Jess' POV
Saturday morning I grabbed my bags, having been up the previous night packing, withdrew all my money from my savings account, and bought a ticket for the next plane to Wisconsin, leaving my family behind. I asked if anyone knew where to find such a mansion, before finally being led to the old home of the Wisconsin dairy king.
"Ah, Jessica, good evening. Welcome to my humble abode." Said a tall, tin silver-haired man in a tux standing in the doorway, laughing at my shocked expression.
"I'm sorry," I said as I came out of my trance. "I just didn't picture your mansion being half this big."
"Come in. Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"Some hot cocoa, please."
"Would you like whipped cream or anything with that?"
"Do you have any marshmallow fluff?"
"I do. Why don't you make yourself at home in the living room while I make you that hot cocoa."
"Here you go." He said as he presented me with a stein filled with the richest, thickest, most chocolaty hot cocoa I've ever tasted as I sat in front of a roaring fire in one of the squashiest armchairs I ever sat in.
"Mm. This is the best cocoa I've ever had, what's in it?"
"Oh, just milk and cocoa powder, amongst other things." He added, his tone getting darker. "Kidding!" He added, his boisterous laugh filling the room. "So, tell me what's troubling you, my dear."
"Well," I said as I stirred the fluff around in the mug, melting it, "ever since daddy died, I just feel so alone. I mean, mom and dad have been together since elementary school," I replied as I started to feel a little light headed, "and Danny has ghost powers like dad used to." What am I saying? I shouldn't be telling him this. "Plus, he wasn't even my biological father, Dash Baxter is."
"You poor child. Don't worry, Uncle Vlad'll take care of everything. Listen, it's getting late, you must be very tired. There's a guest room on the third floor, second door on the right, right next to my room. Why don't you take your bags and sleep there for the night?"
All of a sudden, I realized that he was right, I was getting very tired. I picked up my bags and went upstairs. I put all my clothes in a dresser and got changed into a baby tee and a pair of pajama bottoms. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light. I awoke feeling amazingly refreshed the next morning to the intoxicating aroma of bacon, eggs, and other things.
"Jessica, are you up yet?" asked Vlad through my door.
"Yes, Vlad."
"Good. Come downstairs, you're breakfast's getting cold."
I followed him to the dining room where waiting for me was a mouthwatering smorgasbord consisting of bacon, eggs served every type of way imaginable, sausage, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, warm real maple syrup, blueberry syrup, powdered sugar, butter, and every kind of fruit spread you can think of.
"I would have started early, but I thought it would be rude to start without you."
"Thanks." I said as I started with bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs, wolfing down the first two. "In my home, this is a rare delicacy, what with mom being an ultrarecyclovegetarian and all. What say you give me a tour of this place after breakfast?"
"I suppose we could do that." He said as he swallowed the bit of pancake he was chewing on.
As soon as breakfast was over, he showed me all around his estate starting at the top, going down to the basement as he explained the house's entire 150 year history.
"Ah, the coup de grace." He said as we entered a stark white room that reminded me of the basement at nana and papa's, the name Danny and I use for dad's parents.
"What is this, some kind of lab?"
"Of sorts. Remember last night, when you said that you were jealous of your brother and father for being halfas?"
"Yes." I said, uncertainty creeping into the back of my mind.
"Well I can make it happen. Think of it, Jess, unlimited power, the ability to get back at anyone who's ever wronged you, no longer having to remain defenseless while your brother risks his life to save you, the chance to see your father again whenever you want…"
It was the last part that sold me, since I missed daddy so much. "Very well, what's the catch?"
"You forsake your misunderstanding family and swear yourself to me."
"Very well, but only so I can see daddy on my own time. I swear myself to you."
"Very good. Now put this on." He said as he went to a drawer and pulled out a black hazmat suit with a cowl, goggles, and white gloves and boots. There's a changing room right through that door."
I took the clothes, stripped out of my pajamas as soon as I walked through the door he had indicated, and changed into the jumpsuit, which was surprisingly flattering on me.
"Very good, now walk into that frame." He said from behind some sort of console as he pointed to a large circular object on the opposite wall. I knew what it was immediately. It was a deactivated ghost portal. Curiosity getting the better of me, I didn't have to be told twice. The thing was huge inside. All of a sudden there was a huge flash. I screamed as my body was wracked with an almost electric pain so intense I passed out.