Pearl: Hello, everyone! Time for another chapter of Sid! I hope you all like it. Heh. It's enough to say that Vlad muse and Ms. Hyde actually agreed on this one…. *chuckles nervously*
Truephan here: *gulps* I totally agree with pearl, gang. And you should have seen before they had agreed. *shivers at the memory* Let's just say that we hope you have a strong stomach...or a very weird sense of humor. In either case, hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: We do not own Danny Phantom, though our muses act like they do…
Chapter 3: Treacherous Capture
A few hours later, Danny was still in his forced slumber. But Vlad knew it was to be expected, considering how injured the boy had been from his fight.
"If one could call it that," Vlad thought dryly, sure that the boy had stood no chance against Iluzisto. The child really got himself into the worse pickles at times. But then again, that's what came with his quaint need to use his powers 'for good'. Foolish boy.
The billionaire smirked as he typed in something on his mainframe, before uttering, "Maddie dear, could you scan the premises for any ectoplasmic entities?"
A holographic image of Maddie Fenton instantly appeared beside the man, and squeaked with delight. "Right away, my handsome muffin," she said, before moving over to another part of the lab and then began pressing several switches on a computer system herself.
Vlad placed his hands behind his back, and with a smile, headed over to 'his Maddie', silently watching her work.
In spite of now living in Amity Park, the older half-ghost still had his lab and all his other equipment that he had in his Wisconsin home. Only that here he just kept them well-hidden. But he also had things that he didn't have at his previous residence. And his surveillance system was one of those things.
With it, the mayor could look, or rather, spy on everything and everyone in Amity Park. Nothing was safe from Vlad's eyes, especially the Fentons' residence which was what he spent most of his time watching.
However, at the moment, he was using it to survey his own home and its surroundings. He was sure Iluzisto was still somewhere around. And if he was after Daniel, he wouldn't go too far from the boy's location.
"Oh, Dumpling, I found an ectoplasmic entity with a level seven reading on the ecto-scale," 'Maddie' informed him.
Vlad grinned in delight. "Ah, there you are…and still not a threat, I see."
The man quickly walked over to a glass case and opened the small door on it. A hiss sounded and a whoosh of cold air left the square container. He carefully picked up one of the several metallic bugs inside, all looking somewhat like his Plasmius form. And then, he lifted it up to his eye level, before releasing a small charge of energy from his other hand at it.
The little robot instantly jumped to life and his wings began to flutter quickly now that it was charged with ghost energy. Its red little eyes lifted towards its creator, and it chirped as it waited for its instructions.
"Track down the level seven entity outside. Keep it in your line of sight, but don't let it see you. Await further instructions."
The small 'bug' chirped a little louder, before quickly flying off Vlad's hand and phasing through the roof of his lab.
"Uh-oh!" the Maddie hologram suddenly exclaimed.
"What is it?" Vlad asked with a frown as he walked back to the screen at which she was looking.
"Well, it looks like your soon-to-be-son is ready to leave, or rather, leaving," she corrected herself with a small giggle.
Vlad smirked as he watched on the screen the image of Danny Fenton cautiously making his way towards the front entrance.
"Without saying 'good-bye' to dear Uncle Vlad? No, we can't have that." He looked at the female hologram and commanded, "Maddie, turn on the human shield, but keep the ghost shield up. I'll let you know when I want you to lower one… or both," he added evilly before exiting his lab.
However, as he made it down a corridor, he ran into his ghostly butler and quickly remembered there was something he had to tell his servant.
"Derek?" he called.
The butler bowed slightly before asking, "Yes, sir?"
"I wish for you and the others to return to my castle in Wisconsin as soon as possible. I will call for you all when I wish for your return," Vlad calmly ordered.
Derek blinked in surprise. But knowing better than to question his employer's orders, especially when such an order usually meant something was about to happen, the ghost butler nodded and replied, "As you wish, Mr. Masters. I will inform the others."
"Good, and report back to me when everyone else is gone and you are about to leave," Vlad casually answered before walking off and continuing to where he was going….
Danny groaned softly as he sat up in bed. His whole body was so sore, but at least his mind wasn't as blurry as when he first woke. He pretty much remembered everything that happened…
With another pained moan, he finally noticed he was wearing a pair of pajamas. Where were his shirt and jeans?
"Oh, duh, Vlad," he mumbled. Okay, so his mind was a bit groggy still. He had not noticed until now that the fruit loop had switched him out of his dirt-and-blood-covered clothing. Though, it made sense. The guy had probably done it while he had been using those icky ghost plants to heal his exterior injuries…
"At least those nasty wounds are completely healed now… Not that the fact makes me feel any better…Everything still hurts!" He rubbed his sore head for a moment before he added, "Ugh… so, let's see if I remember this right: First, some freaky ghost attacks me way before any normal person would be up. Then, my arch-enemy saves me from him and heals me. Now, I'm sitting in one of the fruit loop's rooms being nurtured back to health by him, while he's also probably trying to think of a way to take advantage of all this… Yup, that sounds like my life: weird and—Whoa!" he suddenly exclaimed as he finally noticed the time on the hanging clock.
He jumped to his feet only to suffer from a dizzy spell and trip on himself. He gasped in pain when his head further protested from the sudden movement and fall.
"Nice one, Fenton," he chided himself in a pained and annoyed voice as he slowly stood back up.
He looked back at the clock and groaned. "Oh, man, Jazz is going to kill me!" He suddenly started looking around. "Darn it! What did Plasmius do with my clothes? And I need a phone!" he added, realizing he should call his sister before she freaked more than she probably was by now.
He quickly scanned his room and grinned at finding his clothing clean and nicely folded on a nearby chair. He quickly rifled through them for his phone. He then groaned with his sudden memory. Duh! Iluzisto—that was that ghost's name, right? Well, whatever his name was had attacked him so abruptly that he didn't even have time to grab his cell phone off his dresser!
"Stupid ghost," he murmured under his breath, before he brightened at his next idea.
"Hey, I'm sure Unkie Vlad won't mind if I borrow his phone," he said with an uneasy smile as he put on his pants and then shirt, all the while making sure not to cause unnecessary stress to his newly healed head and chest. But when finished, he rubbed the back of his neck and added, "Let's hope he's still feeling charitable."
Danny still felt uneasy with the fact that Plasmius had actually helped him. It just made no sense. But then again, he never thought he would ever plea for the man's help. Had he really been that shaken up by that ghost? Uh, yes! Still, as grateful as he was that his arch-enemy had helped him out, he knew better than to push his luck any further. It was unwise to remain in the lion's den for long.
