Warning: As always, this chapter has adult content, mpreg, violence and language. This chapter also includes rape, violence and disasters but none to canon characters. Please be advised.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom. I do not receive money for this, only personal enjoyment.
Chapter Five: Going Under
The daytime was unusually busy but the nighttime had me struggling to keep up. I had my team working alongside me, trying to protect the people but I knew we weren't enough. We'd find bodies in alleyways and they were always female in the daytime but there was no preference at night. I didn't know what to do. If I stayed in one town too long, someplace else was being attacked. There were just too many ghosts.
I couldn't control the ghosts. I couldn't control the portals. The nests were too much for me to deal with. I just felt so powerless. I tried to force myself to sleep but images of dead people haunted my dreams. In one town the street walkers were targeted. In another, it was children. Yet another, women were being killed. I couldn't do anything to protect these people. It was just a drop in a bucket when I took out one ghost; there was always another to take its place.
I shot awake, unable to sleep more than a couple hours. I was sleeping during the daytime now. I was needed too badly at night. I went to my kitchen, grabbing my Wild Turkey. I left the shot glass in the sink full of dirty dishes. I twisted the top off, taking a big drink. I was so tired of it. So much death. So much destruction. I liked the empty feeling. I wished Vlad was here so I could feel it stronger.
The egg started buzzing not long after I started drinking. I wasn't feeling so good but I didn't want to stop. I had a few more hours before nightfall. I sobered up as soon as I stopped drinking; I didn't need to stop yet.
I stumbled to the counter, grabbing the egg. I pushed the button, making sure the monitor wasn't pointed at me.
"Danny," Mom asked, her voice confused. "Are you there, honey?"
"I'm here," I said, taking another drink.
"Where are you," Mom asked. "Someone wants to see you."
"I'm not in the mood," I growled. I took a big drink. I didn't want any time between drinks. I might sober up.
"Is everything okay," Mom asked me. "Let me see you."
"I'd rather not," I grunted.
"Mama," I heard a soft voice. "Mama, it's my birthday."
I took another drink. "I'm sorry, baby. It's been crazy down here."
"That okay, Mama," Megan replied. I wiped my mouth, pushing the bottle away. My daughter deserved to see her father on her birthday.
"Did Sam and Tucker shower you in presents," I asked.
"Yeah," she giggled. "Sam bought me a dolly, Mama. Uncle Tucker took me to see the animals."
"That's great," I smiled painfully. "What about Lilly? What else did you get?"
"I got a bunch of toys, Mama," Megan sighed. "Why didn't you get me anything?"
I fought the urge to grab the bottle. "I'm sorry. I'll pick you something up and send it to you. How about that?"
"When you coming home," she asked me. I rubbed my eyes, trying to sober up.
"I don't know, baby. I've got a pretty big job to do right now."
"Bigger than me," Megan asked. I shuttered a breath.
"No. Never bigger than you, Megan." I pulled the egg closer to me and hoped I looked like I had half a brain. "You know I love you, baby. I'm doing the best I can."
"I miss you, Mama," Megan said, rubbing her eyes. I could see she was right on the verge of tears. "I want you to come home."
"I can't right now, darling. I've got a lot of work to do."
"Megan, sweetheart, give Daddy and I a moment, okay. You go play with your toys."
"Okay, Grandma," Megan said. Megan put her hands on the egg, almost blocking her picture out. "I love you, Mama. Come home soon."
I rubbed my index finger over the egg. "I love you too, Megan. Happy birthday, sweetheart."
Megan removed her hand and disappeared from my sight. Mom centered the egg where she was right in the middle. "What's going on?"
"I've been busy. I lost track of time."
"You've lost more than the track of time," Mom declared. "Are you doing drugs?"
"What," I asked, shaking my head. I wasn't, either. Just drinking a little. "I'm not doing drugs, Mom. I don't mess with that stuff."
"You look terrible, Danny," Mom declared. "You completely ignored your daughter. I don't believe you when you say you miss her!"
"What," I declared. "Mom, I'm tired and I'm overworked. I'm sorry I'm not a spring flower."
"I don't expect you to look perfect but I do believe you are abusing something. What is it?"
"I've had a few drinks," I said, looking away. "I had a few before I laid down. It's probably not out of my system."
"Alcohol," Mom declared. "I thought I told you not to do that stuff until you were of age!"
"I'm sorry I don't fit your bill of perfection," I retorted. "I'm doing the best I can. I can't do this alone."
"Then come home and we can do this together. Drinking is not helping, though."
"It takes my mind off things," I said, looking away. "Besides, I don't overdo it. Just a few shots."
"Just be careful, Danny. I don't want you arrested."
"Don't worry. I'm not going to get arrested."
"You could get hurt. Please, Danny, stop drinking."
"I'll be okay."
"Why are you drinking," Mom asked me. She crossed her arms, concern on her face. "What's happening out there, baby?"
"Bad things," I said, looking away. "I'm only one person."
"Do not blame yourself," Mom said sternly. "You are making a difference. You can't do everything."
"That's why I'm drinking," I retorted. I faltered. "I mean, a little bit. To take the edge off."
"I'm going to bring you home," Mom said. I kept my attention on the far wall. "I won't allow you to kill yourself. You are still more important to me than anything else in this world."
"There are other people's babies out here, Mom," I said, swallowing hard. My stomach lurched and I gripped the table.
"Danny," Mom asked, worried.
"I'm just one person," I continued. My world started to spin.
"Sweetie, talk to me," Mom declared.
"I've got to go," I said, turning off the egg and leaving the kitchen. I ran to the bathroom, throwing up in the bowl. It wasn't food, though. It was all of the Wild Turkey I drank. Nothing but liquid came out of my stomach. My head spun and it felt like my stomach was above my body. I clutched the toilet, putting my head on the bowl. I didn't feel so good.
I pulled myself up, washing out my mouth. I don't know what is up with me but I don't like it. I haven't felt like myself since I left.
(04)
I was back on the streets. It was late and I could see the stars burning brightly in the sky. I was in my human form for both of the reasons that in my human form, I was able to hide my signature and my glow would not give my position away. I wanted to remain low key. I wanted a ghost to mistake me for a low, ordinary human.
I could sense multiple ghosts in the area. There was my team stationed across the region, no one too close together. Of course, there were the enemy ghosts in the vicinity as well. I sent my mind out, though, to catalogue the humans. There were too many ghosts in the area for me to be any help but the humans risking their lives were few. That's our objective; something I'm not used to—ignore the ghosts but protect the humans you can.
I sensed my first human. She was about two hundred meters away from me (about the length of this building I was walking beside). I moved softly in her direction but made no attempt to go out. I didn't want to scare her; the citizens are on edge and with good reason. However, I didn't retire my senses. She wouldn't be alone.
