Chapter 14: An Ounce of Truth

Vlad suppressed a yawn as he walked up to his room. He had never been so glad to be heading to bed. Sadly, the millionaire knew that he probably wouldn't get much rest with those ribs of his.

Regardless, Masters slowly pushed open the golden doors with the huge 'M' on them, the décor glinting slightly as he shut the doors behind him. He smiled graciously as he glanced at the Packers decorations in his room. It was a welcoming sight. His life had changed a lot in the last few weeks, but at least this room had remained the same.

Yawning, he tugged off his tie and took his jacket off, folding it and placing it on a nearby green fainting chair. The bachelor then entered his private bathroom. The soft white tiling and gold trimming glinted softly as he threw the last of his asphalt and blood drenched clothing on the white marble flooring. Soon, the roar of running water filled the room.

Vlad could only stare at himself in the mirror.

As usual his hair was perfect, but the rest of his body was bruised badly and littered with small cuts, but the worst thing was the burn around his neck, the bandage removed

He grimaced at the sight, growing to himself, "Wonderful, I'll have to start liking turtle necks."

Tentatively, he ran his hand slowly over the wound careful not to irritate it. It was during this time that the half-ghost met a realization. The burn was in the shape of a hand.

Baring his neck to the mirror, the millionaire asked in a suspicious tone, "Now how did that happen?"

Glaring at the blemish for a moment more, the mirror slowly fogging up because of the running shower, the millionaire reluctantly pushed the problem to the back of his mind and decided to wash away all the rest of his problems with a warm shower.

A few seconds later warm water was soothing the knots in his back and the headache forming in his forehead. Placing his palms on the tiling, the millionaire allowed his head to fall into the warm stream. He hummed in appeasement despite the sting of his neck. The sound of the water always helped him clear his mind. Slowly, as predicted, all of his worries sank down the drain. He smiled softly to himself allowing only one thought to remain on his mind: now that he had Daniel … what was he going to shape him into?

…

Across the spacious home, Danny curled into his blankets as a ghost of a smile spread across his lips. They were so warm and comfortable. He always loved his bed for the smell of the detergent his mother used and the soft musk that seemed to seep into the sheets from merely being in his room. He also treasured the way his blankets clung to his body on Sunday mornings. Danny took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of the blankets only to open his eyes and sit up with a start. These weren't his blankets!

The teenager looked around hurriedly with the help of the faint light showering in through the glass doors which presumably led out to a deck on his left. Where was he? Breath coming in little gasps of growing panic, Danny finally caught sight of his bag pack on a decorative chair, an item of familiarity. And it also brought a deep sadness … It was the only thing that had survived the flames onslaught because he had left it at school.

Swallowing, feeling sorrow rise in his gut, Danny sat up straight and glance at the shadowed room. It was large and was actually like three rooms, not that he should be surprised. He had stayed in a guest room once … the night he had met his most troubling menace: Plasmius. His room was different though. Despite being bigger than his parent's first apartment, it was surprisingly welcoming unlike the cold guest room. This room was meant to be lived in. He could even see the dim outline of a bookcase and a large study desk with decorative oddities like a space station replica and a globe. Well, it seemed that Vlad at least knew one of his interests.

Beside himself, Danny chuckled bemusedly to himself, "This is my new room, isn't it? Well … at least Cheese Head didn't decorate my room in Packer's memorabilia."

Sighing, praying to God that Vlad wouldn't connect him to the demon and demand answers, Danny fell back into his bed and pulled the sheets up to his neck praying for rest. He would worry about that in the morning. Hopefully, Vlad would merely think the truck driver was a spree killer or at worst an assassin. Truthfully, Danny would be surprised if there weren't people or ghosts out for Vladimir's blood.

Sighing into his sheets, praying that they would smell like him soon enough, the teenager found himself slowly falling back into his sleep cycle … only to have a soft whisper jolt him from his rest.

"Pist! Danny? Are you awake?"

Danny's eyes snapped open, the teenager praying he was just hearing things. His ghost breath hadn't occurred so it wasn't a spirit. Then again, his powers hadn't been the most reliable. Closing his eyes, Danny prayed that he was just imagining things and the house was just settling or something. He had never been afraid of a spirit before … but now he was helpless. He needed this to be just a creek of wooden floors. He couldn't deal with this.

"Danny, Danny, come on. Wake up, I don't have long."

Hands tightening on his sheets, Danny tired his hardest to remain still and appear asleep. It couldn't be real. It was just another sign of his impending madness. It was just another sign that he would soon break down and allow Dan to exist. Please … anything, but that.

Suddenly there was a yank on his sheets, the teenager yelping in surprise as he sat up and slammed his back again his head board, his eyes wandering the room as he choked, "Who's there? I-if this is a joke. It isn't funny."

