Summary: AU. Caught in the middle of Vladimir Master's evil plot to take over the Kingdom of Amity, Prince Daniel is turned into a half-ghost. Now he must flee for his life, hide in the company of two new allies, and fight his way back to the throne. DxS
Disclaimer: Butch and Nick own Danny and Co.
I appreciate your reviews all too much! At this rate I'll have the story done in no time!
Chapter 3: Amber
Vladimir stood by the Queen's chamber, inhaling the sweet sent that escaped the room. If only he could surpass the barred door that separated him from his beloved. He knew that Maddie had freed the ghosts in search of Daniel. His love was very intuitive. She didn't trust him, and he knew what good reason she would have for doing so if she knew what he really was. But none of that would matter as soon as that idiot King Jack was out of the way.
He had hired Valerie to hunt down the child and murder him unconditionally. He had even given her his scepter; he trusted her with it. If there was anyone competent in really killing that ghost, he knew that girl could. And she had enough rage built within her to do so. After all, her very father was murdered by ghosts. Or, he was murdered by Vlad and said to be killed by ghosts, but no one really kept track of these things.
Valerie would find the boy before the four spirits that Maddie had sent and he would no longer have to worry about the heir. And he couldn't have simply killed him, of course. Daniel's ghost might have returned to the castle and informed them all of his plans. It was not a risk he was willing to take. If he killed him and his ghost, however, that was a different story. Not that he had really considered the murder until now. He hated the fact that he had to kill the boy off; he would have made a fine son and apprentice. If only he could teach him everything he knew, he would be unstoppable! Unfortunately, he took after the ridiculous heart of his father. And he would stand in the way of his power over the kingdom. But the boy had a dark streak in him, he knew. That's why he decided to turn him into a half-ghost. He would never be able to figure out how to turn into a human and would be sent into the Ghost Abode before he could evenstand a fighting chance. As long as he stayed isolated and lost, he was cursed.
Vlad smiled to himself at his accomplishment. He pulled a vile from under his cloak that contained an acid pink liquid.
"Soon that fool will finally stop muttering on about ghosts. If only he knew what useful minions they could be once they are placed under the proper spell. Which I'll retain in due time, of course. No matter, when I am finally king with Maddie at my side, I will rule this kingdom with the upper hand that Jack never had!"
He laughed cruelly and detached himself from the perimeter of the chamber. Things were going all too well for him, and he couldn't blame them. He was very successful at his evil deeds and soon all of Amity would bow before him!
Madison held a hand to her mouth after what she heard. Someone had been at her door. And she had heard every word of what he said. "When I am finally king with Maddie at my side, I will rule this kingdom with the upper hand that Jack never had!"
Who could plot such a terrible thing? If it hadn't been for the thickness of her door, she would have heard the tone of voice more precisely. She cursed it. Someone was going to kill her husband, her king! She had to stop him. She scrambled out of bed immediately but then stopped. And what of it? Who would she go to? If she told Jack it would do no good, he would simply panic or dismiss it as a nightmare. What could she probably say? She knew he would never believe her.
Instead, she quickly grabbed her grey robe and wrapped it around her. She knew of one person who would know what to do. Vladimir.
As much as she didn't trust him, she knew he had always been loyal to the family. It was he that had advised Jack to create the Ghost Abode, it was he who had suggested the arranged marriage between Jazmine and Prince Elliot so that their kingdoms could forever be in harmony, and he that constantly consulted her and her husband in his time of need. Perhaps Jack was right, perhaps it was finally time to start trusting the man. He had never done anything she'd known to hurt them, after all. She needed to give him a second chance.
And so, her feet light on the cold stone floor, she descended to the east side of the castle, to Vladimir's study. I really should start calling him Vlad; too long a name.
She knocked on his study softly. It was a maroon door, with gold lining, and seemed slightly too fancy for a study entrance, but she shrugged it off. She wasn't here to judge him, she was in desperate need of advice. And he was the head advisor. That made sense.