As I threw my senses out further in the region, I reached the main square, ducking into a shadowed area. 'She' turned out to be a man, moving along the shadows. He was sticking to the shadows, trying to conceal himself in the darkness. He walked without a light and he wore dark clothing. I could see him perfectly, though. His actions wouldn't save his life if he was caught.
I caught my second human in the area. I consider all humans out at this time of night female because a vast majority of them are in villages like this. I started up the dirt roads, sticking to the shadows to conceal myself from the humans. I saw the fabric of her dress move before I seen her body. She wasn't going through the shadows, though. She was heading across the lot, going into an alley. I need to watch this one.
She looked behind her and I noticed that she was in fact female. When she didn't see anyone, she headed into the alleyway. I followed her in.
In the very back of the alley was a man. His signature was different but he wasn't a ghost. I hung back, allowing her to approach him. If he tried anything, I could be on him in a manner of seconds. He couldn't kill her that fast. She stood in front of the stranger, her head tall. He eyed her up and down.
"You're the one they called for," the man asked.
"I am," she spoke, her voice firm. "Your job is not to question. Your job is to transport."
"That may be so, but I have more rights than you," he remarked.
"I owe you nothing," she spoke.
"Come then," he remarked. He started down between another alley, leading away from me. I followed them.
"Have you met him," the girl asked.
"Of course not," he remarked. "I'm but a poor servant. I wouldn't want to meet him."
"What have you heard," she asked and I tasted fear. Her voice didn't give her away, though.
"He avoids contact at night," he remarked and I tasted taunting. He was mocking her! "You know what that means around here."
"Ghost," she remarked. What?! They know they are ghosts?
"You realize what you are doing, don't you," he asked and I could hear that smirk.
"He paid good money. The transaction has been done." Her voice sounded firm but I could tell she was scared to death.
"You are foolish," he remarked. "You will die because of this. No one survives being his."
"I'm his," she remarked. I heard her swallow. "That's the only fact that matters."
"Are you intact," he asked.
"I have not been touched before," she remarked. I haven't even seen her up close. She wore a black cloak, a hood pulled up around her hair. I've seen a little black hair, a dark complexion and slim features but I have no idea how old she is or anything else about her. Is she a teen?
"I've heard that he likes virgins," he laughed. The bastard! "That must make you real proud."
I'd had enough. I wasn't going to allow him to take her to this ghost. I was about to attack when I felt Sam. Before she spoke, I stopped what I was doing.
"Wait," she said softly. "You'll screw up if you reveal yourself too soon. Let them tell you who the biggest ghost in the region is."
"How are you," I asked.
"I'm fine," Sam remarked. "Tucker said Mrs. Fenton talked to you. Is it true that you are drinking?"
"Yeah," I remarked, rolling my eyes. "That's as far as it goes, though. I throw it back up before ten minutes is up."
"Are you okay," Sam asked me.
"I'm just stressed, Sam. People are dying and I can't do a damn thing about it."
"You can do something about it. Every life you save means something, Danny. Don't underestimate that one life."
"Where are you now," I asked.
"I'm home," Sam answered, surprising me. "No, I left him at the castle. I've spent so much time with William; I decided to spend some time with our girls. I stayed away too long. The girls were upset."
"I'm sorry," I said, continuing to follow the pair. They were still walking, talking back and forth. I was talking out loud but it was with my 'halfa voice'. Even if they had a noise magnifier, they couldn't hear me.
"You said you were stressed," Sam remarked. "I just don't like that you have turned to a bottle. That doesn't help, Danny."
"I don't think I can anymore," I grumbled. "Fucking ghost powers are protecting me. You know they screw with everything."
"I'm glad," Sam spoke. The pair stopped and I hung back. "What are they doing?"
I didn't know. I watched them silently. Sam can apparently see them so I let her figure it out with me. The man pulled out a set of keys and walked over to the wall. He picked up a padlock on the fire escape and proceeded to unlock it.
"Can you climb with that thing," he asked the girl.
"Yes," she remarked simply.
"Follow me," he added. He removed a grate from the ladder and I noticed it was like those guards on private ladders in public places. He grabbed the bar and holstered himself up. He began to climb, heading to the roof. I went ahead and flew to the top, taking refuge in the shadows. They couldn't see me if I was concealed in the shadows.
"Just be careful," Sam remarked. "We don't know if he's a ghost or a human."
"He's a human," I remarked, confident. "He just works for a ghost and he knows it."
"What is he going to use her for," Sam asked. Her voice got tight and I felt the unease in her stomach.
"A young virgin going to a ghost; what do you think he wants her for, Sam," I asked. I pushed the disgust out of my stomach as well.
He came over the top first and awaited the young girl. She followed him shortly after and he led her across the roof. They moved along the top, walking out in the broad open. I stayed in the shadow, keeping low. When they reached the other side of the roof, he stood up on the elevated wall. I looked closely to see a board going across the roof. This isn't the location; they use this to travel in secret.
She pulled herself up too, without assistance. He started across the board, her trailing behind. They arrived on the opposite roof.
"Go invisible," Sam remarked. "That, or take to your training and don't use any powers at all. I don't want you using your powers unless you have to."
"You don't want me to go invisible," I retorted softly. I could feel Sam's amusement. "You're right, though."
"Of course I am. The woman is always right."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I grumbled with a smile. I haven't done this in a while.
"You've gotten lazy," Sam remarked and I knew she was enjoying herself. I watched the pair as they made it further and further away. I knew they were far enough away from me that I could remain unseen. I hopped on the ledge, traveling across the board. I jumped down, pressing up against the opposite ledge. I watched them start across the second board. How many of these are there?
There wasn't much to this location, really. A few were two, maybe three, story buildings and there wasn't that many of them in the community. Most were only one story, though, and we were about to bump down a size. I waited until they were on the third building before I went to the ledge. I didn't start across, though, choosing to stay in the shadows.
Instead of heading in a straight line, the boy started heading towards the back of the building. I thought maybe we had arrived but once he was inside the tiny doorway, he went out the window. What the hell? He held his arms out and two hands grabbed him.
"Don't resist," the boy spoke before he was pulled up. The girl stood up in the window as well, holding her hands up. The two hands grabbed her and she let out a soft whimper. They're ghosts.
"Their hands are cold," Sam observed. "Move, Danny!"
Instead of going in the porch, I took a run at the wall and jumped, grabbing the roof. I pulled myself up to just peer over the roof.
There were six ghosts in long coats and gloves; their attempt didn't stop the glows of their faces though. Their eyes were like looking into a toxic waste pit. The girl stood in the center of the ghosts while the boy stood off to the side. The ghosts circled the girl like a vulture but she couldn't hide her fear this time.
"Master made an amazing deal with this one," a tall man, thin in appearance said. His hair was short, black in color.