"Tch … don't be a wimp Danny. Did you become a softy ever since Vlad took you in?" whispered the voice obviously now originating from under the teenager's bed. If one dared call it a bed since the bed was the size of a small yacht.

Danny, frowning at the voice's mocking, finally recognized the voice, "Tucker?"

Thankful that it was at least a friend even if it was a hallucination, the teenager leaned over the side of the bed and peeked under to see none other than his dead friend who looked burnt as usual. He looked a bit different though, less misty but not as corporeal as most ghosts. "What are you doing here? … And don't call me wimpy."

Tucker ignored the threat.

"I came to check on you. I wanted to make sure that thing didn't hurt you," stated Tucker as he climbed from under the bed and sat on the silky sheets.

Danny pulled himself from under his sheets and sat beside his friend, glad for someone familiar and yet one question rang in his head, "Tucker … How did you know about the demon?"

Tucker resisted the urge to slap himself as he tried to come up with a lie. The truth was that Smith had told him, but even if he did tell Danny that he probably wouldn't believe him. So he lied … a terrible lie at that.

"I'm a ghost … so yeah. We see things that people don't think we see."

The teenager rose an eyebrow. That was a horrible lie. True, Tucker had always been a horrible lair just like him, but he didn't really care about that right now. If Tucker didn't want to tell him, there was probably a reason for that … or Tucker just didn't know. Personally, Danny felt it had something to do with Tucker's current form. Was it some weird type of spirit or an allusion of his fragile mind? Because if he was a figment … that would answer why Tucker wouldn't know. Danny didn't know so why would a figment of his subconscious?

Swallowing, praying that he wasn't going mad, Danny asked, "Tucker, are you really a ghost or just a figment of my imagination?"

Tucker merely rolled his eyes, taking off his glasses as he pretended to try and clean them off.

"Listen Danny, I wish I could tell you everything but …," Tucker shivered slightly at the thought, "I'd be put back into the box. I hate the box Danny. Please, don't make me go back in there. If I told you … well let's just say I'll know why the caged bird sings."

"The box?" questioned Danny as pulled at his pajamas; they were giving him a wedgie. Wait? When did I put on pajamas? He looked down to find he was wearing his panda pajamas … again. Damn that jerk got me again and how did I get these on? Oh, no he didn't! Oh god! My innocents has been shattered!

Tucker watched his friend's face turn into a horrified snarl as he pulled at his pajamas … were those pandas? The dead teenager restrained a laugh as he stared at the cute bears. They were something that Jazz would wear (not Danny). Tucker tried to ignore the pandas and concentrate so he could get what Smith told him to. Getting out of the box, for whatever the reason, was worth it!

Clearing his throat, the techno geek tried to catch Danny's attention.

Danny, finally looking up at his friend with a horrified expression, whimpered, "He undressed me and put me in these girly clothes! Oh, my fragile mind, slowly falling into darkness, I can feel the walls closing in!"

Tucker rolled his eyes, Drama Queen, though it was nice to see the sarcastic wit of his old friend. "Oh come on Danny. You probably were asleep and Vlad didn't want you to sleep in your filthy, blood covered clothes. It was a rather fatherly thing to do if you ask me. Besides, it's not like he's a child molester or anything … Is he?"

"I don't know and don't you ever, I mean ever, put Vlad and fatherly in the same sentence again!" said Danny as he pointed threateningly at the other.

" … Alright," smirked Tucker, glad to have hit a sore spot that he could use to pick on the other later … if there was a later. "So, forgive me for prying but did Cheese Head adopt you?"

Danny sighed and answered in a dejected manner, "Yes … apparently, especially since the cops didn't take me away from him after the semi episode. So I doubt I've been kidnapped without my knowledge."

Gaining a snide grin, Tucker couldn't help but float around his friend, chuckling, "Does that mean I can call you Danny Masters now?"

Then, rubbing it in, Tucker stuck his nose up in the air and gained a nasally voice, "Master Danny Masters would you like some crumpets, tea, maybe a side of evil with your afternoon tea? We can even beat up this orphan boy I found for sport."

Danny could only flush crimson as he struggled to defend himself, "T-that was a terrible impersonation. And for your information I haven't seen one butler or crumpet since I got here. And what do you mean by Master Danny Masters? That's a terrible name!"

"Those were adoption papers he signed so technically you are his son. So your last name is probably Masters now," mocked Tucker coyly before he jabbed the point home. "So do you have to call him dad or papa or father dearest?"

Danny rose to his feet and stood shakily on the mattress as he pointed down at Tucker in a threatening manner.

"Never! I'd rather die a thousand fiery deaths or eat my own tongue before I call him father dearest! I hear by solemnly swear never to say those words to him. Even if I have to banish it from my vocabulary so be it!" Danny proclaimed to the sky before he flopped on the bed and stated in a calmer tone, "Besides, father dearest sounds like something a girl from a civil war movie would say, and I don't have the proper dress for that role. So, now if you done humiliating me, can we get back on track about why you are here. I just know Vlad is going to make my life a living hell in one way or another and I'd rather not dwell on that right now."