But he feared leaving the man's house—as crazy and ironic as that sounded. What if that ghost was still out there waiting for him? Sure, he was feeling a whole lot better, but not to the point where he felt up to another round with that 'Iluzisto' dude. He really needed his sister and friends' help with this one.
Danny sighed, before giving the clock that read five o'clock in the evening another glance.
"Crud! I still can't believe it's that late! Jazz's must be going nuts!" he repeated, remembering again why he had jumped out of bed so quickly. "But as much as I want to leave right now, I better play it safe. I better hurry up and call her to come pick me up. I just hope that ghost is long gone and I won't have to worry about it again."
He rubbed his neck nervously again, having a sick hunch that he would have to confront Iluzisto again. But knowing there was nothing he could do about that now, he shook aside his dread and treaded across the room towards the door. Once he called his sister, he was sure he would feel a lot better. He could even have her bring some ghost weapons just in case that ghost was out there. And then when they got home, he could put up the ghost shield and call Sam and Tucker. He was certain that as soon as they were together, they could figure this all out. And by then, he knew he would be completely recovered from this last fight.
However, as he walked down the eerily quiet hall, his dread returned, but for a different reason. Even if Vlad had helped him, the guy was still his most dangerous enemy. And his mind couldn't help but go on high alert every time he was anywhere near the man. It was instinct by now.
He looked around the hallway for anything that resembled a phone, but so far, he had had no luck. So, he started to check the rooms...
"Uh…let's see…Another tacky bedroom…. More bedrooms….A really big boring library, but at least it's not a bedroom…. A really ugly office with no phone… Ooo! A garage with really cool cars! Too bad I can't drive..."
He walked downstairs, continuing his search for a phone. "Man, does this guy hate phones or something? I feel like I'm searching for the Holy Grail, or um, something as impossibly hard to find."
He finally halted in the middle of a living room and let out a weary sigh. He couldn't find a phone anywhere in this place.
"Okay, so calling Jazz is no longer an option… I guess I have no choice but to just leave on my own." He rubbed his aching head for a moment, before walking out of the living room.
He headed towards the large house's entrance, a sinking feeling growing in the pit of his stomach as he continued towards it.
He suddenly paused and looked back with indecision. "Should I let Vlad know that I'm leaving? ...Where the heck is he anyway?" he added, annoyed, his nervousness making him irritable.
"Hey, cheese head!" he called as loud as his aching ribs would allow. But all he heard was the sound of his own echo. The teen shifted uncomfortably, beginning to wonder if Vlad was even home anymore. The thought of being alone in the man's creepy house somehow was more unnerving than having the billionaire there. Then again, didn't the guy have ghost servants…? So, where were they?
"Listen, I'm going home now, Vlad!" he called out again, but then paused to see if he heard anything.
He did not.
"Well, okay… Uh, thanks for the slimy ghost plants and the, uh, food! It was very good! Uh, the food, that is! The plants were…Uh, never mind! See ya whenever you try another of your kill-my-dad-wed-my-mom schemes or some lonely-cat-guy world domination plot!"
Danny stayed quiet for a moment, but at not getting any response, he shrugged and headed to the door. However, just as he reached it, he suddenly hesitated. Maybe he should 'go ghost'. But he was not sure if he could do it right now. But knowing there was only one why to find out, he concentrated on his powers. And albeit it took him longer than usual, he was relieved when he was at least strong enough to slowly turn into Phantom.
Now a bit surer of himself, he grabbed the door handle and turned it; but when he tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge.
"Hey! What gives?" he mumbled, pulling harder on the door without moving it an inch. It was like there was a boulder keeping it closed…
"Need some assistance?"
Danny yelped in alarm at hearing Plasmius' voice right next to him. And in his surprise, he stumbled back, releasing the door handle.
Plasmius chuckled as he turned visible, his gloved hand still resting on the knob and thus preventing the boy from opening the door.
"Ah, Daniel. You never cease to amuse me, my boy," he said, crossing his arms and smiling.
Danny glared in response, "Yeah, well, you never cease to annoy me," he snapped back.
Vlad just shrugged amusedly. But then he tilted his head, and feigning ignorance, asked. "What were you trying to do, hmm?"
Danny rolled his eyes, "What did it look like? I gotta go home, Plasmius. Jazz is probably way worried by now, and I need to let her see me before she does something crazy."
Vlad leaned up against the door, and the teen frowned in disapproval. "Ah, yes, your over-protective sister… Why don't you just simply call her?" he asked causally, inspecting one of his gloved hands.
Danny crossed his arms in front of him, "Uh, maybe because I don't have my cell phone with me. And you obviously don't believe in them."
Vlad laughed. "What do you mean, my boy? There's one right in the next room. Didn't you see it?"
The teen glanced over at a small tea room, realizing he hadn't checked in there. But still, he wasn't in the mood to call Jazz anymore. He now just wanted to leave.
Vlad continued. "I have several of them, but…" He reached into his jumpsuit somehow and pulled out a small cell phone. "You can use my personal one if you'd prefer."
Danny looked at the man's extended hand, before looking back up at him. "I, uh… Thanks, but I better just go, so, um, if you could… move…"
But he didn't move and just smiled, unnerving the boy even more.
"Look, Vlad, I appreciate your help, but—"
"Iluzisto is still out there," the man interrupted, raising an eyebrow at the teen.
Danny fell into a fear-induced silence.
Vlad finally moved away from the door and wrapped his arm around the Ghost Boy. "But you need not worry about him with your Uncle Vlad around, hmm? Son?"
With the ring of that 'son' title in his ear, Danny snapped out of his shock, and quickly moved out of the man's hold. "Okay, what do you want, Plasmius?" he growled suspiciously.
"What makes you think I want anything?" he retorted innocently.
Danny glared with his answer, before turning away and pulling open the door.
"Later," he said.
But before he could step out, Vlad spoke up. "You can't leave, Daniel," he said calmly.
The teenager looked back at him with a clever smirk. "Why? 'Cause of the ghost shield?" He turned human, before stepping out.
Vlad turned human himself and moved toward the door, watching as the boy walked down the steps and down his front pathway. But Danny didn't even get to the street before he collided with the human shield.
The man smirked as the teen cried out in pain and quickly cradled his aching head.
With a calm sigh and his hands behind his back, he stepped out himself and headed towards the boy. "As I said, Daniel. You can't leave."
Danny spun around, his hands fisting at his side. "What are you trying to do, Plasmius? Let me go!" he demanded.
Vlad smiled as he reached the boy. "Quiet, Daniel, you'll get the neighbors' attention. Why don't you come back inside? I want to talk you for a moment."
"No!" Danny shouted. "And I suggest you drop these stupid shields before I make your neighbors believe the mayor is harassing a kid!"
