Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Danny Phantom.

Note: As always, thanks for the reviews "Dp-Marvel94!" And yes, I wanted to hint at Azrael getting to Nocturne first to show how dangerous he can be which means our heroes have their work cut out for them. Also, just a heads up, this chapter is pretty dialogue heavy since there's a lot I want to set up for the next story. I've cut out a lot of content from the original but thankfully the core of it all is still the same in that Vlad and Owen need each other, which is why I'm trying to wrap everything up in the next few chapters.

Chapter 30: Angel of Death

Owen's POV

Darkness…

All I could see was darkness around me and the faint blue glow of my blood pulsing just beneath the skin. Then there was the slow but steady sound of something dripping and the smell of damp earth and stone. Groggily I turned my head to look down to the left of me towards the source of the sound and sure enough I was bleeding from a long thin cut across my wrist.

I tried to sit up to get a better look at my surroundings but something held me firmly in place, something alive that only possessively tightened its grip if I moved too much. Even if I could move though, I was too weak to escape so all I could do was lay there on the cold stone altar beneath me. I remember Danny and his friends reaching Eris and me at my mom's antique store just before everything went black but the rest was a big blank.

From what I could tell, I wasn't dreaming any of this so did that mean Vlad managed to escape Nocturne's spell? Did he bring me here to this strange place? Somehow I doubted it since I couldn't sense his presence. Not long after that thought came to mind, a lone figure emerged from the shadows, Azrael, and my heart sank at the sight of him. Eris was right, Nocturne was nothing but a big distraction after all so he could get his hands on me. But then...what happened to Vlad...?

Looking down at me after removing his hood once Azrael saw I was awake, he chided. "Don't strain yourself Owen, you've lost a lot of blood."

"Where's Vlad? What did you do to him?" I asked, tugging at my restraints.

"Nothing." Azrael replied bluntly. "I simply left him to dream and brought you here once Nocturne had been dealt with accordingly. Regrettably, I had to take control your body for a short time so he wouldn't be able to access your dreams once your soul had reunited it since you were still unconscious at the time, but I'm glad to see you've regained your senses now."

Staring at him in confusion I muttered. "Huh? My body...? But I thought Necromancers couldn't be overshadowed?"

Ignoring my question for a moment to lift a small bowl from the floor he had collected some of my blood in, he answered. "Yes well, there are always exceptions to the rule. Especially when it comes to you..."

After setting the bowl down on a stone slab across from me where I could see various herbs and black feathers assorted there illuminated by the eerie glow of his red ghost aura, Azrael returned to my side with a bandage, wrapping the clean linen around my wrist before continuing affectionately. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this day. At last we're finally be together again and this time, I won't leave your side."

"You know, if you really wanted to see me that badly you could have just talked to us in person instead of kidnapping my best friend. That's just flat out creepy." I replied irritably. "And now you've just gone and pissed Vlad off abducting me too so I hope you're ready for what comes next."

What I didn't expect to happen next was for him to let out a cruel laugh and scoff. "He served his purpose much better than I expected him to, but I do not fear Vlad Masters in the slightest. As did Eris, the young Witch I suppose you could say I...liberated. Still, you don't need them anymore. We're blood-brothers after all so I'm all the family you need. Long ago you and I made an oath, a vow to stand together as equals which is a promise I intend to keep. But first your true power must be restored in all its glory which is something I doubt anyone living still knows how to do, least of all those two."

Hissing in pain when Azrael tied off the bandage, I suddenly remembered that strange dream I had before of two boys playing together and realized this must be what Danny meant about Azrael knowing me in a past life. We were friends once upon a time, good friends if he's been willing to wait for me to come back all this time in my next life. Still, if our connection is supposed to be that strong then why can't I remember him? And more importantly, what exactly did Azrael mean when he said I don't need Vlad or Eris anymore...?

Despite how afraid I was of the answer, I asked. "What do you mean by that? Just what are you planning to do to me?"

