Epiphany

Summary: After her death, Anya must bargain for her soul and complete one final task before  resting in peace. Sequel to Epitaph. Answer to the Anya-in-the-Afterlife challenge by  Sophie.

Grand Summary: After Anya was killed in "Chosen", her soul remains in limbo between Heaven  and Hell. Anya must bargain for her soul back and is given the task to go to a demon  underworld and restore order there, thus completing the circle of her existence. Little  does she know it's a reverse universe from the one she'd grown to love and it will take  every ounce of her being to see it done. After years of following the Slayer and the true  hero, it's her turn now. Because her world is about to change. Forever. Again.

Introducing new characters, new worlds and a new alternate reality.

Disclaimer: I don't own Joss Whedon. I wish I had some say in what happened during Buffy,  but I must admit I'm just a fan borrowing characters.

Ratings: PG-13 for violence, bloodshed, that type.

This will alternate between first and third person. I promise the first person POVs will be  few and far between, but they're more personal this way.

- - - - -

Chapter 1

Between Heaven and Hell

Prologue

- - - - -

Every time I looked at the stars, I imagined that someday I'd be soaring among them.

I had no idea that those same stars, which twinkled for each of the thousand and twenty  four years of my existence, would be deciding my fate.

I don't remember how it felt to die. I just know that one moment I was there with a sword  in my hand, wondering if I really should use that nerdy Andrew as a human shield, and the  next I was floating above my own body.

Whoever said there is a light when your time has come wasn't lying. I felt it shining upon  me, mocking me as my life flashed on all of those horrible things I'd done.

And then it hit me.

I was going to Hell.

But no, I thought. This cannot be. I did good in this world. I don't deserve Hell. I tried  to work toward Heaven. Any Heaven.

But my body was broken and weak. The light was starting to fade and my body was being  covered by debris.

What do I do? What do I do?

One thousand and twenty four years and all I could do was sit there and ponder my  situation. If I was back in the old magic shop, I would have bargained my soul and sold it  for something... good. Like eternity in a nice quiet resting place where I could hum and  string harps with angels.

But that didn't look like it was happening.

Was I going to have to fight to get into Heaven? Was I going to have to die again?

It hurt bad enough the first time! Didn't those Bringers know that I was once like them,  blind to everything good and pure?

I am a good person. I really really am. I can't be in hell. I don't deserve it.

Yet my pleas fall on ears closed.

I was a vengeance demon, I know! But I'm good now. I promise to be good.

You've had your chance, my conscience tells me.

And there I am, standing on the gateway. The scenes below have faded, but judging by the  sounds of glass shattering and the earth rumbling, the little Slayer and her merry band of  cannon fodder have once again thwarted evil's big plan.

So here I am at the gateway. To my left is a beautiful pearly gate, just like everyone had  always made me believe. A pearly gate with the beautiful music and vast blue on the  horizon.

To my right is another pearly gate, sheltered in flames.

And around me, more portals are opening. The human existence falls away as hundreds,  thousands of gates open around me.

One could get claustrophobic trapped in here.

Did I have a choice? I wanted the place where I could be happy and know I had something  complete.

But that gate was fading into the background.

What did I have to do to get into that one gate?

It was time to do what I was best at.

It was time to bargain.

- - - - -

To be continued…

Chapter 2 – Anya bargains for her soul and is given an opportunity too great to turn down.