Downward Spiral by SupremeDramaOverlord

Chapter 9 - The Fruitloop's Evil Loophole

Vlad's POV~

Quickly departing from the dining room, I hurried at a brisk pace down the hall. Not concerned in the least with leaving Daniel to his own devices, I allowed a proud, victorious smirk to spread across my face. Everything was going exactly as I planned it to. I only needed to ensure the final aspect was in place.

Ever since Daniel rejected my tutelage in loyalty to his moronic parents, I prepared very carefully for this moment. No measure was too extreme or overlooked in order to ensure that the boy wouldn't be capable of leaving the vicinity. From the shield to the Plasmius Maximus, I invented every security development I could conjure from the depths of my mind. Unknown to the young halfa, the bracelet had a tracking device built into it. If he were somehow to escape, I'd simply locate his coordinates and teleport to him.

Daniel would not be leaving.

Not until the end of the week anyway, but that had an unforeseen loophole. Well, unforeseen to Daniel at least. Credit must be given to Daniel to some extent, however. After proposing my little 'deal', the boy was quick to conjure suspicions of hidden aspects involving trickery. In the end, I did succeed in getting him to at least pretend to agree to the current arrangements. The poor boy was a terrible liar.

Despite Daniel's obvious distrust and hostility towards me, I felt happier than I had ever been in twenty years, long years, of being alone. Daniel may not be pleased with me now, but I was positive that I could change that. Once the week was over, he'd come to realize that it was in his best interests to stay under my guidance. I'd make sure of it. Life here was going to be peaceful for Daniel without having to worry about ghosts attacking him at random or having to be constantly on edge with his parents' dangerous weapons that would unintentionally harm him. Making sure he didn't skip meals was going to be a priority too. Those two imbeciles never cared to take the time to make sure Daniel was eating properly or notice how thin and scrappy it was causing him to be. For goodness' sakes! They didn't even notice that he was sometimes quite literally covered in bruises! Too engrossed in tinkering with their inventions, they'd never showed the slightest concern in either of their two children. I smirked. Soon their pathetic parenting skills wouldn't matter anymore.

I phased through the locked door to my study. It was smaller than the one back in Wisconsin, but it suited my purposes well enough. This was not a room Daniel would be permitted in. Striding over to the elegant fireplace in the back of the room, I phased through it and into the dark passageway. Eyes glowing brightly, I used my powers to see in the dark as I descended down a short flight of stairs. The passageway opened into an impressive and spacious underground lab. Work tables were covered in various assortments of tools, blueprints, weapons, and inventions. But unlike the chaotic conditions I knew Jack and Maddie kept their lab, my laboratory held an organized quality about it.

Without hesitation, I swiftly strode over to the far side of the room. The wall was covered in screens and once I reached the control panel, I switched them on. The surveillance footage showed multiple images of the Fenton household inside and out, which was now a complete war zone. Furniture had been tossed around, items were strewn about, slimy ectoplasm covered the walls and ceiling, and mutilated and disfigured ghostly animals were set on a rampage throughout the house. One screen revealed Jack charging through the hall in an attempt to attack a couple of murderous ghost hawks. He aimed a bazooka at them but tripped at the last minute.

My lips quirked into a smile as the spectral birds charged down, ready to tear the buffon to pieces. Needless to say, I was massively disappointed when Maddie jumped out in front of Jack with her machete swinging. In swift ninja-like movements, the woman sliced her weapon cleanly through them, effectively destroying them.

Feeling the beginnings of aggressive infuriation, I scooped up a communication device of my own design and spoke into it with irritation lining my voice. "Care to explain to me why the Fentons are still alive, Skulker?"

I glared at a screen showing the outside of the house. Floating above the roof, Skulker was directing more ghostly animals to attack. Thanks to my resources and technology, I managed to create an upgraded and more efficient version of his metallic suit. It was much better than the one Daniel destroyed. In exchange for the hunter's services of course, which were proving to be depressingly inefficient.

"The Whelp's family is surprisingly elusive!" Skulker's disgruntled voice growled out of the intercom. "This might take some time, so stick it!"

"Tread carefully when speaking to me, Skulker," I spoke calmly, yet no one could deny the malice behind my words, "I want all three of the Fenton's dead before the end of the week. Destroy them or I'll come down there and do it myself. And believe me, you don't want things to come to that."

I watched the screen in satisfaction when Skulker visibly shuddered in unease, dreading to invoke my wrath a second time. I hung up before turning away from the surveillance scenes and leaving to search for Daniel. If I had too, I would go to Amity Park and finish those pests myself! I'd simply create a duplicate to stay here in Daniel's sights and he'd be none the wiser. Yes, the child would surely have his suspicions but he would have no solid evidence once my scheme was carried out. Not to mention, he would soon depend on me after everything I plotted came to pass.