Tucker smiled to himself, silent. The truth was obviously bothering him.

"Soo…" said Danny as he continued to stare at the ceiling, turning his head slightly to look at his dead friend who now seemed upset, but he needed answers. "I know you obviously don't want to talk about it, but Tucker if you are not a delusion… Why are you here? Are you here to haunt me for being a bad friend or do you have some unfinished business?"

"It's more like I don't have a choice," whispered Tucker to himself before he turned to Danny and asked, "Actually, I'm here because I had to ask you a question. Tell me … did the demon say or do anything weird?"

"By weird you mean trying to kill me without a real purpose?" answered Danny flatly. "And what does it matter? He's dead, right?"

Tucker couldn't look Danny in the eye.

Swallowing, catching the hint, Danny murmured, "You don't think he's dead, do you?"

Taking off his glasses, trying to clean off the charcoal again, Tucker whispered, "It doesn't matter what I think. I … just wanted to make sure to ask you to keep your guard up. So, tell me, do you know what the demon looks like? His earthly form that is."

Raising a brow, wondering if Tucker was going to go check the riverbed himself, Danny murmured, "How could I forget? I dreamed about him stealing it from Joed at a KFC parking lot. I don't think I'll ever eat fried chicken again … or become a fry cook."

Danny swallowed at the thought. The poor fry cook.

"You … saw it in a dream?" Tucker swallowed slightly, gritting his teeth. This was bad! That was one of the powers Rodger had warned him about. He said it was a bad sign, because it meant that Danny was marked. No doubt by the burn on his arm.

"Yes, it was … terrible. The poor guy didn't even know what hit him," said Danny softly as he placed a hand over his eyes. He really didn't need to think of that right now.

Sighing, not knowing what else to ask, Danny whispered, "Tucker? What exactly did this demon want from me? Did he just want to kill me or was there something more?"

Tucker turned away from his friend's gaze, his words choked, "I don't know, but I will try to find out."

… Because I know Smith knows.

…

Elsewhere in the household, Skulker exited the Ghost Zone with a huff. He had no idea what was going on in there. Yes, Joed did give him some important information, but what did it mean? Who was this enemy and what child did he want? Skulker sighed heavily as he thought of Joed's words… Tell someone. Who would he tell when all the spirits weren't in the Ghost Zone? And unfortunately Skulker didn't play nice with ghosts of authority like that Walker character. But there were always contacts outside of the Ghost Zone he supposed. There was also Vlad.

The hunter acidly looked around the lab for the familiar half-a. If Vlad was up in the evening he was either in his lab or in his office working on paper work … or he could just be sleeping. Sometimes the half-a actually acted human and got some sleep. Well, he'd start from the bottom and head upwards he supposed.

Floating up through the ceiling, Skulker set out of find a room with a huge 'M' on the doors … or perhaps it was a Packers emblem on the door. The man's room wasn't exactly a familiar destination for him. Not that he minded wandering the large castle; it would give him time to gather his thoughts. He didn't want to sound like a raving lunatic after all.

…

"Tucker … Tucker? Where did you go? Tucker?" growled Danny as he carefully made his way around the corner, hating that he had admitted that he was starving to the other during their growing conversation… and thus a search for the kitchen had begun. Too bad he lost Tucker in the search, but Danny had a suspicion that his friend just needed an excuse to wonder off. Apparently, Tucker now had secrets to keep and as much as that bothered Danny, at least he had one of his friends back.

Well, feet slapping on linoleum, at least he found the kitchen, a god amongst growing teenagers. Danny personally had no idea how he got there and cared little because, to tell the truth, he was starving. The half-ghost slid over to the huge silver fridge and threw it open happily, not even bothering to turn on the light. Besides, the fridge had enough light shining down on him as if it was from heaven above … and Danny almost cried because how beautiful it was. The fridge was actually full. Vlad had struck him as the type of person who couldn't make a green bean casserole for that matter a ham sandwich, but the fridge was packed with food. Danny couldn't help but laugh to himself at the thought of Vlad cooking … the maid or somebody else was probably the one responsible for cooking and filling the fridge. He'd be thankful to them, he supposed.

A few moments later, Danny was making himself a cheese and mayonnaise sandwich, the fridge door left open for light. It wasn't that he was too lazy to turn on the kitchen light. He just couldn't find the light switched because the kitchen was huge. Danny hummed softly to himself regardless as he cut a slice of cheese only to halt in his tracts when he heard the squeak of the kitchen door. Danny swallowed a hunk of cheese, shut the refrigerator door, kneeled down, and grabbed his umbrella (which he brought for defense thanks to Tucker's paranoia) and a spork. Whatever it was, it was going to get a spork to the eye because it was awfully strange that he hadn't ran into one ghost on the way down here. Personally, he hoped it was Vlad and not a poor maid or someone else alive.

