A/N: Truephan here: Hello again there, dear readers! Happy Presidents' Day coming up! And I also hope you had a wonderful St. Valentine's Day! I just LOVE holidays, don't you? In any case, I hope y'all have calmed down enough with the holidays and a visit with Team Phantom and Skulker and are ready to get revved up again? Well, at least I hope so, because I certainly hope to get your blood pressures back up again! So, after we hear from pearl, it'll be time to do just that….pearl?
Pearl: Heh-heh. Careful, now, don't want to give any of our readers heart attacks. Although Vlad muse, does have it out for a few of our readers, so that's a bit worrisome. Ahem. Anyways, thank you all for your continuing support! Happy Valentine's day indeed. I would like to say that I cherish everyone's friendship on this site. You guys rock out loud. So, without further delay, here's the next chapter of Sid. I hope you all have a sweet tooth for some more Danny and Vlad… *insert evil muse chuckle*
Review Artfan: Hey, since your PM is disabled, we just wanted to say thank you for sharing your thoughts with us again! Enjoy this next chapter!
Disclaimer: We do not own Danny Phantom.
Chapter 15: Struggling in the Realm Beyond Time
In spite of having been tortured to unconsciousness, Vlad was still in ghost form when he slowly blinked himself awake. It only took a moment for his eyes, staring hazily around the same hideous surroundings, to realize that he was still a prisoner of the Observants. But he did not need any time to recall everything that had happened last night—or he guessed it had been 'last night' then, anyway.
In reality, however, he was sort of on the right track. This was the next day, but it was the beginning of the hybrids' fourth day of being in this never-ending nightmare. And they had no clue that it was the same day that Team Phantom had been on their way to the Far-Frozen….
Ultimately it didn't really matter. All Vlad knew was that his entire body was still in pain from Iluzisto's torture session. In fact, he was still bound up by his arms. At least, after they had finished with him, Iluzisto's guards had had the decency to lower him down enough so that his feet finally touched the ground so that his burning arms did not break against his own weight…
Still, none of it—not the ice-cold water that had left him almost unable to breathe; not the surges of electricity that had coursed over and over again through his body; nor even the blows to his face and abdomen—had been able to compare to the pain in his heart…
He still could not get the image of his dear Maddie's dying form from his mind…
But the memory quickly reminded him of the woman's son. And he slowly turned his unfocused gaze and his pounding head slightly and looked to where Daniel was.
He could plainly see that the boy was still not awake—or, more probably, was still unconscious! Not that he was surprised. He was more surprised that even he was awake now after the beating they both received from Iluzisto's guards.
Vlad just stared at the teen some more, noticing that Daniel, like he, was still in ghost form. In some ways, that was a relief. The man figured that must have meant that not all of their ghostly energy had been depleted from being tortured, and so their bodies had been able to keep their more natural ghost forms within the Ghost Zone, even in this 'timeless' realm. And that also meant that they might be able to heal better. At least he hoped so. From how badly the teen looked right now, even in his more resilient ghost counterpart, Daniel would need all the energy he could get to recover.
Vlad winced at the unnerving sight. The boy actually had dried blood stains on his unclothed torso and his wet, ripped, and dirty jumpsuit pants. His still tied up wrists had ugly dark bruises and dried blood no doubt from his struggles last night. Also, his once vibrant white locks of hair were matted and grey, some of them even plastered against his face likely from sweat or the water that had been thrown on them last night. And although his head was bowed forward and he couldn't see Daniel's face, Vlad suspected that his face would also be stained and dirty.
Still, as he sighed in frustration and some worry, he couldn't really say he was surprised by their injuries. Those electric sticks that those guards used with more ire than he cared to remember also had electrified whip-like devices on the top of them, which popped or sizzled when each charged chord flayed their skin. Surely, that would explain why their burns, cuts and bruises were worse than they should have been given that they had been able to get part of their powers in their control again... And it could also explain why they had been out for possibly hours...
Even still, if it wasn't for those circumstances, Vlad would have been impressed with the fight the teen had put up against the guards in spite of his being tied and tortured. The teen had not stopped struggling—or insulting the guards—until he had finally passed out… And although the billionaire had hardly noticed what had been happening with the boy since he had been too focus on not passing out himself—not that he succeeded—he knew from the screams that had often drown out his own that the boy had received a worse punishment than his own…
He frowned at the memory, but his face suddenly contorted as a bolt of pain shot through him, muddling his mind. And just as suddenly, he was irritated with the boy's behavior last night. Unlike the teen, he had had the wit to not give the guards anymore reason to torture him anymore than they were.
Foolish boy. Why couldn't he just keep his temper cool enough not to invite so much ire—and not to mention the torture—from Iluzisto and his guards?
Vlad mentally grumbled the answer to himself, "Because he's as stubborn as a mule, that's why; and a blasted typically hot-headed teen on top of that!" But he then suddenly sighed and added more soberly, "I suppose that all that just goes with the territory..."
Still, as the man continued to study Daniel's unmoving form, he felt a tinge of worry that the boy might be seriously hurt.
But the feeling vanished when he just as quickly remembered how the boy had parted from him in their escape attempt.
Vlad angrily looked away, his thoughts darkening even more. Serves Daniel right that he was very hurt! He had no one to blame but himself! Why? Why didn't the blasted teen stay at his side? Maybe then, they would have escaped. Maybe then, they wouldn't have been tortured and humiliated! Maybe then…He would not have had to see Maddie… die.
The older hybrid closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath which did nothing to help his aching body. He had not been able to save her. Even with all his money, with all his power, and years of experience, he had not been able to do a thing for the love of his life at a time when it most counted. He wanted so much to believe it was an illusion. A trick from that monstrous spirit! But it was hard to think that with how real it all had seemed.
And even as he thought about it, even as he thought about how he had so conveniently found Maddie, he could not push down his emotions enough to think logically through this. If it had been an illusion, it might as well not have been one from how distraught it left him. From how helpless he felt…
That was precisely the heart of this. Vlad had always prided himself in his perseverance and confidence. It was why he hated being humiliated in the slightest of ways. His pride was what made him attack anything that dared to do such a thing to him. After all, he had suffered through humiliation for so many years after Jack had left him disfigured. So, never succumbing to surrender was something he promised to never do!
