Chapter 30! It's a milestone! And it's LONG!
This Fic now officially has FANART! Thank you VampireFrootLoopsRule for your awesome rendition of Legion! You can find the picture here (without the spaces and replace the DOTs with periods): vampirefrootloopsrulDOT deviantartDOT com/#/d4yifpy (or, alternatively, visit my profile and click on the link to my DeviantArt page and find it under my favourites)
Disclaimsies... Although... There is this one little thing...
Enjoy!
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The Soul Sepulchre
-By Sholay
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Chapter 30 — Interview With the Master
Danny slouched in his seat, resisting the urge to raise his feet and rest his heels on top of the chair in front of him. Next to him, Sam had kicked off her combat boots and somehow managed to fold both legs underneath her. She sat comfortably, head propped up on the knuckles of one raised hand, and stared ahead at the many rows of seats filled with the rowdy students of Casper High.
Tucker was on Danny's other side, hunched over to hide the glowing screen of his PDA as he continued to poke and prod the thing like a man possessed.
One row down, the substitute was attempting to call role. Mid-way through their organized march to the auditorium, Mr. Lancer had abandoned his class in the hands of this sub as he went backstage to prepare his presentation. Quite a few students had subsequently mysteriously gone missing from the line and the substitute, a bespectacled woman whose faltering voice utterly failed to instil discipline, was desperate to regain control over the remaining ninth-graders.
Danny himself had briefly contemplated skivving off. But if he got caught—and he would; he never got away with these things—he'd risk getting suspended again, which was not an enticing thought.
Besides, the assembly was to honour the memory of his chemistry teacher who had died over the weekend. It didn't really seem right to sneak out.
The substitute was moving up to their row and Danny could see in her eyes shining with determination. It was the look most teachers got when they were gearing up to take drastic action to reinstate lost authority. He eyed Tucker, who was still tapping away on his PDA and still failing to cover the glow of the screen in the dimly-lit auditorium.
"You're gonna get caught." Danny informed his friend.
"Shh! I just need to… necessary memory… and then make sure… I can still… Then if I can… settings…" Half of Tucker's mumbled words were lost in the noise of their chattering schoolmates and Danny gave up even pretending to listen, raising his head to look around the room.
Casper High's auditorium was perhaps the largest room in the entire school. There was the ground level—with the stage and many rows of red upholstered folding chairs—and then there was the balcony, where Danny's class was currently sitting. If he sat up straight, he could see the rows below and, in the dim lighting of the room, could spot a few familiar faces among the crowd.
There was Spike, for one: the bony, gangly tenth-grader with a piercing through his nose and whose vertical strip of shoulder-length hair fell all to one side of his head when it wasn't spiked. He had been Jazz's old 'project'. Then there was Ms. Tetslaff, who looked just as fierce and intimidating one story down as she did face to face. On the stage, Danny saw Mr. Lancer in deep discussion with Principle Ishyama. The two stood next to the wooden podium, waiting for the technician to finish fiddling with the wires of the microphone.
"You there! You in the red beret!"
Danny shook his head, a wry smile pulling his lips downward, and turned to look at Tucker.
"Tuck, Tuck!" He poked his friend in the arm.
"Huh?" Tucker's head came up and he looked around dazed, as though surprised to find himself back in the real world. "What?"
"Sub wants you." Danny replied, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.
Looking around Danny, Tucker saw first the heads of every student in their class turned to look at him and then the irritated teacher frowning at the end of the row. "Uh…" Tucker grinned unsteadily. "Yes, Miss?"
"Hand over your PDA now!" The substitute demanded. "And take off that hat!"
Tucker groaned, but obediently handed the PDA to Danny, who gave it to Sam to pass down along the row. As she reached forward to take it from him, they briefly touched fingertips over the PDA. A shock of electricity passed between their fingers—strong enough that Danny actually saw the white spark in the darkened room. Sam instantly flinched away, startled eyes flicking upward. Their eyes barely met before Sam's gaze dropped and she quickly passed the PDA to the person sitting next to her.
"When will I get it back?" Tucker asked over their heads.
"You'll get it back after you finish serving detention." The substitute decreed resolutely.
There was a low chorus of 'Oooo's and a few chuckles. The substitute turned away, smug in the belief that she'd regained control.
"I told you," was all the comfort Danny offered as he brushed off the lingering twinge in his fingers on his jeans, sending a sideways look at Sam.
Tucker, looking very uncomfortable without his hat covering his head, sent Danny a sour look. "You could at least pretend to be sympathetic."
"Why?" Danny shrugged. "Now I'll have company in detention."
"You're such a great friend, man." Tucker said sarcastically.
"I know."
Danny grinned at Tucker and then stalled, waiting for something but not knowing what. After a few seconds, it occurred to him what he was waiting for and he turned around to look at Sam.
Usually she would've piped up with some pointed remark: some Sam-like comment that would've made the conversation complete. But Sam was silent as she continued to stare forward blankly. She hadn't even been paying attention to the conversation. That was strange.
"Sam?" He called her. When she didn't respond he called her again, louder.
She inhaled suddenly, and her head jerked up. She blinked as though coming out of a dream. Slowly she looked over at Danny. She stared.
"…What?"
For a moment, Danny didn't respond, he was caught by the intense violet eyes that were focussed unblinkingly on him. He fidgeted, dropping his gaze from that penetrating look before replying with an "Are you okay?"
