Vlad woke up really early the next day to prepare for his and Daniel's departure. He heard how in the middle of the night the boy strolled through the corridor to the door of his parents' bedroom. Seeing Daniel so upset, so hurt, so vulnerable, so desperately seeking comfort just from the things that might hold some features associating with his family made Vlad realize once again, that the boy was first and foremost a child, who needed guidance and love, and not just some ghost hero, who did whatever it took to save the people of his town.

But Vlad wouldn't have ever blamed Daniel for this. After all, he shouldn't have had his ghost powers from the very start, not in such a young age. Vlad was a heavy believer that children belonged in schools and parks and playgrounds with their peers, not on the regular night patrols and dangerous adventures in the realm of the dead.

And from now on Vlad would make sure that it was that way.

He made himself a cup of coffee in the kitchen and sat at the kitchen table. Around five thirty there was a rustle and then steps heading down the road. The newsboy brought the newspaper. Vlad got up from his chair and went out to take the Amity-Park-Angle. Settling down with the newspaper in one hand and coffee in another he started to read. On the first page was the news about the funeral of everybody who died in Nasty Burger accident. Vlad was farsighted enough to make the reporters ignore the Fentons' funeral and Daniel's adoption. In the future if it were on the headlines it could cause the boy some grief in his new school. Vlad knew how cruel children could be. Of course, it would be even more convenient to change Daniel's last name into "Masters", but Vlad could wait till the moment presented itself. He had all summer with Daniel ahead. Maybe, closer to September Daniel would reconsider his present decision on changing the name.

The Mansons' comments blaming Daniel for the death of their daughter were also cut off from the news. It was a really preposterous idea to even think like that. If you asked him, Vlad would tell you that it was Samantha who was the more adventure seeking type, not Daniel. So in any case the boy was innocent.

An hour was spent reading. Closer to seven o'clock Vlad heard the steps behind himself and turned around to greet his charge who was still wearing his pink pyjamas.

"Good morning, Little Badger", said Vlad with a warm smile. "Care for some tea?"

Danny just nodded, opened the fridge, fished out some butter and sausages and started making himself a sandwich. Vlad wasn't really impressed.

"Daniel, breakfast is the most valuable meal of the day. You shouldn't just brush it off with a sandwich. Let me make you some decent meal."

"No", Danny said. "I want a sausage sandwich."

His tone was rebellious and grumpy. Vlad wanted to object, but thought better of it. This would only start a conflict between them. That wasn't that kind of start of his relationship with his charge and future son that he wanted.

They ate in silence. After breakfast Danny volunteered to clean everything up. Clearly he wanted to leave this place as he saw it right. It wasn't long till they both stood in the hall, ready for departure.

"Are you sure you packed everything you want to take with you?" Asked Vlad.

Danny nodded.

"Yeah." He was sure. He also tidied his parents', his sisters' and his own rooms. One last thing was left to do. "Will you wait for me in here? I have one small business to complete. It won't take more than a minute."

Vlad made a go ahead gesture.

"Take all the time you need, Little Badger."

Danny nodded and rushed off to the kitchen and from there down to the lab. He spared no time in running to the console for the ghost portal and locking it. He let out a sigh. Now he would probably see it again in four years. Maybe a little sooner. But at least he was positive that without his hand print and his own password nobody would be able to turn it on. And also the visitors from the other side won't make it here that easily. That meant Amity Park would be safe from ghosts.

With that done Danny returned back upstairs and out of the house. The black car from yesterday was already there waiting for them.

"Good morning, , young sir", the driver greeted them with a small smile.

"Good morning, Clinton", answered Vlad.

"Good morning", whispered Danny in shame. He didn't really remember the driver's name and was grateful Vlad mentioned it now.

Suddenly something cold touched his palm. Danny looked up to see Vlad handing him a bunch of keys.

"Wha?.."

"These are yours", Vlad explained. "Till you become of age I will be the guard of the keys to your house, but now I think you want to lock the door yourself."