But now… Iluzisto had done it. He had made him—the renowned Vlad Masters, the powerful Vlad Plasmius—crumble, break, at the sight of his dear Maddie's death—illusion or not.
The man still remembered how the guards had taunted him and the boy even while still torturing them, telling them that if they begged for mercy that they might go easy on them. And although the child had been too stubborn to beg or to break, in spite his cries of pain, what had kept Vlad from pleading them to stop had been that, in his mind, there was nothing worse they could do to him after what he had witnessed.
It would worry him how depressed he was if he cared about anything right now. What was the point anyways? Daniel and he were not getting out of here. The Observants had already condemned them even before this ridiculous trial began. They were going to lock them up for the rest of their existence. That is, if Iluzisto didn't kill them first…
Tilting his head back a bit and staring up at the seemingly unending black, craggy ceiling, he sighed deeply as he silently pleaded to the heavens to just let this all end—even if it was through death. He didn't care at this point.
But his thoughts drifted to Daniel again. He had to hand it to the boy. He was strong. The man still could not comprehend how the boy had so much fight left in him when he knew of his sister's and friends' demises. Daniel had looked utterly distraught when he had first found out. But now, unexpectedly, he somehow was more determined to get out of this place than ever before. He had heard the determination in the way he had tried to get him to talk to him before they had been tortured.
But… now that he really thought about it…. Had that been worry he had heard in Daniel's voice as well?
Vlad scoffed, only to regret it since it just irritated his raw throat more. That's right; he still had that blasted collar on! Still, he returned to his thoughts and frowned…Daniel worrying about him? That was laughable. He must have been really out of it to even think he had heard the emotion in the boy's voice last night—and his mind still had to be unclear for him to have even thought that now.
"So much for being the one to keep a level head through this mess," he thought bitterly of himself.
"Ugh…"
The older hybrid jolted out of his thoughts and turned his head to the boy, who was slowly coming back from unconsciousness…
Danny's mind was still in a fog. He couldn't remember a thing at the moment, except all the nightmares about his sister and his friends. He groaned again, feeling his head pound at those upsetting thoughts. But then, something else was really hurting him… He tried to move.
"Hey!" Danny objected hoarsely when he noticed his arms were raised and pressed against his ears and he couldn't freely move them. But then his objection melded into a hiss of pain from how it had flared throughout his body. He opened his eyes and winced at the seemingly bright light that immediately assaulted them. Once they adjusted to the brightness, however, Danny glanced up and his eyes widened in some form of panic as everything crashed back into his mind at the sight of his raised and tied hands.
In an instant, he twisted his head toward where he knew the older hybrid would be. He ignored the raw sting of where the collar had rubbed against him when he had turned. He instinctively glared at Vlad when their eyes met.
Yanking hard against the restraints on his wrists, Danny hissed sarcastically—or tried to with his raw throat, "Nice escape attempt, Plasmius! We are definitely so much closer to getting out of here!"
The billionaire felt his anger ignite, pushing his depression aside as he recalled the boy's stupidity yesterday.
"Do not blame this on me! You did all this conveniently to yourself, fool!" he hissed back. "You and your acrid tongue, that is. Oh, and since I know I'm using too many big words for you, that means 'all because of your big, fat mouth'!"
The boy's eyes briefly flared a brighter green and he pulled on his bonds again, ignoring the mounting sting scrapping his wrists from doing so, just before he retorted sarcastically, "Yeah, because I was so going to follow your lead and just stand quietly and let them torture me!"
"Yes, Daniel, we can all see what good that did you, since you're still all tied up!" the man spat back, before hatefully adding, "And let's not forget who is really at fault here! We would not have had to endure what we just did if you would have just listened to me and stayed at my side! But then, that would have been expecting too much from you. Perhaps now that you have condemned both of us to remain here for the rest of our lives, Iluzisto will jolt you enough with his infernal weapon to finally jump-start your all-to-dormant mind before he finally kills you!"
Danny glared again and snarled back, "I don't care what you think! And you can insult me all you want, but I am going to find a way out of here—with or without your help!"
"It will be without my help, boy, I can assure you," Vlad muttered angrily.
But before the teen could say anything, he gasped in more pain as his struggles reopened his wounds on his wrists, and he slowly felt hot liquid drip down his hands. And now, he was even more aware that his throat hurt inside and out.
The man stared at the teen in a mixture of disgust and disbelief. "Why do you even bother? If Iluzisto had us tied with these bonds, I'm certain that he would have made sure that you—and even me, for that matter—could not break them. So, if you have any semblance of reason, why don't you stop before you pass out again, this time from the loss of blood?"
But the teen just coiled his hands around the purple bindings attached to the ceiling as he furiously replied, "Who are you to tell me what to do, Plasmius? You don't own me or anything like that! And, you have no right, either, since all of this is all your fault to begin with!" He struggled with the shackles once more.
Vlad growled in reply. "Ugh. Why do I even bother? Do what you want, you little rat." The man turned his glare away from the teen as he soberly added more to himself. "I hardly care anymore."
That comment hit Danny squarely. He reflexively stopped struggling as he quickly recalled how Vlad had looked when he had been brought back to his cell. The man hadn't been as angry as he was right now. It honestly had scared the teen to see the man look so… broken? Danny swallowed hard at the thought, and even though he winced how even that hurt, the thought was enough to calm him. And he realized that maybe the man was just as much in pain as he was at the moment and that was the reason why the man was so disagreeable—well, much more than usual. At least, Danny had to admit that he, too, was on a short fuse because of it... Still, he also had to admit that he wasn't really angry at the man anymore. Again, he recalled the tone of surrender in the man's voice in spite of the older hybrid's anger... Had Vlad, his arch-enemy, the guy who could not take a hint, actually given up?
And that made the boy wonder: what had happened to the man after they had separated? Danny remembered all too well what had happened to him. Even if he was now questioning if the sight of his future self was real or not, he was sure his sister and friends' corpses were real. He had felt them with his human hands. Cold. Lifeless.
The teen suddenly felt his heart clench and his head dropped in sadness and his gaze fell to the ground. Still, he spoke up and asked, though in a quiet voice, "What happened to you after we split up?"
