Disclaimer: I do NOT own Danny Phantom. Which sucks. I'd love to have a cute ghost boy to do my dirty work.

Full Summary: "If you're reading this then we have failed. You have no idea who I am, who you are, or who you've sacrificed everything for. I'm sorry for that, but as you'll soon discover it was necessary." When Danny sold his soul to keep Dani alive he thought life couldn't get worse.

He was wrong.

Apparently, he is now half dead and a Shadow Keeper. In other words, a Reaper. He, along with a few others, is in charge of collecting souls who refuse to pass on. Most of them have committed some crime against nature, like murder or suicide.

Imagine his surprise when Dani's one of them.

Keeper of Shadows

Chapter Three: Family

I can't describe the pain. Not really. But, I can tell you it was the worst I've ever lived through, including the time when I dislocated my elbow seven years ago. The best comparison I can come up with is being slowly torn in half.

I think I was screaming, but I couldn't really tell over the pounding of my heart. It echoed in my ears, like I was walking down a tunnel. At the time, I was sure it was mocking me, a reminder of my mortality. Coldness was spreading throughout my body and making my limbs even heavier.

I didn't know where I was, when it was, nothing except the pain. For all I knew, Ember had killed Dani and kidnapped me.

I spent an eternity like that, simply enduring. All warmth had left me, but I was thankful for it when I realized it was numbing me. As the pain continued to fade another feeling replaced it, a growing pressure that almost-

A girl. A girl with purple lips was smiling at me. She reached with a pale hand to tuck a piece of short, black hair behind her ear. Strange violet eyes were sparkling in amusement and...something else. It was...fond? No, not quite right, but close. Though I didn't understand how she could feel something like that for me. I'd never seen her before in my life, but I knew her face like we were best friends.

And as crazy as it seemed, I knew her name too.

This goth girl was Sam Manson.

"It's been a whole day. Why isn't he awake yet?"

"He's holding on too tightly. If he'd just let go of it..."

"This one's stubborn. Figure's Ember would choose him." Ember?

"Hey, I did my best!" That was Ember's voice. It still had that edge, but it was tinted by annoyance and tiredness. "He's gonna be great. You'll see."

"Huh. Well, I get why Ember picked him. He's super cute."

"I'm right here, Kitty. Your boyfriend!"

"Oh, calm down, Johnny. I'm allowed to look."

"Uh, no, actually. You-"

"Would you guys just shut up?" Ember again. "None of us want to listen to another one of your spats. Besides, remember your changing? You know what the pain's like!" There was grumbling. When Ember began to speak again she sounded smug. "Thought so. Now then, let's see if we can help him out a bit. Danny, can you hear me?"

Silence. I tried to answer, but all that came out was a groan. There was shuffling and excited murmurs. "Good, Danny," Ember called. "Nice job. But, why don't you open those baby blues, dipstick. There's a lot of work we gotta do."

"Oh, yeah. That'll get him up," A guy muttered. I think it was Johnny.

I heard a smack and cursing before Ember started to talk again. "I promise none of these idiots will hurt you. Just wake up and I'll explain everything." More shuffling.

My eyes felt like they'd been super-glued shut, but I managed to pry them open. Everything was blurry, and I got the feeling I'd been sleeping or unconscious or whatever for a long time. I blinked a couple of times to clear my vision.

I was laying in a bed surrounded by...teenagers.

At least, they looked like teenagers.

...Most of them.

I'm sure I would've screamed if I wouldn't have felt so exhausted. Seven faces were staring at me, each with varying expressions. Well, one of them didn't seem to have a face, but did have red sunglasses. Ember was standing next to No Face, seeming to have no problem with it. She just looked relieved and...guilty? Beside Ember was a geeky African American boy with the complete nerd package. Thick glasses, no muscle, and wearing a red beret. On the other side of my bed was three girls and another guy. All the girls looked relatively normal, one was also African American and pretty too. The other was Ember-pale, had green hair and was dressed like a biker chick. The last was slender and was a redhead. The guy was pale too, with stringy blonde hair, freckles, and clad in black.

