"I'm sorry, you intend to do WHAT?" 

"I intend to save your sister. Is that so difficult to understand?" 

The man stutters, flushing a light pink. "I-I understand what you said, but my sister has been dead for several years! She passed away from medical compications..." 

"Indeed she did, but her spirit has been trapped in your home ever since then. Unless you would like to continue the rest of your life in constant torment from a soul forced to remain on this earth, I suggest you let me help." Serina was starting to get pissed, but there was no point in trying to sugarcoat the situation. If the man didn't want help, then fine, but she wasn't going to try and tell him that 'everything will be ok' or 'you'll be free soon' or any of that sentimental crap. When it came to the undead, there was no nice way of putting things. 

"I appreciate your willingness to help, but what can you even do about it? You don't seem...", he looks the woman up and down, "qualified?" 

She couldn't help but laugh at this remark. "Sir, there's no such thing as a qualification for this kind of work. You can do it, or you can't. I happen to fall into the former category. Now do you want my help or not? I have other responsibilities and you are currently wasting my time." 

The man took a moment to think it over, then slowly began to nod. "Yes... Yes, I want her to rest easily. Please, do what you can for her." Serina barely even paid attention to the man, instead looking over his shoulder at the young spectre now watching the two from the hallway. She peeks back and forth from the wall, intently listening in to the chat. 

"Wonderful, I'm glad we could come to an agreement," Serina grinned, then grabbed at the revolver in her waistband, quickly pulling it back and shooting the man in the chest. He barely had time to react before blood began to pour from the wound, and his limp body slumped to the floor. The woman didn't even bother with formalities, instead stepping over the new corpse as the body began to slowly disintegrate into a black ash. 

"Don't worry, he's gone now sweetheart," she called out, waiting for the child to reappear. When she finally decided to show her face, her scared eyes were now replaced with a bright spark and a smile. 

"You really got rid of the baddie?" She asked, floating up to the woman. Serina nodded, then reholstered her gun.

"You have nothing to fear now, he's gone off to where he belongs. The bad man can't bother you anymore." She smiled as the spirit glowed a bright blue before fading out of sight. Another job done, another ghost put to rest. Serina grinned and slipped out of the house before anyone began to get curious, just in time to catch her phone beginning to ring. 

"Ello?" She muttered, getting her gear tucked away into the backpack she had plopped down on a bench. 

"Didn't catch you during work, did I?" The man asked, followed by a faint laugh. Serina couldn't help but grin at the old man's constant joy. 

"Nah, just finished up. It's been a while since you've called me up, Matteo" she slipped one of the bag's straps over one shoulder before starting her walk back home. The man laughed once again. 

"I couldn't help but think of you when my boy came in asking about jobs in the area. You wouldn't mind taking in a newcomer for the summer, would you? He could help around the store while you keep your real work up." 

Serina frowned. It would only be a pain to have a newcomer meddling around in her business, especially the darker sides of it, but she did owe Matteo quite a few favors. It was hard for her to say no to the man. 

"And what would I be getting out of this?" She questioned, despite having already made her decision. 

"You know the answer to that, Seri. I just got a new shipment of artifacts from an old joint that closed down. You could take a look for me at the end of all of this. Besides, you might like Joey. He certainly reminds me of you in a lot of ways," Matteo sighed a little, his typical jovial tone gone for a moment.

Serina groaned, but there was no point. "Just for the summer, ok?" She asserted. There was no way she would need the boy longer than that, but it was always good to be clear with a tricky man like Matteo. 

"Fine fine, just the summer. Thank you, Serina. I'm sure he'll appreciate the fresh air." 

"No problem, just don't fill him in on things. He'll just help around the store, keep the books shelved and check prices and all that shit. I don't want more dead weight when I'm out in the field," she replied. 

"Yes ma'am!" He laughed one last time before the line cuts out. She tucked the phone back into her pocket, sighing. 

"What have I gotten myself into..."