Skills for Success in Life

by animal-luver8153

There are 23 skills for success in life and Danny has them. Told from the POV of friends, family, and enemies. 23 prompts with 500 words or less. A challenge I created and am in the process of completing. Rated T for safety. First three chapters: Work Ethic, Compassion, and Courage. Now Up: Common Sense, Jack's POV.

6. Discernment

~~Discernment~~

Vlad's POV, Words: 391

I collapsed into my favorite chair the moment I got home. Another lair, gone up in smoke due to another failed plot. The losses were enormous this time, most of it could easily be replaced with a large check to one of my suppliers, but there were genetic formulas that I would never be able to get back. It was disheartening seeing another plan fail, especially when I spend weeks and months of careful planning on each of them. But as everything comes together, Daniel, stupid, foolish, wonderful Daniel manages to wreck everything. I've wracked my mind trying to figure out how he does it, but the only answer I had kept me awake at night.

I could never fool Daniel.

It wasn't just me though, Daniel had an excellent ability to discern if a ghost was friend or foe. I cringe when I unwillingly remember that the boy developed this skill after we met.

Even before I told him who, what I was, he suspected something was wrong. That's why I revealed myself when I did, in an effort to be honest with the young halfa. To let him know that he needn't be alone like I was, that he wouldn't face years of trying to master dangerous and frightening powers. I offered my hand of friendship, and he slapped it away.

I didn't expect the child to be so…so… pious. Where was the teenage rebellion? The apathy against the world? Where was the defiance of his parents I was hoping for? He didn't even pause to consider the fortune that I had to offer.

Daniel marked me as his enemy, I had no choice but to do the same.

But one day it will be different. One day he won't be my enemy, he'll be my son. Maddie will be my wife and Jack will be gone. Tomorrow I will make the necessary calls and sign what I need to make a new lab. Right now though, I needed to sleep today off.

As I crawled into bed, that pathetic little voice at the back of my head started antagonizing me again. It will never happen. He will always know the truth. You can't hide it from him. He will always see you for what you are.

Monster.

It's the third time this week I've need the sleeping pills.

Author's Note:

That little voice antagonizes me too, it says 'why aren't you writing something?'