I thought I was still dreaming.

"How do you feel, Danny?" Ember asked from the side of the bed. Her brow was furrowed in concern, but I didn't understand why. I'd just met her and we weren't exactly kindred spirits. But since I was sure this was a dream or maybe a hallucination I decided to answer.

"Considering how I was feeling before? Fan-fucking-tastic." My voice was hoarse beyond believe, like I hadn't spoken in years.

The blonde haired guy snorted and rolled his eyes. "Check this dude out. Thinks he's so tough." I didn't have enough energy to get offended, but apparently I didn't have to.

The biker chick smacked the guy's shoulder. "Don't start that crap, Johnny. His changing lasted for a whole day. How long was your's? Five hours?" Nerd boy, and the pretty black girl snickered.

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Be quiet, please. Now's so not the time for this." She turned her attention to me and smiled gently. "Hi, my name is Jazz. I'd shake your hand, but I remember how weak I was after the changing." She gestured toward Biker Chick and Blonde Guy. "She's Kitty and that's Johnny. Don't worry about them. I'm afraid they're always this stupid."

"Hey," Kitty protested, though it was playful. Johnny smirked at Jazz, like he knew an inside joke.

"Obviously, you know Ember," Jazz continued. Ember waved slightly. "The guy next to her is Amorpho. No, you are not going crazy, he doesn't have a face. We'll explain that later." Amorpho lifted a hand in greeting. "Next we have Tucker," Nerd Boy. "And Valerie." Pretty girl. "Any questions?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. I had so many questions that I didn't even know where to start. They all buzzed around in my head like angry bees.

Everyone was looking at me with mixtures of pity and understanding. I automatically stiffened and wiped all emotion from my face. Old habits.

There was a minute of awkward silence as I stared at them and they stared at me. Finally, Ember shoved everyone back from my bed with an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, guys. He's not an exhibit in a zoo. Let's give him some space. Besides, I'm sure he wants to rest."

I immediately tried to sit up, a protest on my lips. "I don't-"

Ember rolled her eyes and gently pushed me back down. "Oh, don't even start. I know how exhausted you are. Don't worry, I'll explain everything when you wake back up."

I shook my head stubbornly. "I really-"

Jazz was the one who interrupted me next. "Seriously, Danny. We aren't going anywhere and neither are you. The answers will still be here." The others gave sounds of agreement.

"Yeah, baby," Kitty cooed, brushing the hair from my eyes. "I won't be going anywhere either." She winked and gave me a wicked grin while Johnny glared at me from behind her.

I meant to say something, but before I could my eyes were slipping shut to the sound of the group's bickering.

The next time I woke up only Tucker was still in the room. He was sitting in a chair next to the bed, sleeping with his mouth wide open. His black glasses were askew.

I evaluated the room I was in. It appeared to be a standard bedroom, though it was weird there wasn't any windows. It had usual bedroom furniture: the single bed I was laying on, a nightstand with a lamp, and Tucker's chair. Everything had a light layer of dust. I guessed nobody used this room much.

I sighed and counted the cracks in the ceiling. The last thing I remembered was Ember pricking my finger because I...sold my soul. I nearly laughed out loud, even after what had happened I still couldn't believe it. How could I, when all my life I'd never considered anything like that existed? It wasn't supposed to be possible.

And yet, I was laying on a bed in a house full of strangers after going through a day of agony and talking to a girl who brainwashed me.

God, what the hell was going on?

Tucker suddenly jerked awake, like he hadn't meant to fall asleep. Blinking, he noticed I was awake. He leaned over and patted me on the shoulder with a grin. "Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty. Been out for almost ten hours. Doin' okay?"

I shrugged. "I've been better. But, don't worry about that. I need answers."

