Susan nodded. "All the time there ever was or will be."
She picked up the glass, took an appreciative sniff, then held it up to Azrael in toast. "To Endings and Beginnings." Another ladylike sip and she smiled. "And another toast to your taste in spirits. This is excellent."
"When I'm not filling in for Grandfather, or off on one of his little errands, I teach school." She chuckled softly. "Talking does get to be a habit."
Susan took another sip before continuing. "Grandfather is the Anthropomorphic Personification of Death, the death of all living things in my universe, another reflection of the Old High One, Azrael, that I mentioned, Death of Universes. Where I am from, there is a much higher quotient of available background magic. Strongly held beliefs tend to take form. Since humans are the major sapient race in my universe, their beliefs gave Grandfather his usual Aspect. In short, my mother was his adopted daughter, my father his former apprentice. Unlike anyone else, ever, I was conceived and born in the Realm of Death. Grandfather says some things surpass genetics, and are in the bones. I inherited his abilities, and, occasionally, his duties. It seems death has become the family business."
"One day it will all end, all the universes. Grandfather and I will be there along with a few others. And since Azrael has strongly implied that even the Universal Cycle is torroidal, we will be there for the next beginnings. It may take a while for our services to be needed again, but if nothing else, Death is patient. We can wait."