I stumbled into my office, transforming back into Vlad. Running my hand tiredly through my platinum gray hair, I leaned against my desk. Either the little badger is getting better at fighting or I'm getting old. Which is highly impossible since I still see flaws in his fighting style. Also the fact that I will stay at my certain age for a while due to the ghost DNA in my body.

Whatever the case may be, I still feel like absolute trash. I left the office and slowly walked towards my kitchen, hoping some food will help my terrible mood. It was not so much a physical pain but more on the emotional side. To be honest, this have been going on for months but I just passed it off like I normally do.

Resting my head on the cool counter, I called for Maria. The ghostly woman floated into the room silently until she landed lightly next to her boss. "Yes, senior Masters? Would you like me to make you something to eat?" I lightly smiled at her.

"Yes Maria that would be lovely." Maria nods her head and takes a seat next to me. As she lifted her hand, so do dozen of pots and pans. "Now would you like a salad or spaghetti?" I simply wave my hand at her.

"Whatever you think is best Maria." Maria smiled. "Then I will make spaghetti." Soon the preparations for the meal was flying this way and that.

"Hm...normally I would go for the salad." I dryly stated to her. She snorted and gave me a stern look.

"Senior Masters. You need to eat more meaty things. You have been looking no good for the past months." Her thick accent chimed at me while she flicked her wrist to pour the noodles into the boiling water. "You may be a grown man but even grown men need to be looked after, even if it is by their staff." I silently watch her float from her seat and busied herself with other kitchen duties.

Maria was the only one to get attitude with me and not have my anger showered upon her. The reason is that she use to be my nanny when I was younger. She kept me company when my father wanted me out of his hair, which was mostly all the time. She died in a fire while on a trip back to mexico to visit family. Even now she still smells of burnt fabric but I got use to that. I was just happy to find her in the ghost zone, I had to hire her since she had nothing better to do. I remember her answer when I asked her why she was still here. All she would say was that she needed to finish her job here before she moved on, and that was it.

After a few moments, Maria sat the plate down in front of me. She then took her place next to me and rested her head in her hand.

"Must you watch me? I am not four anymore." I grumbled through bites of the spaghetti. She simply shrugs and continues to watch. "I know you Senior Masters. When you are in bad mood for long time, you refuse to eat. You need to eat to feel better." She nods to herself in agreement. I smile slightly at her.

"No matter what age I am, you still treat me as one of your own." I chucked. She smiles back happily.

"Of course! I have watched over you since you was a babe!" She exclaimed gleefully. She stops and gasps. "Oh! I forgot to clean the bathroom!" She floats up to the ceiling but comes back next to me. "Remember to finish all of that and no lab tonight. You need sleep." She pats my head and disappears once again. Again if it was anyone else who told me that, I would just snort and dismiss them ruefully. But she did have to deal with me as a child and she did keep me company when my father did not.

I finished my plate and washed it out of kindness which is rare in my state of mood. As I walked out of the kitchen, I instinctually head for my lab but stop. I listen to no one most of the time but since it was Maria, I would never go against her orders. I remember the last time I did so and I have never been so scared in my life. I head stright to my room for a half nights sleep.