Sorry about the delay. I would have work more on this more but my folks wouldn't leave me alone about finding a job for the summer. Kind of hard to do in this God-forsaken economy... Anyway, I finally finished the next chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter 37

Hostage

Spring Break went by in a heartbeat. Clockwork was next to useless when it came to helping them, using the same excuse as usual: he was not allowed to say anything. Valerie was a little more helpful. She was kind enough to have security escort her three friends to and from their classes. She also escorted Daniel and Tucker back to the clock shop to make sure no one harmed them.

"Is this going to be a regular thing with Vlad?" Tucker complained. "He shows up for a day and then disappears for weeks."

"Maybe he's trying to catch us off guard," Sam suggested.

"Well, he better do something fast," Valerie grumbled irritably. "It feels like we're dealing with a stalker instead of a freak of nature. Finals are almost here and if Vlad wants to make a move, he'd better do it soon. I'm sorry but studying for finals will be impossible unless something happens."

"As true as that is, it's not very comforting," Daniel muttered.

"We can't keep this up forever," said Sam. "What are we going to do?"

~0~0~0~

The weather was finally warm and spring was here. To celebrate, Danny decided to go out for a little swim with Tucker and Cujo. Tucker took an immediate liking to the great white shark. Danny could tell because after Cujo was done giving him slobbery kisses, the shark then moved on to Tucker.

"So, any new changes to Sam's appearance?" Tucker asked curiously.

"She hasn't told me anything new so I'm guessing that it's just more scales showing up," Danny assumed.

"I wonder if Valerie would make a good mate for me," Tucker wondered.

Danny burst out laughing. "Dude, the moment she found out she had four extra limbs growing out of her hips, she'd clobber you till you were mush," he laughed.

Tucker shot his best friend a look. "Hey man, you don't know that," he defended.

"She gave Dash a black eye when he groped her," said Danny. "She's not a force of nature to mess with."

"I'll think of some way to get her to agree," Tucker said with hope in his eyes.

Cujo and Danny rolled their eyes. "I know. Sometimes I wonder if there's any hope for him too," Danny said to Cujo.

A blast of energy brushed past the three, gaining their attention. Danny and Tucker turned and saw two humans in white scuba outfits swimming towards them. They were carrying bazookas on their shoulders. Jetpacks were strapped to their backs to make them swim faster.

"Primary target sighted," said Operative O.

"There's another with him. Should we get him too?" asked Operative K.

"He'll be Plan B. Right now let's focus on our target," said O.

"Roger that."

They fired again at the boys and shark. They swiftly dodged the blasts.

"We've gotta lose them," said Danny who was trying to keep Cujo from attacking them.

"Way ahead of you," said Tucker. He released a cloud of black ink that blocked the humans' view of them.

When the ink cleared up, both the mermen and the shark were gone.

"Looks like we were given the slip," said K.

"I can see why the Phantom is the most elusive of his kind," O remarked.

"As long as the one with the tentacles is with him catching the Phantom will be impossible," said K. "We have to get him when he's alone."

"Or if our secondary target is with him," O added.

~0~0~0~

"The Guys in White attacked you?" Sam asked in exasperatedly the next day over lunch. "What happened? Is Cujo okay?"

"Cujo's fine," Tucker answered. "He was a little pissed that he couldn't get a bite out of them but he got over it."

"If the GiW is starting to attack us on our turf then it's only a matter of time before Vlad makes a move," Daniel said grimly.

"Or if he decides to attack you guys himself," Valerie added. Both boys nodded.

"What should we do?" asked Sam. "Val and I can't keep a watchful eye on you two twenty-four seven."

"We can ask Mr. Tock for advice," Valerie suggested.

"Have you ever asked Mr. Tock for advice?" Sam asked her friend in a deadpan tone.

"Never gonna happen," Tucker and Daniel said at the same time.

~0~0~0~

Sam was getting the hang of swimming with her webbed limbs. At this point, both her legs were completely covered in royal purple scales. Hiding them was becoming a challenge, especially when it rained outside. She was just grateful for the rain boots she got a few years ago.

"How are you doing?" Danny asked as he floated upside-down in front of Sam.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this," Sam remarked.

Danny smiled at this revelation. It made him happy that Sam was beginning to accept the fact that she was changing into a mermaid.

Sam suddenly felt a ringing in her ears. They also started to hurt and itch at the same time. "D-Danny? Something's wrong…with my head," she grunted as she tried to scratch her ears.

Danny swam over to see what was wrong. "Looks like your ears have finally developed," he noted.

"My what?" Sam felt her ears on her head. Instead of the usual flesh located where her ears would have been, she felt scales and membrane. "I'M GROWING FINS NOW?!"

Danny gently put her arms down from her head. "Take it easy. It's just another transformation," he soothed. "Everyone has them." He wiggled his black and white fin-ears to prove his point.

Sam checked her arms and saw that nothing was growing from them and let out a sigh of relief. "Nothing there yet," she breathed.

Danny then intertwined his fingers with Sam's. "I'm looking forward to it though," he purred. His black tail then snaked around Sam's legs, binding them. He then started kissing and licking Sam's gills. She moaned in pleasure.

A blast interrupted their little moment. Both managed to dodge it and saw that the two humans in white scuba gear were back.

"Primary target is in sight," said O.