"Master doesn't need your approval," a female voice quipped. "She's scrawny. We'll need to beef her up if she's to survive even a day."
"We can do that," another male voice remarked. His voice held no amusement, though. He sounded like Gauis on a mission.
"Can I take her to Luis now," the boy remarked, his voice annoyed.
A third male ghost gave the boy a smirk. "Edwardo, things have changed. Nicel will finish the trip."
"Come," the last female remarked. She seized the arm of the girl and lurched her forward.
"Follow her," Sam ordered. I heaved myself up and dropped silently to the floor. I moved along the roof of the new building, following the women when I heard a piercing scream. I stopped as did the girl.
"Move," I heard the female guard order. Screams began from the previous location. I turned back.
"Danny," Sam declared. "Pick your battles! You will lose that girl if you leave her!"
"So I'm supposed to let him die," I declared.
"Who's there," the female guard demanded and I realized I'd spoken too loudly.
"Crap," Sam declared. "Keep as quiet as you can. Push your powers as low as you can. Don't let her find you! You have to let her finish the trip!"
The screams from the transport boy drowned the area and I couldn't imagine what he was going through. I pushed my powers down, fighting tears from the boy's screams. He was still alive but I couldn't do anything. If I turned back, I'd lose the girl, if I made myself known, I'd lose the ghost and if I duplicated out, I endangered both the girl and myself. The team was too far away and Sam was right; I had to pick my battles.
"I didn't hear anything," the girl remarked. "Shouldn't you be getting me to your master?"
"He'll kill me if I bring in an ambush," she hissed. "I know I heard something!"
"Of course you heard something," the girl retorted. She was acting tougher now. "They're killing that boy!"
"Lucky bitches," the guard growled. "I drew the short stick. I have to make sure you survive." The girl's subject change seemed to distract the ghost because once she was finished speaking she started walking again. What an air head!
The guard walked through the door, falling to her knees at the sight of a man. "My Lord Diego, the girl has arrived."
"Very good, Nicel," the 'master' responded. "Rise, my child."
The guard floated up, her head held high. "It is my pleasure to serve you."
"Bring her," he called out. The guard didn't move, though. A movement in the back of the room caught my eye and I ducked more into the drapes. Someone pushed a new female towards the ghosts. I saw the guard's eyes light up.
"My lord," the newcomer addressed. The new woman didn't even fight. She wasn't that old; maybe eighteen. Her hair was matted but the clothing she wore was expensive.
"Anarosa, please come here," the man spoke. He sat forward, allowing her to get close. She approached him, her spirit broken. "You must be tired, my dear. I am letting you go. But first, I want you to welcome our newest guest."
"Of course, sir," the new woman spoke. I cocked my head to the side, watching her intently. There was something off about her.
"You are one of my favorites, Anarosa. You performed exceptionally well."
"Thank you, Master," she nodded. She turned to the girl. "What is your name?"
"Nineta," she replied.
Anarosa held her hand out to highlight the master. "This is Master Diego. You are to only refer to him as master, Master Diego, sir, sire, my lord or my liege. You are to treat him with respect. If you treat him well, he will treat you well. It will hurt but this isn't Master Diego's fault. We are imperfect to him; we deserve the pain. You shall never challenge or question the master. He knows what's best for you. There are others and sometimes you will collaborate with them. You will see them every day but you are not to associate with them under any other circumstances."
"Understood," the girl, Nineta remarked.
"Come," the girl remarked. Anarosa took Nineta's hand and led her through the living quarters. The place was huge, filled with expensive belongings.
"What am I to do with her, Master," Nicel asked quietly.
"I understand you didn't get fresh meat," he smirked. She smiled back to him. "She's of no use to me. I can't have them in that condition."
"Another one, sire," Nicel asked, her face contorting in concern.
"I'm afraid so, Nicel," he sighed. I had to double check—he did sigh. He's a ghost, though, that I'm certain of. "The sixth one. I'm not interested and they are just too much trouble. You'll need to dispose of her as soon as possible. Before she gets too strong."
"Of course, sire," she bowed. The two fell silent.
"What are they talking about," Sam asked me. She was observing this just as I was. She couldn't figure it out so I sure as hell couldn't, either. "How many humans are in the complex, Danny?"
I released just a tiny bit of my power, absorbing the flavor of the room and pushing the powers back down just as quickly. I sorted through the tastes. My heart sank.
"Oh, my God," Sam said, her eyes going wide. "Please, Danny, hit that son of a bitch as hard as you can. What a pervert!"
I couldn't believe what the taste told me. More than a dozen humans were in this location alone. Why would anyone need that many mistresses?
The two women returned, however I noticed something different. Nineta was now wearing Anarosa's outfit while the cloak was on Anarosa.
"My Anarosa," the ghost, Diego, called. "I will miss you, my sweet. Enjoy your new life."
A wiff of fear flooded through the room. "Thank you, sire." She had to know what was supposed to happen. I wouldn't allow it, though.
"Take Anarosa, Nicel," Diego spoke. "Take good care of my girl."
"I will, my lord," Nicel bowed.
Nicel and Anarosa started out of the room as Diego spoke up. "Nineta, come my dear."
Nineta walked towards Diego and his throne. I elevated myself, balancing myself on the ball of my feet. While Diego and Nineta were distracted, I tackled Nicel and Anarosa. As I came in contact with them, I turned us all intangible and flew out of the building. Neither knew what happened until we were outside. Nicel hit the ground while I put Anarosa on her feet.
"What," Anarosa cried, startled.
"Don't be afraid," I said, taking my eyes off Nicel for one moment to look at the woman. "I'm here to protect you."
"Who the hell are you," Nicel demanded.
My stare went cold at the sight of her. "You make me sick. What makes you think you can ruin lives?"
Nicel smoothed her coat out, pulling her gloves higher. "I am a goddess here," she spat. "Who are you?"
"I'm a protector," I said, clenching my hands. I let my powers loose, the energy in my core thrashing as if a dog on a chain. I saw fear cross her features. "I wasn't able to protect that boy but I'll be damn sure to protect the girls. Your group will go down, even if I don't do anything else."
"You're who I've heard of," she said, her voice shaking. "The destroyer. Entire covens have disappeared because of you!"
"Don't worry," I added, raising a cocky eyebrow. "You'll see them real soon."
"You will not obliterate me," she growled.
"You're right," I declared. I shot a blast at her, earning a shriek from Anarosa. The blast hit Nicel in the core and she screamed as she was thrown back. Her power dropped.
"Wow," Sam stated. "That was anti-climactic."
I summoned my thermos, sucking her inside. I turned back to the woman. "Are you okay?"
"You saved my life. Why?"
I put my head down. "It's the least I can do. There isn't much I can do anyway."
Anarosa's hand rested on my chest and I looked up. She had pressed herself up against me. "Thank you. Thank you so much, sir." She leaned in, kissing me on the lips.
