Meg1219: Thank you for your review.
KodiakWolfe13: Thank you so much for you review and glad you like this story so far.
Jaddis: Poor Danny and this is only the beginning. More angst to come. Thank you for your review.
Spidey2: Never seen that movie before. Maybe I'll check it out. Thanks for the review.
Here is chapter 6. I hope that you like it and reviews, as always, are much appreciated.
Chapter Six
Everyone scatters as the Minotaur—if Jazz says it's one then it probably is one. Personally, I don't know if it is or not—runs across the clearing forcing Sam, Tucker and I who are at the other end of the clearing to quickly separate. Sam and I go one way while Tucker goes the other but the Minotaur, to my horror, turns to go after us.
Why me? Seriously, why can't it be someone else for once?
A large rock sails across the air and slams into the Minotaur's head before it can charge at us and it, shaking its head, turns to glare at the person responsible. Valerie, another large rock in hand, shouts, "Danny, Sam, get out of here!" before hurling another rock at the Minotaur.
"Come on," Sam says grabbing my arm and the two of us, supporting each other since we forgot to grab our walking sticks, limp toward the forest.
"Head back the way we came. We'll meet up at our last campsite," Mom shouts leaping at the Minotaur and striking it with her staff. The Minotaur, with snarl of rage, whirls and slams his huge, muscular arm into my mom sending her flying. She crashes into a tree near where Dad is standing.
"Mom!" Jazz and I scream.
"Maddie!" Dad and Vlad shout at the same time.
Dad attacks the Minotaur with the Jack-O-Nine-Tails. "No one attacks a Fenton and gets away with it," he shouts.
"Come on, we need to move," Sam says and the two of us continue limping toward the forest. I see Mom get to her feet and attack the Minotaur again while Valerie, dashing toward where we left our walking sticks, grabs them and hurries after us.
"You might be able to walk better with these," she says handing us our walking sticks. "Now let's go."
I grab the walking stick and begin heading toward our previous campsite. Sam is limping after me while Valerie, picking up a large stick, follows just behind us. I hear my mom shout, "Everyone run."
"Where?" I hear Jazz cry.
"Anywhere. It can't follow all of us."
"Its eyesight is very bad," Jazz shouts, "but its sense of smell is enhanced because of that. It can smell fear and aggression. It will go after the one who is most afraid or most aggressive."
"I didn't know aggression had a scent," I hear Tucker shout.
I don't hear Jazz's response. I'm only thankful that there is a chance the Minotaur will not go after us. I look over my shoulder as the Minotaur, possibly sensing we are attempting to escape, starts running…
…unfortunately, it's heading in our direction.
Seriously, Murphy's Law, I hate you.
Valerie gasps as the Minotaur charges into the forest, its horns sink into a tree we pass, which slows it down. But, since it is a ghost, I'm sure that it'll just turn its horns intangible; still, it buys us some time. It's slow going though; I wish I can just fly but that will be revealing my secret to Valerie and that's not something I want to do.
"Keep going," Valerie shouts as the Minotaur, turning its horns intangible, continues to run after us, its horns carving deep gashes into trees while its muscular arms breaks branches that get in its way. Why it doesn't just go intangible to avoid the trees, I don't know.
"We might have to split up," Valerie says, "confuse it."
"That's stupid. It'll go after one of us if we do that," Sam says before yelping because the Minotaur is literally right behind us. Valerie drops back and slams the stick she's carrying into the Minotaur's muzzle startling it, which buys us a minute if not less.
I know this is getting us nowhere. I need to get that Minotaur off our backs before it kills us but, in order to do that, I need to get away from Valerie. I look at Sam. "I need you and Valerie to keep moving," I whisper.
"What? Danny, we…"
"Sam, listen, I can get this Minotaur off our backs, at least long enough to give us enough time to get a good distance from it but I can't while Valerie's here."
Sam grits her teeth but nods. "Be careful," she says before she starts hobbling along while Valerie, hitting the Minotaur again, hurries after Sam not noticing that I'm not following. The instant her back is to me, I whirl around and, charging an ectoblast on my hand, unleash it. The Minotaur is sent skidding backwards giving me enough time to get into the clearing closest to me.
