A Names Meaning
Disclaimer:
I don't own anything… so sad isn't it? Well Danny's too cool for me anyway.
Chapter 2: Sanity's call
~Danny's POV
I sniffled a groan before I was bought to my knees by my master. All these years and I still didn't know his name. Death and life definitely were a chore to keep in check but he didn't look tired. He looked on the verge of insanity instead and that's what worried me. I knew he transcended a mortal now but it didn't change the fact that you had to be a god to wield this much power without going crazy. With Clockwork locked away he didn't have any adviser to tell him what to change unlike death and life used to have.
I was cut out from my thoughts when his hands pull my chin up to look at his face. His long black hair did nothing to make him look feminine. He had a sense of masculinity I would never be able to have myself. I have been told quite a lot of times that I looked more like a female myself. Through the handsome appearance I could only see worry.
I hated him yet I found myself loving him.
I worried for him like I had never worried for anyone else. He took away my freedom and my body. The one thing I refused to give him though was my heart. I didn't agree with him nor did I try to cover up my feelings. I had somehow come to respect and care for this man who had tortured me. I saw reason in his madness and I saw beauty in his ugly nature. He could never buy my soul though although it did nothing for his control over my body.
"You have gotten better Daniel. I did not even see you come in. With all these skills why haven't you run away? You do know there's nothing keeping you here right?" He said slyly.
"Sorry for the disrespect but you know there is something keeping me here sir. I am worried for your health and although your goal is worthy I cannot watch you continue this insanity!"
I had come to know him just as sir. It was better than master or lord and it made me feel more like the partner I was rather than a slave. I knew just what I was to him though. I was a slave, a servant, a partner and arguably a... friend.
"Why must you defy me to this day? Why not make life easier for yourself and submit?"
"Why must I keep answering this same question every time? What you have done is disrupting the natural order of things. Unborn life rates are increasing and decay and death are much more imminent. All this power is driving you mad sir! Please release death and life and we can find another way to accomplish your goal!" I pleaded.
"You are a cause of that Daniel. Your reluctance to be mine is frustrating and I am unable to do my duties without you holding me down."
This man had taken a lot of things from me. He had taken my freedom, my innocence and my life but he hadn't taken my soul. Any second I could take a shot at him he would be mine to kill but I knew that it wasn't my fate. Only Bloom a girl I had pin-pointed two years ago could do anything. She had the dragon fire in her and that would be our only chance to kill him. I had tried finding another way around it. Despite his slowly deteriorating mind I still found myself caring for the man under all the insanity that had taken over. It saddened me that Bloom would be the one taking him down.
I was glad that she had stopped the army of decay as I had heard from some of my still existing outside sources. If her energy levels were strong enough she would be hearing my plight sometime in the future. I could only hope it was sooner rather than later. My attention turned to him as I eyed him warily.
"But even though the obvious reluctance you have done every job I have required of you. Your training in the art of fighting and stealth has greatly improved although there will come a time when we can rule the world outside the shadows."
I stifled a grunt. The magic counsel whether it be the witches or the fairies have been on their heels trying to find us. Death and life were entities that even they respected and knew not to mess with. Those three witches at least went for something that wasn't death himself. They weren't going to find us though. This place could only be reached by someone of a higher calibre. Bloom had the spirit of the fire dragon, the dragon that created all and that qualified as a higher calibre.
"Daniel I want you to assassinate someone for me."
I turned my head up instantly regretting what I had heard. These missions were the ones I hated with the core of my heart. Taking a life and watching someone die was horrifying. It was an experience no good natured person should ever witness. All I could do though was steel myself and do as he asked. My body wouldn't obey my wants anymore after all.
"Good, this is your target."
I shut my eyes hard before taking the picture. I would have to engrain the moment of death of whatever poor soul it was that I was going to kill. I opened my eyes and nearly choked.
It was Bloom!
I had to kill Bloom! I tried not to show my shock as I put on my usual face every time I had one of these missions. Bloom wasn't someone I could kill! I needed her... this world needed her. Without her help I could see my master's eyes getting consumed more and more by insanity.
Despite how much I had grown to hate the man I knew I couldn't live without him. I knew once I killed him I would have to kill myself. I knew that deep down there somewhere I had wished he could actually properly control life and death. His health was something I cherished and although he was immortal, he wasn't invincible.
"Yes sir. Why do you want someone as young as her to die? Surely she isn't a threat to our plans." I tried reasoning.
"Do you take me for a fool, Daniel? You know full well who she is and how strong someone like her can be. Her nature is the very issue. She isn't someone to sit still as we purge this world of its filth. People like her are narrow minded and see the world in black and white."
I closed my eyes and sighed. My body would want to assassinate her now that the order was given. He was my master and I was bound to him by my soul to appease him. It would take much more than my will power to stop me from killing the one person who could save him.
Instead of doing something stupid I just nodded my head before I walked out of the room. Once I had gotten a safe distance away from his chambers I let out my rage. An in-human yell left my throat as I punched the wall in frustration. I felt the structure shake at my strength and the dent did nothing but make me feel like turning the broken wall into rubble. My anger slowly faded as I took deep breaths and I let my frustration out through my nose.