Opening the kitchen door, Skulker stepped softly into the kitchen. He could have sworn he had just seen a light in here. Frowning, he shrugged his shoulders and tried to remember where the light switch was. He rolled his eyes when he remembered it was on the other side of the room, which as at least a quarter of a mile away. Okay, maybe he was exaggerating slightly, but why did that millionaire have to have a kitchen the size of Texas when he was only one man?

The hunter shook his head at the thought and walked towards the opposite side, his metal shoes clanking heavily as he walked in the direction of the refrigerator.

The teenager, meanwhile, nearly choked on his sandwich as he listened to the loud clank of footsteps come his way. Knowing all too well that a maid wouldn't be wearing heavy boots and neither would Vlad; so Danny knelt down in the dark ready to attack. He beat that demon without his ghost powers … well, normal ghost powers … but a spork would be painful as well if whatever it was came his way!

He just prayed that whoever it was … wasn't the demon. Yes, the thing fell to his grimy death, but with Tucker's suspicious behavior a part of Danny felt as if the fire demon wasn't really dead. Or deader at least.

The hunter walked forward paying little attention to anything as he thought about the glorious kitchen, running a hand idly over the stainless steel oven in the middle of the room. Yes, it was overly large for a single man, but any chef would love to grace this kitchen. It was well stocked and had every cooking device one could imagine. Skulker would know because … he had another hobby besides hunting. He always had a soft spot for cooking and though he was no world renowned chef, he didn't consider himself half bad.

Deciding that the traveling spirit's warning could wait until the morning, Skulker decided that perhaps practicing his second favorite pastime was in order. Heading over to the fridge to see what fresh ingredients were available, a foot from the fridge, the next thing Skulker knew a sharp pain jabbed through his foot and he was pulling a spork out of his foot while cursing every name under the sun. Before he could even question what stabbed him, the hunter noted the glint of ghostly eyes up at him with their killer intent.

It wouldn't be the first time a ghost assassin had snuck into Vlad's castle trying to off the half-a and claim his territory.

Cursing his luck, the hunter jumped over the oven in the middle of the room as a swarm of pointy silverware came his way. It would seem he had fallen into a trap and if he didn't do something a spoon was probably going to off him, permanently. Fortunately, for Skulker, the onslaught of silverware quickly ended as the culprit ran out of the metal death tools. Skulker, knowing better than to waste an opportunity, gave a war cry, pointed his plasma blaster over the counter, and started shooting in random directions because his enemy apparently was cunningly camouflaged.

Danny nearly choked on his second piece of cheese as something that certainly wasn't human started shooting at him! The teenager ducked and pulled open his umbrella as pieces of china started showering all over. Cursing the intruder, Danny growled when he noticed … he had ran out of silverware.

Looking desperately around the room for some kind of ammo, the teenager finally noticed that he was still eating his sandwich through the onslaught. He might have been surprised but considering how often he had to eat and run as Danny Phantom, he really wasn't surprised. It did give him an idea though. The fridge was bound to have something that could at least be distracting.

Plus, he was still hungry.

Creeping over to the door as the intruder continued to destroy the china to his left, Danny pulled open the fridge only to have his enemy suddenly notice him the second he opened the door. Not that that was all too surprising given the fridge had a light, but it was a surprise when the intruder shot out the light as well as a jug of milk, splatter milk down the teenager's head along with a package of Kong POW chicken. The teenager could only sit there for a moment as he patted himself down for gunshot wounds. Then, perhaps far to use to fighting, the half ghost gave a roaring cry, reaching into the fridge and threw a package of celery which was quickly followed by a cup of baking soda, a half frozen duck, an open Red Bull, a six-pack of Coors, tofu, a package of cheese (wait. I'll keep that), leftover lasagna, a container of pig's feet (eww, what's that doing in here), a jar of pickles, and a lot of stuff. Danny kind of lost tract after the pig's feet, because he didn't really want to know what else the mad millionaire kept in his refrigerator of horrors.

The hunter was at first surprised when a stalk of celery flew past his head though a moment later he gave a screech of horror as a frozen duck slammed into his face along with some other disgusting things he'd rather forget. A few moments later, his vents full of cottage cheese, Skulker sat on the floor watching the food fly over the stove. There was no way in hell he was going to be able to get in a shot with all that food flying his way. He sighed and started to clean the sauerkraut out of his gun until something slid against his foot. At first he cringed away thinking it was something disagreeable only to be pleasantly surprised when he noticed what it really was.