Danny was once more shocked with Vlad's behavior. Through all these days he didn't behave himself like, well… Vlad. He… was much more softer and kinder and compassionate than usual... Danny thought the man would be triumphant with him being the godfather of the boy he wanted to be his son for so long. But even if he was he never showed it. He was aware of Danny's feelings and pain and included them in his actions and words. But it was so strange and unusual Danny couldn't help himself but think that when they are in Wisconsin, Vlad would be back to his normal attitude and Danny would be trapped in total control of his guardian, or maybe already adopted father.

At last Danny took the keys with a nod and with the last glance into his living room he closed the door and slowly locked it.

He looked up at the house. It looked old, dark and dead. Windows looked dirty, though Danny knew for a fact it wasn't true, and even the colorful sign that stated "Fenton Works" looked now dull and unattended. It seemed like the house itself became lonely and sad that after the death of most of its masters, even Danny was now leaving it.

"I'll come back", Danny told the house softly. "I promise, I'll visit you."

It had to be Danny's imagination, but he thought that the house straightened up a little and the sign of "Fenton Works" lightened up a bit. That made a small smile find its way on Danny's face.

Vlad's hand gripped his shoulder gently and smiled at him proudly. Danny's smile faded at the realization that Vlad had to misunderstand him. The man clearly thought that Danny was feeling relieved to be out of his home, but that wasn't it. Although he couldn't bring himself to tell his ex-arch-nemesis that he was talking to the house a minute ago. It would be better to just leave it be like it was.

Clinton helped them into the car and in a minute Danny saw his house disappearing behind him. He turned around to see it through the back window, but soon they turned a corner and "Fenton Works" was no more in sight.

Danny was standing in front of Tucker's gravestone, a small red toy car in his hands. Vlad remained near the car with Clinton for company. Danny was immensely grateful that Vlad let him talk to his best friend in private, in the distance that even their enhanced hearing wouldn't cover. Vlad loved controlling things, so giving Danny some space was a big step in moving their relationship in a better direction than before.

But now Danny's eyes were glued to Tucker's image on the gravestone and the words that were engraved in stone: "Loving son, loyal friend, technology's best dream ever". The last words made a squeak come out of his mouth. It was meant to be a giggle, but turned out as a pitiful sob.

"H-hi, Tuck", said Danny softly. "S-sorry about that. Should've been a laugh. Even your gravestone phrase is hilarious, just like you. I think it's awesome your parents made it like that. You deserve to be remembered as the coolest of all the guys I've ever known, no kidding. I'm serious."

Danny got to his knees slowly and laid the toy car near the gravestone.

"I brought you a gift. Remember this one? Red Porsche Spider. We used to go crazy about it. One time when we were seven you said if you didn't get to play with this car first, you wouldn't talk to me the whole week. Then you went out of the room. In a couple of minutes you returned and said that you couldn't not talk to me, because we were friends. I remember us hiding this car for good under my bed, so we wouldn't fight over it. I know that now we are a little old for playing with toy cars, but… I thought you would be happy if I brought this one for you. So I did. Hope you like it."

For a moment Danny stayed silent. When his voice found its way out, it sounded broken.

"You know, Tuck… I really miss you here. I miss your cheery attitude and cool and creative jokes. So you know, I thought about bringing you your spray, that one that appeared to be a ghost weapon from Spectra, remember? But than I thought it wouldn't be really respectful for other deceased here, no offense, Tuck, so I decided against it. Really hope that car will do."

One more minute of silence has passed.

