Chapter Eight Breakfast and Mourning

Everyone was downstairs when Artemis came down from getting ready. Butler was in the kitchen and he could hear him cooking while pots banged with one another and the blaze of the fire could be heard escaping once in a while from under the pan.

Everyone was at the breakfast table, everyone meaning his mother and Juliet, who hadn't left the house since yesterday's incident.

So it was real, he thought as he sat down, his mask on after he saw Butler leave his room. Nobody was to know about his other life, the life he shared with Butler, the calm and peaceful tranquility he had with his bodyguard. Something he was sure of he wasn't meant to have. The eight year old was smart, but sometimes even he could be confused over matters such as this.

"Good morning mother." Artemis greeted warmly, placing a light peck on her forehead while sitting to the right of the mother.

"Oh, good morning Arty." she responded, her gaze on the window.

"Is something the matter?" Artemis whispered to Juliet, but she too was busy.

Why is everyone so sad?

It took a while for Artemis to realize that his father was possibly dead, and last night he couldn't even mourn for him. Instead, he was sleeping with Butler, acting as if there was nothing wrong at all.

How could he have been so stupid? Why didn't he realize that sooner? Is his father dead? No, he shouldn't think like that. He should just focus on his breakfast, talking to his mother and Juliet, and remain stoic with Butler. Besides, an employee and a charge aren't allowed to have such a relation, as Butler had told him earlier. But then why did Butler care about him? Doesn't he know that he's breaking the very law that got him to be his bodyguard?

"Good morning everyone! Here you go, breakfast is . . ." Butler said, stopping when he realized the state of the table. Well, the state of the people sitting at the table. It suddenly dawned on him as well the seriousness of the situation, and for some reason, the features on his face became pale.

"Butler, are you sick?" Artemis asked, the only one actually sane at the table.

"Um, no. I think I don't fell like talking right now." Butler said, his mask slipping on as well. This is how things should be, his mask on, while everyone lives on. Why didn't he realize that sooner?

The table ate their meals peacefully, though the silence was more than Artemis could bear. His father couldn't be dead, no way. He would have to hire some people to find him, that's all. His father is just missing, maybe even on his way home. Yeah, that's it.

After breakfast, Mrs. Fowl went into her room, Juliet lounging in the sun room.

"Butler?" Artemis asked, his voice serious and more business like.

"Yes?" Butler asked, his voice stoical.

"Could you hire some detectives to look for my father?"

"Already did so sir."

"Good, then could you buy a certain computer set for me?"

"Why whatever for?"

"We need to be kept informed until my father comes home."

"Oh I see."

"Anything else sir?" Butler asked before leaving the breakfast room.

"Make arrangements for Juliet to stay here. My mother will be needing a companion until this whole ordeal is settled."

"I see."

"Is that possible.?"

"Yes sir." Butler replied, leaving the room.

"And Butler?"

"Yes sir?" Butler asked while turning around to face his charge.

"Tonight we shall go to our secret hiding spot."

"Yes sir." Butler said, inwardly grinning to himself. Same old Artemis . . .