Lalala. The song in this chappie is "So Cold" by Breaking Benjamin. I couldn't help myself. Squee. Enjoy (I hope)!

Chapter 3: Enlightenment

The living–dead left us once we agreed to look into what Paquin had done. I don't think they believed we could help, but what they were asking wasn't easy.

"Stop him from killing," the little girl begged.

Personally, performing brain surgery would be easier. I mean, come on, he has supposedly killed over twenty people and they want Jesse and I to stop him?

HA! Excuse me while I go laugh my ass off.

But I couldn't say no. Not only because I felt sorry for them but because if I did say no, they'd never leave me alone.

So, Jesse and I are now sitting in Father Dom's office (Thank God for air conditioning) explaining everything to him.

Actually, Jesse's doing most of the talking. I'm reading a brochure I found in the hallway. 25 things to know before you smoke. Oh my interest has never been so piqued.

I think "we'd" just gotten to the part where the ghosts wanted us to stop Qain, when the phone rang.

"Pardon me," Father Dominic sighed. I don't think our news was making his day. If the fact that part way through the conversation he took of his glasses and began rubbing his eyes in a frustrated manor, was any indication. "Hello?"

Father D put his glasses back on while listening to the person on the phone. After many minutes of silence, he answered the caller.

"I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I'll see what I can do about having the church open for Memorial on Wednesday. Alright, Mr. Nelson. Take care."

Father Dom is not exactly a tan person, seeing as to how he spends most of his time indoors. But his already pale skin was looking more opaque than ever.

"That was Mr. Nelson. One of the victims at the hospital was his four-year old daughter, Anna. She was in for a chemo treatment when she died."

I wonder if she was the one tugging at my sleeve...

"But that's not what killed her, nor any of the others. According to Mr. Nelson, every bone in his daughter's body was gone."

"What?" I gasped. This was turning way too Stephen King for my liking. I nearly went into Cardiac Arrest when Jesse placed his hand on mine, I was that tense.

"You heard me. Every-bone-gone," he looked at me gravely form over the top of his glasses.

"That's impossible!"

"No, Querida, it's not. There are certain diseases that can eat away at human bone marrow, ultimately killing them. But the process takes years."

"Apparently not," Father Dom interjected. "Anna was admitted into the hospital three days ago. Plus, diseases don't act as epidemics, they're genetic. This, however, is more like an epidemic."

"It can't be an epidemic, or more people would have died already."

"Then somebody's killing these people on purpose," I stated the obvious.

What? I'm still trying to cope with the fact that people are having their bones go poof.

"The question isn't just who, it's how. And right now I don't know how we can answer either question," Father Dom sighed.

"I thought the ghosts made it clear Paquin is responsible?"

"Well, we don't have any proof, Susannah. We can't just go to the police empty handed."

He has a point. I mean, I'd get thrown in the looney bin if I ran into a police station, screaming, "Ah! Qain Paquin's the killer! Somebody arrest him!" It wouldn't be that that would get me to the funny farm though. Nope. It would be when the cops asked how I knew he was the killer and I confessed that I interact with dead people. Yeah...

"Fine. So what do we do now?" I asked and threw the brochure onto his desk.

"Take me to meet this Saben character. If she's like you say, then she may be of use to us. After all, three mediators on twenty-six ghosts isn't an easy task."

I didn't bother correcting him about me being a shifter and that we were going up against a killer, not ghosts. I was too busy noticing how warm Jesse's hand was on mine.

I know "Hello, Suze. It's been there awhile." But I was just now really noticing it. I mean this whole concept of bones disappearing is just...creepy. Very creepy.

And Jesse's hand was comforting.

"The car is down at the Carmel Town and Country Bank," Jesse informed the good Father.

"Well, how far is your new living quarters from here?"

"Uh, about a half a mile away."

"Alright, then we'll walk," Father Dom smiled and got to his feet.

It's a good thing I'm wearing comfortable shoes, or there would be hell to pay. I still remember what happened that time I walked home from Paul's...not that I care to.

Just as I was thinking that, guess who we ran into right outside the school? Yep. Paul. If that's not a coincidence I don't know what is. Maybe I'm clairvoyant or something.

"Hey," he said with a warm grin, that is, until he noticed Jesse. Then it became a bit more tense. Can't blame him though. Jesse has kicked his butt on more than one occasion. And I highly doubt he would hesitate to do it again.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Hi, Paul. How are you? Oh fine, thanks for asking, Suze. And yourself—"

"Hello. Now cut the small talk and answer my question."

"Have you had your Midol yet today?" Paul sighed.

"Mr. Slater, what can I help you with? We really must be going," Father Dom cut me off before I could reply.

Good thing too. For some reason, I had nothing nice to say to him, even, though we agreed to be friends. Possibly because ever since Kelly moved two weeks ago, he's been—well, more of an arrogant, selfish, jerk than usual.

Jesse says he's just lonely, which is most likely true. Paul doesn't seem to like solitude much. Maybe if I set him up with Saben, he'd quite being such a pita. Plus, I would defiantly feel better about Jesse living with Saben if she had a boyfriend. Yes, I remember Jesse mentioning her heart already belonged to someone, but that doesn't mean she isn't single. I'll have to look into that.

"I just stopped by to turn in the enrollment papers for my brother."

