A/N: How are you doing? Are you as anxious as I am? Yep, I'm rising out of my seat as it falls down that roller coaster hill even though I'm strapped in, too! Here's what's happened so far: Danny finds out that the shadow ghost who defeated him in the fight in the dark hallway is none other than-and I know y'all knew!-Spectro! Spectro lets him go and runs to get things ready for his own matters, even though he has assured Danny that he will try to have his soldiers find his friends and keep them from harm.. Danny continues to look for his friends, but Bhuto finds him first and captures him again. Bhuto brings Danny back to Jiva's chambers and rebinds him. Afterward, Bhuto goes to look for Sam, Tucker and inadvertently, Johnny 13. He meets up with Jiva and together, with a bunch of Spectre soldiers, they find the fleeing trio. Johnny 13 is shot and incapacitated. Bhuto sees that Tucker is among the company of fugitives and shoots him in revenge. Tucker falls as he struck down by Bhuto's blow. Tucker is unconscious with a very serious wound, and Sam knows that her friend is in grave danger. Still, she defies all the Spectre, ready to fight every one of them in order to protect her friend even though she is totally defenseless. Jiva admires her courage and now knows one of the reasons why Danny has found her attractive. She charges at Sam in attack, and Danny, who has been unconscious and bound in Jiva's room in another part of the castle, is startled into consciousness just as Jiva attacks Sam.
Oh, and I guess that the chappies that happen from here on, are all personal favorite chappies of mine! (It's really hard to rate them, so this one is also in my top five..in fact, it's a very strong 3!)
Now, here is the roller coaster's loop-tee-loop part: Chapter 55. IDNOAC and Enjoy!
Shadow of a Doubt—Chapter 55—Absorption
Danny's breathing continued to increase with his panic. His adrenaline shot him to high alert, totally clearing his head. He didn't care how he got here or who had attacked him. He just had to get out of here! Something was terribly wrong and he knew it had to do with Sam! Then he had another terrifying thought. "Tucker!" But what was wrong with him-–though he knew it was horrible, too-was blurred in his mind.
He immediately pulled on his bindings harder than he had before. He had to get to them!
"Aarggh!" he grunted, concentrating with all his might. But he was surprised an instant later when, with his desperation, the rings on either hand had begun to glow fiercely. Suddenly, their light joined, forming a bright green aura which expanded and finally engulfed the fiery ropes. The bindings immediately began to buckle.
Encouraged by this, the boy concentrated and tugged even harder. His right hand snapped free! He focused even more and the aura now began to creep down his body until it entirely enveloped him. A moment later, the three remaining fiery bands melted and he pulled himself completely from them.
He flew over to Libro again. He was about to touch the red bands holding his friend with the same green energy when all of the sudden, the door to the room cracked open.
His head snapped to attention. He startled when he thought he heard Sam screaming to him as if she were right in front of him. "Danny! She's coming! Jiva's coming!" He jerked his head around, quickly scanning the room.
But his girlfriend was no where in sight.
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Bhuto floated in shock at what had just happened. Could it be? He motioned for the guards to pick up Johnny 13 and Tucker.
"Leave them be. I have no more use for them. And send word that the flesh-creatures have been found."
Bhuto hesitated, terrified of the strange voice. But he finally nodded and motioned for the Spectre soldiers to leave the boy and the biker ghost where they lay. The other Spectre there were just as terrified and were relieved that Jiva didn't want more of them as they quickly bowed and left to spread the news…
"Now it is time! This is better than I could ever have planned for. Bhuto, we are to return to my chambers immediately!"
Bhuto again nodded to the princess. But it wasn't the princess. It was the flesh-girl speaking to him. But it wasn't the same flesh-girl. She had the amulet around her neck. Her hair was no longer black. It was black with red flaming tips. Her fingers weren't just fingers anymore. They were fingers with red claws jutting through her fingertips. Her eyes were no longer amethyst. They were fiery red with amethyst centers. And her ruby red lips had unmistakable Spectre fangs smiling evilly at the other Spectre.
