A.N - Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. And the first two of Lady of The Night. We're really having fun writing that one. And I'm getting better at replying to my reviews. Honest.

Anyway, chapter 7. Here you go. D

Chapter 7

"Shifters," Paul announced, "were first found in Ancient Egypt. A Dr Oliver Slaski found there were humans that can travel in and out of the realm of the dead, without dying themselves."

He recited it as if it had been memorized, making it sound monotonous and boring.

Suze sat on Paul's bed with a blank face, absorbing the information.

"Look if you don't believe me."

Paul said after seeing, and misinterpreting, her facial expression.

He pulled out a clear box from under his bed and took out a newspaper article from the '50's. On it, there was a picture of a man standing in front of a wall of Egyptian hieroglyphs, obviously inside a tomb of some kind. There was writing stating more or less what Paul had told her. Only it contained stuff about shamans and kings.

"So," Suze began after a moment of silence. "What you mean to tell me is that mediators -"

"Shifters." Paul corrected.

"Whatever. Is that shifters can visit Purgatory?"

Paul nodded. "Pretty much."

"Have you ever been there?"

"No, I haven't."

"Oh." Suze seemed disappointed. "Well, thanks for the information but I think I'll stick with plain old mediating. It's getting late. I'd better go."

"Wait," Paul stopped her leaving. "Don't you want to know how to shift?"

"Not particularly. Bye Paul."

She was gone before Paul had a chance to tell her about the time-travelling, let alone the soul transference.

"Damn."

He said into the empty room while slamming his fist down onto his desk.

--------------------------------------------

"Suze, get your lazy ass up! We're going to be late!"

Suze threw the pillow over her head trying to muffle Brad's demanding voice.

Last night she'd gotten like no sleep, having arrived home at midnight. Her body was exhausted. Too much exercise after a lazy summer, she guessed. Her mind, on the other hand, was buzzing with the day's events.

Meeting Jesse (sigh) … Angry ghost in the form of Dad … Kissing Jesse (double sigh) … Strange ghost with a vendetta against his brother. Oh yeah, and Paul with his 'shifter' talk.

The result was she'd only ended up getting a few hours sleep. She was so going to look like such a mess today.

"Suze! Wake up!"

Brad banged furiously on the door to her room.

"Alright, I'm up!" She called back through, reluctantly dragging herself from the warm haven that was her bed.

"About time. You've got about half an hour before we leave."

Thankfully, he left then. Suze ordered her feet to take her to the mirror of her adjoining bathroom and grimaced at what she saw.

'Ugh. Like half an hour will do anything useful.'

It was not going to be a good day, she could tell.

Feeling disgusting and groggy, Suze pulled on her well-worn jeans and favourite black leather jacket, and went downstairs to scrape together some breakfast.

Her mum and Andy, along with all three boys, were in the room.

"Susie, honey," her mom started, "is anything wrong? You woke up so late."

Suze rolled her eyes, "I'm fine mom."

"Are you sure?" Andy asked, playing the adoring dad. "You can't still have jet lag can you?"

"No, I don't," Suze tried to convince her mom and step-dad. "really, I'm fine. Just had a bit of a late night last night. All the excitement of a new school year, I suppose."

Both adults seemed to accept this explanation and carried on with their conversation from before she had walked into the room.

A horn beeped from outside, alerting Suze to the fact that, during her conversation with her mom and Andy, Brad and Dave were waiting in the car. Jake had already gone to college, driving his new Camaro - which took forever, and a lot of Pizza Delivery shifts, for him to save up for.

"Oops, I'm late. Bye mom, bye Andy."

Suze ran out of the kitchen, before waiting for a response, and jumped into the Land Rover belonging to the Ackerman children. (And now their step-sister). Brad sped off towards the Mission.

Throughout the relatively short drive, Suze's eyes remained focused on the Pacific Ocean. It was constant, reliable. Always there. It was comforting, in a strange way.

The car swerved into the parking lot and shuddered to a stop. Brad's driving, so not going to go there. Suze climbed out of the car and looked around. They were earlier then she thought, judging by the amount of students already here.

"Susannah, hey!"

Her heart fluttered when she heard his voice. Jesse.

He walked over and enveloped her in his strong arms before kissing her. They separated but remained holding hands needing to stay connected someway.

"Hey back at you." Suze said smiling.

They walked to the front of the school and waited for morning assembly to start. The girls cast jealous glares Suze's way while the boys whistled and hooted.

"Don't worry if anyone says anything," Jesse whispered, feeling Suze's unease. "You're my girl now."

Suze's heart was beating rapidly at his possessive words but she smiled up at him before kissing his cheek softly.

Paul watched the whole scene with disgust.

"You're not going to get the girl again, De Silva," he vowed to himself. "Even if I have to get rid of this one too."