Artemis suddenly realized that his father's disapproval didn't sadden him.

It angered him.

" Who's that girl ? " Artemis Senior asked severely. " What is she doing here ? "

" That is none of your business, father. "

It took the grown man a few seconds to process what his son had just said.

" … I beg your pardon ? ", he said in an incredulous tone.

Artemis raised his chin, and replied in the same ice cold, confident voice.

" You heard me perfectly. That girl is none of your business. Much alike what I do in my office. I'm guessing you called the security company and modified the digicode's password ? "

Artemis Senior's knuckles were white from clutching his cane's pommel, in an effort not to become physically violent. Despite his fury, his voice was still as even and composed as always.

" Yes, I have ; and I have also frozen your bank accounts. You're too immature for the freedom of movement we've been granting you with, obviously. I don't know what devil has gotten into your head lately, but… "

He paused, as if gathering his words. Artemis just stood there, his face emotionless.

" … I've tried to cancel Angeline's registeration at the… clinic ", his father pursued, an hint of pain in his voice. " I've called them, but they refused to reconsider. Apparently, there was a psychiatric expertise joined to her file. Where did you find the pathetic swindler who wrote it ? "

Artemis clenched his fists.

" F. Roy Dean Schlippe isn't a swindler. It's me. I wrote the expertise myself. "

This time, it wasn't disappointment on his father's face. It was sheer shock.

It felt so thrilling, that Artemis couldn't help but press the knife further.

" I wrote mother's psychiatric expertise ", he said with a twisted look in his eyes, " and trust me, there were a lot of things to say. Not that you would know, of course. You weren't there. "

Artemis Senior was breathless.

" … How dare you speak of your mother like that ? How dare you ?! … I can't believe it ! I can't believe you just put your own mother into a clinic… "

" The Edelweiss is an ASYLUM, and you know it perfectly ! " Artemis exploded.

The young boy silenced, taken aback by his own audacity. He had never lost his temper like that in front of his father. Never. Artemis Senior himself was at a loss for words. Eventually, he spoke, shaking his head negatively as if the gesture could erase what had just been said.

" … Alright, that's about enough now. Obviously, there's something wrong with you. Go to your room while I fix everything with the Black Edelweiss, and we'll continue this conversation once you've gotten back to your senses. "

But Artemis didn't obey. He started laughing openly, in a joyless, hateful chuckle. In his heart, there was a pressing, awful urge to attack, to rip apart, to destroy. He had never been this filled with hatred in his entire life, and right now he couldn't care less about his father's opinion.

" Because you still believe you can fix anything ? " he retorted, false disbelief in his voice. " You still believe you can tell me what to do ? "

" Artemis, this is enough ! I am your father, and you will do what you are told ! " Artemis Senior exclaimed, baffled by his son's disrespect.

" I'm. Not. Going. Anywhere. " hammered the young boy.

His father couldn't believe his ears. If it wasn't for his high education and composure, he probably would have smashed his cane into his own son's skull. When he spoke, it was almost in a whisper.

" … Jesus Christ … what is wrong with you ? "

And that was just too much.

All of a sudden, Artemis' entire composure shattered into pieces, and all the contained emotions he had kept within, for all these years, flung out with the force of a devastating storm.

" YOU ! That's what is wrong with me ! YOU ! " he screamed, his eyes filled with tears. " For my entire childhood, you were nothing but cold and distant ! The only thing you taught me was how to crush my enemies, to break them, to get their oh so precious gold ! And now, just look at yourself ! Acting as if you were an honest, innocent businessman and philanthropist ! Turning your back on countless deals and partnerships that would have made us whealthier ! Turning your back on our very motto ! Aurum potestas est, don't you remember ? "

Artemis paused to catch his breath. His gaze was frantic, and his delicate, fragile hands were heavily shaking.

But it just felt so good.

" Maybe you don't, but I remember our family motto ", Artemis pursued, his voice Arctic-cold. " You've engraved it so deeply in my brain that I sometimes dream about it. While you were gone, I've only done everything I could to take care of mother and the crime empire that you abandoned behind you. Within four years, all of your former associates have learned to respect me. To fear me. But you… You're the disgrace of the Fowl family. All our ancestors are rolling over in their graves, hearing you talking about heroism and charity. But I do not intend to stand by and let you ruin our reputation and tarnish our family name. If you are unable to assume the head of the Fowl empire, then I'll take your place and do it for you. Again. "

Artemis Senior faltered, completely astounded. It took him some time to pull himself back together and be able to think properly.