By the power of the amulet and her own power, Jiva had completely melded into Sam. She pulled out the Fenton Ghost Gabberettes from the girl's ears and let them fall to the floor. She would have no need of them.
Sounding as Sam, Jiva said, "Yes! This is perfect! I can feel her thoughts. I can feel her emotions! They are wonderful! Stronger than I thought possible. And what is this? They feel…familiar? How delicious! And they all are now mine! And now that I, too, am part shadow and part flesh—especially the flesh-part he has strong feelings for—the Phantom-of-the-flesh will yield to me!"
She paused a moment, stumbling a little when she took a step. Being a flesh-creature was suddenly a challenge for her. She looked herself over. Was this flesh-shell damaged when she took it over? She had to see.
She concentrated and a mirror materialized on the wall just after the amulet glowed. She walked over to and was pleased how quickly she had gained control over this flesh-blood. She looked in the mirror, inspecting Sam's body. She liked what she saw. But then she thought about it a moment. "No! This will not do! The Phantom will not be pleased!"
She concentrated again and just as the amulet radiated with its orange-red light, Sam's body had returned as it had looked before Jiva took it over. She reinspected it in the mirror. It would please the Phantom. "Yes, this flesh-blood is now mine and the Phantom-of-the-flesh will also be mine!" She smiled in self-satisfaction at the image in the mirror. Then before turning toward the door, she hissed to Bhuto, "We return to the Phantom."
She quickly exited the room with the remaining Spectre, leaving Tucker and Johnny 13 where they had fallen.
But before she had gone too far, Jiva began to feel dizzy.
"Wait, Bhuto! I have to rest. This flesh-blood shell is weaker than I thought."
Bhuto helped her into a nearby room, where she could sit a moment to rest until she felt better.
And Bhuto waited, growing in his discontent.
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A swirling, black vortex seemed to suck in on itself, spiraling upward toward a bright light. How long she had been stuck in this whirlpool of blackness she didn't know. But she knew she had to get to that light. She struggled with all her might and as she concentrated, she inched painfully closer to the brightness.
But before she could reach it, she was surrounded by a penetrating, totally disbelieving scream that seemed to rack her mind.
"NOOOOOO! How can this be? You are a flesh-creature! A weakling! You cannot fight me!" Jiva's words were as trumpets in her ears. But she knew she was hearing the words in her mind.
Jiva continued, "You do not deserve to be Sam! I do! I am Sam, not you!"
Suddenly, Sam knew! She was totally aware of what happened. Aware that she was awake but imprisoned in her own mind and body. But also aware of her surroundings in her mind and what was happening. And she knew who did this to her: Jiva! And Jiva had done more than overshadowed her. She had become her, as if two people had occupied one body. Only that, Jiva controlled her body and shared her mind.
But Jiva didn't know whom she was dealing with. If Jiva wanted a mental war, Sam was more than game. The Spectre didn't know that Sam would never go quietly into the night. If she just could keep the Spectre off balance enough to reach that light….
"Why did you take my body, then, if I'm such a weakling? What do you want with me?" Sam mentally spat back.
Jiva didn't answer her right away. She was still lamenting in shock on what was happening. "How can this be? No flesh-creature has ever been aware that a Spectre was within them. You should not be this free at all! And especially not free to defy me!"
Sam did not know the answer to that as well. Humans usually suffered from complete amnesia during and after being overshadowed. But she was not being overshadowed. And she was totally aware of her insight into the unique situation that she found herself in. She was even aware that she was not even confused after being attacked by a Spectre.
She—and neither Jiva, for that matter- could not know that the amulet had made this possible. Jiva was too vain to realize that she could not wield the amulet as deftly as she had thought, and that its effects had been weakened. But even if its powers hadn't been weakened by the blow to the floor, its effects on humans were totally different than any other creature. And neither knew that by absorbing herself into Sam's body that Jiva's own powers would not work as well as she thought. But no matter the reason, Sam didn't care. All she wanted now was to get this creature out of her, if she could.
