And Then Heaven Descended Unto Earth

A Boy Sworn to A Demon

I wake up in a field of tall golden grass, the demon asleep beside me. At first, I freak out because first of all he tried to kill me and second of all I'm sleeping with a boy. I can feel the heat turning my cheeks red, can tell that I'm blushing shamelessly. 

He opens his eyes, and smiles at me. I know somehow that even though he's looking at me in an appraising way that makes me blush more, he doesn't care if I live or die. I don't care though, cuz at least someone's willing to pay attention to me and love me even though it's obvious that I like boys. 

"I bet you're wondering how you're still alive."

His voice catches me off guard, sounding innocent and yet darkly amused at the same time. 

"I decided to save you for now because your soul, although tempting, is not worth a few weeks of not having to kill other demons."

Somehow, we've left the field and are in a blank white space that I recognise from books I'd read. He's pulled my soul from my body and is speaking to me in the realm of the dead.

He walks closer to me, tilting my head up to face him. He's at least four inches taller than me, his dark gray hair falling into his black eyes. I'm suddenly painfully aware of my dull brown hair, my gray-green eyes, the dark circles under them, my pale skin from almost never going outside.

"But, if I allow you to live, you have to gather edible souls for me until I decide to kill you."

Ummm..... I guess I'm dead either way. A bracelet binds my right wrist, the demon holding the chain. 

"Your soul belongs to me now. I can kill you anytime, Gale Craven."

I go still, terror freezing every muscle in my body. This demon knows my full name. I stay silent, not knowing what to say. 

"My name is Rin. If you need my help, I'll guide you to the next soul to harvest for me. But only if you are in true danger will I save you in person."

Suddenly, I'm back in the field, alone. Well, not completely alone. The grass rustles as the angel walks towards me, one blueish-gray wing bloodied and dragging. He looks both scared and nervous, understandable reactions when I was just hours ago crazy enough to jump in front of a demon's claws.

"Thank you for saving me. Rin would've killed me without remorse, without a second thought."

"...."

He pauses for a moment, as though thinking.

"I suppose you already know why he saved you. He needs someone to steal souls for him and he chose you. I am here to try to make you reconsider. You still have a chance at heaven, a chance at being an angel. But if you follow him, you'll be condemned to being a demon."

I stay silent for a moment, somewhat shocked. Then I find my voice.

"He already bound our souls. I can't go back now, even if I wanted to. I'm scared, yeah, but I need to help him so that he doesn't kill me. I won't kill those who have lives ahead of them, won't take away someone's chance at heaven. I'll only bring him sinner's souls, and mine will be the only innocent soul he'll consume."

The angel looks shocked, then he nods. 

"A plan worthy of an angel. You've earned your wings already. It's up to you to make sure that your wings are angelic rather than demonic."

He smiles, as though he'd thought of something amusing. He leans closer to me, tilting my head up like Rin did; although the gesture seems gentler from the angel.

"And even if you do fall to Rin's side of death, I will still pray for your soul."

I respond without a second thought. 

"Why pray if I'm already damned?"

He smiles at me, lowering his voice.

"Because, Gale Craven, I have taken an interest in you and I want to see you among the angels someday; you are the force of good we need to remind ourselves that every soul is worth prayer, damned or innocent."

He steps back, his wing healed, and seems about to fly away.

"Gale, my name is Cain. Never forget that name."