Chapter 20: Act Your Age
Vlad felt his body complain as he carefully sat on the edge of the medical bed. He then buried his head in his hands and allowed his white hair to drape a protective cover over his face.
Why was this happening? It was one thing after the other since the Fenton fire. Time would not rest nor falter in its crusade to make his and his godson's lives a living hell.
The bachelor wiped his hand down his face and took a deep breath, feeling the stitches pull at his healing flesh. This was not a time to be idle … it was a time for action, for revenge. It was a wonder that Daniel hadn't been ruined by all of this. A mind could only take so much.
Warm air escaped him as he grunted in pain, the elder halfa got to his feet. This was going to be dealt with. Now, if possible. The boy's confession had stirred the fire in Vlad's heart, and he wouldn't rest until he felt blood between his fingers or the crunch of bone beneath his shoes.
Before padding off to the exit, his bare feet chilled thanks to the lab's floors, Vlad turned and watched his godson curl into a ball. The child whimpered in his sleep, his lips moving mindlessly. The teenager would probably have nightmares for the rest of his life.
Frowning at the thought, the older halfa carefully pulled the covers up to Danny's chin and tucked him in. The teenager squirmed like a grumpy puppy but didn't awake.
"Rest, little badger, and don't worry about anything," said Vlad as his eyes gained a steely resolve. "I'm going to end that demon. He will pay for this all."
Vlad stood back up and transformed seamlessly into his darker half. A few minutes later he found himself in the attic, watching Skulker sharpen a blade as if the hunter had nothing better to do.
"What are you doing up here, Skulker? I can currently hear a hierarchy downstairs," grumbled Vlad, floating there as he crossed his arms over his chest. He refused to go back into his human form despite how exhausted he was. He wanted to be as weightless as possible so he wouldn't irritate his injuries.
Skulker sighed and stopped sharpening his blades on his favorite wet stone, his ghostly green glare turning to the territory's owner. "Morning Plasmius. Isn't it a bit early for you to be up? Like two or three days? Your ghost side may heal you faster than any normal mortal, but that doesn't mean you should press yourself too quickly. The White Lady would be displeased if you reopened any of your stitches."
"I will live," said Vlad sourly. "And I couldn't help but notice that Daniel had some stitches as well. Your handwork I take it? The White Lady's work is far neater than yours."
The hunter shrugged, "The boy will live, but I doubt my cross-stitch is why you came up here Plasmius. Tell me, did the little whelp final tell you what you wanted to hear? Like what happened to his powers. That he can't fight, at all, and is useless to you right now as a resource?"
Eyebrow twitching, Vlad groused, "Daniel is not a resource, Skulker. He is an investment. Besides, I never expected him to fight in the first place with his injuries. I honestly should send him away as I deal with his whole demon debacle. Maybe a school overseas or the Red Raven High School dorms. I could even send one of my more trusted underlings to keep an eye on him."
The hunter stretched his robotic neck, humming in thought, "Won't hear any complaints from me. The kit was starting to drive me insane with his irritating banter. I'm sure I can send that Sparks fool or someone else to watch him."
At that, Skulker scratched at his chin in thought. He knew that he should get on with business, talk about the Ghostly Gathering's aftermath perhaps, but all he could think about was the brat right now. Skulker would be lying if he said he hadn't enjoyed the fights he had with the younger halfa. It had been like a game.
Sighing, recalling Walker's inquiry about the Marked Child hours earlier and what exactly defined a mark, the hunter continued, "And I don't mean to go all conspiracy theory on you Plasmius, but I have a worry about your godson. Something that Walker brought to my attention, in fact."
Vlad gave the hunter a cold stare, something that was intimidating even though the man looked half dead. Nonetheless, the billionaire waved his hand as if asking for him to continue.
"Well, don't you think it's odd that Danny's house burned down and then, immediately, this demon showed up and the Ghost Zone started to fracture? Walker and I were talking while you were recuperating and we think that they might be connected," finished the ghost, waiting silently for the billionaire to have some sort of unpleasant reaction.
"You would be very correct … the demon killed Daniel's family," stated Vlad flatly, feeling the words sting at his lips and burrow into his heart.
"Oh," said Skulker surprised, figuring that Plasmius already shared his suspicions. "Do you also suspect that he has something to do with the Marked Child as well?"
