Punishment
Do not own "Danny Phantom", or Coke®
Punctuation herds words together, keeps others apart.
Punctuation directs you how to read;
in the way musical notation directs a musician how to play.
~ Lynne Truss
"What was that, Darlene?" Vlad asked.
"Yes, sir." Sarah didn't care if Vlad read her mind and found out about her derisive attitude toward him. Like he didn't already know about it. The
man tried to kill her Dad on an almost daily basis, hit on her mother, and tried to force her half-brother to come to his side, although he kept
predicting that he would come willingly. "Both you and your mother", as he put it.
"Gunther has told me that Darlene here can't help with the horses since she's a stranger to them."
"That's right. She can help get lunch or supper ready."
"Make it supper. She's helping with our lunch. But she must be back by at least nine. I'll make an exception for bedtime tonight, since she's being punished."
"Yes, Masters. I'll send someone to retrieve her and someone will walk her home."
"Yes. Well," Vlad checked his watch, "It seems your school day must continue after lunch, Darlene. It's time for you to help Nancy get lunch ready."
"Sarah." Sarah insisted.
Vlad picked her up and carried her to the castle. He put her down in the kitchen.
"There you are, Darlene."
"Sarah." Sarah said.
"Go and wash your hands. It's time to set the table." Nancy told her, as though Sarah hadn't said anything.
"Yes, ma'am." Sarah transformed and phased through the walls to the half-bath.
She washed her hands, then phased back into the kitchen. She transformed
back into a human and took the plates and silverware from the staff member who
offered them. She phased through to the dining room. There was Vlad.
"You've practiced your phasing plenty today. I have some diseased trees I'd like for you to practice your ghostly wail on today. James, the yard man, will show them to you. You're lucky my staff knows about hybrids."
"I figured they would, you being their employer and all." Sarah put one plate, a knife, and fork at Vlad's place. The place mats had been left
there all night. She put the other plate and silverware at her place. She went back and got the glasses and napkins. She placed them where
they belonged. She went back and was handed a hot pad.
"Put that in the middle of the table, please." Nancy told her.
"Yes, ma'am." Sarah did as she was told. Then she went back into the kitchen to see if she was needed anymore.
She was handed a Coke® bottle. She carried it out and put it at Vlad's place.
"Spaghetti today?"
"I'm not sure." She went back and was handed a plate of toast.
"Spaghetti, today, sir." She put the plate down in the middle beside the hot pad. She took the knives back up and took them back into the
kitchen. She was handed a pot of spaghetti. She carried it out to the dining room. She set it down on the hot pad and picked up her plate, but
then realized that there was no fork in the pot. Nancy came out and put the fork in the pot, explaining, "I was afraid that it would be too much
for Ms. Darlene to carry."
"Very well. Darlene, you may fix your plate." Vlad said.
"Thank you, sir." Sarah started fixing her plate. As soon as she was done, she grabbed a piece of toast. She poured herself some Coke® and
waited for Vlad to fix his plate and say the blessing. He did, but stopped her from eating.
"Why didn't you listen to your teacher?" he asked.
"I turned over a new leaf."
"You better turn it back over before I turn you over my knee."
Sarah turned away from him and rolled her eyes.
"Darlene Elizabeth Masters, look at me when I'm talking to you." Vlad said sharply. Sarah turned back to him.
"You weren't speaking to me."
"One more remark like that, and... You already know what's going to happen."
"Yes, sir. You said I would have P.E. after English. The teacher isn't here and I want to have P.E. by myself so I can practice my powers."
"Yes. That's a good idea. I just want you to be sure to exercise your human body as well."
"Yes, sir."
"About practicing your shield. I will test you, my child."
"Yes, sir. As long as I don't think that you're trying to train me to fight my brother."
"Half-brother. And I remember your promise not to turn your back on him. You will not be trained to fight him." Sarah concentrated on reading Vlad's mind. She thinks.
"I see you won't keep that promise, 'Father'." she said.
"Whatever makes you say that?"
"I read your mind."
