A.N. Okay, before you read this chapter I wanted to post something about how the society of the Ancients works, you don't necessarily have to read it, I just wanted to work myself through it. Now, as I am a total history buff I chose to model it on a Roman hierarchal senate. Cool, huh?
So basically the twelve Ancients that make up the Senate are called Decurionesand at the top of the pecking order we have the High Consul:whom I have named Desponius, I made up the title but they did have Consuls. The original Roman name for this was the Pontifex Maximus (this was not going to happen in my story, I would just laugh my head off!) or the ranking Augur, but I wanted to add my own flair to it. In Roman times it was his job to determine the approval of the gods but in my story he is like the top dog, so to speak, he listens to the others and makes decisions accordingly, but he cannot force the Senate to do whatever he wants, he needs their majority support.
Then we have the, Praetor:Simacusand the Aedile:Saturnalicus I didn't really change anything about the original job descriptions. They were kind of like magistrates and they decided questions bought before a court of justice. In my story they are like the High Consul's right and left hand, good and bad angels or whatever you wanna call 'em.
Originally theQuaestor: Veridius was responsible for the finances of the Senate but in my world he is mainly responsible for overseeing the well-being of the Municium and the safety of the other Ancients. In my story all three of the above, so the Praetor:Simacus, the Aedile:Saturnalicus, and the Quaestor, have the power to VETO a decision in the Senate. That means, if you didn't know, that they can choose to stop a particular decision or particular actions from happening.
The remaining 8 areSenators who simply listen to, and then vote on decision from the Spirits listed above. Their names are not as important but they are: Allaricus, Seneca, Livinus, Otho, Avitus, Aelianus, Porphyrius, and Ovidius. If a decision goes through them and is passed the Praetor, the Aedile, and the Quaestor caninfluence it or change it as they like, and the High Consul listens to the evidence and makes his decisions.
After the Senate we have the thousands of 'normal' Spirits that make up the population, they, I suppose, 'elect' the Senate and get on with things.
There, I explained all the fruit-loopyness that goes on in my warped mind! Now that it's out of the way…anyone who took the time to read it, well done, and a virtual cookie to you! Anyone who didn't, oh well, I don't mind because I will have to explain it in layman's terms later on in the story, so here's the next chapter!
What Unusual halflives we lead
Chapter 16: Treacherous Moments of Anagnorisis
Vlad and Danny followed silently behind the Decuriones as they flew through the Municium passing a myriad of other Ancients whose red eyes continued to follow the hybrids eerily. Danny felt like he was on display as he was observed by a thousand eyes all at once. It was not a good feeling. Especially since his ghost sense seemed confused, it would go off one minute then stop and go off again, it was making him uncomfortable because it kept setting him on edge.
Vlad seemed no better than him, as his own red eyes were flicking back and forth in every direction, he was trying to make a mental-map of the city in case things took a bad turn for them, but he was not having much luck. There was too much to look at, too many strange buildings to remember, too many small alleyways and off-shooting streets, it was impossible to remember all of this!
They turned onto a street wider than the others, it was lined on either side with buildings of varied sizes and shapes and overhead the bright golden stars shone and pulsed with light. At the end of the thoroughfare was an impressive Roman building in classical style with a dozen shining marble steps and huge towering pillars of stone carved with intricate spiralling patterns. Atop the pillars was a stone triangular roof with the word; 'Veteres' proclaimed proudly in the middle.
"This is the Basilica, it is our Senate House," Desponius stated as the group hovered above the steps and through under the shadowed pillars.
Once inside the building only increased in grandeur and the hybrids were led deeper into unknown territory and into a huge circular room with a towering vaulted dome. It was lined with archways on all sides and encircling seats made of the same silver wood from the forest surrounded an empty space with a set of small steps that lead up to a plinth of silver stone for a single speaker to stand.
"Please…sit," the Ancient said, he seemed to be their leader and since the hybrids had little choice they sat on the front row a little apart from each other.
Eleven of the cloaked Spirits also took their seats separate from the hybrids on the far right as Desponius stared down at Danny and Vlad.