Sam didn't respond. Her eyes remained fixed on his and Danny became unnerved by the continuous staring.
"Is something wrong with my face or something?" He frowned, drawing back.
It was like a string had snapped between them: Sam took a deep inhale, her head jolting around.
"No, you're fine. I'm fine." She said sullenly, once more resting her head on her hand and turning her eyes forward.
He wanted to press her—to ask, no, demand to know what was bothering her—but at that moment Mr. Lancer's voice came over the speakers requesting silence.
"Sam," Danny persisted doggedly, leaning toward her and whispering harshly. "What's wrong? Are you still mad at me or something, 'cause I thought we—"
"Shhh!" The substitute hushed the class, and Danny saw the woman was looking very pointedly at him.
Lips pressing together in displeasure, Danny reluctantly leaned back in his seat and turned his eyes forward, watching as Mr. Lancer cleared his throat and prepared himself to address the student body.
"As many of you are aware, tragedy has struck the school. Last Saturday, Mr. Victor Talbot was discovered on the bank of Quidi Vidi pond by a fellow student, Paulina Sanchez. It is unfortunate that I must tell you that Mr. Talbot had passed away. It was a terrible accident. He was a valued member of this staff, this school and the community. He taught many of you, acting as a mentor to many and was a man of exemplary moral convictions. Today we will hear from a number of students who will relate some of their experiences with and memories of Mr. Talbot but first I would like to lead us in a brief moment of silence…"
And the assembly went on. It was long, tedious and depressing. Paulina came up to the podium first, giving an overly dramatic but still horrifying recitation of how she found the dead body. Her story was largely self-centred and barely touched on any hard facts. But nevertheless, something resonated with Danny.
"… He wasn't a bad teacher, I guess. He taught me chemistry." Paulina finished tearfully. "I just don't think I'll ever get over it. The experience—I think it'll haunt me forever. Whenever I sit in chemistry from now on I'll just be thinking of how I found him that day and how my new Louboutins broke on his sleeve. I feel really sorry for him, but I can't help but think there must be a reason I found him. Why me and no one else? Why did I have to find him there, all cold and… and dead? I, I just don't know." With an affected sniffle, she ceded the microphone to Mr. Lancer and walked off the stage, short skirt swishing and flashy new heels clicking on the stage. Every freshman male—and some juniors as well—tracked her walk with a lingering eye, all except one pair of icy blue in the balcony.
Danny pondered for the first time what it was like to know someone who had died. It hadn't really hit him until that moment, but Mr. Talbot was dead. Gone. How strange. Granted, he hadn't known the man well, but he had had chemistry with him. And Danny was good at chemistry—it was one of the only subjects he was good at. So naturally, it followed that he had, sort of, liked Mr. Talbot.
How strange that he was dead. Gone.
And… What did that mean anyway—dead? Would he eventually come across the ghost of his dead teacher? Or had Mr. Talbot simply… moved on? Which option did Danny prefer?
Then there was the lingering feeling that something was wrong. Mr. Talbot's death had not been an accident. And if it wasn't an accident… could it have been avoided? Danny had been shirking his patrolling duties lately. He'd assumed that since the ghosts were gone, there was no other immediate danger facing Amity Park. Was he wrong? Were there… other things his town needed protection from?
Following Paulina, Jazz came up and took the podium. She was apparently one of Mr. Talbot's favourite and closest students—information that came as no surprise to Danny—and she spoke passionately about how dedicated and inspiring a teacher he had been.
Given that Jazz had probably only written her speech a scant half-hour before the assembly, it wasn't half bad. Danny actually found out a few things about his sister that he hadn't known. He had been unaware, for instance, that Jazz would sometimes go for coffee with her teachers, taking the opportunity to pick their brains: to 'challenge and be challenged'.
'Keener' wasn't a strong enough word. Jazz was in a league of her own.
It was no wonder he could never live up to his teachers' expectations of him—those that had taught Jazz, at least—if they were expecting him to be like that.
"Thank you Miss Fenton, for that kind and insightful speech." Mr. Lancer nodded at Jazz with an approving smile. "Now, we have one last guest speaker who would like to impart some words of encouragement and wisdom. Our own mayor, Mr. Masters, has chosen to address the school. Please join me in welcoming him to the stage."
Danny threw himself forward in his seat, gripping the back of the chair in front of him and ignoring its occupant when she turned to give him an irritated glare.
On his side, Tucker was trying to exchange looks with him, but Danny only had eyes for the thin, wiry figure striding purposefully across the stage.
"Welcome, students of Casper High." Vlad intoned after he'd settled himself at the podium. Fit for a funeral with his black tailored suit and steel grey tie, the man cut an impressive figure. His voice commanded attention and, in recognition of this subtle authority, the auditorium fell deathly quiet as the students stilled and stopped gossiping in undertones to focus on the mayor.
Danny bristled rebelliously at the mere sound of Vlad's voice, his fingers tightening in the fabric of the chair. He couldn't see it, but he could hear the smarmy smirk in Vlad's tone.
"Today, you have been touched by tragedy. But even in this time—especially in this time—you must find strength and courage. To do this, I believe that you need to be told the truth."
The students were practically hanging on to Vlad's every word. Danny couldn't believe they were falling for the man's oily tactics.
