Summary: Waking up in unfamiliar surroundings didn't make him feel good, no matter how nice the room was. (Following up to Snow Colored Lens)
Characters: Danny and Vlad
Prompt: Handcuffs

Day Twenty-One

His eyelids felt heavy, and it took him several attempts to finally open them and break free from the tempting lure of sleep. He didn't really feel all that rested though. His head throbbed with a foggy sensation, and his mouth felt all dry and cottony. The world around him was slightly blurry, but after a few slow blinks, it started coming back into focus.

Danny sat up with a jolt when he saw the unfamiliar surroundings. The action made his head hurt more, and he lifted his left hand to rub at the side of his head as he looked around the room. Everything about it screamed money. The fancy, intricately carved wardrobe thing. The vanity desk, which seemed kind of weird to him. The vase filled with fresh roses of a deep burgundy color looked like something that could be from the Ming Dynasty. He was guessing since he really didn't know all that much about that kind of stuff.

The bed was overly cushy with silk sheets that Danny decided he didn't like waking up in when he didn't know where exactly he was. He swallowed, a difficult task while his mouth remained fairly dry, as he tried to remember what happened and how he ended up here. The last thing he could recall was running to the site of Phantom's latest fight. He dropped a roll of film and was trying to retrieve it from under the car when-

Danny paled, a sense of dread settling into the pit of his stomach when he remembered someone grabbing him from behind and the hand over his mouth and nose with that sickly sweet smell. Someone kidnapped him! His brow pinched in confusion because he couldn't think of anyone for any reason that would want to kidnap him. He wasn't exactly anyone of importance. He was just a poor student struggling to make money as a photographer. Why would anyone want him?

The reason wasn't important though. What was important was getting the hell out of there before the kidnapper came to check on him. Danny scrambled out of the bed, briefly wondering how long he was knocked out for. How many days passed since he was kidnapped? He barely got a step away before something yanked on his right arm, dragging him back to the bed. Spinning around, blue eyes widened in horror at the sight of the cold, silver handcuffs wrapped around his wrist and one of the posts of the bed. He struggled to twist his wrist, tugging his hand through the cuff, but it was too tight and the effort only made his hand and wrist hurt.

Climbing onto the bed, Danny dragged the handcuffs up the length of the post. But even on the tips of his toes, he could barely reach the top of the post. Even if he could, there was a thick ball of wood at the top to prevent him from slipping the handcuffs free. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he rammed his shoulder against the post. Maybe he could destroy the bed. Somehow. With a gasp, Danny dropped back onto the bed, rubbing his aching shoulder. The wood of the bed frame was a lot harder than he expected, and it almost felt like he could have broken bone with that attempt.

"Ah, you're awake."

Danny tensed at the voice, recognizing it from not too long ago. He turned his head and watched with mild fear as the man approached the bed.

"I made you some breakfast just in case." Vlad Masters smiled pleasantly, like they were old friends or something, as he set the silver tray on the nightstand beside the bed.

Danny glanced briefly at it, noting the expertly prepared omelet and sausage links and buttered toast with two glasses, one of milk and the other of orange juice. His gaze was back on the man in a flash as he frowned warily at him.

"I promise you. It's not poisoned." Amusement flickered in his dark blue eyes as he pulled up a cozy looking chair to sit beside the bed. "If I had wanted you dead, I could have killed at any point while you slept." Half his mouth curved upward in a smirk. "And I'm sure you're hungry."

That was true. His stomach was grumbling in hunger. But Danny didn't feel comfortable eating in front this man while handcuffed to the bed. "What do you want from me?" He glared at the man, trying to think of somewhere to get away from him, as he held onto his aching shoulder.

The smirk didn't leave, but a grim gleam passed in Vlad's eyes. "Right to the point then?" He almost looked disappointed. "I believe we have a common link, and I think I should warn you about him before you end up getting hurt."

animevampLlover: Thanks! =)

midnight: Lex has so many people looking out for him. XD I'm thinking Cujo probably will make an appearance in the story at some point. XD;;

Just Will: Yeah, but why do all the animals have to be freakish? D: I'm sure there are some normal looking ones too! XD;; I loved Cujo! It's a shame he didn't come back in for more episodes. =( It's a shame a lot of the season 1 and 2 characters didn't come back for more episodes. Yeah, I remember hearing about the pet owl. -.- The motorcycle would have been cool. But I'm glad they left out the owl. And that whole psychic connection with Sam. =|

MsFrizzle: Thanks! 8D