"The same as I have always done, what's best for you." Azrael smiled eerily, his eyes shining ominously in the dark. "Once the Rite is complete, our bond will become unbreakable like it should have been from the beginning. Although to be fair we were children at the time and did not fully understand the blood pact we had made, nor were we aware of the fact that your soul is bound to this world; Doomed to reincarnate again and again until the day you fulfill the special role given to you by Death."

Snatching an ornate silver dagger from beneath his cloak, Azrael held the flat of the blade across his hand and continued bitterly. "But before that, using our combined power we'll crush the council once and for all to reclaim everything they've stolen from us, including your lost memories. They're the reason you can't remember who you really are and why I'm trapped here in this world alongside you. We were betrayed, Owen...

"They once sought to claim your power as their own by any means necessary. Much to their dismay, you were too powerful for them to command or manipulate so easily at the time so with this very dagger...those cowards ended your life in the hopes of controlling you in the next. And through our connection mine was ended too that day. That's why they've been so diligently searching for your next reincarnation; and now that they've found you they'll never let you go unless we destroy them first."

Getting angry now I snarled. "I don't care about any of that. None of that has anything to do with-!"

I stopped mid-sentence when it finally clicked in my head exactly what makes Azrael so dangerous even when compared to other ghosts. Everything he's has done up until now has been leading up to this moment and the reason Azrael could control other ghosts is because he's the ghost of a Necromancer! In fact, he's probably the only one there is too and that must be why he's been able put me in those weird trances. It's all because of this old magical bond of ours from my previous life that tethered his soul to mine; a life I couldn't remember...

Azrael was right about that part at least. All I had left of the past were these faded echoes of memory that belong to the people I once was which I haven't even had any access to until just recently once my powers started to fully awaken. But just like I was just about to tell him earlier, none of those things matter to me now because I'm not the same person he once knew or even who the old members of the council supposedly knew. Besides, Azrael never asked ME if I wanted him to do any of this, he just decided to do all on his own. If anyone had ever given me a choice, I would have preferred to live a normal life with my family who were gone now for the exact same reasons-

Because someone wanted to keep me all to themselves.

The Wraith said the same thing; she told me that I belonged in the darkness with my 'true' family so the last thing I wanted to hear is Azrael telling me he planned to forcefully take me away now after I've finally found a new home, a new family with Vlad. I tried to deny how I felt about him at first because I was afraid of being disappointed again but now, I can't imagine my life without Vlad in it.

Thanks to him, I've met so many great people that care about, accept, and have supported me through some really difficult times so there was no way in hell I was going to give them up now because of one more selfish jerk trying to tell me what to do! Someone who clearly can't let go of the past long enough to realize I'm not his blood-brother anymore. I'm Owen Ravenwood and that's it.

Mustering all my strength, I called him out on his bull crap and growled. "Actually, you know what? Forget it. I'm sick and tired of everyone else deciding they know what's best for me when this is MY life! I'm the only one who gets to decide who I want to keep close to me and who my real friends and family are, not you, the council, or anyone else!"

Instead of trying to argue with me, Azrael just sighed heavily and concluded with a respectful bow. "Honestly, you really should be saving your strength for what's to come. I know from experience that the pain can be almost unbearable so just be glad neither Vlad nor your friends will have to see you in such agony. Doubtless, they will come for you, but by then it will be too late to stop it. And regardless of what happens here today I'm afraid there is no escaping your fate Owen."

Before I could say anything else, Azrael muttered something about forgetting to bring one more thing for the Rite and disappeared in a swirl of blue flames. The flames only illuminated the ritual chamber I was in briefly but it was bright enough for me to finally see that what was tying me down. It was these thick dark purple vines with small bright red rose buds on them growing larger by the second like they were just about to burst into full bloom and the second I recognized them as Blood Blossoms I knew Azrael meant business...

