Hello once again to all my friends!

I'm so glad that my story is finally starting to take shape, thanks to all of your helpful suggestions! While browsing around this site, I found out you were right, Faith's melody: there aren't many stories that involve Dr Spectra. It pleases me to be one of the first to include her in my work.

As for my writer's block, it surfaces every so often; but then my detached thoughts start to piece together and I get back on track. Even so, I still need your help on this. I don't know where I'd be without you, people! Thanks a million!

Breaking off entirely, I've found a quote that an avatar artist known as zDBZ so eloquently tied into Danny Phantom:

"You only live twice: once when you are born, and once when you look Death in the face."

-Ian Fleming

I would never have made that connection!

Also, my version of Don Juan Triumphant is not the same music as composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber; it is based on the concept originally intended by Gaston Leroux. I just want to get that out of the way to avoid confusion.

Now, let's journey into this palace of my mind...

Chapter Five: Jazz's Concern

"I must say," droned Sam's butler, "this is the most dissonant piece of music that I've ever seen."

"Could you just play it, already?" groaned Sam.

"As you wish, Miss Manson." The butler put the ancient stack of paper on the stand of the family's grand piano. Sam had spent nearly all of last night filling in the near-faded notes on the sheets. Now, as her parents were out on business, she decided that now was a good time to hear this mysterious music. She sat down in a fancy chintz lounge chair as the butler began to play.

What came out of the piano, however could not be called music. It was a shrill, shrieking noise akin to talons scraping across a chalkboard or the slaughter of screaming animals. The sound seemed to wrack every nerve in her body like an lightning strike. Even clutching her ringing ears could not drown out the horrid wail.

"STOP!" she screamed. The butler seemed relieved; judging from his mortified expression, he had heard the sound too.

"Oh my...I only progressed five notes into it..."

Sam took the sheets from the piano, staring down at the glistening red notes. Then, as she got up to leave, she found that every object made of glass or crystal had been shattered. Even a few clay or porcelain trinkets now lay in pieces on the floor.

With the music papers in tow, Sam tenderly stepped over the disintegrated glass and china, the sound still ringing in her ears.

Dr. Spectra's return to Casper High was clearly visible among the student body. Many people looked entirely miserable after their sessions with her, as though drained of all positive emotion their bodies could produce. The worst of it was that none of the teachers could find the source of this mass depression, so the students were returned to the doctor, therefore perpetuating the cycle once again.

Jasmine Fenton was one of the few who knew the truth behind this eccentric lady. A few months ago, around the time she discovered Danny's secret, it became apparent that something was not right, as she was the only remotely happy teen in all of Casper High. The cause turned out to be Spectra herself, whom Jazz had seen draining the misery out of her little brother after he had saved her from certain death. In response, she had used her father's latest invention, the Fenton Peeler, to reduce the psychiatrist to a withered old husk.

However, Jazz knew better than to blurt out that information without considering the consequences. Spectra was ruthless and sadistic, and would likely torture her to death for ruining her scheme. Besides, the last thing she needed was a tarnish on her perfect image by hunting a ghost like her parents would.

Still, she couldn't stand about idly while innocent children were exploited like this.

In the meantime, she vowed not to let Spectra pick her mind in her therapy session today.

As she rounded the corner, Jazz saw that Dr. Spectra was leading Star, a blonde-haired freshman, out of her office as the bell rang, ending classes for the day.

"Oh don't worry!" she said to the fair-haired teen. "There's always going to be somebody out there who's better than you at something. Paulina's no exception. It's just the way life works." Star looked as though she were on the verge of tears as she stomped past Jazz.

"Hello, Jazz!" the doctor greeted enthusiastically. Jazz, however, walked into the office without a word, slamming the door behind her. She sat down on one of the threadbare chairs, trying to ignore the depressing atmosphere.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" asked Spectra. "Repressed memories? Traumatic experiences? Emotional problems?"

Jazz was now thoroughly annoyed. "I came here to tell you that I know all about you and your intentions. I'm not going to let you get away with whatever you're planning."

"What about your little brother, the ghost boy? Shall we talk about him?"

The red-haired teen's eyes widened at this question. She had not been expecting this.

"Wh-What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I mean. You know about Danny and his powers; and I know that you know. There's no point in trying to deny it."

"I warn you, if you hurt him-"

"What can you do about that? The only reason you triumphed the last time is because you caught me by surprise. You feel that it's your duty to play the "big sister" towards Danny, even when he's not even human anymore. I think you fear that eventually one of the ghosts he fights will find a way to do him serious harm, whether to him or those he cares about. It keeps you awake at night, doesn't it?"

