Disclaimer: I own nothing from Danny Phantom

Note: Warning! Character torture and a death scene ahead. You all probably knew this was coming as far as Freakshow is concerned because this particular version of him messed Dani up pretty badly and what he did was more or less the straw that broke the camel's back, but I'm warning you just in case. Also, if you didn't catch the hint in the last chapter, Lydia physically abused Dani too in a fit of jealousy.

Freakshow's encounter in this story didn't last long since I was originally going to have a whole 'Vlad mounts a huge search and rescue mission after Dani goes mysteriously missing for weeks' sequence, however, I think it's actually better this way. It lets me show off that Vlad, while he does care about her very much and would do anything for Dani, how that's not necessarily a good thing...

He also has a 20 year old habit of evil plotting, blackmailing, vengeance, and so on to get over so it's going to take time for him to learn how to stop using those things as his first resort, not last. But in his eyes, what Freakshow did to his little badger crossed the line and therefore he's too dangerous to keep alive.

Chapter 16: Retribution

Vlad's POV

To some degree, I was actually grateful this town doesn't actually know how to successfully protect itself from ghostly sabotage and infiltration, because it was child's play for me to shut down all of the security camera's in Amity Park Penitentiary and overshadow the right people so I could proceed to 'interrogate' Freakshow completely undetected. And seeing as he's human and therefore could not sense ghosts, Freakshow was oblivious to the presence of my duplicates inside both of the guards escorting him and the other one eagerly awaiting him in the interrogation room, invisibly flexing their fingers around his coveted staff while through them I resisting the urge to snap it in half prematurely...

Originally I wanted to make my revenge all the more sweeter by convincing his former ghost slaves to assist me with getting even with their former master, but as to be expected they were quick to vacate the premise to avoid falling under his control again after just barely regaining their freedom. Not that I blame them, since I was going to use the staff to control them if they didn't agree to my plans. But I only planned to control them just long enough to pin Freakshow's murder on them instead of my ghost persona, Vlad Plasmius.

I did however manage to track down the ghost I assume was actually his second in command, Lydia, who apparently didn't need the staff to be controlled. In fact, as soon as she saw the staff in my hands she became violent and tried to attack me in order to retrieve it. That was very foolish on her part since it confirmed my suspicions that she was the one who had left those ugly marks on Danielle's skin, the one who had physically hurt her.

As such I showed her no mercy.

I poured all of my hatred and malice into the staff and once it took control of her, I set her core ablaze with unspeakable agony that was infinitely worse than anything Danielle had felt. A shame Lydia was mute so I couldn't hear her screams, but it was satisfying watching her writhe pathetically on the ground, every inch of her green skin glowing with a fiery red aura, including the outlines of each and every tattoo. Normally even I'm opposed to using such levels of violence against any female, ghost or otherwise, but since she had dared to harm Danielle, Lydia was only getting what she deserved.

I didn't have to literally destroy Lydia, but I could shatter her spirit as a message to others to prove that I am NOT joking around. And the next ghost that so much as looked at Danielle wrong would find themselves being torn apart limb from limb and forced to watch. Of course, that was only in the event that Danielle is faced an opponent she can't handle herself. Because despite feeling overprotective of her, I knew it was impractical and downright unrealistic to try and keep track of every ghost who has ever injured her in order to beat some sense into them.

Either way, once I finished torturing Lydia into submission I left that wretched ghost curled up in a fetal position, her fingers twitching jerkily from suffering such agony through the staff's power. And as I floated past, I stared down at her coldly, feeling not even the slightest hint of remorse. Then as if burning it into her mind like a brand I used the staff's power again to order her not to interfere with my plans for Freakshow and I also ordered her to flee to the Ghost Zone and never return.

Although, I'm sure those instructions would fade from her mind as soon as I broke the staff of course, but at least this would keep her from trying to save her beloved master from my wrath. Ideally, the memory of the agony I had subjected her to would more than suffice to quell any foolish notions of coming after me or Danielle to avenge Freakshow's demise. However, as more of a last minute idea, I casually leaned down and phased the red cloak off of her shoulders to bring with me and show Freakshow as proof that I knew exactly who he was, what he had done, and I was serious about making his last moments as horrible as possible since he attempted to steal something precious from me.