"Students of Casper High, you have been lied to. The school board has instructed that you be told Victor Talbot's death was an accident. I am here to tell you that that statement is false. Victor Talbot's death was not an accident. He was murdered in cold blood." Vlad paused for effect and, like a perfect captive audience, a gasp rippled through the crowd. Danny rolled his eyes but couldn't deny that even he wanted to hear what Vlad said next. He irritated himself with his curiosity.
"You all know of the ghost invasion that took place a few months ago. I am here to tell you that I believe another darkness, different, but no less dangerous, is stirring in Amity Park. A week ago, a student's cat was strung up a flagpole. A couple of days after that, someone set fire to a house on Old Elm street. Now, someone has died. Whoever it is committing these atrocious acts, he is dangerous and he is escalating. You may be wondering why I am telling you this. I am telling you because I believe that the truth empowers; I believe that truth gives us the greatest weapon to fight against this coming darkness. I am doing everything in my power to stop this criminal. The state is doing everything in its power to keep you safe. But we cannot work alone. Students! Take vigilance! When you walk down the streets at night do not go alone. Do not do this criminal's work for him: tell someone where you will be at all times. If you see any suspicious activity, whether it is a ghost or a human, call the hotline immediately. Do not try and play hero; leave the police work to the professionals and, most importantly, remember that you are not alone. You need never act alone. There are people willing to help you, should you ever need it. I will repeat it once more: there is a shadow falling over Amity Park. A dark time is approaching us. This is only the beginning. But, if you are willing to reach out, I am willing to help." And with these last words, Vlad's gaze lifted and Danny froze as he felt those cold, calculating eyes fix straight on him.
"This burden is not yours alone. I am always watching, and I will be here to grasp your hand when it reaches out to me."
"Meet me outside the auditorium after the assembly ends." Danny visibly shivered and coughed into a fist to hide the blue mist he was exhaling as a low voice murmured over his shoulder. "Stay behind after your class leaves. We have many things to discuss."
"Ghost?" Tucker asked, looking at him curiously.
Danny shook his head. "Just Vlad. He wanted to give me a message." He rubbed his ear, trying not to be creeped out by the feeling of having Vlad's voice so close.
"Yeah, I saw," Tucker nodded down at Vlad who was thanking the audience for their time. "The way he looked up at us… at you." Tucker glanced at Danny. "Even I felt it. It was creepy."
"Creepy… yeah." Around them, everyone suddenly began clapping and Danny twitched with surprise. He hadn't realized Vlad had finished talking.
"What do you think he was talking about? 'Darkness', 'truth' and not being 'alone'… He used those words a lot."
"I dunno…" Danny trailed off, looking down at the stage. Vlad had already disappeared, ostensibly to wait for their meeting. "But whatever it is it can't be good."
"…As a last matter of administrative importance," Mr. Lancer was saying. "I would like to welcome to our faculty a new member. Please welcome Dr. Bartholomew Ignatiev."
Standing next to Mr. Lancer, a tall, thin man with a shock of messy white hair inclined his head, but made no move to take the podium.
"Dr. Ignatiev taught for many years at the University of Wisconsin until his recent retirement. He has kindly agreed to come out of retirement to teach at Casper High for the rest of the year. Although the circumstances of his arrival are tragic, we are still very lucky to have him here and I hope all of you will make him feel welcome. I see we are now running into your lunch hour so I will wrap up and allow Dr. Ignatiev to further introduce himself in your classes. Thank you for coming and please remain seated. We will exit in an orderly fashion by class number."
"Tucker," Danny leaned closer to his friend. "I'm gonna stay back and have a little conversation with Vlad. So don't wait up, 'kay?"
Tucker nodded, although he gave Danny a long look. "You sure you don't need backup? The dude is a nut. And he always finds a way to mess with you."
"Don't worry about me." One side of Danny's mouth quirked upward.
"Just try and stay out of a fight. I know you're not a hundred percent yet." Tucker commented as fitted his hat back on. He gave a contented sigh at having the familiar weight on his head.
Danny nodded, surprised Tucker had noticed. "I'm not the only one." The hybrid said, looking over at Sam, who was still curled up in her seat.
"You okay Sam?" He asked.
"Huh?" She looked up at him. "Sure, why?"
He was taken aback at how lively and normal Sam suddenly appeared. "It's just… you were a bit… out of it earlier."
Sam raised an eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about? I feel fine. C'mon, the Sub's calling us to leave." And she rose from her seat.
"O-okay…" Danny drawled uncertainly. "If you say so…"
But as they exited the room, Danny touched her arm.
"I'm staying behind. Vlad." He explained.
Sam sighed. "Fine. I figured it'd be something like that. Just be careful, that man is always messing with your head."
Danny laughed. "That's what Tucker said."
"Tucker was right."
"Okay," Danny nodded
"Yep."
"So, I'll see you at lunch?"
"After lunch, remember? You have in-class suspension so you have a supervised lunch."
Danny grimaced. "That's right… I guess I'll see you in fourth period then."
"Yeah." Sam agreed.
"Okay, so… see you, then."
"Right. See you."
"Bye."
"Bye."
And with that painfully awkward goodbye, they parted. Tucker making strange faces at them as he also left.