"Then you should take this as your cue and get out of me! Obviously, you are totally clueless and don't have a handle of all of this at all!" Sam firmly said; and even though she felt as if she were talking, she was only speaking with her mind.
"You will be silent!" Jiva commanded, and suddenly Sam felt as if something was around her throat, squeezing it. But it was all still in her mind. "And you will do as I command!"
Sam struggled to fight back and the pressure around her mental neck eased. "What do you want with me?" she demanded again.
"You do not demand, flesh-creature! You will do as I will! And I want you to get the Phantom for me! He will not take me as a Spectre but he will take me as you!"
"I won't let you do it! And he won't be fooled," Sam hissed back, resuming her struggle to get to the light.
Suddenly, there was a jolt of red energy that pushed Sam back from the light and she felt dizzy. Jiva had discovered her plan! "You think yourself clever, flesh-blood? I have full knowledge of what you are thinking. And be warned! You cannot fight me! If you do, I will destroy your very thoughts. Not that your thoughts mean anything enough for me to bother myself destroying them, do you understand? You mean nothing to me."
Jiva jolted at her next thought and smiled. Because this flesh-creature had been able to somehow escape her complete control, she had momentarily allowed the flesh-creature to cloud her mind with her own jealousy! But was it jealousy or envy? And how was it that she now knew the name of these…these emotions? She smiled again. She should have taken the flesh-girl from the very beginning. It would have made everything so very easy. But it did not matter and she would not chide herself. She would rectify all that now.
She concentrated, but it didn't take as much effort as it had with the Phantom. After all, she was really sharing this flesh-creature's mind. But only in a 'one-way' kind of way. She had the advantage that she could read Sam's thoughts, but Sam could not read Jiva's thoughts, unless the shadow ghost willed it so.
Jiva thought this would be so easy. She could tell that this 'Sam' had very unique, complex thoughts. And she was very intelligent. And there was something more….interesting... a weakness that she could manipulate. She would not let this creature defy her again. "And do you not know," she coolly continued, "that the Phantom also thinks you mean nothing to him? He has remembered all that you had done to him. All your anger you threw at him. All your secrets you hid from him. Things that you did not trust him with. He has told me all of it, and he is angry at you. You have wounded him and that is why he wished me to attack you!"
Sam's mind blinked in disbelief. That didn't sound like Danny to her. Yes, they had fought, but they had worked it through. And she had kept some secrets from him. But she didn't do that to hurt or anger him. She did because she was…
But when Jiva caught wind of her thoughts, the shadow ghost gently interrupted her, "So, you are afraid? Afraid to trust him? Afraid to tell him what you truly feel? Yes, I understand now. Your feelings are your weakness, and they make you vulnerable. Especially that very strong feeling you have for him that makes you even more susceptible to….hurt. That is frightening."
Jiva smiled when she felt Sam's mind yielded a little. Sam did not know that she had confirmed Jiva's assumption when she did…
Now Jiva had the flesh-girl where she wanted her. She said even more soothingly, "You are afraid that if you told him everything, especially those strong feelings for him, he may reject you in the end, am I right? He might hurt you by finding someone more worthy? Finding someone who would be better than you? Ah-ha! I see that you have also had the jealousy when his eye turned to other…girls! You have had others near you that you felt would be better than you, am I right?"
Sam's thoughts jolted a little with Jiva's words, and she couldn't understand why she could suddenly feel mental pain…and fear. How could this thing inside of her possibly know about these insecurities that she had not even told Libro totally about? After all, she had not been able to sort them out herself. But she was afraid. Afraid to admit her feelings. She did not want to be weak, but also knew she had needs. After all, she was only human. But how could Jiva possibly understand all this? She was never human.
