CHAPTER 22

SAIRA HAD returned to the mortal world but was confused. For the first time in her existence, she felt no tugs. It was as if time had momentarily stopped.

"It will last but a moment," the voice promised.

"Why are you here? Is it my time now?" she asked, surprised by Death's appearance.

"That isn't for me to say. I came to answer your question."

"Question? Oh, of course. Why did you lie to Dis? You could retrieve Sabnock."

"To what purpose? Besides, now that she's with her lover, I suspect it would be the death of me to try and separate those two."

Saira snickered at the pun.

"Well, we wouldn't want that, now would we?" she teased.

"No. I took a vacation once and it created so many problems, I swore never again."

"What happened?"

"Ah, now that's another story. It'll have to wait until another time. Like you, I feel the tugs pulling on me. Our work is very different, but our lives follow a similar path. Until we meet again, Saira. Travel safely."

Before she could answer, Death was gone and the tugs began.