Chapter Sixty: Ghost Vampire?
A shadow ghost was, by nature, a parasite. They rarely ever left the Ghost Zone, due to them needing ecto-energy. How could Vlad have forgotten that? And to bring him to this place, which has so many portals but none he could access right now…how could he be so foolish?
"Vlaaaad…" The boy pleaded as Vlad unclasped the cloak, releasing the lock on his ghost energy. "Please…it hurts…"
"I know." Vlad bit his lip and undid his tie before unbuttoning the top two buttons. The shadow boy in his arms trembled and pleaded softly, clinging desperately as his eyes grew half-lidded with hunger.
If they couldn't get ecto-energy from the Ghost Zone itself, then they could have to take it from a ghost. And with the Christmas Truce going, he wasn't about to ruin it by allowing the young shadow ghost to run rampant. He only hoped that his half-ghost energy would be enough to sustain him until he was back with Dan.
"Alright, Daniel." He exposed his neck and shoulder, nodding. "Drink."
Danny looked unsure, but when Vlad gestured to his exposed neck again he licked his lips and moved forward, his teeth growing into fangs. The older man flinched as he felt the shadow ghost's fangs dig into his skin, the boy clinging to his shoulders as he sucked up the ectoplasm in Vlad's bloodstream.
He was starting to feel a bit woozy when the fangs finally pulled out and he felt Danny lick his wound before pulling away, looking up at him with a concerned expression. "Vlad…I…"
Vlad buttoned up his shirt, his wound already healing. "I should have told you about this. I'm sorry, Daniel."
Danny looked down. He felt much better, but still… He pulled the cloak back on, fastening it and regaining the white-haired human form. "That was horrible…"
Vlad nodded. "I have to talk to the two of you. I'm surprised Johnny 13 didn't tell you, but then again he never leaves his shadow ghost's side."
"I'm a vampire." Danny sighed. "Even more than Plasmius is."
"Just to ghosts, though." Vlad smiled. "So, you have no chance of attacking your friends, and a quick visit to the Ghost Zone will recover my energy fully."
"What about Dan? How come I never—"
"Because he was supplying you ecto-energy just by being with you." Vlad explained, cutting him off. "You're linked to him, so as long as you are together than there's no trouble. Before he picked you up, you were in the Ghost Zone and got your daily dose then. But, a shadow ghost can only be away from their partner for so long, Daniel. You were able to avoid the symptoms until now because of the cloak, but a shadow ghost's hunger is stronger than any dampener and that's why you started to suffer tonight."
Danny nodded. "Well, uhm, I'm good now. Right?"
Vlad nodded. "Yes, you are alright now. That should sustain you until you're by Dan's side. Luckily, this is only temporary and you seem to be growing stronger with each lesson. Therefore, you shouldn't have to worry much longer." He gently ruffled his hair. "So lose the frown, little badger."
Danny grinned, nodding. "I'll really focus on my lessons and get so strong I'm no longer just a shadow!"
The door opened and Jazz looked in. "Well, Danny sounds a lot better. What happened?" She asked as she, Sam, and Tucker gathered around the bed, Tucker closing the door behind them.
"Ecto-withdrawl." Vlad explained. When they gave blank stares he sighed. "A shadow ghost is kind of like a ghost vampire. They feed off ecto-energy, and the only way to prevent them going rampant is to keep them with their partner. His partner, unfortunately, took off for a night of romance several buildings away and I didn't think of what effect it would have on Danny."
"Dude, you're a ghost vampire?" Tucker laughed, holding up a hand. "High five, that's cool!"
"Yeah, I'm not doing the high-five, Tuck, 'cause it's NOT cool. I just about lunged at the first ghost I found, if Vlad hadn't come and helped me." Danny replied. "Anyways, it's passed so…Sam, you mind if I turn in?"
Sam shook her head, smiling. "My parents said you can spend the night, don't worry. Just use this room, since you're in here."
"I'll share it with him, so you don't have to worry about another room." Vlad assured her.
They nodded and wished them goodnight, Sam giving him a gentle kiss, before they left the room and shut the door.
