Vlad spent the majority of the night checking all the places he'd taken Grindelwald while planning their combined attacks and moves. But there was no sign of the ghost and his new partner. Vlad returned early the next morning and fell asleep on the couch, not sure of where else he should go.
Danny was the first up the next day, he'd gotten plenty of rest over the previous day between passing out and Frostbite sedating him. Frostbite had returned to the Far Frozen the previous evening. Karl had been outraged once he realised that Danny had had a private conversation right in front of him and he'd been unable to listen in. But Danny simply argued the fact that he had the right to tell Karl what he wanted Karl to know. Danny had also drawn the line with Karl guarding him overnight and had spent half an hour teleporting away from Karl whenever he tried to sneak into Danny's room. Karl had eventually gotten the hint and gave up. He spent the night in a sleeping bag in the Ops Centre, with all the control consoles locked from use with Harry and Steven.
Danny got ready for the day and made himself cereal for breakfast. He walked back into the living room to grab his laptop and noticed Vlad Masters sleeping on the couch. Danny raised an eyebrow but decided not to wake him. Danny had a suspicion that the older halfa had been busy for the night. Danny had his breakfast and then emailed Joseph, asking for lecture notes from the previous day. Within twenty minutes, Joseph sent them. Danny then began to read over them, scowling in concentration as he read.
It wasn't long before the rest of the house started to wake up and joined him in the kitchen. Karl was one of the first, along with Danielle and Harry. Sam wasn't a morning person and Danny didn't expect to see her until much later.
"Morning," Danny called over his shoulder without looking up.
"Morning Danny, sleep well?" Danielle replied. Danny glanced at her and smiled at Harry as he walked in behind her.
"Yep. How about you two?" Danny retorted. Danielle noticed Harry.
"Was alright. Not used to sleeping in a sleeping bag but thanks," Harry answered. Danny and Danielle smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, we don't have a lot of bedrooms. Dani took the spare one when she moved in when I left for college and I dunno how Jazz would feel having people she's never met in her room," Danny apologised, Sam had taken Jazz's bed. Harry shook his head.
"I understand Danny. At least you guys had a few sleeping bags lying around," Harry assured the halfa.
"Creature! You aren't meant to do anything without notifying me," Karl exclaimed angrily. Danny groaned.
"And it was such a nice morning," he moaned. Danielle smiled as she passed to get her own breakfast.
"I didn't realise that I was obligated to tell you everything I do. I'll catch you up. I got up, came down, had breakfast, cereal before you ask and then I got my college notes. I've been studying all morning," Danny informed him with obvious sarcasm. Harry bit his lip. He felt sorry for Danny but he knew that he was on thin ice with Karl as it was. The threat of getting deported was still very real to Harry.
Karl glared at Danny.
"Don't take that tone with me," Karl snarled.
"Then don't treat me like that!" Danny snapped. Karl glowered at Danny before grudgingly sitting at the table. Danny rolled his eyes and turned back to the notes on his laptop. Danielle handed Harry a bowl and offered the cereal choices to the wizard, purposefully ignoring Karl. She had to be careful with her own secret and had recalled to change in to her ghost form before coming downstairs. Danny however had seen that Vlad was in his human form on the couch. Thankfully the living room was pretty dark in the mornings. Danny bit his lip as he considered what he should do about that. He sighed softly.
"I'll be back in a minute. Need to get something from my room," Danny muttered and got up from his seat. Karl made to follow. Danny glared at him.
"No, I don't need a babysitter or whatever you consider yourself. I'll go upstairs, grab what I need and come down. If you follow, I'll just teleport," Danny growled, hoping that Karl would listen to him. Karl raised an eyebrow but sank back in his chair.
"If you're not back in a minute, I'm not going to listen to these kinds of requests again," Karl threatened. Danny glowered at the wizard but secretly he was relieved. It just proved that Karl was starting to see that Danny wasn't a mindless, aggressive creature.
Danny walked into the living room and checking that Karl wasn't watching, he rushed over to Vlad. He shook his head at the halfa and gently hefted the man into his arms and teleported both himself and Vlad to his room. Danny nearly buckled under the sudden weight as they appeared in Danny's room in a puff of green mist. Danny struggled to carry Vlad to his bed, being in his human form he didn't have access to his ghostly strength. Danny then gently dropped the man onto the pillows. Danny shot an annoyed look at the man.
