Danny Phantom – Vampire Heart

Chapter Four: Revenge tastes sweet

The trouble with tracking someone via blood scent is that one can only locate a certain person after they know and recognise their unique smell, which one is only able to do after they become a vampire. Unfortunately, Danny hadn't been able to pick up his prey's scent as a human. This however wasn't going to stop him. Oh no, Dash had to pay, and he was going to. He checked the nasty burger, the fast food restaurant that almost everyone from Casper High School hung around with their friends at, and for the first time ever noticed the vile smell that seemed to linger around the joint. He'd never noticed it as a normal kid, not even as a half ghost. But it didn't matter; what the boy was searching for wasn't there. He checked his prey's house, the mall, but he was nowhere to be found. Deciding to go ghost, he flew over the city, maybe he'd find it easier with a birds eye view. And sure enough, he did. Dash stood in an alleyway with Valerie, Kwan and Star talking about dates and football – some things never change. He thought for a moment, then landed on the street by the alley and transformed back to being human… vampire; whatever. He was smart, he knew that they'd make fun of him as he walked past, and two of them would eventually live to regret it. Walking round the corner, he walked slowly past the four awaiting their insults.

"Hey Fen-turd, I heard you went all homicidal maniac and killed your family, the cops haven't found you yet?" Stopping in his tracks, he turned and gave Dash a dark stare.

"Aw, you hurt his feelings." Valerie taunted, laughing at Danny.

"I see you found your way back to the popular circle, Daddy get a new job?"

"You bet he did, at least my parents aren't crazy ghost…" She trailed off, remembering what happened to his family. She knew that Danny hadn't killed them; he was a sweet boy really, right? But popularity was more important than some geek who chose a gothic whore over her.

"Crazy ghost hunters, you mean like you?" He spat, the girl wasn't his main target and he wasn't about to put up with her annoying mouth. He saw her shocked expression, but expected it – her little hobby was her darkest secret, but he couldn't have cared less. "Yeah, I've known about your dumb-ass job ever since you got your first little ghost hunting set."

"Ghost hunting? Bah, I don't care. Fenton, don't you dare talk to her like that if you know what's good for ya!" Dash growled, raising his fists in a fighting stance. Danny mirrored his movements, and beckoned him to attack. After various punches, he stood a few metres away from the bully; head lowered with his jet black hair covering his face. The jock grinned expecting his enemy to be covered in blood and bruises. He raised his head and revealed no marks, not even a scratch; the quarter-back's face fell in horror. How could he not be hurt?

"That's the best you can do? I find you rather pathetic; but before I kill you I think you and your little friends, who might I add will probably be dead in the near future, I must show you something." He showed them his ghost form.

"You… You're Danny Phantom?" Valerie gasped, reaching for the button that activated her armour. She didn't have the chance; Danny knew this trick by now and sent a weak ecto-beam to destroy the device before it could be used. Now they were really in trouble. Dash cowered, and backed away. This fight was wrong.

"This isn't fair, you have super powers!" he stuttered.

"Yeah, I am Phantom. And since when did you care about fairness? Was it when you were throwing me head-first into a garbage can? Or was it all those times you chased or attacked me just because you got lame grades for being stupid? Or maybe, just maybe, it was the hundred other times you hurt me even before I got my powers? Have no fear; I'd rather kill you as Fenton. Consider this punishment for all the times you've laughed at my expense... I take back my previous statement; you should have fear, in fact; you should be petrified." He said darkly, as the rings appeared around his body returning him back to normal. He grinned, showing his sharp fangs, before attacking.

In no time at all Dash was pinned firmly against the cold stone walls, completely beaten. Cuts and bruises adorned his face, his clothes were torn and his hair was a mess; even the odd tooth had fallen out. His foe leaned over his shoulder, "I hope this hurts." He whispered, before digging his fangs into the boy's neck and allowing the blood to flow down his throat. How satisfying it felt. Moments later, Dash's body fell limply to the ground. He was dead. Turning to the rest of the group, Danny made a final threat before leaving.