Even though he was floating there, Vlad felt his stomach sink.
…
Hum …. Hummmm … hum … hummm.
A soft humming echoed through the darkened halls like the haunting calls of a mockingbird. Danny swallowed as he carefully made his way down the crumbling hall. The walls were a cold concrete, the paint so aged it was crumbling off like discarded orange peels. The air was also laced with a bitter heaviness. It tasted like a mixture of iron and regret as it stung his eyes in an unforgiving manner.
There were no other sounds except the thrumming in the walls and the smack of Danny's bare feet wadding through the inch-deep water. The water must have been pouring from some broken water lines, the water so cold he couldn't feel his toes anymore. He even had goosebumps, a cloud of mist flowing past his lips with every departing breath.
The teenager shivered, but he kept moving towards the light … the light at the end of the hall. It was so bright and welcoming. Plus, there was that song. That soft humming sounded like a lullaby. He had to keep going. He needed to find the singer. Then, maybe for a moment, he could imagine he had his mother back. After all, she used to hum like that.
Hmmmm … … hm. Hmmm.
The humming was growing louder and louder until Danny finally entered the light. He swallowed and looked around the small room that was no larger than a closet. There was a single light bulb hanging in the room. It glowed like a neon light off all that resided there. Currently, a red-haired girl sat there in the middle of the room. She seemed to be braiding the golden hair of another small child that was facing the corner. She was humming softly and moving her hands like clockwork over the other figure's head.
Something was very wrong here.
Nonetheless, Danny took a step forward, his feet making a wet smacking noise as if introducing him. This caused the redhead to stop immediately, her song dying in her throat. When she finally spoke, she didn't even bother to turn around and look at him, her tone ethereal and wrong, "Hello, Danny. I've been waiting for you."
The teenager shivered at her voice. Did he know her? Even though his throat felt too dry to speak, he asked, "How do you know my name? Do we know each other?"
The child laughed oddly as her hands started moving again, but they weren't braiding the other girl's hair … they were doing something else now. Something the teenager couldn't see. Danny swallowed. The room suddenly smelled too much like iron.
The teenager dismissed the smell as rusting pipes.
"How could I forget?" asked the little girl as she tilted her head slightly, seemingly gazing at Danny's reflection in the water on the floor. "You look so thin Danny. You should eat more. I would hate for any more damage to be done to you. You are beautiful."
She went silent for a moment more as Danny stood there awkwardly, waiting for an answer to his question. She then wiped something from her mouth with the long sleeve of her soaking wet dress before speaking again, "And I'm sorry for what the sinisters did to you. They will be punished accordingly, but first I must get a little further under your flesh."
Danny flinched and immediately looked down at his body, expecting some type of injury. He was wearing his normal clothes and there was no blood. Despite himself, he quickly lifted up his shirt and patted his stomach. Everything seemed to be normal and so, on edge, he asked, "What do you mean by under my flesh? Who are you and what do you doing in my dreams?"
There was a soft laughing which quickly turned into a cackle. On guard, the teen swallowed and took a step back. The water rippled across the room from his movements, but when the girl smoothly rose, the water did not even ripple for her ... but it did turn red as the corpse of the blond girl before her plopped down into the water. There was a huge gaping hole in the back of her head.
Slowly, the redhead turned to face him. She was the spitting image of Jazz when she was little … and she held pieces of brain matter in her spare hand. She ... had been eating the other girl. "Here have a bite. It'll help fatten you up.
Danny choked on his own need to vomit and tripped backward, falling into the water with a splash as he tried to back away from Jazz. But there was no way that was Jazz. It was some kind of monster, a trick!
"Who are you?!" Danny barked, even though his throat felt dry. "And stop looking like my sister! She would never do that!"
The redhead cocked her head and turned slightly to look down at the blond little girl, one Molly Turner. For some reason, the doppelganger looked confused, "But … you are like the Master, aren't you? You should like human flesh."
Danny gagged at the comment, still unable to control his legs, "What are you talking about?! I would never do anything like that!"
The impersonator frowned and looked down at the flesh in her hand again. She didn't understand. So, she knelt down and wrapped her fingers around a dark object right below the surface of the water. Not a ripple occurred as she pulled a jagged piece of mirror from the water's cold grip. She looked at herself in the mirror and then slowly turned it in Danny's direction. His breath hitched as he caught his reflection on the silver surface. It was the Demon that looked back.