"Hey now, lady, that's my husband," Sam retorted.
"Um, ma'am," I spoke uncertainly. "Thanks is enough."
"I'm sorry, sir," she spoke, stepping back.
"I need to go," I remarked. "Stay here and don't come out for anyone, am I clear? I'll be back." I flew back to the room.
"You'd think she'd had enough sex," Sam snorted.
"She wasn't going to screw me, Sam," I rolled my eyes. I landed back on the main floor of the complex. "Besides, the release from her duties was the reason for her death order. I can't blame her for wanting to fuck some more."
"If you want sex, you'll come home," Sam added firmly. "You belong to me."
I laughed. "Yes, ma'am." I gasped. The throne was empty.
"You were only gone two minutes," Sam declared. "Where did he take her?"
"Crap!" I opened my mind just a little bit but there was no way to distinguish the senses. There were too many humans and I've been avoiding her signature for the past forty minutes. I didn't want to release too much energy and maybe get caught. Now I may have lost her.
I moved down the hallway that Anarosa had been brought down; I prayed the bastard had just took her to his bedroom. I prayed I could stop him from harming her but the threat I really faced was him leaving the property with her and me losing her forever. I'd rather he be raping her once than taking her away to rape for the rest of her life.
Fifteen feet down the hall, I came to a set of doors, on both sides. Both doors were closed and I could tell that further down the hall, more doors were coupled along the walkway. I used my senses, identifying a human and a ghost inside. I prepared to face this ghost that the others worshiped. I allowed my powers to return and kicked in the door. A blast fired on me and I captured it, firing it back on the ghost. It wasn't the boss; and it wasn't Nineta.
I took the image into consideration and asked what it meant. A human and a ghost inside a bedroom with the door closed but nothing going on. It's a trap. Just in case he was powerful, I sent out purple energy and trapped him. I let my energy send zaps into his core, weakening him. As soon as I released the short dome, I sucked him in my thermos. Even if he still had energy left, he wouldn't have the fight to withstand the thermos. Not that soon after my attack at least.
The boss felt me when I took out the guard. He's running. I have to get to Nineta. If I don't find her, he may get away with her. Not bothering to conceal my powers, I ran back into the hall and further into the complex. As I was running, I was sensing for a ghost that stood out against the others. For them to worship him, he was to be significantly powerful. So far, that's the connection between the nests down here in the south. The leaders are all powerful.
Several powers made their presence well known to me as the doors along the hallway burst open. They know I've found out their plan and their orders are to take me out. Well, my plan is to get to their boss and make them fail their orders. I didn't stop running, pushing more power into my core. I could see the ripples of power around me as the force of my energy was pulsing. The ghosts in front of me were thrown away from me while the ghosts behind me were forced back, even without me doing a thing.
I love using my core to power me. I've always been able to do it but I've learned so much in the past six to eight months. Even before I began my travels, I was learning how to push power into my core to make small attacks devastating and to create a barrier without lifting a shield. The earliest I remember pushing power in my core was the first time Freakshow attacked but that was minor compared to what I can do now. What I'm doing now is even minor compared to what I can do. There's nothing to compare to the high doing this does to me. I also have to be careful. I never want to become obsessed with the power.
Ahead of me, I sensed someone's power increasing. He was pumping power into his core. Before I could combat his defense, his energy invaded mine and flooded it, forcing me through the air. I used my hands to push myself back up, looking around the hall. The ghosts, powerful and not, surrounded me. I could still sense the power I took as Diego's. I had to get away from these small fries and go after the bigger fish. Most of the ghosts charged at me but I didn't stick around, sinking through the ground. I sensed some move in sync with me, chasing me.
They were following my signature but I couldn't conceal my powers or I'd be weakening myself. I needed to be at top peak, pushing myself to catch up to the boss. I sensed the ghosts coming closer so I pushed myself up back to the floor, forcing them to redirect. I was pushing myself so they couldn't keep up with me but if I overexerted myself, I wouldn't have the power to fight Diego.
"Stop," Sam called out. "Use the magnetism. Let's do this like we handled that nest before you came home."
"No, Sam," I said, shaking my head. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"And I don't want you to get killed," Sam retorted. "Now stop whining and let's get this done!"
"I can do this," I said firmly. I stopped abruptly, sending out a wide blast. All the ghosts following me hit the ground and I summoned the thermos. I got the first three ghosts but by the time I got to the fourth, he had recuperated. The remaining five would have enough power to withstand the beam. I returned my thermos, taking to running again. I didn't get far, though, before the ghosts grabbed me and pulled me to the ground.
I pushed more energy into my core, blowing them away. Two looked able to be captured but the remaining three wouldn't give me that opportunity. The first ghost to recover sent a blast at me and I was wrapped in energy from my neck to my knees.
"You are under arrest," he broadcasted.
"Danny," Sam declared, irritated. "Let me help!" She knew I could get out of this.
"I'm fine," I repeated, pushing the power into my core. I saw his energy ripple so I knew now was the time to take it out. I released an ecto-blast from my hands, disintegrating his energy. The blast kept going, hitting him. He wasn't weak enough to capture, though. He landed on his feet.
"You are powerful," he smirked, tilting his head. This ghost looked different than the rest of them. He looked more Asian than European. Whether it was because he was from Asia or because he was a native from this continent, I don't know.
"You'll know sure enough," I smirked, holding up my index finger. I twirled it around, lightly wrapping him in my ghost stinger. I just needed to weaken him and fast.
"Shit," the ghost declared and I know he's had the ghost stinger before. He took aim at me, forcing me to make a choice. I decided to activate the ghost stinger.
"Go Ghost Stinger," I declared, turning on my power. The wrap wasn't complete, though, and I wondered if it'd do the job. The ghost hit the ground, withering in pain. I summoned my thermos, capturing him.
I turned to the others and I saw two of the four remaining running away. I forced ectoplasm out in a wide curve, drawing them back. The ghosts shrieked.
"Sire, help us," the female in the pair shrieked. She looked truly terrified.
"I hope the next time you think of hurting anyone, you think back to this day. Maybe you'll make a different decision than you did last time." I released energy, capturing them.
The remaining ghosts, both guys, jumped on me at once. Their energies were moderate. I flew between them, doing a figure eight between them.
"What are you doing," one asked as the other tried to turn in the opposite direction. I landed in front of them.
"Go Ghost Stinger."
Both dropped to the ground. I captured them. I went back to chasing Diego.
"Danny," Sam begged. "Please, I know you've used a lot of your powers. Let me help."
"I'm fine," I replied.
I landed on the ground, sensing Diego just inside a room. Behind me, the ghosts were trying to catch up. Maybe I can capture Diego before they catch up to us. I decided to go with it. I opened a blast on the door to see a room that was obviously Diego's. I walked in, my fists clenched. Diego was lying on his bed, kissing Nineta's shoulder.