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His plan had been to lose himself in the crowd and turn invisible. But too many people were edging around him—staring, whispering, watching—and he was forced to duck into the bathroom to escape the crowd of suspicious eyes.
Danny called first invisibility then intangibility, feeling the power rush over him in a cool wave as he stepped back into the lobby. After that he simply waited, indulging in the odd feeling of having multiple bodies rush right through him. It was a strange sensation—one that he didn't particularly enjoy. There was these small sparks… sparks ofsomething that he always encountered when passing through living creatures. As someone passed through his intangible body, this spark would steal through him, brushing up against and briefly electrifying his heart. His chest would tighten reactively with the jolt.
It was a disturbing, confusing feeling. The jolts were energizing but at the same time they filled him with false adrenaline—like downing three cups of coffee too late at night. The buzz made him jittery and hypersensitive.
Eventually, Danny did shift out of the stream of students. Opposite the entrance to the auditorium, was a curved staircase leading down to a set of doors that opened to the outside. Twin pillars flanked the double doors like stone sentinels and it was to one of these that Danny floated.
Floated… yes, that was probably the correct word to use. Because Danny didn't really think 'walking' applied when his feet were intangible and hovering just short of the ground.
Reaching the pillar, he let the intangibility fall and dropped back down to the hard floor. Sustaining his invisibility, Danny leaned against the pillar and waited.
Allowing his head to list, Danny pressed his cheek against the cool surface of the pillar and revelled in the simple feeling. As the last of the students trickled out of the auditorium and disappeared down the hall to the cafeteria, Danny let even his invisibility fade. He didn't bother moving though—instead allowed his entire weight to rest up against the pillar. If Vlad wanted to talk with him, he'd show up sooner or later.
Danny knew he should be exercising a bit more alertness and paranoia, especially where his archenemy was involved. But it just felt so good to take a moment of rest. He'd hardly had a minute alone since waking from last night's nightmare and he was so tired. Tired enough that his vision was cloudy and his eyes felt gritty, swollen in their sockets. All he really wanted to do was lay down… maybe close his eyes for a moment—let them burn softly behind closed eyelids. He brought a hand to his mouth as he yawned.
"A souvenir from your exploits in the museum, no doubt?" Vlad materialized in front of Danny.
Danny's yawn halted unpleasantly mid-way and left him feeling unsatisfied and irritated.
"Vlad." He growled, sniffing at the stuffy sensation in his head. He swallowed and managed to pop his ears. "Couldn't you have at least—Hey!"
Vlad had reached out and snagged Danny's wrist in one spidery hand, pulling the boy's hand upward and inspecting it closely.
"H-hey! Leggo!" Danny tugged at his arm fruitlessly. Vlad didn't allow him an inch. His grip was a vice.
"You have a bite mark on your hand." Vlad informed him.
"No duh!" Danny said rudely, though he flushed—he'd been doing his best to hide that mark all morning. It was one of the few injuries that hadn't vanished overnight and the only one not covered by the long-sleeved shirt he had on.
"It's fascinating. You can distinctly see the sharpness of the eyeteeth but the incisors look human. What did you meet in that museum, my boy? Vampires?" Vlad, still holding Danny's wrist high above the teen's head, looked down at him with curious interest.
Danny's eyes narrowed and he snarled. "Vlad. Let go. Now!" And with a violent yank, he tore his hand out of Vlad's grip.
"There is no need to get excited, Daniel. It would suit neither of our interests to start a fight at your school in front of the cameras." Vlad gestured vaguely at the few security cameras placed in the corners of the room.
Danny sent the cameras only a perfunctory glance. He'd been going invisible, intangible and turning into his ghost form in front of those cameras almost all year. Either the security person in charge of watching those was consistently asleep, or just plain oblivious—either way, they hardly presented any form of deterrent. But if they kept Vlad in line…
"Wait a second." Danny frowned, realizing something. "You know I went to the museum but don't know what I did there? What, you're little spy bugs couldn't get past the ghost-human shield?" Taking Vlad's silence as all the answer he needed, Danny grinned snidely. "You know, it was my Dad who created the invention I needed to get into the museum." He said smugly.
Vlad didn't even pause. "Any fool can throw a stone in the way of a closing door to keep it open. The true test is finding a way to open that door, and that was all you, son."
Danny shifted under the weird look Vlad was giving him and scowled, growing irritable once more. "Was there something you wanted, Vlad? Or are you keeping me from lunch just to annoy me?"
Vlad grinned, and it was an unnerving expression. "It is amusingly easy to annoy you, little badger. And I admit I told you to wait partly just to see if you would obey me."
Danny shoved away from the pillar. "I'm leaving, Vlad." He moved to walk around the elder man, but was halted when an arm blocked his way.
"Stay, Daniel." Vlad said, as though ordering a dog. "There are things I wish to discuss."
And—so help him—Danny paused. Obeying, in spite of himself.
"What?"
"Tell me what you fought in that museum."
Danny sighed. "Is that all, Vlad? I don't have time for this." This time he successfully dodged around Vlad on his way out the door.
"Was it, by any chance, a giant demonic dog, gorged by shadow with acid eyes?" Vlad called pointedly.
Danny froze. His head snapped around so he could study Vlad's face. "How do you know about that?" He demanded.
"I know many things, Daniel. Things about the history of Amity Park that would give you nightmares."
"The Night of Abaddon?"
