Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Danny Phantom, I'm a big fan and was feeling nostalgic.
Note (10/19/2017): Ugh I'll describe the manor later, I promise! I was too eager to write more to deal with all the historically accurate research! Anyway, enjoy this surprise midnight post and now...I'm going to- ZZZZZZZZzzzz (Falls asleep immediately after posting chapter and proceeds to drool on keyboard)
~Chapter 45~
Hallowed Ground
It was like stepping into another world when the two of them entered the dimly lit passage leading them through the cavern. Everything was cast in a soft ethereal glow, making it seem as though they were walking underwater as opposed to underneath the earth. The way the light danced across the stone walls on either side of them really made it seem that way. Especially since the blue flames weren't giving off any heat. At least, not until Owen willed it so instinctively when a chill ran up his spine...
Stepping a little closer to Vlad, Owen chuckled nervously, "Are you sure this passage is leading us to my old family home and not the netherworld? This place is giving me the creeps. It feels like we're being watched."
"That's because we ARE being watched my dear boy," Vlad replied while not missing a single stride. "I told you, there are likely ghosts here that were bound to this place a long time ago who have been eagerly awaiting your return. Just remember, you are THEIR master and they are YOUR servants. No matter what they tell you remember that and stand tall. More importantly, know that you have every right to tell them to vacate the premises if you so wish. Who knows, perhaps that's the freedom they're actually longing for that only the master of the house can provide. We'll just have to wait and see."
Stopping in his tracks, Owen reached for Vlad's arm and stopped him too. Vlad of course complied with his wishes and turned his head to glance down thoughtfully at Owen. He seemed troubled by the idea of being anyone's 'master' ever since Azrael went off the rails and obsessed over him to the point of losing his mind. However, Owen was going to have to get used to the idea that he possessed a lot of power over others. Both literally and figuratively...
After all, adopted or not soon Owen would be the son of the richest man in the world and his usual tactic of being well-behaved-but-reclusive was not going to work. People were going to flock to him either to bask in his presence, win his favor, humiliate and/or manipulate him, or they'll try to become famous by simply being in the same room with Owen just so they can say they once breathed the same air. Sad to say Owen was going to go through a lot of mundane hardships that a 'normal family' wouldn't have to deal with, but Vlad was going to be there for him every step of the way and now he wouldn't have to worry about hiding the other side of himself at home as well as in public. At home, unlike before, Owen could be himself.
No more lies.
No more secrets.
No more suffering alone.
And the same went for both of them.
Vlad was very much looking forward to learning all about Owen's new form and his powers and seeing how they might be able to work together using some of those necromantic powers. At least so long as Vlad didn't allow himself to harden his heart again and let his dark emotions get the better of him like Azrael's had. They knew all too well what they were up against now, which is why Owen's powers usually reacts very violently towards anything it perceives as a threat when there's always the possibility of it turning demonic.
He knew how negative energy effected many of the ghosts he either worked with or knew about at least but to see that darkness congeal into such a horrific creature before his eyes was...rather sobering. If Vlad EVER went that far and his demon tried to kill Owen then he would gladly lay down his life and that sentiment was NOT to be taken lightly. His life, his ambitions, his revenge, those were the only things that mattered to him. It was all he knew. And in his mind, those were all he had left to live for. So as much as Owen would need to adjust to the life of the rich and powerful, Vlad would have to adjust to the challenges of putting his son's needs before his own and being considerate of how his actions will effect the boy from now on...
"...Mom?" Owen suddenly muttered from further down the passage right before a slope where shafts of sunlight could be seen overpowering the misty shadows that surrounded them before.
Cursing under his breath for letting his thoughts get away from him again and cause such a blatantly obvious distraction, Vlad teleported next to Owen without changing form just to get his attention back.
Taking Owen by the shoulders, Vlad waited until he realized he'd wandered off without him then shook his head and regretfully pointed out the obvious, "Owen, we both know that's possible. Your mother can't be here. We're still not sure where the spirits of your parents are held hostage but I assure you, we'll find them. What you saw just now was likely the spirit of a maid of some sort here to escort us to the mansion."
