For the last dern time. .. I don't own Danneh!

Chapter 22

Shadow of the Day

They'd stayed that way all night, locked up in Taylor's cozy home. Rain had pounded on the tall ornate windows relentlessly, causing the world outside to become blurred and twisted. Every so often thunder would rumble around them, and lightning would light up the room with a series of brilliant flashes. Jazz fell asleep over her psychology book, her carrot colored hair falling all over her face as she leaned to the side, comatose. Before nightfall Tucker had retreated to the warmth of the fireplace. Orange flames casted shadows on his sleeping figure. Every so often he'd shiver and mutter in his sleep, Danny wondering what Tucker, his calm and happy friend, was so worried about. Sam and Mike talked well into the night about one band or the other, and had fallen asleep across from each other, though it looked like subconsciously they wanted to be closer. Their arms reached for each other in their sleep. Danny however was awake, watching Taylor restlessly. His eyes had dark circles under them, and the light blue of his irises seemed to darken like the murky Alaskan waters he'd read about in geography books.

He felt that he owed her this kind of protection. Just a few nights ago Taylor was in this very room before she went out on her jog. She'd most likely pulled on one of her odd running suits he had seen her wear when the weather was cold, most likely stressed out over her classes. Alone, looking to peace, she ventured out into the dark. . .and then tragedy struck. He pictured the sick look on Vlad's face as he watched her from a distance, his predatory thoughts right before he struck an innocent girl. Danny looked to Taylor's peaceful face and smiled wryly. She wasn't as innocent as he thought at first, but she still was in a way defenseless. Vlad was a grown man, and should know better than to take advantage of someone so young and small. His smile faded as his face tightened with anger. The urge to get up right at this moment and attack Vlad was still fresh in his mind, but he simply couldn't leave Taylor. Besides, he thought, she would eventually be after Vlad, and he knew this.

Danny looked at the small blue clock beside Taylor's bed, and saw that it was 4:00AM. Had he really been sitting there for so long? He could picture the same clock saying 8:00PM, what it seemed like minutes before. Lost in his thoughts, he supposed that time went by quickly when you were guarding someone. Danny got up from his chair finally. His legs had gone slightly numb, and ached to be stretched. He did a small series of stretches, spreading his tight muscles apart in an attempt to allow himself to move. Yawning tiredly, hearing the rain even louder than before, he gazed at Taylor again. She looked so beautiful when she was asleep. Trying not to wake her, he climbed onto her bed, keeping a respectful distance, but sitting on it all the same. The soft warmth of the down comforter almost cradled him to sleep, but he fought against the urge; he wanted to watch her sleep. Taylor's hair had frizzed slightly because of the humidity, crowning her head with soft brown curls that suddenly looked darker. Her face looked snow white, and her long eyelashes fluttered as her eyes went through the REM stages of sleep.

Danny felt guilt set in again as he watched her. How could this have happened? How could he have let her get captured so mercilessly? Where was he when this all happened? What had Vlad done to her? She didn't like to talk about what happened the night she was captured. What had happened so horrible that Taylor couldn't speak of it? For the first time in awhile, Danny completely broke down. He fell headfirst on her bed, forgetting that Taylor was just in front of her. It wasn't like him to cry like this, and he knew. His sobbing was muffled as he hit the bed a few times with his fist.

How could I have let this happen to her? I love her. . .I'd die for her! How could I have been such an idiot...allowing her to see any of this. . .

Danny continued to sob, until something caught his attention. He felt the slightest touch on his shoulder. The coldness of it startled him, and he slowly looked up to see Taylor's concerned face looking at him through the darkness of her room.

"Danny. . ." she breathed quietly, and for a moment he was lost in her eyes.

Her ghost sense continued to flow from her mouth, still red. Danny flinched, ashamed that she had caught him in such a moment of weakness. He felt the gentle cool touch of her hand on his face and he opened his eyes blearily.

"Taylor?" he stuttered through his tears. Taylor shook her head and felt open her arms again for him. Danny smiled through his tears as much as he could and crawled closer to her as she held him in her thin arms. They barely felt like anything, but meant so much at the same time. She began to stroke his hair, her breathing light and even. Danny snuggled closer, feeling comforted by the beating of her heart.

They stayed that way for what seemed like an hour, until Danny finally spoke.

"Taylor?" he said raggedly, turning around to look at her. Her eyes opened to take in his suddenly desperate appearance. She expected him to say so much, but he simply opened his mouth a few times to speak.

"I love you."

Taylor's eyes filled with love and she smiled back, hopelessly lost in sudden happiness.

"I love you too. . ."

Her voice had lost that harsh edge it normally had, and all he could hear was the truth. He knew now that whatever would happen they would face together, and he gently leaned forwards. Taylor tried to meet him, but she couldn't. She was still a bit tired and weak from the night before.

She felt Danny's cool lips against hers, and she weakly wrapped her arms around him. Their two ghost scents mixed to form a small purple haze around both of them. The haze slowly drifted like a marvelous cloud from them, and passed straight through Taylor's wall, passed her brothers room above into the stormy sky above.

Well, that was the end of the FIRST part of this story. I like to get into detail a lot, which is why it basically took 22 chapters to talk about what happened to Taylor and to get the story really started. It's nice to sort of give things a background before you jump into them. I've been wanting to write a story like this for awhile, and I figure I only get one shot, so I might as well make it the best I can!

To answer Moon's question, the sequel will be up soon. I plan to make the sequel even better. I suffered through writers block alot in this story, mostly because I rushed to finish chapters, just to have them up. My next story is going to be a bit longer, with longer chapters. I'm also going to edit the chapters several times before I post them. It will be a bit slower, but the quality of the chapters will be better.

I really thank anyone who read my story, even if alot of people didn't review. Special thanks to Moonlight Umbreon, the writer of the brilliant story, Forever a Phantom, and many more! Her praise and comments really made writing this story worth it, and I would like to thank her publically for all of the support.

The sequel will come out within the next week, so I can write more of Twisted, a story of Vlad's early life.

The chapter of the story is Shadow of the Day, directly related to Linkin Parks new song. I think I needed to give that credit XD. I was listening to the song while writing this, so it inspired me to get into detail and out of my writers block.

Thanks to everyone!

ElusiveVisionary