A/N: Thanks for the reviews =)

I've finished reading Hell's Hero's the other day – it only took me half a day to read, I couldn't put it down!

Here's the next chapter. It's not great, hopefully it'll pick up again soon.

Star Hunter

Seven

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// I feel groggy as I wake, as if I only fell asleep minutes before. Actually, that's not far from the truth. After that drawing last night…

Pulling on a dressing gown I go down stairs to find Dervish and Grubbs already up. Dervish smiles at me and says good morning as he cooks a breakfast of eggs (yum!)

"You look like hell," Grubbs greats me cheerfully as I sit down at the kitchen table.

"You sure know how to talk to ladies," I laugh back, running my fingers through my knotted curls. Making myself presentable hadn't run through my head as I had left my bedroom – I'm so used to it being just mum and me. I don't really mind anyway, it's not like I'm trying to impress anyone here.

"Years of practise," Grubbs agrees with a laugh, tucking into his breakfast as soon as it lands in front of him.

"You have school today, right?" I ask Grubbs, striking conversation.

"Yup, bore!" We both laugh. Dervish places a plate of breakfast in front of me before sitting down at the table himself.

"I was thinking I should take you down to school today too, Aster," Dervish suggests. "We could get you enrolled and you could get your bearings before you have to start properly. Of course, you can have a couple of days to get used to Carcery Valley before you start properly."

"Sure," I agree, munching on some egg. "I'll have to, uh, get dressed first though."

"Really? Don't you want to go looking like that?" Dervish teases.

"Su-ure, really great first impression that'll make," I laugh. It's so easy spending time with Grubbs and Dervish; they are great people, with an awesome sense of humour. I don't feel awkward or shy or like I have to hide myself with them; perhaps it's because they're both such easy going people who didn't try to judge me the minute they laid eyes on me.

"I dunno," Grubbs muses. "I reckon Loch will like the look, skimpy pyjamas are probably his thing."

"They're not skimpy," I protest, pulling my dressing gown a little tighter, much to the amusement of my male housemates.

"He's only teasing, Aster," Dervish says.

// Grubbs is long gone by the time Dervish and I are ready to leave for school. I'm wearing dark blue jeans and an orange blouse, my brown curls tamed, falling to my chin neatly.

I think I look alright, as far as mouse's go. I feel nervous though. Officially I won't be starting school till next week (Dervish phoned up and sorted it when he arranged the meeting today) but still!

I'm worried about a demon attack, although I know I'm just being stupid. It won't happen. I'm perfectly safe here, and even if we do get attacked, I have magic on my side now, and I know how to use it!

Apart from fearing demons, I'm terrified of the idea of the other students. Grubbs said he'll look out for me, but I don't want to be a burden. There's no way I want to impose where I'm not welcome. And I highly doubt I'll be welcome among Grubbs friends.

"Ready?" Dervish asks as I walk nervously into the front hallway. I jerk my head and he laughs at my nervous reaction. "Don't worry, nobody bites at the school."

Although cheerful, I notice an edge in his words. Looking closely, I realize I'm not the only one who looks like hell today. I guess Dervish didn't sleep well either.

We ride down to Carcery Valley High School on Dervish motorbike. I've ridden behind Meera on hers before, but that was different. Meera's female, and my aunt. Wrapping my arms around Dervish's waist is awkward.

It doesn't take long to arrive at the school. It looks like a normal school, no demons or monsters to be seen anywhere.

We spent a couple of hours there, signing paper, taking a tour, the usual boring stuff. By the time we're done, it's the end of the school day and we bump into Grubbs and Bill-E. Bill-E doesn't look how I expected – I dunno, I guess I expected him to look more like Grubbs. He's a bit of a plain kid, but he's nice.

I decide to walk back with Grubbs and Bill-E, they promise to show me the town. Dervish say's goodbye, and tells us not to be too long.

"How long are you staying with Dervish?" Bill-E asks as we head to town.

"Probably a year," I shrug, trying to act like it's no big deal. I don't like to think about the huge gap before I see mum again.

"Coolio," the younger boy smiles.

Towns nothing amazing, but it'll do. We bump into a bunch of Grubbs' friends while there; Charlie Rall, Robbie McCarthy, Mary Hayes and Loch and Reni Gossel. They seem like nice people, but I know instantly I won't fit in with them. They all try hard to be nice; Mary and Reni comment on how 'cute' I am while the lads smile and make jokes. I notice instantly how Bill-E shrinks to the background and is ignored. Poor kid, looks like he's shyer than me!

We don't stand talking for long, and when we part they all say goodbye to Grubbs and me (Reni even hugs me! Odd girl) but again they ignore Bill-E. That's not right; they shouldn't treat him like he's nothing. I reckon Bill-E is twice the person they all are put together! I almost tell him that, but they're Grubbs friends and I daren't insult them in front of him. Besides, they seemed like nice enough people (besides the ignoring of Bill-E).

// Watching TV with Grubbs and Bill-E. Dervish is in his study. I've decided I like Bill-E, it's like we're two peas in a pod, both misfits that don't really fit in. Grubbs says that stupid, but it's obvious he knows its true for Bill-E, and he doesn't know what school was like for me at home. All Grubbs knows about me is what I've let him see, and for some reason I'm not nervous around him so I've made and alright impression. Even Grubbs can't deny how quiet I was when we met his friends earlier.

// Sitting cross legged on my bed. I'm wondering whether I should show the picture of the demon I drew last night to Dervish and Grubbs. Even hidden in the draw, I can't pull my mind from the picture.

I decided not to tell them, yet. It was just a drawing after all. Nothing to worry about. I clearly just had demons on the mind last night and absentminded drew a picture of one. That's definitely all there was too it. Definitely.