"I… Today I go to live with Cheesehead. After what happened… he kinda adopted me. Hilarious, right? It seems he is the only one who's gained something that he wanted out of this tragedy. Just like he always does. It… it would be much easier if I knew that you and Sam were here waiting for me and talked to me on the phone every week and…" Danny faltered. "I just want to say I'm sorry, okay? Oh man… I feel so guilty. If I weren't in trouble you wouldn't be there supporting me… You won't be here. I know, I know what you think! That it's not my fault! I had enough such conversations with you to know what you might think! But… It is so hard! I feel this guilt and I don't know what to do with it so all of you could be proud of me!" Realizing that he was going into hysterics, Danny shakily let out a breath. "Sorry. I'll try to work on that. I will be fine, for all of you, I can't really suiside now, it wouldn't be fair to you, it would be too easy of the punishment for me and too disrespectful to you. So I choose the hard way, to try and rebuild my life to live it good for you. And if you think why I tell this to you, it's because I wouldn't be able to tell Sam the same thing. You know how worked up she can get about such things. You were always the calm and understanding one. So thanks for hearing me out", Danny said with a small smile and met eyes with Tucker's photo. "I want to thank you, Tuck. For being there for me at all times. I really appreciated this, I promise. And I also promise that I will visit you at least once a year, even if Vlad rejects my request to. I'll be here every May, you can be sure of it. But for now…" Danny looked over his shoulder at Vlad, who was tapping his foot on the ground, clearly losing his patience, "... Now I think it's time for me to go. I still need to visit Sam. I'll say "hello" to her from you." Danny got to his feet and sadly ran his fingers over his friend's name on the gravestone. "Good bye, Tucker. See you next May, best friend. Rest in peace."

Seeing Danny standing, Vlad came over and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know this is hard, Daniel", he said. "But your friend is now in a better place."

Danny nodded solemnly and wiped some tears that came from his eyes.

"Let's go, my boy, let him rest a bit. You still want to see Samantha, don't you?

He nodded again.

"Okay."

Vlad escorted Danny through the cemetery before they stopped in front of the… gravestone filled with pink flowers, pink laces, pink stuffed toys… Everything was pink near this gravestone! And the photo on it…

"Oh no they didn't…" Whispered Danny in horror.

Right below the name, Samantha Manson, was Sam's photo in a hideous pink dress, which was too familiar to Danny. It was that same dress that Sam hated, that she agreed to wear that bad evening so her parents would allow her and him to... It was a horror… Danny couldn't believe Sam's own parents dishonored her memory so badly.

"Oh, Sam, what have they done…" The pain in his heart became so sharp at once that Danny couldn't help but cover his mouth with a hand.

Vlad, on the other hand, just raised a brow inquiringly.

"What's exactly wrong, Daniel?"

Danny shook his head in disbelief.

"Sam… She hated pink." He whispered. "She hated everything related to things her parents decorated her grave with. She… She was different. She loved black! She loved truth and trust, and her parents never gave it to her! They didn't even look after her when she was sick! The team of doctors and her grandma did! They!.. They always wanted her to be this shiny, pinky, proper girl who always smiled no matter what! They never cared about her opinion! They never asked for it! And even now!.. I can't believe they did this to her!"

Danny missed the moment when he got to his knees and started to rip the pink ribbons off the gravestone and throw away those Barbie pink toys and dolls with tears in his eyes. He was trying to clean his friend's grave with all his might, before he felt strong arms grabbing him by the middle and pulling away.

"No!" Danny shouted. "No, leave me alone! I gotta help her! Her memory must be honored!"

"Daniel, cease this hysterics immediately!" But Danny trashed and kicked in Vlad's arms, desperately trying to free himself, to finish the job he knew his girl friend would appreciate and be pleased for. "Daniel! It is not appropriate!"

"That's the WHOLE PROBLEM!"

"DANIEL! It's not your business! Her parents decided to bury her like that, it's their decision, and you have no right to judge it or intrude in it!"

"I MUST! Sam hated all of this preposterousness! She hated pink and she hated that dress and that photo! They did every single thing to disrespect and polute the memory of her!"

"DANIEL!"

It was that moment that Danny finally got to his senses enough to remember his powers. He slipped out of Vlad's arms intangibly and ran back to the gravestone. He was quick to rip off five more ribbons and flowers before sharp pain embraced his body and in mere seconds everything went black.

Vlad couldn't believe what he just saw. Daniel… He was absolutely out of control! He was that much caught up in his emotions it seemed he hadn't thought to use his brain! And his eyes… They were utterly… wild and mad… For a moment Vlad feared that the poor boy had completely lost his mind from the pain, nerves and guilt he was experiencing.