"You are foolish," he spoke gently. "Why would you go through such trouble for… this?"
"She is a human and you'd be wise to let her go," I said, stepping towards them. Nineta was naked, only covered by a sheet. Diego wrapped his arm around her, causing her to shake violently. I growled.
"Nineta is my property, child. I don't have to let her go."
"You can't own humans," I growled. "I won't allow it."
"What has come of Anarosa," he asked. Diego took Nineta's hand, instructing her to turn over. She rolled towards him, pressing her front to his chest. She shuttered as the cold gripped her.
"She's fine."
"And Nicel," he asked.
"My prisoner."
His hand went to the small of her back and Nineta closed her eyes painfully, swallowing hard. Her eyes opened wide, though, as she let out a scream. I was in shock. He just penetrated her with me right here!
"Leave me, child. I want to break in my mistress."
He began pumping in her, causing Nineta to shriek and cry. I was just in a state of shock. He was raping her in front of me. This wasn't that bastard that one night; he began to rape her with me already here!
"Get out of her," I declared, flying to them. I went to hit him but I thought better. I really hurt that girl when I hit him out of her. I should know how it feels to have something that big removed from you suddenly. I turned Nineta intangible and flew her away. She clung to me when she realized I was hot.
"Child," Diego hissed. I formed ectoplasm and made it into a blanket.
"Here," I whispered. "You'll be safe. I promise."
"Thank you," she nodded, crying. "Thank you so much."
"I'll be back," I said as I turned to Diego. I pushed the power into my core, throwing his advance off. He hit the wall, smashing part of it in and landed on his bed. The force broke the bed in half.
"This is my home," he roared. "How dare you come in my home and try to take over."
"Because this is my planet," I declared. "And you are my subject!" I snapped my head to the side, surprised by my outburst. My subject? Hardly. I don't claim anyone outside of the castle. "Ignore that last comment."
"Don't worry. I intend to ignore you!"
"Fat chance on that, buddy," I retorted. He flew at me and I met him halfway there. Our energies collided and sent out a blast. Nineta screamed, ducking lower to the ground. I fired some shots at Diego but he took out half of them. The other half hit him but it wasn't as devastating as I planned.
"Please, Danny," Sam begged. "You don't know how tired you are!"
"I'm fine," I retorted. The ghost flew at me, throwing a punch. I dodged his hit and threw one of my own. He grabbed my hand, though, twisting me around and grabbing my second hand. I stopped focusing on trying to hit a ghost and he lost his grip.
"What," the ghost gasped, surprised.
"I don't play by the same rules you do," I retorted. I turned around and opened a blast. He flew back, busting his dresser.
"You are," he said, his eyes going wide. "You're not a ghost at all. You're part."
I furrowed my brow. This is the first ghost to guess what I was with accuracy. Most of the ghosts outside of the mid-west have no idea who the halfa is. Surprising, too, because before I started this, I thought everyone knew who I was.
"You're good," I smirked. "They call me the halfa. This is only my human form."
"Human form," he questioned. "You mean you have both forms?"
"Dude, you're really dumb for being so smart," I retorted.
"I don't care what you are," he hissed. "I am four hundred years old! You can't defeat me!"
I laughed out, mocking him. "Oh, you're funny. I defeat ghosts your age all the time. You have to be at least eight hundred years old to be a challenge for me!"
"You are forgetting something, child. I have backup and you are weakened."
"Yeah," I retorted, crossing my arms. "And you need to know something else about me. I'm not afraid to die for my cause. What about you?"
Fear crossed his features and it was a fear I've seen too much. I saw it the day I defeated the King and on every powerful ghost I've fought since then. There is no one more dangerous than someone willing to die for what they believe in. That's why we'll always win, even if we are all destroyed.
Diego wasn't going to go down without a fight, though, so I had to give him that much credit. His experience with raping humans gave him an edge over me that most ghosts don't have. If I allowed nature to take over and he couldn't hit me, he'd focus on hitting a human. To combat that, I'd bring the ghost part of me out but that didn't do any good. If I was like a ghost, he had no problem at all hitting me; he was a ghost, after all.
Diego fired a blast at me and I wasn't quick enough to capture it. I hit the wall, falling face first to the ground. I was grabbed roughly by the shoulders and heaved up.
"Juan, Anton," Diego directed and I noticed five of his guards arrived. One was from the rooftop. "Focus on touching a human. Beatris, Maria, Isabel, you hold a ghost. He's both."
"Sire," the one from the rooftop asked. "How is he both?"
"I don't know," Diego replied. I struggled to get free but there was one guy and one girl on my right side and one guy and two girls on my left. My only prayer was if one of them lost focus. I knew there was a fat chance of that. "We'll get rid of him, though."
I growled. "Yeah. You would have to have help, wouldn't you?"
"What did you say," Diego smirked. "I don't play by the same rules."
He hit me in the stomach and I gasped. His team held me up while Diego beat me. I was in human form so while his injuries healed immediately, my skin was less leather-like. I gasped, spitting up blood. I have to get them off me.
I tried to summon power to my core but Diego punched me in the face. "I don't think so. You're not getting away that easy."
I pulled my legs up, kicking him in his core. Diego flew back, hitting the wall. Electricity wracked through my body and I screamed.
"You don't harm our lord," the girl on my right seethed.
"Just wait, sweetheart. You're next," I hissed.
"That's it, punk," Diego seethed. He walked back to me. "I was going to let you live a little longer but you've proven to me that you don't deserve my mercy."
"I don't want it," I growled.
I balled my fists together as Diego created a sword of energy. "You're going to lose your head," he smirked.
A little fear went into me—beheaded; not a way I want to go—but I did something I never wanted to do. I covered myself in the ghost stinger.
"No," Sam screamed in fear.
"Go Ghost Stinger," I called just as the sword came in contact with my neck. The ghosts shrieked as the Ghost Stinger came alive. They stepped back but I heard a scream in the background of my own shrieks. Even though it was my power, it hurt like hell. I couldn't see anything and it felt like my skin would peel from my body.
"Danny," Sam screamed, her voice choked in tears. "Danny, please, talk to me!"
I couldn't terminate the Ghost Stinger so I just screamed. I was fighting to gain control over my power but it was like I was being electrocuted by a wire. It was just a vicious cycle; I had to get control to stop but the Ghost Stinger had to stop for me to get control. Come on, Fenton, if you don't stop this, it's going to kill you!
I screamed in determination, stopping the desire to fry the enemy. I fell to the ground, gasping for breath. The Ghost Stinger had stopped. I pushed myself to my feet using my hands and knees. My arms were peeled of my skin and it was the worst case of burn I had ever seen. I looked to my torso to see my clothing had been burned off and I had the same red gore all over my body. I didn't even want to look at my hair. Was I bald? Gasp.