"Aaahhhhhhhhhh!"
...
A hand touching his shoulder pulled Danny from his nightmare with a gasp, and the teenager immediately panicked. He kicked at the sheets and batted the unknown hand away as he struggled to sit up and look around. He quickly threw his gaze around the room until he caught the ocean-blue gaze of his godfather.
"Daniel. Are you alright? You seemed to be having a nightmare," said the man simply as he sat down on the edge of the medical bed, still bedraggled but at least on his feet.
Danny wiped a hand down his face, trying to push away the nightmare and its gorier details. "I'm fine."
Vlad raised a brow, obviously not convinced.
Rolling his eyes, the teenager grumbled, "I'm fine Vlad. Quit treating me like an invalid. You're the one that should probably still be in bed. Not me."
The elder halfa continued to stare even though Danny refused to meet his direct gaze. Finally, the man sighed, staring at his hands as he spoke, "Daniel, I don't think you are an invalid. After everything, nightmares are to be expected … unless it's something more than a nightmare?"
Despite himself, Danny turned his head away as if afraid Vlad would know everything from his expression alone. Apparently trying to hide your face was just as telling because Vlad's features hardened, "Daniel, what was the dream about? Was it the fire? The demon?"
Swallowing, Danny whispered, "It's nothing. Here, let me give you your bed back. You look medium-well done. And I don't mean in a good way."
Vlad immediately snatched Danny's wrist before the teen could throw the blanket off and book it. The elder halfa's expression was one of no-nonsense. "There is no more running from this, little badger. You need to talk to me."
Jerking his hand away, Danny felt the urge to fight … but his anger was stalled when he watched Vlad frown. The man really looked terrible, and it wasn't like Danny could put up much of a fight anyway.
Rubbing his wrist mostly on instinct then pain, the boy swallowed and softly grumbled, "Don't treat me like I'm helpless."
"Helpless? Daniel, I don't think you are helpless. You have your mother's ire in you," the billionaire stated with a tired smile, before a frown tugged deeply at the corners of his mouth, "But you also don't have any powers right now. Taunting the sinister was foolish. You are lucky it didn't gut you."
Danny felt his face turning red. "Well, what was I supposed to do?! Watch it eat you and Skulker! I'm not helpless because I don't have ghost powers! Sam, Tucker, and Jazz didn't need them."
The silence that followed seemingly made every light bulb in the area too loud, a buzzing settling in Danny's ears. In fact, even as tired as Vlad was, his voice was too loud when he finally spoke ... or perhaps it was the bite of his words.
"And look where that got them."
Those words were like a slap to the face even when Vlad finally spoke again, his tone even more tired, "Forgive me ... that was too much, but know that I am the closest thing you have to a parent right now. Your safety is one of my responsibilities, and that includes protecting you from your self-sacrificing ways. You are not unbreakable nor all-powerful."
The teenager's hands became fists. He wanted to be angry, but seeing Vlad so pale and weak and yet unflappable in his words, he was left silent. All he could do was look at the floor, even as Vlad rose to his feet and placed a hand on each shoulder, obviously trying to be comforting.
"From now on, your only responsibility will be to act your age," said Vlad as he squeezed the teen's shoulders. "You will go to school, study, eat nutritious meals, and keep out of ghostly business. If your powers come back, we may speak of training, but for now, you will do as I say and act like a normal teenager. Do you understand?"
At this, Daniel's eyes started to harden in defiance, but whatever fight was about to emerge from the boy was silent with the communicator on Vlad's wrist started to go off.
For a moment more the two halfa's shared a silent standoff before Vlad let go, answering the small watch-like communicator.
"This is Vlad Masters. I'm kind of busy at the moment. I'm going to have to call you back in –"
"Is that any way to speak to your Vice President? I came all this way to bring you good news after all," interrupted the voice on the other side. "Where is all your help, by the way? I've been ringing the front gate for about an hour and no one's picking up."
"Linx Nikolli? What do you mean you came all this way?" asked Vlad, spine going straight. He didn't need this added to his list of problems.
