Downward Spiral by SupremeDramaOverlord

Chapter 3 - I Get My Butt Handed to Me by a Dracula Wanna-Be

"How does this happen?" Jazz moaned miserably from her seat next to me. "You goof up and I have to listen to dad ramble about ghosts."

I sent her a light glare. "I goof up? You're the one who got us into this."

Just a few hours ago we started the long and overbearing road trip to Wisconsin while riding inside the death trap on wheels. The RV (mom and dad like to call it the Fenton Family Assault Vehicle) was completely loaded down with ecto-weapons in every nook and cranny, all accessible within the push of a button - and there are a lot of buttons in the RV.

At first, I had been reluctant to travel in a gigantic anti-ghost machine that was capable of hurting my ghost half. But nothing had happened. I became bored within the first thirty minutes on the road, and I just focused on tuning out my parents non-stop ramblings about ghosts.

On the bright side, I didn't have to come up with some crazy make believe story about a psycho armed with a blender. When I woke up this morning and unwrapped the bandages, I was astonished to find nothing but a faint scar. It was incredible! I didn't know how it was possible, but I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I pointed accusingly at Jazz, "It's your fault we're in the RV instead of at home."

"It's called the Fenton Family Assault Vehicle, kids." Dad glanced at us from the rearview mirror. His chest puffed up with pride, "Every button in this baby is a ghost's worst nightmare."

I groaned as I tried not to give into the temptation of banging my head against my seat. "I need some air." I turned to the multiple buttons under the window.

Jazz whirled her head around to stare at me, "Don't touch anything!"

But her warning came a second too late.

I had pressed a button.

The RV vibrated and gave a mighty shake, my window rolled down and a laser popped out of the side of the vehicle. It shot a beam straight into the sky while something green and gooey squirted out and onto Jazz's face.

I stared blankly at Jazz while she glowered at me.

"I'll get you for this." Jazz promised before she unzipped her suitcase, searching for a towel.

Mom turned around from the passenger seat. She gave the both of us a stern expression. "Remember to behave yourselves. We're almost there and I expect you both to be on your best behavior for Vlad."

Jazz paused as she wiped the gunk off her face. "Wait, Vlad? As in Vlad Masters? The guy who was named Affluence Magazine's Billionaire of the Year?"

"That's the guy!" Dad smiled at us in the rearview mirror. "In college we were the best of friends, roommates, and lab partners. We did everything together until…." His smile faded. When he didn't continue, my curiosity piqued.

I leaned forward in my seat, "Until what, dad?"

I watched my parents share a significant look.

"Well," Mom hesitated as she finished for dad, "There was a lab accident that injured Vlad, and he ended up being hospitalized for nearly four years. I think he blamed your dad for what happened."

"It devastated him and ruined his social life." In almost a depressed tone, dad trailed off before smiling again. "But I think that after all these years, he's finally forgiven me for what happened."

My parents went right back to discussing ghosts and left no room for questions about the previous discussion. I tuned them out and I didn't have to wait long until we reached Vlad Masters' house. Well, I don't think 'house' is the appropriate term. It was a huge, lavish mansion that was fashioned to give the appearance of a small castle.

Once dad parked the RV, the four of us walked up the marble stairs. We didn't need to knock when we reached the door. It was wide open with a man whom I assumed to be Vlad Masters standing in the opening, waiting for us. He certainly looked like a billionaire. He stood straight and tall, wearing a crisp black suit that was probably worth more than my house, and his grey hair was tied neatly in the back. He smiled widely at the sight of my parents.

"Jack and Maddie Fenton!" Vlad Masters' tone was smooth and welcoming. He turned his attention to my sister and me. "And these must be your lovely children. Please, come in, come in."

"Vladdie! Man, it's good to see you!" My dad greeted in his usual booming voice as Vlad lead us into a sitting room.

Vlad cringed. Whether from dad's volume or the nickname or both, I didn't know. "Yes, it's… good to see you as well."

