In reply to Raevyn's review about how I started using Amy's POV in the beginning of chapter 7, but then suddenly went back to the default POV - Adam: my intention was (in addition to establishing that Amy had heard she was Watch's sister) was to show that she suddenly regained control of her emotion and hid it away like she tries. I'd venture to say she may feel embarrassed by the attention. For my missing the mark, I add this explanation.
Chapter 7
Amy blinked. She had heard that.
When her eyes came into focus, she saw the gang standing over her, and the deep blackness of the cavern. Even obviously underground, there seemed to be no ceiling.
"Are you okay?" Bryce asked.
"Fine," Amy replied, realising how heavy her body felt then. Bryce helped her up.
"You're pathetic," Bryce said to Death, shaking his head. "There was no reason for that."
Death sat back down on his throne. "You all do not seem to understand the gravity of the situation. There needs to be balance," he spat.
"You're mixing business with pleasure, buddy," Sally muttered.
No wonder Death wanted Amy – it was a way to get back at Watch and Ann Templeton, Adam thought. He was angered that Death would use such a low tactic and sore spot to get to his friend. After all this time Watch finally had family and now it would be over in an instant. Adam knew he was a good friend, and that Watch knew he was cared for, but Adam knew that even as his best friend he could not give him what he really needed. As angry as it made him, Adam would try being more diplomatic. Before Watch agreed to be a replacement for his sister.
"Sir," he began. "Please, you've made your point. But if there is a loop hole, I beg you to not do this."
Death tapped his boney finger impatiently on his throne. He was growing tired of the unending objections. "Her wish was of immortality, which is nothing more than the perpetual state of existence, or unending life," the Grim Reaper explained. "Your sister will exist even when she has become maggot food and fertilizes plants. She will still be part of the life cycle, which is technically unending life."
"Screw you!" Watch spat, showing anger Adam had never seen. His friend quieted and looked into the distance. He was thinking.
"It is not my doing that you humans are so vague and uncoordinated in your definitions. It's your foolishness," Death accused, sitting back on his throne. "Immortality does not necessarily entail a lack of death."
Suddenly Amy let out a laugh. Everyone – dead and alive – looked at her.
"Have you totally lost it?" Sally asked her. "He's about to kill you."
Amy stared at Death, studying him. There was a faint smile on her face, and life had returned to her eyes. "You're not the type to break rules," she said. "And I won't either. So I will tell you what I wished for," she held up her hand as the gang went to object. "And you will accept it. And you will leave us alone."
The Grim Reaper was silent. Suddenly it looked as if the tables had been turned. "What do you mean?" he finally asked.
"I did wish to be immortal," she agreed. "But I was very specific. I also wished to be free from disease, aging…and death," she said. "You cannot take me."
The entire room of skeletons gasped. It was a sight to behold. Or rather a sound to be heard.
Death practically jumped out his chair. "Liar!" he yelled in his voice stitched with death.
Amy seemed unfazed. "I thought you could pick up on people's thoughts," she reminded him. "Am I lying?"
Death stared at her a long time before sitting back down. "Get out. All of you."