"Vlad?" she said quietly. There was no reply. She reached for the handle and found that the door was open. Slowly, she pushed and looked inside. She had never been inside this man's study, and it rather amazed her that it really wasn't all that special. There were a couple of strange maps on the walls with some swords and paintings of different designs hanging on the walls. The feel of the room was lavender and she soon began to wonder if the man obsessed with the color. She softly walked inside tentatively, afraid of being taken by him sitting somewhere in the corner watching her.
What gave her the most interest was the different patterns of stones that lay on his desks along with some viles of different liquids. Was he an alchemist? If so, he had never told her. Not that she knew him all too well.
Curiosity getting the best of her, she softly passed her fingers along the stones and was startled to find them warm. From the corner of her eye she saw what looked like a goblet caressing a large amber gem. She turned to it, almost dying to touch it, to know what the gorgeous gem felt like under the pillows of her fingers. It was one color and yet it had every color swirled into it, both light and dark. Nothing could make her eyes look away. She was inches from placing her hand onto it when she suddenly heard footsteps coming down the hall and she knew that she was found. She cursed herself for entering the study when she clearly shouldn't have. Looking around, she searched frantically for a place. Somewhere, anyplace...
Vlad stopped as he approached his study. The door was slightly a jar, which was not the way he left it. He frowned and hastily stepped inside, darting his eyes about the room. It seemed empty. His eyes then snapped to the stones on his desk. He leaned in to look at them closely and smirked. He then looked a the large amber gem and grinned even broader. He turned sharply as if expecting to see someone standing there.
"I know you're in here, Queen Madison," he said in a haunting tone. "Please, I do not mean to frighten you. I know the mysterious of my study is quite intriguing. There is no need to hide." He ended speaking softly, hoping she would give into his plead. His head snapped again as he saw something in the open window. He stepped toward it cautiously and then immediately looked outside. Nothing. His head snapped left and right, still nothing. He suddenly looked up to see pigeons rustling on the roof, which meant --
He turned around friskily, but saw the doors even more ajar then they were. She had managed to escape from him, but it would most definitely be the last time. Rest assured, it would be the last time.
Madison sat nervously on her thrown, dressed and pampered, as she waited for Jack to come downstairs so that they may hear of the news that Sir Lancer had for them. All the meanwhile she was desperately trying to avoid the glare of Vladimir Masters. She was embarrassed for being caught searching through someone else's quarters. She was a queen, after all, and she couldn't begin to imagine the amount of fluster it would have caused her if Vlad had actually found her in his study.
She kept recalling that amber gem. Something about it seemed so familiar, almost as if she'd held it close to her for all of her life. She craved to know where Vlad had gotten it from and she craved the gem itself. It's beauty had mesmerized her and she wanted to recall exactly to what slur of color it had appeared. She longed to see the gem, but she couldn't return to his study. If he caught her again, she would have no excuse. Would she confess at being mesmerized by a simple rock? Oh but it was no simple rock. It was a luring, intoxicating precious element. There must be a way that she could have it for herself. She had to have it. She couldn't steal it, but something told her she was meant to be the possessor of that gem. It was as if it had been calling to her. She could almost feel the smooth of it's surface brushing up against her fingers and rushing electricity through her spine even though she had not gotten the chance to touch it. She would return. She would find a way to observe the stone once more.
"Maddie. Maddie? My queen, does something trouble you?"
Madison suddenly snapped out of her reverie and turned to see Jack finally sitting next to her. He took a sip from his cup as he watched her quizzically. She beamed and shook her head. She didn't need to got back to that rock, she needed to get it out of her head.
"To their majesties," Sir Lancer said, presenting Jack with a scroll that bore a blue seal on it.
"It's from Jazmine!" Madison exclaimed happily. They hadn't heard from their daughter for quite some time.
King Jonathan unrolled the scroll and skimmed through it. He smiled somewhat sadly and then read it aloud.
