The tunnels to the other realms all looked long, dark, and unwelcoming. Scarlet found herself feeling suddenly unsure of her plan, but she put on a brave face.

“These are the Halls of Adventure!” said Juliet. The others looked at her awkwardly. “…It’s a name in progress.”

“But which one goes to the Berry Realm?” asked Eloise.

“You want to take that furthest tunnel and then keep to the left.”

“May I have one more hug before you go?” asked the Reaper.

“Of course!” Eloise gave her father a big squeeze. Noticing her mother’s frown, she gave her one last big hug too.

“If you need anything at all, you know how to find us, right?” Death said sternly.

“Yes, I remember.”

“Good. Off you go now before you make your mother cry.”

“Goodbye!”

Scarlet was led around so many corners that she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to find her way back to the canals. Once they came to a long hallway decorated with red wallpaper and carpet, Juliet stopped in front of a dark brown door with gold accents. “This is her room,” she said. “We’ll give you some privacy.“

“Just call my name when you’re ready to go,” said Nixie.

“Alright, thank you,” said Scarlet.

The Lady of the Lake was summoned to help heal Eloise’s pain. The swim to through the canals to the Underworld was not easy for her, but she endured it so that she could aid the sweet girl his son had told her so much about.

“She is resting now…I have done what I can,” she said, closing Eloise’s bedroom door behind her. “One of her eyes was severely damaged, but it should still be functional. The burns on her face should heal nicely due to the way they were inflicted, but she is going to be left with permanent scars. I am sorry.”

After a long silence, Juliet finally spoke. “I spent most of my life laying in bed because I was sick from the very start. I’ve had a lot of time to think about what might happen when it was time to say good-bye. I pictured myself living in the clouds, meeting the Sun Goddess, and finally escaping my pain when I died,” she said.

The Reaper stayed silent, nodding his head.

“However, I’ve always had a thirst for adventure that I was never able to quench. And you know what? I cannot think of a better adventure than journeying to the Underworld with Death himself.”

“Then it is settled!” the Grim Reaper exclaimed. “We will leave immediately!”

After some time had passed, Death could ignore his sole duty no longer. “Juliet, today is the day when you must pass on. I can delay your death no further. Please, come to the Underworld with me,” the Reaper begged.

“I don’t know…” Juliet said, looking off in the distance.

“I am asking a lot…you deserve an afterlife in the sky, not underground with Death. However, things will be different once we are in my realm. There is a whole other side to me that mortals can never see.“

“You do not know how happy I am to see you, my dear. I was worried that I had scared you away,” Death whispered. “I have another gift for you. I know how much you love roses.”

“You cannot just win me over with roses. There is more to winning over a lady’s love than that,” replied Juliet with a smirk.

“I admit that I am unaccustomed to this. You do not have time to learn much about love or courtship when you work as much as I do.”