"Oh...right..." Owen replied dejectedly. "Sorry. I should have thought about that but its been so long. I've-I've almost forgotten what she even looks like without those glowing red eyes and that insanely feral grin. God!" Running a hand down his face, Owen huffed. "I'm such a loser! Why can't I just get over what happened already? It wasn't my fault, I know that now, but seeing my mom just now was hard. Or at least seeing someone who looks like her was...!"
No way, it couldn't be-!
Without warning -again- Owen suddenly bolted for the exit and didn't wait for Vlad to follow this time. How could he have been so stupid? That silvery hair was literally a dead giveaway! But Owen had to know for sure if his hunch was right. After all, he only dimly remembered feeling the presence of another ghost beside Azrael and the two half-ghosts who came to save him, oh and Danny's friend Tucker of course that Vlad told him about. If he was right about this though, then there was already one spirit in the area that needed his help. And like Vlad, he always repays his debts...
Vlad was feeling more then a little annoyed now that Owen wasn't listening to a word he said. He knew that look. That single-mindedness was all-too-familiar on the faces of those blasted 'hero' types, like Daniel for example. Even so, Vlad didn't say anything because this was something Owen had to do on his own. Of course, that didn't stop Vlad from following him like a hawk.
As determined as Owen was about seeing the spirit again, he knew Vlad was close so he practically flew down the snow dusted path, unable to stop and appreciate the simple beauty of it until it abruptly ended before a large ornate gateway. He almost face-planted right into it and blushed at the mere thought of having almost done that in front of Vlad. Scratching the back of his head, Owen sighed and turned around to lean his back against the bars while waiting for his heart-rate to go down again. He might be healed now, but pushing himself too hard when they were so close to the end of this part of their journey together would be incredibly stupid...
Aaand then the voices started up as the gates behind him slowly creaked open. "WeLComE HomE, YoUng mAstEr..."
Unable to catch his balance in time, Owen cried out and fell flat on his back. To make matters worse, a shadow fell over his face and Vlad snickered. In response, Owen scowled, "Not. One. Word."
Vlad did as he was told and didn't say anything but he couldn't keep the amused smile off his face before he knelt down and offered Owen his hand. Owen took it and was about halfway up when Vlad hissed in pain and backed away a few steps, making Owen stumble a bit. At first he was a bit confused by Vlad's reaction and turned around to see what the problem was when a strangely beautiful yet unnerving sight unfolded in front of him. Well, more like unfurled as dozens of vivid red blossoms burst into bloom despite the cold weather in response to the presence of an unfettered spirit, aka Vlad.
It was as though the entire mansion was coming back to life before his eyes like the first moments of spring breaking through the deathly visage of winter. All of the snow that covered everything from beyond the gateway melted away to give way to unnatural teal colored grass -neatly trimmed grass by the way- and time seemed to rewind itself until everything was new again. Previously dead vines, flowers, shrubs, and other greenery all welcomed the rays of some phantom sun or whatever magic was responsible for this and seemed to glow slightly from within to let their essence literally shine through.
"We've been expecting you for some time, milord," a very lucid and normal sounding voice called out, jarring Owen out of his enraptured state.
Standing less then an inch from where the snow and the rest of the real world, not to mention Owen and Vlad were, was the ghost of a man wearing a sleek dark blue doublet, a white jerkin, a pair of black velvet pants, and leather boots. The only signs of his ghostly nature was that one, he was glowing and any loose fabric around him was floating, two, his hair was so black and shiny that it was like looking into a slab of solid obsidian stone, three, his eyes were so pale that they blended into the whites of his eyes except for a ring of misty blue around the iris, and finally his skin was a opalescence shade of lavender that bordered on a strange grayish-white hue.
