Chapter XII: Whitened Sepulchers

Mr. Lancer

I sat in my chair dumbfounded by what I just heard, "Dear Chaucer," I said to myself trying to make heads or tails of what I had been told. I have had students tell me to back off but never with the fear that Taroku had in his voice. It wasn't a threat but a warning.

Normally I would be seething that a child had the gall to call me by my first name. It's disrespectful and rude as one would never address a superior in such a familiar tone. However I could tell by the look in his eyes and tone of voice that when Mr. Toyaka called me 'Edward' he meant not to 'dis' me but warn me that if I perused this matter even farther I would be dead.

"I need something to drink," I said as I got up and walked towards the teacher's longue to relax bit my mind was still set in fear. "What did…," I began to say as I passed by the main office but was stopped as I heard a strange conversation.

"I don't care what you think Hiroko, I want Timothy withdrawn from this school," a female voice said with menace. "You and your staff are not fit to care for him," she said as I leaned an ear against the door entranced by dark curiosity.

"Please Mrs. Toyaka, I can assure that this is the best place for Timothy," Principal Ishiyama assured the other woman. Toyaka could she be related to Taroku I wondered to myself as I listen to the exchange

"Vy neosvedomlennaya zemlerojka!" the woman screeched as I heard someone being slapped. "It's Ms. Toyaka, I had my marriage annulled it never happened!" the woman yelled at the principal. "Just sign the papers, so I can get out of here!" she said.

"Very well," Ishiyama said, "do you have a new school picked out?" she asked the woman who gave out a scoff at the question.

"He will be home schooled by Aldo Cardinal Borelli," the woman told Ishiyama proudly, "one of the most respected members of the College of Cardinals and personal friend to Pope Benedict himself," she said happily slamming something on the desk.

"There," the principal said sadly as I walked away before I would be spotted and left back to my classroom.

Timmy

"SKYE NO!" I screamed seeing my brother killed before my eyes before starting up in a cold sweat. I looked around saw that I was in my room. That dream was so real I swear it was reality. I looked over at the table and saw a stack of tables and books with notes from my teacher. "What happened?" I asked rubbing my temples.

"You had a nightmare dear child," Anti-Cosmo said as he appeared in front of me, "I had to cast a calming spell over you to prevent that crone you call a parent from coming here and drugging you up some more," he said cleaning his monocle. I could tell he was concerned with me. "While you were out two girls delivered your assignments," he explained.

"One of them was probably my cousin Annamaria," I explained as he nodded, "Where's Cosmo, Wanda, and…," I began to say as a chill went up my spine as if there was something else in the room.

"Are you all right?" the Anti-Fairy asked nervously as I nodded, "It's probably the ecto-energy from being at your friend's," he explained. "Cosmo and Wanda were called to a meeting by Jorgen von Strangle and I assume before you were interrupted you wished to inquire about Poof," he said as I stared at him. "I am an evil genius after all," he said clearing his through, "Poof was concerned for Danielle and went to see her, I gave my word that I w…," he said until he winced and fell to the ground.

"You okay?" I ask him as I help him up, "I'm no fairy expert but that shouldn't happen," I told him as he snickered.

"It's nothing just a flu," he said brushing it off. I was going to ask again but something else got my attention- a beeping sound.

"Do you hear that?" I asked Anti-Cosmo who seemed nervous, "A.C. what are you hiding?" I told him glaring as he sighed.

"Fine, I didn't want to alarm you but I fear that your privacy might be compromised," he said as I turned to a corner to where the noise seemed to be coming from. I could hear A.C. talking but I was transfixed on what was causing the noise.

I could see what looked like two small eyes glowing, "What is that?" I asked as I reached and picked up the creature to find a white metallic insect with a blue face and black horns. "Have you seen anything like this," I asked Anti-Cosmo.

"No," he said holding his monocle to it like a magnifying glass, "I would say we are looking at a spying device," he said placing a hand on his forehead, "I wish you parent would turn down the bloody thermostat," he fumed as I looked at him. "What?" he asked.

