I'm proud to announce that on the 30th it will have been a whole year since this story began and I am so thankful that so many of you take the time to read this and support me and my story. I hope you continue to read and enjoy The Life We Fight For. On to the story!
The Life We Fight For
Chapter 15: Test of Faith
Two days had come and gone since Vlad had carried Daniel back home to the mansion. Every Time Vlad asked the teenager why he'd gone out and how he'd gotten in such a state, he was met with hostility or passiveness. Daniel seemed to have become an expert at shrugging.
Irritating as it was, Vlad couldn't bring himself to push Daniel to give him answers. He wasn't the boy's father, yet. Despite their alliance, there were many things the two still fought over, and the billionaire was sure that Daniel didn't see Vlad as anything other than a necessary nuisance.
A nuisance that Vlad was sure wouldn't grow into anything more if he didn't earn the child's trust sometime soon. Daniel felt safer with him, that was obvious, but Vlad didn't feel like the boy trusted him. No, Daniel trusted him about as far as he could throw him, and even then he still was suspicious of Vlad at all times.
Daniel expected Vlad to turn around and betray him. It was written on the boy's face, and displayed in his actions. Vlad wasn't to be trusted. He couldn't exactly blame Daniel though, he hadn't always had the boy's best interest at heart...
Vlad mused over the events of the past two days while standing in front of his high-tech computer system. He had forced Daniel to stay in bed yesterday too recuperate, though it was more of a punishment than anything else. The boy had driven him up a wall with worry!
The man couldn't help but smirk remembering Daniel's incredulous expression at being confined to his room all day. Vlad had strangely felt like a parent forcing a child to eat his vegetables.
But he wasn't the boy's parent. He had to keep reminding himself of that little detail. Indeed, he wasn't even close to being Daniel's guardian. Not yet at least.
Vlad reached over and dragged a page of security camera footage to the large center screen. It was live footage from the Fenton's kitchen. Maddie and Jasmine seemed to be arguing. Vlad turned up the volume and frowned as angry voices filtered through the speakers.
"You won't keep him from me, Jazz! I will find him, and I'll end that monster Phantom!"
Vlad cringed, lowering the volume again. Even he couldn't take the harsh tone of what looked and sounded like the love of his life. He knew it was anything but the real Maddie, but hearing her voice and seeing her face go against everything the real Maddie stood for made Vlad more than a little upset.
He was reminded of Daniel, and how Vlad had plans for the two of them today. Daniel would not be happy about it one bit, but Vlad was finished playing games with such a dangerous ghost. One that had incapacitated Daniel more than once.
It was Vlad's turn to execute a plan. One that sadly, might end up with Daniel hating him. But Vlad Masters couldn't let an opportunity pass him by. Not when the stakes were so high.
Vlad shut down the computer and turned to walk upstairs for breakfast, his decision made.
Danny rubbed his tired eyes with the heels of his palms with a strained sigh. While he had been in bed for all of the previous day, he had avoided sleep like the plague. However unfortunately for him, he couldn't fight it come nighttime and just like usual he'd woken up shaky and sweaty from a newly formed nightmare.
As he sat up in bed taking deep breaths to calm himself, Danny thought about the strange behavior displayed by Vlad the past two days. He'd been extremely gentle and calm when he first woke up after being carried home, even to the point where Danny was annoyed at the 'mother hen' side of him that Vlad was displaying.
But come the next morning, Vlad had immediately interrogated him about everything. Where he'd been, who he'd been with, why he'd left, and how he'd ended up unconscious.
Danny felt slightly guilty about it, but he mostly told Vlad what he wanted to hear, leaving out most of the true facts of his outing to keep himself out of trouble. Or rather, off of Vlad's lap...
Though it had all been in vain anyway since he'd still been confined to his room all day to 'recover and relax'. Danny was almost sure Vlad just wanted to keep an eye on him.
But now that Danny had once again experienced a nightmare and was exhausted, Danny found himself wishing he could stay in bed again today.
Despite his swimming vision and dizziness Danny forced himself out of bed to shower and change for the day. He'd missed a whole day of tutoring, Vlad was sure to have it in for him come time for lessons.
Once freshly showered and ready for the morning Danny made his way down to the dining room as slowly as possible. Seeing Vlad was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment...