He was starting to realize that this wasn't just a regular father and son argument, as he had first anticipated ; that somehow, the power balance had shifted between them, and not exactly in his favor. He saw that he might have underestimated how his heir had changed, during his absence. He couldn't recognize the respectful young boy he had left at Dublin's seaport, four years ago.

The elder Fowl wasn't ready to question his parenting style yet ; but he had to admit that he should have listened to Angeline's concern about their son, these past months. She had tried to warn him that something was off… and he had dismissed her fears.

The thought of his wife triggered the rise of a dark, acrid feeling down his throat, and he found himself filled with cold determination.

Artemis was right about one thing : his father wasn't a true philanthropist. He had never possessed the natural empathy and sensibility that he required his son to fight against. On the other hand, he was a master blackmailer and a cold-blooded manipulator.

If his own flesh had decided to see him as the enemy, then so be it. He would fight ; but not with morality sermons and lectures about respect and humbleness. He would fight with his usual technique.

Emotional blackmail and psychological torture.

" You poor little thing. Daddy wasn't there to care for you… and now, you want to take Mommy away ? Wouldn't you want to kill me next, Oedipus ? "

The elder Fowl's lips twisted into a contemptuous smirk.

" You'll end up alone, Artemis. Alone, and cursed by anyone who had ever loved you. That will be your true failure. And when you'll come back whimpering, asking for forgiveness… no one will come. Then, and then only, your true self will be revealed : a pathetic cry-baby who wanted to play grown-ups. "

Artemis Senior had never truly managed to understand his son ; but that didn't mean he didn't knew him. Most importantly, he knew about his weak spots – where exactly he had to hit, in order to be the most harmful possible. His fear of loneliness, being ridiculed, failure… He had already used similar arguments, though in a much less violent manner, on his son before. Normally, Artemis would first try to cope with the blow, as he had learned to, but eventually collapse, and apologize for his vulnerability.

But this time, he didn't.

He stared back at his father ; and there was something so… creepy, uncanny about his expression, his eyes were filled with such pure madness that something happened to Artemis Fowl Senior, that he had experienced only extremely rarely before.

Fear.

" Conceal the weaknesses. " Artemis said, his voice raw and menacing.

He moved forward, his head lowering like a predator's, but his eyes still fixed into his father's.

" Don't trust anyone. "

Artemis Senior stepped back, but his son kept on walking, approaching slowly.

" If your conscience torments you, silence it. "

Those were your words, once. How do they feel, now, you cold bastard?

The old Artemis almost stumbled on a flaw in the old black and white ceramic tiles, and stopped, clunching onto his cane to prevent himself from falling. The young Fowl advanced further, and further, until he was only a few centimeters away from his panting, scared father.

Both Artemis stared at each other, in silence, for a second. Then, the youngest one spoke, very softly.

" Now, you see me. Now, you respect me. Now, you fear me. … It's a little too late, for all of that. "

Artemis Senior didn't reply. He was petrified, in sheer horror. That creature… that creature wasn't his son. And this underlying light, in his eyes… the former criminal leader wondered, did he really appear like that, to his opponents ?

But then, the creature spoke again.

" I wish you never came back from Mourmansk. "

The elder Fowl's eyes widened. Artemis started smiling victoriously, but his grin suddenly faded.

Slowly, Artemis Fowl Senior, his face haggard, was letting himself fall on the cold ground, his entire body shuddering. He dropped his cane, which bounced back on the black-and-white tiles of Fowl Manor's entrance hall, and rolled at Artemis' feet.

The young boy was paralyzed in shock, and looked down, helpless, at his father, curled up on the floor, his shaking hands gripping onto his prosthetic leg, his eyes staring with terror at something Artemis couldn't see.

For a split second, Artemis hesitated, unsure what to do. And then, a sudden noise made him jump.

His phone's alarm. The fairies. He had completely forgotten about them.

The young Fowl took a small step back, then turned around and ran all the way up to his office, logging onto the Wired with his cellphone so he could unlock the digicode.

He didn't see the Glitch, distorting the blue iris of his father's haunted eye.

MUSIC ROOM, FOWL MANOR

Selene closed her eyes.

She breathed, slowly, and put her fingers back on the piano keys. Gathering her innate memories, she opened her eyes back and tried to pull off the first two measures. But she tangled her right and left hand half-way, mixed up the notes and finished with a chord that probably would have fitted perfectly in an alien modern-art symphony.