"I do not wish to bore you, I will simply state to you the facts that have brought you here to us," the Spirit said in an echoing voice which demanded respect; however it didn't stop Danny scoffing a little. "We are the Decuriones and we are responsible for our civilisation, my brothers…" the Spirits' green hand indicated the others as he proclaimed their names, "Simacus, Saturnalicus, Veridius, Allaricus, Seneca, Livinus, Otho, Avitus, Aelianus, Porphyrius, and Ovidius," each one gave a proud nod at its name.
The Ancients pompous manner and confidence reminded Danny of Vlad; he seemed to expect everyone to listen to him as soon as he opened his mouth as he hovered in the middle of the room. "10,000 years ago a senatus consulta, a decree, was passed and it was agreed that our civilisation would become separate from the Aliis Mundi…what you call the 'Ghost Zone.' It was becoming too reliant upon us…our influence and power," he said but another voice spoke before he could continue.
"The Ghosts were becoming too numerous," Simacus said as he floated up from his seat but he was shot down by a look from Desponius. Danny smirked; clearly someone didn't like not being in charge.
"…As such we chose to separate from the Ghosts. It had become clear to us that our two species could not co-exist," he continued and hovered around the room, "By we had caused this world to be created we made a grave error, but we could not undo what had been done,"
"You created the Ghost Zone?" Vlad asked with a raised black eyebrow and sceptical tone.
"Regrettably, yes," the creature nodded, "What you have to understand, hybrids, is that we are far older than Ghosts, we existed before humans and once Ghosts emerged it became painfully clear that humans and Ghosts could not inhabit the same plane of existence as both increased. Subsequently, Spirits felt that they would be driven out and a war was fought between Ghosts and Spirits.
We knew little of Ghosts at the time, but we had grown increasing concerned about their desire to remain on earth. But we soon learnt that they were the direct opposite of us. Once our corresponding energies met a hole was torn in the very fabric of reality, it would have destroyed the whole of creation. And so, we forged the energy into what you now see before you, we decreed that the two energies never be merged in such quantities again, and we, as the fathers of all Spirits we were responsible for our failures."
"Huh?" Danny questioned intelligently, he hadn't meant to speak out loud but he soon felt like running to hide under his bed when all the red eyes turned to him, "I…err…I mean…err…why d'you call it a failure?" Danny had always loved the Ghost Zone; he couldn't imagine his life without it.
"It is impeccably stable now, but once the Ectoplasm of the Ghosts met our Equaplasym it was cataclysmic, I don't expect you to comprehend the dangers we could have created from that war. We persist in our isolation because it is best for all concerned, but there was one of us that did not, all together see it in that light." He replied in a deepening tone.
"The Calidae?" Vlad guessed and turned his attention to the Spirit.
"It is not 'the' Calidae, his name is Calidae and he was a Decurio, he was one of our brothers," Saturnalicus replied rather defensively.
"Was?" Danny repeated.
"He wanted us to fight the ghosts once more, he had been demanding it for eons; he wanted each and every one destroyed and banished from the Ghost Zone. Calidae saw it as ours by right and that we were the natural rulers of it and of the human world," Desponius recounted.
"He was foolish," Seneca swore under his breath and a few other Ancients sitting beside him murmured in approval.
"I refused; I told him that if we fought another war we might not be so lucky. Over the years of our dispute the Ghosts had only increased and the Senate declined his proposals. Subsequently he was stripped of his staff and cloak to live in shame in the shadow of the Municium. He soon returned and had claimed that he had located the power necessary for our rise to power, from where I still do not know, but once more I declined him. We are not a council of war, we are meant to keep the peace; but Calidae never understood that."
"A mere Senator," Simacus swore and Saturnalicus beside him, nodded.
"We were left with no choice," Desponius spoke again, "before he could obtain this power we defeated him and others he had convinced to follow him and they were locked deep within the Municium's vaults."
"You just…locked it up?" Danny said, shocked, no wonder the thing was so pissed.
