A/N: Hello my friends (if you don't mind me calling you that). How are all of you doing? I'm doing great and am looking forward to Halloween. Anywho thank you, .22 for following and favoriting this fic. And thank you to Lugiaman14 for following. R&R.

Catalina heaved as the poisonous pastery made its reappearance. "That is absolutely disgusting," her ghost rescuerer said with displeasure. "But you can't help it if you are human." The halfa narrowed her eyes angrily. Catalina straigthen her posture over the trash can as she took deep breaths. She looked down at the glowing sick at the bottom of the can. She scrunched her nose in disgust; she didn't like vomiting but it was the only way to get rid of the blood blossoms.

She gripped the can harder as she felt herself sway. She closed her eyes as she tried to regain her balance. "Thank you for your help but I should get going," Catalina said ignoring the previous insult. The halfa turned away from the ghost only to lose her balance. The ghost grabbed her wrist to steady her; the bones in the joint creaked. He was close to snapping her wrist under his tight fingers.

"This is a rather interesting trinket," the ghost said turning his black eyes to the bracelet around her wrist. One finger ran over the smooth black surface. His grin suggested that he was pleased. Catalina narrowed her eyes at the interest the ghost had in the device that Vlad had given her ages ago. She would have pulled her arm away if she had the strength. "I imagine that Plasmius gave this to you." He barely looked at the woman, his void like eyes were staring at her wrist.

"Let go of me," Catalina said in a low voice. She tried to sound threatening which was hard to do when she could barely stand straight.

"I don't need anyone following us," the ghost said as his hands glowed with a bright black light. Catalina shouted at the metal of the band melted onto her skin; the woman shook her hand as the material burned her. There wasn't much she could do with his hands still firmly encasing her wrist. "Come," the ghost commanded pulling her down an empty alley. Catalina was already getting frustrated with the ghost ignoring what she was saying.

Catalina struggled to keep herself upright as he dictated where the pair was going. "What do you want with me?" Catalina asked figuring it was the thing to do in this sort of situation.

The ghost looked over his shoulder. "Who said that I wanted you? You could have died in that building and I couldn't care less." His black eyes looked bored at the answer. Catalina shuddered at the ghost's cold tone; she shrunk back a little shaken. "Does that frighten you? It should. Do what I ask and I might let you live," the ghost asked a fanged smile spreading across his pale face.

Catalina looked at the garbage-filled ground before getting a more determined look on her face. She will bid her time and the ghost would regret threatening her. " In my honest opinion, I'll being doing you a favor if I just killed you," the ghost said stopping his forward movement to face her. "After that stunt you pulled, do you really think they will want you back? You nearly ripped out that woman's throat." The ghost gave a grisly grin. "You're more ghost than human."

Catalina could feel herself deflate; he wasn't wrong. She did intend to rip out Maddie's throat and she was feeding off other people's misery. Her shoulders sagged and she barely noticed when the ghost swept his hand causing a rip into the ghost zone. She wasn't a ghost, she was still human at least half. But humans don't feed on misery; Danny caught ghosts that fed on misery and even Vlad despised them. She was so engrossed in her own negative thoughts that she didn't take in her surroundings until her legs gave out and her knees crashed into a rough surface.

"Get up," the ghost commanded. Catalina looked up at the ghost's void like eyes and tried to comply. Her legs shook before she landed back on the ground. All her strength was gone; although she didn't have the burning in her gut anymore, she was entirely drained. "I said get up," the ghost repeated in a louder voice before shooting an ectoblast that knocked the woman to the ground. She didn't even mind that she landed in the middle of the trash-filled alley.

Catalina laid gasping as the ghost stepped over her head and hovered over her. "I gave you an order," he said towering over her.

Catalina narrowed her eyes before spitting in his face. The ghost's eyes grew darker and he grabbed the top of her hair. She hissed in pain as he tugged at the strands of black hair. He pulled her up to her feet without any remorse to the pain he was causing her. "I just have one task for you and you can do whatever you want after that."

"Fine," Catalina grounded out through clenched teeth, "But I need a couple of minutes to regain my strength."

"There's no need all I need you to do is open something for me," the ghost said releasing her hair and grabbing her wrist again. "It's simple enough that even you should be able to handle it," he continued condescendingly. The ghost pulled her through the portal he made into the green space of the Ghost Zone. Wherever he was going he knew exactly which way to go. He didn't even take a moment to get his bearings before leading the way.

Catalina looked anywhere but the ghost that was pulling her through the Ghost Zone. She watched as they passed purple doors and floating islands. She tried to make a note of any that stood out to her so she could retrace her steps back. "What should I call you. You know since you are not Timus?" Catalina asked looking at the gray-haired ghost.

"Xaoc," he answered not bothering to look back. His tone was so cold it chilled her blood, the name itself sounded as dark as his voice. Catalina found herself unable to do anything besides just follow after him. She didn't have the energy to fight, much less go ghost. She just looked at her tattered dress. Stains dotted the formally red material from where she made contact with the pavement.

She looked up to see where they were heading. A large red castle stood on a rocky island barely large enough to fit it. Whatever was in there was clearly something malicious. The energy radiating off the building was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck to stand. Instinctively she knew that she didn't want to go anywhere near it, but it wasn't as if she had a choice.

DP~DP~DP

Vlad ended communications with Skulker with a single order; It was simply to find his assistant. The hunter's disapproval was evident even though the halfa didn't have a chance to see much of the reaction as he shut off the connection. He stomped back to the sitting room that Maddie and Danny had remained in. He couldn't stay away too long; he did say he was just making a call.

