The Unofficial Phantom Cookbook

It’s not just me anymore…

The shock suspended Plasmius mid air as he stared at the boy who lay collapsed on the floor, unconscious.

The boy’s pallid complexion was illuminated by the bright moonlight pouring through the high castle windows. Plasmius drifted closer. Maddie said he was, what thirteen, fourteen years of age? Even for that age, the teen was scrawny. Thin wrists peaked out from the pink sleeves of slightly too small pajamas, proof of a recent growth spurt. He still had the round face of a child, but upon closer inspection, Plasmius could see the beginnings of Maddie’s high cheek bones taking shape. 

Of all the humans in the world, the one to share Plasmius’ curse, his power, was the youngest Fenton child.

When the family first entered his castle, his icy core stirred and pricked inside his chest. He hadn’t felt his core react like that before but at the time he had assumed it was because of the contradiction that were his feelings upon seeing Jack and Maddie again. Could it have been because it sensed another kin? Did the boy sense him? He didn’t appear to, but perhaps he was too distracted by Vlad’s coveted Green Bay Packers’ collection in the entry way.

Truthfully, Vlad did not pay much attention to the children. He had zeroed in on Maddie. She had aged beautifully in the years they’d been apart. There were laugh lines around her violet eyes and the corners of her full red lips. She no longer styled her hair with the voluminous curls everyone back the 80’s had, and had traded it in for a short, angled, sleek look that made the rest of her features appear sharp. She wore a dark teal jump suit that did wonders for her hourglass figure. Two children and an idiotic husband also did not steal her beauty. Then, to top it all off, Maddie had given him such a warm smile it almost melted his ghost core.

Maddie…

His deep affection towards her had not waned in the twenty years they spent apart. It had actually intensified, and turned into an almost ravenous, desperate desire. She was all he thought about during those long, isolating years in the hospital. How he would win Maddie’s affection back…and how he would kill Jack Fenton.

Unfortunately, the teen at Plasmius’ feet mostly looked like his father. Fluffy dark hair that resembled Jack’s ghastly mullet from their time at college was flopped in several directions over the boy’s head. He shared the same blue eyes that sparkled with the childlike joy of his father’s. Despite these annoying genetics, Daniel’s personality was revealed to be more like his mother’s. He was more reserved and quiet, quite the opposite of his father. Upon their first meeting, Daniel had politely inquired about his prizes, and expressed his excitement over the original jerseys and the autographed football by the legendary line backer, Ray Nitschke. Unlike his father, who immediately stole the ball from his hands without even a single thought or moment of consideration, and body slammed Vlad into the ground.

Plasmius examined him closely. Puberty had barely begun for the teenager, but that wasn’t what Plasmius was searching for. He studied every inch of exposed skin. Aside from a few freckles, faded scars from small cuts, and the fresh bruises, Daniel appeared perfectly unblemished.

A small gasp passed Plasmius’ lips. Did this child become a half ghost without suffering ecto-acne?

Vlad’s own metamorphosis was not in the slightest bit smooth. The details after the lab accident were diluted into images and feelings. He’d never forget the feeling of face submerged in the proto-portal’s ecto-radiation. It was like being burned alive, frozen solid, and electrocuted at the same time. His skin had bubbled as the horrific boils grew and spread rapidly across his entire body over the course of a handful of hours. He had disjointed memories of lying strapped down to a gurney in an armored truck surrounded by a heavily armed security detail. Silhouettes of the white coated doctors against the bright lights that shone directly into Vlad’s vision. Various needles and surgical stickers all over his naked torso, which had become so ravaged by the illness at that point his own self had become unrecognizable. After that, all Vlad could remember was pain. Intense, burning, raging pain that spiked white hot whenever the doctors touched him, that erupted like explosive volcanic magma anytime a new needle was inserted. The doctors tried everything to combat the pain but nothing helped. He screamed for days to no avail. The pain continued until at last, the hot boils faded and cooled, leaving behind horrific scarring and a new cold sensation next to his heart. It would be another several years of scar revision surgeries before Vlad was finally able to leave the hospital for good.