Vlad looked at Danny appraisingly. "You know about that?" Danny nodded. "Very good. You've been doing your research. Then, did you know that the spot where Jack found his dear, dying mother was the exact spot where the Museum of Natural History now stands?"
"No…" Danny's head tilted as he considered those words. "I didn't know that."
"Your parents haven't been telling you the full story, have they?" Vlad merely smiled at Danny's glare. "Oh, the things I could tell you, Daniel, about your parents—"
"I wouldn't trust a word out of your mouth, Plasmius. Everything you'd say about my Dad and even my Mom would probably be a lie." Danny spat.
"I wouldn't lie, son. Not when the truth is so much more satisfying."
The cool confidence with which Vlad said those words sent an icy chill down his spine. What was Vlad talking about, anyway? A moment passed, during which Vlad simply watched Danny and Danny fidgeted impatiently. When it didn't seem like Vlad was going to say anything, Danny finally exploded.
"Well?" The teen demanded. "Aren't you going to tell me something about that… That thing in the museum?"
Vlad considered him. "Do you want me to?" Danny just blinked at Vlad, who smiled. "If you want me to tell you, all you have to do is ask. You know I'd be willing to do anything for you, my son, if you just asked."
Danny tossed up his hands in frustration, turning away from Vlad and huffing. "What is it with you? Why do you always have to make everything into a game? Darn it, Plasmius, can't you see that monster in the museum is dangerous? Aren't you supposed to be the mayor? You should be doing something about it!"
"Are you saying the great Danny Phantom can't handle it?" Vlad asked slyly.
Danny made an aggravated noise behind his teeth.
"Do you need help protecting this town, my boy?"
"And would you stop calling me those things! Little badger, my boy, my son… I'm not yours, Vlad!"
"Perhaps not biologically. But you and I are two of a kind, Daniel. We are different, unique, special. No one else could understand us and in that way we are connected, linked. You were changed irrevocably and to deny that would be to deny yourself. Jack Fenton may be your father by blood, but by his folly we have been made kin. And as the elder, I would gladly and willingly take up the responsibility of being your guide and mentor."
"Guess it's a good thing I'm doing fine on my own then." Danny said slowly, sending Vlad a wary look.
"But that's the very thing! You aren't! And the fact that you can't see that proves my point all the more! Daniel, watching you flounder about with your powers like a newborn chick is like an insult to me—to everything I am. Everything you are experiencing, I have already experienced. And haven't you wished you could have a sympathetic ear forall your problems? I'm sure there are many secrets you keep from your friends and, as intelligent as your sister may be, there is no comparison. There is no substitute for what I could be to you."
"Well… sorry to insult you, Vlad." Danny hissed. He was getting dangerously angry—if the yellow specks in the corner of his vision were any indication—and he needed to calm down. The best way to do that was just to leave. The idea of walking away irked his pride, but Danny was slowly learning how explosive his anger was these days. He couldn't afford another episode.
"If it's really so difficult to watch my floundering then, by all means, leave so you can preserve your poor, delicate sensibilities because God forbid you should have to see myfloundering! Just leave, Vlad. No one asked you come sticking your disproportionately large nose where it isn't wanted. Leave or, better yet, I'll leave." Danny spun on his heel and walking away.
He barely made it two steps before a hand came down on his right shoulder—right over the black mark hidden beneath his shirt—stopping him.
"When you came to my house, you had a crystal in your hand, Daniel. Where did you get it?" Vlad asked.
"That's a good question." Danny commended, not bothering to turn around. "You should put it to your spy bugs. Or were they too busy floundering?"
"There is something else, as well. When I came to your house you were acting erratically. Possessed. Now I can sense that same darkness rising up in you. It stains your voice, changes your speech. What are you hiding?" Unexpectedly, Vlad's fingers dug sharply into the spot under Danny's collarbone and the boy let out an involuntary yelp as an answering spark of pain came from the Devil's Mark. He ducked, escaping Vlad's painful hold and spun around quickly, stumbling back a few steps. His hand came up to sooth away the pain in his shoulder and he looked up at Vlad with wide eyes.
Vlad didn't say anything. He merely watched Danny as the teen exhaled short puffs of air anxiously. Danny stared at Vlad, trying to glimpse the man's thoughts, but failing.
"You know, Daniel. When I saw that crystal in your hand, it brought back a number of memories." Seeing he had Danny's attention, Vlad smirked. "The first time I saw a similar stone was 26 years ago when your Father showed me his. The stone he plucked from his dear Mother's dying hand. I had assumed that Jack had lost the thing, bumbling fool that he is. After all, he never mentioned it again after that day and I never saw it again."
"Really?" Danny's brow furrowed in surprise. "I just assumed you were the one who stole it from Dad." It was true, Danny realized: while he'd never actually sat down and come to the conclusion in his head, the moment he'd heard that his Father's soul stone had gone missing around his college days he'd simply equated the fault to Vlad.
Vlad actually grinned, as though Danny had just said something that pleased him greatly. "No, I did not. But good instincts, little badger. Always suspect the worst of people and you will never be let down in life."
Danny sighed labouriously.