I'm sure hearing those words would confuse the man, but it's true. Danielle is by far, the most precious thing I own. Well, perhaps not own so much as she is under my protection and all that that entails.

Still, if not for the valiant efforts of Danielle's friends to save her from his control and her taking the initiative to ask me for help just before losing her memories, Freakshow may have very well succeeded in kidnapping her. And I wouldn't have caught wind of it until it was too late to stop him from getting away. I would have still found him eventually of course, but that would have left Danielle exposed to his magical and mental abuse for much longer and worse...if Freakshow had discovered she's only half-ghost then-

I shook my head, knowing it was dangerous to even think about such a thing since it would only make my blood boil to the point of acting rashly and snapping the man's neck to be done with it. But didn't want to give him the mercy of a quick death, I wanted to savor this moment. I wanted to watch all the color drain from his face as the reality of his impending doom sank in and Freakshow realized there was no escape...

Not from me.

"Now gentlemen, can't we be reasonable about this?" I heard Freakshow say in a vain attempt to charm his way out of being man-handled by the two guards I had overshadowed who were bringing him to me in the interrogation room after rudely dragging him out of his cell. "I've already told you everything I know about those ghosts and the staff, but it's gone now so I'm as weak and powerless as the rest of you mere mortals. There's no need to be so rough. I bruise easily you see and have no stomach for violence."

Could have fooled me given how you tried to murder two defenseless teenagers. One of them you even made TWO attempts to kill and then you proceeded to trap countless concerned parents, news reporters, and police officers in a large tent and set one of your ghostly minions loose on a crowd of innocent bystanders who you knew damn well couldn't fight back, I thought venomously to myself, disgusted by the fact that he was still trying to play innocent or as if his crimes only included petty theft.

I took the liberty of checking his criminal records and Freakshow had a rap sheet a mile long that contained everything from pretty theft to as I feared...possessive tendencies. In fact, I was shocked to find that the tattooed ghost I had tortured earlier was in fact the ghost of Freakshow's former girlfriend, Lydia Thomas, who died of cancer when she was 17 whom he had been dating for about two years.

I'm just glad that Freakshow never discovered that Danielle is half-human and decided to replace Lydia as his partner. Thankfully, Freakshow seemed more interested in the stealing then seducing young women. His crimes started small with shoplifting as a teenager but then that all suddenly changed when he inherited Circus Gothica, which then gave him ownership of this staff after his parents both mysteriously passed away around the same when he turned 19 last year. That's when Freakshow discovered a far more profitable use for his ghostly performers that involved much less effort on his part to entertain the masses which explains why I had never heard of him until recently, they haven't been performing under his new management for very long at all.

Regardless, the fact that there have been strings of robberies in every town he's visited that couldn't be tied to him, and the fact that there was at least some record of his misdeeds, it was entirely possible that Freakshow HAD murdered before. In fact, given the circumstances, I can only assume he may have actually murdered his own parents who were the former ringleaders of Circus Gothica before him.

Frankly, it was not entirely outside of the realm of possibility...

If I had to hazard a guess, Freakshow's early crimes were merely his way of drawing the attention of his parents away from their ghost performers, who they had also controlled for years and treated like loyal circus pets when in reality they were no more innocent than Freakshow. Like their parents before them, they had used the power of that staff to control ghosts against their will and likely have been doing so for as long as their family has owned that relic. But that was all about to change tonight, because I was about to end the cycle forever and Danielle would be their family's last victim...while Freakshow would be my first.

Shoving Freakshow into the chair at the table and strapping him in with the restraints attached to it, the two 'guards' left without another word and Freakshow seemed confused at first. Was someone else coming to interrogate him now? In a way he was correct in that assumption; however...this was all off record and thanks to how well I could cover my tracks using my own powers, not to mention billions of dollars and resources at my disposal, by the time we were done here not only would his legacy be ruined, but Freakshow would die knowing his crimes had finally caught up to him and he bit off more than he could chew.

It was hardly the time for this, but given how we were already there I figured I might as well get some valuable information out of him regarding this staff and any other artifacts he might have stored away that belonged to his family. After all, once he was dead I wouldn't get another chance to ask. All I had to do was play his tune and trick Freakshow into thinking he would soon be off the hook since I could 'control' ghosts too. I would show him the perfect example of what using ghost powers properly could lead to, what vast riches, influence, and power could be obtained, and then... he would meet his end at the hand of the world's most powerful man and the most powerful ghost.