Vlad's calm demeanor faltered somewhat, and he said in a deep sobriety. "No need for threats, Daniel. I'm simply trying to keep you from doing something foolish. As I said, that ghost is still waiting for you right outside these shields. And if you haven't noticed, you are still too weak to put up even one of your mediocre fights. Also, you are in an open neighborhood in broad daylight, so unless you want to expose yourself, you cannot turn into Danny Phantom to even try to defend yourself. Now, be a good and grateful boy and come inside. I said I just want to speak with you. I'll let you call Jasmine, and then I'll drive you home myself. Sound good?" Vlad asked, momentarily narrowing his eyes at the teen.
Still glaring at the man in defiance, Danny pushed passed him as he stomped back inside the large house.
Vlad calmly walked after the teen, but upon reaching the doorway, he halted and looked back out into the street. He frowned for a moment as he surveyed the area. Because of his years of experience, the older hybrid had no problem with detecting that strange ghost's energy signature, even with the shields in between them… But there was just something odd about his feel, something the man's advanced instruments weren't picking up. And although he was sure of what he felt, Vlad had no idea what it meant…
"Perhaps it is unwise to risk giving this ghost entry…" he thought, suddenly feeling nervous. But almost instantly, he snapped out of it. He smirked in a challenging matter in the direction of the street, before finally entering his home.
Vlad closed the door behind him, finding the boy nowhere in sight. But the man knew exactly where he was, and calmly headed in that direction.
As he guessed, the boy was quickly punching numbers into the phone in the tea room. But before it could ring more than once, Vlad pressed the hang-up button.
"Hey!" Danny protested, before shoving Vlad's hand off the phone. "You said I could call Jazz!"
"Yes, after we chat," Vlad answered, not reacting to the boy's glare.
"Look," Danny said, clearly exasperated and more nervous than he let on. "It's gonna take Jazz at least fifteen minutes to get here, so I'll call her now and—Ahh!" he suddenly cried out when Vlad sent a small energy ray at the phone, destroying it completely except for the talking piece remaining in Danny's hand.
"I said after," the older-half ghost said, staring at teen with a calm but intense look.
Danny just stared at the talking piece still clutched in his bare hand. That zap sure smarted a bit. But then he dropped the broken phone piece to the ground, before looking up at his enemy with a serious face. "What do you want?"
Vlad suddenly smiled. "To chat… about…us." He placed a hand on the boy's back, coaxing him to move towards a small lounge chair. "You know, this whole rivalry and such nonsense."
Danny was so confused, he didn't even protest when the man pushed him down on the chair. "Huh?"
"Yes, I was thinking this morning," Vlad began, walking off to a speaker on a wall, "And I realized we didn't quite get off on the right foot—Would you like some tea?"
Danny frowned. "Uh, no… And if you think keeping me here is going to fix that, then I think you should think harder."
Vlad smirked, before pressing a button on a speaker box, and saying. "George, are you still there?"
"Yes, sir. Everyone has left except for Derek and I. Did you need something before we take off?"
"Yes. Could you ask Derek to bring in two teas to the front entrance coffee lounge?"
Danny's eyebrows instantly drew together. Did he hear right? Were the guy's servants… leaving? But to where? And more importantly…. Why?
But before the teen could ask what was going on, Vlad turned to him again, and the teen's heart skipped a beat in apprehension.
"Do you know why I saved you from that ghost?" he asked, staring down at Danny with his hands calmly resting against his back.
"Uh…" Danny shifted on the small chair, momentarily looking to the room's exit. He couldn't figure out where the man was going with this, but he feared it might turn ugly real fast… Still, he forced himself not to run out of the room, and gripping the chair's armrests a bit too tightly, he grinned nervously at the man and replied, "Because…. You actually do have a heart?"
Vlad raised an eyebrow before turning to a nearby chair and pulling it forward. He sat down in front of the boy, before answering him with sobriety, "Obviously, or you would be dead now, wouldn't you?"
Danny couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt from those words. The teen sighed. "I already said thanks," he answered, returning the man's look.
"I don't care about your gratitude, Daniel," he answered. "If I helped you, it is only because of the fact that I do not wish for your demise, dear child. Haven't you realized that by now?" The man suddenly gave Danny a dark look as he added, "After all, if I wanted you dead, you would have been from the first day we met."
Danny stared wide-eyed at the man.
But then Vlad continued in a lighter tone. "All I ever wanted, Daniel, was to help you. I could teach you quite a bit, you know. Or, at least, more than Jack ever could…"
He leaned closer to the teen, and before he could respond, the man added, "I could provide you with anything you could ever want. With my power, I could even rid Amity Park of the ghosts, if you wish it. Your family would be safe. Your town would be safe. And you…" He smiled at the boy. "You would have the perfect, normal life any child your age desires to have… And all you would need to do in return is…stay," he finished in a whisper, but the intensity in his blue eyes was indescribable.
Once again, Danny just stared at him with large eyes and the room suddenly took on a tense, deep silence.
But then abruptly, the teenager burst into a fit of laughter. "Ah-ha-ha-ha! Dude! Whoa!" he leaned forward, reflexively wrapping his arms around his still sore ribs that had, of course, moved with his giggles.
Vlad just leaned back in his chair, calmly listening to the boy as he continued.
"You, like, totally had me! I didn't even see that one coming! Hah-ha-ha! Man! Vlad, seriously, you are, like, the loopiest—hah-ha!—person I've met! B-But I gotta give ya credit! That one—heh! ha-ha!—had to be the best 'join me' speech yet!"
Danny continued to laugh heartedly for a moment more, before calming down enough to smirk in amusement and add, "Sorry, Cheese head, but no matter how you word it, my answer isn't going to change. So, now that we've had our 'chat'—" Danny let out a small chuckle. "—Think I could borrow that phone, or better yet, leave?"
Vlad didn't answer. He just clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth before briefly looking towards the room's exit. But then, he abruptly glared back at the teenager with bright red eyes, and startled Danny.
"You think this is game, you little rat?" he growled. "You don't seem to understand your position, so allow me to elaborate."
Vlad abruptly stood and leaned forward, slamming one of his hands against the chair's headrest, right next to Danny's head, while his other hand gripped one of the chair's armrests. Now the teen was physically trapped and could only press back against his seat as the angry man continued.
"It is obvious Iluzisto is here to capture you. Why? I really do not care. But, I do care for the fact that it allows me to place you in a compromised position. It's that simple."
Danny gasped when Vlad quickly let go of the armrest, though he kept his other hand firmly against the chair's headrest. And with his now free hand, the man pulled out the Plasmius Maximus from his suit and charged it.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Danny exclaimed, moving his face to the side as the man brought the device inches from it. The human teen knew that he was trapped in this chair he was in and still too weak to move away or turn intangible fast enough even in his human form to avoid his arch-enemy from short-circuiting his powers.