And it was all Jack Fenton’s fault. 

It was Jack Fenton who wanted to test the portal before it was ready. It was Jack Fenton who had blindly poured the wrong substance into the ecto filtrator. And It was Jack Fenton who ignored Maddie when she pointed out that his calculations were incorrect, and failed to perform even the most basic lab safety protocol and turned on the proto-portal without ensuring everyone was a safe distance away. But of course, ruining Vlad’s life wasn’t enough for Jack Fenton. As soon as Vlad was taken to that place the government called a specialized “hospital,” Jack was somehow awarded a degree from the university, stole the love of his life by marrying her and had two beautiful children together. 

And worst of all, she looked happy with him.

How could a woman so smart, so beautiful, so intelligent stand to be around a complete fool like Jack Fenton? Does she not understand how he utterly destroyed Vlad’s life? How could she stand to be around him? 

Plasmius closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. No, he would not blame her. Not for her lack of judgement choosing to marry Jack Fenton. Perhaps she felt it was her only choice. Besides, it was not like Jack Fenton was going to be around for much longer. The whole reason why they were invited to his castle anyway was so that he could kill Jack Fenton.

But the teen at his feet threw a wrench in his plans.

He had heard about this new ghost boy from Skulker - a child that somehow also had the ability to turn from human to ghost. Plasmius did not outright believe Skulker, for it was himself alone that had that ability. The likelihood of another human ghost hybrid was slim to none. There were ghosts in the Zone that had the ability to present as a human at times. Even when the ghost boy interrupted his plans to kidnap Jack Fenton and appeared before Plasmius in his library, Plasmius could not have predicted the new hybrid would be the youngest Fenton child.

Plasmius suddenly smacked himself upside the head. Maddie was just discussing the success of their full sized ghost portal at dinner. She had just built the damn thing, and the ghost boy only started making his appearances a month ago. Of course. He should have seen it much sooner. There was no one else it could have been.

Yet, it did not explain the lack of ecto-acne upon Daniel’s skin. 

What was different this time? Plasmius furiously thought. The size of the portal? The age of the subject? A different substance in the ecto-filtator? Whatever occurred, it was once again Jack Fenton’s fault. He was so ill equipped as a scientist and as a father he couldn’t even protect his own family from his mistakes.

Plasmius snorted. Well that last part was clearly obvious. Jack Fenton hadn’t changed at all in the last twenty years. Plasmius on the other hand…well he had changed quite a bit. 

What was strange, however, is if young Daniel did suffer at the hands of his father, wouldn’t Maddie have said something about it at dinner? It was clear she loved her children, so she should have been beside herself knowing her own child was harmed by the portal? It was as if she didn’t even know that it had happened. Perhaps Jack forced his son to keep his mistake quiet. 

All the more reason to rid the Earth of Jack Fenton’s insufferable existence. 

Another more immediate problem existed. Daniel stopped him from kidnapping Jack Fenton. Why? The boy couldn’t possibly love his father, not after what he did to Daniel. Perhaps it was Daniel’s naivety. He still believed his father was good.

Plasmius could fix that. Maybe not undo the damage the boy’s father did, but at the very least help him with this new transition in his life.

New plans began to form in his mind. He’d have to destroy Daniel’s love for his father, if the boy did indeed still have any. And once Jack Fenton was destroyed, then Plasmius would step in to be the boy’s new father. As well as Maddie’s new husband. 

Plasmius lowered himself to the ground, his cloak draping over his shoulders. His chilly aura was close enough to the child that he shivered in his sleep. 

First things first…it would not look well for Plasmius if Maddie woke up the next morning and found her son sprawled out on the cold concrete with fresh bruises. 

