Hello, everyone. I've been updating a lot over the past few days, and I just wanted to tell you why, if you haven't visited my profile yet. I'm going to be leaving the country later today to serve a mission for my church for the next 18 months, and I really wanted to finish this story before I left. Now, I will post as much as I can personally, including summaries of the scenes that I didn't have time to write. My little sister will be updating the rest every couple days, and passing along your reviews and thoughts as I head out into the world.
Due to time constrictions, and serious writer's block, I haven't written the scene where Danny steals the book from Freakshow. So, read this scene as if Danny made up with Sam and Tucker, and they helped him steal the book from Freakshow's car. Because that's what was supposed to happen, but surprise, it wouldn't come.
"Plasmius, I got it!" Plasmius looked up as Daniel's excited voice reached him a little before its owner. Daniel zipped to him, holding aloft a thick, leather bound book in triumph. "We had a performance today, and one tomorrow, so he probably won't even have a chance to look in his car until the day after!"
"Excellent! Once you've eaten you can help me look through it and see if there's anything you recognize." Plasmius accepted the book, surprised at its thickness. Daniel started to respond but began coughing, a horrible hacking cough that made Plasmius's eyes want to water just listening to it. Daniel quickly recovered and started again.
"We can do that first, I don't mind." Plasmius scowled at Daniel's attempt to brush him off.
"Daniel, you need to eat." Especially if he was somehow getting sick. Plasmius hadn't gotten sick since the accident, but over the last week Daniel had started coughing. That was the most visible symptom of whatever was plaguing him, but as the days went by, Plasmius was starting to notice more. The boy hadn't been using his ghost powers as frequently, and during the flights that they now took almost every night, his movements had become more sluggish and his breathing labored. Despite how obvious it was becoming that he wasn't feeling well, Daniel continued to brush aside Plasmius's concern. The most peculiar thing about it was that the boy didn't look the slightest bit sick. His skin was still the same healthy tan, and if anything the dark circles under his eyes seemed less prominent.
"Aw, come on Plasmius. I swear I'm not hungry." Something dark flickered in his eyes for the briefest second, but then his grin was back full force. "Freakshow's been feeding me a lot more lately. He thinks I just need that extra nudge so I won't let the huntress get in our way so easily. You'd think he'd give up. It's happened six times now." Plasmius wasn't swayed by this in the least.
"I might believe that if I couldn't wrap my hand around your arm and have my fingers overlap. You need to eat more." Daniel had barely picked at his food the past few nights, and it was starting to seriously worry him. Had his words about ghosts not needing to eat backfired? He wanted to kick himself as he considered the possibility. Perhaps it was his mysterious illness that was to blame. Or was there more? There always seemed to be more where this child was concerned.
"No you can't!" Daniel protested, crossing his arms in annoyance. Plasmius held out his hand expectantly. Hesitant, but curious despite himself, Daniel extended one of his arms.
"Okay, so maybe you can," Danny grudgingly admitted, looking at the fingers wrapping easily around his arm with obvious frustration, "It's not my fault you have huge hands." Plasmius smiled smugly and handed him an apple. Daniel looked at it glumly, but took a bite, flopping down to sit on the roof of the tent.
"May I ask how you managed to get your hands on this?" Plasmius asked, turning the conversation back to the book as he sat down as well. "You mentioned that Freakshow had some sort of security?" Danny smirked, looking incredibly pleased with himself.
"Against ghosts maybe. I just needed some outside help." He didn't elaborate further, and accepted the rest of the food Plasmius handed him without argument. Plasmius was hoping that the medication he had been mixing into the food was helping, but he couldn't be sure that Daniel was even getting any of it. Despite how closely Plasmius watched him, he could swear that Daniel did not actually eat as much food as disappeared. He had to be hiding it in his cloak somehow, but Plasmius could never catch him at it. He'd have to bring soup tomorrow, there was no way Daniel could somehow squirrel that away without him noticing.
Once Daniel 'finished', Plasmius opened the book and began to flick through the pages, lighting up his hand with red energy to read by. He read the names and handwritten descriptions of the artifacts aloud as Daniel looked at the photographs and illustrations that sometimes accompanied them. Getting tired of looking at them upside down, Daniel eventually found himself sitting by Plasmius's side, absently playing with the hem of his white cape as he looked at the pictures.