"You are either with me, or you are against me!" Vlad hissed darkly, still keeping the ghost weapon just barely away from his face. "I have tolerated your defiance for a year now, and I am at the end of my patience with you! If I can't be your father then I'll make sure Jack can't be, either! I'll let that ghost take you away! And I'll make sure he keeps you there until you see things my way!"
"You're crazy!" Danny shouted angrily, trying to find a way to escape. But the man was holding the Plasmius Maximus so close, the man would shock him with it before he could even turn into Phantom, let alone do anything else.
"I know what I want! And I want you at my side, Daniel! Why do you think I spent countless months trying to clone you? Why do you think I remain in this wash-down town? Make your choice! You either join me, or you will be joining that ghost in the Ghost Zone! I'll drop the shields, and when he's inside, I'll put them back up so you will have no escape. And to seal the deal, I'll short-circuit your powers, so you can't even kick as he takes you away! How's that for a 'join me' speech?"
Danny instantly stopped squirming and looked right into the man's eyes. "Fine," the teen said calmly, before he gave the man the most defiant glare he could muster. "I rather join him!"
Enraged, Vlad grabbed the teen by his shirt and threw him across the room. "You fool!" he screamed, changing into Plasmius and lunging for the boy who had slammed into a coffee table.
Danny had no time to recover, his previous injuries putting him in a worse disadvantage. But at seeing the Plasmius Maximus coming near him, he found the strength to get up and dodge it. He quickly changed into Phantom and fired a blast at Vlad before flying out of the room.
But Vlad quickly avoided the attack before growling and following right after the boy.
Neither noticed the ghost butler just coming into the coffee room as they left it.
Derek blinked at the tussled room, but he then shrugged, placed the tray with the two cups of tea on another, not-destroyed table, and finally left the room. George was waiting for him at their employer's ghost portal for them to head back to the Wisconsin castle. And judging by the sound of fighting coming from somewhere in the house, Derek was more than certain it was time for them to leave…
Meanwhile, Danny was struggling with coming up with a quick plan to get away. But with a ghost and human shield up, he knew that he was fighting a lost battle. Still, he wasn't about to let his arch-enemy ship him off into the Ghost Zone.
Once Plasmius felt he was finally near enough to the boy, he jabbed the ghost weapon forward. But once again, Danny managed to dodge it. Vlad immediately counterattacked with an ecto-blast, which effectively hit the boy in the chest.
Danny cried out as he fell to the ground. And before he could recover, he felt a hand wrap around his throat and lift him off the ground.
"Last chance, Daniel," Plasmius growled darkly.
"N-Never!" he gasped out; and in response, Vlad squeezed his throat to the point he saw his vision start to blur.
"Maddie! Lower the ghost and human shields! Now!"
The hologram quickly appeared, and winked at the older half-ghost as she said, "Done!"
Vlad lifted up the Plasmius Maximus once more as Danny weakly struggled against his hold. "I think a few years locked up heaven-knows-where will make you change your mind."
Danny struggled more fiercely, knowing that without his ghost powers he would stand no chance against Iluzisto. But his attempts to escape were in vain, and he soon found the device closing in. He shut his eyes, waiting for the shocking pain to come.
But before Plasmius could use the ghost device on the young hybrid, a wicked laugh resonated throughout his home.
"Uh-oh," was all Danny could think.
If there was one thing Iluzisto had learned, it was how to be patient. How could he not be after a few centuries of imprisonment? After still being a prisoner to those he could destroy with a wave of a hand? Yes, he had learned the art of waiting. And he still waited for his revenge, for his freedom, and for his chance to unleash his power once more on all existence! But for now… he couldn't have planned things better. This would be easier in the end than he thought. For now, he was waiting for his… prey to make a move….
Foolish creatures. He knew that they would have to leave their confines eventually. Now that the older one had joined the younger in resisting his plans and really riled him up in the process, that older one's fate was sealed as tightly as the younger's. It would be only a relatively short time before he would deal with them both.
Iluzisto smiled wickedly as he stood in front of the ghost shield, blending perfectly into it without actually touching it. His stealth power was the best arsenal in his collection for surprise attacks. And those were also something in which he prided himself.
But his stealth ability was just one of the tricks he could use to… trick his prey. He was the master of illusions. And if deception had a name it would be Iluzisto. However, what made his illusions the perfect snares were their ability to become more than a mere illusion. Once his prey believed them true, they became true… Or at least, in their minds. And when they fell for his tricks… it was all over.
But then again, once Iluzisto was after his quarry there was no escape.
The ghost's blended eye suddenly flashed its true silvery purple color as his thoughts filled him with excitement. He didn't know why, but out of all the captures he had made in all his existence, this one just seemed so much more significant. Perhaps it was because it had been decades since his prey had put up a decent struggle as the young one had…Or, perhaps, it was because in all his experience he had never been tricked so easily by anyone. But the older one had managed it. Perhaps his interest in this capture was because he was feeling something he never felt before:
Curiosity.
Whatever the reason, it was driving his want for these two interesting creatures. It wasn't just an order he was fulfilling for others anymore, but his own desire.
A sudden movement behind him interrupted Iluzisto from his thoughts. In an instant, his eye left the front of his head and traveled to the back of it. He opened his silvery-purple eye and quickly narrowed in on what had startled him.
"A little earthly bug," he thought, watching the insect resting on a tree before it scattered to hide in its leaves. "Although… I never knew they…"
Whatever he was thinking was forgotten as he suddenly heard the house's door open. Immediately, he looked towards it, and his eye almost glowed brighter with glee as he watched his young quarry walk out, while the older one stayed at the front door. Yes, his excitement was making it difficult not to move, but doing even the smallest movements, even in stealth mode, could compromise his position, since it often caused visible blurs or ripples through his body. And after fighting the both creatures in front of him, Iluzisto now knew the two were more observant than he had believed, especially the older one…
But what neither of them knew was that he already knew more about them than they knew of him. As much as Iluzisto enjoyed improvising from time to time, he also believed in being fully prepared. And he was more than equipped with knowledge of these… crossbreeds. So, even if they were quite resourceful, and had temporarily—and foolishly—succeeded in delaying him a bit, Iluzisto was certain he still had the upper hand. He would indubitably get what he came for….
But his thoughts of sure triumph were momentarily fogged when he realized with a mental frown that the young one might sense him. And since this strange shield in front of him neutralized his power, he had no means of distorting the boy's 'ghost sense' like he had in his previous attempt to capture the child.
