A/N: Hey, looks like it's time for an updated. Goin' to get revved up from now on. Hope you like and hope you throw your thoughts at me! Here is Chapter 50. Enjoy!

TrueHeart—Chapter 50—In the Snare

Danny groaned at the raw throbbing he felt in his head, becoming more painfully aware that he was now slowly drifting back into consciousness. And then just as sudden, he felt weak all over and his mind began to float unexpectedly again, as if he might pass right back out. He tried to fight that sensation, groaning with the effort, and wondering why his body felt so heavy.

But Danny didn't know that he had actually tried to regain consciousness several times all ready—-all without success. And that was because Spectra had taken control of Bertrand's little machine, readily zapping the teen as soon as he stirred. She couldn't wait to suck his pheromonal energy out of him right away; and therefore sent Danny right back into senselessness each time.

But then, Danny's dazed mind thought he heard a female voice say, "Looks like he's finally coming to again!"

The boy's muddled mind jolted to more clarity in the next instant when he heard another voice. But this time, it was a male's voice. And it was clearly irritated as it chided, "Well, if you would just leave him be for just two seconds, he might recuperate enough so that trying to get more out of him would be worth it, Spectra! You can't get any more out of him while he's unconscious and you can't keep taking from a drying well if there's no rain to replenish it!"

"There ya go, again, Bertrand, with those stale catch phrases," Spectra dryly remarked, ignoring the fact that she could tell that he was really ticked off.

"Oh, please…" he began with a roll of his eyes. But then he grunted in irritation and yanked the machine out of her hands.

She quickly tried grabbing the machine back as she objected, "Wait!"

"No, you wait, Spectra!" he growled back, pulling the machine closer to his bosom.

This time, she frowned but did as Bertrand said; and they both silently turned to look at the rousing boy.

Danny frowned in confusion at the resultant silence and groaned when he tried to move again. But he felt a resistance and reflexively struggled against what felt like bindings. He slowly opened his eyes, wondering why he could hardly move. But when he did, his double vision first met two sets of eyes, before the single pair of blood-red menacing eyes finally came into focus. He jolted in reaction and pulled on his bonds again. But the metal clamps held both of his arms and legs firmly against the wall. Each of his arms was at eye level and pinned against either side of him. And his feet, though touching the floor, were far enough apart so that he couldn't use them with any leverage.

This time, Spectra chuckled when she realized that the boy was now awake. "Well, well," she smugly began, immediately drawing herself into his line of vision. "Weren't expecting to see me, were you, Danny?"

But she didn't wait for his response. She drew her face even closer to his and sneered in triumph. "For a moment, neither did I when your pesky little friends interfered as they did back then. They're getting pretty good, I should say, and they almost took me out. But they didn't, of course. And I didn't even make that ghost-fighter-in-red's day, though it looked to me that she was after any fair ghost game, including you. But it doesn't matter about her, either, because we took care of all of them, right, Bertrand?"

Her words finally snapped the young hybrid's mind to attention and he felt his heart burn with fear. He was finally able to mutter in his slurred, yet demanding, voice, "W-What d-do you mean? W-What did you do to them? If you had so much as tou…"

She smiled smugly again before interrupting him, "My, you still manage to sound awfully defiant even when you're in no condition to back up that threat. But, just as well! Whatever it takes to get your strength back is just fine with me! And as far as your friends go, you'll never know, will you?"

Danny grew angrier this time and pulled on his bonds. Now that his mind had fully cleared, he willed his transformation back to his alter ego, and unsuccessfully yanked on the clamps again. He frowned when he failed, knowing that he must still be very weak. But then, he had an idea and immediately shot a glanced at each of his wrists. His Blazers were still there—and on!-—and he knew they would help him blast off his bonds even in his weakened state.

But just when he tried to activate his Blazers, Bertrand, who had noticed Danny's quick look and could guess what he had planned, quickly soared over to him. He deftly removed the weapons before Danny could do any more, smugly taunting the boy as he did, "Can't have you come up with any lame ideas, now can we?"

The young hybrid glared in anger at the shape-shifter. But he turned back to Spectra and with a definitely stronger voice, uttered, "I swear, Spectra, if you have hurt my friends…"

But again, she interrupted him, this time clucking a little as she casually replied, "You really are the stubborn-type, aren't you? But we'll see how long that lasts! And since you lost so much of your pheromones, that can't be too long! I hadn't really realized that they would be more powerfully delicious and powerfully debilitating to you at the same time until now."

She didn't see when Bertrand frowned at her last statement. He had told her that! Still, he kept silent as she continued.

She chuckled, "Kinda makes me see the vampire point-of-view in a whole different light. Marvelous!...So, Danny, now that we both know that, I don't think you're in any position to make threats, especially now that we got rid of those annoying wrist thingies. And I strongly suggest that it's best that you not worry about anything else at the moment when you have bigger worries…like…"

She paused and backed out of his face so that his line of vision was now clear enough to see around the tiny room. And then she continued with a sneer, "…like being worried about the well-being of your little girlfriend!"

Danny gasped when he saw Sam bound as he was against the wall right next to him. But, if he could call it fortunate, they were very near each other because the room was so small. But he frowned with concern when he saw her limp body and lowered head. And although he could not see her face because her hair was totally engulfing it, she was obviously unconscious.

Reflexively struggling against his bindings again, he angrily said through gritted teeth, "What did you…"

Spectra rolled her eyes as she flippantly interrupted him again, "And I thought that animal couple was dramatic! You and your girlfriend make them look so boring and milk-toast. Still, your comeback was a bit on the stale side." But her tone immediately turned hostile and threatening as she pointed to Sam and added, "And what I did to her already is nothing compared to what I'll do to her if you don't cooperate!"

This time, Danny pulled on his bonds again and grunted in defiance. He then rolled his eyes in annoyance and answered, "Same lame old line there yourself, Spectra, especially when you smugly say it all now that you're so sure that you stacked the odds in your favor this time. Just what do you want?"

She smiled wickedly. "Why, haven't you figured that out yet, Danny? I thought by now you would have gotten a brighter bulb burning in that little skull of yours. Still, I can't say that I'm disappointed with you, since it's clear that you are not too bright of a creepy little freak!"

Danny squelched his gasp at her insult. That was almost exactly what Sam had said just before their break-up! And this just reaffirmed to him that Spectra had indeed overshadowed Sam back then just as the enchanted dove had said! And that would mean that everything else that Sarah told him was absolutely true. But he didn't let on that he knew all this.

Then another idea suddenly crossed his mind. Though he didn't want it to be any more true than he had once thought—and yet hoping his idea would work—-he bit the inside of his lower lip before saying, "Look, Spectra. I don't know why you brought Sam here. For your information, we're through, and she's no longer my girlfriend."

"Oh? She said that, too. But she also seemed awfully concerned about you earlier; and, besides, why did you then react with such hostility toward me when you first saw her, hmmm?"

Danny frowned, reflexively not believing what Spectra said about Sam. Sarah had also said that Sam wanted to be with him again when his girl was searching for him at his home. Still, since he hadn't seen or talked to Sam for what seemed forever, he did have a twinge of doubt. Did Sam suddenly change her mind about their relationship? He hoped not; and he wouldn't be satisfied until he heard it straight from her. Again, he didn't want to let on any of this to the 'jerkess' in front of him. So instead, he concentrated on sounding annoyed and said, "Well, I can see that you're a lot on the slow side, too, or haven't you ever noticed that I get kinda upset when any human is in danger? And even though I really don't care about Sam any more, in case you haven't noticed, she still is a human, and so no exception."

Spectra frowned in irritation at his reply. Did he mean that? Had he really gotten over their relationship that quickly? Well, possibly, since he was one of those unpredictable teens. Then, that would mean that he wouldn't have any more angst feelings about their break-up to harvest! But she had thought that their energy level in their relationship was practically off the scale when Bertrand measured it. Darn it! This was all Bertrand's fault, then! And now she had gotten these two here for no reason? But then, she stopped at her next thought. It didn't really matter if they had broken up or not. What he just said—about the fact that he would be worried about any human in danger—was enough.

She smiled at that last thought and cooed wickedly, "Then, we'll just have to see how this all plays out. But, in the meantime, it's time to prepare you for the show!"

"What do you mean…?" But he couldn't complete his thought. Instead, he yelled in pain as the shadow ghost's purple ray shot forward, hitting him brutally in his abdomen. He gasped in agony, struggling for air. The blow had literally knocked the breath out of him, and he felt as dizzy as he had been when he was first gaining consciousness.

The female Spectre laughed wickedly, darkly satisfied with the all the pain she had just inflicted on the bound boy. It reminded her of all the delight she had had while she was in the Spectre Realm doing that same thing to her enemy Ombre's offspring. Reeling with glee at the thought, she shot him once more for the mere pleasure of it.

The boy's next groan was in reality a weak wheeze; and because he still had not fully recovered from his initial attack in the Real World or her first blow just now, the young hybrid could no longer hold his spinning head up. His vision blurred into nothingness, and his head dropped to his chest.

"Why did you do that, Spectra?" Bertrand whined in irritation. "He's still no good to us when he's unconscious!"

"True. But he's also no good to us if he's not in misery. And I know just how to get him to be. He should recover soon enough; and when he does, we'll be ready. Now, just float there, be quiet and wait for my next cue."

"Which is?" he dryly countered.

"Well, you'll see. You know how I love surprises."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief, before remarking, "Well, you'll certainly get an even bigger surprise if you get the kid to the height of his 'gloom and doom' and then can't do anything about it."

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning in concern.

He scowled back, "I mean, you used up all the vials and there are no more empty vials here!" He immediately glared at her as he growled, "And don't even think about emptying out my precious potions in the lab to get some! Those brews are priceless!"

"To some ghosts, anyways," Spectra flippantly said, briefly rolling her eyes upward before looking back at her assistant. But when Bertrand glared even more with annoyance at her remark, she quickly apologized, "All right! All right! Don't get your pants up in a knot!"

Bertrand humphed indignantly and replied, "Whatever. In any case, I have a lot of empty vials at my place! And remember how I've already been there today? I went there to recuperate after I got the short end of the stick in our little fight with the kid and his friends. If you had just let me onto your clever plans earlier than this, I would have brought them along, including their pouches! Now, you'll just have to wait until I get back to 'put on your show'. He humphed in exasperation, wondering what in the Ghost Zone she had been thinking! Then, he suddenly rolled his eyes in irritation at his next thought. He now had an inkling of what her plans would be. He added, "And I'll have to bring some other things as well."

She crossly huffed, "Then, hurry up, will you?"

He returned her huff as he began to soar upward towards the exit. And when he reached the trap door, he pulled it open and exited. Now, in the main part of Spectra's lair, he grumbled something under his breath as he turned back to the door and shut it, and it all but disappeared from sight….

As he left her lair, he sighed, no longer angry with her. Getting those pheromones was more important…Besides, she was right. He would find out soon enough about her plans.

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"We are sorry that we led you here without a plan," Sarah apologized to the young human pair. "All we knew was that we just had to come back here and try to help. But, perhaps, there is still a way. We are also small enough—at least, I'm small enough—so that we might be able to slip into the evil sorceress' lair undetected."

"No, Sarah!" Derek immediately objected, frowning in sudden worry for her safety.

"Please, Husband," she gently begged. "It is the most logical plan at this most desperate point. I can remain invisible the whole time and I can also blend into the smallest of shadowed corners. But we must know what is transpiring before we act. I promise not to do anymore than observe any discoveries. And then, I will return back here with haste when I have found anything of importance."

Derek still shook his head in disagreement with her.

But then, Tucker piped in, "I think that Sarah has a good point. I can make a portal within the lair, but it would be better if it was as small as possible so that it wouldn't be that noticeable. And it would be a good idea to start in that rarely-used room you told us about, Derek."

The two ghost animals and two humans fell in thought after Tucker's comment.

Then Valerie finally commented, "I agree with Tucker and Sarah. She is the best choice as far as sneaking into the joint."

This time, the two humans and the dove turned to look at the lynx.

Derek's eyes widened in slight fear for his wife, but then reluctantly sighed. He knew he was outvoted, especially since he couldn't come up with a better plan. He nodded his concession to the majority before insisting, "All right. But do we agree that Sarah is only to observe what is transpiring and no more; and then come back to tell us all that she has witnessed—in haste?"

"Yes," the remaining trio affirmed in unison.

"I agree, then," Derek concurred. He then looked right at his wife and mustered a weak smile.

But she could tell that even though he was trying to convey his encouragement and consent with that smile, he was still very anxious about their decision.

She flitted right up to him when she saw that worry and touched her forehead gently to his. She then flew to his ear and whispered, "I promise to be wary of what I will encounter and remain as silent as I can…Just for you."

She gently and affectionately pecked at one of the whiskers on his muzzle right after she said that before flying right over to Tucker and flapping her wings in a hover in front of him.

"I am ready, Sir Tucker. Please tell me of what I should do," she bravely said.

He half-smiled at how she had addressed him and said, "Well, all you have to do is go into the portal I create and it'll do the rest. But, it's best if you turn invisible before you enter it so that when you cross to the other side, you'll already be hidden. I also think it's best not to keep the portal open for long; so that you won't draw any more attention than what's necessary. So, once you get there, I'll cut off the power. But I will open one just like it at the same place in about, say, five minutes, OK? I know that you might not be able to tell how long that will be. And so, it would be best if you take a quick look around and then make an even quicker exit after that, OK?"

"I understand and thank you, kind Sir. I am ready at your command," she quietly said.

After his PDA scanned the lair, Tucker calculated the coordinates. And once satisfied that he had the correct ones, he pushed the commands on his PDA. A small, barely-formed portal suddenly materialized from a tiny beam from his PDA. It looked as if Sarah would barely fit into it.

Sarah glanced at her husband and gave him an encouraging smile. He, in turn, nodded to her just as she turned invisible and carefully and slowly flew into the portal. Her tiny body was immediately swallowed into it.

Derek was glad that she did not see his jaw tense and nervous swallow just when she did.

A moment later, Sarah found herself in a dark corner of that very same rarely-used room. As soon as her tail feathers slipped out of the portal, it disappeared. She maintained her invisibility and tried to fly as quietly as possible. But as she glided onward, she grew worried. The soft echo of her fluttering wings seemed like a whirlwind in the cold silence of this area of the lair.

She quickly floated downward to the ground and decided to hop. This time, she squelched her sigh of relief. She could not hear any sound from the light steps of her tiny feet. Satisfied that she was as quiet as she could be, she hopped more quickly, anxious to investigate the lair.

She scanned the area as she moved, growing more bewildered as she did. It was so dark in here. Too dark. The last time that happened, her husband and she had been the only ghosts in the lair.

She felt a sudden grip of fear within her bosom at the thought: Did Spectra take Sir Danny somewhere else? The dove decided that if she must see if this were so, she would have to hurry. She leapt upward, now turning intangible as well as maintaining her invisibility. Not hearing the flutter of her wings when she did, she gently and silently chided herself for not thinking to do that in the beginning. But then again, she rarely used the only two ghostly powers she had. Nevertheless, she just as quickly threw that thought away and soared from darkened room to darkened room, only to find the same thing in each of them: that they were totally devoid of light—or of any other being.

She finally came full circle back to her rendezvous point, upset that either they were somehow too early in coming here—or, worse, too late! She gasped in dread at the thought, feeling as if she had failed the boy again. But then, another thought kept her from becoming frantic with fear: maybe the sorceress had taken him to her servant's home! She calmed a little at that possibility, yet then startled a little when the tiny portal reappeared on schedule.

She didn't hesitate to dive right into it. Within the time it took for the next beat of Tucker and Valerie's hearts, Sarah returned to their hiding place behind the boulder on the green shelf nearby Spectra's lair.

As Sarah rematerialized in front of the portal, she did not notice the relief in her husband's eyes. Instead, she quickly looked to the teens and excitedly said, "The lair is empty! We must hasten to the lair of Spectra's servant!"

Tucker groaned at her words. "Bertrand has his own lair? We didn't know that! It never occurred to us to even imagine he did, since he's usually here at Spectra's lair. We've never stumbled upon it when we've worked on mapping the Ghost Zone; so, of course, I don't have a clue on where that is!"

"But I know he has a home. He has mentioned that when he was at Spectra's home and when we were their prisoners," Derek piped in.

They fell to silence again; but then, Valerie had an idea. "OK, let me try something else."

The other three companions waited anxiously while Valerie pushed on the command buttons of her radar gear. After a few minutes, she muttered, "Darn it! I don't get even a blip of a reading on Danny's signature."

Tucker smiled weakly at her and replied, "That was a nice try, Valerie, but I could have told you that it would be almost impossible to get a lock on his—or any other ghost's— signature in the Ghost Zone."

But she quickly retorted, "Are you kidding? I'm telling you he's not here!" But then, she cringed when she caught herself. She suddenly realized that she relapsed a bit to her old—and now unwanted—habit. She cringed again and sighed. Then, with more control in her voice and a slight frown of remorse on her face, she continued. "I mean, I know that it's hard to get a reading on just any ghost in here, Tucker, but when I was in here accidentally not too long ago, I was able to pick up on part of Danny's signature. After all, I am used to looking for and finding it in the Real World; and, besides, it is awfully unique."

Tucker had winced at her first remark and with that last bit of information. But when he saw Valerie's apologetic smile in return, he managed to smile back, "You're right, of course, honey."

Valerie smiled weakly back.

But now, they were still at a loss. And, of course, they didn't know that they wouldn't have been able to track Danny's whereabouts at all even if they could recognize his unique blip in the Ghost Zone. And that's because the last bit of Bertrand's de-ghost-a-fier had entirely spilled on him earlier in the day and was still totally masking his energy signature.

"Hey, I got an idea!" Tucker said to Valerie. "Do you still have a record of Bertrand's energy signature?"

"Who's Bertrand?" the Red Huntress asked, not recalling that name.

"He's Spectra's assistant, the shape-shifter that gave you that nasty cut on your arm when he was a wolf," Tucker replied.

Her face scrunched up with determination this time as she replied, "Oh, yeah! Duh! Now I won't ever forget it! But I do keep records of all the ghosts I fight and their signatures! Give me a sec."

She immediately pulled up that part of her instruments and searched for the signatures of the three last ghosts that she fought, which were, of course, Spectra and Bertrand—and Danny. She showed Tucker the results and he matched his records with hers, easily determining which of the three signatures was Bertrand's.

With a smug smile, he said, "OK, let's see how good this futuristic hunter's PDA really is!"

He pushed a button, and a small wire snaked out of it. The end of the wire interfaced his PDA into Valerie's radar system and started giving it commands. All of the sudden, his smile widened as the PDA began to display screen after screen of technical jargon as it tried to calculate his commands. Then, as if tuning in a radio, the PDA fine-tuned the energy signatures that were echoing in this area, eliminating each unwanted one, one-by-one, until all that was left was the pulse of Bertrand's signature. The little machine immediately beeped rapidly when it had completed its objective.

Tucker grinned in triumph. "Faint, but got 'im! They don't call Skulker, or I should say, Skultech, 'The Ghost Zone's future Greatest Hunter' for nothin'!" But seeing the confused look on Valerie's face, he sheepishly added, "I'll explain that, too, when we get the time, OK?"

Valerie silently nodded.

Then pointing the way, Tucker excitedly added, "And Bertrand's that way!" He quickly locked in the coordinates displayed on his PDA and plotted the fastest course to the ghost's position.

Sarah and Derek, meanwhile, had floated next to the two young humans, amazed at their fortitude and ingenuity. The ghost animals wondered if magic existed throughout both worlds now. Still, they were encouraged when these two young people found a way to help after all.

Neither couple needed any more prompting, and they all headed toward that direction, this time with Valerie and Tucker leading the way.

But they could not know that shortly after they had located Bertrand's position, he had retrieved those several pouches full of empty vials and some other supplies from his home, and was headed back to Spectra's lair.