"I never promised you anything."
"True. But I know you well enough to know that even if you had promised me, you wouldn't keep your word."
"I'm hurt."
"You really look it." Sarah said, sarcastically.
"I said I wouldn't teach you to read minds, but you said you just did. How did you learn?"
"I just concentrated on it."
"Oh. Well, then I feel I must warn you to be careful."
"Yes, sir."
"And when you go out for P.E., you may meet with Daniel in your secret spot."
"Thank you, sir." Wait, he knows about that? He must know where the secret
spot is. Damn, he's sneaky. He's giving me permission to meet with his enemy? He must be planning something.
"For starters, Darlene, I AM a halfa. Surely people call you sneaky since you're also a hybrid. Second, I hoped I wouldn't have to do this, but I
must warn you to watch your language. Third, no, I am not planning anything."
Sarah concentrated. He isn't. That's very surprising.
"Of course I'm not planning anything, young lady! My little girl may get hurt if I was."
"I can't meet with Danny until after three, though. He doesn't get out of school till then. And what if he has a detention?" Sarah concentrated on
Danny
In Amity Park... "Mr. Fenton, I know you're upset about your parents having sent your little sister away for two weeks, but that is no reason for
your less than stellar performance in class today." Lancer told Danny, standing in front of his desk holding Danny's chin so that Danny could not
turn away.
"Yes, sir, I am upset about that." But there's another reason...He got Sarah's message.
Danny, can you meet me in the cave on Vlad's property after school today?
Yes, I've managed not to get a detention today. The bell rang. Danny, Sam, and Tucker gathered their books and went to their lockers. "Danny, I
know this may not be the best time to bring this up," Tucker started, "But have you heard from Sarah lately?"
"Yeah, she just sent me a telepathic message, and I KNOW she wasn't the one who sent us that letter."
Several days earlier... Maddie Fenton ran into the house, holding the mail. "We got a letter from Sarah!" She discarded the rest of the mail and
tore open the letter supposedly from Sarah. As she read it, though, her face fell.
"She never wants to see us again? She hates us! She wants to live with Vlad!" Maddie collapsed on the couch, letting the letter flutter to the
floor. Danny picked it up and read it.
Dear Fenton Family:
I am very happy with Vlad. I no longer wish to come back to you. I wish to stay with Vlad. I hate you and everything you stand for. I have met a
ghost and he is not evil.
Sincerely;
Darlene Masters.
Forward to the present... "Apparently, Vlad decided that if Sarah was going to hate us, she wouldn't use the name my Mom gave her."
"Your mother didn't notice that it wasn't Sarah's handwriting?" Sam asked.
"No, she was too upset. I tried to point it out, but she wouldn't have it."
In Wisconsin... Sarah was still at the table with Vlad. She finished her Coke®, wiped her mouth, and stood up. Vlad motioned for her to sit down.
"Young Darlene, I have received word that my mother is coming to visit us here in two days. I assume you know what this means?"
"Be on my best behavior and don't let her know I'm a hybrid"
"Yes, but she knows I am a hybrid, and that there's a pretty good chance that my children will also be hybrids. But what I want from you is
complete and total obedience, and don't let her know that you are not my child. I have let her think that your mother and I are divorced, and
that I have custody of you right now, since your mother is going through treatment for her alcohol problem."
"You lied to your own mother?!"
"Don't call it lying, please."
"That's what it is. So, you lied so that your mother wouldn't think that her own son is a loser?"
"Darlene Elizabeth, I do not want you to use that tone with your grandmother."
"You also don't want me to insist on being called Sarah, right?"
"Yes. And your history teacher called and said he'd be late. So he's coming after lunch. But after this, he will come before lunch."
"Yes, sir."
Sarah went back upstairs to the red library and got her history book out. She opened it to page 280. Soon, the doorbell rang. Sarah heard
Jasper open the door.
"Mr. Kevin Potts, I presume?"
"Yes, but call me Bushy. I'm here for Ms. Masters' history lesson?"
"Yes, third room on the left."