The result sounded like… well, it sounded, at least. That was better than her first eight attempts.

The young girl sighed, and closed her eyes again. She tried to focus on her mental projection of the music, but it was hard to keep her mind from wandering.

.

Butler had found her, hidden in the wine cellar, after about six minutes of searching. She had heard Artemis' order to have her sequestered, and she knew that there was no escaping or reasoning possible with the manservant ; so she followed him, heavy-hearted but without discussion. He took her cellphone, but he surprised her : instead of putting her in the attic, in a closet or something alike, he locked her in the music room.

He warned her that if she attempted anything against the priceless instruments' well-being, he would strangle her himself with a violin string, but overall, it was a nice gesture of him to put her in a comfortable room, where she could distract herself and see the outside world from the bay window.

For the first half hour, Selene tried desperately to find a way to follow her father's discussion with Artemis Senior – but the music room was completely soundproof, and even though she crawled on the floor, her ear glued to the razor-blade sized gap between the door and the carpeted floor, she couldn't manage to overhear anything.

For the next two hours, the girl paced the room, short of ideas, worried sick about Artemis Senior. When he had run after her, Artemis had seriously scared her ; and she started to fear that she may have just thrown her grandfather straight into something horrible. The thought kept creeping, roaming in her mind, driving her nuts.

.

For the next three hours, she panicked, punching on the door, the walls, the floor, trying desperately to make a sound that could be heard.

It was pitch-dark night outside ; even the moon was hidden behind a pack of grey clouds. It seemed that the room's lights had been permanently switched off – and somehow, even though she had never been scared of that before, Selene found herself terrified of the darkness. At one point, she tried running into the bay window, hoping it would break and she would end up in the garden ; but she only managed to knock herself out.

After she emerged from her blackout, Selene crawled to hide under one of the two concert pianos, and cried. Outside, the clouds had eventually faded away, and moonlight seemed to dissolve the thickness of the shadows in the room. Slowly, grudgingly, the young girl fell asleep.

She woke up six hours later. She stood up, by the bay window, and watched the rose-pink light of dawn and the first rays of sunrise. It had snowed a little, while she was sleeping.

Her eyes still hurt, because of the crying.

.

Four hours later, Butler brought her a lunch tray. Selene wanted to ask him about Artemis Senior ; but the look on the man's face told her that her fears had turned out to be true. She had been dying for something to eat ; but right now, her stomach felt too heavy for her to swallow anything.

Instead, after the manservant had left, she turned to face the large set of instruments. After an hesitation, the young girl went for the piano.

Even though she had never played it before, she possessed Artemis' perfect pitch and musical knowledge. At first, she stumbled on the notes, and couldn't remember which key did which sound ; but fast enough – after three hours –, she was able to perform the Moonlight Sonata about correctly, although in a slower tempo.

But that was easy : the partition had been forgotten on the piano, so the young girl only had to follow it. In order to keep her mind occupied despite the captivity, she needed a real challenge. She decided to search through the general culture she had inherited from Artemis, and learn to perform a piano piece only thanks to her mental projection.

Selene closed her eyes, and emptied her mind – from her worries, her fears, her sick and twisted father. When she felt soothed enough, she listened to the echoes in her head, trying to catch at least a few beginning notes.

Almost immediately, as if it was an evidence, a melody arose. Light, but somewhat extremely nostalgic. A bit sad, even. A strange chorus between a slow pace and a flowing cascade of notes, only just slightly offbeat. Unsettling, but gorgeous. Truly beautiful. For a reason the young girl couldn't quite comprehend, the piece of music moved her to the core, and she felt her heart blooming, only by picturing the melody in her head.

The notes appeared to her, as clear as crystal ; and she tried playing.

The piece proved much more difficult than Selene had expected, but she wouldn't give up. Eventually, after about fifteen trials, she managed to complete the first two measures perfectly, with the exact moderate pace and agility in her fingers that she pictured in her mind.

As she played the notes a few more times, so her hands could memorize it, the name of the piece suddenly occurred to her.

Erik Satie. Gnossienne n°5.

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It took Selene five hours to go through the Gnossienne in its entirety, and to perform it at the right tempo. By then, she had entirely memorized the moves by heart. Outside, the weather was softly-clouded. According to the sun's position, it was about five or six p.m.