Vlad visibly tensed, both surprised and troubled by the question. The man felt his own heart ache as the memory of his dead Maddie passed in front of his eyes again. Part of him—the part that was furious with the teen—wanted to shout at him exactly what had happened. Even when it could possibly be an illusionto, the part that was angry wanted to tell him all about his mother's death just to see him suffer. But… then another part could not bring himself to share such news with the boy. Vlad was sure that with it, the child's spirit would break.
"Some things are better left unsaid," the man finally replied, unable to keep the pain out of his voice.
Danny slightly looked up, a small wave of fear coursing through him as he recalled how the future Vlad had uttered those same words to him when he had gone to him to get rid of the medallion lodged in his chest by his future evil self. But then…What did that mean? Had… Had Vlad seen someone's death? But who? Whose death would cause such an impact on the man? His death? After all, when the future Vlad had uttered those words he had been talking about him. And yet, the teen could not imagine Vlad getting worked up over his death in this timeline when they were always fighting each other tooth and nail… So… who else?
The teen suddenly felt utterly sick as the answer came to him like a fierce tidal wave: his mother.
"No," Danny mentally denied right away. There was no way. Vlad would tell him if Iluzisto had his mother, let alone if he had… hurt her! And even so, that wicked spirit just couldn't have his mother—his parents —anyways! They were out of town! He couldn't find them! No, it just wasn't possible!
The teen clenched his teeth as he pushed the possibility out of his mind. His parents were the only reason he had for hanging on. Yes, he was going to avenge his friends and sister somehow! But, it was his parents that kept him from falling apart!
But now with this sinking feeling in his chest, the boy needed to know more, and he decided to try a different tactic in hopes of getting the man to share with him what happened.
"It was all a trick, you know," Danny said gravely. "He probably even knew we were trying to escape. I mean, I think so because I saw Clockwork… He helped Iluzisto trap me," the teen said bitterly. And when the man did not say anything, he readily continued, "I don't know what's real anymore. After we separated, I… I saw my future evil self… I fought with him even… But maybe it was all an illusion to catch me off guard. I saw you there, too. You were bound and —"
"It was an illusion, Daniel," Vlad finally spoke up. "Iluzisto tricked us both from the moment we parted," he said seriously, though he still wasn't looking at the teen. "I was never in any cell… I was trying to break into one…," he said a little sadly, but quickly continued, "I saw you return, claiming you had found a way out. And I was foolish enough to believe it. I should have known it wasn't you. You are too stubborn to admit you are wrong."
"Says the donkey to the mule," Danny grumbled, briefly annoyed by the man's jab. But then he sighed and said, "Like I said, I don't know what to believe anymore. But now I'm sure my friends and sister are…gone." His voice cracked as he continued, "I saw their bodies, Vlad. I wish it was just some illusion, but I felt them. I was in human form and I felt their cold bodies!"
Vlad swallowed thickly as he heard the teen choke back a sudden sob, before he finally looked over at the boy. But Daniel had his eyes squeezed shut, while his hands clenched against his bindings. Still, before he could say anymore, the boy spoke up again.
"So, I-I need to know. What happened? What did you see? I know you enough to know you would never get this upset unless something really bad happened—unless you saw something." He looked up at the man, despair in his eyes as he asked, "It wasn't my parents, right? T-They are out of town; so there's no way…. Iluzisto doesn't have my parents, does he, Vlad?"
The billionaire just stared soberly at the pleading boy. The boy wanted so much to hear that his parents were okay. But Vlad wasn't even sure anymore. He had not seen Jack. But if Maddie had been captured, Jack had to have been as well. But, then it could just all have been an illusion…. But as the boy had said… They did not even know what was real anymore.
Iluzisto was not just trying to take their energy… He was trying to drive them insane! And the saddest part was that he had already completed the first step to getting them there.
They were losing their touch on reality.
Even now, Vlad could not help but wonder if his current talk with Daniel was even real. How did he know now that this was the real Daniel?
But not wanting to grow even more distressed than he was, he pushed aside that frightening thought and turned his attention to the teen, who was growing more anxious by the second as he waited for his response…
"No, my boy. I did not see your parents," Vlad forwardly lied—even it was really a half-truth; and he was not the least bit sorry for it when he saw the boy sigh loudly in relief.
The teen, as if revived by the news, stared back at Vlad with determination. "Look, I know that I made a mistake in separating from you. But so did you, Vlad. I know working together isn't the easiest thing for us. But I get it now. And you're right. We are not getting out of this unless we clear our heads and work together. But I mean, really work together. No more insults; no more arguing. At least until we get out of here."
Vlad stared at the teen in silence for a moment, before looking away. "I have a hard time believing that now you so readily want to be a part of this 'we'…And truth be told, I'm not interested in this 'we' anymore. It's time we accept the truth, Daniel. If we were not able to pull together to escape the first time, it is not going to happen on the second or third or whatever number attempt. Then, again, even trying to escape is futile. We are not getting out, Daniel. It's impossible."
Danny couldn't believe what the man was saying. Was he seriously just going to give up?
Suddenly angry again, the teen exclaimed, "You're wrong! We can get out! It's not impossible! And it's not impossible for us to work together! We've done it before, and we can do it again!"
Vlad scoffed as he looked back at the teen. "Oh, please, Daniel. When have we ever been able to work together? The Pariah Dark incident? Or the Vortex event? I hate to break it to you but we were not working together. You just so happen to be a pawn at the right place and right time. I wanted you to think we were working together because it benefited me, or haven't you figured that out by now?"
Danny's eyes flashed a brighter green again. "If it wasn't because I despise Iluzisto more than you right now, I would so make you sorry for throwing that back in my face! And don't think I like this, either, Plasmius! You are the last person on Earth that I'd ever want to be locked up with! But, look, it seems we are both out of luck! So, like it or not, we are both here! They're accusing the both of us! So, take it or leave it: you need my help to get your 'me' out of this…Not that I like the idea of being part of that 'we', either! But I think we have no choice…Unless your 'you' would want to do it on your own, which, by the way, obviously didn't work yesterday for you—or me! "
Vlad didn't reply. He knew in the back of his mind that the teen's words were logical. After all, it had been he at first who had told the boy that they needed to work together—even though the man wasn't sure how much he had meant it then—or now. But still, he knew they had to. But he wasn't interested anymore. He felt too upset at the moment, and even too bitter and angry with Danny for separating during their escape and for what he just said. If he wasn't so upset, he would acknowledge that what happened yesterday was just as much his fault, and that, perhaps, he was blaming the boy for his own grief.