Using a similar tactic I've used countless times, I phased through the wall to switch places with my duplicate who was holding the staff in ghost form while I on the other hand assumed human form again and strolled right into the interrogation room, acting like I owned the place. Given what a small town hack Freakshow was I doubt he had even heard of me. But even he could tell I looked like someone important so his eyes shimmered greedily and a knowing smile curled up on his lips as he casually crossed his legs, assuming he had something I wanted badly enough that I came here to strike a bargain with him. Amateur, the poor fool didn't even know how to conceal his reaction from me.

Sitting down opposite from him, I on the other hand kept my expression carefully blank, but allowed just enough professional curiosity to show on my face to grab his attention because people like him just LOVE talking about themselves. Especially when they think they're holding all the cards. Make no mistake though, being within inches of this disgusting bottom feeder made me feel filthy, but I didn't let my true feelings show. I didn't want to alert him to my real purpose here before getting him to lower his guard so Freakshow would give me what I wanted before I ended his miserable life.

"So I take it you're the one they call 'Freakshow?'" I asked, sitting perfectly still whereas he was slouched over slightly, idly bobbing his foot up and down in a childish manner.

"In the flesh! Because yes, unlike my underlings I'm still a living breathing meat sack like the rest of you losers," he cackled.

I nodded, smirking, "Yes, so I've heard. Speaking of which, that's why I'm here. I'm-"

"What? No dramatic introduction? That's awfully rude you know. Usually people exchange names before striking up a bargain, wouldn't you agree? I can only assume you're here to ask about my staff just like the Guys in White were earlier. Are you with them?" Freakshow asked and this time I openly frowned.

"Well, if you'd let me finish I was about to introduce myself. But first of all, no, I am not with the government. I'm here because of a more...personal venture. You see, I'm quite the collector of ghost-related artifacts myself and I was wondering if you would be willing to trade information about any you have or might know about in exchange for my help setting you free." I offered, smiling internally thinking that the only freedom I was going to give him was from that scrawny 'meat sack' body of his.

Licking his lips, Freakshow clapped his hands together as best he could with the handcuffs on and beamed. "But of course! I should have guessed you were a fan of the occult from how much eyeliner you're wearing! What do you want to know Mr...?"

"Masters. Vlad Masters," I answered dismissively.

Shaking his head and blinking slowly, Freakshow looked stunned and asked. "Wait wait wait, are we talking about the billionaire Vlad Masters? Oh I've heard about you, my parents told me that they sold some ancient tome to you once, but it wasn't the one you wanted. What you wanted was the record of our family's history. Is that what you're after again now?"

Now that he mentioned it, that it DID ring a bell. But that was years ago while I was searching for a more reliable source of information on ghosts and had been reduced to researching specialty book stores and such in disguise or while overshadowing someone else they were more likely to do business with. Eventually I was directed to a small house out in the suburbs where I met an old couple who were more than happy to part with at least a few of their antique books, and one of them turned out to have what I was looking for at the time.

That was so long ago that it never even crossed my mind that they might be-

After taking a moment to recollect my thoughts and composure I finally responded, "That among other things if possible. But first, I'm VERY interested in the staff you used to control the ghosts who robbed those banks for you. Although I must say, it was a foolish idea to strike so many places at once. Not to mention you made the mistake of targeting the local ghost fighting hero Dani Phantom, who has quite the reputation around here, so using her to assist in the robberies had inevitably drawn far too much attention to yourself. And THAT, I'm afraid, is why your recent plans of conquest were doomed to fail spectacularly. Subtly and patience is key, Frederich Isak Showenhower, as you will soon learn..."

"I see someone's done their homework," Freakshow glowered, hating to hear me call him by his real name as he raised an eyebrow. Then with a disinterested shrug he scoffed. "Eh, sure, why not? If you can get me out of here you can have whatever you want, rich boy."

Seemingly satisfied by my answer, I begrudgingly listened as Freakshow enthusiastically went into detail about his family's history of 'training and controlling ghosts' with a hint of envy in his voice that was unmistakable, even some bitterness regarding his parents. It was all very typical for someone like him who was all about 'sticking it to the man' as the kids say and acting as a literal ringleader to antisocial teenagers and other goths who supported his views. His parents had clearly neglected their son quite a lot while he was young in favor of spending time in the circus training their ghosts to perform, but it looks like must have at least taught him some of their family secrets and gave him advice on how to best implement the staff's powers.