The billionaire tried to put his poker face on, but his concern was still on his face. He pushed the door open to see Danny Phantom floating in front of Maddie. His bright neon-green eyes were looking at his mother with hope. The blue-clothed woman was leaning back on the couch, but Vlad couldn't see her expression. "Mom?" Danny asked needing to hear the woman's approval. He held his arms close to him. Vlad quietly entered the room prepared to defend the teen if the ghost huntress decided to attack.

"Danny?" she replied her own voice soft. She reached out to the ghost teen. Danny held out his own hand, his fingers brushed his mother's softly. "How is this possible?" she asked, "A-are you dead? Are you possessed? I can fix this, just give me a couple of days." She looked truly concern for her child but Vlad could only feel his own blood boiling.

"He doesn't need to be 'fixed.' He is fine the way he is," the billionaire stated his anger clearly evident. He made his way to stand beside Danny who gave him a grateful look.

"Vlad, but my son is a ghost," Maddie said pointing to Danny who looked down at the hardwood floor.

"He's half ghost," Vlad stated as Danny also said a similar comment. They looked at each other not pleased that they said the same thing. "He is the same annoying rebellious teen you had before his accident," Vlad added smirking at Danny's complaint beside him.

Maddie looked between Danny and Vlad looking conflicted. She had hunted ghost most of her adult life; she had devoted her existence to hunting them and studying them and now her son was one. "I just have one question. I need you to answer it truthfully. Are you my son?" Maddie asked her violet eyes pleading.

"Yes mom, I'm still your son. I just have these extra powers," Danny said getting closer to his mother. Maddie smiled and pulled her son into her arms. Vlad seeing this was a moment between the two turned to leave and search for his missing apprentice.

"I'm so sorry. We spent everyday trying to catch you and dissect you. We threaten to tear you apart molecule and molecule. I'm so sorry," the woman held onto her child as he changed back to his human half. Vlad continued his path to the door ."Wait, Danny are there others like you?" Vlad froze at the woman's question turning slightly so he could see the pair.

Danny's blue eyes flicked to Vlad, the question was clear: Did you want me to tell her? Vlad shook his head making his eye glow red in an unsaid threat. It was one thing for Maddie to accept her son, but entirely another for her to accept him. The two halfas stared at each other as the room fell into silence. The woman filled the silence with a question, "If your ghost half was created because of the portal accident, then.." She trailed off turning around on the sofa to look at Vlad. "Vlad, are you a half ghost too?"

The billionaire knew she would piece it together; he only hoped it took her longer. He debated what to say, but he remained silent looking at Danny who looked slightly remorseful. He could always lie; it was simple enough. "I'm sorry. Is that why you haven't reached out to us until the reunion?" The woman asked.

"No, I had my reasons. And don't apologize any more at least not to me," Vlad said his tone cold toward the woman he had thought he loved.

"Your assistant! Is she a half-ghost as well?" she asked piecing together the little bits of information she had. Her face turned to one of remorse as she realized what she did. "Is she okay? She tumbled off the parking garage. And I fed her Blood Blossoms."

"I haven't heard from her. I'm going to look at her house. It would be best if you both stay here," Vlad said walking out of the room. The door slammed behind him betraying his anger. The door opened again right after him.

"Hey Vlad," Danny called the nervousness in his voice was clear as if he was trying to figure out if the older halfa would strike out at him. Vlad turned to face the younger halfa who looked a little unsure.

"I'm not angry at you," Vlad said his tone contradicting the words he was speaking.

"I just thought that if my mom knew that halfas existed that Catalina and her wouldn't need to fight," Danny said explaining his action.

The unsaid words weren't lost on Vlad. They would have killed each other. Vlad knew it was true the two women grew more violent in their attacks and perhaps Danny's actions saved them from destroying each other. Or he could be too late and one was already gone. That thought was a chilling one. Vlad turned to Plasmius and rolled his ankles to lift himself off the ground. "Do you think she is alright?" he asked. If the older halfa wasn't so upset he probably would have noticed that the younger halfa didn't ask this question with any malice in his tone.

"She shouldn't have destabilize," he answered before taking off. The older halfa could sense the younger halfa change forms as well and fly after him. He barely looked over his shoulder to speak with him, "You should stay with your mother."

"Or what, Plasmius? You'll blast me? Mom won't be impressed by that," Danny teased. Vlad barely looked over his shoulder to glare at the other halfa.

"Your mother isn't my concern," Vlad stated actually meaning it; he didn't want to even look at her. It brought back memories of Catalina asking if he was going to hide his ghost half from the woman. Vlad knew the only reason why Maddie accepted the halfas was because her own son was one.

Vlad landed in front of Catalina's house hearing Danny also land quietly. "Are you going to knock or just barge in?" Danny asked.

"Daniel, I'm not rude. Of course I'm going to knock. She isn't expecting me," Vlad responded. He looked at her empty driveway knowing that she would probably not answer. Nevertheless he knocked. Danny stood behind as they waited. Vlad knocking and waiting again decided he was just going to walk in. Turning intangible, he walked through the door.

"I thought you weren't rude," Danny called from the other side of the door.

Vlad rolled his eyes at the other halfas comment before responding, "She isn't here." He went back out to see Danny who looked a little nervous. "Don't give me that look," Vlad said, "I have a tracker on her. We'll just follow that."

"You're a fruit loop," Danny muttered as Vlad looked at his watch. "Do you normally track the people you work with?" Danny asked Vlad ignored this as he looked at the watch face in disbelief. Unlike every other time he looked for his assistant, the screen was blank. "That face doesn't look promising," Danny said.

"Her tracker was destroyed," Vlad commented now feeling unsure of the other halfa's survival.