Danny shook his head, clearing the childish thoughts. He had to get along with the guy, not avoid him! Danny searched his brain for something he might want to see Vlad for. Of course, using his portal came to mind, but Vlad had already denied that particular request with a...convincing warning. Still, if Vlad was anything like his own Dad, (which was possible, they had roomed together for a substantial amount of time.) He could be persuaded if Danny tried hard enough.
Besides, Danny was itching to go to the Ghost Zone. He had always craved it when he was in ghost form, but since he hadn't been there in a while, the feeling was growing even stronger. Vlad had to understand that, they were both halfas after all!
Danny nodded his head as if to affirm his decision and walked into the dining room. As usual, Vlad was already seated at the head of the table with the morning newspaper in his hands. He casually glanced over the top of the page as Danny walked in, acknowledging him.
"Good morning, Daniel." Vlad said as Danny took his seat. "I trust you are feeling well today."
Danny's breakfast was placed in front of him by the chef who gave him a quick smile before leaving to the kitchen. Danny observed the lightly salted scrambled eggs and sausage links hungrily before remembering Vlad had asked him a question...
"Yeah, I'm totally fine." Danny said. He dug into his food without a second glance. Vlad would probably get on him for his awful manners but now wasn't the time. He was trying to finish quickly in order to have ample time to persuade Vlad to let him use the portal.
Danny swallowed the mountain of food crammed into his mouth and sat up straight. Alright Fenton, you can do this.
"So uh-" Vlad looked at him and Danny struggled not to look away. "I-I know you kinda already said no, but, well I really- I was wondering if I could...use your portal for a little while...?"
"What?" Vlad prompted.
"I-It's just that I've been here for so long when before I would go into the Ghost Zone almost every other day," Danny started rambling when he couldn't read the expression on Vlad's face. "I get that I need to be safe and all that, really I do, but I can't keep sitting here doing nothing, I'm a hero for crying out loud-"
"You may go."
"And a hero has to keep up with his allies, even if they're in another dimens- wait, what?" Danny stuttered. Vlad chuckled.
"I said, you may go to the Ghost Zone." Vlad explained. "But don't think you're going alone. I have some business to take care of and I'll allow you to join me. If-!"
Vlad forced himself to release the tension in his muscles. Allowing Daniel to put himself in harm's way, even if Vlad was alongside himself, was difficult. He always managed to look back to Daniel's bloodied and battered body in his mind's eye, especially looking to the criss-cross scars that ran up and down the boy's arms. He remembered how he'd fought to keep the child alive, and resented the fact that he must do this. For both of them.
"If," Vlad repeated. "You do everything I ask, no questions, no second guessing. You must obey me on the first order, do you understand Daniel?"
Danny frowned at the man's tone of voice. He sounded as if he we're taking Danny to a battlefield. Danny rolled his eyes but decided that if he wanted to go to the Ghost Zone he would have to submit to Vlad this time. Besides, he could always slip away when they went into the Zone.
"Alright, I understand. Geez Vlad, I'm not that weak, I can handle myself." Danny replied to the man eagerly. His excitement was beginning to grow.
"I would never imply that you are anything less than an exceptional child, Daniel." Vlad agreed. "Now, we will head out after lunch. So I believe we should begin getting you caught up in some of your lessons for now."
Danny groaned dramatically and dropped his head to the table in mock despair. Vlad was one grueling tutor, that was for certain. Though he was actually getting better at remembering what he learned, and was able to keep a passing grade in most subjects.
Vlad stood from the table and gestured for Danny to follow.
'it's gonna be a long day.' Thought Danny, as he jumped up as to not fall behind.
.
After Danny was caught up in his studies and the two halfas had eaten lunch, Vlad and Danny descended into the lab. The secret, metallic themed, electronic filled room was larger than Danny remembered, though he hadn't exactly gotten a good look when fighting for his life.
"Now," Vlad said, breaking the silence. "I believe I don't have to repeat how imperative it is that you obey me at all times. No questions, no objections."
Danny rolled his eyes. Vlad acted as if Danny was headed to war! The younger half ghost nodded and waited patiently for the man to activate the portal that would transport them to the ghost's dimension.
