Safe and Sound

"In a tidal wave of mystery…I could show you what you wanna see…" –Capital Cities

Vlad Masters had just finished his tea when he got the call.

Maddie was dead. One of the forty six killed in the accident at Nasty Burgers. Jasmine and that idiot Jack perished as well, leaving youngest the sole surviving Fenton. Not that this was surprising. Daniel always had a knack for eluding near-death experiences. He knew that quite well.

In less than a week Daniel was in his possession, without even having one protest. Apparently those two annoying teens he always hung out with were caught in the explosion as well. Although as troubling as it was to see his little badger like this, Vlad was more disturbed by the fact that only thirty seven of the bodies were found, and that did not include the Fenton's' nor those children.

And he had suspicion that the boy knew where they were.

"Daniel, what exactly happened that day? Was there a ghost involved?" Probably not the best time to ask this, considering the boy's current fragility, but it was necessary. How could he live with himself if he couldn't give his love a proper burial? And of course, there was the collecting of DNA samples. His grandson nodded slowly. Well at least now he didn't have to deal with paperwork to sue, although he would be doing the world a favor of riding such trash. "Which ghost? Give me the name and I will personally-"

"I took care of it. The ghost is gone, Vlad. Good and gone." That was different. Vlad looked down at the boy. The black mess of hair covered the eyes, but the older halfa could see some foreign expression upon his lips. Perhaps it was for the best; Daniel needed to learn to get his hands dirty once in a while, and he had every right to for that occasion.

"And what happened to them?"

"Who?"

"Your family and friends'...bodies."

"Oh." There was a pause. The young halfa turned away.

"The're safe, Vlad. Safe and sound."

Silence filled the vehicle once more.

(-6 months later-)

Vlad rubbed the bridge of his nose as he walked out of the conference room. How idiots were appointed, much less even hired, he would never know. At least he always had something to look forward to at the end of the day: coming home. Much had changed over the months, and they were all very promising. Young Daniel took weeks to regain some old personality again, and with enough patience, Vlad had finally obliterated the borders that sprung from their rivalry long ago. Their fights and arguments had now become playful bickering and enjoyable conversations, and although Daniel never renounced his father for him, it was surprisingly satisfying to be called 'Uncle.'

But certainly one thing hadn't change; the answer for the missing bodies.

No matter how Vlad asked, threatened, or even begged, the response was the same.

The're safe, Vlad. Safe and sound.

And as always, he would drop the subject. He couldn't grasp why he did this, although his imagination created obscure excuses. That it was the peculiar way the boy's lips stretched upwards when answering that stopped him, or the fact that he could never see the boy's eyes. Whatever it was, Vlad waved it aside. Daniel would eventually come to his senses and confess. Arriving home, the billionaire found the teen sitting in the study, hunched over a sculpture in the evening light.

"Hey Uncle," Daniel greeted warmly. "How was work?"

"Uneventful." The man confirmed, before peering at the sculpture. "That's a remarkable piece you have there, little badger."

"Thanks, but it's not done yet." He lifted it up for both to examine. The sculpture was made of ice-ghost ice- and was modeled after a picture taken of Maddie and Vlad dancing sometime during their college days. The detail was extraordinary; so life-like that Vlad could practically see the dress move when Daniel turned it around. The billionaire chuckled. "Not finished? My dear boy that is the understatement of the year. It far exceeds the one of Jack and I at the Packers game, and that was my favorite."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Of course it would fruit loop."

They idly chatted come dinnertime, to where Vlad informed there would be no training tonight.

"Why," Daniel grinned mischievously. "Scared I'm going to beat you like last week?" Vlad scoffed.

"Hardly. I just have other matters to attend to."

Daniel shrugged. "That's fine. I was going to ask you to cancel it cus I wanted to show you something, but if you're too busy..."

"Depends on what you show me little badger."

"It's a surprise. But it won't take long, I promise." His face suddenly turned serious. "And I always keep my promise."

The man thought it over. Finally, he sighed. "If you insist."

Danny jumped up and gave him a hug. "Thanks Uncle." He said, before eagerly dragging the groaning Vlad along.

"You're killing me Daniel. How can I uphold my reputation with your childish antics?" Daniel just stuck out his tongue and gestured onwards.

"To the ghost zone!"

"Okay Uncle, we're here."

Vlad Plasmius looked around, unamused. Was this some kind of joke? There was nothing but some rocks and the green layer of the zone. He glanced sternly at the young halfa.

"And exactly why, Daniel, did you bring me here?"

"Because I present to you," the boy snapped his fingers, and a door shimmered to existence. "Phantom's Purlieu."

That explained the frequent disappearances. He would have to have a talk with Sulker for not finding this out. That is, once his employer returned. The ghost had been missing for days. The young halfa opened the door and gestured inside. Vlad floated to the doorway. Even with enhanced vision he couldn't see anything.