But he just didn't care to right now.
And he also was past the idea of working with the boy. What for? As he had told him, escaping from that horrible spirit was impossible!
Danny's anger mixed with worry when the man didn't answer him. What was wrong with him? He had never seen the guy like this!
"Vlad, come on," Danny said almost pleadingly, now really worried. "I know you don't want to stay here for the rest of your life. Look, I'm game, alright? I'll even listen to you. I just want to get out of this! And if…we work…together, we might bet out of this mess sooner than later. And…"
But before he could finish, he was interrupted by a sound in the far side of the hallway in front of his cell. "Someone's coming!" he uttered in a hurried whisper to the older hybrid.
Vlad immediately tensed in anticipation when he could clearly see that Iluzisto was coming—with that infernal black weapon of his!
Danny looked just as frightened, but being that he was as tied up as the man, all he could do was stare at the one-eyed spirit coming towards him.
However, seeing in his peripheral vision how Vlad suddenly turned human, Danny quickly thought that was a good idea and did the same. He wasn't about to risk Iluzisto taking what little ghost energy he had at the moment. Yet the boy couldn't help but cringe when his injuries suddenly throbbed all the more in his human form, and his wet, ripped, and dirty jeans were somehow much more uncomfortable than his ghost form's hazmat pants had been….
The spirit finally stopped in front of the two cells and stared calmly between the two dirty, battered, and scared hybrids. Their quick change to their human selves had not gone unnoticed by him, though he didn't say anything about it and just addressed his reason for being here.
"The second day of your trial is in an hour's time of your realm, Crossbreeds," Iluzisto informed them calmly. But then bringing up his weapon to his eye-level and, briefly looking at it, he continued, "But first, I want to know what you learned from your experience with my guards?"
To both Vlad and Danny's dismay, the answer jumped into their mind so quickly they felt like trained dogs.
'Escape is only an Illusion.'
The guards had repeated the phrase so many times to them that it had been engrained in their minds. And more horrifying yet, it took just about all of their grit for the both of them to keep their mouths from automatically opening and uttering the phrase.
Iluzisto glared when he did not get any answer as he said, "Perhaps you both need a reminder?"
Danny and Vlad just tensed some more; and this time, they really had to bite their tongue to keep quiet.
Iluzisto's eye curved with evil intent as he began to mess with the half-ghosts' mind, instantly making them see what was clearly an illusion; but it still was just as affecting since Vlad and Danny had witnessed both things for real yesterday.
Vlad's eyes went wide as the form of a burned Maddie waved at him from outside his cell, while Danny looked as horrorstricken by the sight of Jazz's dead corpse staring back at him with sad, vacant eyes.
The two squeezed their eyes closed, not realizing their breathing had picked up; and they barely realized when the words Iluzisto was asking from them finally left their lips…
"Escape is only an illusion," they breathed out.
Iluzisto laughed heartedly in triumph as the hybrids gasped at having blurted those words unwittingly. And at that moment, the images he had conjured up disappeared from the hybrids' minds. But then, the sting hidden in the Prison Head's triumph laughter shot through the half-ghosts and sparked an uncontrollable rage within each of them.
But it was Vlad who surprisingly reacted first as he let out a feral growl and his hands clenched against his bonds as he yanked against them. "You monstrous beast! I will tear out your core if it's the last thing I do!"
Then Danny jumped in, screaming just as angrily, "You one-eyed crater! You're going to pay for what you did! I swear it!"
Iluzisto sighed dramatically as he shook his head. "Looks like my two little pets still have much to learn in terms of behavior and respect. Do not worry, though. You both will learn…"
Danny yanked against his bonds, wishing he could make the spirit see stars!
But the illusionist spirit just chuckled smugly, before staying. "Well, there will be plenty of time for that considering that time is irreverent here. But for now, I need you two slightly presentable to go into court. Let us start with a bath. You creatures smell horrible."
Just as he said this, two of the guards that had tortured Vlad and Danny last night glided down the hall and into view, carrying two buckets of water. But although the boy and the man had a good idea what was in there, the two hybrids did not care. They were still too consumed with their dark thoughts of the evil spirit. So, it was almost a surprise to them when the ice cold water was thrown onto them.
Danny choked on a gasp, reeling from what felt like cold sharp needles raking down his body before embedding into his skin. He really didn't know how many more of these ice baths he could take. He was already feeling slightly sick from being left wet all night, not to mention that he was famished…He just knew he was getting feverish.
But the boy blinked out the water from his eyes as he briefly gazed over at the older hybrid and realized he was trembling as badly as he was.
"Y-You dolt! If-If you keep this up, you are g-going to give us hyperthermia! We are n-not simple ghosts!" Vlad said through chattering teeth.
"I am aware, crossbreed. But it is not my fault you two are abominations, now is it?" Iluzisto replied offhandedly. "Then again, your solution is simple. Just return to your ghost selves…"
"T-That's not how it w-works!" Danny jumped in, trying to control his shivering, to no avail. "A-And you wo-would want that, wouldn't you?"
"Of course. Why do you think I am suggesting it?" Iluzisto answered evilly. But not waiting for a response, he walked up to Danny's cell door and unlocked it, before doing the same for Vlad's.
The two guards needed no cue and went into the cells. They quickly undid the half-ghosts' bindings, not bothering at all to be gentle and ignoring how in their attempt they had made the two prisoners wrists bleed again.
Danny and Vlad suddenly felt very weak when they no longer had their bonds holding them up, and they dropped to their knees, cradling their burning wrists. They barely saw the guards place some gray prison clothing on top of their beds, before Iluzisto spoke again.
"There is some fresh clothing for your human forms since I am aware the tatters you wear now are irreparable. So, get changed. It might only do so much to get rid of your natural foul smell, but at least it is something," Iluzisto commented in disgust. "You have two minutes of your time. Not a second more," he then warned, before gesturing to the guards to follow him out.
Vlad glared hatefully after Iluzisto, unaware Danny was staring in the same way after the spirit, too. But then, glancing back at the clothing, the man sighed. It was tempting to present themselves like they were and upset the infernal Council right off the bat. Ultimately, however, they did need to get these wet and dirty clothing off, or risk getting sick or getting an infection in one of their wounds. And although as Plasmius the risk of all that would be lesser, there was no chance that he was going to return to his ghost form unless absolutely necessary with Iluzisto around.