"Look Vlad, as fun as it hasn't been talking to you, I need to get—"
"When the federal investigators unearthed the bodies from the ruins of Amity Park, they were not prepared for what they found." Vlad continued as though Danny hadn't spoken. The man had his hands clasped behind his back, and his gaze was captured by something high and to Danny's left. "The bodies were stained coal black, with blackened eyes and mouths wrenched open in silent screams. When they cracked open the chests of the corpses, they found diseased hearts that oozed black slime…" Vlad let those words sink in and then turned his eyes back to Danny.
"You wouldn't know anything about that—would you, Daniel?" Vlad hummed and his shrewd eyes were knowing.
Danny had no idea what his expression was betraying, but his cheeks had turned cold and his hands were clammy.
"I-I—"
"Mayor Masters? You are still here? And Mr. Fenton?"
Danny winced at the sound of Mr. Lancer's voice and glanced around Vlad to see his teacher walking up to them, the auditorium door swinging shut behind him.
"Mr. Fenton," Lancer strode up beside Vlad and looked down at the teen disapprovingly. "Aren't you supposed to be having lunch in Mr. Falluca's room right now?"
"I-ah… uh…" Danny stalled.
Vlad abruptly stepped forward, turning so that he was standing at Danny's side. "I apologize, Mr. Lancer. I take full responsibility for detaining young Daniel."
"Mr. Masters?" Lancer asked in surprised. "You know Mr. Fenton?"
"Of course!" Vlad effused with sickening charm. "Daniel's parents and I are old friends, and Daniel is like a son to me." Before the teen could react or recoil away, Vlad brought up a hand and smoothed down the back of Danny's hair before resting it at the nape of his neck possessively.
It was a suffocating feeling, having Vlad's unwelcome hand on him like that, and Danny squirmed, trying to inch away subtly without alerting Lancer that something was wrong. Vlad was having none of that though, and he tightened his grip on the back of Danny's neck painfully.
"I was taking a moment to catch up with Daniel here. With all my mayoral duties I find it difficult to keep up my personal relations, you understand?"
"Yes, of course," Mr. Lancer said, with a small frown. He was looking down at Danny and noticed that the boy seemed very uncomfortable under the mayor's hand, almost as though he was trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the mayor without being too obvious about it. "But Mr. Fenton here should really be—"
"In fact, I was hoping you could give me an update on Daniel's progress in school. I do my best to keep up on how the boy is doing." Vlad interjected with a cool smile.
Mr. Lancer definitely didn't imagine the nasty look that Danny shot the mayor. It was fleeting—there and gone in the span of a few seconds—but Lancer was certain he'd seen it. It was a look he'd never seen on the boy's face before.
"Well…" Lancer started. As he brought up Danny's file in his mind, he fell into the familiar role of educational instructor and stopped thinking about the strange interaction between the mayor and Danny. "For the past few months, Daniel has been having some trouble keeping up his grades. But over the past month he's managed to turn that around. I believe his average is up to a B in almost all his classes now." Mr. Lancer sent an appraising look down at Danny and smiled at the boy's apparent embarrassment. "However, there has been a recent spot of trouble. I take it you've heard about the suspension?"
"Oh yes," Vlad looked down at Danny. "I heard about that."
"Well, if his punishment goes smoothly, I don't see why Daniel can't continue to keep bringing up his grades."
"Naturally. We are expecting great things from you, aren't we, Daniel?"
Abruptly, Danny brought up a hand and brushed off Vlad's hold, and took a few hopping steps away from the adults. "And on that note! I should be getting to Mr. Falluca's room!" The teen said in a rush. "Bye Mr. Lancer!" Without a word or even a glance in Vlad's direction, Danny took off down the hall.
"No running in the halls, Mr. Fenton!" Mr. Lancer called over to the boy. But Danny was already gone, the edge of his jeans disappearing around the bend in the corridor. The boy was fast, Lancer gave him that.
"Well…" Lancer turned back to Vlad, who was watching the spot where Danny had disappeared with some amusement. "I apologize for Daniel's rude exit—"
"Not at all," Vlad waved away Lancer's remarks. "The boy is such a shy and sensitive thing. I imagine he was only embarrassed by all the attention."
Lancer nodded in acceptance. "Yes, well—"
The doors to the auditorium swung open and both men turned to see who had joined them.
"Bart!" Lancer smiled at the newest addition to his faculty. "Come over here for a moment. This is Mayor Masters, I did not have the opportunity to formally introduce you earlier—"
"Dr. Ignatiev, it is a pleasure to see you again after all these years. I thought you had retired a couple of years back?" Vlad inclined his head at the elder man and held out a hand.
"Vlad! You have changed, haven't you, boy? I always knew you were bound for great things, but Mayor? I didn't think politics interested you." Dr. Ignatiev, who easily stood as tall as Vlad, looked him directly in the eye as he took his hand, shaking it once firmly. "I am retired, this is only a temporary situation. And call my Bart, Vlad, I'm not your professor anymore."
"Retired for you is coming back to teach a bunch of rowdy high-schoolers? Or is it the particular location that intrigued you and not so much the position itself?" Vlad asked knowingly.
"I admit you have me there." Dr. Ignatiev smiled, bushy moustache twitching and keen eyes twinkling behind spindly rectangular glasses. "When I got the call, I couldn't resist. Amity Park: the most haunted city in the United States? And Casper High: on average the location of the most ghost sightings in the city? What self-respecting parapsychologist would pass up the opportunity?"