"The sun's frying me out here, Vlad. Open the gate. We need to talk business," added Linx on the other line. "I also wanna meet the heir of the Masters' Empire. Come now, don't you think you should have at least discussed it with me before you took in a kid? I could have made that front-page news. The press would have been good for business. Now, open the gate. I'm getting thirsty."
The line then went dead, the two halfas sharing a glance before Vlad stated simply, "We will continue this discussion later. Right now, we have a guest to go and greet. An unwanted one, but a guest nonetheless."
…
Click … clack.
The glass plates complained loudly as Kristy put them into the kitchen sink and started washing them by hand. Danny stood at her side silently drying each dish by hand.
Kristy and some of the other staff had been called in when Linx showed up to … clean up the mess. Danny had gotten a glimpse of the man when he finally gathered the nerve to leave the lab. The man honestly looked like Dash. He even smiled like him, but it was a little smarmier. The blond man even waved and had started to make his way up the grand staircase to likely check out the Masters' heir as he had dubbed Danny on the phone. Vlad had stalled him though, stating they would speak business first.
Danny, of course, was blamed for the house's mess when the staff showed up.
Apparently, he was messing around with some of the experimental tech in the house without Vlad's consent and it just … got out of hand. Thus, earning him a glare from all the help.
Personally, Danny felt the help should have been more concerned that there was apparently tech in the house that could blow holes in a wall than Danny messing around with it without permission. Not that the teen even got to say otherwise. Taking the blame was part of his punishment for lying, leaving the hospital, and whatever else Vlad was feeling passive-aggressive about. Thus, he was currently in the kitchen … helping clean.
Despite being irritated with the fruit loop … a smile cracked on the youth's face. Kristy, his makeshift handler for the day, stalled and placed her hands on her hips, "Are you laughing? Dishwashing by hand is supposed to be a punishment you little house wrecker. I still don't know how one kid destroyed my dishwasher. Did you, like, make bombs out of the spare parts in the work lab? I knew Mr. Masters had some dangerous tech in the house, but not enough to nearly blow up one of the wings. I honestly don't know if I should be disappointed or impressed?"
Kristy's tone wasn't angry. She was mostly irritated and did this eye roll thing that reminded him of an older version of Sam.
He really missed her …
Despite himself, Danny chuckled, "It isn't my fault Vlad just leaves tech out for children to play with. I was just looking for a remote and bam, a wall's missing. If anyone's to blame, it's Vlad's poor parental skills."
Danny really hated taking the fall for the mansion's damage, but if he was taking the fall… he just as well go all out because, honestly, he kind of did want to destroy the house most days. So, if it got Vlad off his back for a while, he decided to let it be. Pick your battles as Jazz would have said.
Kristy almost snorted, but quickly cleared her throat. "Well … young man. I hope you learned a lesson from all this?"
Danny smiled, the clicking of dishes filling the room once more. "No. Not really, except explosions and rocket packs are cool. I mean, I guess, Vlad and I had a heart-to-heart afterward, but … I just feel like I might have made things worse."
The maid hummed, asking softly, "Do you and Mr. Masters not get along? I mean, your relationship is obviously strained, but at the same time he clearly is doting on you."
Besides himself, the teenager snorted in skepticism.
"He gave up some of his Packers decorations for you. The head butler nearly had a hernia," she said with a smile.
Frowning, Danny stood there, still drying the dishes. Usually, he hated chores, what kid didn't? But Jazz always helped him with the kitchen. He missed her as well. He … really had to stop thinking like this. Right now was not the time to cry. He really had to at least try to keep it together.
"He's still a jerk," finally whispered Danny, putting a plate down rougher than he meant to. "He thinks he knows everything. That I'm some dumb helpless kid. I am not helpless."
The maid sighed and pulled her hands out of the soapy water, wiping them on her apron. She then leaned against the counter and said, "Listen, Danny, I might only be the help, but it's obvious to me that Mr. Masters is at least trying. He's an adult and probably feels that he knows best. Just give Mr. Masters a little slack. And, honestly, with your poor health, I'm sure he just worries."
Danny twitched at that and wanted to argue with her, saying there was so much she didn't understand. She didn't know he was talking about ghost powers and power plays. She just saw some orphan kid and a rich billionaire that was trying to play parent.
