"Castrobe!" Sarah says, running behind me.

"Castrobe?" I say with a confused look on my face. I turn. A boy, Sarah's age with midnight blue hair is hugging her. His name is odd, but kinda familiar. But then again, this is coming from a girl named after greek goddesses. I think.

"Hey Athena. It seems like their souls wavelengths match. This must be the knife weapon."

So this is her partner? Hmm, interesting.

"Yes, I just told you that. For someone who doesn't listen to others, you're not very perceptive."

Shh.

"I'm just going to shut up. It's not like you listen to me say that I don't like it. It's pointless."

NOW you get it?

". . . ."

"Who are you?" Castrobe's voice brings me back into reality.

"Huh? Oh, I'm Athena. I was with her these last few weeks. All of the sudden she just pulled out a knife and tried to kill me. Kinda freaky if you don't mind me saying."

He looks me in the eye. I've always been good at poker as long as I don't look at my cards. I'm not thinking about my past either, nor my parents. I'm thinking about how important it is to get him on my good side. If not, well, unarmed meister who has no idea how to use her wavelength verses a armed meister just doesn't play out well for me.

"I believe you. You must of said something. She's very easily scare-" His eyes narrow. "You have a soul in your pocket. Who's is it?"

I go into my pocket.

"Hey Athena, what're you doing?"

"It was the soul of my partner. He died in the most recent kishin attack, and I don't know where to put it. It's been on me this whole time." I send my hands out so he can see it clearly and has the opportunity to touch it.

"Wait, Athena . . . ."

Castrobe holds it gently in his hand. But Fyre isn't having it.

"ATHENA! Why'd you let him take me!" Fyre whines.

Castrobe nearly drops him. "He talks?!"

"Yeah. I didn't know anyone else could hear him." I shrug.

"Was he talking before I picked him up?" He asks.

"I may be a soul, but I have a name!"

Shh.

"Yeah, he was why?" I ask him.

"I couldn't hear him when I wasn't touching him. I wonder why?"

"I don't know." I shrug. I guess even reapers don't know everything.

Sarah pulls herself back from her hug as Castrobe hands Fyre back to me.

"Castrobe! Transform! She's evil! A witch!" Castrobe looks at me confused. I use my quick thinking to make Castrobe think I'm not a witch.

I pull out my DWMA ID card, and hand it to him.

Sarah glares at me. "Medusa was a witch and SHE snuck into the academy. Being a student means nothing."

I sigh. "Flip it over."

The reaper symbol flashes in the fading sun. "Do you really think Lord Death would have a child with a witch? Sarah, it was a rumor going around. That's why my teachers came. They wanted to clarify."

She looks defeated. Castrobe looks ashamed of her. "Sarah, go inside and make yourself tea or something. I'd like to speak with Athena for a few minutes."

She nods and without a goodbye she walks away. I stare at her.

"Athena, I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's cool. I didn't die, so I'll consider it to be a good day." He throws my ID back at me. I catch it expertly.

He throws something else in my direction. He catches me off guard, but I manage to grab it anyways. It's a set of keys.

"Keys! Yay! Can I Drive?"

No.

"Why Not?"

You're a soul. You don't have arms and legs. You can't drive.

"Way to damper the mood."

I look at him with surprise. "I need a new bike, and this one was just sitting in my garage. I was going to sell it, but I suppose if you're on a quest you need it more than I need a few extra bucks."

I shake my head. "I can't except it. It's to much."

"Except it. I have to pay you back for keeping Sarah safe. She and I got separated, and we said we'd meet here. I guess she forgot. And besides, when she was trying to kill you, you dodged. You didn't fight." Castrobe says. Castrobe. Castrobe. Castrobe. Where have I heard that name before?

"You're a reaper, right?" His question catches me off guard.

"Umm, Yes?"

"Excellent. I owe your father one. He saved my life. So consider you're cashing his favour in. Take the bike. Also, I need to make room for the new bike I'm going to buy." He nods down below.

I smile at him. THAT'S where I heard his name. My father once told me a story about how a young little boy Castrobe was about to get killed by a kishin when he sent a DWMA student in the immediate area to help. "It just wasn't the boy's day to die, Athena." I remember him telling me when I asked him why he saved the boy. I'm so glad he did. I would've been killed by Sarah if not for him.

I smile softly at him. "Mohn Re Ak Ko."

"Bless You."

I almost laugh. "I wasn't sneezing. A blessing bestowed upon you from a reaper." I turn and jump off the roof. It's three stories, and the impact stings slightly on the balls of my feet. I looked at the key. Number 217.

Hey Fyre, guess where we're going?

"Disney World? Universal Studios? Egypt? LoLo's house?"

Nope. Even better.

"Ummmm . . . . . . . . OH! I know! The DWMA!"

N-NO. We're going underground.

"UNDERGROUND! I HATE underground! Athena, leave me here without you! Don't make me go down there!"

I guess today's just not your day Fyre.

Fyre's comment about the DWMA has me choking up as I unlock the door to the garage. I'm walking around when I see the number 217 plastered against the far off wall in black spray paint. Underneath is a brand-new bike. Thank-you God.

"If you wanted to thank your father you could have just called him using the mirror he got you."

Not that god Fyre. I think, nearly face palming. But the bike has me so excited I forgive that stupid statement. In a few seconds I have everything ( minus Sarah's lawn chair ) either in my backpack or strapped onto the side of the bike.

"Which one?"

Nevermind.

As I drive out, Castrobe is still on the roof.

"Athena! Catch!" He throws the tent down at me.

"Thanks Castrobe!"

I saddle it against the bike opposite of my chair. I wave at him as I drive away. Next stop, Grammie and Papie's house. I wonder how that'll work out. Even more so because I haven't seen them since I was like 4.