With a sudden push, Vlad felt himself falling into the abyss. The surprise was gone in an instant; the billionaire stopped himself in midair. "Daniel!"

He looked up, expecting a smirking teen at the door. But the boy wasn't there. There was no door.

That insolent ruffian. Vlad growled. "Where is he?" His natural glow did nothing more than outline himself, so he lit an ectoball and let it go. He watched it float forward before being swallowed by the abyss. Vlad cursed the boy's name again. Why did he leave his lair like this? The darkness was unnerving, robbing you of all senses as it crept upon the skin...

In pure instincts the man whipped around and shot blindly.

"Ow!" Danny hissed, cradling his burnt arm. "Why'd you do that for?" Vlad regained his composure.

"To teach you to not push your elders. Now turn on the blasted lights."

"Scared of the dark?" The white haired teen wriggled his fingers mockingly. The older halfa was not in the mood. Phantom dropped the act. "Party pooper."

He shot a blue ectoray at a bright star in the distance. When the beam hit its target the room was exposed; columns spiraled down the carpeted hallway and the tile floor glistened blue from the galaxy's waltz above.

"Impressive." The billionaire stated. And that was true, though not surprising, for the young man was talented in the arts. He turned to the owner. "Mind if I look around?"

Daniel shrugged. "Be my guest. I'll just be floating around, making sure everything's fine and dandy." With that he leapt into the stars. They twinkled around him before flashing white, leaving only a faded constellation twinkling above.

There were almost as many rooms in Daniel's lair as there was in his own mansion, and Vlad enjoyed exploring them all. He had just finished examining the lab when another door caught his eye. The door was just like all the others, pure white with black accents, but that it was crudely hidden was what sparked his interest.

What are you hiding Daniel?

Moving the junk aside, he turned the handle. It opened without protest and he went inside.

"Where is the switch?" He had been walking in the abyss for a while, looking back every so often to assure that the door didn't disappear. The dim light of the lab always greeted him, stretching farther and farther away. Now it was a dull blob in the distance. Soft patter of his shoes suddenly turned to a thud, and Vlad tripped to the ground.

Crunch

His hand crushed something brittle, and flakes spewed into his mouth. The foul taste of overcooked meat stuck to his tongue.

"Lemon Tarts!" Spitting violently, he finally notice the star hanging above. With his free hand he shot it, and red consumed the room. He regretted it instantly.

The burned carcass was flung across the ballroom, black chunks all around. What once was a jaw still jutted out of his fist, and with the quick haste ripped away. It landed in a puddle and rebound, adding neon green against the pale wall.

There were more littering the floor, some so charred shriveled bodies barely looked human. But the smell of flesh told enough Bile rose in his throat. He turned to leave and collided into a column. A column with hands. Vlad paled.

"Jack?"

Jack Fenton was engraved inside, his cold form trapped in its icy tomb. This would have been amusing if he wasn't so horrified. The eyes twitching blindly, blue veins pulsing from his silent scream; Jack was still alive.

Maddie and the rest were not far off; their petrified statues glistening harshly in the light. It was too much for the billionaire. The red glares shining. The violet eyes pleas. The black-hair boy standing in front-

Vlad froze. Daniel was here.

That smile was carved on his face. "I wasn't lying Uncle. They're safe." The smile stretched wider. He looked up at Vlad.

"Safe and sound."

Those eyes. Vlad had to get away, had to escape. Phasing, teleporting, anything. Nothing worked. Danny clucked his tongue.

"Silly Vlad. You can't leave."

Enraged, he lunged at the boy. Terrified or not, he wasn't going to be defeated by a mere child. He fell right through the boy, cracking the ribs on the carcass he landed. He flew back, searching the room. The halfa was nowhere in sight. Laughter echoed the room.

Spasms wracked his body, and he had enough time to watch the white hair duplicate wither back into its creator before crashing to the ground, black rings returning him human once more. The Plasmius Maximus did its job well.

Struggling back up, he tried to run, but his feet where frozen to the spot. He faced the humming teen.

"Why?"

The room darkened.

"Because I promised." Daniel straightened.

"Now hold still. This may hurt a little." Blue crackled around him. "But afterwards, you'll never feel pain again!"

A hand stabbed into his heart, ripping out the warmth of his core. Vlad screamed.

"Hush." Two fingers touched the man's lips. Frost weaved into his skin. "It's for your own good, uncle. To keep you safe. I promise to keep you safe."

The last thing Vlad saw was the boy looking down at his mother's head, cradling it in his arms.

"I'll keep you all safe," Danny whispered.

"Safe and sound."

A/N: Moral of the story: don't listen to music during bedtime!