"Jack's going to go to school at the Mission?"

"Yeah. My parents have been rather 'busy' lately and want me to keep an eye on him. So, they're shipping him down here to stay withe me and gramps."

Figures. The Slaters never have paid much attention to their children. I mean, for Jack's eight birthday they left him with me. Yeah. Great parenting if you ask me. Not.

"Hmm."

That was all I could manage. I was too busy cursing every parent that had children then didn't pay attention to them...

"Where are you all headed off to so fast?" Paul asked, as he handed the enrollment papers to Father Dom, who then headed back inside so he could put them in his office. "Wouldn't have anything to do with the ghosts from Carmel Hospital, now would it?"

How the...Damn! They went to Paul too! This is just my luck.

"Maybe," I hissed.

"Well, then do you mind if I tag along?"

Oh good God. Someone shoot me now. Jesse's special reserved death glare for Paul was up and running wildly, and Paul was doing his best to ignore it.

"Slater, why do you want to "tag along" pray-tell?"

You know what Paul did? He laughed. His earlier tension seemed to have vanished. Just like those victims' bones.

Suze, stop it! It's demented to keep doing that. And you'll just make yourself paranoid.

"I happen to know who we're up against, and you obviously don't. Paquin isn't someone who takes being messed with lightly. Any snooping is going to have to be done carefully."

"Like I'm anything but careful," I mumbled, making him laugh again.

"Suze, I've seen you at work."

"Yeah. And?" I mocked his tone.

"You're about as careful as the parents who send their kids to Michael Jackson's Neverland."

He does, sadly, have a point. I've never been the cleanest fighter, nor the least reckless, for that matter. So I didn't even bother arguing. Instead I changed the subject.

"And you think you can help how?"

"I've," Paul smiled rather broadly. "Got connections."

Father Dominic wasn't ecstatic about Paul coming along, but aloud it anyway. Dang it. The entire walk to the house took roughly a half an hour. I hope the AC's on. I'm starting to sweat again.

The house was rather large for only two people and a calm cream color. Almost makes me wonder if old Clive was gay. Hmm. I'd like a house like this someday, you know, when I'm married. And making tons of money, of course.

One can dream.

We didn't have to guess if Saben had retreated to home. Not only was her car in the driveway, but there was music blasting from the open living room window.

Crowded streets are cleared away, one by one

Hollow heros separate as they run

You're so cold keep your hand in mine

Wise men wonder, while strong men die

Jesse took a key from his pocket and unlocked the front door. Then, before any of us, he went inside to find Saben and to turn off the racket. Sorry I'm not a rock fan, or I wouldn't mind.

Show me how we end this, its alright

Show me how defenseless you really are

Satisfied and empty inside

Well that's alright, lets give this another try

I followed Jesse upstairs, while Paul and Father Dom made themselves comfortable in the living room. Jesse followed the music to a room at the end of the upstairs hallway. He threw open the door and there was Saben, on a treadmill, running her heart out while singing the song lyrics. While he went over to talk to her, I turned the stereo down.

"Hey!" she breathed. "That-was-the-good-part!"

Jesse had hit the stop button for her and the machine began to slow down. She jumped off, grabbed a water bottle from beside her treadmill, and took a long swig.

"What do you want?" she asked, still breathing heavily. Ew, she's all sweaty. Ew ew ew. Sorry.

"We need to talk about what happened earlier today."

"Oh," her breath was starting to even out. "That."

"What did you mean by solamente?" he asked. He uses that same tone with me when he knows I'm lying or avoiding the truth. It's rather interesting to be a witness rather than the recipient of his frustration.

"Exactly what it means. Only one. Alone."

"Care to specify?"

"You're a mediator. She's a Shifter," she sighed and nodded at me. "And you brought another shifter and mediator with you."

"How do you know that?" I asked. She's kinda freaky...like Paul. They'd totally be good together. Did I just say totally? I blame it on the heat.

"Because I'm a porter."

Porter...potty? Eh, couldn't help myself. Sometime I crack me up.

"What is a porter?" Father Dom appeared in the doorway with Paul behind him.

"A porter is a mediator with shifting powers, sensing powers and powers to teleport things with the mind; Spiritual or otherwise. My sister as one as well, except she had telekinetic abilities instead of teleporting," she sighed again and took a seat on the nearest window sill.

"What do you mean she was your sister?"

"My family died in a car crash when I was twelve. She never knew I was just like her."

"Why?"

"Because I never told her."

Duh.

"Any reason?" Paul queried. He'd been exmaining the similarities between the two of us since he entered the room.

"None I care to share," she whispered before taking another long swig of water. "Now if you'll excuse me, I smell like wet dog and need a shower."

With that she left the room, leaving us standing around like dumbfounded idiots.

Thanks to all who reviewed:huggles: I'm not sure when Ch.4 will be up, but I'm working on it.

kittykatangel518: Aww! Thanks:blush:

nikki007: Sigh. I know. Third base is good Jesse! Go for it! I may break him of that soon enough...hmm...decisions decisions...

PeacePixie:Thanks!

Strawberry-Shortcake01: I don't think I trust her either. And I created her! Ah! Sorry. I do know later on in the story she will inform Jesse, Suze, Father D, Paul, and Jack of something they didn't know before but will change them forever. Bwhahaha!

Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone:more huggles: