It was a clear night in Madison Wisconsin. As such, it was about ten degrees outside, so the Fentons were all shivering uncontrollably by the time they got inside of the limousine that Vlad had sent for them.
The atmosphere in the car was sullen and morose. The four Fentons sat around in a daze with their heads leaned against the windows for the duration of the ride. Once they arrived, a butler escorted them inside and led each of them to their rooms. He informed them that the cook was preparing something that would be ready for them in about half an hour, and that they could visit Vlad after that. Jack and Maddie entered their room arm in arm, while Jazz and Danny both sat down on his bed.
"How are you doing?" She asked.
"All right, I guess. You?" She sighed.
"As well as could be expected, I suppose. What were you dreaming about on the plane? It looked as though you were having a nasty nightmare." Danny laughed nervously.
"It was-" he gulped down the lump that had formed in his throat. "I dreamed that I was responsible for Vlad dying."
"Danny, you know that's not the case."
"I know, Jazz, but I just can't convince myself that I know I know!" he yelled. She stared at him oddly for a second. "That made no sense whatsoever, did it?"
"Nope."
"Didn't think so." He sighed. "What I'm trying to say is, I'm consciously aware of the fact that I am in no way responsible for," he gestured around the castle, "this. Us being here, and the circumstances that brought us here. But my subconscious, on the other hand, is trying to make me believe that I somehow hurt him fatally during one of the times we fought. It's trying to make me feel guilty because I hated him so much, and now he's going to…" his voice trailed off.
"Damn subconscious," Jazz joked.
"Got that right, sister," he replied. They heard a knock on the door and opened it to reveal the butler, who informed them that the meal was ready. They thanked him and went downstairs.
Dinner that night, or early morning if you want to be technical about it, was a very subdued ordeal. The four Fentons ate slowly and silently. Suddenly, Jack stood up from the table.
"I can't take it anymore," he announced. "I have to see V-man!" before any of the others could stop him, he bounded out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Maddie, Jazz, and Danny followed his trail and ended up outside a large mahogany set of double doors with an "M" inscribed in gold cursive on them. They knew this to be the room where Vlad was being kept, and they surmised that Jack had already gone inside. They sat down on the three chairs that had been placed in the hallway across from the door for their convenience, and waited for him to come out.