There, I launch more ectoblasts at the Minotaur causing it to growl in pain and fury before it charges at me. I go intangible and the Minotaur goes through me; I remain this way as it charges at me again. Then I turn and unleash an ectoblast that propels it into a tree getting its horns stuck. I hit it with another ectoblast, limp a few feet and unleash another one. I'm just thankful that I can use my powers while in human form.
I'm near the edge of the clearing when I spot it; a bush covered with blood blossoms. An idea sparks in my head and I limp over to the bush as the Minotaur charges after me. Grabbing a blood blossom, I toss it at the ghost; the response is instantaneous.
The Minotaur lets out a roar of agony. The blood blossom falls to the ground in front of it but it's still howling in agony. I grab a few more blood blossoms and limp away using the walking stick to guide me. Leaves crunch under my feet as I move but I can still hear the Minotaur's screams.
Unfortunately, while Valerie, Sam and I were running, or limping in my and Sam's case, we lost sight of the stream. That means I have no idea where I am or where they are. Hoping I'm heading in the right direction, I keep limping in the direction Valerie and Sam went.
I don't know how much time passes before I can't hear the Minotaur's screams. I don't know if that's because I'm too far away to hear it or if the blood blossom isn't affecting it anymore. Mom and Dad only said that the blood blossoms makes a ghost powerless, causes it intense agony and creates an anti-ghost shield they can't pass but they never said if the effects last forever or not.
I limp into another clearing as a shout of "Daniel!" sounds and I look up as Vlad, in ghost form, floats into the clearing.
I step back. "Don't come closer," I say.
Vlad frowns before he notices the blood-red flowers in my hands and he pales before he drifts backwards. "What happened?" He asks. "The last time I saw you was when Maddie told us to run. You, Valerie and Samantha were in the forest."
"We ran," I say, "well, as much as we can. The Minotaur came after us. I told Valerie and Sam to go ahead so I can keep it distracted with my powers. Then I found a bush of blood blossoms and threw one at it."
Vlad's lips thin but I wonder if that is a look of pride in his eyes. "Well done, Daniel," he says—is that a hint of pride in his voice?—before he transforms back into his human form and moves forward. "Come, we need to find Valerie and Samantha."
"What about Mom, Dad, Jazz and Tucker?"
"I believe they ran in the opposite direction of you," Vlad says.
"And the Minotaur?"
"The blood blossom's effects won't go away unless someone gets rid of the blood blossom and, since ghosts cannot touch it without feeling its effects, I do not see how the Minotaur will escape," Vlad says. "Come, we don't know what else is in this forest."
"I have an idea," I murmur thinking back to what Pandora told me.
Vlad looks sharply at me. "What do you mean?" he demands. "Daniel, if you know something then you must tell me."
"Will you even believe me?" I ask deciding that he should know since it looks like we're going to be lost together.
Vlad's eyebrows rose. "Is what you know so far-fetched that you actually think I won't?" he says.
I shrug. "A little. Have you heard of Pandora?"
"Yes, she was the first woman to be created by the Greek Gods in Ancient Greece who opened Pandora's box and unleashed the world's evil on the world," Vlad says. "What about her?"
"Her ghost is the guardian of this island," I say. "Earlier today, while everyone was still asleep, she woke me up asking to speak to me. I didn't exactly trust her but, with the blood blossoms around us I just stayed near them while I spoke with her. She told me that this island has a ghost shield around it 'cause it's keeping the ghosts on this island in rather than keeping ghosts out. She then told me about Herakles and his labors. She said that the creatures Herakles killed in four of his labors returned as vengeful and powerful ghosts and were transported here to protect humans and ghosts."
"That is a bit far-fetched. How can you trust her to be telling you the truth?" Vlad asks.
The answer to that is simple; Clockwork sent her. But I don't want Vlad to know about Clockwork so I say, "She said she was sent by a friend to warn me."
Vlad narrows his eyes.
"And before you ask, no I won't tell you who that friend is," I say before I limp forward. "Come on, you're right. We need to find Sam and Valerie."
Vlad nods though he clearly doesn't like my evasive answer before he and I limp out of the clearing.
I don't know how long we are walking before we find Sam and Valerie; apparently, they had decided to hide in case the Minotaur was behind them. They are each in a hollow tree—huh, never knew those actually existed. This island is strange—when Vlad and I limp into the clearing. Valerie pokes her head out of the tree holding a blood blossom, she likely remembered that they make ghosts powerless, but lowers her arm when she sees who it is.
