And so the cavalry shows up- though next chapter is gonna be huuggee (or maybe it isn't- maybe I'm just playin' you, but ya won't know till next week~)
~CWA
CHAPTER FORTY
Danny Fenton
A week later
I run my fingers through my hair with another tired sigh as I pace up and down the roof of the hospital. I don't trust myself to wander too far while Tadashi is recovering. I've already made a duplicate to watch over Aunt Cass, Hiro and the others (invisibly) to keep an eye out. And of course, it doesn't help that Hiro hasn't exactly been friendly toward me since our little talk yesterday- in fact, he hasn't even showed up the hospital since then. But duplication can only do so much and only lasts for a certain amount of time. Granted, because of my duplicate I do at least know that Hiro is up to something- he was seen looking through the wreckage of the presentation center and acting very strange. But he's not in trouble and he's not doing anything bad yet. So I have to focus on just protecting him and the others and getting rid of Vlad first. But I need a more permanent solution to watch over everyone…
Light bulb. The solution hits me like a bullet. Granted, this so-called solution could also cause some problems. But for the moment, I need some cavalry by side and this will be the best way to do it. I need to summon Cujo. Except summoning Cujo leaves Ellie and Jazz slightly more vulnerable…. I shake that thought out of my head. Yes, Cujo is there for Ellie's protection. But when it comes down to it, when it comes to Vlad, Jazz can handle herself. She can protect Ellie and herself. She knows how to hide well. I don't expect her to run at Vlad with guns blazing- I could never even ask that of her- and I want her and Ellie to stay in New York to be safe away from Vlad anyway.
I scramble for my phone and dial my sister's number. Impatiently tapping my foot when she doesn't answer right away. When she finally does answer, I cut her off before she can even say hello.
"Jazz," my voice comes out a bit more frantic than I mean for it to, "We have a problem. Like a major one. As in the biggest possible problem we could ever have."
"Danny," Jazz's voice comes on the other end after a full few seconds of silence, "Danny what's wrong? What's going on? Did something happen? Did a ghost show up? Do I need to come over there I can book a flight and-"
"-No," I say sharply, almost snapping at her, "You have to stay there. With Ellie. Protect her and don't you dare try to go anywhere or do anything. Lock yourself up with as much anti-ghost stuff you can. Teach James, or Bucky or whatever, or anyone you can trust with those ghost weapons and prepare for the worst. I don't think he'll go after you- not yet- if he even knows where you are."
There is another pause of silence. A more tentative slightly frightened one before her voice comes back on, this time she speaks with no fear, her voice like steel.
"Danny if Vlad is there," I knew that my sister would know who I was speaking of, but her actually saying his name causes me to suck in a breath as she continues, "You have to be careful. Call up your allies if you have to."
I scowl slightly, crinkling up my nose, my eyes gaining a red tint to them that disappears in a blink. I need cavalry, but Cujo (and maybe one or two others I can think of off the top of my head) are discreet enough to watch over everyone. Frostbite isn't exactly a spy. Wulf doesn't even speak in a language they'd understand so if it comes down to an emergency, he wouldn't be able to tell them anything if needed. Clockwork's already helped out and I know he's watching from his tower- he'd intervene if things get dire. Ghostwriter is a maybe, but calling up him a second time to help out is stretching out what truce we have. Youngblood's invisibility only stretches to adults and he's not patient enough to watch over someone.
"I'm calling up Cujo actually," I answer her easily, "I trust you, Jazz. I know that should worse come to worse, Ellie is safer with you there than she is with me here. Especially with Vlad so close. So just, don't be alarmed when Cujo just disappears okay? As for my allies, I'm thinking about it. There's not many that can blend… in..."
As I say those words, it dawns on me. The one ghost whose great at blending at in, despite how twisted his reasons are at times. Someone who knows to not go against me, someone who made a great spy for the Battle. Somehow that I know won't do well against Vlad, but can keep an eye out for him and at the very least, protect from Callaghan.
"Who you gonna call?"
The quick response of Ghostbusters dies in my throat as I shove the smart-ass comment down. I don't really give her much of an answer, instead opt for just saying that it will be okay, not to come here, and a hasten goodbye love you before hanging up and shoving the phone into my pocket. I take a deep, rather unneeded breath, and rub my hands together in anticipation. Well. Here goes nothing. Concentrating on a relatively new power that had developed during the Battle, I raise my hands that glow green with ectoplasm. What begins as almost a portal forming in the air, changes shape, forming a circle with markings and symbols. A glyph. Or as some may call it, a summoning circle.
A small bead of sweat forms on my brow from the concentration required. The thing about summoning is that, aside from the fact that I've rarely if ever used it, it requires for me to know the ghost I'm summoning. It takes a lot of energy on my part, energy that I wouldn't even be using if I didn't need someone to back me up here.
It takes a moment, until finally a familiar green puppy pokes it head from the glyph, similar to how a portal would work, and upon seeing me, jumps directly out of and leaps onto me with a yip. The glyph disappears as I break concentration and land onto the ground with a small thud, a rather heavy small puppy bouncing on my chest as it licks at my face.
"Cujo," I groan, "Off. Now."