Not that it was very hard mind you.

Once I felt like I had learned everything I could from him, I stood from my chair and smiled. "Thank you for your time, Freakshow. I believe we're done here..."

Glaring at me, he held out his hands in front of him, gesturing at the cuffs on his wrists and huffed. "Um hello? We had a deal remember? What about my freedom?" Casually nodding in the direction of my duplicate, who then revealed himself while holding Freakshow's staff, I smirked when I saw his shocked expression and he blubbered. "M-my staff! How did you-? Where was it? How did you find it? And how are you controlling that ghost without holding it?"

While my duplicate reached over to phase the cuffs off his wrists and legs in one swift motion, I replied coldly. "I have my ways. As for the staff, as it so happens I found it among some of the other things you've stolen, including something quite dear to me, so I'll be taking this as repayment I'm afraid. You won't be needing it where you're going."

"Repayment? Now hold on a second, let's not be hasty! I don't remember stealing anything from a big hot shot fella like you, even I'm not THAT insane!" Freakshow laughed nervously, eyeing his staff hungrily as if looking for an opportunity to steal it back.

Wringing his hands together Freakshow continued reasonably. "Feel free to take back any goods I wrongfully took from you along with any other shiny bobble that catches your eye with no hard feelings since I didn't know any better. Then again, given how rich you already are I suppose it's possible that you owned one of the banks or jewelry stores I robbed, but still! If you'd be so kind as to give me back my staff I'll be on my way and you'll never have to see or hear from me again unless you happen to come visit me at the circus again.

"I can always get more gold and jewels to replace my last haul. Once I regain control of my minions I'll just start over again in a few years under a new name and nobody will know the difference. Maybe one day we could even work together because I know a few very VERY old secrets about ghosts you can't possibly imagine. You have the money, I have the knowledge and power, so I could see a very lucrative future ahead of us if we worked together from time to time."

Commanding my duplicate to hold his chin up using the sharp end of the staff, I narrowed my gaze and warned darkly. "Did you honestly think I'd be that easy to fool? I'm not a simpleton like the rest of the idiots in this town. I've been playing this game much longer than you have and I've read your permanent records. The truth of the matter is that even if I agreed to such madness, I know for a fact that you'd look for the first opportunity to stab me in the back!

"As for what you stole from me, it's not an object, in fact, it's far more precious to me than any material item I possess. And I do not take kindly to anyone trying to steal from me or deceive me, and those who have faced my wrath have barely done so with with their sanity still intact. You see, I very rarely settle for only giving out warnings to crush such idiotic notions that any of you stand a chance against me.

"No, I strike at the heart of the matter without warning, my retribution swift and decisive. That is, they have angered me to the point where I've decided to take my sweet time toying with them, reminding them what lowly worms they are, before teaching them one final lesson they'll never forget. You should be grateful I didn't simply take what I wanted from you by force, leaving you here to rot. This isn't a game, Freakshow. And even if it was, you lost before you even noticed I had already set up the board."

Laughing hysterically, Freakshow clapped his hands together gleefully, smirked, and said. "Ooo goodie, I love games! Speaking of which, it looks like the joke's on you, rich boy!"

Yanking the staff from my duplicate's hand with a slight of hand that normally would have impressed me if I hadn't purposefully allowed him to take it from me since it was all part of my plan, Freakshow twirled it a few times before pointing it at the only ghost in the room and laughed. "You may have some way to control ghosts too that I don't know of, but this staff has been in my family for generations and it has the power to enthrall any ghost! I even managed to control Dani Phantom herself! Therefore your little bodyguard stands no chance against me! I always have a trick or two up my sleeve like any good magician!"

Resting my hands behind my back, undeterred, I challenged calmly. "Do you think it's wise to make an enemy out of me, Freakshow? You do realize I'm the richest and most powerful man in the world and I have the manpower and resources to wipe you off the face of the Earth while leaving your family in disgrace, don't you?"