I looked around the green and gold-decorated surroundings and noted with amusement that this guy was obviously a Packers fanatic. He had football helmets, jerseys, cheese heads - you name it.

Mom smiled as she gestured towards Jazz. "Vlad, this is our daughter Jasmine. She'll be starting college in a couple of months."

Jazz straighten her posture and shook Vlad's hand, "Nice to meet you, sir."

"And this is Danny." My dad introduced me, "He's a freshman."

Being a shy teenager, I didn't really like social situations. But I politely smiled and accepted the outstretched hand, "Uh, hi, Mr. Masters."

This was the first time I got close enough to make eye contact. I didn't like it. Vlad's smile was stiff and didn't quite reach his icy-blue eyes. They were hooded and shadowed with a distant, withdrawn gaze. When he shook my hand, it was quick and brief, but his grip was firm and almost crushing. A coldness spread through me that had nothing to do with my ghost sense.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Daniel." Vlad's voice was light and friendly, but I frowned and took a step back.

"Um," I mumbled, "Actually it's just Danny."

Ignoring me, Vlad turned to my parents. "Oh, it's been so long since we've seen each other! Why don't you all stay here for the reunion as my guests, hmm?"

"That sounds great, Vlad." My mom contemplated, "But won't you be busy with organizing the reunion?"

"Everything has already been arranged," Vlad put an arm around my dad's shoulders. "That's the whole reason I'm throwing this reunion. I want to reconnect with my two oldest and dearest friends! I insist you all stay."

Dad pondered the offer for a moment, "I don't know. I mean we do have a pretty cool RV."

Jazz loudly coughed into the back of her hand, "Let's stay here."

"Smooth," I whispered to her sarcastically.

"You know, Jack," Vlad smirked slyly. "The Dairy King used to live in this mansion. His ghost might even haunt these very halls."

Hook, line, and sinker.

"I'll get the bags!" Dad yelled with excitement as he rushed outside. Mom sighed with amusement as she followed behind him.

My attention was drawn to Vlad as I watched his eyes narrow at my parents' retreating forms. I knew it wasn't my imagination when I saw his lips barely repress into a sneer. His fists clenched, turning white. Then he realized I was watching. Instantly his repugnant demeanor melted away to a welcoming smile and his features relaxed… But now it all seemed fake, like plastic, and only out for display.

I didn't smile back.

"Why don't you two go and explore the place, while I catch up with your parents, hmm?" I almost missed the edge in his voice that I felt was subtly directed towards me. "Just stay out of my room and private study. They are the only two locked rooms in my mansion, so they'll be easy enough to identify." He then swiftly turned and left the room to join my mom and dad.

I waited until I could be positive that the billionaire was out of earshot before I turned to my sister. "Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"Mr. Masters!" I stared at her disbelievingly. "You didn't see him glare holes into mom and dad's backs?" I gestured towards the door. "You didn't see any that?"

Jazz shrugged indifferently, "No. You're probably just seeing things. Aren't they all supposed to be best friends?"

"Well, I guess. But didn't something seem… odd?"

An eye roll was my answer. When my anxious expression didn't waver, Jazz impatiently sighed. "You are so paranoid. Look, Mr. Masters is obviously still friends with mom and dad. He wouldn't have invited us all to stay if he wasn't. Just relax and be grateful that we aren't spending the night in the cramped-up RV."

I glanced out one of the front windows to see my parents and Vlad unloading the RV. Someone must have made a joke because they were all laughing in a way only the best of friends could.

Jazz was right. I was just being paranoid. Heh, I guess fighting ghosts every day for the past week does things to a person.

"Oh, great. A working vacation."

It was the middle of the night and my ghost sense woke me up. A ghost was in the mansion, and it was probably best if I check it out.

Reluctantly, I pushed off the thick comforter and morphed into my ghost half. I went intangible and invisible as I flew into the hallway where I thought I had sensed the ghost. I gasped at what I saw.