He whines, but complies with the command and gets off. A happy look appears on his face as he pants heavily, wagging his tail without a care in the world. I stand back up, a bit unsteadily, and already, I'm a bit out of breath. Damn it. I really need to use this power more often. Even my ghostly wail doesn't drain me this much this quick. Or at least it doesn't anymore. As my hand drapes at my side, Cujo nudges it with concern, causing me to smile and pat his head briefly before I continue on my summoning. The glyph appears a bit more shakily and almost like static, drifts in and out of sight in a jarring manner before finally steadying.
"Cujo, stand down," I say to him, letting him know to not attack the ghost that will soon appear.
It takes only a moment before the ghost I'm summoning appears. His cane sticks through first, waving about in a cautious manner, before finally, he steps through. The red glasses on his face and the tilt of his head are the only indication that he's looking in my direction due to his expressionless face. I let out a sigh and the glyph disappears as I slump my shoulders. The ghost steps forward, briefly turning his head toward Cujo before gently tapping me with his cane.
"Ey, kid, you okay? What's the problem?"
I wave off his concern and I'm eventually I'm able to stand up fully, straightening my back and pushing my shoulders back as I look at him. With one look, he snaps at attention, standing tall, a soldier awaiting orders.
"At ease, Amorpho," I say, causing him to relax, "I called you here because I need your help…. Vlad's returned."
Somehow, even with him lacking a face, I can tell he's unnerved. Maybe from the way he takes an unsure step back. Or the twiddling of his cane. The nervous jittery hand that reaches up to fiddle with his hat. I shake my head slightly and plop down on the ground, opting for sitting after a tiring session.
"Relax, I'm not asking you to fight him. Not directly. I just… I need to find out what he's up to and I can't do that when I have people here that I need to protect. Cujo's going to look after my boyfriend and his aunt- he's recovering in the hospital from one of Vlad now."
Amorpho looks a bit intrigued by that bit of information and I can tell he's just dying to spread that new gossip around the Zone. Should word get out that the Ghost King has a new beau, it's going to be absolute mania in regards of any ghost media. With being dead and in a more isolate dimension, many ghosts don't have anything else to do aside from gossip. Hell, some ghosts even have an obsession with the stuff, or with journalism which almost goes hand-in-hand.
However, the mere mention of Tadashi's current condition- specifically of Vlad being the one putting him there- makes me falter for a moment, my eyes flaring up with red rage as a guttural growl builds in my throat before I shake it off. Though Amorpho's casual, intrigued demeanor changes to a fearful one before returning back normal. I don't blame him for that fearful look- how can I? He, along with a few other ghosts, have seen that side of me. The battle-worn, angry Phantom that has no mercy. The one that broke Vlad's leg. The one that killed many of Vlad's minions without so much as blinking. The one with the red eyes and small elongated canines. The one that didn't quite resemble Dan, but was close enough to unsettle me to my core, but as much it unsettles me, I can't ever seem to control it in time. Not when it's red hot rage led by my obsession to protect.
"I know you can duplicate," I continue, not answering his nonvocal question about my mysteriously new boyfriend or from the surge of anger, "- even if you don't really use it. I need you to keep an eye on my boyfriend's little brother and on my friends at the college. Keep an eye out for Vlad and for his new accomplice."
I reach into my pocket and pull out a wrinkled article from the newspaper that announced Callaghan's death. Amorpho takes the picture with a tilt of his head, a small hum emitting from his form.
"He doesn't really look like much. Vlad really paired up with this guy?"
I stand a bit firmer, a bit straighter, with my arms crossed and the best don't question me look on my face.
"Like I said, I'm looking into things. Just keep an eye out for him or Vlad. Warn me if it's Vlad, take care of it if it's the accomplice- his name's Callaghan by the way. Previous professor at the college I'm attending. Guy's a creep. You'll recognize him from his jarring aura, trust me- it's a very distinguished. Like Vlad's but a hell lot more tame and less evil. My friends will be in the lab at the San Franskoyo Institute of Technology- they'll be grouped together. It's a unique bunch, can't miss them- big guy named Wasabi, a small intimidating girl that looks almost like Sam named GoGo, a tall Latino named Honey, and a guy who has a vague resemblance to Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, ironically, his name's Fred. Send a duplicate to watch over Cass- she's the owner of the cafe on fifth street, the cat themed one, you can't miss it. Hiro, my boyfriend's little brother, will be there too on the upstairs level. Do not engage with them directly, do not let them know who or what you are and do not let them know your connection to me. Most importantly, stay disguised or invisible at all times and keep them safe. Do you understand your orders?"
The thing with Amorpho is that everything has to be pretty cut and clear. He's good at following direct orders, but tends to jump through the loop holes when he can. Amorpho brushes off my stern tone, waving his hand in a carefree manner.
"I'm almost hurt you don't think I'm capable of this, but yes, I understand. Don't engage, don't them know anything, stay disguised. Take down this Callaghan or whatever if needed, but warn you if it's Vlad. I know, I know."
He shrugs almost carelessly and puts the picture of Callaghan into his jacket pocket. He turns on his heels, almost briefly waiting for another order, before he continues to walks toward to the edge of the hospital. Only then do I call out to him once again.
"Amorpho, don't take on my appearance at all during this. That's a direct order."
I can hear him curse under his breath, on the brink of almost throwing a tantrum, before he turns on his heels as he stands on the ledge of the roof to face me.
"Fine."
And with that, he falls backward off the ledge and into the air, taking off invisible to the naked, human eye. Except… I curse under my breath when I remember about Baymax.