The halfa stalled at the thought … Vlad really was trying to play dad, wasn't he? Not like his Jack, but a bossier version. Should he shut that down? Jack would always be his dad while Vlad was just Vlad. Then again, Vlad was all he really had right now.
God, his life was depressing.
"Just give him a little slack, will yah?" asked Kristy as she smiled at him warmly. "He's obviously trying. He's might not be great at it and needs to learn how to communicate with teens, but I mean, I think he was angrier that you snuck away from the hospital than blew a hole through the wall. So, he's giving you some slack."
Danny twitched at that.
"You know about that?" he squeaked.
The girl raised a brow and simply stated, "I'm the staff, Danny. I know everything. Plus, the hospital apparently called the cops when you went missing."
He groaned at that. He honestly wanted to tell her how wrong she was about knowing everything, given there was a secret lab in the basement and that she worked for a half-ghost, but he'd let her remain pleasantly oblivious. He liked her and didn't want her to quit.
And so they went back to finishing the dishes, soap bubbles still in both of their hair from a brief splash fight the two had had, when the swinging door to the kitchen opened. Danny didn't bother to look up. It was probably the head maid or butler again, probably about to ask how he broke one thing or another.
Instead, an unknown voice interrupted the sanctity of the kitchen, "So you are Daniel, huh?"
Immediately, the boy and the maid turned. The maid almost dropped the dish she is washing when she sputtered, "Mr. Nikolli! I didn't hear you come in. Is there something you need?"
"Just a good cup of coffee. Lots of sugar," said the blond man with a wink at the young maid, his smile flashing like a pompous movie star.
Kristy nearly tripped over herself to comply and move away, the sound of grinding beans soon filling the large kitchen. Linx didn't follow the woman's movements, he just continued to lean against the counter as he eyeballed the teenager. The silence went on long enough that Danny didn't know what else to do but awkwardly shuffle.
"You know," said the muscular man, finally deciding the silence had lasted long enough. "I will admit I'm a little disappointed. I was really hoping you would look like old Vlad and that the rumor you were his secret love child would be true."
Danny nearly blanched at the idea.
"Alas, one cannot win all bets," continued the man. "So, tell me, young Daniel. Just how did you come into the care of Mr. Masters? He never struck me as the type to adopt orphans on a whim, and he has no siblings to speak of."
Glaring at the man, already deciding he didn't care for the smarmy figure, Danny groused, "It wasn't by choice. There was an … accident … and Vlad is my godfather."
The well-dressed man hummed, his eyes never once leaving the teenager except to glance at his gold watch for a moment, "The Fenton Work's fire, right? I heard that they were never able to prove one way or the other if the fire was an accident or not. The rains washed away a lot of the evidence. In fact, I hear the level of destruction was almost on par with what happened to the ballroom this week. A mighty big coincidence if you ask me."
Besides himself, Danny's jaw dropped as he struggled to find the right words. "W-what? What are you saying?! That the fire was my fault?!"
"You were the one that said it kid, not me," said Linx unintimidated, his smile returning as Kristy came over with a tray of coffee. The maid would not look him in the eye though she did give Danny a pained glance.
"So," continued the businessman, not the least put off by Danny's glare, "Tell me, did you destroy the ballroom because you wanted to go abroad that badly or was it just plain out teenage rebellion? Speaking with you, I'm guessing it's the latter. But don't worry, I know some great European boarding schools."
Still flabbergasted, Danny stumbled over his words, "What? No, no! I am not going abroad! And it's Danny, not Daniel."
The blond-haired man laughed and then reached over, patting Danny on the shoulder like it was all some good joke, "Whatever you say champ. But hey, maybe if you behave at this upcoming party, we'll all forget about the destroyed ballroom."
Danny forgot to be upset about the man patting him on the shoulder and straightened his spine. He hadn't really been in the spotlight much since the fire. Vlad, honestly, kept him kind of sheltered like a wounded little bird or something. Past-him would have loved a party, but quite honestly, if he didn't know anyone there what was the point of going? ... Unless this was some kind of media stunt. Suddenly, the man's behavior made a whole lot of sense. An orphan adopted by a lonely billionaire would bring in a lot of good press for Vlad's ventures, except Danny didn't feel like being treated like an exposition.
Besides himself, suddenly feeling wary, Danny asked carefully, "What party?"
