Despite the fact that she quite preferred the company of books, Jazz liked to think of herself as a perceptive person.
She knew the moment Vlad invited her and her family that something felt different. Vlad wasn't known to be a generous man, and Jazz could count on one hand the number of times the billionaire invited her and her family to go anywhere with good intentions.
It was too much of a stretch to assume that he was doing this to turn over a new leaf. Despite her dad's naïve mentality that Vlad was finally coming around to rekindling their friendship, Jazz knew all too well from Vlad's demeanor that the man just tolerated Jack. It wasn't all that different from the icy civility that Maddie presented to Vlad.
Now, Jazz wasn't one to count her chickens before they hatched. She was well prepared for Vlad to go rogue and even brought the family's anti-creep stick for insurance. It was tucked safely in her suitcase in the guest room, and while Jazz was convinced that she should brace herself for the worst, she also couldn't help but notice that Vlad hadn't spared a glance in her mother's direction all break.
This left only one person.
"Good morning, Daniel."
Danny came walking into the dining room, an extra pep in his step and looking way too cheery for someone who regularly stayed up past midnight. "Hey, fruitloop," he greeted and sat down at the table. "You serving us breakfast? What, did you sack your staff or something?"
Vlad snorted and poured some coffee into a mug. "Careful now. It's never a good idea to anger the person who handles your food," he smirked.
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do?" Danny goaded, and Jazz swore she felt the banter riding on an undercurrent of flirtatious energy.
"Morning, Danno!" A hand came down on Danny's back, hard enough to smack him right into the breakfast table.
"G-Good morning, dad," Danny wheezed, clutching his chest.
Jack came crashing in like a bull in a China shop. "You sleep alright? V-man's place not too unfamiliar for ya?" He asked, loading his plate with sausages.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm familiar," Danny murmured into his cereal, embarrassed. It didn't go unheard, however. Jazz looked down at her French toast, suddenly not feeling very hungry.
"Great choice of mattress by the way, Vladdie. Like sleeping on a cloud!"
Danny blushed even harder at that and had to leave the table, mumbling something about getting more orange juice. Jazz stared at the full pitcher of juice at the table with a frown.
Call it women's intuition, but she had a pretty good idea where this was going.
After breakfast, the family relaxed in Vlad's mansion. Maddie and Jack went out for a walk on the grounds, dusted with freshly fallen snow but pruned and well-kept. Jazz, on the other hand, curled up in front of the fireplace in the library, buried in her favorite books for a bit of light reading.
Focusing proved to be a problem, however. Jazz shifted uncomfortably in her loveseat, feeling the prickling sensation of something poking her butt. She sighed and got on her knees to reach into the crevices between the cushions, searching for the cursed object.
Only to pull out her brother's tie and a stray expensive cufflink.
It was definitely the tie Danny wore to the party the other night, before he disappeared after the dessert was served and Jazz couldn't find him anywhere for the rest of the evening. She had no idea what happened to him after that. Jazz stared at the gold decorative cufflink and fiddled with it. There was no way her family could ever afford something this sophisticated, and Danny wouldn't be caught dead wearing something this old fashioned. The only person she could think of who would own something like this would be-
It didn't take a detective to put two and two together.
Jazz charged out of the room and made a mad dash for Danny's guest room, before stopping dead in her tracks. She changed her mind and turned around, heading straight for Vlad's master bedroom instead. Why demote yourself to the guest room for a midnight tryst when you owned the place? She thought darkly.
Jazz was pretty sure if she went in there, she would see exactly what she suspected all along.
She just didn't expect to see so much.
"Jazz, get out!" Danny was a mix of panic and anger as he shot off the bed, where he was straddling Vlad with nothing on but his pants. He ran around the room, searching for his shirt. Vlad sat up wordlessly, his face pale and equally naked from the waist up. He stared at Jazz, completely unprepared.
"Are you-Are you serious?!" Jazz felt like her mind was collapsing. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!"
Danny shoved his t-shirt back on. "Who told you to come in here?!"
"Is this happening?" Jazz was hyperventilating. "Is this some sick joke? How can you think this is okay?!"
"Oh, don't give me that bullshit, Jazz. Like you're one to talk," Danny barked, throwing his t-shirt on. "You're screwing the guy who hands out your grades!"
