... Is this heaven?

He was naked when he awoke but he was warm and comfortable. The landscape was surreal; rolling clouds and lakes of wine stretched out as far as he could see. He was alone.

He waited.

Aaralon knew he was no longer alone but he had no idea how long the woman had been standing before him. She was beautiful, a robe of midnight blue silk clung to her perfect body, her hair raven black and her skin pale.

She smiled at him, "Greetings, Aaralon. I am the Pale Lady."

He blinked, and then asked, "Are you ****?"

Laughing musically, the woman replied, "I am the Pale Lady. Aaralon, do you think you are alive?"

"Um. I'm not sure. I don't think so?" Aaralon found that he was neither confused nor concerned. Everything was so tranquil.

"You are here before your time, young Aaralon," the gorgeous woman's voice was a musical as her laugh, "Only a demon could inflict such a fate on you. It is written that all mortals who find their way here before their time through the actions of the demons may have a second chance."

Aaralon guessed, stepping forward, "A second chance at life? Will I be reborn?"

She laughed again, "Aaralon you must learn some patience. It was your impatience that wound up with you here in the first place. Yes, a second chance at life but you'll not be reborn as such. You'll be sent back to your world as a spirit. You'll be able to interact with the world but you'll not be visible. Yes, before you ask me, I imagine you might call such a manifestation a ghost. You will have until the full moon to cage the succubus you unleashed. If you succeed you'll be placed into the body of someone else who's also died before their time but who has decided to pass through the unseen gates instead of accepting the challenge. If you fail then your soul will be cast down into Hell. You see Aaralon, you have black marks on your soul and the unseen gates will not open for you. Not yet and unless you do more good than evil in your life then they may never open for you."

The Pale Lady leant forward and kissed Aaralon on the forehead.