Well guys I apologize for not updating in so long. I had a bad case of writer's block and a bunch of several hour long doctor visits; I haven't been a hundred percent lately. So again I'm super sorry guys, I haven't updated this in months! Well for this story anyway! I hope this 7 paged chapter makes up for the long wait though! Anyway enjoy!

-DP-

"Do you understand what I wish you to do?"

Hale studied the letter he was just handed before looking back up at Dalv.

"No, not entirely... The kid's 18 and... you want him to become an Enforcer?" Hale questioned with slight disbelief.

Dalv pinched the bridge of his nose in response to that. Hale was a good Enforcer but he swore that the man had been hit over the head one too many times.

"I am not hiring the child; I just simply wish to talk with him. I'm planning to invite him to participate in the annual 'Battle of the Spirits'. Something tells me that the competition will be interesting this year, assuming he does decide to attend." Dalv replied as he folded his arms behind his back.

Hale simply cocked an eyebrow before asking, "Why... why is he so important?"

Dalv scowled and glared at the 25 year old. "The child isn't all that important, no, what I'm interested in is his new ghost."

Hale stared at his employer's devious expression for a moment, slightly perplexed at his words. In truth the man had always made Hale nervous, he always seemed to carefully hide things from not only him but from the public as well. Hale had also seen how good the man was at manipulation and torment... two skills that Dalv was especially famous for using during his interrogations. It often left Hale wondering just how many times Dalv had manipulated him into doing something he didn't wish to do. He wondered if he had been doing it to his father, Dominick... heck, he might have been doing such things all the way back to his great grandmother Valerie.

His great grandmother had been the first Enforcer. It was said that she was fearless and was incapable of being led astray from making the right decisions. When he was younger Hale completely believed that. In fact, he even looked up to his great grandmother as a hero and always wanted to be just like her. Hale wanted to follow in his ancestors footsteps and work for his family's seemingly immortal boss. Yes you heard him right, immortal; Dalv had been around for centuries but the general public didn't know that. No, that little secret was well guarded and kept among select people and their families.

"Hale, my boy, are you alright?"

Dalv's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"I'm fine, sorry… I'll take that letter now." Hale said, flashing his boss a fake smile.

-DP-

Sasha and her father lifted the flap to the shop, entering the musty space once again with Nyx and Salem following close behind them.

"Hey Danny, we're back!" Nyx called out. He was expecting an immediate response from the halfa but when he didn't get one he immediately stiffened. He pulled Salem behind him out of habit. He was always overly protective of his little brother.

Calling out once more, though this time with a more worried tone, Nyx yelled, "Danny?"

All that he received in reply was silence, the likes of which only cause him to worry further.

Sasha watched, mortified, as her father pulled a gun out of his back pocket.

"Stay together, I'm going to go check things out… After that control thief scare earlier today... I just don't want you guys to get hurt. Stay behind me, alright?"

The trio of kids nodded and followed after Sasha's father. They checked the shop through and through, everything seemed normal and fine but... they couldn't seem to find Danny anywhere.

"Something's wrong..." Nyx breathed out, still on edge, "Where is he?"

Salem farrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He didn't get why the all the grownups were acting so strange and he also didn't get why they couldn't see Danny. Salem could see his outline in front of the mirror on the far side of the room. The young ten year old left the safety of his older brother and walked over to where Danny was. As he got closer he could hear the faint sound of sobbing.

"Salem?" Nyx called. He watched with curiosity as his little brother knelt in front of the mirror.

Salem reached out and lightly grabbed Danny's see-through shoulder. It was in that moment that Danny jumped in surprise and dropped his invisibility. He lifted his tear stained face from where it had been previously resting on his knees. Haunted, dulled green eyes seemed to stare straight through Salem.

"Danny?" The group called out in astonishment.

Danny didn't respond, he just buried his head back into his knees. It was bad enough that Salem got a full view of him crying, the others didn't need to see him like this. He was such a mess... such a broken, weak, pathetic mess...

Salem looked down at Danny and squeezed lightly on his shoulder before asking kindly, "Are you okay?"

Danny didn't answer; instead he just wrapped his white cloak tighter around himself. He had found the cloak at the very bottom of the pile. He liked the color white. It was bland, pure and unfeeling and to top it off, it didn't bring back any of the agonizing memories that he didn't want bubbling back to the surface of his mind. For now it was his safe guard, his anchor.

"Danny?" Nyx inquired softly once again as he walked over and bent down in front of the halfa. He had a pretty good idea about what was bothering the white haired teen.

"Please just leave for a little bit Nyx... I... I need some time by myself." Danny mumbled half-heatedly.

In truth Danny didn't really want to be alone again, he never ever wanted to be alone, but his pride wouldn't allow anyone to see him crying.

He then snorted internally; if Jazz were here she would probably be screaming at him... she would probably sprout some form of psychological mumbo-jumbo that proved that all healthy men cried. She would probably also threaten to sick their parents on him if he didn't tell her what was wrong. That had seemed to be her favorite new threat since that whole Disastroid incident, since he had told them and the rest of the world about his ghost half. It was also one of the most effective threats Jazz had ever used on him.

Danny laughed slightly, the noise creating a sad, echoing sound.

God... he missed Jazz... he missed everyone.

Danny scowled as new ghostly tears began to flow down the sides of his face. He was starting to get sick of all this touchy-feely crap that his mind was putting him through. Danny sniffled and buried his face further into his cloak, feeling miserable and slightly embarrassed.

Nyx frowned and glanced up at Sasha's father, asking, "Could you and Sasha take Salem outside for a few minutes?"

Sasha's father nodded in understanding and dragged the said two out the door with him. Once the familiar rustling of the tarp that acted as the front door stopped, Nyx sat down crossed-legged in front of Danny. His hand fiddled with the crucifix that was hanging around his neck. Anyone that would have known him would have taken the simple action as a sign that he was anxious or uneasy.

"So... you... want to talk about it?" The blessed gold jewelry flashed in the faded light that was leaking through one of the nearby dusty windows.

Danny froze. Did he just hear what he thought he just heard?

Seeing Danny's less than stellar reaction, Nyx continued hurriedly, "Listen, I know that you probably don't want to even talk to me about something like this-"

"You remind me of my sister." Danny interjected quietly, something unidentifiable lacing his voice.

Nyx paused and gave Danny a disbelieving look, not entirely sure how to respond to that, "Um... excuse me?"

Danny looked up at Nyx for the first time since he had come back in. Teary, red rimmed, dim green eyes met with shocked sliver-blue ones.

Nyx stared at Danny's disheveled appearance for a moment, taken slightly aback by Danny's messy white hair and tear stained face. Danny was supposed to be a hero, right...? He was supposed to be a strong and invincible hero, something of legend. But from what he saw of the boy that was sitting in front of him... he didn't see anything that even remotely resembled a hero. What he saw was a frightened and desperate 14 year old boy... Truthfully Danny reminded Nyx of himself shortly after realty had set back in on that awful day his parents had died.

-DP-

Ok so what do you guys think? I know that most of this chapter was all feely touchy crying crap but, it's Danny and we all know he's big into self-pity! Though I will promise that the pity party will wrap up next chapter and to top that off next chapter Nyx will get a certain letter and chaos will ensue! Big thanks to The Rose Blue Prince for being an awesome beta! And a big thanks to all of my reviewers! I'm glad you all enjoyed the story so much! Though please don't be shy a leave a few more reviews please!