"Couldn't you have fallen asleep somewhere less conspicuous? I'm not going to protect your secret forever," Danny whispered to him and then grabbed his college bag and teleported down into the living room again.
Danny walked back into the room and opened his college bag and took out his notepad and started to write out Joseph's notes in his own words, more so that Karl didn't get suspicious than needing to do it for himself. Once Danny made sure he understood what Joseph had sent him, he turned off his laptop and put everything away in to his college bag, and after a veiled threat and glare, Danny returned the bag to his room alone. Vlad was still fast asleep.
Vlad woke up at nearly midday. He was at first confused at why he was asleep in Danny's room before he realised that Danny must have moved him there. He got up and stretched before changing into his ghost form, recalling Karl's presence. He walked downstairs and found Danny pouring over Harry's map, Karl sitting in a corner watching the younger halfa. Vlad walked into the room and cleared his throat.
"Morning Daniel," Vlad called softly.
"Only just Vlad. Sleep well?" Danny replied with a smirk. Vlad frowned at him.
"What are you doing?" Vlad asked. Danny glanced at Vlad.
"Trying to see a pattern. I mean, I know about the ringed attacks. But the other ones, they're unrelated. I'm trying to see the reason behind them," Danny explained, mindful not to mention that Vlad was one of the beings responsible for the situation. He mightn't like the man, but he knew that if Karl heard that, Vlad would be detained like he had been.
Vlad sighed and looked at the map. He blinked in surprise at the amount of attacks Danny had identified to be linked to him. He had spotted almost all of them. There were a few abroad he had lead missed but all of the ones in America, Danny had spotted them.
"Impressive little badger," Vlad muttered. Danny glanced at the older halfa, uncertain if he was complimenting him or taunting him. Danny decided not to comment. To take the remark one way, Vlad would assure him it was the other to make him look foolish.
"Mom helped," Danny told him. Vlad nodded and sat beside Danny.
"I don't suppose we could talk privately?" Vlad whispered, giving Karl a discrete glance. Danny grunted in dislike, following Vlad's gaze.
"Tell me why and I'll see what I can do. He doesn't like to leave me alone longer than a few minutes. Took me ages to convince him not to camp out in my room last night," Danny replied softly, pointing to the map to throw Karl off what they were talking about. Vlad bit his lip.
"I was thinking last night. I have a feeling that when it's time to tell you important things, there won't be an opportunity to explain. I can't help but feel that this is the calm before the storm," Vlad answered carefully. Danny glanced at Vlad.
"Is this about what happened yesterday, or what's been happening for the last couple of weeks?" Danny inquired. Vlad sighed.
"Both," Vlad retorted. Danny nodded.
Danny folded the map up and slipped it into his jeans pocket. He got up and walked into the kitchen. Danielle was doing some homework and Sam was doing college work. Harry and Steven were talking in there as well.
"Lab," Danny ordered as Vlad and Karl followed him in to the room. After a quick glance, the four people sitting around the table understood the importance of this impromptu meeting and didn't question him as they stood and filed through the door to the lab.
"Go ahead Vlad. Harry, remember our little conversation yesterday," Danny continued. Harry caught on and hid behind the door to the lab, ready to cast the muffling spell. Danny turned to Karl.
"Stay here," Danny commanded. Karl scoffed.
"I don't follow your orders creature. And I'm not letting you go down there without me," Karl grumbled. Danny scowled at Karl.
"Alright fine, but Vlad's in a bad mood and you keep this up, I will be too. Trust me, you don't want to tick us off, we're bad enough together. Annoy me too much, might end up picking a fight with Vlad and that can get out of control fast. Besides, it's not like you'll hear anything but buzzing anyway," Danny retorted. Danny had taken the credit and the blame for Karl missing an important conversation. Karl glowered at Danny but pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.
"I'll be in here. If you're not back in an hour, I'm arresting you," Karl compromised. Danny rolled his eyes.
"Why don't you just check down there? I'm not leaving the house. Stop threatening to arrest me and so on, it's annoying. You know, I could just as easily throw you into the Ghost Zone," Danny retorted. Karl blinked before grudgingly agreeing to give Danny an hour before checking in on him.
Danny then walked through the door and shut it. Harry gave him a questioning look.
"Relax Harry, I was lying. No one's in a bad mood. In fact Vlad's offering to explain some things," Danny confessed.
"You said that to convince Karl to leave us alone didn't you?" Harry realised with a smirk. Danny nodded with a smile and they both walked down the stairs.