Selene started playing, over, and over, and over again. The more she played, the more natural and vibrant the melody felt. She couldn't manage to stop herself, repeating Satie's music like a mantra, an endless feeling of melancholy that completely melted her heart each time, and left her shivering, her heart pounding. But each time, she restarted from the beginning, and played. Over, and over, and over again.

She could sense in her very core, that there was an extremely deep connexion between her and this music, and there was only one person that could be responsible of that : Artemis. For some reason, this wasn't just his favorite piano piece. There was more to it. A strong emotional bond. An open wound. Selene could feel it.

And so she played. Over, and over, and over again. Hoping that, even through the soundproof walls of the music room, she would reach Artemis. Reach out to his heart.

At one point, her fingers were so worn out and aching, that she just let herself slip of the piano seat, and fell asleep, hiding under the large instrument. When she woke up, the next morning, Butler had brought her a huge breakfast. She engulfed everything, and sat back at the piano, her eyes filled with determination.

And she played. Over, and over, and over again.

An entire day went by like this. Selene couldn't even feel her fingers anymore, and played almost automatically, unable to stop. Her vision was blurred with tears – of pain, fear, loneliness. She had failed everything ; but most importantly, she had failed Artemis. She was locked up, all alone. Abandoned. Never to be rescued. Never to rescue him. The young girl didn't stop playing, but she cried, desperately.

She just wanted her father back.

Suddenly, the girl jumped, startled, and turned around to face the door. Her heart was pounding with hope ; but it was only Butler, with another food tray. Yet, as she started to distinguish his facial features, despite the almost complete absence of light, Selene's eyes widened in stupor.

The manservant was crying.

They stood still, staring at each other, for a moment. Then, the bodyguard put the tray on the floor, and went to Selene. He kneeled down, and hugged her.

" Please. " he whispered in her ear, his voice filled with emotion. " Don't stop playing. "

Then, he stood up, and left.

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The night passed. Followed by another day.

Selene wasn't even sleeping or eating anymore. She just sat at the piano, and played. Over, and over, and over again.

Her eyes were completely empty, her fingers hovering automatically above the keys, but despite the fact she was on repeat mode, her playing was still filled with the same emotion, the same gorgeousness. She played through day and night, unstoppable. Her mind wasn't numbed, though. But there was only one thought echoing in her brain.

She wasn't an avatar. She wasn't a girl. She wasn't even human anymore.

She was the embodiment of Artemis' conscience.

And she wouldn't stop playing, even if she had to stay locked up in this music room for eternity. She wouldn't stop playing, even if she had to collapse and die right there, from starvation or fatigue. She wouldn't stop playing, until her father finally heard her.

So she played. Over, and over, and over again.

By the time Selene would be allowed out of the music room, it would be too late. The irreparable had already been committed. She felt it, when it happened. Her heart broke, and her entire body was engulfed into an overwhelming terror. But this wasn't the end. Artemis hadn't heard her yet.

And so, she played.

Over, and over, and over again.

Oh my, oh my... So much emotion (well, to me at least) !

I hope you enjoyed this chapter ! Personally, I can't help feeling that Artemis Senior totally deserved his fate ^^' You scumbag ! His confrontation with Artemis was super pleasing to write, but my favourite part is certainly Artemis and Selene playing Go together. As a certain inspector from a French movie would say : I like these calm little moments before the storm... :-)

Also, about the music, you can say I'm a little bit chauvinist with Debussy and Satie but come on guys, there aren't only Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and so forth ! I really love those two composers, and I really feel that their music can appeal to someone like Artemis - at least in my depicturation of the character, which is probably a lot more melancholic and sensitive than in the canon (even though in my idea, he hides it most of the time).

If you want to listen to Satie's Gnossienne n°5, I really recommand Anne Queffélec's version ! You can find it on YouTube, and it's really the best version I've found so far. Every other one completely messes up with the tempo, in my opinion.

Well, that's it for the chapter folks. On the other hand, I've got to warn you : a project of mine has been selected by my film school, and I'm going to direct a movie in... oh my freaking God it's already in two weeks O.O

So yeah, now I'm working simultaneously on this fanfic and my movie's script, it may become a little harder to maintain my 1 update per week rythm. I'll still do my best about it - for Database 11, as I've already written most of it, it's probably going to be okay, but I may postpone the two last Databases and the epilogue to the rythm of 1 update every two weeks. I hope I won't have to, but I thought it was better to warn you, in case that was to happen :-)

That's all now ! Don't forget to review, and see you next Wesdnesday ! Enjoy the first days of Autumn :-D