"Yes," Desponius replied emotionlessly, "We cannot destroy our own, it is forbidden, the Senators voted, the Consuls agreed…and it was done," he waved a skeletal hand dismissively, "We had hoped to persuade him to divulge the location of this power so that we could destroy it, but he did not. Once his sentence was completed, and before we could act he had left the city. I have been most anxious that something be done about it…"
"Calidae is not our problem, Desponius," Simacus said, "We are not executioners, our job is finished,"
"Not to be rude or anything, dudes," Danny chuckled sardonically then became serious, "but that thing nearly killed my family! They're in hospital, okay…the freaking hospital! All because your 'brother'," he quoted in the air with his gloved fingers, "is some power crazy moron, he's your problem! How the hell could you let that thing loose?"
Vlad tried to repress a smirk, he had to value Danny's bravery at times, and talking to the powerful Spirits like that was either very stupid, or very brave…or both.
"Then you will have to stop him…defend yourself, boy," Simacus replied.
"I tried!" Danny shouted and stood from his seat angrily, couldn't these things see that he was powerless against that thing? "It's too powerful!"
"As much as I admire your…active attitude towards this problem," Vlad began; he didn't want Danny to offend them however funny it would be, if he needed to rely on them for help it would be best to act tactfully. "I don't think you understand the problem," he told the Spirits, "I myself have tried to fight this monster and I, regrettably, was fortunate to escape with my life."
"That is not my problem," Simacus replied emotionlessly.
"Surely allies are important to a peace loving council," Vlad shot back also standing up; this was one very irritating Spirit!
"We do not require allies," came the terse reply.
"Enough," Desponius shouted loudly and the Spirits fell silent, "Vladimir Masters, I will excuse your conduct, however, Daniel Fenton, I do not excuse your manner towards another Decurio, notwithstanding the fact that he is banished…"
"But it…" Danny began and pointed at the talking Spirit.
"Silence!" Desponius shouted and Danny blinked as he forced himself to remain standing, if he didn't he would lose face. "Furthermore, I also disapprove of your conduct; you will show the proper respect towards all within these hallowed walls."
"Not likely, dude," Danny whispered and crossed his arms. Vlad didn't know if he should laugh or cry; the boy really did not understand how to be diplomatic if his life depended on it...which it did!
The Spirit lifted his staff and instantly a blast made of golden flames shot towards Danny, and before either of the hybrids could do anything, the boy was thrown into the hard seats with an echoing 'thud.' Vlad winced at the bone shattering sound as he could only watch the flames stop.
"Justice is swift," Simacus chuckled, clearly approving of Desponius' actions and the others murmured their agreement.
Vlad acted instantly once the fames had vanished for good and he flew quickly over to the fallen child. Danny had landed uncomfortably against a hard surface and he moaned as he tried to right himself, "Oww…."
Vlad helped pull him up and Danny glared at the Spirit that had attacked him, "No, Daniel, don't," Vlad whispered as he saw the boys eyes flash icy-blue. Danny sighed and shrugged Vlad's hand from his shoulder; he really, really wanted to fight back.
"Why is it so interested in us?" Vlad asked, hoping to prevent another attack.
"Calidae wants to rule over both worlds, he sees you as abominations because you belong in both and yet you belong don't fully belong in either, he wants his world to be perfect and he does not see you as perfect," Desponius answered simply.
"That's it?" Danny demanded, "Just because we're half ghost he wants to kill us?"
"Yes, that is all," the Spirit nodded.
"And what do you think?" Vlad asked.
"I have seen many creatures evolve over the ages, the idea of hybrids id nothing new to me; however it had not been done until you, Vladimir. As such we had many conversations about you, and then Daniel, the second human-ghost hybrid the world has seen, it makes me curious to wonder if there will follow more like you,"
"That's not what I asked," Vlad sighed, and Desponius nodded.
"I know, but it is not my place to say what I think of you. I have not asked you what you think of me, I have done nothing to you, or to threaten you, but I am indifferent. We do not act to shape the world; nature takes its own course,"
"Nature!" Vlad repeated with hate and malice in his voice as he recalled his accident…it had been anything but natural…but it went ignored.
