Suddenly realising that Danny was indeed in trouble and needed help, Robin and Aqualad ran forward only to be intercepted by the vultures. Unable to fight the ghosts, the vultures drove the teens further away from Vlad and Danny. Danny's vision was starting to blacken and he stopped trying to reason with Vlad. He couldn't breathe. He had to make it so that he didn't need to breathe. Something that was only possible in his ghost form. With a flash of light, Danny changed into Phantom and then shifted his presence on the Real World plane. No longer needing to breathe, his vision cleared and he could see Vlad's furious expression.
"Vlad! Listen to me! Luthor never offered me a deal!" Danny shouted forcefully.
Vlad faltered for a second, giving Danny the time to push the older halfa back and allow himself to breathe again by returning to his usual presence in the Real World. Due to suddenly needing air again, Danny collapsed to the ground and coughed and wheezed to get the oxygen he needed. Vlad slowly came out of his blind rage and watched Danny struggle to get his breath back. Danny shakily got back to his feet, breathing heavily.
"What do you mean Luthor never offered you a deal?" Vlad inquired. Danny massaged his already bruising neck.
"Just that," Danny began in a croaky voice and coughed again before clearing his throat.
"The protection for my family didn't check in during the last twelve hours. I came with those guys to check on my family," Danny explained nodding to the cornered heroes.
Vlad blinked in surprise and finally noticed the team backed in a corner on the opposite side of the room.
"Luthor hasn't been in contact with me," Danny added. Vlad turned to Danny and shook his head.
"But then why take your loved ones? Unless…" Vlad trailed off. Danny nodded, coming to the same conclusion.
"He's drawing me out," Danny agreed.
"Anyone else confused? I mean one minute they're fighting, then they're working together?" Kid Flash whispered audibly. The team nodded. Danny glanced at them before seeing the vultures. He rolled his eyes.
"Care to call off your buzzards?" Danny inquired. Vlad scowled.
"I don't answer to you Daniel," Vlad muttered before snapping his fingers at the vultures. Reluctantly the ghosts backed away from the trapped teens. The vultures glared at Danny but obeyed Vlad. The team ventured closer to the halfas, almost expecting another fight.
"How long have you been looking for my family? Do you know how long they've been missing?" Danny inquired, his breathing returning to normal.
"Since last night. I returned from my visit to you and found that your family had been taken by members of the League of Shadows. I checked with Samantha but she'd already been taken. Your friend Tucker was taken this morning after he left his house," Vlad revealed.
"Sam and Tucker's parents?" Danny prompted.
"Unaware that their children have been kidnapped. Samantha's parents and grandmother were out for the evening and returned late. And Tucker had already left home before they took him," Vlad answered.
"How do you know it was the League of Shadows?" Artemis interjected. Vlad raised an eyebrow before folding his arms.
"I'm familiar with their work. That and the cameras," Vlad answered.
"Cameras?" Danny repeated. Vlad smirked.
"Come now Daniel. Are you really surprised?" Vlad teased. Danny scowled.
"You are seriously a crazed up fruit loop. You've been spying on my family. How?!" Danny growled. Vlad's smirk widened.
"That's my little secret Daniel. You should be glad. Because of them, I knew that your family was kidnapped by those assassins within minutes of my return to Amity Park," Vlad retorted. Danny frowned in thought before gasping and glancing at the portal.
"That's how you knew about the map!" Danny realised as he recalled that Vlad had known that he had the Infi-map. Vlad hummed disinterestedly as he examined his gloved hand.
Danny turned back to Vlad before shaking his head.
"Whatever. I'll look past that whole creepy stalker thing. What do you know?" Danny decided. Vlad looked up from his hand and turned to Danny.
"You don't know who the League of Shadows are do you? They don't leave clues or loose ends Daniel. We're lucky to know this much," Vlad retorted. Danny folded his arms and glared at Vlad.
"Are you saying that you can't track them down? Because I know you Plasmius. You have a plan B waiting," Danny challenged the halfa. Vlad sighed.
"Not this time little badger. I thought I was the plan B. What about your friends? Or that AWOL protection you assigned to watch over your loved ones," Vlad sneered.
Danny narrowed his eyes.
"Aqualad, any leads we're missing?" Danny asked. Aqulad blinked before biting his lip.
"Not that I know of," the Atlantean admitted. Danny sighed.
"Guess I need to call in a friend then. Stay back. And Plasmius, don't be… don't be you around him," Danny decided before walking over to the Ghost Portal control console.
"What are you planning Daniel?" Vlad inquired, scowling at Danny's order.
"Did you ever hear how Damon Gray lost his job at Axion Labs?" Danny replied. Vlad blinked and nodded.
"I did. As I understand it, you and a monstrous ghost dog rampaged through the building during an inspection," Vlad answered. Danny winced but nodded.
"Yeah. Well, that monstrous ghost dog listens to me… sometimes. And I might be able to call him and get him to sniff out my family and friends," Danny informed the halfa.
Vlad frowned as Danny opened the Ghost Portal.
"Sometimes? Daniel, we don't have time to chase a disobedient dog," Vlad pointed out.
"Oh chasing him isn't going to be a problem. It's keeping him calm that's the issue," Danny retorted with a grim smirk. Vlad opened his mouth to comment further but Danny stepped through the portal grabbing a Fenton Fisher as he went.
Any guesses who Danny's gone to find? Will he find them?
Yep, the League of Shadows kidnapped Danny's loved ones, but are they alright? Why do they want Danny? Did they also take Icon and Plastic man?
Until the next chapter.