"Danny," Sam screamed. She whimpered. "Please, Danny, be okay."
"I-I'm fine," I breathed hard. I sucked in deep breath, my lungs burning. Some of the Ghost Stinger must have gone down my throat in my screams. My knees got weak and I nearly fell. "I'm fine, Sam."
"I've contacted the party. They're on their way," Sam replied.
I opened my eyes, looking around the room in fear. The five members of his guard were unconscious on the floor. I summoned the thermos and cringed. Some of the metal had been burned away. I needed to be careful not to overfill the thermos. If they have no place to go, they can escape through the holes. I sucked in the five members and looked around for Diego.
"Where did he go," I asked, surprised.
"You killed him," Nineta spoke. "A gun appeared in your hand and you shot him. He shrieked as he deteriorated."
"I obliterated him," I asked, looking to my hands. There was nothing there besides the thermos that I just called to me. "What kind of gun did I have?"
"It looked like a small pistol but it shot out a cross beam. It hit him in the chest and he dissolved away." She looked to the floor. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I heal fast," I replied. I looked to the floor. This is the second ghost I've obliterated. The first one I done for our son but this one… the Ghost Stinger did the job. The sword exploded as soon as my body was covered with my Ghost Stinger. How did I even get the cross gun? I didn't summon it.
"I think that was me," Sam replied. "I tried to come to you. Instead, I felt the power of my body being zapped into you. I called for the gun, Danny. I-I didn't want you to die."
"You traveled by spirit to me and had the wits to summon the gun before he beheaded me," I asked, incredulously. "No, Sam. You might have suggested me to call for it but you wouldn't have had the time. You're good, Sam, but no one is that good." I let out a sigh. "How did you get in contact with the party?"
"Who are you talking to," Nineta asked.
"My wife," I spoke. I shook my head. We're not married. "My fiancée. We're connected."
"After the ghost was obliterated, I could hear Gauis. I told him what was going on and he told me they're on their way."
"It's okay, Sam. I'm okay."
"I call you my husband, too," Sam replied. "Especially when I'm upset. I don't know what's going on. I consider you my fiancé, too."
"Hump," I snorted. "I told the ghost that he was my subject! That was weird."
Sam let out an embarrassed laugh. "I can explain that."
"What," I asked.
"Anastasius told me that you are to become king when you turn eighteen. With you abandoning the castle but in a way not abandoning it, we needed someone to make decisions. The girls are too young and because we are engaged, they made an exception." She laughed softly. "I'm Queen Sam."
I smirked. "Really. Good for you. You'd rule it better, anyway."
"It's only temporary," Sam replied. "You still have four of your members taking direct orders from you and you ordered the castle to protect the portal. You're still King but I am acting-Queen. With me spending so much time in the castle, I've really stepped up to the plate. I have to keep myself in check. It's so addicting."
"You," I questioned. I laughed. "I never imagined you getting power hungry."
"It's not power hungry," Sam replied. She let out a nervous laugh. "Well, not entirely. I have to remind myself I'm not the Queen everywhere. I got bossy with Tucker and he lets me know that my title ends at the portal." She laughed again.
"Again, I never pictured you as the power hungry type."
"Funny," Sam retorted.
I checked my hands and I could see a fair pink area covering the blood red area. I was already starting to heal. "I think this is my worst injury outside of dying." I let out a laugh.
"There's nothing funny about that," Sam retorted. "You could have killed yourself!"
"It was better than letting him kill me," I retorted. My entire body was horrible looking. I looked over to Nineta. "Can you tell me if I still have hair?"
"Some," she replied. "Most of it was burned off."
I groaned out, whining. "Not the hair!"
"Danny, you're alive. That's all that matters."
"My hair," I cried. I whimpered. "Not the hair!"
"Hair will grow back," Sam replied.
"Do you think this could be considered an emergency," I asked. "All I need is the Reality Gauntlet. I can get my hair back!"
"Shut up, Danny," Sam retorted. She chuckled. "Only you would think death was better than going bald."
"It would be," I groaned. "At least I'd still have my hair!"
"As I said, hair will regrow."
"But in how long," I whimpered. I can cut my hair and it will grow back at an average rate. There should be a line when it's considered an injury!
(04)
I was in my ghost form by the time my party arrived. We cleaned up the ghost mess and took the women he had abused home. There was no joyous feeling, though. It was one nest; there were dozens more just like it. I protected a few more individuals through the night but reported more dead bodies. I ended my shift around two o'clock in the afternoon.
I kept my eyes trained on the shower as I walked past, ignoring the mirror hanging on the wall. I took a shower and got dressed. I hadn't touched my head and I tried not to notice how I didn't notice my hair whipping in my face. However, as I prepared to get a bite to eat, I knew I had to look.
I closed my eyes, positioning myself in front of the mirror. I took in a deep breath, exhaling through my mouth. I opened my eyes.
"No, no, no," I cried, touching my nearly-bald head. I ran my hand up the back of my neck and it was completely smooth. I ran my hand around my skull, feeling my hair go from stubble-like to rough patches of hair where the spikes used to be. I whimpered.
I hung my head, grabbing my trimmer. I couldn't allow it to grow back at different lengths. I'd finish what my powers didn't.
After my head was completely clean, I exhaled again. I powered up but surprisingly, my hair was fine. "Oh, come on," I declared, gripping the sink. I guess because a ghost never changes, my hair would remain the same regardless. Why couldn't it come back after I power down, though? I guess I was just freaking out over nothing, though. I had hair in my ghost form; I thought I didn't.
I bet that means if I was in ghost form when I did that, my hair would have been fine. Injuries rarely transfer to my human form from my ghost form. Rats!
I powered down, going to the kitchen. I grabbed something to eat and then lay down.
After eight, the egg beeped. I didn't want to answer but I knew Mom's orders. I grabbed a hat but wasn't satisfied. I pulled out a hoodie, tightening the drawstring.
"Hello," I asked. It wasn't Mom, though. Tucker started laughing.
"Oh, man, I didn't want to believe it!"
"Shut up," I retorted, crossing my arms. I plopped down on my couch, crossing my legs under my butt. "This isn't fair!"
"You okay," Tucker asked me seriously.
"No," I declared. "I've never been more miserable in my life! My hair!"
"Come on, D. Prioritize."
"My hair is a priority," I retorted. "Do you not remember what I did to Dork of Darkness for dunking my head in the sewer? This is a crisis!"
"You're alive," Tucker remarked, propping his head on his hand. I looked in the background.
"You're at your house," I noticed.
"Yeah," Tucker nodded. "Mom gave us all eggs so we can communicate. Sam told me what happened and I had to see it for myself."
I exhaled. "How is she, Tuck?"