"But I will not help nor will I hinder Calidae,"
"By doing nothing you are helping him," Vlad replied angrily, "Can't you see that?"
"The Speculi-Charta, I allowed you to find it and now it should be returned," the Spirit held out his hand expectantly.
Vlad had little choice; he was outnumbered and outmatched, so for the moment he would need to give up the valuable artefact…he would return for it. He was a patient man…he could wait. So he reached into his pocket and forcefully slammed the mirror into the green hands of the creature. "The book I will allow you to keep, it was written in order for us to learn its knowledge, and we have learnt it so it is useless to us now. You may go now,"
Vlad glared angrily at the Spirit; he was not a powerless child or a dog that was easily dismissed like that! How dare this being dismiss him…him…Vlad Plasmius!
"This is your last warning, hybrids; leave now," Desponius said, his red eyes shining with anger under his cowl.
Vlad only stared back at the Spirit; he had to admit he was slightly disappointed at the attitudes these creatures displayed. He had believed that the Ancients were intelligent, benign beings…and he had found only egotistical, self-absorbed creatures that had clearly been in isolation for too long. He was extremely disappointed, and just as he was about to attack the Spirit something in his mind told him not to…a voice…
-Please Vladimir…I beseech you…leave now…there is far more at stake than you realise, you will both be in grave danger if you linger here-
Vlad heard the Spirit's voice speak inside his head, he glanced at Daniel and was slightly curious when he noticed that they boy was still glaring at the Spirit. Clearly he had not heard it as Vlad had. But what should he do now? What was at stake? Why had it spoken inside his head and not aloud? In short; what was going on?
"Very well," he growled in a mix of confusion and lingering anger.
Danny stared up at the man in shock; they had come all this way to find help and they had got none…and now Vlad was going to leave…just like that? Where was the stubborn, fruit-loopy Vlad who'd just kick their butts for talking to him like that?
"Ovidius will guide you through the Municium. Goodbye," with that said the eleven Spirits vanished in a puff of golden mist leaving only one.
"This way," Ovidius said and flew away at a fast speed. The two irritated hybrids followed him and exchanged a look of understanding. It confused both of them to some degree; they had never really come to any understanding about anything before and it took a life threatening situation for them to even begin to remotely comprehend one another. However they both silently agreed that they disliked the Spirits and that they should not have wasted their time in coming in the Zone in the first place. Now they were right back to square one.
Soon they were clear of the city and they were flying up to the overlooking forest again, the strange silver, shimmering forest. Vlad felt tempted the question their guide about the forest, but he was not inclined to speak to the infuriating Spirit, he kept quiet, now was not the time for education.
Once they reached the stationary Spectre Speeder and the ostentatious portal it became clear that there was someone waiting there. It was another shrouded figure with a patterned purple cloak and a staff hovering alone behind the trees.
Danny turned to look at Vlad and they both shared a similar look of confusion and expectation, "Well done, Ovidius," the being said, "now please, leave us, quickly…the Senate…you know what to do."
"Yes, sire," Ovidius bowed slightly and disappeared instantly.
Vlad recognised the deep tone of voice, but he didn't understand what was happening, what the hell was going on? "Care to explain yourself, High Consul? The voice in my head?" he sarcastically stressed each syllable of the Spirit's title and ignored Danny's look of confusion.
"Yes, it was me; I could not speak aloud to my brothers but I required a moment of privacy to speak with you, away from the eyes of the Senate. If you had provoked a fight we would have been forced to kill you, and that is of no benefit to me. Ovidius is my trusted friend and one of the few within the Senate who support my view."
"What?" Danny exclaimed, now he was really confused…and that was happening too much for his liking.
"The Senate is ruled by its laws, the majority disagreed with me, I could not ask you or tell you anything which would compromise me,"
"Huh?"
"Don't you understand, boy?" the Spirit hissed, "I do not control the Senate, I cannot force them to act for me. The majority voted against my wishes and as such I cannot act through them. I failed to convince them of my perspectives and I acted accordingly in the Basilica, but even if it means my own banishment Calidae must be stopped."