"Danny, Mr. Masters," she says climbing out of the hollow.
In the hollow of another tree, Sam pokes her head out. "Danny, are you all right?" she asks. She's also holding a blood blossom.
"I'm fine," I say.
"Where're Tucker, Jazz and your parents?"
I shake my head. "Vlad said they went in the opposite direction," I say.
"I hope they're all right," Valerie says.
"They have Maddie with them," Vlad says.
"And my dad," I say. "Both of them are a good team against ghosts."
Vlad snorts and I glare at him.
"What do we do now?" Sam asks.
"I would suggest we head back to our first campsite but I do not remember which way that is," Vlad says and looks at me.
"I lost sight of the stream around the same time I lost sight of Sam and Valerie," I say.
"I was too busy helping Sam and Sam was too busy trying not to trip to notice when we lost sight of the stream," Valerie says.
Vlad nods slowly though his expression is unreadable. "We'll have to find another source of water then and another source of food," he says.
"What about the others?" I ask.
"We don't know how far they are now and I do not think it would be safe to go back the way we came," Vlad says.
"How'd you lose the Minotaur, Danny?" Sam asks.
"I found a bush of blood blossoms and tossed one at it," I say.
"That explains why you're carrying blood blossoms around," Sam comments.
"How'd you get in there anyway?" I ask curiously.
Sam grimaces. "Not easy."
Even with Valerie's help, it still takes Sam some time to get out of the hollow in the tree. Sam then limps over to where her walking stick is and looks at Vlad. "So what now, fruitloop?" she asks.
I smirk while Vlad glowers.
"We need to find water," Vlad says. "Our best bet is to try to find water from a higher vantage point like a tree. Valerie, you're the only one who isn't injured. Do you think you can climb a tree and see where we are for one and whether there is a stream or river nearby?"
"All right, Mr. Masters," Valerie says before she walks over to the hollowed tree.
I watch as she climbs up, amazed that she can climb it as swiftly as she is. Of course, she is the least injured of all three of us but I can't even climb anything that fast when I'm not injured. Granted, before I started ghost fighting, I couldn't climb anything period. Now, I might be able to.
Anyway, Valerie is out of sight and I can see the tree start to sway close to its top. I hold my breath, a little afraid that she might fall. But she doesn't; I lose sight of her after about five minutes though. I'm still gazing at the tree trying to see Valerie but the foliage is making it difficult.
I don't know how much time passes before Valerie reappears climbing the remaining feet to the ground before leaping off the lowest branch. "I saw a river, or a stream, not sure which, in that direction," Valerie says pointing to the right of where we're standing. "We're also pretty far from the beach but I couldn't see the stream."
"The stream was well covered," Vlad says. "Any signs of anything else?"
Valerie shakes her head.
"Then we'll head in that direction." Vlad places a hand on my shoulder, ignoring the glare I gave him, before he guides me in the direction Valerie had indicated. Valerie looks at Sam who glares at her.
"I'm fine," she says before she hobbles after Vlad and I.
Valerie, with a frown, falls into step beside Sam. "I've been meaning to ask you this, Sam. Why do you still not like me?"
Sam is silent for a moment. "I don't dislike you, Valerie," she says. "But I barely know you."
"You don't take the time to get to know me, Sam. I think Danny's the only one outta all three of you that knows anything about me."
"It's not easy to just forget how you treated us before, Valerie."
"I've changed."
"She has changed, Sam," I say looking over my shoulder at Sam shrugging Vlad's hand off my other shoulder at the same time. "Maybe she's right and you should take the time to get to know her."
"I'd much rather get off this island," Sam says flatly.
"I think all of us would prefer that," I say deciding that, while I would like my friend and my crush to get along, this isn't the time to worry about that.
Valerie nods in agreement. "I hope dad's not worrying. I told him I'd call when we reached Paris," she says.
I'm hoping my parents, Jazz and Tucker are all right. Though I've had a busy day since I woke up, my nightmare is still at the back of my mind; I'm still scared for them. I don't want to lose them; I don't think I can handle losing them.
Stop with those thoughts, Fenton, I tell myself.