That is why he was just obliged to neutralize him, before he got himself or anybody else in harm's way.

A hard sigh escaped Vlad's lips. He looked down at the limp body of his young ward, lying right before the gravestone of his childhood crush. Yes… Maybe Vlad really was to harsch on the boy. While he was in hysterics electrocuting him seemed like the best way to calm him down. But now… It seems rushed and not farsighted, despite being effective. In the past Vlad found it the best way to make the boy listen to him. They were enemies and he couldn't recall him feeling guilty about it. He knew Daniel could handle it. But now Daniel was not just the stubborn ghost boy who always was in his way. Now he was his ward, in a week or less a son, and something told Vlad that that would make him reconsider his upbringing methods.

"With all due respect, sir", said Clinton who suddenly appeared nearby Vlad though never surprising him, "I don't see how electrocuting the teenage boy who had lost everybody he loved and just tried to get justice for someone he cared for can help you with creating a father-son bond with him you so crave for. Although I also don't consider myself the best adviser for raising children, I must say your deed can be seen as abusive."

Vlad gritted his teeth at the truthfulness of these words.

"And I can tell, you not only have big ears, Clinton, but also spend too much time in Godfrey's elderly company."

Clinton just shrugged non-chatingly.

"This is what you hired me for, isn't it, sir?"

Vlad looked at his driver calmly.

"One of the many reasons, Clinton."

For a second or two they stood there watching the boy on the ground, being content that nobody else could be a witness of Vlad's cruel act due to the early hours.

"What now, sir?" Clinton finally asked.

Vlad shook his head and carefully picked Daniel up.

"Start the car, Clinton. We're going to Wisconsin."

Clinton's eyes widened in surprise.

"Won't the young master be mad that you took him away without the finality?.."

"I gave him a chance though I didn't have too. It was his choice to go into hysterics. I tried to calm him down, he dismissed it. Now we're behind schedule. If he wants to, when he's in a better state of health, we will return and he will have his chance to say his goodbyes to the girl. But now we leave."

Clinton sighed, but nodded, helped Vlad into the car and in a minute they left the cemetery.

Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose. Whatever will he do with that child? With this impulsive brat that never wanted to listen?

"Maybe it would be beneficial to create a device for keeping Daniel's powers off", thought Vlad. "That way he will have no chance to get away from me and harm himself even more. Moreover, that tantrum of his was outrageous. There is so much to work on with him. His manners, his temper, his performance at school and sports… And, of course, those nasty and disgusting habits he learned from his buffoon of a father. I shall need to replace them with my habits. This way I will bond with Daniel and he will become more like me and after some time warm up to me. Maybe, I will even be able to have him calling me Father… It would be more than just delightful. But, obviously, that will need some time. Now I need to predict what his reaction would be when he wakes up and how I can turn it to my advantage, so I knew what to say so he wouldn't be so worked up. After all, his health comes first."

Yes, despite the want to help the boy, Vlad was not a man to spill the chance through his fingers. Vlad wants a son. He wants Daniel to be his son, and nobody else. And he will do every single thing it takes to achieve this goal. He will have Daniel to be a Masters and call him his Father. And the fact that in any other way the boy will die without him, is going to help him. Especially considering…

That could wait. First, there is a need to repair Daniel's life. Then to alter it into what will be better for him and desirable for Vlad. And after that, when Daniel is old enough… Vlad will tell him. If he finds no way to cancel it for good.

With such thoughts Vlad took a newspaper from the Fenton's house from Clinton, closed the window between driver and passengers' seats and started to analyze the news, this way trying to pass some time.

It was a long ride, really. Vlad assumed that they would be at his Manor only in the evening. Perhaps, it was a good thing that Daniel was now "sleeping". He is not bored, at least. It is much easier to endure the long trip while you are asleep. The only thing Vlad wanted to change, maybe, was to sedate Daniel rather than electrocute him. But what was done was done.

It was already after midday when a soft growl was heard from where Daniel was lying on the opposite side of Vlad. The boy slowly rose on his elbows, his hand rubbing his eyes. Vlad was silently watching him. But when they locked eyes, Danny backed away.

