Tears plummeting from my ethereal cheeks, I whipped around.

I couldn't believe what I was SEEING!

'But- but- but you're-'

'I know, I'm dead,' answered . . . Yep, you got it. The ghost of Paul Slater.

How freaking ironic, hey?

'Suze, I can't believe that you killed me,' said Paul, sounding angry.

I backed away from him. I mean, he was right. I'd just ripped life from his body, and he sure as hell wasn't going to be all too blissful about it, I'm certain.

'It was- it was an accident,' I stammered, my mouth going very dry. Oh, what was he going to do to me now?

'Suze, would you get off it? It's all right, I'm not going to stay like this.'

Uh, repeat?

Paul smirked at my expression. 'Yeah, that's right. I'm a shifter, so I know how to get my life back. I can get yours back . . . uh, and even lover boy's, if you trust me.'

'Oh, no,' I said, turning away from him, 'I'm not falling for that again-'

'What choice do you have?' he asked. I blinked. Damn. He was right there.

I had no choice.

But still, he'd killed me! Well, just about . . .

I voiced this, but he only rolled his eyes. 'Uh, Suze? Hello, I already said I was sorry, and that-'

'UH, HELLO?! SORRY WON'T BRING ME BACK, WILL IT?' I roared at him, but he laughed.

'You'd think that just a second ago, I wasn't telling you how I could bring you back, hey?' he asked dryly, folding his arms. Again, I blinked. This was all too fast for me. He rested an arm on my hand, squeezing it warmly, and said,' So, what do you say? Going to stay haunting this hell hole, or are you coming with me?'

'And Jesse?' I asked, 'Is there any way you can reverse your stupid curse?'

He puzzled for a second. 'Oh, that. Uh, sure, Suze. Sure there is.'

'Why am I not convinced?'

'Well, okay, it hasn't been done before, but I'm a very smart guy. I can figure it out, I'm sure.'

I didn't want to trust him, but hey? What else could I do?

Reluctantly, I went, '. . . okay. But you have to swear that, one: you won't try anything. Two: Jesse will be safe, no matter what he tries to do to you, and three: you aren't tricking me.'

'I wouldn't trick you,' he said. I snorted. 'Well, not at a time like this,' he rectified sheepishly. 'Just forget about everything I've done in the past-'

'Like killing me? Not so easy,' I grumbled. He scowled at me.

'Suze, I said-'

'Oh, just shut the f*** up, and go get Jesse. Make sure he doesn't try to hurt me,' I added. I mean, from what I've heard, rape isn't that pleasant, is it now?

I shivered, and Paul smiled, for a moment, looking incredibly smug, but then just happy.

'Sure.'