Once the swirling green portal came to life, Vlad kept Danny behind him, walking slowly to the portal while changing into ghost form. Danny noticed and did the same, allowing his ghost side to envelope his human one.
"We should not be attacked from the other side, but just in case, I'll go in first." Vlad said. Danny indulged the billionaire and followed only a few steps behind him.
Once they were in the Ghost Zone, Danny breathed a silent sigh of relief. He felt instantly less tense now that his ghost half was in its 'natural habitat' so to speak.
"As I told you before," Vlad said, floating to Danny's side. "I have business to attend to first. The sooner we hurry this along the quicker we'll get home."
Danny didn't need to be told twice. He knew that any unnecessary exposure in here was as
good as showing up on Skulker's doorstep already bound. There were no humans here, not many places to hide, and worst of all, most of Danny's enemies lived here.
"Lead the way, V-Man!" Danny replied. Vlad huffed at the nickname but flew off with Danny close behind.
As the two traveled along, Danny thought about who he would like to see here if he could manage to convince Vlad to let him visit some allies. Frostbite and Clockwork immediately came to mind, but Vlad didn't know Clockwork, and Danny really didn't want to deal with a mess like that right now. Clockwork was a mysterious and secretive guy, he wouldn't take kindly to Danny bringing a stranger to his home.
The further into the Ghost Zone they went the more concerned Danny became. He began checking off a mental checklist of lairs the two of them passed, trying to figure out where they were going. When the dimension became more orderly, the doors looking more uniform and the air holding less and less chaotic tension, the teen seemed to figure out where they were headed.
And he didn't like it.
"Uh, Vlad?" Danny called, flying to his right side.
Vlad was silent as tall floating walls topped with barbed wire came into view. Walker's Prison, security guards and all, was gradually getting closer and closer.
"Daniel." Vlad said, slowing down. "In order for this to go well, you must speak as little as possible. Just follow behind me and try not to get into trouble."
Danny was too apprehensive to do anything more than nod. Having been an inmate at the jail before, he was not too eager to be back inside the drab colored building.
Vlad led them in and the guards seemed not to mind at all. Though when Danny passed by, they gave him evil smirks and sometimes chuckled under their breath in his direction. Danny stayed as close to Vlad as he dared, recognizing as they flew that they were headed to Walker's office.
As the guards at Walker's office doors let them in, announcing them both with amusement in their expressions, Danny felt extremely claustrophobic when the doors snapped shut behind them.
"Well, well." Came the voice of the warden, who stood facing the two from behind his desk. "If it isn't the ghost punk. Come to turn yourself in?"
"In your dreams, Walker." Danny replied. He forced himself to stand beside Vlad instead of behind him, knowing he looked more intimidating in full view. Though he didn't feel very intimidating right now...
"Now that introductions are out of the way..." Vlad drawled. "I do believe you know why I'm here, warden."
Danny was getting more confused by the second, and he regretted coming with Vlad in the first place. Why couldn't he have just waited outside? This clearly didn't concern him.
"Indeed we did. And you have definitely delivered on your part, surprising as that is." Said Walker, turning his beady eyes toward Danny. "But I don't want the little brat hearing anything, so I'll let my men have some fun with him before he serves his sentence. This time, in full."
Danny felt his core tighten and he tensed, looking to Vlad for an explanation. The billionaire simply kept his gaze straight ahead. Walker snapped his fingers, and a group of about six guards, all armed, flooded into the room. Danny snapped into a battle stance.
"What's going on?! There's no way I'm letting you throw me in one of your creepy jail cells, Walker!" Danny said, his confidence displayed in his voice. Though on the inside, he was confused and panicking.
"So sorry to hear that, punk." Walker said. "But it looks like you're outnumbered this time. Guards, seize him!"
The green security guards all shot their weapons at Danny simultaneously and rushed at him. Danny went intangibly and dodged out of the way of the baton's blasts. The guards charged at him and Danny turned human, hoping they wouldn't be able to touch him.
Luck was on his side, and they guards passed right through him. Danny got out of the dog pile of prison guards and looked victoriously at Walker. In return, the suit-clad ghost simply smirked at him.
Danny suddenly felt a soft glove on his neck, and a rush of ectoplasmic energy went washing into his system.