Tucker smiled sympathetically. "Yeah, I bet you do. I know I did. You're taking this remarkable well, by the way." He cocked his head to the side. "Not sure what to make of you."

I snorted. "Yeah. That's pretty much how I feel. About everything."

The bitterness in Tucker's laugh surprised me. He didn't seem like the cynical type. "I know. Believe me, I know. Anyway, why don't we go downstairs? That's where everyone is and where you'll get your answers." He stuck out his hand to help me up. I gripped it tight, cause despite my show of just needing an explanation I was still a little weak.

Tucker wrapped an arm around my shoulders when I stood. He seemed to know I needed help without me telling him. I took a shaky step and then another until we were at the door. It opened silently and we began our descend down the stairs.

It was a tedious journey, but we made it to the bottom. I could immediately see the kitchen, a bright place filled with the people I had met earlier. They were laughing quietly and eating what I assumed was dinner.

When Tucker and I entered the room it all went silent. Everyone was staring at me, and I did my best to stand on my own. Weakness equals death, after all.

Tucker left my side to get a plate full of food from the table everyone was sitting around. He handed it to me and guided me to the table to sit down next to Ember and Amorpho. Ember smiled at me and Amorpho...looked at me? He still didn't have a face so it was kinda hard to tell...

"Okay," Valerie sighed. She pushed away from the table and crossed her arms. "Let's just get to it. Danny, we're Shadow Keepers."

I blinked. "Okay." I had no idea what that was, but it didn't sound that bad.

Jazz pinched between the bride of her nose. "He;s not going to know what that is, Val."

Valerie's green eyes narrowed. "Fine. Why don't you tell him?" She grumbled something I didn't hear and picked at her food.

Jazz shrugged and turned her attention to me with a certain formality I only saw in teachers. She spoke like she was giving a lecture. "A Shadow Keeper is another term for Angel of Death or a Reaper. There's many other names, but I won't list them now. We," She gestured to everyone, including me, "Are Shadow Keepers. We collect the souls in the human world who refuse to move on. It's-"

"Wait, wait, wait," I interrupted, my hands held up in the universal 'stop' gesture. "You're telling me you're...ghost hunters?"

Johnny snorted into his meal. "Something like that," He muttered.

Jazz ignored him. "I suppose you could say that. It's what we do to pay off our debt. You know, for when we sold our souls." She didn't give me the chance to speak. "Please, don't start. We've all been though the denial phase, it's inevitable, but just remember what's happened so far. How else would you explain these past few days?"

She had a point.

"So," She continued, "Back to what I was saying. When you sold your soul you became one of us. A Shadow Keeper. The process you just woke up from is what we call the changing. Your soul was...well, basically being ripped from your body."

I shuddered, remembering the pain I had been in just a few hours ago. "Hey, what did Kitty mean when she said something about Johnny's changing only lasting five hours?" Everyone but Johnny startled me when they burst into loud laughter. "What's so funny?"

Tucker was actually crying and clutching his stomach. "Oh, damn, I like this one! Ember, you did good!" He must have seen the utter bewilderment because he tried to explain even though he could hardly breathe. "Dude, just think of Johnny's changing like an erection."

I blinked. "Huh?" Confusion seemed to be my permanent state.

Tucker was still snickering. "You know, you don't want to finish too fast, right? Well, Johnny-boy just can't seem to hold out. Too bad. The chicks dig it."

Valerie snorted and hit Tucker on the back of his head. "What the hell would you know about sex? Or girls?"

"I still don't understand," I interrupted before they could start to fight. "What does time have to do with the changing?"

Ember looked thankful for my intervention. "The longer the changing takes the tighter your hold on your soul. The harder it is to give it up."

Johnny was glowering at his food and holding his fork so hard that his knuckles were turning white. "My changing was the shortest and they refuse to let me forget it."

Kitty came to his rescue. She slid into his lap and wrapped her long legs around his waist, grinning. "Oh, Johnny, honey. You know I don't care about that. You're better at...other things." She winked and everybody groaned. Tucker even faked vomited.