Sarah heard Mr. Potts climbing the stairs. He came in. He was 6ft. 2in, had red hair, a bushy mustache, and wore a tweed jacket, a blue shirt,
and blue jeans. He carried a plaid attaché case, which he put on the table.
"Hello, Ms. Masters. We have a lot to cover today. I assume you remember what page you were on in Iowa?"
"Yes, sir. Page 280."
"Yes, World War One. We'll have a test after every unit."
"Yes, sir. What are the rules, please?"
Vlad had stopped to listen.
"I advise you get her to sign something saying she promises to obey them, Mr. Potts. After the way she acted in the last class, I wouldn't go
with the honor system."
Sarah stuck her tongue out at Vlad.
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Masters. I have some stories I could tell you two that could make your hair curl."
"Please don't tell Darlene anything that could give nightmares."
"Of course not, Mr. Masters."
"Behave yourself, Darlene." Vlad left.
"It's Sarah."
"Pardon?" Mr. Potts asked.
"My name is Sarah Fenton. Father got Madeline Fenton pregnant with me when Jack Fenton couldn't get her pregnant the third time. He was too
proud to go to a fertilization clinic. Father wanted to name me Darlene Elizabeth, but Mom named me Sarah Jessica. Father wants me to go by
Darlene Elizabeth while I'm here, but I'm not going to."
"Well, would you rather hear my stories or get on with the lesson?"
"The stories, please."
"This happened in England. In 1700, when King Samuel the brave was just the Prince, his father, King Stephen the bold told him that he must be
brave, because his best friend's father had been convicted of treason against the King. The law at the time stated that the entire family of one
convicted of treason must be thrown into the dungeon with them. Prince Samuel wanted his best friend to be set free, but his father would not
hear of it. To do otherwise, he said, would be against his own word. Samuel watched as his friend and his family was thrown into the dungeon.
His friend looked at him pleadingly, but did not cry out to him. Prince Samuel was saddened at this, but was thinking of a plan. Late that night,
he put his plan into action. He sneaked into the dungeon with clothes, food, and other provisions to give his friend and his family, along with the
key. He set his friend, his sister, and mother free. His father had been convicted, so he must stay. The prince led the small group of vigilantes to
the border of the kingdom and said good bye. He told them not to return. The father would live his life out in the dungeon. The father contracted
the Black Death and died soon after his family's escape. The friend never did return to the kingdom. Prince Samuel was praised for his bravery. If
he had been caught, he would have been thrown out of the kingdom and his crown passed to his younger brother Reginald. King Samuel was a
just leader. He let his brother help him make royal decisions. It is said that the father of Samuel's friend still haunts the dungeon, looking for
descendants of King Samuel to thank them for their ancestor's bravery in saving his family."
"But, Father said that one of his ancestors was King James I."
"King Samuel married and his wife bore him a son they named James."
"Oh. Any more?"
"This one is actually about the grounds, and is rather recent. Before your father moved in. It seems that all of this used to be a cemetery. It was
actually an old cemetery that had settlers' bodies. It is said that the settlers' spirits aren't too happy with a castle being built over them. They'll
move heavy objects, make weird noises, and make shadows seem to move and try to grab you. They won't be happy until this castle is moved. I
think we better get some reading done."
Sarah sighed "I guess."
"You don't really like history, do you?"
"I do, it's just that school books are so boring. Not that museums are a big improvement."
"I understand where you're coming from, but since we can't travel back in time, we have to learn about it somehow."
That's a good idea. Maybe Clockwork will let me go back in time to learn about World War One firsthand.
He most likely won't. Has he ever let your brother dear do that? Vlad asked sarcastically.
I can't say.
"Ms. Fenton, if you would please pay attention, we could continue with this lesson."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Potts."
Mr. Potts looked at the clock.
"Looks like we'll have two lessons to cover next time. Unless I can come over tomorrow."
"I'm sure Father we'll let you."
"I'll have to ask."
Vlad came to the door.
"It seems Darlene's math teacher will be late. Your lesson can continue."