"Then you have chosen well, though perhaps your timing is a bit unfortunate. The ghost sightings around town have been scarce as of late." Vlad said.
"I heard." Igatiev sighed. "Though I will remain optimistic."
Vlad stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You may still get lucky. There is one ghost, a spectre with a teenaged appearance self-named Danny Phantom. He is the source of the most frequent sightings and I believe there was once such sighting only two days ago."
"Danny Phantom, is it? I've heard of this ghost. Such a quaint name. Your resident superhero, isn't he?"
"Self-proclaimed, and some might say misguided." Vlad modified. "Perhaps we should sit down sometime, Bartholomew. I would enjoy swapping theories with you once more, and as Mayor I have been collecting a wealth of information on these ghosts that I am sure you would love to sink your teeth into." Vlad's voice was eager.
"E-excuse me," Mr. Lancer, standing between the two taller men, was beginning to feel let out of the conversation. Glancing between them, his eyebrows rose in surprise. "You two know each other?"
"Yes, of course. I taught a number of courses at the University of Wisconsin. Vlad, here, was one of my favourites. You were a very bright and inventive student, Vlad." Ignatiev praised. "Although I'm still having trouble believing that you chose 'Mayor' as your career path."
"Yes, well… sometimes our lives are interrupted by a single unexpected factor that knocks all our plans out of alignment." Vlad said thoughtfully. "A single, unmitigated factor that compounds and changes our lives irrevocably, for better, or for worse."
Ignatiev tilted his head at Vlad. "Still have that flair for the dramatic, don't you, Masters?"
"You… did your degree in parapsychology, Mr. Mayor?" Mr Lancer remarked with some surprise.
Vlad smiled coolly, joining his hands behind his back and nodding. "I did."
"Fascinating." Mr. Lancer considered the man. "I would've thought your area of study would have leaned more toward business, or economics…"
"Ghosts and the supernatural have always held a certain fascination for me. Unfortunately, I realized quickly that there is rarely any money to be made in such a profession—with all due respect," He inclined his head to Ignatiev, who simply chuckled. "However, through my company, Dalv, and it's various subsidiaries—you've heard of Axion, correct?—I am able to find a satisfactory median."
"The head of a multinational corporation and a small town Mayor? That is quite impressive. I remember you always had high ambitions. It is good to know that you've been pursuing them successfully. I expected no less." Ignatiev said, forthright.
Vlad looked pleased. "Thank you, Professor. I take your words as the highest compliment. A couple of goals remain elusive, but those, too, will come to me in time."
"I'm sure." Ignatiev smiled.
"It must have been some time ago that you were in the same classroom. The mayor must have left quite an impression." Mr. Lancer wondered if there were any students he had that he would remember decades after they left his classroom. There were a couple. As for his current students…Miss Fenton, perhaps? She was certainly one of the very brightest he had ever taught.
"It has certainly been a long time… about 20 years?" Ignatiev looked at Vlad, who nodded in agreement. "A very long time indeed. I remember that parapsychology was still a highly controversial subject—it still is, naturally, but not like back then. Back then if you tried to bring up ghosts in any professional setting you would get laughed out of the room. It was a fight just to get the University to offer the degree as an area of study. In fact, I believe you, Vlad were a member of the very first graduating class."
"…The second." Vlad corrected. "I was a member of the second. I graduated in the same year but a few months late."
"That's right… the accident." Ignatiev frowned at Vlad over his glasses. "Such an unfortunate incident. You were very irresponsible working in the lab after hours with such volatile substances and without supervision. If your work had been for one of my classes I would have kicked you out immediately. I would think you'd have had the sense not to do something so foolish. Madeline was working with you as well, wasn't she? She too should have known better."
"Madeline?" Lancer repeated.
"Madeline Walker," Dr. Ignatiev clarified. "She was another student of mine that I remember quite well. She was very intelligent and a very quick study."
"She still is. In fact, you may run into her at some point. She lives here in Amity Park." Vlad said with a mild smile.
"Does she?" Dr. Ignatiev's heavy eyebrows rose. "It's a small world, isn't it? Although, I'd bet she came here for the ghosts, no doubt."
"Madeline…" Lancer muttered. Then a light-bulb turned on over his head. "You don't mean Madeline Fenton, do you?"
"Fenton? As in Jack Fenton?" Ignatiev's eyes flicked to Lancer, and both men missed the sudden dark look that came across Vlad's face. Mr. Lancer nodded and Dr. Ignatiev laughed. "Madeline and Jack married? Ha! I am not surprised, I always knew that boy was crazy about Madeline."
"You taught all of them?" Lancer said, wondering exactly how connected this man was.
"Those three, Madeline, Jack and Vlad here were inseparable throughout college. They were all in the same year, took all the same courses. They would've have graduated at the same time too, if not for the unfortunate accident that lead to Vlad missing finals."
"That's right, you said you knew Daniel's parents." Mr. Lancer remarked to Vlad.
"Parents? Madeline and Jack had children?" Dr. Ignatiev said, amused.
"Yes, two. They are both in school here, in fact. You're bound to run across them. Jasmine, the elder, is one of the brightest students I've ever taught. She takes after her mother, I suppose." Mr. Lancer said conversationally. Vlad, however, took special notice of how Lancer conveniently didn't mention Daniel, almost as though he didn't think there was anything remarkable about the boy.
