"Such a nice welcome," Vlad said sarcastically.
"Why should I welcome you?" Danny asked, folding his arms. "Why are you here?"
"I'm in town for sume business, and your father invited me to stay here," he gestured to the house, "although it will take a lot of getting used to." His face regarded his surroundings with discust. "Honestly, Daniel, I really don't see why you don't leave this all behind and come to live with me." Danny rolled his eyes and ignored the question.
"What kind of business?" he asked. Vlad tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"I'm checking up on a new line of in-line safty equipment."
"How long will you be here?" Vlad smiled at Danny's question. Neither of them heard the back door close softly.
"As long as it takes," the older man grinned maliciously.
"Our deal still stands," Danny pointed at him.
"Oh, does it?" Vlad leaned forward, "nice wrist guards by the way. Did you buy them from my company?" Danny couldn't help but bite his lip. What if Vlad saw him transform when his ghost form was so unpredictable? Orworse, what if his ghost form was power hungery enough to join Vlad? From what his friends had said, he had no doubt that he would. The thought scared him...a lot.
"Er...no," Danny tried not to stutter. "They were a present in the mail. A friend of the family."
"You're parents have friends?" Vlad raised his eyebrow. If it hadn't been his arch enemy talking, Danny would have laughed out loud, but the situationdid not strike him funnyat all.
"Apparently," Danny sighed and put a hand on his forehead. All of this was not helping his stress level, and his situation seemed bound and determined to put him in the hospital.
"How are you, Danny?" Vlad asked suddenly. "Are you having problems? You know I can help." Dannyglared at himas heshrugged his backpack off of his shoulders.
"Look,"the younger boylooked up. "Just leave me alone, okay? I won't join you, andI'm not like you." Vlad leaned against the wall, folding his arms smugly.
"But, you're the only other being that IS like me, son," he emphasized the last word after a short pause. Danny felt his anger bubble inside of him, and he stood, glaring at the other half-ghost, seething. He glared at Vlad, who's grin only widened, forthe teenager'seyes once again glowed a deep, blood red.
"Don't...call...me...that," Danny clenched his fists. "And I am NOT like you. I don't want to take over the world. I don't want to kidnap people, and I don't want to join someone who would probably kill me as soon as look at me the moment I became a serious threat."
"Really? How long do you think you'll maintain that childish attitude?" Vlad rolled his eyes.
"As long as I live," Danny growled, walking past him and into the kitchen. He heard Vlad's laughter, which only made him angrier. He didn't notice Jazz in the corner, who had been evesdropping on the conversation for some time. She had to stifle a gasp as the gloves on his hands began to glow with ectoplasmic energy. Danny growled, an almost unhuman growl, and she decided it might be a good time to step in. Taking a deep breath she forced herself to take a step forward.
"Hi Danny!" she said loudly, hoping she was doing the right thing, for both of them.