He smiled fondly-no, cancel that-proudly at me. at me.

"It was because I didn't want you to be forced to do something that you weren't ready for."

"Oh."

"Any more questions?" my father asked.

I nodded.

"Dad, can we go home now?"

epilogue.

I sat at my desk in my old room at Sea Verge staring into one of those lighted makeup mirrors. I had had a real b.i.t.c.h of a time putting on the false eyelashes I'd bought at the drugstore that morning, but now that they were finally in place, I thought the effect was quite charming.

As I stared at my reflection, I found it hard to imagine that the silly young woman with the false eyelashes smiling back at me had ever been the Grim Reaper. But she had been, if only for a very few-yet very memorable-hours. Now, thank G.o.d, I was finally back to being my old, normal normal self. self.

Not that my life was ever gonna really really be normal again. Since I was back in touch with my family, of course, it was expected that I'd show up for the obligatory holidays, family gatherings, etc., whether I wanted to or not. But strangely, I found that it wasn't as much of a hardship as I had once made it out to be. In fact, I guess I was kind of looking forward to Christmas with the Grim Reaper and family-as weird as that sounded coming from the girl who once upon a time placed a Forgetting Charm on herself so she'd never have to deal with said crazy family again. be normal again. Since I was back in touch with my family, of course, it was expected that I'd show up for the obligatory holidays, family gatherings, etc., whether I wanted to or not. But strangely, I found that it wasn't as much of a hardship as I had once made it out to be. In fact, I guess I was kind of looking forward to Christmas with the Grim Reaper and family-as weird as that sounded coming from the girl who once upon a time placed a Forgetting Charm on herself so she'd never have to deal with said crazy family again.

I dabbed a touch of perfume behind both ears and thought about what had happened when I'd shown back up to work. I still hadn't asked Jarvis what excuse he'd given my boss about why I'd missed work, and frankly I didn't want want to know. Whatever he'd said had made everyone behave very solicitously toward me, and to know. Whatever he'd said had made everyone behave very solicitously toward me, and no one no one had said a d.a.m.n thing about "taking off too much time," or hara.s.sed me about "no paid vacation." I decided that I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. had said a d.a.m.n thing about "taking off too much time," or hara.s.sed me about "no paid vacation." I decided that I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a knock on the door, making me almost drop my precious bottle of Chanel No. 5 onto the floor.

"c.r.a.p," I said, fumbling with the bottle. "Come in!"

The door opened, and Clio stepped inside, Runt right behind her. She looked lovely in a fitted yellow silk dress, and high-heeled sandals that looked vaguely familiar.

"Are those mine?" I asked, pointing at her shoes.

"And if they are, what are you gonna do about it?" she replied tartly.

I shrugged.

"Nothing. They look good."

She blushed.

"Thanks. I wanted to let you know that the limo is here," she said.

"It is?" I shrieked, fumbling with the clasp at the back of my dress. I'd borrowed a vintage deep purple Halston from my mother's closet, and even though it looked amazing, it had been a b.i.t.c.h to put on.

"Here, let me help you," Clio said, coming over and easily doing up the clasp.

"It's harder when you're doing it backward," I said.

"Uh-huh."

I started hunting for my Manolos, but somehow they'd gotten shoved under the bed. I climbed to the floor-careful not to hurt the dress-and stuck my hand underneath the bed skirt like a vet birthing a baby cow.

"Go on down," I called. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Uhm, Callie," Clio said, and I looked up, surprised by her serious tone of voice. "I just wanted you to know that Daniel was a good guy. He didn't mean to punch you in the stomach . . . well, not really."

"Why're you telling me this now?" I asked as I found one of the shoes and dragged it out of its hiding place.

"Because you should know. He used the Cup of Jamshid to find me and Runt back here at Sea Verge. He said that you needed us, that I shouldn't believe anything anything bad anyone said about you. That you were the greatest person he had ever known-and he'd known bad anyone said about you. That you were the greatest person he had ever known-and he'd known a lot a lot of people." of people."

Runt came out from under the bed, the other shoe in her mouth. I took it from her, but didn't have the heart to put either of them on.

"Yeah? He said that?"

Clio nodded.

"He knew what the cup was, Callie. He could've used it to trick you and become Death himself . . . but he didn't. I don't know why. But he didn't."

I sat there in stunned silence. Why had I never realized any of that before? Why had I never realized any of that before?

"Well, I guess I better go down and make sure they don't leave without us," Clio said. She closed the door softly behind her, taking Runt and leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I had looked long and hard inside that moat, but I had never found any trace of Daniel's body. I had wanted to think that he went straight up to Heaven-do not pa.s.s Go; do not collect two hundred dollars-and was right now playing an unending game of Parcheesi with G.o.d, but who knew?

Only Death.

Maybe someday I would work up the nerve to pull out his Death Record and see what really happened to him . . .

And who he really was.

But until then I didn't want to think about sad things that I had no control over.

I slipped my shoes on and stood up, admiring myself in the mirror. I thought I looked pretty d.a.m.n good, even if I did say so myself.

Although I really wasn't one hundred percent feeling feeling it, I put on a happy face and thought about how exciting it was to be going to my first Bollywood premiere. Indra had invited my whole family to the screening of his "Masterpiece" (his word, not mine), kind of as a thank-you for all the help we'd given him, I guess. it, I put on a happy face and thought about how exciting it was to be going to my first Bollywood premiere. Indra had invited my whole family to the screening of his "Masterpiece" (his word, not mine), kind of as a thank-you for all the help we'd given him, I guess.

At first I did did wonder if Kali had put him up to it, but then I decided that I really didn't care wonder if Kali had put him up to it, but then I decided that I really didn't care what what the reason was. It was just kind of cool to be invited. the reason was. It was just kind of cool to be invited.

Period.

I knew that no matter what happened tonight, I was going to go to this thing, and I was going to make make myself have a good time- myself have a good time-even if it killed me.

I gave myself a quick wink in the mirror for courage, then I picked up my clutch bag. I flipped off the overhead light and closed my bedroom door firmly behind me as I headed down the stairs, following the gentle hum of conversation coming from the front hall. I could just make out Clio's voice intoning the words "Mr. s.e.x on a Stick."

Oh, brother, I mused, I mused, here we go again. here we go again.

I had a funny feeling this premiere was gonna turn out to be a h.e.l.l of a lot more interesting interesting than I'd imagined. than I'd imagined.

I just hope the Gopi remembered to bring their heads.