"That's different!" Jazz said. "That's so different from whatever this is that we're not even in the same league, Danny!"
Vlad approached slowly, buttoning his shirt and putting his hands up in a placating manner. "Jasmine, I know how this looks," he said. "But if you give us an opportunity, maybe we can explain."
"Yeah, no shit," Jazz retaliated, crossing her arms. "So how long have you had your eyes on him, you perv?"
Danny stepped in. "Don't talk to him like that!"
"Oh, what? Now that you're together, you're defending him?" Jazz snapped. "He's old enough to be our father!"
"So what?"
"So what?" Jazz said, flabbergasted. "You're in college, Danny! Did you forget about that?"
Danny remained every bit as stubborn. "I'm old enough to know what I'm doing, Jazz."
"Like hell you are," Jazz argued. "If you knew what was good for you, you wouldn't have put yourself in this situation. What even is this anyway? Are you his mistress? Do you need money? Is that what this is about? He's blackmailing you?"
"Oh God," Danny laughed, but it was humorless and cruel. "For once, can you stop with the act? I get it. I'm the fuck-up who can't be trusted and always gets taken advantage of. You're the put-upon Miss Perfect who gets to swoop in to save the day-"
Vlad frowned and tried to cut in. "Daniel, perhaps-"
"And you know what, Jazz? I'm so done with your pushiness and your need to fix me!" Danny said heatedly.
"I don't need to fix you!"
"Yeah, you do," Danny said. "You've done it your whole life. It's annoying. I know how to handle myself. I've been doing it a lot longer than you think."
"Maybe we should run it by mom and dad then, if you're so confident," Jazz mocked. "See what they have to say."
From the depths of his emotion, Danny felt a raw seething rage, silent and deadly like the calm before a storm. His eyes flashed green in anger. "Like hell you will," he said quietly, balling his fists.
Jazz took a step back in shock. This wasn't the little brother she knew and grew up with, who was sometimes bratty but always meant well. This person towered over her now, staring at her with a cold rage that didn't belong in those blue eyes.
Her eyes shot to Vlad. The other man was equally upset, his brows furrowing at the threat. Jazz glared at the man. She didn't know what he did to Danny, but she was definitely going to find out.
"I would suggest you keep this little secret between the three of us, Jasmine," Vlad said softly, but his voice held a chilling promise that made lesser men quake in their shoes.
Jazz narrowed her eyes. "Is that a threat?"
Vlad walked over and put a hand on Danny's shoulder. Jazz saw her brother relax. "Let's just say, I don't see it ending well for you."
Jazz took a step back. She was outnumbered. "I don't like this, Danny," she said. "I don't like how you've changed."
"Maybe that's the problem," Danny said. "That you don't want me to change."
Jazz couldn't walk out that door fast enough.
Dinner was an awkward affair.
From both sides of the table, Jazz and Danny refused to make eye contact, focusing their attention on moving the peas across their plates. Vlad wasn't very talkative either, but had a response ready here or there whenever Jack asked him a question. The scraping of forks and knives on porcelain reverberated throughout the dining room, with Maddie and Jack feeling very confused about the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Not that anyone wanted to be the first to comment.
"The chicken's a bit bland," Jazz remarked during a lull in the conversation.
"You need to add more sauce," Danny said. The snark in his tone was very apparent.
Jazz furrowed her brows. "I guess you just like anything Vlad makes," she mumbled, but Danny heard it anyways.
He didn't say anything back, simply stabbing his legumes with more force than necessary.
Maddie and Jack looked at each other, with Jack shrugging in confusion. The holiday break started out on a great note, so what could've happened between then and now?
Maddie cleared her throat. "Is everything okay, Jazz? Danny?" She asked. "You've hardly touched your food all night."
"Sorry, mom. It's been a long day," Jazz answered, glaring at her brother. "I don't have much of an appetite."
"That makes two of us." Danny glared back.
"Well, glad we can agree on something."
"Alright, you two, enough," Maddie said firmly. "It's Christmas vacation. Speaking of which, I wonder if you guys would like to spend the last few days of your break at home?"