"Dear Mother and Father, Affairs in the Kingdom of Casper could not be better. My judgement has been proved fair and accepted by the people. I believe they have finally come to see me as their true queen. And a good queen. At least, I am trying my best. King Elliot has been off on a number of expeditions. I doubt he will be returning soon, but I do not seem to find myself to care. The arranged marriage has allowed me to rule the kingdom myself. He has been very kind in requesting that I should have anything my heart desired. He does not seem at all to mind what I do as long as I am fair at keeping the castle and I am happy. He really is very admirable but he can be foolish. I know he's hiding a lot of affairs from me, but I can honestly say that I do not mind. What is of my concern are the people. They are my happiness, and right now, I am exceedingly happy. You have given me everything I've ever wanted, Mother and Father, and I dually thank you for this opportunity. I am finally able to run my own kingdom. It's comforting to know that you are loved by your people and I hope that Daniel is well on his way to becoming the little king that I know he will be. Send him my love. As to you. Adieu."
"I suppose that by now news of her brother may have already reached, so there would be no point to writing a reply," said Madison.
"You wouldn't suppose, your majesties, that it is possible Daniel might have run to the Kingdom of Casper to see his sister?" said Sir Lancer.
The King and Queen momentarily considered this.
"Quite possible," said the king. "After all, we must always keep up a positive outlook. Perhaps we shall hear from her once more and she will inform us that he has been in her company. After all, we know Jazmine. If anything she would inform us as soon as she knew, even if he told her not to. She would know we would be worried."
The queen nodded.
Vlad watched the exchange between the three. Pathetic fools. How desperately they are trying to locate their lost son, yet never will. And now my plan unfolds. It has begun.
Sir Lancer bowed and left the King and Queen. Queen Madison kissed her husband on her cheek and excused herself. She walked out of the hall and then paused to wait for Vladimir to exit.
When she heard the sound of his footsteps she turned around to see him watching her.
"Vlad," she said softly. "I must speak with you."
"Of course, my queen," he said, bowing slightly.
"No need to be formal," she said, smiling. "In private, if you please."
She led him by the arm into a nearby library and slightly closed the door behind them.
She turned to see him and said, "First I must apologize. I had come to find you at your study earlier and you had not been there so I may have trespassed out of my wicked curiosity, but I assure you, I will do my best to never violate your privacy again."
"Your curiosity is simply blossoming, Maddie, never wicked," he told her calmly.
"You're too kind, good Sir," said Maddie, turning from him.
"Something troubles you, Maddie?" he asked. She was about to turn and speak to him of her troubles when the sound of sudden commotion and yelling startled the two and they made their way out of the library and into the grand hall.
Madison felt her heart fall to her stomach. King Jonathan was sprawled on the floor and Sir Lancer and Lady Paulina were next to him, attempting to wake him. She began to run toward him, but Vlad caught her by the arm. She met his stern gaze in puzzlement and he spoke calmly, "Leave it to them, Maddie --"
"It's Queen Madison, if you please," she said through her anger and tears.
"Queen Madison, a thousand apologias -- your concern will not help him. He has a heart condition. He's had one for quite some time. I alone have known."
She swallowed these words carefully and stood there with Vlad's grim on her arm. She waited with bated breath until suddenly Jack seemed come into his conscious state. She yelped and Vlad was forced to release her. She ran up to him as she and the others helped him back into the throne.
"I'm...fine...Maddie," he gasped. "I guess...all that worry...over Daniel...I...I'm not myself. I'll be...fine..." His heavy panting suggested otherwise.
Vlad stood with his arms folded behind him. Yes, your worry over Daniel is most encouraging. It certainly makes things a lot easier.
Madison hovered over her husband, holding his clammy face in her hands.
"Oh, Jack, don't scare me like that! Please...I've been so worried..."
She turned to Sir Lancer. "Please, can you not find him a medic?"
"Immediately, your majesty. He is already on his way. His name is Bertrand."
Vlad's smirk turned into a crooked smile as he stood in the shadows.
She nodded in apprehension.
Most encouraging indeed.
Uhm. I am made of evil. That's what Vlad would say. He is, though, and he's really pretty much fooling everyone. He's quite good at that. This won't be a story where I'll constantly be going back and forth between the castle and what's happening to Danny, though. This is a subplot, so it's not like it's a fun-for-all skip-around-the-rosie. No, once the plot gets going (which it should relatively soon) it will mostly be about Daniel. But it's very important that I mention the affairs at the castle as well every once in a while, just so that things make sense.