"Oh, gross!"

"Get a room!"

"I'm trying to eat here!"

"How many times have I told you: don't make sexual innuendos at the table!"

I couldn't help feeling amused. These people didn't act like the soulless reapers they said they were. They acted like...family. A mix of emotions rose inside me. They told me I was now a Shadow Keeper too. I was a part of though Dani wasn't here I was comfortable, filled with longing, and hell, even hope. I could have a family.

But, what about Dani?

Dani was fine. Right? She was the whole reason I sold my soul in the first place and Ember said she would be happy.

Didn't she?

"Anyway," Jazz yelled over the group's talking. They quieted and turned their attention back to us. "I wasn't finished explaining. When you became a Shadow Keeper you get a special ability too, along with the normal ghost powers-"

"Hang on," I blurted, my eyes wide. "I have powers?"

Jazz nodded. "Course. You're going to need a little help if you collect angry spirits. We all have basic powers: flight, invisibility, intangibility, overshadowing, ghost ray, extreme strength, and so on. When you go ghost-"

"Wait," I sighed, slumping forward. "I'm confused again. What do you mean "going ghost"?"

Jazz was thankfully patient, giving me the feeling that this wasn't the first time she's had to explain everything. "We're half dead. We can choose which form we want. I'm in my human side, along with Tucker and Valerie."

"So I can turn into a ghost whenever I want. Like right now?"

Jazz seemed hesitant when she spoke."Yes, you can transform whenever you want. Except for right now."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"Well, you- I mean, you're...What I'm trying to say-"

Johnny rolled his eyes and groaned. "Oh, for the love of...Danny, you're a ghost right now. During the changing everyone automatically transforms. Including you."

"Johnny," Jazz snapped. "Way to be sensitive!"

Johnny waved his hand dismissively. "Best to just give it to him straight."

"But you don't just-"

Their argument faded into white noise as I tried to process what Johnny had just said. I was dead? Right now and I didn't even notice?

"Danny?" Ember's voice broke my trance. She was gazing at me in concern.

I forced myself to smile at her. "I'm fine. Just a bit overwhelmed." Overwhelmed. Right. I wasn't just over my head. I was struggling underneath the suffocating water with no hope of ever reaching the surface.

She nodded, but didn't look any less worried. "Would you like to see yourself?"

I shrugged helplessly. "I guess."

We both stood and Ember took my hand. I noticed her hand was no longer cold. She led me to a hallway with a plain mirror screwed on the wall. I raised my eyes to look at my new reflection.

Who is that? was my first thought. I didn't recognize the guy staring back at me. He had pure white hair, bright green eyes like Ember's, tan skin, and an almost surreal glow around him. I reached up to touch the cool glass.

He did the same.

"It's still you," Ember whispered. She met his, I mean, my eyes in the mirror. "I know it seems wrong, but this is you too. I can teach you to transform into your human form later, if you want."

I said nothing. I had no idea what I wanted. Where I belonged.

"We're your family now, Danny," Ember murmured. "All of us know what you're going through." She smiled wryly. "We're all half dead here. Now you just need a name."

I didn't say anything, but she must have noticed my confusion. "We all get a new name after our changing. Mine is Siren, Valerie's is Huntress, Johnny's is 13, and so on." She rested her chin on my shoulder. "I've had an idea for a while now. Want to hear it?"

I shrugged as I best as I could with her chin resting on my shoulder. Why not? A new face, a new family, a new purpose. A new name sounded fitting.

"How about Phantom?" Ember suggested, her breathing ruffling my newly white hair. "Danny Phantom?"

Phantom. A ghost of who I was.

I smiled into the mirror.

Perfect.

AN: Sorry it took longer than normal. I didn't have any internet for four days, but I wrote anyway! I hope you all like it! REVIEW! PLEASE, OH PLEASE!