"Daniel, Jasmine... to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Can we stay here?"

"As short as always little badger," letting out a huff before doing a double take at the duo Vlad stares at them lips turned into a frown.

Seeing jasmines puffy and tearful eyes Vald feels concern fill his chest, even Daniel looks worse for wear. His blue eyes pirecing into him, he wouldn't think anything was out of the ordinary if it wasn't for the boy being barefoot.

He didn't have it in himself to toy with him, something was clearly wrong.

"I'm sure you'll be telling me why?"

After Daniel gives him a nod he opens the door wider and let's them both through, leading them to his dining room he gestures for the siblings to take a seat on the couch, sitting in an uncomfortable silence he waits for one of them to break it.

And waits.

And keeps waiting.

Stubborn siblings, what with Madeline as their mother he's not surprised. Letting out a cough he looks into Daniels eyes and the boy seems to be debating something.

"I haven't got all day little badger."

"I think I'm dead."

That made him let out a laugh, he sure had a sense of humour!

"Yes yes now tell me something I don't know," seeing jasmine look away and Danny's eyes drill into him he pauses. Surely he wasn't serious?

"Daniel what pray tell are you trying to tell me?"

"My dead body is in our basement.."

"Yes I know where you died-"

"Phantoms body."

"I'm not sure I'm following you."

"My parents took my core,"

"What-"

"My body was in their basement Vald!" Trailing off "I think I'm dead..."

"Without your core you wouldn't be here, you wouldn't even be able to stay in form Daniel."

"I know that!"

"So how could they have taken your core?"

"I don't know! I know what I saw though."

The boy was being serious. Had they really taken his core? He wouldn't even be here if they did.. Madeline wouldn't do that to a ghosts surely, she knew what a core was, they have had many many talks about it. Even the buffoon Jack knew how important they were for a ghost to live, he knew Jack wouldn't be able to do that. Sure he's an idiot but he's not heartless or skilled enough to.

Madeline... surely not.

"Okay."

"Okay!?"

"I don't know what to say.. so you're a ghost... now?" He doesn't look like he's a ghost, in fact nothing looks different on the child.

He sees Danny pause and look down at himself, touching his chest and all up his arms. He looks at him with the saddest eyes he's ever seen.

"I.. I don't..I don't know." Usually he would taunt him for the voice crack, instead he pretends it didn't pull at his chest and make he feel sick.

"Can I do some tests?"

Jasmine jumps up at that, putting herself between him and Daniel, he knew it would get a reaction but its necessary. Maybe losing a core isn't death for a halfa.

"I won't let you touch a single hair on my little brothers head!"

"Calm down, I don't mean anything invasive." Seeing her glare and Daniels scared face he continues, "I want to do a.. sort of x-ray, check if you have your core. See if you can change forms. See how strong your powers are, that's all."

"...you promise its nothing bad?" Hearing the boy sound so small tore him apart, even if he wanted to he couldn't bring himself to hurt him anymore than he already was.

"I promise little badger."

"Now I am busy today so feel free to use the spare bedrooms, you'll be able to find them, there's food in the kitchen..." pausing to think. "Or if you feel like here's some money for take out." Passing the kids a couple hundred dollars he continues talking, "you have my number If anything comes up let me know."

"Please don't tell our parents were we are."

Sucking in a breath he looks at Daniel in the eyes, he had never thought of giving them up anyway, he could have Daniel all to himself. At least that's what he'll tell himself, he's doing this for himself... yes that will work.

"I haven't seen you, I don't have an inkling of where you could possibly be."

"Thank you."

"Of course."

Turning away he quickly makes his way into his office, sitting at his desk head in hands, one thought in his head.

"Madeline what have you done..."