The Apprentice of Thanatos

Chapter 1: A Godly Encounter

      "Wait, what do you mean, 'escaped'? Who else has gotten out?" Danny felt dread seep into every part of his being. He began to pace frantically across the floor, thoughts about how the ghosts could have escaped without him noticing buzzing frantically around his head. "How did this happen? How could I have not noticed? Did I notice without noticing?"

      Thanatos watched Danny pace with confusion. "As the King of the Ghost Zone, I thought you knew."

      Danny froze. "What did you just call me?"

      "The King of the Ghost Zone?" Thanatos repeated. "Are you telling me you did not know this?"

      "NO!?!" Danny's voice cracked. "What do you mean I'm the King of the Ghost Zone?!"

      "When you defeated Pariah Dark, you became the new King of the Ghost Zone." Thanatos' expression turned slightly puzzled. "I find it rather incredible that you defeated the former king two months ago, and you did not know that, by Ghost Zone Law, you succeeded him."

      "Look," Danny said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've been a little busy, okay? There's always ghosts wreaking havoc all over Amity Park and I'm pretty overwhelmed, like, all of the time. Sorry, but I don't think I can help you, I just-"

      Danny froze and stared at the ceiling as footsteps creaked overhead; somebody was awake. He turned to Thanatos, who just stared at him with the same unreadable expression.

      "I'll just... be right back," he said quietly. "Don't... do anything, okay?"

      Danny could've sworn that he saw a smirk on Thanatos' face as he turned invisible and flew up through the ceiling to the main floor of the house. He glanced around and grimaced as he saw his dad, Jack, standing in his pajamas in front of the open fridge and chugging out of the milk carton.

      "Eck, guess I'm not having cereal tomorrow," he muttered before flying back downstairs, still invisible.

      Thanatos was right where Danny had left him, and his eyes landed on Danny as soon as he phased through the wall. Danny frowned, puzzled.

      Wait, can he see me even though I'm invisible? He thought. To test his theory, Danny drifted across the room, and watched as Thanatos' gaze followed him. Danny then silently glided up to Thanatos and stopped just a few feet in front of him. He waved his hand animatedly in his face and Thanatos sighed softly.

      "Yes, I can still see you, Daniel," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

      "Whoa, how can you—wait, no," Danny shook his head to clear his thoughts as he turned visible again. "Not important right now. My dad's upstairs and you've gotta go, because there is no way I can explain this to him."

      "But there is still very much to discuss, young one," Thanatos tilted his head. "I have not even told you of-"

      "I don't care!" Danny shouted desperately. "Please, you need to go-"

      Danny instinctively turned invisible again as the door to the basement banged open and Jack thudded down the stairs into the lab, an ecto-gun held tightly in his hands.

      "WHO'S THERE?" Jack shouted ferociously. He squinted into the darkness of the room. "I know you're in here, ghostie."

      Danny looked over at Thanatos and gasped, then clamped his hands over his mouth as Jack whipped around to face his direction. Thanatos was still there, clearly visible from the glow of the portal, staring at Jack silently. Danny wildly waved his arms at Thanatos, trying to signal that Jack would see him. Thanatos glanced at Danny from the corner of his eye but made no effort to hide himself as Jack moved slowly towards them.

      Oh no, oh crap, Danny thought. My dad is gonna see Thanatos and think he's a ghost and then he's gonna shoot him, a GREEK GOD, and then Thanatos will KILL him—

      Danny was shocked to see his dad frown, turn around, and stomp back up the stairs. He waited till the basement door slammed shut before he turned visible again and gaped at Thanatos in awe.

      "How did you...?" Danny whispered.

      "Do you remember the Mist that I mentioned earlier?" Thanatos replied. "You just saw it in action."

      "That is so cool," Danny sighed. "I wish I could do that, it would make my life a lot easier."

      "Perhaps, in time," Thanatos said. He turned back towards the portal. "Now, would you like to accompany me to the Underworld? We can converse more without the chance of your father interrupting us."

      Danny didn't respond. Instead, he put his hands to his temples and crouched down low to the floor in an attempt to ground himself. He was absolutely overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the last... hour? Few hours? He didn't even know what time it was, but he was sure that he was not going to get the sleep that he needed before his math test tomorrow.

"I... umm... lemme just-" Danny stuttered. "I honestly... I-I just need some sleep, lemme get back to you on that?"

     "Hmm, I have never met a ghost that needed sleep," Thanatos commented.

     "Yeah, well, I'm sure you've never met a ghost that had a math test in a few hours, but isn't this just a day full of new experiences?" Danny quipped.

      Thanatos chuckled in response. "Very well, then, Daniel. I'll see you tomorrow evening."

      And with that, Thanatos walked back through the green mist of the ghost portal, and the doors slid shut behind him.

{Hope you guys like the chapter. As always this is also posted on AO3 and DA under the same name}