"If any of you speak of me, I will kill you. No, I will torture you, and then I shall kill you." He then walked up to Valerie, gently brushing her hair back and looking into her eyes, which were flooded with fearful tears. He wiped them away, leaning towards her ear and whispering loud enough so that only she heard what he spoke. She gasped, praying that he wouldn't bite her too.

"You're next." With that he left the three distraught teenagers behind.

Vlad landed on a street and glanced wearily around, after the journey here and looking around for almost three hours, he was beginning to tire. He looked at the floor where he found a 'MISSING' poster for Danny, and a little further along, one for Maddie. Unknown to him was that the one he was searching for was watching him, it's all he could do right now. There was a gentle breeze sending one of the flyers whirling down the road, it stopped at the boy's feet. Picking it up he scanned through it, and found what it said rather… disturbing. 'Emotionally scarred and vulnerable', what was this supposed to mean? Oh well, at least they didn't suspect him of murder… yet. Vlad looked down the street, he wasn't going to find Danny tonight, he was too tired and it was too late. He decided to reside in his old home which he lived in during his short role as the mayor of Amity Park. He hadn't sold it yet, but no one had been in for a fortnight – probably longer.

Danny floated through Vlad's bedroom window, a few seconds later; he left to go back to his little gothic home in the church. It was strange, a vampire living in a church… strange – an understatement, it was completely insane.

'Dear Vlad,

I know you probably don't care, but since you're here I just thought I'd let you know that I am fine and living in a church. Every church needs a vampire, right? Danny.

P.S. Thanks for leaving me alone in a house full of corpses. It's nice to know you care.'

Vlad felt incredibly guilty… He knew that mistake would cost him. But that didn't matter right now; he'd make it up to Daniel once he found him. Amity Park wasn't a very religious place, and there were only two churches, this would make finding the boy a hell of a lot easier… hopefully.

Pete peered at the sleeping young vampire and noticed his change in appearance; he was no longer the ghost boy from earlier, he was just a normal boy. He looked so innocent yet sad at the same time; what if it wasn't Phantom? No, it had to be – everything about him was the same other than his hair colour and the lack of the ghostly glow that always seemed to surround him. Maybe God gave him a second chance at life, gave him a clean slate and allowed him to start again – no, as much as it pained him to think that he might be sinning, it was ridiculous. No one is reborn, no one besides Jesus Christ anyway. No, this must be done. He soon got over the strange factors and quietly spoke a prayer before pouring salt at each exit from the room as quietly as possible. According to the books, this ritual was supposed to stop any creature of the Devil in its tracks – he just hoped it would work. On his way back to the main church where he was to practice his next sermon, the step creaked loudly and he heard Phantom groan. Panicking, he rushed down the rest of the stairs and planned to pretend that he had never even been up there. A little while later, the boy awoke and climbed out of bed. On his way out of the room, he stepped in something – salt? He decided to shrug it off – that dopey Vicar probably spilled it. He continued onward down the stairs lazily and watched the man blabber on about the Bible, and noticed that the church was packed full of people. He never realised God was so popular nowadays. Pete's eyes fell upon Danny, and his face paled.

"And that my friends, is the story of…the story… of…" He stuttered and stopped for a moment, before finishing up and hustling everyone out of the church as fast as possible, before walking over to where thee boy was sitting.

"Hey dude, I was just wondering why there is salt all over my room?" he then yawned lazily. Pete's face fell in horror, how was he here?! That barrier should have stopped him, and it didn't. He must be a powerful demon.

"A spillage, I'll get someone to clean it up right away."

"Ah, no sweat, I'll do it myself. I've already caused you enough trouble." He replied. "Are you feeling okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I…" the main church doors burst open before Pete had time to reply… thank god.

"…Vlad?" the boy muttered under his breath,

"Daniel!" the man yelled upon seeing him.

"I see you two know each other… I'll just be going now…"The vicar nervously stuttered, before slipping away, leaving behind him an awkward silence.