I closed my eyes and slid down the broken brick wall. Images of Sam, Tucker, Jazz... Mom and dad filled my mind. I had given up on the idea of seeing them and although it saddened me I knew it was for the best. The facade of living a normal life couldn't have lasted long anyway. They had the one person who put them in risk safely away from them. The magic counsel wasn't happy knowing there was a half human half ghost out there and they were planning to destroy me. My very existence was an anomaly and not something they wanted to deal with.
After a few minutes of needed brooding I stood back up and walked to my chambers. I put on my armoured black shirt, cargo pants and black boots. I didn't plan on killing her and I would do anything I could in my power to make sure I would find a way around this. The customary ritual was to kill my target, carve out their heart and bring it back for master to check.
I made a quick portal to the magic realm when I felt something exhilarating. Bloom had finally received my message. My ice core froze over colder than it had ever been before and I felt the power I had placed in that ice comes back to me. I instantly felt stronger and knew that my reserves were full now.
Now it was time to meet Bloom at my ol' friends' home.
~Bloom's POV
I woke up groggily at the shake of my friend. Stella was standing there looking worried and I knew she had every right to be. Her worry became a jolt of anger and exasperation.
"God Bloom! I nearly had a heart attack thinking you died."
"It wasn't to hurt me. I saw someone named Danny's memories. He is in trouble and apparently he needs me to help him destroy two crystals to release life and death and save him!" I said really quickly.
"Bloom, slow down!"
I stopped and took a few breaths. Stella placed a hand on my shoulder and made a demonstration of breathing in and out which I copied. Once I felt like I had my nerves under control I decided to speak slower.
"There was a boy named Danny who was about our age. He is in trouble because a unnamed man made him his slave or... well the point is he's in trouble. I don't know how long it was since the message was recorded but he showed me his life. He was both dead and alive."
"How's that possible? Death and life wouldn't allow for that to happen." Stella said confused.
"See there's the thing I don't understand. You talk about death and life like they are people just like he did."
"Well duh it's common knowledge. Death and life were entities created by the great dragon in the beginning because he couldn't give those forces to humans to control. Only a god like entity could possibly control death and life and that's why the witches were dumb to think they could control the army of decay." Stella said like it was common knowledge.
"Oh my gosh, then this is horrible. Apparently someone has taken death and life into their possession. He has immortality now. Danny said it was to rule the world or something like that."
"First the witches and the army of decay and now death and life! How is anyone dumb enough to do that? It does explain why Flora has been complaining her plants have taken longer to grow. This is serious though, we need to tell the principle. This is way beyond us."
"Wait don't! Danny told me to keep my mouth shut and find the darkest peek. He told me if I found him then he could help me defeat him."
"I don't think this is in our league Bloom. Death and life are things that only the elders have a right to meddle in and even then they choose not to."
"Trust me on this. You can come along and help me find it. You know where the darkest peek is right?" I asked hopefully.
"Everyone knows where the darkest peak is but no one goes there for a reason. Only the best of the best are chosen to go every decade to kill the dark lord and even then they come back whimpering in fear and with lost limbs."
"I know it sounds dangerous but Danny should know what he's doing when he asked me to come. He sounded like he knew that I would be able to defeat him."
Stella sighed and ran her hand through her hair. She looked afraid and I couldn't blame her. I was afraid too but I knew for some reason that I should trust Danny on his word. I just hoped my feeling was right because what I was going to do seemed extremely dangerous and maybe even stupid.
"Well how about for now we get back to whatever's left of class, pack and then leave." I asked.
"Yeah, let's," Stella said unenthusiastically.
We flew back to campus and snuck into our room. Thankfully Musa was listening to her music through her headphones in full blast. Stella and I got our things ready to leave. We packed winter clothes and everything we needed to survive outside because apparently the climb was long. Then we put the bags underneath our beds and decided we would leave early tomorrow.
Soon the whole gang seemed to be in the room doing their own things. I felt bad for keeping them in the dark but I had to. If I was the one going to defeat this dark lord then I had to do it by myself... or so the boy said.
Techna seemed to be the only one who seemed to notice my jitters. She had always been both attentive and dense at the same time. When it came to technology she excelled but when it came to boys I didn't know what to do with her. But when it came to friends she knew just when they were feeling down or anxious.
"What's been weighing your mind Bloom? There aren't any exams on soon and we are having a 'breeze' or so you 'hip' people say."
"It's nothing... Ok the truth is Stella and I are going to organising a double date with our BF's but I'm not sure what to do."
"That is not currently in my area of expertise but I'm sure if you're doing it with Stella you'll be fine. That girl knows her way around boys or so everyone says."
I chuckled nervously and nodded. Techna left and I felt bad for lying. I had always hated lying but it was necessary right now. I already had Stella in my madness and the last thing I wanted was for the rest of the gang to get involved.