"Great, a beer. Just want I need," grumbled Skulker as he opened the can and took a sip, quickly deciding to wash something down with it. "Is that a pig's foot? I love those!"

…

Elsewhere, up the stairs, Vlad whined into his pillow as he tried to drown out the noise from below with another pillow. For a moment it seemed like he was successful only to hear more crashing. Growling, having just gotten to sleep, Vlad sat up and listened to crashes come from what was presumably the kitchen below. He had placed his room strategically so he could just ghost through the floor and get a snack whenever he wanted. Now it just seemed like a horrible idea because the kitchen was the Dairy King's favorite place to haunt and Skulker was undoubtedly trying to catch him.

It wasn't that Vladimir minded have spirits in his castle, generally they were his lackeys, but with Daniel injured … it was best not to tempt fate. He'd let the boy settle in and then would slowly reintroduce spirits into the castle.

But quite honestly he could really care less about spirits right now as he rolled over in bed and flopped a pillow over his face, wondering if he might accidently suffocate himself if he fell asleep like this. And it had been such a good dream! It was a rather intimate dream about Maddie and those idiots downstairs had to go and ruin it! Vlad growled angrily at the interruption and finally crawled out of bed careful not to disturb his ribs. The millionaire gave one more angry glare at the floor to see if it would quiet down. When it did not he turned into Plasmuis, pillow still in hand, and slowly started to sink down through the floor.

That frog had better not put a stain on that new tiling or a scratch on his Packers china or there would be hell to pay.

…

The battlefield was brutal. He had thrown a dozen pots and few butcher knives yet the intruder had not fallen! Danny curled into a ball as a dozen sporks pierced his thin shield of an umbrella. He had to survive. He had to keep fighting! Danny grabbed a spork that had pierced his umbrella and rose to his feet. He was going to go down like a man and not a child curled up in a ball!

Skulker threw his gun to the floor. It was too clogged with food to be of any use. He had to win this battle with hand-to-hand combat. Generally, he'd grab one of his combat knives but they were all currently impaled elsewhere in the kitchen. So, instead, Skulker grabbed the frying pan which had dented his armor earlier and rose to his feet. He wasn't going down without getting his two cents in!

Danny peered across the table with fear as the shadowy figure rose to its feet as well. Danny swallowed. He was so going to die. Regardless, the teenager screamed out with rage as the shadow did the same. It was time for mortal combat!

"What do you think you two are doing!" suddenly interrupted a voice, Plasmius switching on the kitchen light to see the once beautiful room in chaos. He nearly fainted when he saw that his Packers china had been blown to smithereens. A spork sticking out of the last one that was still in one piece.

"Vlad! The demon sent an intruder to finish me … it … it's … Skulker?" Danny cried out until he finally noticed that the ghost was no pawn of the demon or the demon itself. It was just a rather food splattered Skulker.

Swallowing, hiding the spork behind his back, Danny choked, "Oh hey, it's you. Just you …. Soooo … What are you doing here?"

"I should ask the same thing ghost child. I thought it would be a few more days until I had the displeasure of seeing you, whelp."

Vlad stared mournfully at his Packer's dishes for a moment more before he looked up to watch the two beings quiet down and speak calmly like old frien-emies.

"You two," barked Plasmius, his eyes glowing threateningly. "What have you done to my kitchen?! Danny why are you even out of bed, and Skulker why are you shooting at my godson?"

Danny and Skulker stared at each other with worried expressions. They both then started to talk as quickly as possible, trying to pawn the blame on the other.

"You see I had just come back from –"

"You see I woke up and –"

"the Ghost Zone and I had to tell you something important, but –"

"I had no idea where I was and then I noticed –"

"I couldn't remember what room was yours so I –"

"that I was starving. So I found the kitchen and –"

"started walking around and I noticed there was a light in the kitchen. The ghost child –"

"freaked out and attacked Skulker with a spork because I –"

"attacked me when I walked past the fridge and –"

"thought he was something else and then he –"

"Enough!" suddenly interrupted Plasmius, pink energy erupting from his hands. Both Skulker and Danny froze in place in reaction as the millionaire floated over to them, his words a threat. "I don't care which one of you started it, but I want to know why you two had to destroy my kitchen?! You have until the count of three to give me a decent answer!"

The ghost and teenager both shared a weary look and then Skulker coughed into his hand, 'I'll shoot you' as casually as he could. Danny, mouth open, was about to whine to Vlad about being threatened by the help, but Plasmius' face still had a no-nonsense glare to it. So, giving in, Danny decided to do something stupid.

"What do you even need a kitchen for? It's not as if you know how to cook," grumbled Danny as he gave Plasmius an irritated look. He knew that he shouldn't be doing such stupid things when he didn't even have ghost powers but at least Vladimir was the least likely to hit him right now considering he had sat by his bedside for a few weeks and was probably sick of hospitals at this point.