Maddie and Jack had spent the entire morning making sure all their weapons were fully charged and in working order. They'd also completed a full check over on the Spectre Speeder and the Fenton Assault vehicle. However once everyone started filing into the lab, Maddie and Jack had interrupted their preparations and turned to Danny.
"Okay Vlad we've got an hour before Mr. annoying comes down to check on me," Danny announced with a roll of his eyes.
"Daniel, when I asked for a private conversation, I didn't mean away from just Karl," Vlad grumbled. Danny shrugged.
"Whatever you tell me, I'm just going to tell them. So save me the hassle," Danny retorted. Vlad scowled but nodded.
"Fine. The ghost I was, until recently, working with is named Gellert Grindelwald. In his life he was a gifted and powerful wizard and he is now a powerful and gifted ghost. I met him during the prison escapees' escape through Amity Park," Vlad began and then frowned when his confession wasn't yielding the desired effect.
"This is kind of big news," Vlad added with a hint of annoyance.
"You mean old news. Vlad you let slip to me yesterday that your ex-partner was called Grindelwald. I asked Harry and Steven about him and I figured out when you two met. Harry and Steven passed the info on for me. Why were you even working with Grindelwald?" Danny replied casually. Vlad blinked in shock before frowning.
"When did I tell you about Grindelwald?" Vlad demanded.
"You mentioned Grindelwald when you and I had that little conversation yesterday where we agreed to a truce until this was all over," Danny answered calmly. Vlad blinked and frowned as he recalled the conversation. He growled in annoyance as he remembered what he'd said.
"So Vlad, keep going," Danny prompted.
"What else do you know?" Vlad snapped. Danny shook his head.
"That's it," Danny answered. Vlad nodded, relieved that he hadn't unintentionally said more than he'd meant to other than Grindelwald's name.
"Very well, during the escape and your pathetic attempt to stop them," Vlad resumed with a grin. Danny scowled at the older halfa.
"Grindelwald saw that many of the ghosts held great respect and even feared me. He approached me and we came to an understanding. He told me about the wizarding world and I, in return, taught him things about the Ghost Zone," Vlad continued.
"Such as how portals work and the Infi-map," Danny realised. Vlad nodded.
"Grindelwald suggested a partnership and I agreed. I later revealed what I was and Grindelwald decided to tell me his entire plan. He wanted to unite the real world and the Ghost Zone. That first meant that we had to create a crisis that only we could fix and in return we would rule over both worlds," Vlad explained. Danny raised an eyebrow.
"Hence getting me arrested," Danny added. Vlad bit his lip and nodded. Danny sighed in annoyance and gestured for Vlad to continue.
"Well, once the plan had been completed, Grindelwald offered me the throne or whatever we chose to be the seat of power over the united worlds. He would rule by my side and take care of the witches and wizards and I would deal with the non-magical folk. Together we'd control the ghosts. Grindelwald said that since I am a halfa, I was a better example of unity than he," Vlad concluded. Danny blinked in shock at Vlad.
"You idiot Vlad. You really thought that Grindelwald would literally give you the world to rule? When are you going to learn that you aren't cut out to rule?" Danny retorted. Vlad frowned.
"I disagree," Vlad muttered.
"Do I need to remind you of that fire in ancient Rome?" Danny snapped. Vlad flinched.
"That wasn't my fault," Vlad began.
"Vlad! You threw those ecto-blasts! It was your fault," Danny cut him off.
"I was aiming at you!" Vlad argued.
"Right, that makes it all better," Danny agreed sarcastically. Vlad scowled angrily.
"Don't push me Daniel," Vlad hissed. Danny's eyes flashed green. Sam stepped in between the two halfas.
"Okay break it up. You have a truce right?" Sam called out. Danny shook his head at Vlad before turning away and took a calming breath. Vlad huffed in irritation.
Harry and Steven glanced at each other and edged a little closer to Danielle.
"Is that normal?" Harry whispered. Danielle turned to them and shook her head.
"Usually they'd be shooting at each other by now. Danny's ticked. And Vlad… he doesn't take much provocation," Danielle answered.
"I thought Danny knew how to get what he wanted from Vlad," Steven muttered. Danielle nodded.
"He does. If I'd tried anything like that, Vlad wouldn't have answered me. In fact, if I'd tried that he would have blasted me and left," Danielle replied. Harry and Steven frowned in confusion.