"She's good," Tucker nodded. "She's really sad. She spends as much time with the kids as she can. She goes and sees William time to time."
"Does Mom know he's a ghost," I asked.
"Yeah," Tucker nodded. "We took her to see him. Mom and Dad have even seen him. He's well liked."
"What about Jazz," I asked.
"She hasn't told anyone yet," Tucker sighed. He crossed his arms. "It's getting harder to hide. She's just about to enter her third trimester. She's huge!" He let out a soft chuckle.
"You are either very brave or very stupid," I remarked candidly.
"She's not here," Tucker laughed. "I'd never say that to her face. Shoo! She's a walking hormone."
"How is she hiding this from Mom and Dad? Does she still live at Fentonworks?"
"She does but she hardly stays there. Her and Joseph spend a lot of time at his apartment. I'm telling you, this is just like your pregnancy with Lilly except more know about it than with you."
"Yeah," I nodded. I cast my head down. "That's why I'm worried, Tucker. I'm glad she has you guys but she needs more support than just her fiancé. I've been there. It'll drive you crazy."
"She has more than Team Phantom," Tucker replied. I looked up and he was looking at the screen. "Your grandpa, my parents, the Calloway's, and the Winters' all know. I think the only ones who don't know are your parents. I've spent hours at Fentonworks and not see them once."
"What do you mean," I asked.
"They're determined to bring you home," Tucker answered. "I'm confident it can work, too, dude. It's the best tracker I've ever seen. Even ours."
"What," I asked, incredulously. "Impossible."
"Just you wait and see," Tucker remarked. "It's phenomenal."
"Yeah, well I have a plan. Unless my parents figure out who I really am, they won't bring me home. I'm needed out here too much, Tuck. It's horrible down here."
"What happened this time," Tucker asked.
"I tracked a nest that was buying mistresses. He had fifteen mistresses. That's how this happened." I nodded my head. "Then I went back on the streets, rescued six people from ghosts, captured eight besides the ones attacking humans. There were nine of those. And to top it off, I delivered twenty-five bodies to the local authorities. Do you really think I can leave, Tuck?"
"Twenty-five in one night," Tucker asked, his eyes widening.
"Yeah," I said, looking down at my hands. "It's bad out here, Tuck. I want to come home… I just can't."
"H-how are you holding up," Tucker asked hesitantly.
"I don't know that I am," I said, my voice breaking. I covered my face, sucking in a deep breath. I closed my eyes, tears slipping out. Breathe. "I'm sorry."
"Danny," Tucker said softly. He released a breath. "It's time to come home, D. You can't be out there."
"If I don't do it, who will," I asked, breathless. I sucked in a deep breath, pressing my index finger and thumb to my eyes. I wiped my eyes, pinching my nose. "I have to do this, Tucker. Lives depend on me."
"And your life is in danger," Tucker remarked simply. "Come home. We can do this together."
"Sorry," I said, releasing a breath. "Take care of yourself, Tucker. Take care of Sam for me, too."
"Take care of yourself," Tucker redirected. "We'll be fine. There's not a lot of ghost attacks up here."
"Yeah," I declared, looking at the egg. "What's with the school? That's not what we designed."
"What do you mean," Tucker asked, furrowing his brow. He doesn't even know.
"When was the last time you attended school," I asked, my jaw setting.
"Last year," Tucker answered. "What's going on?"
"They've changed the way school is done," I declared. "They've turned the classrooms into living rooms. There's couches, arm chairs, those long couch/bed things. They don't even have desks in the classrooms anymore. Each teacher has their own private office. They've got more plans coming to modernize the offices. Tucker, this isn't what we planned."
"How do you know this," Tucker asked me. "You can't communicate with anyone at school without a laptop."
"I know," I remarked. "I've been doing my work. I chatted with Dash and he told me what was going on."
"You took your laptop with you," Tucker asked incredulously. Yeah, he's so going to know that I'd never do that.
"No," I replied. "I got a special delivery."
"Samuels," Tucker replied. "He found you on top of knowing your secret."
"Yep."
"Jeez, he's more liberal than I thought he was."
I laughed. "No shit. I thought he'd throw a fit. Nope. As long as he's still alive, he's cool with it."
"Impressive. I'll check it out, Danny. I had no idea. We do our homework but that's about it. We've seen the A-List time to time but it's always outside of school. We have other pressing issues."
"What's going on with the ghosts," I asked.
"Beats the hell out of me," Tucker replied. "They've vanished. We see one or two of them every now and again but that's even rare. It's like we've arrived in the Twilight Zone. We haven't seen anything like this since Walker planned that massive ghost invasion outside of holidays."
"It's probably the castle," I replied. "I gave orders to protect the ghost portal. You remember when we went to that camp Freshman year. They kept the ghosts out through that pretty well, too."
"At night," Tucker replied. "During the day, the ghosts were free to come and go. I don't know. Something's up, D."
"Well, call me if you need me. I'm a sonic boom away."
"Just take care of yourself, okay," Tucker said. He released a slow breath. "You look like you're about to fall apart."
"I feel like it sometimes, Tuck," I sighed. I smiled, though, trying to ease the tension. "Don't worry, though. I'll be fine."
"Anytime you wanna talk, Danny, I'm here. This thing works both ways and I'm here, day and night."
"Thanks, buddy. Same here."
"I'll take care of your family. You take care of yourself so you can get back to them."
"Kiss my girls for me." I smiled sadly. "And Tuck. Can you do me a favor?"
"What," Tucker asked me.
"Pick out a gift for Megan and give it to her from me. I'm not really in a place to get her something she'd really like."
Tucker's gaze fell to the floor. "She wants something from you. It doesn't matter what it is or how much it costs."
"Please, Tuck," I said, looking down myself. I just couldn't stand the thought of going into a toy store. I didn't want to tell him that, though. I did try to go in the small shop. I couldn't stay long.
"Okay," Tucker sighed. "I'll do it."
"Thanks," I sighed. "Thank you, Tuck. I can't believe I forgot her birthday."
"Me either." He glanced up at me and it was like he was looking right through me. "Bye, Danny."
"B-bye," I said, shaken. The egg blinked off.
I grabbed the egg, gripping it in my fist. I stood up, going to the kitchen. I put the egg on the counter and poured me a cup of coffee from this afternoon. I opened the cabinet, seeing the rows of Wild Turkey. Why did I have so many? If I saw this anywhere else, I'd accuse the person of being an alcoholic. I don't think that of myself, do I?
I grabbed a new bottle, twisting the top off. I poured about a third of a cup in my mug, filling it the rest of the way up. This was the first time I'd ever put it in something else. Normally, I drink it straight up. I wanted to try something, though. Every time I drank it straight up, I'd end up spitting it back out. Maybe I could drink it now that it was diluted. Of course, this meant the drink wasn't as potent. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing has yet to be determined.