"Well. That was eventful." Danny said, lying down on the bed. "I'm going to bed now, so no…funny stuff."
Vlad chuckled. "Absolutely none?" He trailed his hand up Danny's side.
"Guueeee!" Danny stiffened up, shivered, and smacked his hand away. "I said NO!"
"Alright, alright." Vlad laughed, pulling him close. "We'll just sleep side by side, I promise."
Danny sighed. "Why does Phantom put up with you?" He mumbled.
The next morning, they returned to the hotel room to find that Dan and Valerie had already left, leaving a note that said "Went to breakfast, see you there?" in rushed writing, the pencil line trailing off the paper. They found the pencil near the door, where a book had been knocked to the floor, and the bed was an absolute mess.
"Wow." Danny sighed. "Phantom's really…"
"I doubt just Phantom did this." Vlad said, walking over to start picking up. "Valerie surely had some part."
"So, wanna go meet them at the diner?" Danny asked.
"May as well." Vlad went to change his clothes. Danny sat in his chair by the window and picked up his handheld game, making sure to NOT look at the older man as he changed clothes.
They arrived at the diner not too long later and found Dan and Valerie still there, Valerie wearing an outfit that looked brand new – of course, she had been in her ball-gown when they ran off into the night, so she would need to get new clothes to go straight from the hotel to the diner.
"Ah!" Dan waved to them as they entered. "I was wondering if you were going to come!" The table was set for four, obviously they told the waiter they had friends coming.
"Did someone have fun last night?" Vlad asked as he and Danny joined their table.
Dan and Valerie exchanged blushing looks and buried their faces in their menus.
"Sounds like it." Danny remarked. 'There's been a new development.' He thought.
'Dad?' Dan thought, his face still behind his menu.
'No, just stuff about shadow ghosts that Vlad forgot about. I'm a vampire.'
'Pfft, you're joking!'
'No joke. I just drank Vlad's blood last night.'
"So, what do you guys want to eat?" Valerie asked.
'Why? You never try to drink mine. And what about Sam or Tucker?' Dan thought. "Hm, they have a good breakfast special."
"You always get the breakfast special." Vlad chuckled a bit.
'I'm a ghost-only vampire. And I only need to drink ghost blood if I'm out of the Ghost Zone or by your side.' Danny thought, picking up his own menu. "Soup looks good." He commented quietly.
'Sounds like we gotta talk to Johnny; see what else we need to know about shadow ghosts.' Dan thought. "It's pretty good, yeah." He commented.
The following two days were busy, with Dan going on dates – but always coming home by 10pm – and Danny and Vlad hanging out in town with Sam and Tucker. Twice he ended up spending time with his father, but Jack was none the wiser. He just didn't like how sour Vlad was as soon as they left his side.
Finally, they were getting on the private plane to go home. Danny watched out the window as Dan and Valerie shared a passionate kiss, wishing that Sam and Tucker hadn't had plans this morning. Then again, as far as Valerie knew, Sam was still pining over Danny. Why would she kiss James, especially since she just met him?
"Are you done now?" Vlad asked as Dan got into the plane, blowing Valerie a kiss.
"Yes." Dan grinned and nudged him as the door was closed. "Jealous, Vlad?"
"Quite." Vlad wrapped his arms around him, now that Valerie couldn't see them. "Daniel was most uncooperative, so I haven't had any attention. I request your presence in my bedroom tonight."
"Ew." Danny muttered, glancing at them.
Dan laughed. "Well, I suppose I have been neglecting you. Okay, I'll be there." He kissed him lightly and then broke out of his hold, going to the window to wave to Valerie as he buckled in.
Vlad sighed and sat down next to Danny. "Glad to be going home?"
Danny glanced at him, then looked out at his hometown before tearing his eyes away. "Sadly…yes."
Vlad smiled and gently took his hand. "Don't worry, you'll feel more comfortable once you start going to the Ghost Zone more often again."
Danny nodded, pulling his hand free and curling up, wrapping his arms around his knees as the plane lifted into the air.