"It's freezing in here; I don't think it has to do with the temperature. Something tells that this might have to do with ghosts," I told him swallowing hard as I shuddered at the thought that a ghost was after me.

Dan Phantom

"So when do you serve breakfast?" Cosmo asked as I escorted him and his wife down the halls to their room. "I thought you said this was a five star hotel?" he said as I rolled my eyes. His stupidity was starting to grate on my nerves and yearned to exterminate him. However I knew it was best to wait until all were captured to do that.

"Cosmo, you do realize that we're his prisoners?" Wanda corrected him as we approached the cell, "You know when Jorgen comes to, he won't be happy," she threatened as I chuckled at that threat while turning to face the two fairies.

"Jorgen von Who?," I said waving Clockworks staff opening a small portal showing the fairy in chains, "Don't worry about him I told my friends to find a suitable place to recover," I said as Anti-Big Daddy floated towards me. "What is it?" I asked him as he smiled.

"A little gift for ye Dan, courtesy of Jorgen von Strangle," he said handing my the oversized wand, "he won't be needing it where he's going," my henchmen said as threw the fairies into the cell and took the wand in my other hand.

"Perfect," I said looking at the fairy, "Have you managed to find anything on this Timothy Stryke?" I asked him as he handed me a file. I opened the folder and read through the papers, "so his family is messed up to say the least," I said looking at his picture but then something else got my attention. "Excellent," I whispered noticing he lived in Amity Park!

"Lord Dan?" Anti-Big Daddy asked nervously as I glared at him, "what are your orders," he said as I thought for a second.

"Your men will accompany me in capturing Stryke, once he's captured bring him here," I informed him as he looked at curiously, "I have personal business in Amity Park and will stay behind for a bit. This business is mine alone so I will take care of it myself," I told him as he nodded and left as I looked at my captives.

I noticed that Clockwork was unusually silent and was afraid he had a trick up his sleeve, "What's wrong time master? No more threats?" I asked him as he looked at me with venomous eyes.

"I am letting the time line take its course, it will not allow you to continue this madness," he said in a low voice as I sneered at him.

"You just keep thinking that, it will be all the more satisfying when I prove you wrong," I said as I went to report to Anti-Binky about my progress.

Blade

"I won't be like my father," I said to myself as I walked back home, I vowed that I would never turn into my father but however fate always had a different plan for me. Our destiny was written and stone and like the traitors freezing to death in ninth circle of Dante's Inferno our souls are condemned before our time on earth is up.

I thought about the injustice of it, why we so cursed to this fate. I always thought it was because our ancestors Leo X and Clement VII's desecration of the Papacy with their greed and ambition. Those two were known to be some of the worst popes the church ever had.

Leo spent a seventh of the family fortune on a ceremony and had several rival cardinals who tried to kill him murdered by poisoning. It's because of him that Luther broke away disgusted with his abuses. Yes, when it came the Vatican, our ancestors didn't care about piety even power.

"Some things never change," I commented as I spotted Manson and Foley headed to the Nasty Burger, "I better see how Fenton…," I began to say I felt my joints freeze paralyzing me. 'What the heck is going on?' I thought as I saw a strange glowing clock in front of me.

"Well hello there," a voice growled as a tall figure appeared from inside the clock. He was tall with blue skin and fiery white hair. He was dressed in a white and black suit with a symbol that looked like oddly familiar to me. "Taroku Toyaka, I presume," he said placing a strange medallion on me.

"Ya predpochitayu byt' vyzvan Blade!" I told him glaring at me as he flashed an evil smile that made feel that a rabid dog was staring at me. His red eyes shone with a light that drove me nuts. "D'avol!" I shouted going to punch him by my hand went through him like he wasn't there.

"Boy your family must be messed up, you can't even speak properly," He said as he snapped his fingers and strange blue creatures that looked demonic Smurfs appeared and wrapped glowing green ropes around.

"Let me go!" I said as I trying to break free but they were too strong for me. "HELP SOMEONE! Pomogite mne! Tasuk…," I began to shout until the being put a hand over my mouth. "MMMM!" I muttered looking to where Sam and Tucker were standing.