"W-where are we?" he asked, but then his eyes darted from side to side, exploring his surroundings, and his face got pale. "No, you couldn't… You couldn't do this to me!.."

"Do what exactly, dear boy?" Inquired Vlad.

But Daniel scowled and his fists bowled in anger.

"You had no right to interrupt me! You shouldn't have even come up to me!"

"You were out of control, Daniel!" Vlad insisted, his usual threatening scowl returning to his face after its unfortunate vacation. "You should've seen yourself! Face all in tears, eyes wide and crazy, your talk wild! Does this sound normal to you?!"

"And is it normal that Sam's parents did everything that would infuriate Sam if she were here?!" Shouted Danny.

"They did what was best for them. They are her parents and they can decorate their daughter's grave as they want. It won't mean anything to her now anyway, but for them it will."

Danny's heart skipped a beat in upsetting.

"So that's how you feel about all of this", he said bitterly. "Then let me assume. If I weren't alive right now, if I died with my family and friends and teacher there in the accident, you would do the same thing to me and Mom, right?"

Vlad's face adopted a concerned expression, but it quickly melted away in an annoyed scowl.

"I don't understand you, Daniel."

"I say that if I died too, you would separate me and Mom, or only my Mom, I don't know, from our family and bury us as Masters, as your wife and son, right?! And you would just throw Jazz and Dad away without even a funeral, because you didn't care for them!"

"Daniel, stop it…" Vlad's eyes became redder and redder with every second.

"Okay, maybe not Jazz, but you would just throw my Dad out and bury us like you saw fit, not like we would want, is that right?!"

"Daniel, I'm warning you…"

"Madeline and Daniel Masters, the wife and the son of the billionaire Vlad Masters, who actually is just a liar and vile man who even changed our names to fit his ill imagination of how everything should be, it would be like that, righ?!."

A loud hard "smack!" was suddenly heard in a car. Danny's head was thrown aside from the hard impact with the back of Vlad's hand. Vlad was looming over him like a predator would over its dying prey, his eyes glowing blood red with fury.

"Now YOU listen to me, you little brat!" He growled and his hand found its way around Danny's throat. Danny gulped, and his enemy's fingers tightened just enough to cut half of the air off. "I say it would be a great skill for you to know when to shut your mouth, boy! Because I WILL NOT tolerate your ungrateful talk in my own house!" He said it softly, but so menacingly the burn of Danny's cheek felt like nothing in comparison to the fear that crumpled through his spine. "You better remember it well, Daniel, or you can forget about all the merciful things I did for you in these days. If you disrespect me like this again, I will do everything, and I mean every little thing that concerns you, like I see it fit and I won't even think about asking for your opinion or think about what your mother would approve of. Understand?!"

Danny found himself nodding shakily. He was so scared he couldn't stop trembling now. Vlad's eyes slowly went back to their normal color and fingers, one by one, left his throat. Danny couldn't force himself to gulp, so stunned he was.

Glancing at the nervous gaze of his ward, Vlad smirked and patted the boy's burning from his slap cheek dismissively.

"That's much better, son."

Danny cringed when he said "son", but couldn't force himself to say anything against it. Vlad went back to his seat and started to read a newspaper again. Danny found that he couldn't really move.

So it was the time. The actual Vlad has come back. And it meant that Danny was in a total catastrophe.

"Now, if you talk like a civilized person", said Vlad suddenly not looking away from his newspaper, "I will listen to your arguments about why you think it was such an important action to destroy such a lovely display of the Mansons for your friend." Danny wanted to retort immeadetely, but was again stopped by the warning voice. "And I insist you talk civilly, Daniel. You're not an animal, no matter what your hideous habits are. Be civilized. Is that understood?"

Danny continued to just sit there in shock that because of a few days of kindness and sympathy he forgot who the real Vlad was. How dangerous he could be not only to his enemies, but especially to Danny, no matter what position in his life he held. And only the man's terrifying glowing red eyes snapped him out of his petrifaction.

"Understood… sir."

Vlad nodded approvingly.