Again, the man smiled, patting Danny on the back like this was all a good game, "Well, it's not every day that the company's owner adopts a kid and Vladco gets an heir. If you can't have a party over that, why have parties at all?"
Danny slowly sat down on the stool next to the man, swallowing shallowly like he was in shock. He still remembered how the kids at the hospital all looked at him when they found out he was Vlad's adopted son. He … he didn't want the rest of the world to look at him that way. He just wanted to be Danny Fenton, the kid no one looked at twice. Not a billionaire's pity-adopted son that everyone was continually watching, waiting for him to slip up.
"Wow. If you looked any more excited about this, I'd think you were dead," said Linx blandly. "Don't worry, Vlad wasn't really excited about showing you off quite yet either, but we need to get a move on this while you are still fresh, kid. Vladco would benefit from the media circus and it's best to introduce you now before the tabloids start calling you illegitimate or something. It's good business, you understand."
"But … I don't want to," commented Danny stupidly, the truth sinking in once again that he was now Vlad's heir. He was always going to be in the limelight now even though he wanted nothing to do with it. He wanted to be remembered as Jack and Maddie Fenton's son. Not billionaire Vlad Master's kid.
"Well, we all have obligations, sport. It comes with the name, and your last name is now Masters," said Linx, leaning in to add. "And you're going to behave for that name, right? Because I can make Vlad send you to some backwaters school in Sweden if you become a liability to Vladco. Tell me you understand?"
Swallowing, part of him now understood why this man worked for Vlad. Danny decided it was best to merely nod. He'd ask Vlad about this guy, but he had a feeling the fruit loop would merely sigh at him and tell him to do as he was told. It was good business.
Once again, he missed his old last name and the freedom that had come with the name Fenton.
…
Danny scowled at himself in the mirror and his red uniform glared back as if mocking him. It was Monday morning and even though Vlad had been basically ignoring him for the last few days, it seemed he decided to follow through with one of his threats about Danny acting his age: he was starting at his new school today at Red Raven Academy.
Well, at least it wasn't a school in Germany or something.
Sighing at the pending threat, Danny pulled at his tie trying to remember what his godfather had taught him. He nearly strangled himself before he gave up with a growl, "I hate Mondays."
The teenager left the tie in a messy loop, grabbing his bag as he stormed down the stairs. He paid no mind to the renovators, plumber, or seemingly dozens of other people that were fixing the damage done by the Ghostly Gathering. Where all the ghosts were chilling as the humans went about, Danny honestly didn't care. He had more important things to worry about apparently … like acting like a real boy.
Danny fled into the kitchen wondering if he could fake food poisoning and then go back to bed. He didn't want to go to a new school. He wasn't ready. He just … he just wanted to go back to Casper High and be with his old friends.
Beside himself, he swallowed thickly and tried to think of something else. Like sulking. Yeah, sulking sounded great.
Unfortunately, the one person that had been seemingly ignoring him all week was in the little dining area in the large kitchen, his newspaper in hand and two places set. Vlad seemed to be half done with his breakfast and was obviously waiting on Danny. Probably to make sure he had a balanced breakfast, the fruit loop.
Grumbling to himself, Danny almost wanted to walk away, but his stomach gave a low whine. It demanded appeasement.
Sighing, he slunk over to the small table, ignoring the unfamiliar living chef that kept looking their way as he sat down. It was a simple breakfast of oatmeal with fruit on top, a piece of wheat toast next to it, topped with an egg.
"Good morning, Daniel. Seems like you are running a bit late. I was starting to worry that you didn't get my note about having school today. Your breakfast is something simple and healthy. We will have breakfast in the main dining area after this. Ronaldo, the house chef, can make anything you want … within reason. I told him I want you eating a few healthy meals a day," said Vlad simply, still not looking away from his paper.
Danny sat there a moment, staring at his breakfast oatmeal as if waiting for it to attack. He even picked up a spoon to poke it will. When it didn't jump at his face with a murderous squeal, he started eating, Vlad's speaking conveniently when his mouth was full, "Please eat quickly, you need to be in the car in ten minutes. The driver's already out front."
And with that, his spoon drop back into the bowl, the teenager glaring, "And what if I don't want to go? Huh? You didn't even ask my opinion. You are just making me go."
