I was only allowed to wallow in angst for ten minutes. Because

my dad whizzed beside me in the form of a black crow.

Grim Reapers are professional Shape-Shifters, not like us amateurs. They could take on animal forms.

"Star. I told you to stay there. Now you promised you're going to control your anger—" He reprimanded.

"I know, dad. But Slater's SO irritating. Why can't you just reap his soul? If he's got any."

"I'm willing to do that. It's just that the Mayor (that's right, he's the ruler of the Underworld) said it's not his time."

The Mayor's name is Pluto, and his wife's called Persephone/Libera. But we all call her Libby.

"Damn. But he's trying to hinder me."

"I know. No doubt he's trying something underhand. You must try to get wind of what's he's trying, Star."

"Ok, dad."

"Star, if you succeed, you'll be granted a Title."

"I'll definitely succeed, dad."

A Title! Wow! It means that I would be given new powers, and new jobs. I could be a Part-Time Grim Reaper!

Unfortunately, I saw a very angry Father Dominic and Susannah and Jesse. I sighed and strided towards them.

"Star! What are you doing? How would you expect Sister Ernestine to react when I haven't expel you yet for truancy?" Father Dominic thundered.

I shrugged. "Father Dom, you're the principal. She's only a vice-principal. Besides, I don't give a damn what she thinks!"

"Star!"

"Do you want me to go back to class or not?"
So I drove Susannah and Jesse and Father Dominic back to school. Susannah filled me in on what has happened.

"Sister Ernestine almost went ballistic. She ran to Father Dom's office screaming her head off. Kelly Prescott and the others were impressed by your gangbanger's antics. Though some sure disapproves of this."

"Like my dad. Thank god he didn't scream. He couldn't scream, in his present form. Imagine a crow screaming. Ugh."

So I got detention (no big deal), and Sister Ernestine threatened to inform my school and parents. That put Father Dominic on edge. I mean, my parents are dead, and I did not go to a school. So I just told her that she can go to my parents' graves and tell them whatever she likes. Her eyes went WIDE and she shut up, thankfully.

Alas, news get around. Within an hour I was labeled "Bad Orphaned Girl". Some hooligan wanted to ask me out. I politely refused by sinking my fist into his stomach. Stomach's the easiest way.

Easier than noses. You can't punch someone in the nose and not get your hands bloody. Besides, there are no dire consequences in punching in the stomach, unlike in the nose or eye.

Susannah kindly offered me a place to stay in. I agreed. She said that Father Dominic has kindly rented an apartment for Jesse. So I said, "Why couldn't he give me an apartment?"

And she said, "'Cause you're a girl, so mom won't go crazy. Imagine what she'll do if I asked my boyfriend to stay with me."

Oh, that. Well, if her stepbrothers are as annoying as that, I'll have to punch them. But Susannah warned me not to. "Andy grounded me for punching Dopey. He might turn you out if you punched him."

So I was introduced to her stepbrothers. Jake was actually quite cute, except that he looked Sleepy. And Brad… let's just say he does not resemble Brad Pitt a LOT. But David is actually quite ok. Sweet, cute, and nice and intelligent. A pity he's underage.

OMG, Star, you did NOT just think of going out with a twelve-year old KID! Yes I did. Besides, his mind, if anything, is VERY mature.

So I moved in with Susannah, and then she offered to take me touring around Carmel. She showed me the local Historical Society. There I met the late Dr. Clemmings. Also, Susannah also showed me the local haunts of where most haunting occurred (pun intended, not).

"That's the cemetery. Quite popular among teens. Teen ghosts like to have their dates here. The guy will present a flower from a bouquet someone placed on a tombstone whose inhabitant is gone, and they would look out at the sea and be all lovey-dovey."

Thanks, but I'm not very interested in cadaver-wooing. Anyway, when we got back home, it's already six-thirty. We're late.

Susannah's mom was looking stormy. "Suze, I told you to be back at quarter past six, but—what?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Ackerman, but you see, I had a fall. I tripped over a large rock (tombstone) and skinned my knee. She helped me bandage up." I shape-shifted my leg to look all raw and bandaged.

"Oh my, you poor darling. I'm sorry to blame you, Suze. Come and eat before the food gets cold."

Andy Ackerman's cooking was actually not bad. Way better than the school lunch. Quesadillas…mmm. With crotons in corn salads…

After dinner, Susannah got up to do kickboxing. I went up with her to see how good she is. She's ok, I guess. She can pack a punch. Me, being more of a leg person (I have longer legs than arms, duh!), prefers to kick someone's nose instead of punch. The reason I didn't do that today was because I did not want people staring underneath. (I had changed into a pleated skirt, purely because Sister Ernestine insisted.)

After that, I went downstairs to watch TV. Charmed was on, but Dopey wanted to watch rugby.

"How about I let you watch Charmed, but you go out with mre?" He asked hopefully.

"Not a chance, B.A. I-ah, already got a boyfriend."

Ok, a lie, but whatever. Who would want to go out with Dopey! In the end, Andy insisted Dopey let me watch Charmed 'cause I'm the guest. Well, too bad I didn't get a chance to kick his jaw.