Compilation of Good Omens One Shots

The Eyes of the Serpent

Summary: A snake in the snow, it's not really something you'd find in front of your door everyday, is it? Even more when the snake is not really a snake...

I swear, it's the best one so far. I'm proud af.

4200 words

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The Eyes of the Serpent

This winter was awfully cold and long. All doors and shutters are firmly closed, a warming fire burning in the fireplace of the little houses. Nobody even thinks about getting out in the cold and dark night starting to fall. And, as the lights go out and the people of Everfalls slowly fall asleep, a snowflake silently makes its way onto the ground of frozen earth, followed by a second, and another. Soon, it's a joyful ballet of snow dancing outside the shut windows, in a night then more white than dark. Everything is sleeping under the calm light of the moon watching over them. Everything, except for one.

A huge, red and black snake, is still crawling on the dead leaves, desperate to keep on going. The night might be deadly to him, and the little sun he got during the day wasn't enough to keep him warm. He knew that if he stopped, he would probably die. But the snow wouldn't stop falling, and soon, the great cold-blooded animal wasn't able to move, the frost having got to the bone. This winter was awfully cold and long.

The man was certainly not expecting to find, just in front of his door, a big frozen snake covered in snow and shaking like anything. He took it in and put it next to the fireplace. The man knew some of the other villagers had complained about a beast that fitted its description. However, he was not afraid. He knew - or felt - that the black animal warming up gratefully on the floor wouldn't hurt him. He had rescued several animals since he had moved in near the forest, and none of them had tried to attack him, even the dangerous ones - he had once tried to help an injured wolf and found himself getting hugged in the end. Maybe animals did have a sense of gratitude. The serpent that was regaining consciousness did, at least. Moreover, he had a whole lot of working emotions like the human ones. Maybe that was because he was a human. A shapeshifter, to be precise, and his favourite form was this snake. He couldn't remember if he was born a human or a snake. Shapeshifters can be both, as it's a family thing. His family... He didn't know his family. He was probably the last one of the species.

He was living in the woods since he was born, as far as he could say. On his own, he had to find what he needed to survive, and most of the time it was just enough to survive. He lived on almost nothing, and was alone when he found out his shapeshift capacity. Time went by, and he grew up. He didn't have a name, or maybe he did, but it was a long time ago. If summers were hard, winters were harder. And this one would have been fatal without the help of this human.

The man approached him carefully. Careful, but not fearful. That was surprisingly new. He reached out to touch the snake's scales, which were slightly less cold. the animal opened his eyes and turned his head to him with a hiss.

'Hello,' said the man, who stopped physical contact immediately. 'I'm Aziraphale.'

Most people would have felt stupid to talk to animals, but he didn't. He felt at ease with them, and knew they could understand. He didn't fear them, nor did he think they were unintelligent creatures. He respected them all, maybe even more than his neighbours.

'I just want to help you,' he said in a soft voice. 'It's freezing out there. Why were you out in such weather?'

He pushed a plate of food in his direction and told him to eat. The snake hesitantly took a small bite of it. It wasn't so good, but he was so hungry... He ate the rest of the food in a large bite.