Vlad sat alone in front of a window in one of his many lounge rooms. He nursed a crystal glass with a small amount of amber liquid while seated in a high-backed, plush leather chair. This should have him feeling like a king of sorts, but instead, Vlad felt a strange mixture of emotions.
He sighed and downed the remaining liquid from the glass, then got up to retrieve the decanter for more. Vlad usually didn't drink much, opting instead to keep a level head to feel more in control. But he had been thinking about his complicated relationship with the Fenton family, particularly Maddie and Danny.
Of course, Maddie was his first love who he never stopped pining after, but as soon as he found out young Danny had ghost powers much like his own, he shifted his focus slightly. Well, maybe more than slightly, after all, he did try to clone the boy.
Killing Jack would have been the easiest part of this equation, logistically speaking. After Danny's sound rejection for joining him, Vlad realized his approach was all wrong. He should tried to entice Danny more, rather than threaten him. There were many plots mulled over since the encounter and the exact details were fuzzy, but that was thanks in part to the strong liquor he was currently consuming at a quickening pace.
He just wanted to see Jack go through even a fraction of the pain that he endured after the lab accident and subsequent hospital stay. He just wanted to hear Danny say that he renounced his father and chose him instead. He craved that love and affection like nothing else and poured that desire into attaining his wealth, but none of his riches could ever quell that fervid want.
Could he ever overcome his intense hatred for Jack? Part of him missed the friendship they shared back in college. Vlad never got close to anyone else since then. For him to marry the love of his life and never once visit him in he hospital after the accident that he caused made Vlad's eyes turn red.
After feeling his momentary rage, Vlad sank back into the chair and stared listlessly into the night in front of him. As much as he loved to play chess, so to speak, he grew tired of this. He was afraid to acknowledge that he may never have a shot at being with Maddie after all. Danny hated him too much and would probably never see him as anything else but an adversary, never mind a father figure.
"Maybe it would be easier just to make amends," Vlad slurred slightly.
After a moment spent in silence, Vlad sighed again and shook his head and leveled the half-filled glass to his eye.
"Or maybe my alcohol tolerance is worse than I thought."