But the thought suddenly made him angry and he glared down at his transparent wrists for some reason. If it wasn't for…his restraints, this creature wouldn't be able to sense him at all. After all, he wasn't some filthy ghost. He was much more than something so… primitive….
Iluzisto looked back at his quarry. Perhaps… the shield also blocked the boy's sensing ability…
He soon realized it to be true when the boy came inches from him as he slammed into the shield, and then fell to the ground in pain. His ghost sense didn't work past the shield. Good.
Iluzisto then watched as the older crossbreed walked towards the other, and quickly wondered if that other crossbreed had a sensing ability, too. If so, he would have to distort it when the time came, as he had done with the younger one.
The ghost's gaze locked onto the two lively creatures as they argued with one another. He found it ironic how they couldn't stand each other, and yet, his employers had cautioned him of their being highly dangerous when together—dangerous because his employers believed the crossbreeds to be at their most powerful and most destructive when brought together…
It was truly ironic.
"And hopefully as beneficial as I have imagined…," Iluzisto thought with evil intent.
The ghost watched as the young one headed back into the house. He still looked weakened, but it was clear he was not weakened enough anymore. The crossbreed had to be even weaker if he was to capture him, otherwise it would be impossible.
"And this is where this comes to use," he thought, squeezing the weapon in his hands. But then he froze at seeing the older cross-breed staring straight at him. "Impossible! There is no way he can possibly see me!"
But the challenging smile the man sent him said otherwise.
Iluzisto narrowed his eye once his prey had vanished into the house. "So, he thinks he is a match for my power, does he? Well, I'll soon prove to him why I am one of the most feared spirits in all existence!"
Iluzisto completely dropped his stealth mode for the first time, not caring if anyone now saw him in broad daylight and charged the weapon in his hands. It resembled a staff with white glowing spirals on the top that pulsed with energy, and in the middle was a large familiar-looking orb. But beyond the orb and the glowing spirals rested a black crystal at the top of the staff. But this crystal was oddly shaped. It was round at the bottom but pulled itself into fine jagged tip that stretched upwards until it finally ended in a long, thin needle. If it could be compared to anything, it would have to be the deadly sword of a swordfish…
He quickly pointed the staff to the ghost shield, but just before he could activate it, he heard an odd sound behind him. His eye whirled around just as he saw that odd insect heading his way. How irritating! Instinctively, he flicked his wrist and a small violet beam jutted forth from his staff. It hit its mark right away and what turned out to be Vlad's spy bug ricocheted right off the impact and spun out of control.
Iluzisto turned back to his main concern. He raised his staff again and once more, the glowing spiral rings fired out purple ecto-energy. But upon hitting the shield, the attack disintegrated into nothing.
"What is this strange magic?" he hissed, annoyed, not understanding how it was possible for anything to resist a hit from the weapon in his hands without succumbing to it. Clearly Iluzisto had never encountered a ghost shield.
Deciding to try another tactic, he moved the staff forward, but this time he allowed the needle-tip of the crystal to pierce the shield. To his fortune, it successfully did. But he then readily removed it, leaving behind a tiny black puncture in the barrier.
He watched with a triumphant grin as the tiny puncture began to expand, slowly turning the green shield black, before the shield began to liquefy and evaporate into a black mist, while leaving a slowly growing hole in its wake.
But before the hole could become big enough for the ghost to walk through, the shield suddenly vanished.
Iluzisto's eye widened in true surprise. He did not do that! But then, the lone eye narrowed in suspicion. And he quickly looked around, his eye literally turning 360 degrees as it scanned. This had to be another trick! It was too easy!
But then his sensitive hearing caught noises of struggles from within and he chuckled evilly. "Powerful' together? Not so much as foolish…"
In an instant, he melted into his surroundings and moved forward in stealth mode again. He soon phased into the large home, his excitement rising from how simple they were making this for him.
Iluzisto soon caught sight of the two crossbreeds fighting with each other. And the best part was they were both in ghost form. This was indeed too easy.
He quickly flew closer this time blending with the actual air, which to his prey would feel no more than a small gust of wind. He needed to get their attention, so to deal his best card: illusion.
He let out a loud evil laugh, making sure to disperse it through the house so his prey could not pinpoint his exact location unless he gave it to them.
Immediately, they both froze.
Danny gasped as his ghost sense went off, but still made no move. Vlad, on the other hand, quickly pushed past his surprise, and smirked in the direction he sensed the ghost…
"Just in time, my good ghost!" Plasmius said with a chuckle. "You want the boy? He's yours!"
Danny cried out in surprise as he was suddenly flung across the room before falling and tumbling on the tiled floor of the foyer.
Still hidden, Iluzisto looked down as the boy landed a foot from where he stood. He watched as the child's ghost sense went off once more before looking back up at the man. He could not see the older cross-breed show any visible hint of being able to sense him. But by now, it was obvious he could.
Deciding to let himself be seen for a moment, Iluzisto surrendered his stealth mode, though not completely. After all, he did not want to give away his true appearance just yet. But as he did, he immediately began to distort both half-ghosts' sensing ability.
Danny's eyes widened as he stared for the first time at the ghost that had attacked him, or, at least, the mirror-like appearance of its stealth mode. But he quickly pushed his fear and astoundment aside, and jumped to his feet in a fighting stance.
"Whoa! You definitely fall under the 'Yikes' list."
Iluzisto just tilted his head slightly, whether from amusement or confusion, it was hard to know. And then as if the boy wasn't even there, he looked away from him and to Plasmius.
"You say the young cross-breed is mine? You will not defend him any longer?" he asked the man.
Vlad smiled, floating closer to the ghost. "That's right. Take him. And to make things simple for you…" He turned his head upward and called out, "Maddie, reactivate the human and ghost shields."
Maddie suddenly appeared, startling Iluzisto. But he quickly calmed and just gazed curiously at the hologram.
"Shields on, Love! No ghost or humans can get in or out!" she said with a giggle before vanishing.
Iluzisto finally moved forward, but not in a threatening manner.
Still, Danny quickly lit his hands with green energy, but all of the sudden, the energy seemed to vanish from his hands! He gasped in shock just as the creepy ghost moved passed him.
Vlad frowned at seeing the ghost paying no mind to Danny, and instead now seemed focused on him. Apprehension began to creep slowly into him. But he hid it.
"If you did not notice, you just passed right by the boy you came for," Vlad said with a raised eyebrow.
Iluzisto paused, momentarily looking back at Danny, who looked very confused as he continued to stare at his hands. But then the creature looked back at Vlad again.
"Yes," he finally spoke. "I have come for him…But you have failed all this time to realize one very crucial detail: I have also come for you…. Vlad Plasmius."