The Amulet of Aragon. The Crown of Fire. The Ring of Rage. The Soul Shredder. The Skeleton Key. Ghostly books that pulled their readers into alternate dimensions. The Infimap. Dozens of artifacts filled the pages, but Daniel gave a negative sign for each one as the night grew late, and nothing matched what Plasmius was hoping to find either.
"Oh, I recognize that one." Daniel said tiredly, pointing at a beautifully illustrated picture of a jewel encrusted lamp. "It belongs to Freakshow's aunt, Baba Zita. She's a funny lady. She comes by to do palm readings and fortune telling every so often. My master can't wait for her to finally kick it so he can inherit it from her." Plasmius looked over the description. The lamp was rumored to contain a ghost that would grant any wish she heard, but often with a terrible price. Plasmius turned the page, not wanting to consider the idea that there had been a wish granting ghost out there this whole time.
"The Reality Gauntlet," Plasmius said, scanning the page. "The gauntlet has the ability to manipulate reality through the power of the Reality Gems." Daniel stiffened next to him as he looked at the illustration of a medieval gauntlet on the page next to the text.
"I think this is it," Daniel said, stifling a yawn. His finger traced over the triangular red gem that rested at the top of the gauntlet, his face thoughtful. "My master always commands us to bring back colored gems, and spends hours looking through them." Plasmius nodded, holding back a yawn of his own. He looked down at Daniel and saw the exhaustion in his eyes.
"Daniel, you may go, if you wish. I can read the rest of this and share what I find with you tomorrow." Daniel shook his head.
"I'm not that tired. Besides, I need this back." He gestured towards the book. Plasmius didn't argue. He hadn't found what he hoped to find yet. He needed more time.
Plasmius was halfway through the notes on the Gem of Form when a flash of bright light startled him from his reading. Plasmius stared at the boy slumped against him as two bright rings swept over him, his breathing soft as he slept.
After several long moments where Daniel did not stir, Plasmius's hand tentatively reached up, brushing the boy's abruptly raven hair away from his face. This was the first time he'd had the chance to see the Daniel's human form up close since his first visit to Gothica weeks ago. His pale skin shone in the moonlight, contrasting heavily with his dark hair and lashes. Plasmius frowned, his thumb tracing the dark circles under the boy's eyes. His human form looked almost as ghostly as his ghost half.
Should he not come some nights so Daniel could get the rest he clearly needed? A bubble of panic bloomed in his chest and he pushed the thought away. No, he had to see him each night. The days were already slow enough that he wanted to scream, his employees both at home and at work had been avoiding him for days as he was irritable and restless. He couldn't stay away for days at a time. Especially since their relationship seemed to have finally taken off. Ever since Daniel had asked him about his motivations for protecting the city, he began trusting Plasmius more.
Ignoring caution, Plasmius gently pulled the boy more securely against his side. If Daniel woke up, he'd be embarrassed, and likely angry, but for now he was asleep. The book lay forgotten as Plasmius focused on the boy, his relaxed heartbeat the most comforting sound in the world, each beat like a drop of balm on a wound that had been ten years in the making.
"So much has changed while you've been gone." Plasmius said quietly. He was almost embarrassed to be talking to someone who was asleep, but there were some things he just couldn't say while the boy was awake. Not yet. "I can't help but wonder if you would approve, had you been with me to see it. Though, I suppose I've changed too. You couldn't even recognize me. To be fair, your parents probably wouldn't have either. I actually went and got degrees in physics and biology, can you believe it? Your parents would be thrilled." His wistful smile faded and he pushed down a surge of sadness. "There are some things that haven't changed. The most important thing is that I'm going to take care of you."
Daniel's face tensed at some imagined disturbance, but he calmed as Plasmius combed back his hair again, his fingers gentle. He relished the feeling of Daniel's warm breath on his palm as he stroked his dark hair, yet another reminder that Daniel was alive, and by his side, just as he was meant to be..
"We're going to get through this, little badger." Plasmius whispered, his gaze straying back to the book. "I'm going to figure out how he's keeping you here. I'm going to take care of you."
It wasn't until Plasmius got home, after gently rousing and sending Daniel back to his car, that he realized that his glove and the portion of his tunic that Daniel had rested on was covered with a dusting of stage makeup.
Okay, I'm just going to keep going on my all nighter of posting chapters as soon as I finish them, but I'll be sure to say goodbye when I personally update for the last time. See you in a couple minutes, the next one should be done already as I was working on it earlier this week.