"Well you know us circus folk, we live for the thrill of living on the edge of a knife or high atop the tight rope! It comes with the territory. But you're right, I'd rather not make an enemy of you if at all possible. Honestly, I just wanted my staff back. So as friendly gesture, you can have your guard dog back once I've escaped this backwater town so I can make plans to regain control of my poor beautiful dark angel who has lost her way and needs my hand to guide her back home to me." Backing away, he turned to my duplicate and ordered. "Now then, it's been fun, but I think I'll be drawing the curtains now to prepare for the next act. Slave, I order you to get me out of here and take me to Lydia! She should be waiting for me at the ron-de-vu point."

The look on Freakshow's face was priceless when I dismissed my duplicate and it abruptly vanished before his eyes, ignoring his commands. Because not only had he not followed Freakshow's orders, but laughed at him before dissipating into nothingness. That's when I pulled out the red cloak I borrowed from Lydia and threw it at his feet, grinding it beneath the heel of my shoe. And I might as well have thrown her mangled remains down there instead because his face turned stark white with fear when he finally realize he'd been completely outclassed and outmatched from the very beginning.

"I told you before...Freakshow." I hissed in a low menacing tone. "This isn't a game. I've cut off every exit, erased every possible way to trace our encounter, isolated you from anyone who possibly could have stopped me or at the very least distracted me long enough for you to slink back into the shadows again, and most of all I've figured out the way you think long before we ever spoke to one another. I know everything you've done. I know everyone you've ever been in contact with. And I know it was YOU who broke the mind of my little badger and you're going to pay dearly for that. It takes more than a little fake flattery and slight of hand to get the jump on Vlad Masters! Or better yet-"

Encasing the staff with ecto-energy, I ripped it from Freakshow's grasp and pulled it towards me, grabbed it, and then transformed into the very same ghost he thought was only an underling of mine. Truly terrified now, Freakshow backed himself up against the wall and shouted fearfully. "What-What the hell ARE you?! Guards? Guards! Someone, help! Help, there's a ghost attacking mfffmh!"

Rushing forward with inhuman speed, I clamped one gloved hand tightly around his jaw and sneered. "It's no use calling for help. No one can hear you. And no one can stop me. As for what I am, I am the first of my kind and Danielle -otherwise known as Dani Phantom to you- is the second. We are the two most powerful beings in this world and the next, we're family.

"And you, you Freakshow, have made a HUGE mistake by ever laying your filthy hands on her! Do you want to know why she was able to resist your control like that when no other ghost ever has before in all the years your family has owned that relic? It's because she's only half-ghost! We both are! Obviously I'm more powerful than she is right now, but someday that will change, and when that day comes scum like you will NEVER be able to make her suffer like this ever again."

Struggling uselessly against my monstrous grip, Freakshow's eyes began to bulge out as I applied more pressure to his jaw, feeling the bones start to crack beneath my fingers. Then, I casually leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Do you want your staff back that badly? Then here...take it!"

Pulling back, I flipped the staff so that the sharp edge was facing him, and before Freakshow could recover his footing, with one strangely elegant motion I drove it through his chest, impaling him and pinning his body to the wall. He stared down at himself in shock as dark red blood gushed out of the wound and formed a puddle at his feet, some blood also bubbling out of his mouth and trickled down his chin. But then, Freakshow surprised me too when he suddenly started to laugh hysterically in the face of death before his body fell limp as the light slowly left his eyes.

Meanwhile, the orb's swirling red luster also faded at the same time which told me I was correct in assuming that it's power really was tied to blood magic. To put it simply, the staff had been MADE by his family and with him gone, it lost its power since no other members of his bloodline remained in this world. His parents had been the last of their line, and therefore, he was the only surviving heir to the Showenhower legacy. It would have been a much different story if I attempted to shatter the orb instead while keeping him alive, because even in pieces it would have retained its power as long as the one who shared the blood of its creator still flowed freely through his veins.

But now that Freakshow was dead, his bloodline ended, I knew he would no longer be able to enslave Danielle or any other ghost ever again. Not that I cared about anyone else besides her. Just as an added safety precaution though, I slowly backed away and shot a ray of ecto-energy from my eyes to shatter the crystal orb once I was absolutely sure that it had been completely drained of its power. As for any lasting effects it might have on her, I could only hope that this would be enough to lift the spell on Danielle, my sleeping princess back home. The person I cared for so much that I had just killed a man in cold blood to make sure Freakshow's would never be able to make her shed a single drop of blood or tear on his account ever again.