Folding his paper, Vlad reached up and pinched his nose bridge as if trying to collect his patients before he muttered, "And what would you have me do? Have you run wild and uneducated? No, you are a teenager and you belong in school. It's a normal thing that normal teenagers do."
Still glaring, part of him wondering if it was socially acceptable or even possible to stab someone with a spoon, Danny growled once more, "I don't want to go. I'm not like them. I'm not some … rich kid."
Vlad raised a brow, "It's a private school, not a yacht school."
Danny raised a brow, "Yacht school?"
"Yes, that's a thing. It's ridiculous," added Vlad as he folded his paper in half, really looking at the teenager this time. "Listen, I know you don't want to go Daniel. The last few months have been … trying for you, but that's all the more reason you need to go. You need to make new friends and socialize in your age group. You can't just stay in this castle. Heaven forbid if you started hanging out with the Dairy King."
The teenager couldn't help but twitch at the thought, rubbing his good arm while he looked down, "The Dairy King isn't that bad."
Vlad raised a brow as if saying, 'My point exactly.'
Throwing his hands up, Danny blurted out, "Fine! I just feel like I'm backstabbing Sam and Tucker, alright! They were my best friends and call it stupid if you want, but I feel that if I get new friends, I'll forget them!"
Vlad frowned at him and Danny immediately sighed, slumping in his chair, "Just mock me and get it over with."
Taking a sip of his morning coffee, Vlad stated calmly, "I would not mock you for such a thing. You have a right to miss your friends, and I wouldn't worry about you ever forgetting them … I sure know I won't with all the bruises they helped give me."
Eyes widening at the joke, Danny looked up and met a calm and almost sad smile from Vlad. Beside himself, Danny returned it, his words almost a whisper, "Yeah, they both could kick ass."
Clearing his throat and placing his folded paper on the table, Vlad stood up, "Now eat up, little badger. You need the energy to keep your sarcastic wit."
Danny rolled his eyes but ate his breakfast nonetheless, his soul a little lighter than it had been moments ago.
…
Danny gapped at the huge, ivy-covered red stone building. The entire grounds felt like a huge intricate garden with fountains and aging statues. There were even blooming trees leading all the way to the front of the school. No wonder Vlad had sent him to this school.
"Not a rich kid school my butt," whispered Danny as he stood in front of the school, the driver had dropped him off. "Yacht school probably would have been less elaborate."
"Yacht school huh? You are a teenager of fine tastes," came a joking tone from behind him.
Danny turned to see a most unwelcome sight. The Scooby Gang as he had mentally dubbed them last time was behind him. He still remembered how they all had looked at him when they found out he was Masters' heir … and of course, all of them, not just the tech-kid, went to school here. He was doomed before he even got through the front doors.
Not knowing what else to say, he waved awkwardly to the makeshift group of investigative troublemakers, "Uh … hi. Nice … seeing you all … again."
"Wow, that was sure energetic," playingly mocked Drake as the bulky boy came forward, invading Danny's personal space without question in order to throw an arm around his shoulder like they were old friends. "Well, I'd be depressed too if I found out there wasn't a yacht club at my new school, but it's just a sacrifice you are going to have to make … living in Wisconsin and all. But don't worry, we're all here to at least show the new Masters kid around."
Danny winced at the comment and would have shied away if Drake wasn't basically holding him hostage. The silence that followed was painful until the mousy girl that he still didn't know the name to, because Velma probably wasn't right, spoke, "You know we wouldn't have cared if you told us you were Masters' kid. We were just curious."
Another pregnant pause followed. Drake finally sighed and pulled away as he offered his hand out, "Well, this is awkward. Let's start over, alright? I mean, since you're probably stuck with us. It's best that we know each other's names and have some introductions."
The halfa was about to ask what he meant by stuck with them when the bulky teenager spoke, "My name is Drake King and I am the unofficial leader of Mystery Cheese Inc. It's a mystery club in school and we are in Wisconsin. We thought it was witty. That's why we were all at the hospital the other day. Investigating. I go to school here because my dad's rich."
Danny blinked owlishly. He really was hanging out with the Scooby Gang, wasn't he? He really should decline but at the same time … he was kind of lonely. Sam and Tucker would forgive him, right? For wanting new friends?
But he wasn't replacing them! He wasn't. He was just socializing. That was all.
