Evil Cliffhangers are my life. I LOVE to write them, so...be aware...this one is even more cruel than the last one. Bwahahahaha! However, I will post more later today. Something came up, so I can't post it directly, please forgive me.

STORY:

"I must say, that was faster than I expected," Vlad said, rubbing his chin.

"Plasmius," Danny's now cold voice sent shivers up Sam's spine, "You made one vital mistake. Here I am all 'powered up', and the one person I'd want to attack," he glanced at his family Non-chalantly and his hands started to glow. "Is you!" He thrust his hands forward, sending a red bolt or energy at Vlad, who threw up a shield.

"Impressive, Daniel," Vlad cackled. "Much better than before." Danny didn't say anything, but began to circle, his hands still glowing. "Your surprise attack still needs work, though."

"Oh really?" Danny's cruel grin returned, and he circled in back of his family, as Vlad watched him, staying well back. As Danny passed his mother, his grin suddenly widened. He dashed forward, and threw an arm around her neck, his other hand raised threateningly above her head.

"NO!" Vlad threw out his hand, and throwign himself forward, but a red shield appeared around Danny and Maddie.

"Danny," Sam whispered in shock.

"Ah," Danny cackled, "the weak point." He took down the shield, still grinning at Plasmius as he held his mother's limp head. "Let's see, since I don't really care who lives or dies any more...If you move, Plasmius," His smile disappeared, "she gets it. And if you think I won't, guess again. I'm not the weak little boy I was five minutes ago."

"Then why couldn't you hold up the shield?" Vlad growled and sent a blast at Danny. It barely missed him as he dodged around to the other side of his mother's still limp form, and sent a shot at Plasmius. It hit him square in the chest, sendingthe older half-breedcrashing against the wall.

"Now this is more like it," Danny was laughing. "A challenge." Sam looked both relieved and frightened at once, not taking her eyes off of Danny.

"How fortunate," Vlad said as he brushed himself off. "The perfect apprentice for me." Danny rolled his eyes.

"No,"thered-eyed teenyawned. "You're getting boring, old man."

"Think about it, Daniel," Vlad launched himself into the air. "I have no wife or children. If you came with me, you would have access to everything I own. Money, power, training, you name it. Everything to support both your human side and your ghost side. Plus," he folded his arms, smiling slyly. "With you to back me up, we could rule...both Earth and the Ghost Zone." Red eyes met red eyes, and Danny rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Danny!" Sam said, surprised that she would have the courage, "You can't seriously be thinking about it!" He ignored her and floated forward, closer to his enemy.

"Which half of the world would be mine?" Vlad grinned in triumph. Sam felt tears come to her eyes. They'd lost him. He was gone, completely, and very soon would not be coming back.