Wandering the forest at night, despite his parent's warnings of rogue angels, a boy flees his family who now hate him. They hate him for a secret he'd told them that very night, a secret that in these days will get you killed.
The young boy named Gale fleeing through the Howling Forest is gay.
Wingbeats echo around him, quiet at first but then louder. He looks up, to the starry night sky, and watches a shadow descend from the stars. Each time it gets closer, the wingbeats grow louder.
As the shadow gets closer, Gale sees that the shadow is not a monster at all but an angel with slate-blue wings and hair. He seems calm, but suddenly a laugh rings through the air. Then the angel freaks out, losing control of his wings and crashing to the forest floor.
Another shadow is descending from the heavens, this time coming down much quicker. This one is a demon, looking no older than fourteen, with dark gray hair and wings like snow. Something is off though, and Gale spots it a moment later. The demon's wings are spattered with black on top, looking as though someone dropped ink on his wings.
He grins at the sight of Gale, and even though Gale would normally be happy if a boy so much as smiled at him, he can sense that the demon isn't here to be nice.
The demon lands gracefully, his wings curling inwards as he moves forwards to kill the angel. Gale cannot stand by and watch any longer, cannot stand by and see an angel murdered before him.
The demon raises a clawed hand to slice the angel's throat open, and Gale lunges in front of the angel like a madman. The demon's claws rake along Gale's neck and shoulder, blood pouring from the wounds.
Gale's scream drowns out the demon's gasp, watching in horror as Gale slumps to the forest floor, limp. Gale's still breathing, still awake, but just barely. The demon crouches down beside the wounded boy, who would give up his life if it meant the angel could live.
A soul willing to die for others must be pure. It's been so long since I consumed a soul other than a demon's. That's why I was chasing the angel.
The demon doesn't say anything, just lifts the now passed out boy and carries him to a clearing a little distance away. He lays Gale down in the waist-high golden grass, watching as the boy dies and his soul slips into the ether where the demon can consume it.
Then something occurs to the demon.
If I consume his soul now, I'll just be hunting again a few weeks later. Besides, maybe he can bring me souls.
YOU ARE READING
And Then Heaven Descended Unto Earth
Roman pour AdolescentsA boy is wandering the forest at night, disowned by his family. He encounters a demon and an angel. Which one will he help?