Danny could only blink in confusion after the Spirit had finished speaking…it wanted to help them? It hadn't meant what it had said?
"So, what do you expect us to do?" Vlad demanded and crossed his arms.
"I have already taken certain steps in order to track Calidae in your world, but if he begins to have even the slightest suspicions that I am behind them, then he will use it to gain control of the Senate. I cannot allow that to happen. He has always desired my removal and such a justified accusation would give him the authority over the other Decuriones that would allow him to destroy me. However, once I have completed my task that will be of little importance to me.
The decadence of my civilisation has allowed him his freedom…a freedom which I attempted to deny him, and as such we three remain his main targets. I cannot see his mind but for some reason he allowed you to live long enough for us to locate you, I suspect he expected us to turn you away, and that is what I did…I suspect that among my Senate there lies a traitor, but I have not the means to be sure…so…I propose an alliance,"
"A covert alliance, I assume?" Vlad smirked and Desponius nodded.
Vlad was beginning to understand the dangers of the political game that this creature was playing. Desponius was caught between a rock and a hard place. He was trying to keep order in the Senate, and make sure that he displayed the correct attitude to the Ancients that they expected, whilst trying to keep track of Calidae's progress. Vlad's respect suddenly shot up for Desponius especially since his life depended upon success as well. "And what would this alliance entail?" he asked.
"Well, firstly, I ensure your safe passage back to your world; I doubt that Calidae will allow you much longer to live if you risk crossing the Aliis Mundi twice. Secondly I would be in a position to provide you with effective weapons which would allow you to defend yourselves more competently against the enemy should you meet again. On your part I would ask that you do not act without informing me, and I will not do so either; allies cannot succeed if they are divided against their enemy. Take this back with you," Desponius handed the mirror back to Vlad who took it and pocketed it once more, "it will allow you to communicate with me. Are we agreed?"
Vlad ran through the terms in his mind, perhaps this creature was intelligent after all, it was clever enough to deceive him and that was no easy task. It was brave enough to risk his own life against his own species and his enemy…a battle on two fronts was a risky move.
"I have little choice," Vlad replied, a hint of ironic amusement in his voice.
"And lastly I…I was not entirely truthful with you," it was the first time Vlad had heard the Spirit falter in his speech, and it gave a disconcerting feeling.
"About?" Vlad questioned.
"You asked me why Calidae is 'so interested in you,' and I gave the answer that my brothers expected to hear. However it was not entirely true, while he does want you dead it is not because of his æsthetics. When we imprisoned him some of his powers were stolen, we took them as collateral, but the two of you are unique, your combined powers would give him strength, possibly enough to regain what we took."
"You mean he's not at full power?" Danny moaned; this was very not good!
"Not quite, but he has a means of doing so, and I believe it is already working on one of you. He possesses a power which enables him to steal a Ghost's or a Spirit's life force, it is supposed to work instantly, but because you have a human half you have a little resistance which is allowing you to live," Desponius' red eyes inflamed and turned on Danny and the boy took a step back.
"What's with the eyes, dude?" Danny muttered and held up his hands ready to defend himself.
"He attacked you didn't he, Daniel Fenton? It is you who is wounded, it is why you feel weakened, it may be taking Calidae longer to take your power from you but it is working, and soon he will take your ghost half and kill you as a human."
"Anytime you wanna make me feel better let me know…" Danny replied quietly and his hand moved unconsciously to said wound.
"I found a weakness; my electrical energy seems to calm it," Vlad began.
"Yes, as a Spirit we are all weak to electricity, it is a product of nature that has been tamed by man, it is no longer a natural element that we can control. We have grown weaker over the centuries. It will not stop him from taking your powers, but it will slow it down a little, there is nothing I can do about it, but I advise you to act quickly." His shadowed head turned and surveyed the forest around them.