"Now, speak up, boy."

It was hard to open his mouth. It was much harder to find words now. But Danny was so scared of what just happened that he managed to talk.

"S-Sam… had a different look on things than her parents", he started. Vlad was looking at him surprisingly patiently. "She didn't… really like what they liked. T-They wanted h-her… to be this feminine girl… in all pink and without… without a right to speak her mind." Danny glanced at Vlad, silently asking him not to push him further, but the man's gaze was hard — he wanted to hear all of it. Audibly swallowing a new lump in his throat and looking back down at hands in his lap, Danny continued. "W-When we were twelve, Sam dyed her hair black. I remember I didn't even recognize her at first. I didn't know her so well then. B-But her parents were against her new… style. Only her grandma supported her. Sam's mum, she… didn't give a damn about what Sam thought. That's why she always tried to make her try on some disgusting, always pink, dress. She never respected Sam's choice. Not in toys, not in clothes… not in friends." Danny finished sadly.

Vlad nodded once, his eyes back to their normal midnight color.

"Alright, I can see why you were angry about the color of the toys in the cemetery. The dress in the photo also, but you mentioned it was the least of her favourite photographs?"

Danny swallowed once again, scared that he was, most likely, expected to answer. And he was right.

"I'm waiting, Daniel." Vlad reminded him after a half a minute gap.

"That… That was a photo of her punishment." Danny said grimly and guiltily. Vlad saw that.

"Explain." Was his order. Danny didn't budge. "Now, Daniel."

Danny couldn't explain why he continued to talk. The words just spilled out of his mouth.

"I-It was my fault, mainly", he said. "W-We wanted to go to that show… There was a new traveling circus in town, called Circus Gothica. Sam talked a lot about it that time. That morning I went to her to show a new CD that I had got. It was so cool, I knew she would love it. But I wasn't… really careful with my tongue around her parents."

"Why am I not surprised?" Dronned Vlad with boredom in his voice, but immediately gave Danny a sign with his hand. "Go on, dear boy."

"Well… Sam's parents hated me and… right in front of them I got… infatuated in Circus Gothica's advertisement. It appeared to be… a little more hypnotic than most TV programs."

Vlad's brows raised in surprise.

"So you're telling me you were hypnotisied? Interesting…" He thoughtfully rubbed his chin.

"I-I didn't say that!" Danny panicked.

"Don't worry, my boy, I'm not going to do something so vile as hypnotizing you", Vlad scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I much prefer real loyalty or, on a bad day, some severe blackmailing. But I can assure you that in your case I want to go with the first variant. I want your trust and loyalty, nothing less. And you can be sure that I will earn that."

Danny found himself scoffing irritatingly.

"We'll see."

"Of course, we will", agreed Vlad slyly. Yes, that was the real Vlad once again. "Now that you know that you won't be at a disadvantage, even more protected I must say, I want to hear the rest of your little story, if you don't mind."

"Really, I do mind."

"I was just being polite, Daniel."

Danny sighed angrily. His fear evaporated somehow, but left the carefulness behind.

"It was bad", he continued. "Freakshow, that's the name of the ringmaster, had that staff that could hypnotise ghosts. It worked on me and I got Sam and myself and later Tucker into trouble. And, apparently, went goth while I was under control." He blushed. Vlad raised a brow in interest. "Anyway, after that Sam's parents even got a restraining order from the court that I couldn't come near Sam nearer than three metres or something… And after all was settled down, we were all suspended to detention by our parents and Sam even agreed to wear that hideous pink dress so that her parents allowed her to be friends with me again." A small gentle smile formed on his face at the recalling of those happy times that weren't so far away. "After that I never stepped foot in the Manson's house as Danny Fenton. But that photo became the most loved by them and the most hated by Sam." The dark scowl distorted his face, tears of resentment built in his eyes. "And knowing that they still made it her gravestone photo! I hate them!"

Now Vlad understood the reason for such strong feelings.

