Artemis Fowl was a boy genius, a self-proclaimed criminal mastermind, and, above all, a visionary. At just twelve years old, he had amassed enough resources to make powerful men tremble. Yet his ambitions extended far beyond wealth and influence. Artemis wanted the truth—specifically, the truth about the mythical beings who supposedly lived just out of humanity's reach. Fairies.

His research was meticulous. Ancient texts, coded folklore, and secretive whispers from the black-market underworld had led him here: the Carpathian Mountains. Artemis was convinced that this place was more than just a tourist destination for thrill-seekers. It was a gateway to something extraordinary.

"Are you certain about this, Artemis?" Butler asked, his voice calm but wary. The massive bodyguard stood at his young charge's side, ever the sentinel.

Artemis glanced at the high-tech tablet in his hand, its screen flickering with streams of encrypted data. "Certain enough to take the risk, old friend. Our scanners have detected movement—high-energy signatures consistent with the stories."

Butler didn't argue further. He rarely did. His job wasn't to question Artemis, but to protect him. Even when the boy's plans involved luring mythical creatures into the open.

Xxx

Ava Nicolae crouched in the underbrush, her wings carefully folded against her back. She wasn't supposed to be aboveground, but when had she ever followed rules? The People's Council loved their restrictions—stay hidden, avoid contact with humans, maintain the Masquerade. But Ava had her own way of doing things.

Her cousins, Kuri, Reiko, and Mana, were her family, and family came first. When Reiko asked her to gather rare herbs for a ritual, Ava had gladly volunteered. She enjoyed the surface world, with its untamed beauty and unpredictable chaos. Humans, however, were a different story. She avoided them whenever possible.

Ava reached into her satchel, pulling out a glowing orb of pixie light to illuminate her search. The herbs grew wild here, their faintly luminescent leaves blending seamlessly with the moonlit forest. She was so focused on her task that she didn't notice the faint hum of technology around her.

The trap sprung too fast.

One moment, Ava was kneeling by a cluster of herbs. The next, a blinding flash of light erupted from the ground. She staggered back, her magic sputtering uselessly as a net—woven from enchanted fibers—descended over her. She struggled, wings flaring, but it was no use. Her strength drained with every passing second, the trap cutting off her connection to the Earth's magical flow.

"Well," said a calm, measured voice, "it seems my calculations were correct."

Ava twisted in the net, glaring up at the source of the voice. A pale boy stepped into view, dressed in an impeccable black suit. He couldn't have been more than twelve, but there was an unsettling sharpness in his gaze. Beside him loomed a mountain of a man, his presence radiating silent menace.

"Who are you?" Ava demanded, her voice sharp despite the exhaustion creeping into her limbs.

"I am Artemis Fowl," the boy said simply, as though his name should explain everything. "And you, Miss Nicolae, are proof that the fairy world is real."

Ava was furious. She paced within the shimmering containment field, her wings fluttering irritably as she tried—and failed—to break the spell suppressing her powers. The room was unlike anything she had ever seen: a bizarre blend of human technology and arcane artifacts. Her captor sat at a sleek desk, watching her with a calculating expression.

"This is a mistake," Ava said, her voice cold. "The Council will come for me. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Captured a fairy," Artemis replied smoothly, his hands steepled under his chin. "The first human to do so in… well, centuries, at least. I suspect my name will go down in history for this."

"You'll go down, all right," Ava snapped. "In flames. You think you're the first human to try this? The last one who did—"

"Was obliterated, I know," Artemis interrupted, his tone almost bored. "But you'll find I am far more prepared than your average human. I've studied your kind extensively."

Ava glared at him, her green eyes blazing. "Then you'd know not to mess with me."

"That's precisely why I chose you," Artemis said with a small smile. "Your lineage is fascinating. You're not just any fairy. A hybrid, correct? Part nature sprite, part Kitsune. Your magical signature is unlike anything recorded in the texts I've uncovered."

Ava's stomach dropped. He knew too much. Far too much.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"Knowledge," Artemis said simply. "And perhaps… cooperation."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "I'll never help you."

Artemis leaned back in his chair, unperturbed. "You'll find that refusing me is… unwise. But we'll discuss terms later. For now, you're my guest. Please, do try to make yourself comfortable."

Xxx

Butler stood silently by the door, his sharp eyes never leaving the fairy. He had seen many dangerous creatures in his time, but there was something about Ava Nicolae that set his instincts on edge. She was unpredictable, fierce—and if Artemis wasn't careful, this could all go horribly wrong.

