Alex is able to see ghosts, or Greys, unaided. Their existence raises the question of what happens in the afterlife. However, Ninth House does not provide a clear answer: After death, some people cross over to a different dimension, “beyond the Veil” (30), while others linger on as Greys. It also seems immaterial what religion people follow—anyone can become a ghost.

The “veil” is both the barrier between the two worlds—those of the living and the dead—and an “obfuscation” (18). The truth about the afterlife is hidden from the living, and pulling the veil aside is tantamount to dying: Alex must come close to drowning to gain access to the Egyptian-like afterlife.