Slowly it became night and I found myself unable to sleep. I was lost in my thoughts of the boy. I wondered if he was alright. It couldn't have been too long since I got the message I hoped but I wasn't for sure. He seemed extremely hurt the last time I saw him.
Suddenly I felt a cold hand touch my face and pull me of my bed. I tried to scream but my voice was muffled by the icy hands that unexpectedly took me. I found myself somehow going through the wall and not through it as in crashed through it but more as in... Phased through?
I struggled as I found myself flying and thrashing in the arms of someone quite strong. Dread filled me as I hope whoever it was wouldn't do anything too bad to me. My struggle continued even though it seemed we had landed. I could hear a familiar voice shush me. I turned to look at his face for the first time and saw bright green eyes and snow white hair. He looked almost familiar too.
"Please calm down. I need you to trust me."
I did as told for some reason as I found his voice comforting. I turned around after he carefully let go of me. I definitely wasn't happy but I wasn't too sure of who he was.
"Who are you?!"
"Don't you recognise me? It's me, Daniel from the memories you saw."
I saw a white ring run through him and he really did look like Danny. I stayed wary though.
"Why are you here? I thought you needed my help to escape."
"It's been years Bloom since I recorded that message. I have ways of getting out now that I didn't have access to years ago. That isn't the problem though. You need to trust that everything I have done is for the better of... my master and this world. He needs to be stopped but I don't have the power."
"What do you mean? You're much stronger than me" I asked.
He wasn't making any sense. He was much stronger than me from what I could tell so how did he expect me to beat the dark lord? Was he crazy?
"I am but you have the dragon fire. You have the spirit of the great dragon inside of you! We will talk about that later. I need to tell you something important first. The reason I am here is because my master sent me to assassinate you."
I stepped back again unsure of whether to trust him anymore. Then it came to me, why would anyone tell me this if they intended to do it?
"Ok I'm listening. What do I have to do?" I asked.
"Trust me ok."
"Why do I have the feeling you're going to do something I'm not going to like?"
"Because you're not."
I saw him make an ice sword out of nothing and the last thing I saw was his hands hitting my head. I fell to the ground and cursed myself for believing him. Then it all went blank.
It felt weird experiencing pain but not having the consciousness to know what's happening. I swear it was the worst pain I had ever felt in my entire life. Before long it became too much and I screamed as I opened my eyes to a blurry world. An icy hand covered my mouth and I felt my breath being stopped too. The sheer intensity of the burning sensation within me felt like death itself.
The intense pain finally stopped but in its stead was a worse throbbing feel of numbness. The hand left my mouth and I sucked in greedy breaths of air. I clutched my chest and tried to get up. The world was everywhere but I tried to get a sense of where I was and I saw a sweating Danny panting hard as well.
It took me a while to get my bearings but when I did I regretted it. In his hands was a bloody organ. I paled as I realised whose it was. I held my chest and felt the torn cloth around me. My hands were covered in my own blood and it did nothing to lessen the pain I felt.
"I-I'm sorry you had to experience that. You're far too young to have the new dark lord himself after your head. Don't worry though I made you a new heart." He said raggedly getting up and panting.
My emotions were muddled up and I would have hit him hard in the head if I could stand up. He could have warned me before hand before he freaking took out my heart! It seemed he was struggling as much as I was in holding himself up. I saw pain in his eyes although he did well to hide it.
"I would beat you to the ground if I could right now." I grunted in pain.
"I did you a favour. I'm rethinking giving you that message. You are the only one but you're far too young and inexperienced to fight him."
"Oh and you're old enough?! You're my age as well!" I said clearly pissed.
"Actually I am not. I can't age remember?"
I held down a blush as I forced myself up and looked him straight in the eye. I was not going to be turned away after having been thrown into all of this craziness. I was going to defeat the dark lord no matter what.
"I don't care what you say anymore Danny, I'm going to defeat him." I said defiantly.
"It's Daniel now and no you are not." He said standing his ground.
I didn't care if he thought I was weak, he came to me because the dragon fire was the only hope and I wouldn't let him down after seeing the state he was in. The whole world depended on me by the way it seemed.
"I don't care if you say no or even try to kill me but a few years ago when you recorded the message you sounded convinced and for a good reason too. You know just because I'm a child doesn't mean I can't help."
He sighed and seemed to back down reluctantly. I knew he understood that I wouldn't just stop. I expected more pleading for me to stay out but I was surprised to see a bitter smile cross his face.
"What are you smiling about? I don't know if you think this is funny but I'm going anyway."
"I wasn't smiling about that, it was just that you remind me about myself from the past. You remind me too much of myself. I just hope that attitude doesn't get you into a situation like mine."
"Don't worry it won't." I said.
We stared at each other for a while both not backing down. I wasn't going to move down on my decision. Something inside me knew I just had to do this. I knew I could defeat this person causing so much chaos.
"Fine, but get your stuff first and then we can leave. The sooner we end this madness the better. Time is not on our side."
I shrugged of how much he valued his time and decided I would still bring Stella along because she needed to know I was safe. I just couldn't keep my best friend in the dark about something like this.