"Secondary target is also in sight," said K.

"Copy that," O replied. They fired another shot at the duo. Danny grabbed Sam and managed to dodge the attack.

"They will not take my mate," Danny growled. Sam saw that he was clearly in defensive mode. His teeth were now sharp like a shark's. His green eyes glowed brighter than usual.

"Hand the girl to us, and we'll leave you in peace," said K.

"Never," Danny snarled. He pushed Sam behind him and fired an energy blast at the two humans. "She's mine."

The two humans split up. With Sam unable to use magic yet, Danny was clearly outnumbered. Taking the opportunity, he hid Sam in a bunch of coral.

"Be careful," said Sam.

Danny nodded and left her. The Guys in White attacked Danny again but he was ready. He used an Intangi-bubble spell often whenever they tried to attack him. O tried blasting Danny again but he quickly dodged it. K took that chance and fired a tranquilizer dart into Danny's tail. He turned and tried to attack K but his movements already began to sway and slow down. O then fired a net at Danny, capturing him. The merboy tried getting out of the net using magic but he couldn't think straight. Eventually he gave up and became still.

"Target detained," said O.

"We need to return to base," said K. He picked up Danny and the two swam away.

Sam waited a long time before coming out of her hiding place. "Danny?" she called out. "Danny! Can I come out?" No response.

Knowing that the Guys in White took Danny, Sam started swimming towards the surface but stopped herself. Naturally, she'd tell Clockwork and the others about what just happened but Danny's family was closer. On the other hand, if Sam went to them first she'd have to face Maddie's wrath and lose what little respect she had towards her. However, Tucker and Valerie had known about what Vlad had been up to since September while Maddie was a decade and a half behind.

Sam shook her head and continued swimming towards the surface. She didn't break it until she entered the cave. Her shoes and purse were hidden behind some rocks. She pulled out her shell phone and dialed Tucker's number.

"Hello?"

"Tucker, it's Sam."

"Hey, Sam. Why are you calling?"

"Danny's missing."

"MISSING?!" Tucker repeated so loudly that Sam had to pull her shell phone away from her new fin-ear.

"The Guys in White came and attacked. Danny hid me and they got him," Sam explained bluntly.

"And you didn't try to fight back?" asked Tucker.

"Hello? Have you ever seen me perform magic like you and Danny?" Sam asked.

"Have you ever done it before?"

"IF I COULD DO MAGIC LIKE YOU, I'D TELL YOU!" Sam yelled.

"Okay, okay! Where are you right now?" asked Tucker.

"I'm at the cave right now," Sam replied.

"Stay there. Val and I are on our way."

"Before you do, find out where they've taken Danny," said Sam.

"How am I supposed to do that?" asked Tucker.

"Ask Clockwork."

"He won't tell me squat."

Sam rolled her eyes. "I don't care if you have to water board him to find out where he is. Get Clockwork to talk."

~0~0~0~

"What shall we do about the specimen?" O asked Vlad.

"Leave him in the tank for now. I have some questions of my own for him," Vlad replied.

"When is the earliest we can take the specimen back with us?" asked K.

"Oh, in the morning I think," Vlad replied without taking his eyes off his prize.

"Very well. We shall pick the Phantom up at nine o' clock tomorrow morning," said O. The two agents then left Vlad's manor and went back to their hotel.

Vlad smiled evilly at the unconscious merman. "I've got the bait. Now I just need to get the other prize," he told himself. Since the boy was now with him, Sam would no doubt come to rescue him and that would be when Vlad strikes.

Vlad tapped on the glass to wake Danny up. The boy stirred and slowly opened his glowing neon green eyes. Upon seeing Vlad, Danny panicked and tried to escape but realized too late that he was trapped.

"I see that you're finally awake, Daniel," said Vlad.

Danny scowled at the silver haired human. "What do you want, Plasmius? Let me go!"

"Oh, I will…as soon as you tell me what the significance of Samantha's pendant is," Vlad demanded.

"No way. I'm telling you anything," Danny answered.

"Are you sure? Because I know that Samantha is coming for you sooner or later," Vlad said. "It's only natural for her to come to her mate's aid, correct?"

Danny's eyes widened. "How did you know Sam's my intended mate?" he asked.

"You can thank a grey-skinned lad down below if you live to tell the tale," Vlad replied.

"I'm gonna kill Poindexter," Danny muttered to himself.

"Since Samantha is your intended mate, I'm guessing it's not official?" Vlad inquired.

"Not yet. Why do you ask?"

"Because that pearl around her neck is supposed to be a sign of engagement," Vlad replied.

"Okay, if you know all this stuff, why are you asking me the significance of the pearl?" Danny asked irritably.

"That's the one piece of the puzzle I cannot find," Vlad answered. "I still have my human DNA while Samantha's is slowly merging with fish DNA that is slowly turning her into a mermaid."

"So your question is?"

"Why does it have such power? A simple gem that has the power to locate you wherever you are, light up in the moonlight, and repel people's touch. Samantha has had that pearl for eleven years and only now does it show its power. How after all these years is she finally slowly turning into a mermaid?" asked Vlad. Danny said nothing. Vlad scowled at the boy. "I will find out how if it's the last thing I do," he vowed.

What a drag... I was hoping to add more chapters but, like I said, I was busy looking for jobs.

Things are now heating up! Action, romance, drama!