Chapter 22 The Decision
Suddenly in a flash of turquoise light Sarah Daily, in her cape and mask, floated above the crowds.
"You've got my attention Friedrich," she said in a loud clear voice. "What do you want here?"
"You know what I want guardian," Freakshow said nastily. He gestured to Lydia. "Get her!"
Lydia sent out her tattoo ghosts, but Sarah managed to drive them away with lightning blasts. The other ghosts tried to attack but Sarah whirled, and forced them away as well.
When Sam and Tucker saw Miss Daily engage the ghosts they moved along through the crowd making for Miss Daily's office. All they had to do was cross the twenty feet to the hedges under her window. Sam took another look up at Miss Daily battling the ghost with Freakshow looking on with a grin. Without saying a word Sam gestured to the window. Tucker nodded. Step by step the pair moved their way across the open area leading to the window.
Eighteen feet, seventeen feet, only sixteen feet more and they would be safe. Twelve feet, eleven feet ten...
Five feet from the hedges Lydia suddenly fell right in front of them. She saw them and pointed. Freakshow, busy with the melee above, now noticed the two teens trying to escape. "Another ruby!"
"Tucker run!" Sam called out. She tried to run, but Lydia blocked their path.
"Don't let her get away!" Freakshow ordered. At that moment Danny darted out of the protected classroom and grabbed onto Sam and Tucker. He tried to fly away with them, but Lydia's tattoo ghosts blocked their rout and bound all three of them up.
"Danny" Sam shouted. Just before Lydia bound the three of them together Sam managed to grab onto Danny's hand and cling to him physically and mentally keeping Freakshow away from Danny's mind.
"No! " Jazz shouted. She pushed opened the window to the office, and raced to the trio putting herself fearlessly between them and Lydia. With a gesture Lydia bound Jazz as well. Freakshow looked at the group of four and chuckled. "So," he said, "You've been hiding in the school all this time."
"Friedrich, Let them go!" Sarah dove for Freakshow but the three ghosts that fought against her followed and tackled her. Lydia bound her up as well.
"Well," Freakshow said pacing in front of the sorcerous with a wild grin. "It seems that last night I was in error. It appears you have two things that belong to me."
"He doesn't belong to you Friedrich!" Sarah snapped. "He's an independent being with a mind of his own. You have no right to take that from him!"
"An independent being hmmm?" Freakshow looked Danny up and down. Sam tightened her grip on Danny's hand and focused her thoughts on keeping Danny free of Freakshow's power. Somehow through Danny should could hear the hypnotic hum of the gems Freakshow held. Sam concentrated imagining her own will as a barrier around Danny's mind, keeping Freakshow away from Danny's thoughts.
Freakshow unaware of Sam's resistance brandished the five gems. He held his hand out showing off the platinum ruby ring. "Come to me ghost," Freakshow commanded.
Danny didn't look up, but Sam could see a smile creep up his face and a chuckle escape him.
"No," Danny said breathing heavily, but sounding very satisfied.
"What...what did you say?" Freakshow asked shocked.
"I said no," Danny said with more confidence. Sam smiled. She could feel Danny embracing her hold on his mind. He was holding on to her now, and he wasn't about to let go."
Freakshow looked from Danny to Sam, Tucker, and Jazz, and back again. "This is not possible! You only have one ruby. How can you hold me back when I have five?"
"The last time she held the boy without a focus Friedrich," Sara said with a chuckle. "Don't you remember your most basic of lessons. Family, friendship, respect, and love in all it's aspects are a stronger magic than anything recorded by the ancients. As long as the ghost boy has someone he knows that cares for him he will be stronger than you."
"Then perhaps I should eliminate those individuals that care for him. Starting with his guardian!" Freakshow snapped his fingers, and one of his new minions pulled out a huge sword and touched it to Sarah's neck.
"Freakshow no!" Danny called out. For the first time he looked up and faced the ringmaster directly. "What do you want?" He asked.
"I want what is rightfully mine," Freakshow said angrily. "That ruby and it's match along with the band. They belonged to my family for centuries before the guardians stole it and took the band apart."
"That's not true Friedrich!" Sarah insisted. "You're parents gave the elder guardians the band when they found out what you were doing with the staff. They didn't want you to use the band against you're family."
Freakshow was clearly agitated. "My family is gone," He insisted. "I left them years ago. They didn't care about me, only the circus. I only came back after they died to get the staff, and the other heirlooms. I knew what kind of power they contained."
Sarah sighed and shook her head. "And there was only one ghost left waiting for you're return. You know you're a bigger fool than I took you for Friedrich. Either a fool or just cruel.
"I don't care," Freakshow said. To Danny he said "Bring me the band, and the remaining gems and I'll let the guardian and the other school children go free." He gestured to Lydia who with a heavy sigh set Danny free from her bands.
"Danny no! Don't do this!" Sam said with her voice and mind. "Once he has the band I won't be able to keep him out of your mind!"
Danny rose to his feet, and looked down at his friends and sister with a resigned sigh. "But if I don't he's gonna kill Sarah. Her wards will drop, and he'll just get the band that way. Sam I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me."
"But Danny -" Sam began.
Danny simply shook his head. "Sam, I have to do this."
Danny turned and gave Freakshow a sidelong glance. "You can't take the ruby from Sam, or I can't get into Sarah's library and out again. The band will hold me in there otherwise."
"You just get the band boy," Freakshow said darkly. "I'm patient. I can wait to possess all the rubies."
Danny simply glared at Freakshow and said nothing. He passed by Sarah and knelt down at her side. "Danny I know you think this is the answer but -"
"We don't have much of a choice," Danny said grasping her hands gently. He snapped the ecto energy binding her wrists. "I can't let anyone get hurt because he's targeting me. Just don't let me hurt anyone either."
Miss Daily's eyes widened. She turned toward Danny and said, "Danny, are you sure you want to do this?"
Danny nodded confidently. "It's all right Sarah I trust you." Gently he squeezed her shoulder and rose to his feet glaring at Freakshow. If anything happens to my friends or Sarah the deal's off." Danny said forcefully.
Freakshow nodded once to show he understood, then watched Danny fly off to the south west.
Coming Soon: Chapter 23 The Lost
Freakshow grinned broadly as he placed the band around his arm. "Finally after all these years my ancestors ancient talisman is back in the family again!" He then reached out and grabbed Danny by the arm.
"Danny!" Sam and Jazz shouted together. Danny struggled in Freakshow's grasp for only a few seconds, but suddenly he stopped and relaxed. Freakshow released Danny who instead of running, stayed at Freakshow's side unafraid and attentive.
"Danny?" Jazz asked puzzled. Sam gave a physical shudder. "Danny turned towards the three, and to Sam's horror his eyes were no longer the phosphorous emerald green she knew and loved. Now his eyes were crimson.
"Danny no!" Sam felt her heart freeze up inside of her. Danny was back under Freakshow's control. Frantically Sam tried to use her amulet to wake him, but Danny didn't seem to hear her. Unfortunately Freakshow felt the power of the gem instead.
Freakshow grinned down at Sam and the others. "Phantom," Freakshow said still looking at Sam. "Be a good ghost and fetch me that ruby."
"Of course," Danny said with an identical manic smile.