But Jiva interrupted Sam's thoughts once more. "Or, are you afraid that he might become disinterested? After all, he is very important and needs a mate who is his equal. Perhaps you know he will find someone who could match his power enough to help him, am I right? Tsk. Tsk. Poor dear. You know you are not his equal because you do not have power such as his. In the end, you are nothing more than a burden. You hold him back. And when he finally realizes this, he will turn from you without looking back. You know this is true. That is why you feel this jealousy. Once he leaves you, no one will ever want you. You can only offer weakness and fear to those around you. You are unworthy of any creature."
She felt a little dizzier as Jiva's words pressed harder on her mind. Again, the shadow princess had cut to the heart. She had dealt with all these insecurities, yet she was afraid to talk about them, to admit them. Sam began to tremble, but again, only in her mind.
Jiva smiled, tasting the flesh-girl's weakness. She seemed to whisper confidently to Sam, as one's confidant would. "Then, you have a right to be afraid. But you do not need to fear any longer. I can make you strong. Strong enough that he would never would reject you! Strong enough to be his true equal in everything imaginable. Help me help you…"
Sam continued to feel dizzy as Jiva enveloped her mind. And she began to drift away from the light.
Jiva felt all that Sam was experiencing, too. She smiled. How so very easy it was for her to control this one. The Phantom did not deserve such a weakling as her. He deserved one as strong as herself. She sent her will toward the yielding flesh-girl. "Yes, let me help you. I will make you more desirable to him, if you let me have control…"
Sam tried to shake her spinning head, but she knew her head was not moving and that she was just trying to clear her mind. She had to admit that Jiva had been right. She was afraid. She wanted to always be there for Danny, but she knew she really couldn't. She didn't have any special powers. She shuddered at her next wild thought. Could Jiva make her stronger? But she immediately rejected the temptation, upset with herself for even thinking it. This was all wrong!
And Jiva interrupted her thoughts once more when she felt the girl toy with being stronger. She pushed against the girl's resistance as she probed Sam's mind. The shadow ghost just knew that in a few moments more, she would have complete victory over this flesh-creature. "Oh? What is this memory I see? Very interesting. And, what? You do not know of it? Then let me show you how much I can help you…."
Jiva licked her human lips in delight at peering at this darker side of Sam. "You were stronger one time. Do you not recognize it? Do you not see that it is only through the power of another that you will keep the Phantom?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sam objected, but immediately gasped when Jiva opened her mind to the memory to which the shadow princess was referring. It was of the time when she had been controlled by Undergrowth.
"I don't believe you! You're messing with me!" Sam objected more strongly this time, but then groaned under the pressure of the images flashing before her. It was as if she were outside of herself, watching a movie of herself.
And even though Sam could not believe how different she looked in this mental movie of her actions under Undergrowth's control, she could not deny that it was indeed herself, no matter how she tried to think otherwise. She mentally shuddered when she saw herself lovingly caressing Undergrowth's 'children', assuring them that she would care for them because she was their 'mother'.
But then, she gasped at the next image, though she knew it was in her mind. What was she doing? Allowing—no, helping-Undergrowth to capture her parents? Her grandma? And Danny's family, too? Even the whole town? And she actually commanded the "mind vine" to attack Tucker?
"No!" her thoughts gasped in dread. "This is not real! You're just trying to trick me! I don't believe any of it!"
"You know very well I am not trying to fool you! I only want you to know how strong you were. How strong you can become again! Just look! Look how powerful you were!"
Sam couldn't understand why she felt a hand grab her under her chin that wasn't there and force her to look at the mental images Jiva had retrieved from her memory. She tried to close the eyes that weren't there, but, of course, she couldn't.
But what she saw next distressed her more…She was squared off in front of Danny, begging him…"Stay, Danny. Stay and rule with me…" Did she just say that? No, this wasn't true. But she felt the strong emotional memory. It was true! She had wanted the power…she had wanted Danny at her side, using his powers in the wrong way. This time, she did not question the tears that should not be there. How could she?
But then what Danny said in response riveted her from her anguish…"I always thought you ruled, Sam. Just not like this…" What was that? What did he say? She felt her head clear a little.