"How odd, that man is neither living nor dead. Strange..." Another voice remarked, separating itself from the other voices whispering incoherently in the background, but only for a moment. Although Owen could pick out a few words like 'at last, our liege returns,' 'you've come home,' 'not safe,' ' hurry inside young master,' and things like that or other curious observations about Vlad who was standing a ways off to get away from the Blood Blossoms.
Dusting off the remaining snow, Owen glared at the ghostly figure who glanced indifferently over at Vlad and told him before Owen could open his mouth to protest, "I do not know who you are or what your intentions are, but you cannot enter this place without our master's permission. This is hallowed ground, sanctified by the magic and blood of the Ravenheart clan. If you have come here to defile this place and glean the secrets that lie within then we must ask you to leave. Only those of the blood and those who are hallowed themselves may enter here."
"Hey! Don't talk to my dad that way!" Owen snapped venomously, his powers flaring for a moment.
Taken aback by his outburst -Vlad and the spirit both- the figure bowed low. "Forgive me. I did not mean to insult your guest. But merely wished to inform him of-"
"He's not a guest, Vlad's my father! Ok well future father but still!" Visibly shaking with fury, Owen used Vlad's breathing technique to calm himself and then straightened himself up and talked to the spirit like he owned the place, which he did, and tried to adopt the same kind of formal yet regal tone Vlad often used and continued. "I know this seems strange to you but the man standing behind me his only half-ghost. He's alive, but he can also turn into a ghost. There are only two of his kind in the entire world, just like there's...only one of me. I know we're not related but my birth parents were killed by demons and two years later, Vlad found me. I was afraid of him at first but wanted to protect the other orphans and confronted him, knowing that I might die in the attempt. But instead, Vlad he...he saved my life and he's given me my life back. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him. So I expect all of you to treat him with the same respect you would show me or anyone else in my family. Because he IS my family. Blood related or not, we are all the other has in this world. And now we're here looking for answers. Answers that I will find with or without your help. Either way, Vlad's coming in with me!"
Turning on heel and stomping back over to Vlad, who was at a loss for words at seeing Owen act like this, Owen transformed into his necromancer form and set himself ablaze. And despite himself when Owen's presence loomed over him Vlad transformed into his ghost form just in case he needed to shield himself, thinking the boy was going to do something drastic like burn every last blossom woven through the gates and snaking across the entire property, including the mansion itself. When Owen didn't turn around though, Vlad unconsciously took a step back, for once feeling intimidated by this mere child.
Such power! The last time Vlad felt even an ounce of it was back when Owen lashed out at him while trying to escape the horrific visions of that night Owen lost everyone he loved...
Ignoring Vlad's reaction, Owen grabbed his wrist much like he did the first day they met and lifted it high into the air and let his flames consume them both. Vlad shut his eyes, expecting to feel pain even though they had already proven that Owen could heal him now with those same powers, but was surprised when he felt absolutely nothing. Nothing but a comforting warmth envelope him like a pair of gentle arms, or perhaps wings, embracing him.
Then, his own voice echoing with the power and authority of all his past lives, Owen proclaimed in fluent Latin, "Ex hoc ego et iurare in nomen, et sanguinem hunc, qui ambulat inter velum, terram, et cælum, grata est in domum suam. Malus malum neque tenebrae loco isto ingredi debet illo, extorrem meum. Similiter se habet cum omnibus, qui in domo hac. Si quis contra hanc virum, quem quaeris, ipse quærat et non ego et Pater nominatur, et dimittit et hoc nunc, et usque in gente mea in terminis suis gravibus quae ad negavit poena eorum juste te in utero suo. Et dices, Owen Ravenheart."
{I hereby declare and swear upon my name and my blood that this man who walks between the veil, earth, and heaven, is welcome in my home. No harm nor ill intent may enter this hallowed place and if darkness should take him, let him be banished from my sight. The same applies to all who serve in this house. Should anyone seek to turn away or against this man whom I have so named father, let them be banished hence forth and denied the rites to severe their bounds with my clan until punishment has been served justly upon them. So say I, Owen Ravenheart.}