Like so many times before now, I could see it all unfolding in my mind's eye. When the week came to a close and I sent the Little Badger back to that miserable town, he would be shocked and devastated to discover that a freak ghost incident took the lives of his family. Obviously, I would be there to pick up the pieces and after I adopt him as my own, Daniel would quickly learn that I'm the only one he would ever need ever again.

The ends would justify the means.

But Daniel was no fool. Oh, I had no doubt in my mind that he would suspect my hand in his family's deaths, but those conjectures wouldn't wait long to fade away. The undying need for the comfort and support that I would give him would be too strong for the boy to resist. In due time, Daniel was going to view me as the perfect father he never had in Jack. I'd make sure of it. There wasn't a doubt that Daniel's life would be better, happier, and safer with him as my son. It would take him time understand this, but eventually, he'd forget about his old family and accept me as his new one. Daniel was at a very impressionable age, after all.

Following Daniel's unique ecto-signature, I stepped outside and immediately spotted him. The boy was carefully feeling along the transparent wall surrounding the house. Slightly impressed that he thought to test my shield for weak spots, I stood back to watch while he still thought himself to be alone. Though he wouldn't find any, I found it somewhat amusing to watch Daniel carefully studying the shield for any faults. Frustration was evident in his body language after a few moments of failing to find a defective aspect to the barrier. Angrily, he pounded on it with fists before sending it a swift kick. He yelped.

I had to stifle a chuckle as Daniel fumed at the invisible shield. As he grumbled under his breath, I was pleased to note that he followed my instructions to clean himself up. His baggy torn clothing was replaced with something much more fitting.

The corners of my mouth tilted up as Daniel stood straight and tall while resentfully looking the transparent shield up and down as if silently sizing it up. I had to keep myself from laughing at the boy's antics. The young halfa released a furious huff and turned away from the cause of his stress. I was about to make myself known when his eyes lit up like he had an epiphany. Intrigued, I kept hidden to see what would play out. I watched him scan the ground around him before he rushed over to something in the grass. I already knew what he intended to do with that rock before he used it. Raising it high in the air, he brought it down with force against the bracelet.

Just like the shield, I had spent countless hours in creating the bracelet to perfection. Nothing in heaven or earth could damage it. It was no surprise when I heard an irritated growl. It did surprise me when the boy aggressively smashed the rock repeatedly against the band around his wrist. The bracelet was without blemish, but his wrist was another story. Scratches were littering the skin quickly around his wrist and I rushed forward. "Daniel!"

I grabbed his raised fist before he could strike another blow. The boy gasped in surprise before dropping the stone in shock. He tensed and tried to pull away but I held fast and grabbed his other arm below the elbow.

"What do you think you are doing?!" The cuts weren't too terrible, but they were not pleasing to look at. "How could you be so ridiculous to do this to yourself?!" Still holding both of his arms, I shifted my incredulous stare to Daniel for some absurd childish excuse. I faltered.

The boy had frozen on the spot and his eyes were the size of saucers. Daniel didn't even try to glare; his face was too shocked with terror to attempt anything but fright. His arms slightly shook under my hold. I then realized what had him under such a state of terror. I mentally slapped myself for my carelessness. Hurriedly, I willed my burning eyes to cool back to their human blue indigo color and my fangs to vanish from view. It was an unintentional ghostly aptitude.

As I relaxed my grip, I was relieved to see some of Daniel's bravo return with a glare and the usual insults.

"What's the matter, fruit- fruitloop?" I heard the faint crack in his voice that he desperately tried to cover it up with a cough. "Scared I'll break your precious bracelet and beat you up?" He scowled and attempted to jerk out of my grip, "Let go!"

He struggled, unable to wrench out of my grip. I critically stared down at his scratched wrist. The cuts weren't too deep. It would not take long for them to heal over. Thanks to the fascinating healing abilities that came with being a halfa, I estimated there wouldn't even be a single scar in a mere two hours.

Switching my stare to Daniel, I spoke sternly, "The bracelet is designed out of indestructible materials. I strongly advise you to never try this again." When he didn't have a rebellious quip, I released my grip and he hurriedly backed away to put some space between us. My frown deepened. The fact that he willingly hurt himself in an attempt to get the bracelet off deeply concerned me. If this happens again I would need to take necessary action to ensure his safety. Satisfied that I got my point across, I gestured towards his wrist, "Due to your ghostly platelets, the scratches should be gone soon."

Daniel raised a confused eyebrow at me before skeptically glancing down at his wrist, "What do you mean by that?"