"I was here when this forest was planted, you know, I was merely a Senator at the time, it was so many years ago now, and yet it seems to have fared better than I have. We call it the Nemorum et Nitido,the woodland that glistens, a fitting name, don't you agree?" the Spirit reached out his left hand and tore a branch from the nearest tree and it began to glow gold as did his staff. "In light of our agreement it is only right that I give you the means to protect yourselves, and against Spirits such as Calidae there is but one defence. Your ghost powers have little effect because he is of a defend magnitude altogether, even combined you would most probably be defeated. A Spirit can only be defeated by another Spirit, but it forbidden to do so…you however…are not Spirits…"
The branch slowly formed into a staff identical to his own; the silver wood became dark and there appeared a golden orb at the top. "I must first ask you to take caution, if any other Spirits were to see you with these any Decurio would be suspected; only we can forge them. I do not want suspicion to fall on us, at least not yet, once Calidae is defeated all can be revealed." He gave the first to Vlad, repeated the process and gave it to Danny.
"You cannot imagine how weary I am now; we have been isolated for so long now and I feel that it has had more detrimental effects than we imagined…perhaps you, Vladimir understand this better than your young counterpart," Danny felt that this was an opportune moment to inform them that he was still here but the sad, distant look on Vlad's pale face stopped him from doing so. Since when did Vlad look so…old? He knew that Vlad was his parents' age…that didn't make him old, old…but he wasn't exactly young either. "I believe that had we met under different circumstances we could have been respected associates, you and I are far more world-weary than we lead others to believe, aren't we? And perhaps once this is finished…I will be able to rest."
Once Danny coughed lightly it seemed to bring the Spirit out of his reverie and he sighed quietly, "I would not advise you returning to your home, it will be the first place Calidae will look for you, you need to strategize. Even with an effective weapon it would not be wise to face him directly, he is intelligent and cunning. You will need to be at your best, and you will need to outwit him. There is only so much I can help you with, I can direct a portal to take you somewhere safe but you must choose the location," Desponius said.
Vlad thought hard about where would be safest, definitely not Amity, Daniel would most likely want to return to visit his family, but Vlad was trying to look after their own well-being. His Wisconsin castle was well equipped, but would it be wise to go there, it was hardly the most inconspicuous of hiding places. Then he thought of his chalet in the Rocky Mountains; it was well concealed and could only be found if you knew what you were looking for. Perhaps it would suffice. "I have a chalet, in the Rocky Mountain range, I suppose it will have to do," he spoke and the Spirit nodded.
Desponius' staff began to glow once more and a glowing green portal emerged in front of them, "Now I'm afraid you are on your own, and before you act please remember the mirror…good luck…"
Vlad floated into the Spectre Speeder and started the engine once more, once Danny was in the seat beside him he accelerated the vehicle forwards and they went through the portal.
Desponius blinked his red eyes as he glanced around the shadows that had consumed the usually bright forest. His time was running out…
The darkness coiled around the sinuous tail of the being. Black fire and shadows shimmered and a deep growling echoed from a curved, stone hollow.
Soon…soon…soon…It was the only word that ran through its mind, the hybrids had escaped, but they would not win. This was his war, and he would win. Nothing was going to stop him, he had waited eons for his victory and so he had planned for every obstacle that he could possibly face. He knew what to do about the hybrids…they would be his means for success.
He would take their power and use their new, unique energies to become the master of existence. Despite all of his planning he had not expected there to ever be hybrids; ghosts and humans. He smirked and let out a grim chuckle. They were his key, the link between the 'human world' and the 'other world,' and once he was finished with them he would have that connection.
He would win, and nothing would stand in his way.
.
.
.
A.N. I checked through this a few times but I was getting bored of it so if there's any problems please let me know!
I really like Desponius far more than the other Spirits, he's more…I can't really say human…but he's more intelligent than the others. I like to think of the other Decuriones as normal politicians…so they're really annoying, irritating gits that lie and never shut up. Lol I have never been a fan of politicians, they shit on regular people and they don't live in the real world! Anyway, I guess Desponius is a super-politician and hopefully I won't have to kill him off at the end! I know he talks a lot but I couldn't shorten it anymore, everything he says has a point. And yes, he gives an exposition…but who else was gonna do it?
!Vivat Desponius!