We walk for a while resting constantly. I don't know how long we've been walking before Vlad decides to have Valerie climb another tree to see how far we are from the river. While she does that, Vlad says we should rest. Putting the blood blossoms on the ground, I rest my back against the tree and gaze at the sky above our head.
Vlad follows my gaze. "Did you ever learn if the shield is natural or not, Daniel?" he asks.
"Pandora said that it's natural," I say.
Vlad frowns. "I've never heard of a natural ghost shield that can cover an entire island," he says.
"Who's Pandora?" Sam asks.
"She's the guardian of this island," I say before I tell Sam everything that Pandora told me.
Sam frowns. "And she said that the creatures that Herakles killed are on this island and are vengeful and dangerous?" she asks.
I nod.
"How can we trust her word?"
"A certain friend told her and I'd trust this friend any time," I say stressing the last word on purpose. Vlad doesn't seem to understand but I know Sam gets it immediately for she nods.
"If you trust what Pandora said then so do I," she says. "Your friend has never steered us wrong before."
"Who is this friend, Samantha?" Vlad asks.
Sam snorts. "If Danny didn't tell you, what makes you think I will?" she says.
"Do you know what these creatures are?" I ask.
Sam shakes her head.
"I only remember one," Vlad says though I hear a little irritation in his voice. "Cerberus." Seeing the puzzled look in my eyes, he sighs and adds, "Cerberus is a giant three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades, or the Underworld, before it was killed by Herakles."
Valerie jumps down from the last branch as Vlad finishes speaking before she walks over to join us. "We're getting close," she says.
"How far away would you say?" Vlad asks.
Valerie presses her lips together. "I'm not sure exactly, maybe half a mile?"
Vlad nods before he pushes himself to his feet and holds out a hand to help me up. Grabbing the walking stick with my other hand, I take his hand and get to my feet. Valerie helps Sam up and we start walking again.
My stomach chooses that moment to remind me I haven't eaten all day. I blush when everyone looks at me. "What? I haven't eaten anything all day," I say.
"Why don't you just eat one of those blood blossoms you've been carrying around?" Valerie suggests.
I try to think of a good enough excuse not to; it's not going so well.
"There may be more ghosts around, Valerie. I do not think we should risk it. He didn't bring many with him as it is," Vlad says. "I am sure we'll find something to eat soon. If it was a river you saw then there may be fish though catching the fish will be difficult."
"How would you catch fish without a fishing rod or bait?" Valerie asks.
Vlad shrugs. "I do not know. That's why it will be difficult."
"Must be different from what you're used to, eh, fruitloop?" I can't help but say.
"So it isn't different from what you're used to, little badger?" Vlad asks.
I shrug. "I've gone camping before. Have you?"
"It may have been a while but yes."
"Shocker. When was that? Forty years ago?"
Vlad rolls his eyes. "I wasn't even alive forty years ago."
"Wow, I learn something new each day. I thought you were born fifty years ago," I say in feigned shock.
Vlad scowls. "Did you just call me old?" he demands.
"No, I said you were born fifty years ago. When we get back to the states, you should get your hearing checked, old man."
Vlad glares.
I smirk while Sam is trying, and failing, to not snicker.
Valerie sighs. "Why don't you like Mr. Masters, Danny?" she asks.
He wants to kill my dad, marry my mom and make me his son and evil apprentice, I think. All I say is "It's a long story, too long to tell. Shouldn't we get moving?"
"Valerie, why don't you and Samantha go on ahead? Daniel and I will bring up the rear," Vlad says.
Valerie nods.
Sam looks at me worried but she nods and she and Valerie walk into the forest.
Vlad places a hand back on my shoulder and I clench my teeth to stop the cry of pain from escaping my lips when he sends a jolt of electricity through me. "That was for calling me old," he growls.
"Hey, just speaking the truth, V-man," I say with a smirk and limp forward ignoring the glare Vlad gives me.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: well, that's chapter 6
Darth: so we know the name of one of the four creatures Danny and co. are gonna have to face
Blaze: anyone who knows the twelve labors Herakles (Hercules) had to complete will know the others easily
Darth: and those who don't?
Blaze: they'll have to wait until later chapters
Darth: so the first of the four creatures Danny and co. will have to face is the Cerberus?
Blaze: (shrugs) I no wanna spoil nothing so I ain't saying. Please review and I will post chapter 7 as soon as I possibly can