Vlad, eyes narrowing, suddenly grabbed Danny by his pajama collar, his words almost a hiss, "It's three in the morning Daniel. Now is not the time to test my patience or charity. Why are you even out of bed and out here with the crazed hunter?"

"Hey," Skulker defended.

Shuffling, part of him still skeptical if Tucker was an delusion or not, Danny rubbed his arm and murmured, "Just couldn't sleep … I guess."

Danny immediately winced at how weak his lie sounded, but luckily for the teenager Vlad interrupted it differently, the older half ghost's feet suddenly hitting the floor as he transformed back, looking tired and piteous. His words were soft, "I understand, Daniel. It was nightmare again, wasn't it?"

A bit flabbergast, Danny almost reared back. That wasn't it, but then again … He didn't exactly want to admit the truth. Vlad already thought he was heavily unbalanced. Luckily, Skulker was always good for a distraction.

"Is the poor baby afraid of the dark? Did he come down for some warm milk," continued Skulker as he picked one of his hunting knifes out of the cabinet with a tug, making it a point to wave it threateningly about before he put it away. After all, since he couldn't attack the kid physically he'd do it emotionally. Yeah … emotional trauma could be fun.

Danny was shocked for a moment. Unable to speak as his mouth hung open on invisible hinges. Vlad merely looked down on Danny with a worried expression, all anger lost from his features. Danny hated it when Vlad did that! He hated it when that man worried about him and dotted over him like a … a father. Danny flushed at the thought and became rather defensive. "Am not! I am not afraid of the dark! I've –

"Daniel," chided Vlad in a calm tone. "Why don't you just calm down and go to your room. You know the doctors said to try and ignore stress on your medications. I'll talk to you in a few minutes, but first I want to know what's so urgent that Skulker decided to destroy my kitchen over it."

"But … but, I don't –"

"Daniel, I said I'll speak with you in a few minutes" groused his godfather in a demanding voice as he pushed the teenager slightly towards the door.

Danny held his footing and whined over his shoulder, "But … I don't really know how to get to my room."

Skulker chuckled slightly, standing over the shorter youth, "As if. It's more like you're afraid to go alone. What do you think there's something under your bed?"

"What! No!"

Vlad slapped his hand over the teenager's mouth. His nerves were on end and he really wanted to find out what Skulker was here for. The hunter rarely came unwarranted. He really didn't need some ghost trying to claim his territory right now.

"Not another word from you! Go to the television room. It's at the end of the hall," snapped his godfather as he gave a demanding push towards the door.

"The light switch is right by the sofa," added Skulker as he took a bite of a pig's foot he found on the counter.

Danny was about to comment, but Vlad pushed him out of the swinging doors and pointed towards the room, "Watch television, play the game stations or something. I will talk to you in a moment."

Growling something about Vlad only having Packers reruns, Danny reluctantly walked down the halls and into the room wishing his ghost powers worked so he could listen in unnoticed.

Vlad sighed slightly as he turned back to his number one agent. He was going to need therapy by the end of the month just because of that boy.

"What?" said Skulker innocently as he took a seat on one of the bar stools near the mini-bar that was located on the far corner. He was half glad that he and boy hadn't taken their battle to this side of the huge kitchen. He might have been dead, but he could still taste and his suit could use all matters of fuel for energy. So he didn't waste a moment pouring two glasses of vodka, offering one to millionaire hoping to suck up to the half ghost.

"You really didn't have to mock him like that Skulker," said Vlad flatly as he took a seat beside the ghost, "And isn't it a bit early for hard liquor?"

"Never stopped you before … or is that the dad complex speaking?" mocked the hunter as Vlad reluctantly took the glass, "I thought he was going to be a tool."

"All well made tools take time to craft, Skulker. You know that," murmured Vlad as he leaned on the counter, yawning at the early morning. "It took you a few years."

"And yet it seems like yesterday," chuckled the ghost, vaguely recalling a young acne-covered Plasmius. "But that's not what I needed to talk about. I was in the Ghost Zone earlier and something … odd … has happened."

Vlad merely threw a gaze at him that stated 'so' as he murmured in a tired tone, "Odd? You are going to have to be more specific. Miscreants like the Box Ghost and Walker live there."

"Still pissed about that bounty he put on your head, huh?" chuckled Skulker.

Vlad gave him a bored look, "I'm going back to bed if you can't think of anything interesting to say."

"Tch, don't get your boxers in a bunch," grinned Skulker. "Or are you a briefs man?"

"… I'm going to bed," suddenly said Vlad, bored of this game.

"Okay, okay. I was trying to build suspense," mocked Skulker as he turned back to his drink, "but like I was saying, I saw something weird: a traveling spirit."