"Alright Vlad, I'm guessing that you don't think that's the plan anymore. Otherwise Grindelwald wouldn't have turned on you," Danny continued after a moment of calming breathing techniques. Vlad noticed the change in Danny's tone of voice.
"How do you know Grindelwald turned on me? I may have turned on him," Vlad pointed out, also calming down. Danny scoffed.
"Right, you're going to turn on the guy that can explain how the wizarding world works and organised a break out from Walker's prison and so controls the ghosts? Yeah right Vlad. Besides you wouldn't have come running to me if you were in charge," Danny retorted. Vlad pouted in annoyance but didn't deny it.
Vlad shook his head.
"I fear that Grindelwald wasn't honest about his intentions. He wanted me to show that ghosts and living people can live in harmony," Vlad replied.
"And Dan doesn't display that," Danny realised. Vlad nodded.
"So you know the guy best. What do you think he really wants?" Danny prompted. Vlad frowned.
"I have no idea Daniel. He was very secretive. He didn't even tell me about all his attacks. That map of yours, I didn't know about half of them," Vlad admitted. Danny stared at Vlad.
"So, you're saying that you can't help us," Danny inquired disbelievingly. Vlad nodded miserably.
"Now you see my reluctance to inform any of you what I knew, and once the aurors know that I helped Grindelwald…" Vlad trailed off sadly. Danny sighed sadly.
"Vlad… I'm not going to hand you over to them. On one condition, you help me stop Dan and Grindelwald and clear my name," Danny offered. Vlad looked hopefully up at Danny and nodded.
"Definitely. I do apologise Daniel. The wizards were only meant to detain you. I had no idea that they'd experiment on you and hurt you," Vlad replied. Danny raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh. You didn't want to hurt me and yet you dropped me twenty feet or so in the Rockies," Danny pointed out. Vlad rolled his eyes.
"Stop being so dramatic Daniel. All that happened is you hit your head. I knew you wouldn't get hurt from the fall. I've seen you get hit harder by your daily enemies than that fall," Vlad retorted.
"Yeah, as Phantom!" Danny snapped. Vlad waved a dismissive hand. Danny growled in annoyance.
"We're still not even for you revealing my secret though," Danny reminded him with an angry scowl.
"It was a few aurors. It's not like it was anyone you knew or the Guys in White," Vlad retorted. Danny glared at him.
"What's to stop the aurors from telling the American government Vlad?! I'm still not out of trouble. The Guys in White might still come after me!" Danny replied heatedly. Vlad cringed and remained silent.
"So, any ideas Vlad?" Danny prompted. Vlad bit his lip.
"Grindelwald isn't the type to get his hands dirty. Not unless he has to. What about Dan?" Vlad answered carefully. Danny folded his arms and frowned in thought.
"Dan's been driven crazy. But the last time he attacked me he went after my family and friends. Pretended to be me. I don't know if he can look like me now since he stopped being human when he-I-we… whatever was fourteen. But… if I was trying to figure out Dan's next move, it would be coming here to attack my family and friends," Danny replied thoughtfully. Vlad nodded thoughtfully.
"Alright, but Grindelwald wouldn't let a crazed ghost ruin his plans. He'd advise Dan," Vlad began.
"You really think Grindelwald can talk sense into Dan?" Danny interjected sceptically. Vlad nodded.
"I do. Grindelwald can offer Dan what he wants. Dan wants you and… I may have told Grindelwald about you," Vlad explained with an apologetic cringe. Danny scowled.
"What did you tell him?" Danny demanded in a dangerously calm voice.
"I may have told him what you were, who you're friends are, where you and your friends could be found," Vlad listed and bit his lip, waiting for Danny to shout at him. But Danny didn't shout. Instead he went completely pale.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Danny whispered. Vlad shook his head.
"It was my only protection," Vlad attempted. Danny shook his head.
"You realise that you've sent Dan after Tucker and Jazz, right?" Danny revealed before running out of the room, having forgotten his phone in the living room.
Vlad gasped and glanced at Maddie and Jack. The parents looked terrified and chased their son, worried about their eldest child. Vlad glanced at the others in the room. Harry and Steven looked angry. Danielle looked pale and concerned but Sam was outraged. She marched up to Vlad and slapped his face.
"You are so selfish!" She snarled. Sam then left the lab to see if Danny had gotten through to Jazz or Tucker yet.
Yeah, Vlad really isn't having much good luck in this story. Let me know what you think of the story so far.
Anyway, until the next chapter.