He made it a point to float right next to me which meant Azrael was in fact immune to their anti-ghost properties. Vlad and Danny on the other hand aren't. Eris, Sam, and Tucker might be able to get them off of me but at least for now I was trapped with no way to escape. You'd think I could burn them off but when I tried that the flowers just turned white and the flames themselves sputtered weakly before fading away again. I felt dizzy too after Azrael slit my wrist -or at least I'm assuming he's the one who did it to collect my blood- so I closed my eyes and waited for it to pass.

I don't care what you say, they'll make it here in time. I believe in them so it isn't over yet Azrael. Not by a long shot. I thought to myself, steeling my resolve.

Clenching my teeth when my wrist began to throb, I suddenly remembered what I had on my other wrist along with Vlad's words after he took away my cell phone so the council couldn't listen in on any of my calls. "In the meantime I've prepared this spare communicator especially for you and since it's an invention of my own making it's impossible for anyone to hack into or track so easily without my knowing. I'd like you to wear this at all times and if you ever find yourself in danger again all you have to do is press a button and I'll be able to teleport directly to your location."

Opening my eyes again I turned the other way and shook my arm just enough for it to slide the rest of the way down so it was resting against the bottom of my hand and sure enough, Vlad's communicator watch was still there. Inhaling a deep shaky breath, I bent the wrist on my right hand as far as it would go to reach the button he showed me before. It took a few tries, but eventually I got it and a smug grin spread across my face despite the dull ache in my other wrist.

Flooded with an instant feeling of relief once I called for help, I leaned my head back and laughed at the irony. Azrael thought he was so smart and probably had plenty of wards to block Eris's magic from honing in on us or Vlad and Danny's ghost powers from sensing his presence or mine, but he failed to take one thing into account. Vlad's not just educated with magic and folklore, he's also a scientist which meant there were still plenty of modern ways for them to find me...

And I just sent out the signal they needed to do that.

Danny's POV

It took a while for the five of us to catch up to speed on the whole story but once we did the one thing we could all agree on is that this Azrael guy had to go. The fact that he's been planning so much in advance by forcing Clockwork to show him some of Owen's possible futures was really bad news. Like, the Observants were one thing, those bug-eyed weirdos annoyed Clockwork sure but Azrael was downright dangerous judging by the aftermath of his fight with Nocturne.

Obviously I had no intention on telling Vlad about Clockwork unless I absolutely had to so the three of us kept those parts of the story extremely vague. It was bad enough Vlad already knew about the Infimap and I could see in his eyes that he was resisting the temptation to steal it for himself once we rescue Owen. I felt so bad for him, first he lost his parents, and then the wolves quite literally came closing in on him from all sides to use his power for selfish reasons...

Ironically, Vlad's reasons for wanting to keep Owen close to him are probably the least selfish out of all of them. He's changed a lot since the last time we met, and even then, its obvious how much Vlad cares about Owen. Even though they both wanted answers Vlad did everything he possibly could to keep Owen safe and to make sure not to push him too hard since Salem is the place where his tragic story began. But hopefully, this will be where the tragedies end and a new chapter can finally open for both of them.

We were in the middle of discussing battle strategies when all of a sudden some kind of alarm went off on Vlad's wrist watch and lifted it to eye level, a large grin spreading across his face. I knew that look. It usually meant bad news for me but in this particular case, maybe it was a good thing. Only one thing could make Vlad look that happy in such a dire situation and that's by getting the upper hand on his enemies so I asked him.

"What's going on? Got an important business meeting to rush off to that you forgot about?" I half-joked but I already had some idea of what his response was going to be.

Still grinning at us, Vlad tapped his fingers on the watch and while brimming with excitement he answered smugly. "Good guess but no. It's much better than that. I was hoping this would happen and I'm so glad it did because that means we won't have to waste any more time on trying to find them the old fashioned way. Owen just sent me an SOS."

Relieved to hear that I nodded to Tucker and Sam before transforming again, saying. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."