Danny felt blindsided. Somewhere to his left, Vlad stopped being busy with his plate. "What?" Danny asked.
"Well, wouldn't it be nice to visit Amity Park again? You two haven't really been back there for a year now," Maddie said.
"And we've done some ghost-proof renovations on our house while you were off at college!" Jack chimed in enthusiastically. "I think you would be impressed with what we did. C'mon, kids, what do you say?"
Danny dug his heels in. "Are you sure-"
"I think that's a great idea," Jazz cut in. "Don't you think so, Danny?"
Danny frowned. So, this was how she wanted to play. "Actually, I think it might be better if I stay here," he announced.
A look of mutual disappointment crossed his parent's faces. Vlad put on his best poker face, giving away nothing and letting Danny take the reins.
"Why is that, Danny?" Jazz pressed. "What could be more important than family time?"
"Not that I don't want to spend time with you guys," Danny glared at his sister. "But I might have to drop by the lab over break for emergencies. Since the dorms are closed and Wisconsin is way closer to campus, it makes sense for me to stay here."
"I thought you said your lab was closed for break," Jazz argued.
"It is, but shit happens, Jazz," Danny gritted his teeth.
"Well, I'm sure someone else can take over for you if you just ask-"
"Why would I bother other people on their break?"
"Why is it fair for them to bother you on your break?"
"Look, it's-" Danny felt stuck. Four pairs of eyes stared at him imploringly. He glanced at Vlad, who wasn't sure if his opinion was warranted on the matter. A lie came to him then. "I'm not going home because Vlad's helping me with a research project!"
Jazz fell silent, her mouth open in shock that Danny would stoop to new levels of deception.
Maddie and Jack looked intrigued. "Oh?" Maddie asked. "What's it about?"
"Theoretical physics, and a little quantum mechanics," Danny lied. "Uh, we're trying to study the ghost zone, see if its structure is predetermined or by random chance...kind of like the superdeterminism theory in our universe?"
"Mom and dad are engineers," Jazz tried to argue. "They know physics-"
"Actually, you father and I excel in applied physics," Maddie explained. "But when it comes to theoretical physics, Vlad can compete with the best of the best. I tried my hand at it, but it wasn't my cup of tea, and your father-" she looked over at Jack, who completely lost interest in the conversation and was now making a volcano out of his mashed potatoes and gravy. "-well, he's got the spontaneity for it, but none of the attention span."
"Yeah, I figured that Vlad would be the most helpful, and I didn't want to bother you two since you're so busy already," Danny shrugged. He hoped he sounded convincing.
"Well, we appreciate you looking out for us, and it's nice to see you take an interest in ectology," Maddie smiled. "But I guess this means that we'll miss you."
"Are you kidding me?" Jazz shot out of her chair. "You're actually letting him stay here?!"
"Jazz, what's gotten into you today?" Maddie frowned in concern. Even Jack tuned back into the conversation and looked a bit worried. Out of the corner of his eye, Danny saw Vlad tighten his grip on his fork.
There wasn't a chance to get an answer, however, as twin ghostly mists came flying out of Danny and Vlad's mouths. They looked at each other in alarm, and then something crashed into the house.
"What was that?" Jack got out of his seat, an unusually serious expression on his face. "Burglars?"
The two half-ghosts shared a nervous glance.
"Maybe it's best if you guys stay here," Danny urged, motioning to Vlad to get up quickly. "Vlad and I can go check it out-"
"No, we're coming with you," Maddie said sternly and got out something from her utility belt. "Family sticks together."
No one dared to argue with his mom when she was this serious. Even Vlad remained quiet, the gears in his head silently turning, working out a new plan.
Great, Danny thought as he reluctantly followed his family out into the hallway. What a fucking family reunion.
Sneaking down the hall with the whole entire Fenton entourage didn't exactly make them subtle, so Vlad finally convinced everyone to split up on the second floor. Jazz wasn't pleased with the idea, but even she knew that it was important for them to do what they had to do.
The moment they were guaranteed privacy, the halfas transformed and floated down to the main floor, following their ghost senses to the source. From a discrete corner in the ceiling, they saw that a small group of ghosts had ransacked the foyer; glass lay strewn on the ground, tables were overturned, and Vlad's prized autographed football was being tossed around carelessly. Danny studied the misfits. They were lesser ghosts, probably feeders, not powerful enough to be taken seriously but were definitely a nuisance nonetheless. There was a total of seven of them, and they were no doubt compelled to come here because they sensed their ecto-energy flare-ups.