Vlad had snuck up behind him and pushed his own energy into Danny, taking advantage of the knowledge that Danny hadn't been to the Ghost Zone in a while and his Ghost half was depleted of a healthy amount of energy. The ectoplasm instantly woke up Danny's ghostly core and his chest shone brightly before the rings appeared at his waist and forced him to transform. Before Danny could say a word Vlad dipped his head down to the boy's ear to whisper.
"Stay calm."
Danny couldn't say anything in return as he was shot by the recovering guards and gagged. His feet and hands were instantly bound in green chains and cuffs and he struggled to release their tight hold to no avail.
Panic rose in his chest as the guards pulled him from Vlad's hold and pushed him towards the door. He heard Walker chuckling behind him and forced himself not to freak out.
"Try not to disfigure him beyond recognition before I get ahold of him, will you?" Said Walker in an amused voice.
The door slammed shut, closing off Vlad's view of Danny. Already, concern was growing in his chest.
He had intended for his plot to succeed before Danny was taken away, but it seems like fate had other plans. He could only hope Danny was mental strong enough to keep himself in control. He wanted the building intact when he went through with his plan.
"Alright Warden." Said Vlad, snapping the ghost out of his reverie. "You have the boy, it is now time for answers."
Walker regrettably nodded and sat down in his chair. He motioned for Vlad to take a seat in the single chair opposite his desk as he put on a straight face.
"I can only tell you what I know." Walker began. "We held this thing in a high-security containment and isolation cell for centuries. It had a human form, at one point, since the One-Eyed Freaks had bought him to us in chains, looking like any other criminal. 'cept for his eyes."
"His eyes...?" Vlad prompted.
"Yeah, you've never seen a more vibrant, violent, purple than those. Sucked ya right in." The warden paused for a moment, as if remembering them. "After we had him contained, he turned into a dark, misty form and tried for weeks to escape. Almost did, too, and I lost more than a dozen men at the hands of that beast."
"What did it do exactly?" Vlad asked, curiously.
"Pulled the life force right out of 'em, it looked like. Scary stuff. That's when we started looking into exactly what it was we were keeping here. And the information we got was beyond crazy." Walker leaned forward, as if telling a secret. "The 'ghost' is more of a parasite, than any other spirit you'll find around here. Worse than that hag Spectra, and more powerful than you or me. It's older than Pariah 'mself, and it used to feed on the lost souls of the Ghost Realm."
"What do you mean, 'used to feed'?" Vlad pressed. Walker shook his head.
"I'm gettin' there, hold your horses." Said Walker in reply. "The Observants gave it the name 'Deus Ivix' which in our old tongue meant 'God of Order'. They took control of the monster for...population control, you see. This realm isn't as infinite as we think. As the years pass more and more ghosts inhabit this place, and some, according to the council, aren't 'useful' enough to stay."
Vlad sat still, silent at the revelation. He knew the Observants had twisted views, but he hadn't thought they'd go that far. To dispose of ghosts at such a grand scale...
"Well, after a while, Ivix got tired of ghost's as sustenance, and began to go after humans." Vlad's eyes flashed. "It found that humans were much more gullible than ghosts, and it started tricking humans into making a deal with it, in order for the ghost to have fill reign over the victim's body and soul until the deal is complete."
"How do we stop it?" Vlad questioned. He couldn't imagine what the beast was doing to his precious Maddie...
"It can't be destroyed, it's too old and powerful for that. But it can be contained." He nodded toward the door. "One of the brat's soup cans should work just fine. It's getting it to reveal itself that'll give you trouble. But, that's not my problem."
Vlad took the hint and stood, a pleasant look on his face. "I thank you, warden. This information will help us greatly. Now, I believe we have one other matter to discuss."
Vlad walked over to the large doors and knocked twice. In came Bullet, and a large number of other prison workers, all sneering at Walker.
"What is this? You should all be watching the prisoners!" Walker exclaimed, standing from his seat.
"This," Said Vlad. "Would be what we call a 'coup'. Your men have realized they would rather fight for a winning side, one that doesn't allow prisoners to escape so easily."
The guards all nodded in agreement.
"You work for me now, warden." Vlad said. "I'll expect you to realize as well that you cannot hope to best me, and stand down."
Walker was speechless. He looked to how guards and they all held the same expression. Plasmius wasn't kidding. He was being overthrown by his own men!