"Forget it! They can't hear you," he said as he turned to one of the blue creatures, "take him to his new home, I'll be there shortly," the monster said as a strange vortex appeared and the creatures flew in with me in two. The last thing I heard was the demon's laugh before the vortex despaired.

Vlad

"What is he talking to?" I asked as I stared at the monitor, while he had discovered the bug Anacletus had installed I had other ways of checking on my citizens. I actually have tiny cameras placed in the vultures' fezzes allowing me to continue to monitor timothy.

I scratched my head trying to figure out who the lad was talking to, "There has to be someone there?" I asked myself as I adjusted the controls. "Maddie analyze the video feed," I told my computer curiously watching the empty space in front of him.

"All scanners are picking up only Timothy and Anacletus' group," she said as I slammed my fist on the keyboard.

"BUTTER COOKIES!" I shouted, "Maddie, adjust the scanner to pick up any foreign energy in the house," I ordered as the image changed and a strange form appeared next to the boy. "What in the name of Bret Favre," I said, "Maddie Analyze!" I asked my computer as she focused on the image for a second.

"The subject is an unknown being of great power, shall search for more information," she asked as I shook my head. I had other plans in store.

"Get in touch with Anacletus and tell him to report back," I ordered her leaning back in my chair. Whatever this power source is, I will soon possess it and use it destroy Jack Fenton!

Dex

"I don't care what you think of it, I still don't like him," I told mom on the other line as I hung up. I can't believe she's getting that old geezer Borelli involved with the boy. He was a total quack with his lame theories of a takeover of the Catholic Church by modernist and he is some sort of self proclaimed savior destined to save the Vatican from disaster.

I marched down to the brat's room to tell him to clean up for his guest, "HEY MONGREL YOU BETTER NOT BE ACTING UP, THE CARD IS COMING!" I yelled walking down the steps and saw looking at some toy. "I thought mom said you're not allowed to play with anything save the wretched teddy bear of yours," I told him taking it from him, "what junk is it," I asked looking at, "it looks like some kind of demented bug," I said laughing

"Onii-dono, you don't…," he pleaded grabbing my shirt, "that's a….," he said as I pushed him against the wall glaring at him.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!" I snarled as he cowered in his bed, "You're lucky mom likes you or else you would be…," I said as I heard a knock on the door. "I'm coming," I said storming up the steps. The knocks got louder, "I TOLD YOU I'M COMING YOU CRE...Cardinal," I said opening the door and seeing Cardinal Borelli standing outside.

"Ah, young Dexter how nice to see you," he said holding out his hand, "Ahem!" he said glaring as I rolled my eyes, knelt down, and kissed his ring.

"Welcome your Eminence," I said as he smiled and showed him inside, "mother is on her way home from finishing the withdrawal papers for that wretch downstairs," I told him as he glared at me.

"Dexter, that wretch as you call him is your brother and you should treat him with respect," Borelli scolded me as he removed his galero (the man still wears that ridiculous hat even after the pope abolished them, but then if Borelli had his way we'd be in the dark ages). "I think as penance for your cruelty you should bring my books in from the car," he said pointing to the door as I walked out and got his books.

"That nutcase," I grumbled as I opened the door and grabbed the mountain of books from inside and kicked the door shut. "GEEZ WHY THE HECK DO YOU HAVE ALL THESE BLASTED BOOKS!" I moaned as I came back in and dropped them on the floor.

Among the texts on the ground was a copy of Jerome's Vulgate Bible; Anslem's Cur Deus Homo; Aquinas' Summa Theologica; the Code of Cannon Law; and other nonsense. The only good thing was about this was that the chast' slizi was going to have to read all that junk. I wasn't going to miss that for anything.

"Language Dexter, for penance I want you to pray twenty Pater Nosters and twenty Ave Marias then read the parable of the Good Samaritan," he said as I glared at him, "Now!" he said sounding like a drill instructor as I stormed into my room to do what he said.