"It really isn't," Renault says, looking irked. "I should know: I used to be human. I never worried about death; I was too busy enjoying myself, living in the moment, living in general, actually."
"That might be fine for you," Will says, more heat behind his voice than you would have expected, "but that doesn't help with my worry."
"That's because the reason I decided to remain on the mortal plane isn't because I wanted to reassure every living person who's afraid of the great hereafter," Renault replies. "I'm here to stop the pit to hell opening, if that's what this is, and then I'd be quite happy to be left alone." He shoots you an irritated glance. "By everyone."
There's not much that you can think to say to that, and Renault doesn't give you a chance; he floats away without another word, leaving you and Will to trot after him.
You continue on, two walking, one gliding. There's no sign of Grace, or of anyone else. All there is, as far as you can tell, are branches, leaves, tree trunks, and gloom. In fact, there's a surplus of gloom. You could probably export it to other nations that are dealing with an overabundance of sunshine.
After a while, you notice that Will is glancing curiously at you. You wonder, briefly, whether he's building up the nerve to flirt with you, but that doesn't seem to be on his mind right now.
Finally, you turn to look at him. "Something up?"
He looks at you without embarrassment at being caught. "I was wondering: You had a vision about what was going to happen, correct?"
You nod.
"Did you see what's supposed to cause it?" Will asks inquisitively. "I mean, if we knew that, that could help us, couldn't it?"
You shrug. "Afraid not. Most of what I saw was flames."
For a few seconds, there's silence. Then Renault says, "I think it might be a demon."
You stop, looking at him.
"A demon?" Will demands. "You…you mean they exist?"
Renault nods. "It depends on your idea of where 'existence' starts, but yes," he says. "I've heard about demons: they're real trouble. If we're up against one of them, it could get…interesting."