[A/N] It would seem that I have piqued some curiosity and interest; I pray I do not lose it. Here is a rather short middle fitting chapter.
"What?" Jack's question echoed through the silence of the gathered town.
"Is it so wrong to be overly sensitive to blood blossoms?" Vlad shrugged, and turned to the crowd. "Would anyone call me a ghost knowing this? Call I, the one who has served as your judge, fair and true?" None durst reply or perhaps no one could reply. For ten years, they had happily lived life, trusting in the hand that protects and the hand that judges, never once having to make a decision. "If there is no answer, I assume the people agree." The people all nodded, they had chosen the more human looking of the two.
"I ask will you risk it? I saw the boy with a ghost; something ought to have occurred."
"My reply, it is better that ten guilty be set free than one innocent man suffer," the crowd cheered at the showing of such compassion, a few girls even swooned at the man's charming smile.
"Better for whom?" Jack mused. "So be it. The boy can is free, but he is no longer my own. That creature is no child of mine." Jack turned a flourished a hand "Come Dash, it is time to return home."
"It would seem that Jack is smarter than I gave him credit for," Vlad spoke softly, laughing to himself. "Danny," Vlad turned to the town crying teen, "don't worry about your father, you can come and live with me; I have always hoped to have a son."
Danny did not respond, he only turned and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction. Vlad continued to call, but the words passed over him. The words were also lost on the townspeople; they vacated the area at the fleeing entertainment and returned to their duties, instantly forgetting the lack of death and fire. However Vlad remained, eyes pointed toward the sky, lost in his thoughts.
"Do you wish for me to chase after him master?" A voice appeared behind Vlad after everyone had left.
"Hunter, let him leave." Vlad answer unflinching.
"Do you doubt my ability to capture that whelp?"
"It is your subtly I doubt. Everything I ask for you to retrieve returns to my hands either dead or maimed; I need that boy intact for my plans."
"You cannot blame me; a skilled hunter such as myself enjoys the pursuit of prey."
"Your 'pursuits' have never ended well. I want that boy to be of sound mind and body, and your
Methods would have the boy far from that."
"At least allow me a change, I have not had"
"You will stay away from the boy," Vlad interrupted sternly. "The punishment of disobedience is severe."
Danny kept running on until he made to the town's church, nestled between a river and the mountains. He took a moment, caught his breath, and wandered into the cemetery in the back. Sighing, he meandered through scanning the rows of stones for that familiar name: Jasmine Fenton.
"Jazz, I botched my job again," Danny whispered. "Ten years ago I failed as a ghost hunter, and ten years later I still fail. Just what should I do Jazz?"
"Daniel," a voice called back.
"Jazz, are you here?"
"No, I'm afraid it's only you and me Daniel." Danny turned around and saw Vlad approach. "I hope that you running from me is not a rejection of my offer."
"How did you find me?"
"Daniel, you come here whenever you downcast. Now come and be my son," Vlad sad almost pleading.
"Why do you want me Vlad, you never seemed to tolerate my father."
"Yes, you are right. I hate your father, even though all he seems to do is treat me as a dear friend. However, I do this not for your father's sake. I do this for your mother; she was my dear friend, and I believe that she would have wished that I shelter you if you were in need."
"You knew my mother?"
"Quite well actually, your father, mother and I were the best of friends during childhood. We always played, studied and hunted ghosts together. It is unfortunate that we have drifted so far from that once strong, joyous state. Now with Maddie gone, and the relationship between Jack and myself in shambles, I hope to repent for the loss by raising you."
"I suspect you do not understand the meaning of 'repent.'"
"My reason is more that I never had the chance for a son. The love of my life died ten years ago during the ghost raids, and I could never bring myself to see another." Vlad continued after wiping tears from his eyes, "Please Danny, be the son I've always desired yet never could have."
"Vlad, that is a touching story…"
"I have much wealth, you can have whatever you desire," Vlad interrupted.
"Okay, lead the way." Danny replied, finally smiling.
Danny was greedy at all, but he realized that crying and moping over the day's events would not help. The prospects of riches also aided in his decision.
[A/N] Behold my rather short, and hopefully entertaining, addition to the story. I needed some way to get Danny believably into Vlad's mansion area to carry the story forward. Hopefully Danny's change of heart near the end wasn't too much of a stretch to believe.