"I can't say I'm all too pleased with your party trespassing into my home," Plasmius said, announcing his presence. He floated above them, surveying the mess around him with disdain. "You've caused quite a stir."
The ghosts spun around and sneered at him, looking pleased that their lunch has announced his presence. "That's the one!" One of them barked and sniffed the air. "So, it's true what they say," the thing said. "Not quite ghost, not quite human. We can feed off of him for months until he's weak!"
"We're always up for a change in palette," another one chimed in.
"Well, what am I, chopped liver?" Danny said, throwing his hands up. Jeez, was it so hard to get some respect around here?
"A mere child," the ghost said dismissively. "Move aside. We don't want to waste time fighting you."
"No," Danny smirked and raised his fist. "No, you don't."
It was lightning fast. Shots of green ecto-energy flew out of his hand and landed on their targets, taking out three of the creatures with pinpoint precision. Vlad was impressed; the young man had gotten immensely better at controlling and directing his energy. He smiled as he felt the buzzing of Danny's ecto-signature, steady and calm despite the tense situation. He really took their sparring lessons to heart, Vlad thought and couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in his chest.
Their enemies were less than pleased. "You struck me!" One of them cried. "A seedling!"
"Daniel, where are your manners?" Plasmius feigned disappointment and stepped in. "Why must you make me out to be such a bad host?"
Danny shrugged. "Oops, I guess my hand slipped," he said, not sounding sorry at all.
Scarlet ecto-ropes formed in the palm of Vlad's hands. "You guess? Should I show you how it's really done?" He smirked.
"Ha! As if, old man," Danny said and lunged into action.
It wasn't much of a real fight, but it felt good to take his anger out on something. He grabbed a ghost and put them into a headlock, only to use him as a shield when another one came charging at him. There was something about throwing punches that just felt satisfying, and Danny didn't hold back as he fought four against one. Plasmius was having his own brand of fun, lassoing up the creatures and tossing them around, looking very much like an apex predator playing with his food. They held their own easily, and were so caught up in the action that they didn't see Jazz running into the room, waving her arms frantically.
"Danny, I tried to stop them!" She cried, and gasped as an ecto-blast shot her brother out of the air and straight into some broken furniture.
The young man climbed out of the rubble, annoyed that he was caught off guard and got flung into a bunch of antique chairs. Wincing from the pain, Danny saw his parents with their hunting goggles on and weapons out.
"You've gotta be kidding me," he muttered, dusting himself off. He'd completely forgot about them.
"Jack! Get him!" Maddie screamed. "It's the Phantom boy!"
Jack looked unsure. He lowered his baton. "He looks a bit busy, Mads-"
"Which is why it's the perfect opportunity!" Maddie said and whipped out an ecto-pistol in Danny's direction. "Fine. I'll do it myself!"
"Oh, shit," Danny gasped and backed up. He knew that model well. Still had the burn scars to show for it, in fact. It wasn't an experience he wanted to revisit.
He zig-zagged through the room, narrowly avoiding the ecto-bullets as they cut through the air. It didn't help that his mom was a great shot, and as Danny kicked off the wall, his feet slipped and he stumbled.
And promptly took a bullet in his shin.
"Fuck!" Danny screamed, his hands flying over to cover the wound. Plasmius wasted no time to come to the boy's aid. Maddie reloaded to go again, only to yell out in shock when a burst of scarlet energy knocked the weapon out of her hand. Her skin stung from the attack, and Maddie could only watch as pink swirls enveloped the two ghosts before they teleported away, a fading imprint of hateful red eyes glaring into her soul.
Something about those eyes felt familiar.
"Damn, what an exit," Jack whistled, holstering his gun. "Say what you want, Mads, but the Wisconsin Ghost's got style."
But Maddie wasn't paying attention to her husband. She was looking at her daughter. "Jazz, what do you mean, you 'tried to stop us'?"
Jazz gulped. This was the worst vacation ever.
To be continued...