"This is so humiliating," Danny said, pushing the man out of his thoughts.
Vlad looked over at the boy and realized he was staring between his tattered pants and the prison clothing with a look of utter embarrassment. In spite of the situation, the man couldn't help but slightly smirk at a sudden memory. That's right. He had learned from when they had been pulling 'practical jokes' on each other after he had made that silly decree against the teens in Amity Park that the boy was quite modest. And if it were any other time, Vlad would have teased him to no end… But now…
The man was just about to tell the teen to just change for his own good when they heard one of the guards say, "One minute."
Vlad winced. He might not be as modest as Daniel, but he really did not want to change in front of Iluzisto or those guards. He wasted no further time; and getting off the ground, he did what he needed to do.
And as if sharing the same thoughts, Danny quickly got up and grabbed the loose pants and shirt and changed almost as fast as he could change into ghost form. Well, perhaps, not as fast since his whole body was very sore.
A short moment later, Iluzisto returned with the guards… and Okulo…
The bright red teenager's embarrassment quickly melded into a frown of contempt. He really disliked Okulo—actually, he was probably just a step down from Iluzisto, especially since the guy freakin' branded him!
And in the next instant, the teen regretted that thought. Danny suddenly felt his forehead flare with a sharp burning pain and he gripped at it. And by the hiss that he heard from Vlad, the man also felt it.
"What the heck?" the teen snapped at Iluzisto and Okulo, though he glared mainly at the illusionist spirit as he added, "I thought you said this freaky tattoo only flared up when we're in the courtroom!"
Okulo glanced at Iluzisto, who seemed unbothered by the young hybrid's protest, before turning his eye to the child himself and finally answering, "It is true, prisoner 485. However, I, or any other Observant, can easily have your identification tag reappear at will just as well. It is, after all, our own brand of timeless magic—and quite necessary to keep track of those under our… keep."
"Oh, right. That justifies your 'magic' making my forehead feel like it's on fire!" Danny growled sarcastically, though his hands lowered down at his sides before tightening them into fists.
"I am sorry you are uncomfortable, prisoner 485," Okulo replied, though he sounded anything but 'sorry'. In fact, the spirit held barely any inflation in his voice. It was as if Okulo thought he was talking to the ground he walked on—which was actually what he did think...
"However, you both will grow accustom to the sensation eventually," he informed them.
Vlad just stared coldly at the Observant, but didn't say anything.
Still, when Okulo looked him and the teen over, the older hybrid began to feel uneasy.
"I see you finally got them into appropriate clothing," the liaison remarked evenly to Iluzisto, though he kept his scrutinizing eye on the hybrids. "Now, they finally look as what they are: dangerous criminals."
In spite his indifferent voice, the hybrids knew an insult when they heard it, and it further infuriated them how Okulo was speaking as if they weren't there.
Vlad couldn't keep quiet anymore. He scoffed in contempt before saying, "You call us dangerous, and yet we are the ones who have to sit here and take the Observants' cruel, unjust treatment and torturous punishments!"
"I see you are unhappy as well, prisoner 484," Okulo casually answered the older hybrid.
"Dude, 'unhappy' doesn't begin to cover it," Danny said, not caring that he had interrupted him.
"Be silent," Okulo ordered the younger hybrid, this time his eye narrowing a bit. "This is why you creatures had so much trouble at the first part of your trial. You behave like wild human-world animals with no understanding of order and respect."
Danny's mouth slightly parted at the Observant's insult, so shocked by the degree of it that he was left momentarily speechless.
"Now, what is this… cruel treatment and torturous punishment of which you speak?" Okulo calmly asked the older hybrid.
Plasmius frowned, though internally he was surprised to hear the Observant ask him to speak up instead of ignore him and Danny's protests as the other Observants had—and Iluzisto didn't seem bothered by the fact…
"Well," Vlad slowly replied, feeling a bit cautious at Okulo's sudden interest in their 'happiness'. "Isn't it obvious? Look at us! Not only do you treat us as if we are some disease, you also have your guard-dog here—"
"What did you just call me?" Iluzisto suddenly growled, raising his staff.
But Okulo raised a hand, stopping him.
Much to the hybrids' surprise, Iluzisto reluctantly complied.
"First of all, prisoner 484, we do not treat you as a 'disease', as you claim. We treat you as what you are: Abominations to the natural order. Dangerous and unlawful creatures that are not only a threat to themselves but also to every being on the planet. So, you see, we have no other choice but to take certain precautions with you both."
Vlad opened his mouth to protest against the Observant's deliberate insult; but before he could, Okulo continued, "Second of all, your disrespect for your Prison Head does not incline me to sympathize with you."
"You are capable of that?" Danny asked, faking astonishment.
Okulo narrowed his eye again. "I am trying to patient with you creatures. However, I can see now why Master Prison Head has had to resort to more forceful measures of controlling you both during your attempt to escape. It is most distasteful, but obviously, necessary."
"Is starving us part of those 'forceful measures'?" Danny hissed angrily.
Okulo quickly looked at Iluzisto; but their eye contact was so brief that neither Vlad nor Danny was able to tell what it meant.
Clearing his throat, Okulo regarded the hybrids again. "As liaison between the High Council and this prison, I am obligated to make known the things that occur here. And although your… complaints will be made known to the High Council, they will also know of your escape attempt."
Danny and Vlad's eyes widened in instant surprise.
And seeing it, Iluzisto finally spoke up, smugly saying, "Why so shocked? You did not think I would not inform the Observants of your attempt to escape?"
"And it will most definitely reach the High Council's ears in the courtroom today," Okulo reiterated. "I just came to see with my own eye your behavior and physical appearance." Okulo glanced at the hybrids' bruised and injured wrists before adding, "As I said, you are a danger to even yourselves."
"You think we did this to ourselves?" Vlad asked in disbelief.
But Okulo just replied, "Your constant resistance to submit to the Master Prison Head will also be reported to the High Council."
"What? But—" Danny began, only to be cut off.
"I said silence," Okulo said firmly, pulling out the sphere he was always using from his robe's pocket. It glowed a bit in threat before the Observant continued, "I recommend you both put an end to your defiance. We, the Observants, might be patient and fair in our way of doing things; however, we will resort to unwanted measures if you two continue to give us little choice. So, enough of your hostility. I expect full cooperation from you both from here on out, or you will not like the consequences if you do not."