Vlad lost interest in his drink and turned all his attention to the hunter, curiosity bubbling to the surface. He had only read of the things. They were too brief, a glimmer in the Ghost Zone's landscape and then they passed on or became a spirit. He, himself, had never had the opportunity to see one. He felt they were a sign … that there was an after world. And he needed there to be an after world: if only for Maddie.

Trying not to sound too intrigued, Vlad nodded and murmured, "A rare occurrence indeed, but of little importance to me. There is not time to speak with one before it fades, and neither the living nor dead can catch one so I don't see what it has to do with waking me at three in the morning Skulker. Not one bit."

Skulker chuckled at the man's brash tone, obviously tired and oh so human despite all the fear he installed in the dead. Grinning broadly, Skulker got to the punch line that he knew would make the millionaire basically beg for details, "You see I didn't really want to talk to you about the happening itself … but what the thing said."

Vlad, interest returned to his drink, stalled mid sip and frowned, his words a threat, "You better not be lying to me."

"Me, never."

Still carrying a sullen expression, the half-a murmured, "But of course … regardless, if it did indeed speak, what did it say?" The millionaire smirked slightly and motioned towards his destroyed kitchen, "How bad your shot is? By the look of my Packer's dishes and Daniel's nonexistent injuries, I'd say that would be it."

Skulker scoffed, his smile slowly disappearing, his tone anything but a joke, "No, I'd say it was a warning. One that I would worry about Plasmius because despite that warning ... a lot of head ghosts are no longer in the Ghost Zone. It's like they are scared."

…

Vlad somehow resisted the urge to head to the Ghost Zone the second Skulker was done with his report. It was an interesting tale to say the least and deserving of his attention and curiosity, but first he had something else to deal with.

His last piece of Maddie.

Footsteps silent, the millionaire entered as the television room without a sound. There was his godson sitting in a fluffy armchair flipping through the channels. The teenager finally stopped on a news channel. Vlad watched silently, observing his godson. On the news was a young Asian woman who was the host of a gossip weekly show, which was a fifteen-minute show dedicated to rumors on the rich and famous. Vlad personally despised her.

"It seems that the rumors of the wealthy businessman Vlad Masters might have some truth to them after all," said the perky women to her smartly dressed male partner.

"Is that so Diana?" said the young male partner as a picture of Vlad flashed in the corner of the screen. "So it's true that the millionaire's house is haunted even though he is now the top producer of ghost products?"

"Well, I don't know about his castle being haunted Tom, but with the recent increase in ghost sightings I wouldn't be surprised. Either way, it's great news for him with the competition being burned to the ground. Now there's just him and the Paranormal Government Branch to buy ghost protection products from."

"I guess that's true, but the real story about this millionaire, since he'd turned forty, is who'll be getting his fortune?" Tom smiled greedily at the thought.

"That's right. This millionaire has been on the scope of many young actresses, yet not one has managed to get their fingers in his pockets for that matter his pants. So this news is for those girls of you after this millionaire… I hope you like kids."

"That's right ladies. It seems that the ghost product company, Fenton Products, burned to the ground in an accidental fire, killing everyone except the youngest son. That kid is now a Masters and the heir to the million-dollar fortune, which is presently growing everyday due to the increase in ghost sightings. Now, in later news the actress Josie Roberts broke up with her –"

Click.

Danny switched off the television and stared at the black screen for a moment, glaring at his and Vlad's reflections in the inky blackness. Tilting his head, not the least bit perturbed by the news, he murmured, "I'm not afraid of the dark."

Vlad frowned softly and stepped forward, placing his hand on the chair's back, feeling the new fabric, "I never said you were afraid of the dark, but I never said you weren't afraid of the things in the dark."

Danny rose to his feet and glared at Vlad, his words biting, "I'm not afraid of anything!"

"Is that so?" Vlad's eyes turned to slits. He was sick of that teenager lying to him and with Skulker's recent information, he wasn't really in the mood for the teenager's lies. Before he could stop himself, a slapping noise filled the room, Vlad's flat open palm striking Danny's pale cheek.

The younger half ghost, stumbling back in surprise, stood there with a shocked expression on his face as he raised his hand to touch the red spot on his pale flesh.

"Wh … what was that for?" choked Danny, surprised. No one had ever slapped him like that. It felt so much more personal than a plasma fight. It was something he could see a parent doing … his parent.

"I'm sick of your lies, Daniel. During your hospital stay and your family's funeral, I understood. You were traumatized, hurting, but I am sick of your lies now. And then you had the audacity to lie to my face in front of a subordinate. I know that there is something going on here." Vlad whispered, eyes cold, his words digging. "… What really happened in the fire Daniel?"

" … Nothing." whimpered Danny in a small voice. "The cops told you it was a lab accident."

Vlad was unfazed as he asked the next question, "And what about those dreams of yours and the demon you have repeatedly mentioned?"

" … I-I don't know. I don't remember them very well," choked Danny as a lone tear rolled down his cheek.