Vlad transformed right after I did but before he could say anything Eris blurted out with her hands forming a T-shaped time-out signal. "Hang on, there's still one problem. Azrael still knows magic that can do some very unpleasant things to you so at least let me cast a few protection spells on you guys just in case."

Confused Sam looked at her and asked. "Wait a minute, when you say it like that it sounds like you're not coming with us."

Shaking her head, Eris frowned and explained dejectedly. "That's because I'm not. As much as I want to be there for Owen right now, if I go with you I'll just get in the way. There's always a small chance Azrael might take me hostage again to force Owen to cooperate which means the best way for me to help is to stay here as back up in case something goes wrong. It's probably going to be a tough fight so I can make some healing salves for when you get back."

"She's got a point." Tucker added, rubbing the back of his neck. "You saw what he did to Nocturne which means Azrael's definitely not messing around anymore. He's clearly willing to do anything to get what he wants in the end...maybe even kill if we get in his way."

Putting an elbow on Tucker's shoulder, Sam added. "It'll be ok Tucker, we've got the element of surprise on our side. Vlad's right, Azrael didn't count on his technology coming to the rescue by pinpointing Owen's location for us, he's probably counting on it taking us a lot longer to reach them. And as far as I can tell, Azrael's expecting Vlad and Danny but not the two of us so if they can distract him for us then you and I can get Owen out of there ourselves. After all, his wards were designed to keep ghosts and Witchs away, but not humans which means-"

Realization dawning on his face, Tucker turned to her and smirked. "I get it. So it's like when Danny changes back to his human form to get past his parents ghost shield. Only this time, it's anti-ghost AND anti-magic. You're right, that IS pretty smart."

Surprising all of us, Vlad finally let his arm drop and placed a hand on each of their shoulders, his tone serious as he instructed. "That's right. I'm counting on the two of you to get Owen out of there as quickly as possible. We may not have been able to use the Infimap to find him, but taking him away from there should still work. So while Daniel and I keep Azrael busy I want one of you to keep out of sight while the other finds Owen; then, once you've regrouped, use the map's power to bring him back here to safety. And if either of you feel as though you're in serious danger then call out to me and I'll send a duplicate to help, understood?"

Unable to resist the temptation I floated next to him and teased. "AW, would you look at that? Vladdy really does care! Guess your heart's not made of stone after all, fruitloop."

Rolling his eyes at me, Vlad let go of them and huffed. "Hardly. I just need them alive long enough to do their part and it would only be a minor inconvenience if anything happened to you or your little friends Daniel."

"Ouch, that's a little harsh isn't it?" Sam added with a disapproving frown. "We might not be friends with YOU Vlad, but Tucker and I are taking a big risk here so the least you can do is watch our backs a little too. Neither of us HAD to come along with Danny to help you out but we did anyway because we care about what happens to Owen too. Don't forget, a lot of this is actually your fault because you're the one who played right into Azrael's hands. All we've done is show up to clean up the mess you've made of someone's life as usual thanks to that inflated ego of yours."

Taken aback by Sam's blunt comment, Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "You're right, I apologize. Let's allow Eris to cast her protective charms and then we'll be on our way."

"Don't worry, it'll only take a minute or two." Eris smiled weakly, relieved when the tension in the room evaporated...

I could tell that behind that smile she was upset about not being able to go but at the end of the day Eris knew she's not a fighter. Spying on people with magic is one thing, but fighting ghosts? Yeah, that's not so easy. And out of all of us, Eris was probably the most worried since she's the only one who has met Azrael personally and according to her he saw himself as Owen's personal 'avenging angel,' hence the name which according to Sam is the Hebrew name for an angel of death.

It makes sense though when you think about it. Owen is a Necromancer so of course he'd have a ghost 'friend' named after a black-winged angel that claims vengeance for the lost souls of the dead someone hurt or betrayed back when they were still alive. If you ask me though, he's gone way too far this time so now it's up to us to clip his wings before he causes Owen any more trouble.