Vlad's eyes widened, but before he could even get pass his shock, let alone react, the ghost fired an electric charge from the weapon in his hand right at him. The older hybrid cried in pain as he was sent crashing through a wall. The blast was so unexpectedly strong it left Plasmius in a daze on the ground.
Danny just blinked at what had unfolded. "Man…" he finally said, pushing past his disbelief. "Talk about turning the tables."
The teen looked around, knowing this was his chance to find a way out. There was no way he could fight this ghost as weak as he was. But then he frowned as he watched Iluzisto slowly walk towards his arch-enemy. The ghost had managed to practically take him out with one blow!
He stepped away, knowing he should use Vlad's misfortune to get out before the ghost came after him. But it felt wrong. Despite everything, the man had saved him…
Danny growled with frustration and indecision. But at hearing the ghost fire his weapon at Vlad again, he decided.
"Sometimes being the 'good guy' reeks," he mumbled with a helpless sigh before jumping into the air and flying towards Iluzisto.
Vlad, who was now panting in pain and trying to recover from the second hit, quickly looked up through blurry eyes at the ghost towering over him. But he froze with dread when he saw the sharp tip of what looked like a crystal pointed towards him.
"Bid 'farewell' to your home, Vlad Plasmius, for this is the last time you will ever see it," the ghost said calmly.
"What is it that…. you…want?" Vlad managed to hiss out in between his labored breathing as he slowly stood with the support of the wall. Whatever that weapon was, it was meant to take down someone quickly. And Vlad soon realized just how quickly when he found himself unable to hold his ghost form any longer.
Now he was in trouble.
But to his surprise, the ghost halted in his tracks, and his eye narrowed in irritation. "No, I need you—"
"Hey! Uh… Ugly!" Danny shouted, distracting Iluzisto from whatever he was about to say. "Kicking the fruit loop's butt is my job!" The teen quickly sent a blast towards the ghost, but Iluzisto simply stepped aside and avoided the beam.
"I recommend you save whatever strength you have to help yourself, Cross-breed. But then again, you stand no chance against me," Iluzisto said darkly.
Then suddenly, a red blast hit the ghost, knocking him into a wall.
"But I do! And you're not taking me anywhere without a fight!" Vlad growled, a smoking red hand at his side, before he quickly switched into Plasmius again.
Iluzisto instantly recovered, and before either half-ghost could stop him, he vanished.
Plasmius quickly lit his hands with energy, Danny following suit.
"Nice going, Plasmius, you just trapped us with a super strong ghost who now wants to haul us both into the Ghost Zone," the teen growled, annoyed as he looked around. But underneath, he was nervous because his ghost sense wasn't triggering and he had that funny feeling in his stomach again.
"Shut it, you little rat! If you would have just said 'Yes' to my offer we wouldn't be having this problem!" Vlad spat back, glaring at his surroundings.
"Okay, that was a really lame comeback. But whatever, Plasmius! How 'bout we first worry about mirror dude and then we can continue with our fight? Do you have a thermos in this place?"
"Of course I have a thermos!" he angrily shouted back, but the truth was that he, too, was now nervous because all of the thermoses were down in his lab.
"Now I am certain I will enjoy taking you both…" the wind seemed to whisper.
Vlad quickly spun around and fired an ecto-blast at where he thought he sensed the ghost, but then suddenly, his ghost sense vanished and a strange feeling in his stomach replaced it. This was not good.
"Curses!" Vlad hissed, no longer looking composed, and instead, staring around blindly. "He just did something to my ghost sense!"
"What?" Danny asked, surprised. "You have a ghost sense? How did—"
"Be quiet!" Plasmius snapped, looking more and more perturb.
"Take down the shields, Plasmius!" the teen yelled back to his arch-enemy.
And knowing it was now necessary, Vlad quickly called out, "Maddie, deactivate the shields!"
But just as the hologram appeared to confirm the man's order, she suddenly fizzled and then unexpectedly vanished.
"What was that?" Vlad asked, not understanding what had just happened.
"How should I know?" Danny replied, staring around. "She's your creepy hologram!"
"What's wrong, crossbreeds? Do you not like being trapped in with me?" Iluzisto's voice echoed teasingly all around them.
Vlad's hands fisted, realizing the ghost had done something to keep him from lowering the shields—or, so he believed.
"No matter! We stand a better chance if we stay in one place," Vlad tried to reason more to himself than to the boy. "I know my home and if he tries anything, I have all sorts of ways to neutralize him!"
"Yeah, and that worked out great for you just now, huh?" Danny said sarcastically, hearing his comment.
"Could you save your half-witted remarks for a later time?" Vlad snapped as he gathered more energy in his hands and continued to search for Iluzisto.
"Fine! I have better things to do than to argue with you, Plasmius! I'm finding a way outta here myself!"
"No!" Vlad shouted as Danny took to the air. "Don't separate! It's what he wants!"
But Danny paid no mind, and flew across the foyer towards the closest window, determined to get out of his arch-enemies house by any means necessary.
But the teen never even made it to the window.
Danny gasped as a wall of violet fire suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path. He quickly backed away, but then, other walls appeared at his sides. And as he tried to retreat, he suddenly found himself trapped in a squared-box prison made of the burning purple flames.
The teen quickly summoned his ice powers in hopes of snuffing out the fire that felt like it was getting hotter by the second. And were the walls now getting closer, too?
Danny narrowed his eyes and fired beams of ice at the flames. Only to his surprise, they just went right through…
"Like the dragons…" the teen thought, confused and scared.
Rapidly changing tactics, Danny turned intangible and flew through the flames, only to have them reach out to him and wrap their fiery fingers around his leg. The boy yelled out in alarm, not understanding how he was captured when intangible. But he had little time to ponder the issue since he was suddenly screaming in pain when it felt like his leg was being barbequed.
Danny futilely fired ice rays at the fire. But then at seeing the flaming 'hand' was still holding on, he fired at his own leg, covering it in a protective ice case to keep it from being burned anymore. Instantly, the hand let go and Danny fell to the floor.
But before the teen could recover, he saw a ripple at the corner of his eye, and then a ray of electricity came at him. The boy let out a loud cry as the attack hit him in the abdomen and he was sent into a wall.
Immediately, the teen changed human again. And when he did, the walls of fire instantly vanished.
Danny grasped his injured stomach as he slowly picked himself up. But for the moment, he was too weak to change back and counter-attack.
"Come on, little freak. Change back so we can play…" he heard the ghost whisper to him.
Danny breathed heavily as he searched blindly for the ghost. But he then shouted, "What do you want? I haven't done anything to you, so why are you after me?"