So much the better, in Vlad's opinion. The more people who overlooked Daniel, blind to his true potential, the less obstacles Vlad would have on his way to the boy.
Dr. Igntiev smiled, making an amused sound deep in his throat. "Well, Madeline was certainly bright, but I wouldn't discredit Jack. He was one of my most difficult students: wayward, lacking in direction and without a speck of attention. But in spite of all that the boy was brilliant. He had a natural talent that most people can only dream of."
"Excuse me," Vlad suddenly said, his expression shuttered. "I realize that I am running late for an important meeting. It was a pleasure to see you again, Bartholomew. I hope we can speak again sometime soon. Ta, Mr. Lancer." Dr. Ignatiev and Mr. Lancer bid their own goodbyes and then Vlad was gone, jogging lightly down the steps and sweeping out the double doors to exit the school.
Dr. Ignatiev and Mr. Lancer looked at each other.
"He's a busy man, the mayor." Ignatiev said lightly.
"Seems so."
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Vlad sat stiffly in the plush leather seat of his limousine. After giving the driver a brief order to return back to his mansion, he'd raised the privacy window and reclined back, teeth grinding as he wrestled to handle his seething anger.
'Brilliant'. 'Brilliant'! Dr. Ignatiev had been Vlad's favourite professor in college. He had always looked to the man with awe, amazed by his teacher's knowledge and trying to take inspiration from his lectures. He had worked hard in the man's classes, doing his utmost to give Ignatiev the best impression of himself. And it had worked: Dr. Ignatiev had described Vlad as one of his favourite students, bright and inventive.
But not brilliant. No, not 'brilliant'. That particular praise had gone to Jack Fenton. Bumbling, idiotic, ignorant, traitorous Jack Fenton who had ruined his life!
Vlad forced himself to take a breath. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Slowly, the snarl of his lips relaxed. His face wiped clean of expression.
Emotions didn't help. They only made one sloppy and rash. And Vlad was anything but sloppy and rash. He had a plan and he needed a clear head for his plan.
Feeling the rage slowly cool to a heated simmer, he allowed himself a moment to indulge in the bitter familiarity of his hatred for Jack Fenton. Breathing it in like a drug, he sighed, a frigid smile growing across his face. His eyes opened.
This was better. He didn't need his anger boiling over; allowing that would probably drive him to fly out and kill Jack this very moment. Vlad could not afford to do that. It was not the plan. No… the plan was so much more than that. He wanted Jack to suffer for his betrayal. And what better way to do that then to let him live? Let him live and make him watch as Vlad took away everything he cared about. Everyone.
It would happen too, Vlad had already set the gears in motion. What made the plan so much beautiful was that it was Daniel who had given him the idea and it would be Daniel who would deliver the key to him in the very end.
Ah yes… Daniel.
What an exquisite surprise. It was incredible. Vlad had assumed that Daniel had merely taken the soul stone from Jack somehow, but the oblivious teen had all but told him that that wasn't the case. And if Daniel hadn't gotten the stone from Jack, then the only other possibility was…
Incredible. Absolutely incredible.
He had underestimated the boy's true potential. Now, as he considered it: what it would mean for Daniel to develop his power, and what it would mean for Vlad to havecontrol over that incredible power...
Vlad leaned forward, fingers entwined in front of him he stared down over them. Greed, desire and obsession merged on his face to form a truly frightening expression.
Vlad laughed, and kept laughing.
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End Chapter 30
To Be Continued…
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To my anonymous reviewers from last chapter:
anon: Hehe, I'm glad your finding the story freaky :D I think I might have to check out "Supernatural". I've never watched the show but I've heard good things...
Cupcake: YAY! Epicness is totally what I'm striving for with this fic—see? See? (gestures excitedly at the length of this chapter) XDDD. Regarding how much of the story is left... well... let's just say I have grand planz for this story... and we've only just begun to truly play the game :3 To answer your questions: Yep, Danny still has the Devil's Mark on his shoulder. But I totally have no idea at all when his friends will notice it (shifty eyes). Nope... NO idea... ehem... XD. During the surgery, Danny really was split seconds away from revealing his secret. When possessed-Tucker started screaming, Danny's transformation rings were sparking around his waist. It was only luck that Maddie didn't turn and notice... Anyway! Thank you so much for the awesome review, and I hope you enjoyed the super-long chapter!
Some random: (Grins) Yeah, I realized I was spending too much space on review replies. I did cut down... and it's really (REALLYreally) only a coincidence that this chapter has a longer space spent on anonymous reviews than usual... Aaand... it may or may not be ironic that I'm writing about NOT writing review replies in a response to a review reply XDD. Anyway, more Vladdy in this chapter (I hope you enjoyed!) and... well... let's just say the ghosts might be playing a larger role than is first apparent... ;)
Even the smallest review puts a smile on the face of the author and incites fingers to type :) Thanks to: anon, Senside, Rogue Alice, supaherolena02, VampireFrootLoopsRule, seantriana, FirestarterX, Jay Rosie, Ribke D'Crazy, DPfruitloop, Phanfan925, dragondancer123, Cupcake, MidnightResWri, Princess of Rose, hopeistheway, some random and TheAuthorAnonymous!
Review! Review please! :) I really need your guys' opinion on Vlad in this chapter and Professor Bartholomew Ignatiev!
Adio!