Realizing his defeat, Walker slumped back into his desk chair. "You've got me, Plasmius. Well played. But this isn't the end, I'll get you for this!"
Vlad accepted the surrender for what it was and decided he couldn't afford to waste anymore time. The guards that were with Daniel were close to Walker, and hadn't been recruited by Bullet in time. Vlad was cutting it close...
As the group flew farther and farther away from Walker's office Danny felt his panic rise. Vlad had totally betrayed him! Hurt pressed against his chest but he squashed it down. He could get the fruitloop back for it later, but now he had a big problem on his hands. He was completely surrounded by guards, and there was no other ghost prisoners to help him out this time.
They approached a dimly lit hallway with rows of steel, heavily secured doors on either side. Danny could hear muffled shouts and cries from inside and kept his eyes cast downward. He didn't dare look into the small windows on the doors as they passed, afraid of what he might see. The screams got louder and Danny shuddered. The guards closest to him noticed and laughed out loud. Danny grit his teeth behind the gag and lifted his head up, determined to show no weakness.
They finally reached a larger version of the doors Danny had previously seen, and opened it. Once Danny looked inside, he automatically wished he hadn't.
Chains lined the walls secured to the wall with racks upon racks of devices Danny couldn't nor wanted to recognize. In the centre of the room was something startlingly familiar that made him freeze into place. A long table, surrounded by small carts of equipment that all looked deadly, sat menacingly in full view. It's steel coating gleaming under the bright lights that contrasted the ones in the hallways.
"Move it kid!" The guard on his left shouted, shoving Danny forward. Two of the six guards stayed outside, on either side of the door frame. Danny saw another two depart and do the same once the doors closed, standing on the the doorframe parallel to their partners.
"Been waitin' a long time for this, now up ya go." Said the goon on his right, and he was swiftly lifted and dropped onto the table in less than three seconds. Danny was released of his bonds and struggled endlessly. He managed to punch the left hand guard in the neck and received a backhand to his face in return. While he lay dazed the other guard strapped his arms and legs to the table.
"The warden said we can't disfigure ya, but there's plenty of things we can do without damaging ya permanently." Said the guard on the left, rubbing his neck.
The right hand guard, who looked amused that his friend was injured, turned and grabbed a long, filled needle, that was glowing a sickening pink.
"W-Wait." Danny tried to force out through the gag. But no one payed attention to his plea as the needle punctured his chest, dead center.
"Works quicker if we inject it into the core." Said Righty. "You'll be limp as a noodle in no time!"
Danny couldn't hold back the shiver of pain as the needle pierced his skin. He felt his chest constrict after it was removed, and a wash of tingly goosebumps settled on his body. He was gradually going numb.
Lefty had something in his hand but Danny couldn't move his head to look. What came into view a few moments later was what looked like a funnel rushing towards his face. The gag was released and as Danny gasped the thing entered his mouth. Danny struggled as hard as he could but couldn't get any slack in his bonds.
"Ever drink toxic ectoplasm before? Nasty stuff, intensifies the core's pure power and makes ya go crazy." Lefty explained. Danny's eyes widened in disbelief. "Never tried it on a freak like you though, gotta say I'm curious how you'll react."
Righty held his neck tightly as Lefty snatched a glowing yellow-green bottle and began pouring it into the funnel. Danny didn't need to breathe in ghost form, and thankfully that helped him hold off on swallowing for a few precious seconds, before Righty leaned over and punched him in the stomach. The pain forced him to gasp and the liquid flooded into his mouth and down his throat. It tasted like raw metal and burned like alcohol on the way down. But instead of a warm, numbing sensation afterwards, he felt a violent, constricting pain blossom in his chest.
He writhed on the table, trying the dispel the contents of his stomach from him. But the more he struggled, the more ectoplasm he managed to swallow, until almost half the bottle was gone.
Finally, Lefty turned and took the funnel away, leaving Danny gasping and trying to spit out the horrible taste of what was the ghost equivalent to blood. He cried out as the ectoplasm surged throughout his body and burned his senses and insides continuously. He held back sobs of excruciating pain but two large tears streaked down his cheeks in unison.
Danny clenched his teeth so hard his head pounded at the pressure, and his hands were squeezed so tight he could feel beads of blood form under his fingernails.