But Jiva rebounded, clouding Sam's mind again with images of her overseeing Undergrowth's plants in attacking Danny, and sitting idly by when Undergrowth hurt him. She began to cry in her mind again, distressed. How could she hurt him? How could she hurt Tucker and all of her loved ones?
But then, Sam remembered how Danny was when he told her some of what happened during this entire episode. He was not angry with her, or even blamed her. He had been very understanding through it all…and he had never rejected her because of it! In fact, he had purposely spared her the details. She now realized that he did this because he knew that if she knew how…evil… she had been, it would have distressed her as greatly as it was now.
But Jiva interrupted her thoughts once more. "But as you can see…" she began as she allowed Sam to see more images, the ones where Undergrowth's enveloped Danny for the last time, pulling him deeply into the ground. Sam concentrated on ignoring the Spectre. She wanted to see her own reaction to what was happening to her boyfriend at that moment. She looked at her face. It looked confused, not pleased, that is, until Undergrowth gained control over her again. Encouraged by that fleeting confirmation that she had not meant to hurt Danny, she no longer tried to keep Jiva's thoughts at bay, "You hurt the Phantom! You were going to have your servants destroy him! You are unworthy to be his mate. But I am!"
Sam winced at first, but quickly dismissed the thought.
Sam's body frowned in irritation. The girl was still resisting! But Jiva would not be foiled. She continued, "But do not blame yourself! I will make you strong again. Even stronger."
"Stronger…" Sam mused again. But then, Danny's words suddenly echoed again in her mind. "I always thought you ruled…" She mentally smiled at his compliment. It was even before they were a couple. "..but not like this…" She jolted, and the emotional realization helped her to begin to come out of her funk. Danny knew at this point when he said those words to her that she would have been strong enough to be his equal. That she was powerful. But he didn't want that from her. He wanted her as she was. Human, powerless and all. And then Sam felt an overpowering feeling, a feeling that gave her strength. He loved her as she was!
"NOO!" Jiva screamed in Sam's mind when she caught a wind of Sam's thoughts. "You cannot have any kind of thoughts unless I will it!"
This time, Sam was more determined to do just that. And she concentrated, trying to block the Spectre princess's thoughts.
Suddenly—and unexpectedly-Sam groaned with the next spell of dizziness. But then, the next words she heard startled her. They were not hers. They were Jiva's. But the shadow ghost was not speaking to her. She was talking to herself!
"I will not be defeated! This foolish flesh-girl does not know with whom she is dealing! I will have total control. She will not prevent me! And she is no more worthy of the Phantom than the speck on the floor! And when I have total control, she will not even be worthy of even one more thought from me! She might as well be non-existent. And to think! She thought herself strong enough to defy me!"
Sam's mind was slightly stunned in disbelief. She actually felt Jiva in emotional turmoil! The Spectre princess had not expected this. She thought that humans had total control over their emotions, and even that emotions had held some kind of special power…. Sam listened in more attentively….
"Strong? But how could she not resist if she were not strong? What kind of creature is this?"
Suddenly, Sam felt a sharp sting shoot through her head immediately after Jiva thought this. She instinctively erased this connection. And when she did, she felt as if she would faint from the pressure that was seizing her mind. Finally, after what felt like hours, the pain left her. She felt dizzy, but not as much as she had when Jiva had been probing her thoughts. Then, Sam was aware of a distressing voice. Again, Sam knew it was Jiva—talking to herself.
"Ah, I see what this creature is made of! And what? I know of their names once more? Being Sam is delicious. In fact, I can also be like her! I am strong! I am already courageous—though I feel she is even more so."
This time, Jiva frowned in Sam's body. She was confused about this next thought. She is honest, though I am not certain what that means. Oh, I see! That means she will tell you what she thinks about the situation without hesitating. Then why did she not tell her friends her feelings?" But Jiva could not know that honesty and emotion could be separate. Even though Sam was not always honest about her feelings due to her insecurities, she was an honest person. Only humans could understand the difference. And Jiva could not.