"What about the accident with the truck?" Vlad pulled down the top part of his night shirt and bandage, bearing his burn to Danny. "And what of this? This looks like a hand mark to me? At first I thought it was a freak accident like everyone else, but now I think that you picked a fight with a ghost that was too strong for you Danny. You stepped into someone else's territory and it came back to bite you. It killed your family, scarred you for life and now it tried to kill both of us on the bridge, didn't it? Tell me who it was so I can avenge my Maddie!"

"Or," Vlad's words were bitter. "Look me in the eye and tell me it was really a lab accident and everything up to this point has been a freak occurrence. You said you didn't remember what happened when the cops asked about the fire and I have been patient, but given your reaction to Skulker in the kitchen tonight and your nightmares … I feel there is something you are not telling me, that there is an enemy you are looking for."

Danny just stood there with his mouth slightly open, tears running down his cheeks. He couldn't tell Vlad yet. It hurt too much. He … didn't want anyone else to know even though the older half ghost had all but hit the nail on the head. Besides, he wanted to kill that thing himself! It was his right to do so! Not Vlad's. He just had to keep his secret just a little longer until his powers came back.

Vlad stopped for a moment and looked down at his shaken godchild, his words softer, tired, "Please tell me Daniel."

"… I told you it's nothing. I don't even remember anything."

Slap! Another red mark of a handprint quickly formed on Danny's opposite cheek.

"If it was nothing you wouldn't be crying," Vlad ground out as he grabbed Danny by his shoulders and forced the teenager to look him in the face. "Daniel, I know you dream about it. I know that a dream woke you tonight. Why else would you be up? Now tell me … What happened that day in the fire? Please. I'm trying to help and it will benefit us both, but I can't do anything about what happened to Maddie until you tell me the truth."

Danny weakly tried to draw away from his godfather, but finally gave in and whispered in a shaky voice, "You want the truth?"

"Yes," said the millionaire simply as he searched his godson's face for the truth before it could be said.

"The truth is … the truth is I couldn't protect them from that thing! I wasn't strong enough. I … I …"

Vlad swallowed, his need for revenge seeming to teeter on the other's words, "And what caused the fire? Daniel?"

Danny looked up at him with pleading eyes, "Please … just stop."

"Stop? But you have –"

Danny pushed away from him, a strange electric tinge forcing Vlad to stumble back, a power he hadn't felt before from his godson. Then, before he could question the odd energy or his godson's words, the teenager was running out of the room. Vlad, holding his neck wound as the electric charge irritated it, found himself calling after the other as he followed the angry teen into the dark halls. Danny, probably because he had no idea where his room was, suddenly disappeared into the first room he could find, which awkwardly enough was a bathroom. The teenager slammed it shut, locked the door, and flopped against the door.

Vlad, stalling in front of the restroom, soon found himself jiggling the handle before he knocked harshly on the wood, "Daniel, open the door. Daniel! We are not done talking yet."

There was a moment of dragging silence until a small sob and whimper escaped the room, "Leave me alone… I-I'm going to the bathroom."

Danny then slid to the floor and hid his face in his hands. He was so weak and childish. He couldn't keep his secret to himself and Vlad was such a persistent bastard that he would soon find out the truth sooner or later, but right now was too soon.

Vlad, lip twitching at the childish excuse, pulled on the door handle once more as he grumbled, "… What did I tell you about lying to me?"

When he got no reply except for a soft sobbing noise, Vlad nervously ran a hand through his hair with another sigh. There was no way in hell Danny was going to come out of there on his own accord right now, and Vlad didn't really want to phase thought the door and force him too. The kid was still so broken.

Deciding to give in to the child's sorrow, he murmured, "… You don't have to tell me right now Danny, but you will tell me soon. There will be no negotiating on that matter... Good night."

Vlad then reluctantly turned away. This was more bad news then he needed.

XXX

Paw07: I had a completely different idea for this chapter but I can use that later on. Well thanks for reading! And now here is another installment of why not to leave your laptop unguarded. Yeah … mindless drabble. I'll probably poison their soup for this.

Evil sister: Loser, she left to get food! Muhahahahahahaah! … Loser left again. Evil sister's friend: Paw smells good! (: … Just kidding. Evil sister: what she smells like bunnies… Don't give her compliments. Evil sister's friend: Hey, guess where she is.. She's by the microwave.

Edit: I swear I had to edit bloody everything! Ugh, this chapter took forever. I had to delete so much OC-ness and stupidity out of it and then almost every other sentence had to be restructured. This took forever … then again it could have something to do with the 2,600 words I added. Ugh, I even deleted scenes and it ended up that long. Please be easier next chapter. Also, this used to be called Night Terrors, but An Ounce of Truth sounded much more fitting.

(Revisions December 2013)