Before Danny or Vlad could say anything, Okulo turned back around and began to head out. But Iluzisto followed him towards the only exit. And when they were out of earshot, Okulo glanced at the hybrids before looking at Iluzisto and saying in sudden warning, "You need to practice more restraint, Iluzisto. There is only so much I can do under these circumstances. I told you, I do not want complications. I expect you to remember that better from now on."
Iluzisto didn't reply and just watched Okulo leave without another word.
However, as the Prison Head turned back around and returned to the crossbreeds, he was pleased to find them unexpectedly quiet.
"What? Did you truly expect him to take compassion of you, especially after you two attempted to escape and I was obligated to use physical force?" The spirit chuckled as the furious looks returned to the hybrids' faces. "Have you two not realized that they do not care in the least about you? And even if they did, they are never going to take the words of some abominations like yourselves over my own."
Unable to retort anything to that, Danny just glared back at the spirit, while Vlad looked away and unconsciously rubbed one of his sore wrists.
Iluzisto just smugly snorted at the man's reaction. He could see that in spite of the older crossbreed's glares and calm voice, he was reaching his breaking point. And the boy wasn't too far behind. Then again, Iluzisto had been certain that last night would have destroyed the young crossbreed's spirit. And yet, it was clear that he had more fight left in him than the older one. No matter. Both crossbreeds would crumble sooner than later. That he was certain of.
Remembering they had a schedule to keep, Iluzisto silently glided into the boy's cell. The teen was not aware that he had stepped back further away from the Observant, his hands for some reason then clutching his neck restraint.
Iluzisto's eye was able to convey a wicked amusement and satisfaction in its gleam when he noticed the boy's hesitance and apprehension. But the spirit didn't say anything to the boy, and merely glided over to the invisible barrier.
Upon lifting his black staff, the barrier quickly dissipated and then Iluzisto, his lone eye glaring at Vlad, commanded, "Align yourself next to the other crossbreed!"
Vlad answered that with only a sober stare, one that carried a certain kind of detachment which hid his true feelings of contempt for the spirit. Still, he silently complied with the spirit's commands.
But at that instant, Iluzisto abruptly narrowed his eyes at Vlad; and to make his next remark painfully clear, he pressed the sharp tip of his staff against the man's chest. He ignored how the older crossbreed winced in response, and sneered, "I want no more of your tricks or sly ideas or I will make last night feel pleasant compared to what more I will do to you!"
Then turning in irritation to the boy, Iluzisto sternly warned Danny, "And that especially means you, you troublemaking crossbreed! Do not think my guards did not inform me of your resisting your well deserved punishment! If you dare utter one word out of line in that courtroom, you will feel my wrath tenfold!"
Reflexively rubbing his sore wrists, Danny squelched his urge to just dish the insult back to the Prison Head. Still, he couldn't help but think, "You should know all about making trouble, you putrid Cyclops!"
But his thoughts were quickly dispersed when Danny suddenly felt very dizzy. He immediately steeled himself, determined not to give into it. Luckily, that effort was enough for it to go away for the most part. But at the next instant, he felt the sharp end of Iluzisto's black staff between his shoulder blades, urging him to move.
Not a moment later and Vlad, too, was being painfully prodded to move by the tip of Iluzisto's weapon, just as the illusionist ghost growled, "Time to go, crossbreeds! Unless you want more of what I dished out to you yesterday!"
Vlad jolted forward from the unwavering sting. Still, he couldn't help but notice that Iluzisto hadn't placed any cuffs on him and the boy, this time. Also, as he began to walk out of the prison cell, he couldn't help but glance at the teen when he noticed that in spite of Daniel's silent bravado, he looked a little too flushed and even a bit pale…
As Danny plodded along toward the chamber of the High Tribune for the next installment of his trial, he struggled to keep his head up. He was still feeling pretty weak and disoriented from being tied up by his arms and beaten last night. Not to mention that he couldn't remember when he had last eaten. But he had no choice but to keep moving. Still, he unconsciously rubbed one of his sore wrists below his long sleeve grey jail shirt, only to bite his lower lip at the sudden sting. And when he looked down, he could see that his wrist had started to bleed again.
Vlad, too, was feeling quite exhausted, and at times he had to blink his eyes rapidly to push away his sudden blurry vision. Still, he merely frowned in silence as he also continued to walk down the hallway.
But just as they turned the corner to enter the final and very long hallway to exit the prison, Danny stumbled into Vlad and accidentally shoved the already unbalanced man into the wall. They both ended in a heap on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Iluzisto growled, immediately aiming his black weapon at the two hybrids.
Vlad internally jolted when he noticed how clammy Daniel felt now that the boy had fallen on top of him. And he was certain of it when he began to pull the boy off of him and glanced at his face, noticing how Daniel shook his head, clearly having trouble focusing as well.
Leaving the teen on the ground, Vlad stumbled a bit to his feet and turned to face Iluzisto. He growled back sarcastically, "Forgive us if we are more than a bit disoriented after that wonderful torture session you put us both through!"
"Enough of your sniveling, crossbreed," Iluzisto jeered, narrowing his eyes in warning. "As Okulo said, you brought that on yourself." He then turned to the boy and jeered, "And you!"
Danny yelled in pain as Iluzisto roughly yanked him up by the same wrist that had been bleeding. Before he knew it, he was being pulled to a stand.
"Ouch! Hey, take it easy!" he reflexively exclaimed, only to be instantly silenced when he saw the sharp end of Iluzisto's staff at his neck.
"Enough of your games," the Illusionist Observant warned the teen darkly. "I will not tolerate them. So, pick up your feet and keep quiet, or I will give you both something to snivel about!"
Vlad's eyes flashed red with restrained hate. It was official. He hated this creature more than Jack Fenton. And that said it all in the man's mind.
Danny, on the other hand, scowled as Iluzisto roughly let go of his wrist and pulled his staff away from his neck. Still, he said nothing, knowing it was pointless to try and convince the evil spirit that he wasn't playing some 'game'. He really wasn't feeling too well.
But the boy's focus quickly sharpened when he saw that putrid spirit aim his even more putrid staff at him! Needing no more prodding—literally —he started to walk back down the hallway—as Vlad did the same.