"I know how much that girl meant to you, Daniel", said Vlad softly and gently, making Danny look up at him carefully. "And I'm really sorry that you didn't get the chance to say goodbye properly. But I didn't let you not because I didn't want to, but because you were hysterical. It really was a scary sight, especially for me. You…" he sighed hard. "You are the only person in this world that I now really care about, Daniel. You may not believe me, but it's the truth. Now Maddie is gone, and your family and friends are with her. I am the only one who can and want to care for you, and you are the one who can give me some sense of what I always craved for. If we do it right, we have good chances to live more than a content life together."

"Judging from your earlier deed, you mean if I do everything like you see right", grumbled Danny and gestured to his neck.

"It… wasn't really professional from my side. I apologize." Danny's brows flew high. Did Vlad just apologize? "Despite my desire to be your father, I still have little experience in this field. But I will do everything in my power to be a proper parent to you, Daniel. That I can promise."

"Excuse me, Vlad, but I won't promise you anything, because try as hard as you want, but you could never replace my Dad", said Danny and was really shocked not to find his voice as bitter as he wanted. There was some… sympathy for the man's want. And it was strange.

Vlad nodded.

"I understand. It would take three men like me to try and replace him." The smile on his face wasn't malicious or sly. He just tried to joke. And Danny let a soft giggle escape his mouth.

"No matter how embarrassing Dad could be sometimes, I felt with him like behind the brick wall."

"Well, I am more of an ectoplasmic glass wall", Vlad continued, "but I think with some time we will learn to live with each other. Wouldn't want our lives to become total hell, would we?"

"Hope, we won't."

"I agree. And so to be clear, Daniel, don't be so hard on the Mansons. You may think that what they did wasn't right, but it was right for them. You must agree that it's often... much harder for the ones who is left behind than the ones who died." Danny's face adopted a guilty expression. Vlad went on in sorrowful voice. "Samantha can't be returned. It wouldn't matter for her now what is on her gravestone, though I agree that what was done to it may be considered as showing a dishonor for her living. But her family must live on without their only child. With the thought that they failed her, that they didn't protect her when needed. It is a real torture, Daniel. So if decorating her gravestone that way helped them to overcome their loss... Then it is what is best for them and nobody have a right to judge it, no matter how wrong it seems. Do you understand, Little Badger?"

Vlad's words made Danny think about it all. Vlad was probably correct. Danny had no right to judge, no right at all. Just like the A-listers yesterday had no right to judge him and his family. Sam would be furious about her family's deed. But maybe she would have also understood.

So Danny nodded.

Vlad nodded also, let out a hard sigh and glanced at his gold wrist watch.

"It's already past midday. Would you care for some lunch, Little Badger?"

"Yeah!" Danny perked eagerly, but then blushed and continued quiter. "What do you have?

"As far as I know my chef Volfgang prepared his delicious panini sandwiches."

Vlad got two beautifully wrapped paper packages out of the small fridge, built in under one of the seats.

"What is panini?" Asked Danny.

"It's an Italian grilled sandwich with cheese. You had to hear about them or see them at least on TV, I'm sure." Vlad handed his ward one of the packages.

Danny unwrapped it to see an appetitive sandwich with chicken and cheese inside. He took a bite and momentarily his eyes became as round and big as dinner plates. He decided that from now on it was his favourite sandwich.

Vlad, on the contrary, looked in distaste at how barbarious Daniel was in his devouring his meal and swore to himself to work on that first of all.

The rest of the trip was mostly silent. One would think that Danny had to be bored, but in fact he wasn't. As a matter of fact he was really confused once more. Earlier he found himself not wanting to disappoint Vlad, wanting a better relationship with him now that he had nobody else to turn to. But then right after that Vlad threatens him and even cuts off his air. Danny's fingers absentmindedly stretched out to his throat. It was really terrifying. That much that he even forgot he had his ghost-powers and could just turn intangible. But if he was so scared, how could he tell Vlad so much about his adventures with the Circus Gothica? Why did he joke with him afterwards? Why didn't he feel as bitter as he should have? It seems that Danny really got so frustrated, miserable and pathetic that he was ready to open up for the man who choked him a minute before.