My dad was stumbling around half asleep, probably in search of a bathroom. But he wasn't alone. The three vultures from before were behind him, slowly floating towards him, deadly talons at the ready. I barely made it in time before the murderous birds could claw into him. Phasing my dad through the floor took a bit more focus since I had never tried to turn someone else intangible too. But I managed to safely land him in a downstairs bathroom in one piece. I looked him over. Dad was on the verge of sleep, he didn't even notice that a ghost had pulled him through the floor.

Positive that my dad wasn't hurt, I went back to the hallway where the vultures were waiting. They were looking around in confusion, baffled as to where their prey had gone.

"Hey, birdbrains." I regained visibility while punching my fist into my palm. "Remember me?"

Their surprise turned to vicious scowls.

"You're dead meat, ghost brat!" One of them sneered.

I let a cocky smirk slide onto my face as I settled into a battle stance. "Bring it on!"

I let energy charge through my body as the vultures menacingly approached me. But then unexpectedly, frightened expressions of terror flooded their faces before they took off in different directions.

I blinked.

I dropped my stance in bafflement as I muttered to myself, "Okay, well that was almost too easy…"

"Ah, bright boy."

On instinct, I spun around to come face-to-face with a ghost I'd never met before. This new guy towered over me with his arms confidently folded across his chest while sporting a condescending grin. His skin tone was a pale blue, his short, black hair was slicked back and the sides curved up like horns. But what really my attention was his pupilless eyes. They glowed a deep blood red, which was an eerie sight in the darkened corridor. I was immediately reminded of a vampire. Heck, he even dressed like Dracula, but with a white and red color scheme.

"Oh, whatever." I tensed up, ready to start swinging my fists at the dork, "I was aiming at the birds, but you'll do."

His brow raised in amusement.

I went with a move that almost always guarantees a knuckle sandwich for my opponents. Shifting my weight, I swung back and threw all my weight into what would have been a powerful hit. Keyword, would. Without moving from his position, the vampire wanna-be grabbed my fist in midair. While I was I still surprised, the apparition flung me into the wall. Hard.

I groaned as I slid down to the floor. Pain throbbed in my backside as I blinked away the stars that were dancing in my vision. Okay, no fooling around with this guy.

Launching into a new attack, I leaped off the ground and threw myself at the ghost. I swung an echo-charged fist at him, but he easily dodged and wrapped his gloved fist around my throat and slammed me into the ground.

I made a choking sound from the impact as his fingers gripped my throat. Instantly, I released all the energy coursing through my hands and held them up in front of me. My attacker was blasted off me, and I took in a deep breath.

I jumped to my feet. Ignoring the soreness throbbing in my neck, I let echo-energy glow threateningly from my hands. "What do you want?"

"I wanted my vultures to bring the big idiot to me, but you'll do!" He taunted with a smirk, his fangs glistening. That's right, this guy had actual fangs! "The name is Phantom, correct?"

I tried not to let him know how unnerved I was, "You know me?"

"Of, course I know you!" Without turning away from me, the supernatural entity floated backward and phased through the wall. Curiosity overriding my anxiety, I followed.

Emerging into the darkened lounge room, I quickly locked my attention onto the ghost.

"You're the ghost who uses his powers to 'protect' humans. How quaint." He sneered mockingly. "What's the matter? Aren't you going to shove me into your ridiculous thermos?"

I'm not gonna lie, it was alarming how much this guy knew about me. And the fact that I haven't even landed a punch yet wasn't too comforting either. Not to mention I left my freaking thermos at home! I couldn't run away, he might hurt someone. I knew it was a long shot, but maybe I could reason with him. "I don't want to fight you."

"No. No, you don't." His facial features hardened, making him appear even more sinister. His hands glowed with fiery pink ecto-energy, and I yelped as I barely dodged a powerful blast. I spared a glance behind me to see a small area of the wall was scorched.