He was suddenly back in his parent's lab. His mother standing over him, her eyes shining what almost looked like magenta. He knew it wasn't real, but he panicked anyway.
Danny screamed and the guards laughed. The boy couldn't stand the thought of being back there, with no one but his possessed parent hacking away at his resolve with pain and suffering.
The halfa screamed. This time, blue waves of anguish blasted from his mouth to the room around him. The guards were flung back into the walls.
The table crumbled underneath him and Danny forced himself onto his knees, keeping his wail as powerful as possible and aimed toward the doors, that broke like splinters under his voice.
The guards were all unconscious once Danny finally finished. His head hung low and his vision swam in and out of focus. But he couldn't allow himself the relief of unconsciousness. He needed help.
"Vlad..." Danny choked out.
The half ghost man flew at dangerous speeds through the hallways, Bullet beside him and guiding him to where the sick employees had taken Daniel. His eyes were a shining red as he thought of the many ways he could destroy the beings that dared hurt Daniel under his care.
The lights grew dim as they entered the torture chambers' hall, and Vlad could finally sense Daniel's ectosignature. It was strong and youthful as always, but fluttering and panicky as well.
'I told him to stay calm!' Vlad thought. Not seconds later, the two were stopped, forced to the ground with their hands over their ears.
Daniel's Ghostly Wail pierced the air like a siren of distress. It wasn't close enough to harm them, but the sound was gut wrenching and loud enough to forced both of them to their knees.
The pure, raw power continued to pour out for a few seconds more before it died out and silence reigned.
Vlad shot back into the air, more urgent this time, and flew to the source of the sound. He caught sight of the rubble that had once been a torture chamber wall and hurried inside. He froze, scanning the destroyed room for a sign of life, when he heard it.
"Vlad..."
Plasmius finally spotted the mop of dirtied white hair and raced to it, with Bullet not far behind.
"Should I call the medic?" Bullet offered.
"No, he's coming home with me." Vlad said, scooping up the boy with as much care as he could.
"Daniel, can you hear me?" Vlad asked, intangibly flying them out of the building.
Danny looked at him and opened his mouth to speak, but his face scrunched up in pain and his hands shot to his throat.
"Don't try to talk, you've screamed yourself mute." Vlad explained, holding Danny closer when he felt him start to panic. "Stay calm."
The phrase only seemed to rile the boy up more, as Danny remembered that Vlad had been the one to betray him in the first place. Danny struggled in Vlad's grip and gave the man an accusing glare. Vlad sighed and kept flying towards his portal.
"I know you're mad at me, but save it for later." Said Vlad, then he frowned. "We must deal with your injuries first."
Danny huffed, which sounded more like a distressed wheeze, and settled for crossing his arms and giving Vlad a death glare.
He couldn't hold it for too long, however. The feeling of Vlad's strong core close to his and his overall exhaustion made it too difficult to stay awake, and he passed out in Vlad's arms, his head resting on Vlad's chest.
When Danny first opened his eyes, he felt much better than he had when he'd last been conscious. Though his throat ached a great deal. Danny recognized the starry ceiling that was his bedroom in Vlad's manor and sighed, knowing he was safe.
In the next instant, however, Danny growled and sat up. Vlad had sold him to Walker! He'd saved him in the end, yeah, but Danny totally needed an explanation! What was Vlad thinking?!
Danny's eyes flashed green and he turned to throw his legs over the side of the bed when he stopped.
There, in a chair beside his bed, sat Vlad. He was slumped over, a rare sight, with his cheek resting on his propped up fist.
Danny sighed. This was the second time he'd woken up with Vlad watching over him. And he also hadn't had a single nightmare. Danny would never admit it, but he felt infinitely more safe with Vlad than his own family. He didn't have to worry about defending his folks or his sister if a ghost came crashing through the window right at that moment.
So he decided Vlad could be the responsible one for once, and Danny turned onto his side, facing the billionaire. He laid back down and went back to sleep. Praying for a dreamless sleep.
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Next Chapter: Butlers know more than they let on.
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I honestly can't describe how awesome it is that there are people out there that read this and enjoy it. I love making people's days just the smallest bit brighter when I update, and I will do my absolute best to continue doing so.
Thanks again,
-P