So, almost wearily, he reached a hand forward and shook Drake's hand, smiling weakly as he added, "Nice to meet you. I'm Danny Fenton. Or, I was. It's Danny Masters now. I guess."
"Hi, Danny," said the cute oriental girl he had mentally labeled Daphne the last time they met. "The names Wakata Wako. My dad's games got endorsed by some big American companies and that's why I'm here."
Tech then skipped forward, all smiles, "My real name is Trevor Wade, but I'd rather be called Tech. My father is a biochemist and my mom's a brain surgeon, but I actually got in here by a scholarship. I love technology and it loves me. So, yeah."
The mousy girl he had labeled Velma then cleared her throat, pulling a book into her chest as she also introduced herself, "My name is Lisa Reed, and it doesn't take a biochemist to guess how I got in here. It sure wasn't from money. Well, sort of. You see my sister works for this … rich guy … and a scholarship fell in my lap. And that's pretty much it."
Besides himself, Danny found himself truly smiling. He didn't want new friends, not right away, but it was at least nice knowing someone on his first day.
"Nice to meet all of you guys," said Danny, still smiling now that he knew the Mystery Cheese Inc kids weren't weirded out about him being the Vladco heir. "And I guess since we don't have a Yacht Club, Mystery Cheese Inc will just have to do."
…
Vlad stood in his private room before his floor-length mirror. He was shirtless, fingers tracing the scars he had gained in the last few months. The ones from the Ghostly Gathering were healing nicely, red but the skin was knitting together smoothly. The burn though, from the bridge, just wasn't healing right.
Sighing, he picked a new shirt, stalling when a voice sounded behind him.
Turning his head, watching Skulker float down from the ceiling, the billionaire started to button his shirt, his tone almost bored, "Careful. There are a lot of humans wandering around the house, Linx is bound to be in the halls. And, before you can ask, he is ex-military in the ghost-hunting sector. He would love to catch you and pick you to pieces."
Skulker chuckled, rolling his neck, "He hasn't caught me yet. Nonetheless, that's not why I'm here. Walker and I discussed it a bit more. The warden said there are rarely coincidences. Like the loss of the whelp's powers. Walker told me about his hypothesis."
Vlad straighten his collar and was now working on his cuffs. "And do I want to even ask about this conspiracy theory of his?"
The hunter was silent for a moment as if gathering his thoughts before he muttered, "It was a horrible thing what happened to the whelp's family. The fire. The destruction … it's just too well-timed. Walker believes that the Fenton's house was the exit point for the Demon. And that the beast attacked the house for two reasons. One: to destroy the ghost portal there and anyone that could build it. That is probably why you have become a target as well. You are the last one who knows how to make a manmade ghost portal. Something's obviously happening to the Ghost Zone and the Demon doesn't want interference."
Frown growing, the halfa's lip twitched, "That is an unpleasant deduction, but Ghost Portals will still occur naturally. Seems like a wasted effort."
"Perhaps, but if you're trying to keep something in or someone out, the Demon probably considered it a time-worthy effort," added Skulker. "The second theory has something to do with the whelp so don't get upset."
Vlad gave him a sideways glance of irritation before muttering, "It better not be any more of this Mark Child nonsense."
Skulker, glaring, continued, "I'm not done with that, but we think the only reason the Demon didn't kill the whelp is that he stole Danny's powers. He's probably using him as a battery source. If he isn't already, the whelp will soon be nothing but a boy, Plasmius. Powers drained of him. At least that's what we've come to believe."
Vlad stood there, his brow being drawn downward with a frown. He didn't like the idea, but it did explain why the Sinisters hadn't killed Daniel during the Ghostly Gather. This theory might also explain the teen's poor health and nightmares. Masters himself had heard of parasitic spirits and the theory matched perfectly.
Releasing a long breath, he asked in a tired tone, "Can the boy's powers be salvaged?"
Skulker shrugged, "Maybe … if you can kill that Demon, daddy badger."
Vlad's eyes glowed as a deep growl escaped him, pink energy flowing around him, "Then stop standing there and figure out a way it can be done. I want that demon dead."
XXX
Paw07: Ugggg, I rewrote like all of this chapter, but it's done. I was just deleting paragraphs like no one's business and drafting up new ones. Lost about 1,000 words, but I feel like it's much better.
(Revisions December 2022)