"I feel passion from this flesh-blood as well. Passion for justice, passion for righteousness. And what? A strong desire to defend the defenseless? Then I do not understand…why did she do all those wicked things? She did not defend those defenseless flesh-bloods. She hurt them when they were powerless."
But Sam knew why. Humans weren't perfect. They would do wrong things even when underneath they were not like those evils. What made the difference, though, was to learn from those mistakes, better yourself, and vow not to repeat them. Sam's mind began to come into sharper focus. But then, Jiva's musings interrupted her once more…
"And it seems that this creature is loyal. Fiercely loyal…to her friends… and especially to the Phantom." Jiva's mind jolted. She was not 'loyal' to anyone. She interrupted herself with her next thought. "And what is this? A feeling that is both loyal and passionate? Yet, at the same time, beyond all feelings? Whatever that is, it is deep in this flesh-blood. I cannot comprehend this. She does not always show this feeling to others, but it is deep, real, strong."
Sam jolted this time. She was certain that Jiva was talking about 'love'. And Sam knew she loved deeply, intensely. She just wasn't all giddy and silly about it as others might be. But that didn't mean she didn't love. Her love was beyond emotions. And she showed it with her actions. And she felt a surge of strength from that thought. For the first time, she had sorted it all out. It was not her nature to always admit her feelings to others. But it was in her nature to show it. Still, she suddenly realized that it would be all right for her to admit them now and then. After all, her friends, especially Danny, couldn't know what was in her mind.
She sighed in mental relief. And her mind was now completely free from Jiva's spell. It was time to get down to business. She would resist her with all her might! She startled again…just like Danny would! She smiled, but then felt a sharp pain as she heard Jiva laugh through her body. She listened more carefully as Jiva continued to boast, "But not strong enough! I will defeat her! She will serve me! And that creature actually thought she was strong enough to be the Phantom's equal? Humph!"
Shaking the emotions away, realizing that they had been confusing her, Jiva huffed, "Enough of this foolery! I am strong enough! And I will be in control…of everything! Of the feelings of this flesh-creature…of the Phantom…of the book, the Spectre…and more!"
Sam mentally gasped when she saw Jiva's next thoughts. NO! She had to stop her! But how?
Sam steeled herself and forcefully replied, "Any plan you have won't work! You can't pull off being a human any more than I can pull off being a Spectre!"
"Foolish flesh-girl! I am all-powerful! I am here, am I not? And you can do nothing to stop me! Not even the Phantom can or will!"
"You are not all-powerful! I will fight you! And he will fight you! Somehow, I'll get through to him. He'll know you are a fake and have stolen my body!" Sam spat, refusing to yield anymore. She was strong!
"That is what you think! And what you think is no longer of any importance!" Jiva hissed, totally losing her temper.
Suddenly, Sam was aware of a red aura around her. It was squeezing her entire being. But she was wondering why she was feeling this pressure. She knew she wasn't really breathing. Her body was breathing normally, but in her mind, she knew she wasn't breathing. But she felt as if she was being asphyxiated. She felt her mind becoming numb. And then, a moment later, she was falling, as the black vortex now reversed its direction and sucked her away from the light…
Jiva got up from the chair she had been sitting in. She felt better. "Bhuto!" she said and he startled. "I am ready. The dizziness has left."
She led the way as Bhuto and the other Spectre followed behind. But just as they drew nearer to her chamber, she stopped and felt a little dizzy again. This flesh-creature was stronger than she thought. Sam had regain awareness again.
But Jiva concentrated and turned to Bhuto, "I will go in by myself! Make certain that no one disturbs us!"
"Yes, Highness," he answered, but he barely hid his discomfort. He was slowly realizing that he had as much chance of getting any favors from Jiva as having his princess release the hold she had on that flesh-body.
Jiva felt a little light-headed, but she pushed on. And just as she began to open the door, she could not keep Sam from mentally yelling with all her might, "Danny! She's coming! Jiva's coming!"