Memories from the deepest reaches of Jazz's mind started to surface: the knight clad in black armor facing off with Danny on the football field; the green panther further pushing him into depression; the day after the accident with the ghost portal; her tutoring session with Danny in the first grade; the very first time she saw her little brother, and the promise she made to her mother that she would do her best to protect him...

Dr. Spectra looked down at her watch, which emitted a beeping sound.

"Whoops!" she exclaimed. "Looks like that's all the time we have for today! I'm gonna go get a game in before sundown."

Spectra walked over to her closet and took out a set of brand-new golf clubs. Jazz got up to leave as the doctor opened the door for her. As she walked away, Spectra called to her from down the hall:

"Goodbye, Jazz! And remember: there's only an "I" in "misery" if you spell it that way!"

The par-90 golf course that lay on the Southern edge of town belonged to five generations of Mansons. Few people knew of this, outside of personal friends of the Manson family. One of those was Danny Fenton, who was in ghost mode flying over the golf course that evening, mulling over the events that had taken place recently. It was at this time that something on the course drew his attention.

Penelope Spectra, clad in a fancy pink golf skirt, was teeing off on the fourteenth hole. Alongside her was Bertrand, also wearing golf attire and holding two heavy golf bags.

Perfect, Danny thought. This was his chance to catch Spectra while she was alone, and avoid whatever it was she was planning. He swooped down to engage her when a dark mass tackled him out of the sky, causing him to land a few yards away from the tee.

"Danny!" Spectra sounded as though she were pleasantly surprised. "How nice of you to join us! Would you like to play?"

"We'll give you a stroke a hole," chimed Bertrand.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes," said Danny dryly. "But I think there's a good course back in the Ghost Zone!" He took out the Fenton Thermos and aimed it at the doctor and her snippy assistant.

The dark mass came out of nowhere and knocked the thermos out of his hand, coming to a landing right in front of him. It wore a knee-length cloak, a finely tailored tuxedo, and a white half-mask that obscured the right half of its face.

"The Phantom!" exclaimed Danny, taken by surprise at the Opera Ghost's presence.

"So I see," replied the Phantom, gesturing at Danny. "But please, call me Erik. Everyone else does."

Erik then let loose a double-handed ectoplasmic blast at the ghost boy, sending him plowing into the rough.

"I wanted to repay my debt to you for assaulting me at the bal masque the other night."

Danny growled with irritation as he lunged at the Opera Ghost, his fists glowing green. In response, Erik's body took on the consistency of a bright blue vapor as he phased through his opponent's punches. This only further infuriated Danny, who blasted the incorporeal Phantom back with a ghost ray. All through this, Spectra and Bertrand stood on the tee, enjoying the battle that was taking place.

"Perhaps there is some substance to your style, child," stated Erik, who had become solid again. "Allow me to demonstrate my own!"

The fists of the Opera Ghost glowed bright blue as he charged at Danny. With much difficulty, the ghost-boy wove around his punches, which ended up splintering a few nearby trees as the fight progressed through the golf course. As Danny prepared another ghost ray, the Phantom disappeared in a swirl of blue fog.

"Where'd he go?" Danny asked to himself.

"Here!"

Danny looked up just in time to see Erik's cloak extend and wrap around him like a python. His vision completely obscured by the dark fabric, Danny felt crushing blows of wood against his trapped body. Suddenly, the blows ceased, and Danny was unwound from the cloak and dropped to the ground with a sickening thud!

The ghost boy (needless to say) was in incredible pain. He couldn't move his left arm, and his breathing was hampered by a sting in his rib-cage. As he looked around, still crumpled on the ground, he saw a flash of green light as Spectra and her assistant materialized a few feet away.

"Is he...dead?" asked Spectra in an awestruck voice.

"No," replied the Phantom. "Just injured. He won't be any threat to us now."

Erik glided towards Danny and picked him up by the scruff of his collar. The two white halos traveled along his body as he reverted back to human form.

"He's a human?" questioned Erik.

"Part-human." answered Bertrand.

"How...interesting. I think I'll tie off my end of the deal now."

A cold, yet burning sensation filled Danny as the Phantom glowed his ghostly blue. As his vision started to blur, Danny saw the aura change green, and its source become less pale and gaunt. The last thing Danny heard was a malevolent, spine-chilling cackle as everything went dark...

Omigosh! Another cliffhanger! Say it ain't so!

I'm sorry; I don't know where that came from. I blame it on the heat of the moment.

Anyway, keep the reviews rolling in! I do so appreciate a good critique! Once again, any plot suggestions would be great!

Ta-ta for now.

Your sincerest regards,

Monsieur Caracal.