Without hesitating any longer, I jumped into the air and fired ecto-blasts at the ghost. "Get away!"

Leisurely, my opponent flicked his wrist and a shield formed from his ecto-energy appeared in front of him. The shield easy deflected my blasts. I maneuvered behind while assaulting him as hard as I could with echo-energy, but he moved his shield around almost lazily. I didn't land one hit. Realizing it was pointless, I ceased fire and stared at him, dismayed.

The specter smirked nastily. "You are such an amateur. Tell me, can you do this yet?"

Before my eyes, he had somehow duplicated himself into three other identical copies.

"No, I can't!" I backed away as terror gripped me. "How are you doing all this?"

"Years of practice." His hands began to spark and explode with energy. I felt cold sweat drip down my back at the predatory gleam in his eyes. "Which you, unfortunately, have no time for."

The next few minutes were a blur as I got beat up and tossed around like a football. Though I knew my life probably depended on it, I fought with everything I had. But it wasn't enough. The last thing I remembered was having my butt handed to me on a silver platter before my head was struck on a table and my world went black.

Vlad's POV ~

I showed no sympathy to the intruder who dared to trespass into my own home. Although I did have to wonder what Phantom, the ghost of Amity Park, was doing in my mansion. No matter. I would make him regret it dearly.

Mercilessly, I gripped Phantom by the arm and sent bolts of electricity coursing through his body. I showed no emotion as he screamed from the pain before I sent him hurtling across the room. He cried out as the back of his head collided with the table, then fell limply to the floor and fainted.

I found this odd. Through all my years of research, I have never come across a ghost with the ability to sleep or pass out.

Deciding it wasn't of any importance, I let my fists glow and sparkle with energy as I prepared to deliver the final blow. I fully intended to use him as an example to show other ghosts the price of trespassing on my territory!

But I froze at the last second when a pair of brilliant silvery-blue rings appeared around Phantom's middle. They split apart and my jaw dropped as the energy dispersed in my hands. It wasn't possible! Passed out before me was none other than Jack and Maddie's son, Daniel!

Feeling lightheaded, I planted my feet firmly on the ground. Slowly approaching the boy, I stared with wide eyes as if he would disappear like a dream. It was obvious what he was, but I could hardly believe it. It was too good to be true.

I let a small smile slide across my face as my mind raced.

Placing my arms under his knees and lower back, I carefully picked him up off the floor. I was slightly surprised by how light he was. Daniel couldn't have weighed one hundred pounds soaking wet.

I phased through the walls to the guest bedroom the boy was staying in, and delicately laid him on the bed. I winced before draping the comforter on top of his bruised form. At least the wounds were already gradually healing. One of the upsides of being a halfa was the astonishing healing capabilities.

I tried to wrap my mind around the idea that this innocent child was a halfa. This was amazing! After twenty bitter years, there was finally someone else of my kind. I wasn't alone anymore. I let that sink in.

I wasn't alone anymore!

How did this happen? Somehow his DNA must have been blasted by huge amounts of power-concentrated ecto-energy.

My fists clenched. Oh, there was no doubt in my mind that this was all Jack and Maddie's fault. Those two idiots were careless with one of their inventions, and Daniel paid the price for it. Did his parents even know?

I shook my head. Oh no, those two were definitely in the dark. If I had to guess, the poor boy was probably too terrified to tell his ghost hunting parents what he was.

I tensed when Daniel started tossing and turning. Willing myself to become invisible, I watched as he bolted upright in bed. His tired eyes looked around wildly before panic melded to confusion. After a few he moments, his exhaustion got the better of him and he settled back down under the blankets and fell asleep almost instantly. He had probably assumed our fight was nothing more than a dream.

I silently left the room and headed towards my private study. I had some thinking to do and plans to scheme.

This child changes everything.

Special thanks to my good friend, Mollie Nail for editing this chapter.