I let a smug smirk slide on my face, "You mean you don't know about our supernatural healing capabilities?"

"I do too know!" Daniel exclaimed with burning cheeks. His face scrunched up in embarrassment and it was at this time I wished I had a camera with me.

I smiled with amusement, "Dear boy, you are a horrible liar. Your absence of knowledge concerning your ghost half is precisely why you need my guidance." Appearing insulted, Daniel's jaw dropped. He opened his mouth to retaliate but I quickly cut him off, "Speaking of guidance, we should probably get started with training."

Leaving no room for argument, I swiftly turned on my heel and strode away at a brisk pace. I only had to wait a minute for the sound of a reluctant teenager's footsteps to be heard following behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I was met with a loathing glower. Daniel was cautiously keeping a good distance between us with an annoyed scowl covering his face.

Knowing it would only rile the child, I teasingly smirked, "You should smile more, Little Badger." My lips quirked into a wide grin when his face scrunched up in obvious distaste for the pet name. "You wouldn't want your face to stick like that."

It was adorable the way Daniel simmered in both embarrassment and anger. His face turned nine different shades of red. But my brow rose curiously when Daniel slowly sported a crafty smirk of his own.

"You mean like your face?" He asked sarcastically. "On the bright side, you won't need a mask when Halloween comes around."

"Ah, there's that teen wit again." I playfully responded, finding Daniel's banter entertaining. He did, however, seem peeved that his comment didn't provoke me as he intended.

"Whatever," Daniel huffed as he folded his arms across his chest. "Where are we going anyway?"

"You'll see." I replied simply while smirking at the boy's defiant glare. Even though Daniel followed me without saying a single word, I could feel the daggers he was drilling into my back with his eyes.

We walked along a stone path towards the back of the house that lead up to a large domed building. I opened the double doors but paused when Daniel didn't follow. He stood a few yards away, anxiety etched on his nervous face.

"I suppose we don't have to begin training today if you're too scared... " I drawled out slyly, the unspoken challenge hanging tauntingly in the air.

Keeping the satisfied smile at bay proved to be difficult for me as I watched the boy bristle indignantly. "I am not scared! It takes a lot to scare me, a lot more than you've got!" And with that proclamation, the young halfa stormed past me and stomped through the doorway. However, he did hesitate once I closed the door and became engulfed in shadows.

I formed a ghostly flame in my palm, its radiant glow guiding me to where I knew the light switch was located. Flipping the lights on, I watched Daniel's distrustful glare melt away into amazement. Different varieties of training equipment of several shapes and sizes were stationed all over the spacious room. None of it resembled anything a normal gym would have.

Pleased with Daniel's reaction, I gestured around us, "Everything you see here I invented myself. Most of the machines were created a few years ago, the rest I recently built specifically for your training."

Remembering his current situation, the endearing awed face on Daniel instantly turned sour. He stared threateningly into my eyes. Unexpectedly, his own eyes brilliantly flashed an otherworldly green.

Daniel's hands reached up to his shocked face having felt the spectral energy rush through him. "Wh- What happened?" He examined his bracelet, "I thought this thing blocked my ghost half?"

"Ah, yes it does. However," I drawled the word out as the boy shot me an accusing glare. "When you're inside here, the bracelet automatically shuts itself off."

"Oh?" Daniel folded his arms across his chest. "That's convenient. How'd you get that to work?"

I waved his question away while striding over to a special shooting range, "Unimportant for you to know. Let's start here."

Interested, the child walked over as I explained for him to shoot an ecto-blast at the box-like metallic target twenty yards away. By hitting the box with an ecto-blast, the monitor above it would read the temperature of his spectral energy. From there I would estimate his power level and determine how to properly train him. After I finished explaining, I was instantly suspicious of the fraudulent expression blooming across his face.

Instead of morphing into his ghost half and doing what I instructed him, Daniel leisurely leaned on one side while holding his hands behind him. "Gee, I don't know, Plasmius." His eyes hooded, "That kind of information is, how should I put it? Unimportant for you to know." He shrugged uncaringly as my eyebrows rose incredulously, "Besides, I'm not really feeling up to it. I think it might be catching a bug from traveling or being kidnapped. Take your pick."

Ah, I see what this is. The stubborn little badger still wanted to be difficult with me. I suppose I should have seen this coming. I wasn't surprised. Nothing was ever simple when Daniel was involved. I loved it.

Burying my devious smirk, I pretended to ponder this. "Hmmm, perhaps you have a point, Daniel."

He blinked, "I do?"

Slowly nodding as if turning the notion around in my head, I casually wandered towards the doors, "It was foolish of me to ask so much of you."