Ten minutes later, I was running to the bathroom. The color was amber—absolutely no black in it. I kept the coffee but spat the liquor back up. What is going on with me? My ghost powers have never done this before. Have I really drunk so much that it's completely forbidding me from having any of it. I've seen Vlad drink like a fish before and he didn't do this. This is ridiculous.
I grabbed a pad of paper and wrote down a note.
Going for a run. Call me if you need me.
Danny
I placed the pad on the counter and went into my bedroom. I removed the hoodie and my jeans and changed into a workout outfit. I slipped on the hoodie over my t-shirt and tightened the hood. I took off running for the mountains, just trying to clear my head.
I've got a pretty big job to do right now, my voice filled my head.
Bigger than me, Megan questioned.
I see you for the man you are now, Sam seethed at me. Just go the hell away.
I don't believe you when you say you missed her, Mom accused me.
We have both made mistakes in the past but right now, you are making the biggest mistake of your life, Vlad tried to get his point across.
… know you are our family and we never turn our backs on family, Mom had told Blue.
I kept running, hearing the voices swirl in my head. I tried to run mindlessly but I couldn't get the voices out of my head.
You saved my life, I heard multiple voices repeat. I saw Nineta as she was the last one to tell me this but her voice echoed, both male and female voices coming from her mouth.
Why didn't you save me, an unidentified voice asked me. Am I not as important as the others?
I had a family, too, you know.
What makes you so special?
Who are you to decide who lives and who dies?
This is your fault.
I stopped, bending over and breathing hard. I had made it up half the mountain.
You can't stop us.
Nothing you will ever do…
Failure…
Disgrace…
Murderer…
I screamed, clenching my head. Tears leaked out of my eyes as I tried to gain control.
Maniac.
Lunatic.
Child.
Foolish.
Ignorant.
Just, please stop. I hit my knees, no longer screaming. I hung my head, weeping. How many people are going to die? How many more people have to pay for my failures?
I was lying in bed with Vlad. I lay on Vlad's chest and he was rubbing my hair. Why do you do it? What does it do for you?
I make a difference. People's lives depend on me, Vlad. I couldn't stand for anyone to get hurt for me.
Except, now, people were dying and I couldn't do anything.
I wrapped my arms around my shoulders, closing my eyes. I imagined the warmth Vlad gave me; I imagined the protection I felt there. I always knew when I was with Vlad that I was okay. When I was stressed, I could go to him and he'd take care of me. I miss that comfort. I miss being able to look up to someone. I wished I could go back to that, just one more time. Either by being an ordinary human who's troubles didn't even compare to mine or by looking into Vlad's Neptune eyes and having all my worries wiped away.
I never loved Vlad. I don't love him now. I miss that feeling. He gave me something that I lost. I never realized that Vlad gave me the gift of protection because he stole my innocence.
You raped me and I had no fucking clue that you did. All I knew was you forced me to my stomach, I felt pain and you grunted. I had no damn clue what you did on that table until last night when you touched me! You made me the way I am. I know you all of four fucking days and my world was shattered, I remembered screaming at Vlad.
The pain at the memory was sharp and it cut like a knife but I forced myself to remember.
Vlad ordered me to calm down but I refused. You stole something from me and I damn well want it back. Give it back!
What?!
My innocence.
I had nearly surrendered in that moment. I was so tired of the pain. I was hurt and I just wanted to be protected. Vlad knew that. That's why when I came to him that day, he treated me like he did. He tried to compensate for the rape. Vlad unknowingly made me addicted to him because he gave me something no one else could. I never had to worry about Vlad. I knew he was safe. But when I was with him, I knew I was safe, too, and that was something I couldn't get from anywhere or anyone else. That's why I told him I loved him before I died.
I was scared.
I'm scared now.
Not because I'm going to die but because people are dying and I can't do a damn thing about it. I want Vlad to take this fear away. I don't want this responsibility. But I have it. I can't give it away. No one else can do what I can. The problem is, I can't do what is necessary. I'm just one person. I'd give anything to have Vlad wrap me in his arms and hold me like a child again. I want to be young and carefree. For a moment or two, I don't want to be the adult. Is that too much to ask for?
I can never go back. I know that and I've come to accept my responsibilities as a halfa but I miss those days of innocence. It's not just the rape. Actually, it barely has anything to do with the rape. I lost my innocence when I became half ghost. It set the stage to adulthood. I just never realized where the change happened. Maybe Vlad and I could have survived if we had been together under different circumstances. It's not only about the rape here either. Vlad could have raped me and we still could have made it happen. It just couldn't have happened during Christmas. It had to happen either a few weeks after Walker led that invasion or a month before. I couldn't deal with being raped and dealing with the exposure of ghosts at the same time. I was under enough pressure from being half ghost.
I was about to turn around and start my scout of the community when my ghost sense went off. I was still in human form so I pushed my powers down real low and hid behind a rock ledge. Within minutes, about eight ghosts entered the area.
"We have got to alert Pablo," a female declared. These ghosts looked just like the others—all of Spanish descent. "If we wait, we could lose everything, Jesuit."
"You want to tell Pablo that we can't handle one ghost," one of the men turned to the woman. Two women were a part of this group while the remaining six were men. The one talking looked like he was the boss.
"It's better than us failing and the network being exposed," she retorted. "If this ghost finds out about the network, he would destroy us all. The community is more important than the individual. Don't you agree?"
"Pablo will destroy us for allowing one ghost to make a mockery of us," the leader retorted. "We will handle this punk ourselves and Pablo will never know!"
"Carlos," the female turned to another male ghost. "Please, see things my way! The network is the most vulnerable."
An advanced age ghost shook his head. "I don't know, Carmen. I mean, the network is big enough to protect themselves. If we get Pablo involved… we're toast."
She called out a female name and four male names, Spanish in origin. "Please, listen to reason. Pablo will understand. We're not the only ones who can't face him."
"Then why don't the others speak up," the leader asked, holding his hand out in mockery. "Because they know Pablo will obliterate them!" His voice went hard and the shadows surrounding him vanished. "We will handle this little punk ourselves. Right now we need to report to Pablo and keep our mouths shut!"
The uncertain ghost held her head high. "I am telling him! We can't jeopardize the collective."
I saw the leader stiffen and I knew immediately that she had worn his patience thin. The ghost held up a hand and shot a blast at her core. The girl shrieked.
"No," the first ghost screamed and tried to attack the leader. The others grabbed him, holding him back. "Carmen!" The girl screamed as the leader prepared to obliterate her.
AN: Another one cranked out. :) I hope everyone enjoyed this latest chapter. Any feedback is welcomed! Please review!
Hey, Betty, I sent you a shout out. :) Thanks for letting me use it! I think that is a perfect description of Vlad's eyes.