They soon made it out of the actual prison and began to head down the halls leading to the courtroom. This time, as Danny walked along, he pushed aside his aches and pains and began to scan the area more closely than when they were here the last time if for no other reason that there was simply nothing else to do. Besides, it hadn't even occurred to him to look around earlier because he had been too distraught yesterday over the news of Jazz, Sam and Tucker to pay any attention to much of anything else before now.
He then jolted a little when he thought about his sister and friends again, and his face dropped with the emotion. However, even though he was still upset about what had happened to them, he knew he had to focus on keeping a leveled head, even if it still felt muddled.
He continued to focus his efforts and studied as much of the detail as he could as he briefly passed each section, searching for, what, he didn't know, really. But he hoped it would be something, anything, he could use in the future.
The hallway, however, didn't seem to want to cooperate with the boy's plans. Not only was it long, but it was very dark and lined with various doors—all of them closed. But as he passed the very next one, and then the next one, it was very obvious to Danny that each of them was distinctly different from the rest.
Some of the doors were short and narrow, others were tall and wide. Still others were a different mixture of those attributes, that is, short and wide or tall and narrow. And even though the hallway was not lit very well, the boy could see that each door was colored differently, though their luster was definitely muted, as if each of them had a thin coat of gray paint over their original colors. But he was sure that it was only because of the dull light in which they were bathed.
But he had also noticed that though they were all different, they shared one thing in common. He tensed in sudden excitement when he recognized….those strange markings again, only they were two sets of them—one group near the top, which all the doors seem to have. And one set below that, which was always different on each door. And though he wasn't completely certain, he thought that those symbols on top were grouped the same way as those symbols scribbled all over that prison cell's walls—the prison cell in which he had seen his sister's and friend's corpses!
He searched his mind again. He needed to be certain. And an image of those same symbols that were written over and over again on those cell walls briefly flashed in his brain:
ð-ζ-ǿ-ς
He glanced back at the next top set of symbols as he passed them. They were the same….But what did they mean?
But then, they came upon a split in the hallway and Danny tried to see down the hall to their right as they passed into the left side. But it was so dark, he could see nothing.
As they blended into the left passageway, there were even more doors like the ones Danny first noticed. And though still different in size, shape and color, each of the doors all still had those same set of symbols of what he now guessed was the 'top line', with an entirely different set on what he could call the 'bottom line'—though even some of those symbols had symbols like those within the 'top line'.
At first, Danny wondered why these odd doors were even here, in this dark hallway. But then, he suddenly saw the exception. As he neared that door, it looked 'natural' enough to have been the front door of anyone's house in the Real World; especially since it had light coming from under it. In fact, it was the only door he had seen so far that did have any semblance of brightness in this otherwise very dull hall. And the light that shone at its bottom periphery looked like sunlight.
Danny unconsciously slowed his pace as he drew even nearer to it, turning his head so as to give his eyes time to pull in all of its details. He ignored the sharp poke between his shoulder blades once Iluzisto had noticed that he had slowed, egging the boy not to delay in their destination.
Still, Danny continued to examine the door as best he could. And just as he could no longer stretch his neck to see it, he saw that it had that same set of strange markings on that 'top line'— ð-ζ-ǿ-ς .
But then there was that other different set just under it:
ǿ - Д - П - Ћ - Ж
Now that he was convinced that this was somehow significant, he would make certain that should they pass this way on their way back to their prison cells, he would be sure to try to memorize the bottom line of at least that door that had light shining from under it, no matter how foggy his mind still felt.
He suddenly grunted a little when the sharp poke bit harder into him, more insistent that he should quicken his pace.
Vlad, on the other hand, had already noticed all the doors just before the first day of their trial. And he had already made a mental note of all the strange symbols on each of the doors. The man had all but forgotten about them, especially after all what had happened yesterday. But then, he noticed that Daniel seemed to be particularly interested in the doors today for some reason. Not that he really cared at this point. For all he knew, they probably opened up to some abode or office of one of these blasted Observants. Still, he dully watched the teen as he continued to secretly inspect the doors, finding it quite odd.
However, when he saw how Daniel had purposely slowed, his interest suddenly piqued as well. He just as deliberately matched the boy's speed to find out why the boy had slowed down. And then when he noticed how intensely Daniel had been looking at one door in particular, he chanced a slight glance at that same door.
He, too, noticed that it was very different from the other doors in this hallway. It had the same symbols on the top line: 'ð-ζ-ǿ-ς' as the others; but, also like the others, it had different symbols on the second line. As he passed the door that eked light from under it, Vlad looked at those second set of symbols: ǿ - Д - П - Ћ – Ж. Of course, he didn't have a clue of what they meant; but he made another mental note on them just the same.
He then grunted in irritation when Iluzisto suddenly jabbed him in the back with his weapon. Perturbed and frowning with Iluzisto's insistence, Vlad nevertheless quickly rejoined Daniel at his regular pace and was finally back in step with his co-prisoner.
The two hybrids walked onward, only that Vlad now let his gaze fall to the ground, having slipped partially back into his depression while Danny was frantically yet silently searching the area for anything that might help them. Still, reflexively slipping back to what the billionaire was so good at doing, he hid his emotions under a cold frown. He might be torn inside, but he wasn't going to give these freak Observants the satisfaction of seeing him anymore helpless than he was.
They finally turned the corner, and entered the new hallway. Danny could see that it nestled only one door, which had been closed on the days of their hearing and the first part of their trial.
But today, the door was slightly ajar, cracked inward upon its hinges. Danny reflexively slowed down in slight surprise. This time, Vlad immediately noticed that, and looked at the boy. When he saw the quiet anticipation on Daniel's face, his eyes drifted to where the boy had his attention drawn. And it was then that the man noticed the slightly opened door, especially since the noise behind it was now very obvious. He was sure that the door had been silent the past two days. Still, he was at that moment suddenly very curious—and even a twinge hopeful—at the sight of this slightly open door. And he now felt he needed to find out what was behind the lone mystery door. And fortunately, the door was too to his right—and... so was Daniel….
Just as Vlad and Danny began to go by the slightly opened door, Vlad feigned tripping and shoved the boy right through the door.
Of course, Danny immediately protested with an irritated, "Hey!" as he was not only thrust through the door, but also ended up sprawled on the floor within the room that was behind the door. He then groaned with the sudden pain pulsing from his pulled-at old wounds sites.