"What do mean by that?" The child demanded sounding offended.

I melded my face into one of understanding, "It was utter rubbish of me to expect you to do something way beyond your capabilities, dear boy." I spoke craftily. "The next time you are incapable of performing a basic task, just say so."

I turned my back to Daniel and headed for the exit. I didn't glance behind me as he growled in wounded pride before a sound resembling an atomic bomb exploded. I turned around with satisfaction. The target was scorched and blackened from the hybrid's blast and traces of smoke still singed off it. I stared at the monitor.

It read, -254.67 F.

Needless to say, I was surprised. Daniel had unknowingly proved to be a high-level ghost.

"Hmm," I hummed, not letting on how impressed I was. "You have an ice core. Interesting."

"Right, an ice core." Daniel shuffled around awkwardly, "What is that exactly?"

I smirked amusingly as the boy avoided my gaze, feeling embarrassed with having asked me a question. Personally, I didn't expect him to really know much since no one had been there to teach him. Until today, of course.

I smiled reassuringly, not wanting him to feel conflicted with asking me important questions. "Every ghost has a 'core'," I patiently explained. "It's what gives ghosts energy and sustains them."

"So," Daniel frowned with uncertainty, "A core is like a heart?"

"In a way, yes." I nodded with approval. "There are two different cores, hot or cold cores. Depending on the level of power, each core produces a different variety of abilities."

"Really?" Curiosity replaced resentment, "Like what?"

Pleased, I grinned, "Most ghosts are only capable of minor things like overshadowing, ectoplasmic rays, flight, intangibility, and invisibility. But powerful cores can allow the user to produce fire, channel electricity, or even perform cryokinesis."

The boy's expression went blank at the last word of my sentence. I elaborated, "Cryokinesis is ice manipulation." Understanding then dawned on Daniel's face.

Daniel's face scrunched up in confusion. "But if my blast was so cold, how could it have scorched the target?"

I held out my hand and allowed a small ball of ecto-energy to flare in my palm, "Each ghost has a unique temperature to their ghostly energy. Surrounding that energy, ectoplasm of high, burning temperatures holds it intact. Despite whether or not your core is cold."

The hybrid tilted his head thoughtfully, "You can create fire. Does that mean you have a hot core?"

Impressed by his sharp mind, I smiled, "I have a fire core. Common cores are referred to as hot or cold cores."

"Didn't you tell me I had an ice core?" Daniel excitingly stared at me, "Does that mean I got ice powers?"

I became delighted that the boy's infuriation with me was unconsciously being replaced with an ecstatic marvel to learn. "In time you will. Your ice core must first take time to mature. Until then there are countless skills you should master first." I transformed into my ghost half, "Let's begin."

!THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH BEHIND THE LONG UPDATE!

I swear to the gods of ice cream that I was hard at work, endlessly typing away this chapter for your reading pleasure when the unexpected happened! Out of nowhere, Fright Knight showed up and legit tried to slice my freaking head off. Apparently, asking him if he helped Monty Python find the holy grail was not something he found amusing. Thankfully, my friend Mollie distracted him by throwing pumpkins and Halloween decorations at his face. We barely escaped with our lives! Unfortunately, my poor laptop was badly damaged in the skirmish. May my sweet baby rest in pieces. I soon realized that I needed a new laptop. Then I realized I needed money in order to acquire one. So after coming up with a detailed and difficult heist, Mollie and I managed to steal Ember's guitar and sell it on the black market to Chip Skylark (What a weirdo). With that money, we bought me a new laptop to replace my old one. But before I could get back to working on this chapter, that stupid Box Ghost snitched on us and Ember came after our blood. After three accounts of arson, seventeen murder attempts, ten restraining orders, and smuggling chocolate pudding cups out of Australia (long story), Mollie and I got out of that huge mess with our lives intact. After all that happened, I at long last had time to finish this chapter. But that's not where the chaos stops! That jerk, Technus decided to have a good time by screwing around with my wifi. So, yeah, that's also a thing I had to deal with. And that is the absolute truth of why this update took so long. Scouts honor! (Tch, like I'm a scout)

Anyways,

Anon: Dude, you read this all at once? Dang! I hope you weren't reading this at some ungodly hour of the night. But I am super happy that you are enjoying my story! :)

Thank you so much to everyone who fav/ followed/ and reviewed this story! I enjoy reading reviews from you guys so much! And of course, a huge thanks to Mollie Nail for helping me escape homicidal ghosts, participating in questionable crime, and helping me edit my story. You are a true friend.

Kudos to whoever can spot the Jackie Chan Adventures reference.