Iluzisto chuckled. "It is not me to whom you have done something…. As for what I want… I already told you, cross-breed. It is time to surrender…. I'll wait for you."
And suddenly the voice was gone.
Meanwhile, Vlad was having his own troubles right across the room. He was being attacked by those blasted snakes again! But now, they had been joined by large black scorpions!
Vlad fired attacks at the hissing creatures snapping at his feet, but every time he did, they divided.
"They're not real!" he shouted in his head. "Ahh! But they feel real!" he cried out as one of the scorpions lunged at him, grabbed onto his left pant leg and drove its large stinger into his flesh.
The older half-ghost tried to grab and pull the creature off but his hands only grasped air. And to make matters worse, three snakes took the opportunity to attach themselves somewhere on Vlad's body, and again, the man yelled in pain.
But he then suddenly began to feel his leg, as well as the other parts of his body into which the snakes had their fangs attached, numb, and the sickness in his stomach only intensified.
"It's not possible!" he grunted out as he fell to his knees as the snakes and scorpions' toxins began to work on his body. "They are not real!"
…So how was it that they felt so real?
And suddenly, it hit him. His own mind made them real.
Despite the pain of the venom, and more stingers jabbing into his skin and fangs biting down on him, Vlad wrenched his eyes closed and stopped struggling. He forced his mind to clear of what he believed real. And when he did, the snakes and scorpions vanished and so did their effects.
Vlad snapped his eyes open, only to find Iluzisto in front of him, his mirror-like body in plain sight.
"You learn fast… But it won't save you."
The ghost sent an electric bolt from the staff at Vlad, but the man was ready. And instantly, he vanished in a cloud of pink smoke.
Plasmius quickly reappeared behind the ghost, and attempted to shoot him in a surprise attack.
But the ghost's silvery purple eye abruptly appeared behind the ghost's head and saw it coming. He dodged to the side, before narrowing his eye at the older half-ghost.
Vlad glared at him, but then suddenly, smirked. "You like illusions? Here's one of my own." In a flash of light, Vlad made three duplicates, startling Iluzisto.
The ghost's eye looked quickly among all four Plasmiuses in front of him, clearly not knowing which one was the true one. Only then, Iluzisto's eye seemed to smile evilly at his prey.
"Very good. A perfect illusion indeed… Mind if I steal it?"
Vlad gasped as he and his duplicates were suddenly surrounded by several Iluzistos. And before Vlad could react, he found all four of his selves restrained, green binds tying their arms behind their backs and an Iluzisto copy restraining each of them from behind.
All four Plasmius glared at the other Iluzisto copies in front of them and growled out, "Unhand me! You don't know with whom you are dealing!"
The Iluzisto copies said nothing as they looked from one Plasmius to the other.
"It's time I take a more personal approach," Iluzisto commented mostly to himself. And instantly, the original Iluzisto appeared, holding the real staff. He walked up to the first Plasmius and touched his shoulder, and uttered, "Fake," before he quickly fired a purple bolt at the duplicate, forcing it out of existence.
Vlad's brave and angry bravado instantly fell. And he began to struggle fiercely against his binds and the ghost's duplicates behind him. He even tried to use his electric powers to destroy his restraints, as well as his eye beams to attack the Iluzisto duplicates; but nothing worked! All his efforts would just go through the clones or be rendered ineffective! So, ultimately, the man could do nothing as he watched Iluzisto quickly finish off his duplicates.
All the while, Danny had finally recovered from the hit enough to notice what was going on. But all Danny saw was Vlad and three of his duplicates on their knees in front of Iluzisto as he began to snuff out the man's clones. Danny saw no binds or the Iluzisto duplicates because they were only real in Vlad's mind.
But the teen didn't know that, so he didn't know what to make of the scene in front of him.
"Why is he just standing, er, kneeling there?" Danny mumbled out. He quickly changed back into his ghostly alter ego. But the instant he did, the ghost, who had just destroyed the last Vlad duplicate and was now in front of the real one, froze in his actions. And immediately, Iluzisto's eye pivoted to Danny's direction.
Danny never knew an eye could smile, but this ghost's eye somehow was. And it was a smile of pure wickedness.
"Yes… just how I want you," Iluzisto said, and suddenly Danny found a duplicate standing right in front of him.
Danny immediately reacted and fired two ecto-blasts at the ghost. But it went right through him.
"No!" the boy cried out as the duplicate grabbed him by the neck and pulled his arms behind him. Once the boy was within his control, Iluzisto's duplicate brought him to the true Iluzisto, standing beside a still restrained Plasmius.
"Daniel! It's an illusion! That creature holding you is not real!" Vlad shouted, his struggles returning at seeing the young hybrid. But Vlad knew breaking through these illusions was no easy task. After all, he knew the restraints around his own hands were only in his mind, but he just could not get his mind to break from the spell!
"Danny Phantom… Vlad Plasmius… I have my orders, but your ridiculous resistance has forced me to fulfill them in a more extreme manner. There is no other choice in the matter now. Therefore, struggling any longer is futile. You are just delaying the inevitable."
The real Iluzisto turned to look at Vlad, and added, "If you surrender, I will make this next part as quick as possible. It will be painful, I assure you… But it can be quick if you simply accept your fate."
"I told you, you are not taking me anywhere without a fight," Vlad spat back.
Iluzisto chuckled. "We are past the fight…And you lost."
Plasmius yelped when the ghost abruptly grabbed his right shoulder and lifted him to his feet by it.
"Let go!" Vlad demanded, though the fear in his voice ruined the effect.
But when Iluzisto only drew closer, the man panicked and tried to teleport to escape him; but to his dismay, all he ended up causing was a show of red smoke. He was still in the ghost's hold and had not gone anywhere!
Iluzisto chuckled as he watched his older prey try to teleport two more times, but like the first, he easily blocked his efforts. "Hmm…I see you must still be further weakened," the ghost whispered hungrily, ignoring the red smoke around them as a result of Plasmius' efforts to escape.
And before Vlad could even understand his words, he felt something suddenly begin to leave his body and he gasped in alarm.
"What… are… you… doing?" he wheezed out, unaware of the red energy exiting his body and entering the ghost's own glowing purple one. But he was aware of the effects. And before he could even try to stop it somehow, he felt too weak to do anything but hold onto his ghost form.
At seeing this, Danny struggled even harder to escape the Iluzisto duplicate's hold.
"Let go of me!" he screamed in desperation, his fear only mounting with the sinking feeling that he was definitely next.
Iluzisto abruptly let go of Vlad, and the man fell down on his hands and knees, his breathing both shaky and heavy.