When the teen looked up from the ground, the pained and annoyed look on his face now melded right into a chagrin one.
Several dozen armed Observant guards were glaring at him, each of them angrily aiming their gray weapons right at him. He had fallen into what was clearly a guardroom. And, somehow, they looked a lot scarier than Iluzisto's guards—which always stayed inside the prison's confines and were blob-like entities covered in armor. The Observants' guards, however, were much taller and their armor more menacing, where the only thing you could see from them were their eyes and mouths.
Vlad was familiar with them. After all, he had impersonated one of the Observants' guards to free Vortex that one time…
Danny quickly drew himself up to his knees and raised his arms in surrender, before nervously stuttering, 'U-Uh, m-my bad! Tripped!"
In the next instant, however, Danny was violently jerked upward and he grunted as the pain tore at his wrenched arm.
It was Iluzisto.
In the time it took for Danny to right himself from the floor, the illusionist spirit had ushered Vlad roughly in right after Danny's fall; and with a stern warning to the older hybrid to stay put, had gone to retrieve the boy.
The force of Iluzisto's ire then righted Danny and pulled him to a stand and close to the infuriated Prison Head's eye—and weapon.
"Just what is your plan this time, crossbreed?" Iluzisto hissed as he then yanked the boy dangerously nearer to his needle-like black weapon. "You will understand that I will not tolerate this!"
Danny could feel the sharp pressure of the tip of the illusionist spirit's weapon as it slowly burrowed into his neck right under his restraining collar. Though the spirit's reactions clearly upset him, Danny resisted his urge to swallow with his distress, lest the razor sharp tip of Iluzisto's weapon dig deeper into his flesh. But that also meant he couldn't really answer the spirit, even when it was clear Iluzisto was demanding him to answer!
But before Danny could muster an attempt to answer, the lot of Observant guards who had originally challenged the young hybrid began to laugh at the scene. The teen's eyes and Iluzisto's lone one then drifted toward the laughter.
One of the soldiers sarcastically chuckled, "What is wrong, Iluzisto? Are you now having trouble controlling these puny prisoners—and insignificant part human ones at that? What will become of us, then, now that you have brought us such danger as this?"
'Watch your voice, you rogue," Iluzisto challenged with a hiss. "My prison would always welcome another 'guest' if you continue to step over your boundary."
That same guard turned to another armed guard who was next to him and jeered, "Oh, ho! Looks like Master Prison Head is a bit touchy, do you not think?"
His companion merely grinned, then nodded his affirmative response. "Of course, after his last failure in securing that 'Vortex' character when he escaped, I cannot say I blame him! He is even threatening you! As if he could really throw you into his prison!"
The first guard then continued with his insults, "Imagine, that: one of the Observants' prisoners sticking me in prison!" The Observant guard laughed mockingly before smirking at Iluzisto and adding, "Step down from your pedestal, Master Prison Head. You might have once been an Observant, but we all know you are now no higher in status than we are—actually, I would say we, their guards, have a bit more respect than you in the Observants' eyes after all you have done…"
This time, Iluzisto let go of Danny and soared threateningly over to the first guard who had insulted him. His now red eye became bloodshot, its swollen veins pulsating with hatred with every word, "If I were anywhere else, I would make sure you regretted uttering those lies, wretch!"
The two quarrelling spirits glared at each other in a brief, though tense, silence. But Iluzisto then turned abruptly around without another word, and motioned angrily to Danny and Vlad to move on out.
Danny, still rubbing either his sore arm or wiping his slightly bleeding neck, didn't argue as he turned toward the door.
Vlad also began to move toward the door once Danny passed him, with Iluzisto right on both of their heels. Still, he found Iluzisto's brief confrontation with the Observants' guards quite surprising and intriguing to say the least…
Just as the older hybrid had entered the hallway, he stepped shoulder-to-shoulder with Danny once more. Though Vlad was still reeling from his harrowing experience yesterday and even at what had just happened to Daniel, he couldn't help but think how this scene that had just played out between Iluzisto and the Observants' guards had changed his perspective about the illusionist spirit. And had given more spark to a glimmer of possibilities—and, perhaps, even a bit of hope.
Once the two hybrids and their escort were well past the hearing distance of the guardroom, Iluzisto finally growled at the two, "If you try anything like that again, crossbreeds, you can be certain you will find yourself strapped up by your arms once again after this trial!"
Vlad and Danny both knew better than to insist that the incident had been an accident—well, on Danny's part, anyway.
But the two ghost hybrids did learn some things about Iluzisto and the Observants during that small encounter. For one, the guardroom was painfully too close to the trial room, so escape through this hallway was now on the 'longshot' list. And it was just as painfully obvious that Iluzisto was not even well-liked by the Observants or their guards for some reason. And finally, it was apparent from the Prison Head that the feeling was mutual; and because of that, Iluzisto had a very short fuse with just about everyone...
Still, there was nothing much Vlad could do with this new knowledge, so he kept his neutral face and looked up at the large courtroom doors as they were slowly opened by two guards for them…
"Here we go again," Danny suddenly grumbled beside him.
Vlad only briefly glanced at him before bitterly muttering back, "Indeed…"
A/N: Truephan here: Well this was a very…complicated chapter, now wasn't it? Still, I hope it wasn't too complicated. After all, I wanted to make sure that this chapter kept y'all sitting on the edge of your seats! Uh, did it? Just want to make sure, so can you get at least me off the edge of my seat and tell us your thoughts? I'd love that since I don't want to accidentally slip off that edge and plop to the floor! Just the same, see you soon!
Pearl: Yes, lots of setup in this one, especially about those doors and their symbols! Don't forget about it! It's important! *winks* Well, it looks like with Sid updated it's time to switch over to DoaS. Heh-heh. Round-and-round Pearl goes. It's a miracle I haven't fallen off my seat from the dizziness. But I have fun with it all, and I hope you all do, too. Naturally, I am going to say I look forward to your lovely thoughts! They are our energy—you know, like the energizer bunny? Except it's more like, 'Pearl keeps going and going and going. And, look, now Truephan's going and going!' Ha-ha! Sorry, I wrote this very late last night and I get weird when I write late. Heh. I'm sure that says a lot! *giggles* Anyways, until next time, dear readers!