"You're playing with fire, Artemis," Butler said quietly once they were out of earshot.

"Fire, perhaps," Artemis replied, "but fire can be controlled. Ava Nicolae is the key to unlocking the People's secrets. With her, we'll have leverage."

"And if her family comes for her?" Butler asked.

Artemis smiled faintly. "Then I'll be ready."

But even Artemis, with all his planning, couldn't predict what was coming. Because Ava Nicolae wasn't just any fairy. And her family wouldn't take her disappearance lightly.

Xxx

Far away from the sleek walls of Fowl Manor, in a secluded grove where the air hummed with ancient magic, Kuri Hikawa's wings fluttered nervously. Her empathic power had always been a blessing and a curse, connecting her to the emotions of those she cared for, no matter how far they were. Tonight, the emotional storm brewing in her chest was impossible to ignore.

Ava was in danger.

Kuri clutched the stone pendant she always wore, her connection to her cousin thrumming faintly with panic and exhaustion. She closed her eyes and concentrated, letting her empathy guide her. Ava's feelings came in waves: frustration, fear, and—most unsettling of all—helplessness.

"Kuri?" Reiko's voice cut through the stillness of the grove. Her sister's crimson hair glowed faintly under the moonlight, her fox ears twitching as she approached. "You've been acting weird all evening. What's going on?"

Kuri opened her eyes, her blue gaze sharp. "It's Ava. Something's happened to her."

Reiko frowned, her green eyes narrowing. "What do you mean? Is she hurt?"

Kuri shook her head, though her expression remained grim. "Not physically, but she's trapped. I can feel her fear—someone's holding her against her will. Someone… powerful."

Reiko's fists clenched at her sides, her tail bristling. "Who would dare kidnap a Watanabe? And why?"

"I don't know," Kuri admitted. "But we need to act fast. Ava's emotions are unstable, and if whoever has her realizes what she's capable of—"

"They could use her magic against her," came a soft voice from behind them.

Both sisters turned as Mana stepped into the clearing. The youngest of the trio, Mana often let her older sisters take the lead, but tonight her golden eyes were steely with resolve. "We can't let that happen. Ava might be reckless sometimes, but she's still family."

Reiko folded her arms, her fox ears flicking back. "Agreed. But storming in blind isn't exactly the smartest plan. We don't even know where she is."

Kuri hesitated, then nodded. "Not yet. But I can find her." She held up the pendant, its faint glow intensifying. "Ava gave this to me years ago—it's attuned to her energy. If I focus, I can trace her location."

Mana stepped closer, her brows furrowing. "That might work, but it'll take time, and whoever took her won't be sitting idle. We need a plan for when we find her."

Reiko smirked, her fangs glinting in the moonlight. "Oh, I have a plan. We break in, grab Ava, and make whoever took her regret ever messing with our family."

Kuri shot her a look. "You always think brute force is the answer."

"It usually works," Reiko shot back.

Mana stepped between them, holding up a hand. "Focus. Let Kuri find Ava first. Once we know where she is, we can decide how to handle it."

Kuri nodded, her expression softening. "Thank you, Mana. I'll need quiet to concentrate."

Reiko crossed her arms but kept silent as Kuri knelt in the grass, the pendant glowing brighter in her hand. She closed her eyes again, her empathic power reaching out like a thread through the night. Ava's presence flared brightly in her mind's eye, a beacon of fear and defiance.

Then, Kuri saw it—flashes of a cold, sterile room filled with strange machines, a boy with piercing eyes, and a massive figure looming in the shadows. The vision sharpened, revealing an estate surrounded by tall iron gates and guarded by sophisticated defenses.

Kuri gasped as the connection snapped back, her eyes flying open. "I found her."

"Where is she?" Reiko demanded, leaning forward.

"In a manor," Kuri said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. "It's heavily guarded—magical and technological defenses. Whoever took her knows what they're doing."

Reiko's tail lashed. "Doesn't matter. We'll break through it."

"Wait," Mana interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "If they're that well-prepared, we can't just charge in. We'll need to work together, combine our abilities."

Kuri rose to her feet, determination shining in her eyes. "Agreed. We'll need to move fast, but we can't be reckless. Ava's counting on us."

Reiko smirked, her sharp teeth gleaming. "Then let's not waste any more time. Whoever this kidnapper is, they've picked the wrong family to mess with."

The sisters nodded to each other, their bond stronger than ever. Together, they disappeared into the night, ready to face whatever awaited them at Fowl Manor.

Little did they know, Artemis Fowl was already anticipating their arrival.