But fearing he was going to fully collapse at any moment, the older hybrid sat back and closed his eyes. But even when he managed to open them again, he looked severely dazed, and his red eyes were dull and half-closed. The only good news for Plasmius was that now that his mind could not focus, the restraints and the duplicate keeping him from defending himself had vanished. But what the ghost had done to him was effective enough.
He had no strength to fight any longer.
The evil ghost calmly brought forward his staff before kneeling beside Plasmius. The ghost stared at the man for a moment in silence contemplation before whispering, "Ready?"
All Vlad could do was stare at the ghost with absolute fear. And then all he knew was pain.
In one swift movement Iluzisto grabbed the older hybrid by the neck and then plunged the sharp end of his staff into his chest.
"NOOOOOO!" Danny cried out in horror at seeing the ghost run the other half-ghost through with his staff.
Vlad let out a choked cry as the ghost removed the sword-like crystal from his chest just as quickly as he had plunged it in. The wound, although it was bleeding heavily was not as large as it was deep. But the wound itself wasn't the main problem, but the black liquid that had been inserted into his body. And the effects of it were instant.
Plasmius collapsed fully on the ground as he began to disintegrate before Danny and Iluzisto's very eyes. And while the ghost seemed to be glad about it, Danny was even more horror-stricken.
Iluzisto turned his attention to the younger cross-breed, while the older one lay unmoving, and continued to dissolve into a black mist.
"Same question goes to you, cross-breed. Give up and I'll make it quick."
"What did you do to him? You said you were only going to capture him!" Danny shouted back, finally getting past his stunned silence.
Enemy or not, Vlad was still a human being. And just because he disliked the man didn't mean he wanted to see him get wasted!
Ignoring the boy's second objection, the ghost replied, "Don't worry. You're about to find out in a moment. Fortunately for you, you have been weakened enough…"
He swiftly raised his staff towards the boy's chest, just as his duplicate spun the teen around and held him in place.
"No! NO!" Danny yelled in a panic as the needle-thin tip came towards him. Of course, he knew the ghost would run more than the needle through him if he didn't get out of this quickly.
Danny quickly summoned ice beams from his eyes, and fired them out at Iluzisto. But the ghost evaded them with a growl of annoyance before continuing forward.
"Stop! Don't!" the teen continued, but it did nothing to stop the ghost.
"It's a shame… So young…," Iluzisto mumbled, sounding slightly sympathetic. And then, he raised the staff so as to make his next action one slick movement.
Danny's eyes widened in fear as all he could focus on was the ectoplasm, Vlad's blood, still dripping from the weapon. And that it would soon have his own.
"NO!" the boy screamed as the weapon was plunged forward. But his fear triggered his most powerful arsenal: the Ghostly Wail.
Iluzisto cried in shock as he was sent flying back by the ectoplasmic waves, the force of the hit also making the ghost lose his concentration. And instantly, his illusions vanished.
Danny's sudden drop to the ground cut off his Ghostly Wail, and as he fell to his hands and knees, panting with fear and fatigue, he lost his ghost form.
Still, he looked up through blurry eyes, in hopes of finding the ghost unconscious somewhere. But he had no such luck. The ghost was nowhere in sight.
The teen got shakily to his feet as he looked nervously for Iluzisto. No time! He had to get out of here—now! He willed his transformation rings and barely turned into his ghost form.
Except that, the ghost got to him before Danny could even move.
Danny screamed in pain as a hand grabbed his hair from behind, before pulling him close to the body it belonged to.
"I said… you were not… escaping…" Iluzisto growled in the boy's ear.
And instantly, he raised his deadly weapon and stabbed the young half-ghost in the chest.
Danny's mouth opened in a silent yell as he felt for the first time what being run through was like. But when the weapon was pulled out of him, he knew it was more painful than when it entered.
Tears sprang to his eyes as Iluzisto suddenly let him go and he collapsed onto the ground, his hand clutching his bleeding chest, not realizing that a black liquid had been inserted into him and that it was now slowly dissolving him.
Danny desperately tried to take in oxygen, but he was quickly losing his ability to do so. And he could feel his energy core go into shock, as if not knowing what to do to fix what the ghost had done to him.
He somehow managed to lift his head, and vaguely saw the ghost, who now looked slightly weakened as it walked back to where Vlad had been. But now, only a sphere of glowing black mist remained in the man's spot.
The teen watched as the ghost brought the staff above the floating mist, before it was sucked inside the black crystal whose long jagged end with which he had been just stabbed was still stained with his ectoplasm.
Danny felt his mind slowly nub, right before his vision blackened. He felt weightless, cold, lifeless… And strangely enough the last thought that passed through his mind before he lost awareness was how ironic it felt to have his life end beside his arch-enemy.
Iluzisto calmly watched as the last of the ghost boy reduced down to what all ghosts were: ecto-energy. And as he did with the older cross-breed, Iluzisto brought his staff above the younger one's dissolved form and quickly sucked it inside the black crystal.
It was only until then that he surrendered his stealth mode completely and his true form was revealed. He raised his staff up and evilly stared into the glowing crystal, though his silvery-purple eye on his green head slightly reflected off the dark gem.
"Another job done," he said smugly just as his cloaked figured changed from silver to a black hue. "It definitely was more arduous than I had anticipated. Nevertheless, they were certainly no match for me, and I, therefore, have the final proof of their failure and my success."
Iluzisto raised his staff forward into the air and a flash of light dispersed from it, leaving in its wake a ghost portal.
"It's time to return."
Silently and swiftly, the ghost flew into it, and the portal instantly vanished after him, leaving the mayor's mansion empty.
Only the destroyed pieces of furniture and the stains of ectoplasm could foretell of what had just occurred.
Um, just a quick note for me while you are all either glaring at us or too shock to react right now. I am just about done with DoaS, so you can expect it fairly soon. Sorry it has taken me longer than I said. But it's been hard to get back into the swing of that story after such a long time. That's my fault, of course. But it serves me as a lesson to not ignore DoaS like this again. Heh! Okay, ta for now. And, of course, your reviews are welcomed. Just make sure to keep em' clean, 'cause my muse—and I'm sure Ms. Hyde, too—doesn't take kindly to threats! They might do something more evil in the next chapter! Epp!
Heh-heh, pearlie, I just might do something more evil in the next chapter just because I want to! In fact, I don't mind the threats in the least—they just give me the perfect excuse for revenge on the fools that do it! So, bring them on! *cackles wickedly* Uh, uh, truephan here, gang. Don't listen to her, OK? You KNOW how she is, so please don't encourage her. I mean, I have to live with her, you know, and it's hard enough keeping her in check without your riling her up! So, for peace's sake, have fun with the reviews, but kindly so! OK? *gulps*