He scooped the boy up in his arms. He was lighter than he expected. Was the child eating enough? He’d be sure to have the kitchen prepare extra portions for breakfast.

Vlad never had the desire to be a father. He never understood that primal feeling other men had to reproduce. Children were greedy little monsters with sticky hands and horrible hygiene, and then they grew up and waited for you to die so they could collect the benefits of your hard work. What was the point? 

However, Daniel was different. He and Plasmius were already so similar. Both half ghosts, both suffered at the hands of Jack Fenton, and they both had the desire to become something more. Daniel was woefully new and untrained, but with Plasmius’ as his father, he could teach Daniel control, refine and excel with his ghost powers. He would become the son that should have been his in the first place. In fact, Daniel was already more similar to Plasmius than he was to his own biological father.

Their meeting was destiny. It had to be. Fate was giving him a chance to reclaim the life he was supposed to have. All he had to do was take it.

Plasmius phased through the walls, bringing Daniel back to his guest chambers. He laid him down gently in the dark colored silk sheets, tucking the heavy quilt over him. The teen sighed and rolled over onto his side, exposing the dark bruise on the underside of his cheek bone where Plasmius had struck him. 

Something inside Plasmius slightly ached. He regretted beating the boy so roughly from their fight earlier. But if Daniel was to improve…well, he would have to endure a bit of bruising.

Plasmius quickly realized he had misinterpreted Daniel rolling over to become more comfortable. The boy was beginning to stir. He let out a low moan and began to toss under the blankets. 

Quick as a shadow, Plasmius turned invisible and phased out of the bedroom. Once on the other side of the wall, he transformed. His human self returned and he felt the familiar heavy pull of gravity. He leaned in towards the crack of the door and listened. 

“No…get away!” came the muffled cry from the boy.

That was his cue. Vlad slowly creaked open the door. The boy sat upright in bed, fully awake. He blinked, staring around the room. 

“Huh? Where am I? What happened?” 

“I was about to ask you the same question, young man,” Vlad asked, smoothly, stepping into the moonlight of his room. He gave him a gentle grin. He needed to show the boy he cared. Convince him that Vlad could be trusted. This would be the start of their relationship.

Quiet surprise crossed Daniel’s features seeing Vlad, then just as quickly, he lowered his blue eyes, embarrassed. 

How charming. Daniel’s emotions could be read as clear as any child’s picture book across his face. He would need to teach him how to mask them as well.

The boy ran a hand down the back of his head. “I…must have been worn out from the long car trip. I-I’ll be okay in the morning. I’m sorry for the scare.” He gave an awkward smile and tugged at his bed covers.

The boy was so like his mother it warmed Plasmius’ core. 

Vlad waved a hand and let out a light chuckle. “Oh, what’s a little scare between friends, son, hmm?” He gave the boy a friendly wink. “Sleep tight…little badger.” 

The nickname popped into his head. It was inspired by the mascot of his college football team. He wasn’t sure if Daniel would get the reference but the boy smiled like he did. He rolled back over to fall back asleep as Vlad exited the chamber. He closed the heavy doors softly. 

“Yes…sleep tight.” He chucked to himself. 

These new paternal feelings were strange for Plasmius. It had been so long since he wanted to care for anyone else. His own parents died in a car accident just before he started at the University of Wisconsin. He hadn’t had anyone to call family in over 20 years. 

It was now suddenly possible.

He could actually have a family.

Plasmius did not return to his chambers. After this new revelation, he knew sleep would not come tonight. 

He waited a few minutes before silently phasing back into Daniel’s chambers. The teen had already fallen back asleep. 

Plasmius perched himself at the foot of the bed and watched the boy sleep until dawn broke over the hills. 

Maddie would be his wife. Daniel would become his son. And by this time tomorrow, Jack Fenton would be dead. 

Everything would be perfect. 

Once his mind exhausted every plan and possibility, only one thought remained.