"I really need to pull myself together... Because this won't do." He thought.

Perhaps, the same could be said about Vlad. He was also used to him and Daniel being enemies and those times saw nothing wrong with strangling the boy a little to make him remember who he was talking to. But now Vlad wanted to change things and Daniel clearly let him know that by force he would accomplish nothing with him. It only left kindness and familiarity to do their thing. It wasn't really hard of a task while the child behaved himself. But let him be defiant and Vlad lost all his temper at once and was really ready to beat the boy up! Yes… It was definetely a vital need for him now to study the question of raising a child.

It seemed that the trip was taking forever. But the time passed, the sun moved across the sky and at five o'clock the expensive car finally drove through the elegant gates with the symbol of a curved "V" in the middle. Danny rolled his eyes.

"Frootloop." He thought.

The car went ahead the long driveway before circling the beautiful round flower bed and coming to a stop in front of the grand front doors.

"Well, we are finally here", said Vlad with a sigh of relief.

Clinton got out of the driver seat and opened a passangers' door.

"Thank you, Clinton." Said Vlad getting outside and with pleasure glancing around.

"Thanks, sir." Said Danny softly, but Clinton nodded at him with a kind smile.

Suddenly a large hand was put around Danny's shoulders and pushed him nearer to Vlad's side.

"Welcome to Wisconsin, Little Badger." Said Vlad triumphically, a very pleased smile on his face made him look even younger. "Welcome to your new home."

Those words made Danny cringe, but Vlad hardly noticed.

"Clinton, would you mind taking our bags?" Ordered Vlad cheerily.

"Of course, ."

"Splendid." Vlad turned to his ward. "Well, let's go inside, dear boy. I can bet Godfrey is waiting for us."

Danny audibly swallowed. Vlad led him inside, and he turned his head back to look at so much needed freedom… but then the front doors closed with a soft "bang"... and he felt incredibly claustrophobic, all of a sudden.

"Ah, Master Masters", Danny's head turned around sharply and his breath rigged when he saw a ghost, glistening bright green color. "Welcome back."

"Hello, Godfrey", nodded Vlad.

So that was Godfrey. A really strict looking ghost-man in a crisp black suit with white dress shirt, a vest and black bow-tie. His white hair was interestingly styled as some kind of horns, like Vlad Plasmius's hair looked. It was more than just disturbing. Crooked nose, dark green eyes surrounded by wrinkles, short white mustache…

"This is Daniel, my… still my charge", Vlad introduced him to Godfrey. Really Danny got scared of the butler. He wore that horrible glare that Danny always got from — "This trouble-brat again". Godfrey's sharp eyes were studying him meticulously, and he got a wish to disappear right then and there. The only thing stopping him was that it would do no honor for his parents if it appeared that they had raised a coward.

But then, all of a sudden, Godfrey smiled at him warmly, and Danny, for some reason, thought that maybe if he were here the first time he met Vlad, Danny could haven't found out about Vlad's plans in time. He also thought not to be deluded by the ghost's looks — his powerful aura was definitely noticeable.

"Well, good evening, Master Daniel. My name is Johnathan Andrew Alfred Christofer Godfrey, but in this house it is settled to call me simply Godfrey. Excuse me for such formalities, but that is one more thing I really take seriously. I presume, you know what I'm talking about."

An obsession. Yeah, he knew. Danny only now understood what a planned out dollhouse play his life was going to be from now on. Y-e-e-a-ah...Welcome to Wisconsin indeed...

Author's Note:

So, as we see, Vlad hasn't lost his manipulative creepy side. Yayks! Danny is now in a disturbing situation not only with his sly ex-arch-enemy-guardian, but also one super formal ghost butler. Well, agree, it was expected. The question is if Danny ever sees the light of freedom...

I must say if I were Danny I would make a run for it, right into the wilderness. But what he'll do, well, we'll know in the next chapter! Please, review!

Also, you can find illustrations for this story and my other arts and drawings on my tumblr:

blog/aleks-norward

You are free to message if you have any questions

Thanks for reading and till the next time in the Wisconsin Masters Manor!