Cherub.

INTRO: CAEL

My feet glided across the floor, mind wandering elsewhere but eyes remaining on my surroundings.

I felt light—this mortal shell held no weight to me.

"Cael?" Brother? My eyes averted to Angelo. It had been long since I'd seen my brother—his mortal flesh was foreign to me but I knew it had been him. I sensed his angelic presence—I knew it was him there, burning beneath the skin and glowing within the soul. "Come to join me, brother?" I watched as the lips turned upward into a smile, Angelo motioning me over. I mimicked the act of surprise and joy—I had forgotten the real reason why I was here, in search of Angelo.

I engulfed him into my arms, causing him to return the hug. "Brother." I whispered, my hand resting on the broad shoulders of his flesh. We were not supposed to be here. Angelo knew we did not belong on Earth, amongst the mortals—it simply was not right.

We were too strong for these meaty coats we disguised ourself in—too powerful, too celestial. But I seemed to forget that once my eyes laid on Angelo; I missed my brother dearly. "Come," I tugged at his arm, but Angelo didn't budge. I turned around confusedly, giving my brother a peculiar stare. He stood stall, pulling his arm away from my grip—a forming purplish mark was beginning to spread. I stared at the colors it created, my eyes wide as if I were an ignorant offspring.

"No, brother," He moved away the bruising arm. "I am here to stay." Angelo declared, his voice was plummy and orotund. I chuckled at Angelo, not believing a word that had exited the mouth.

"We cannot stay," I said, sure of myself. "I was sent here to bring you back!" My voice echoed throughout the abandoned coliseum, threatening to break the glass that surrounded us. "And that is what I will do." I declared, just as he had.

"You'll do no such thing, Cael." Angelo hissed, the eyes squinting at me with emotion. They watered, and suddenly fell low—the clear liquid raced down the rosey cheeks of the flesh. I turned my head peculiarly. "These damned bodies," He chuckled, wiping away at the skin—bruising himself quite more than I had. "Emotions are out of our reach, don't you think, brother?"

"These vessels are too soft to contain us." I motioned at the body. The flesh 'motel' wrapped around me surely, like a cocoon—it had come of great use to blending in but I felt disgusting. Emotions filled me the moment I stepped into it, waste threatened to come from every part that allowed its exit and hunger scratched at me with every step I took—mortals were too much, too everything yet nothing at all. "This is my fifth body."

"Ah," Angelo seemed to laugh. "And how long have you been here, brother? A day?" The bellowed laugh rumbled my belly, sending chills up the spine—the hairs on the arm of the flesh stood up attentively, bumps riddling my skin.

"I abandoned bodies left and right," I explained, throwing my hand up. "I abandoned the last mortal because I slipped for a moment and broke all his bones." My voice fell to a whisper as I glanced down at the arms that had not belonged to me—they were rippled with the same purple and pink marks just as the one I had gifted Angelo. The entire body was covered in the hues of sunset—I thought they were lovely to look at but mortals did not think so. Questions of my health were asked every time I stepped out in the sun, causing me to cover myself.

"It takes all the strength I have to not scorch the eyes or evaporate the blood. Why did He make mortals so fragile, Cael?" Angelo sighed. "It's a pain."

"Mortals were not meant for us," I explained. "Their bodies are not meant for the housing of celestials—especially not angels, brother." I comforted the distressed angel. "He knew in a moment we'd break the bones, tear the muscles, melt the skin. Mortal flesh cannot handle us because we do not belong."

"And you're here to take me home because of that?" I reeled back, stricken with a feeling that I did not know the word of. I do know that I did not like it. It made the flesh want to crawl away, the stomach felt hallow, the brain seemed to thicken and thump against the skull and my weight felt too much to carry.

"Yes, brother," I managed to express, sounding brittle. The voice croaked and was thick with melancholy—I think sadness was this emotion.

I did not like this.

"Cael, you had not a care if I returned or hadn't." Angelo barked in that callous tone once more, making the flesh I was in jump with fear. "Until you were given an order." He said lowly, eyes set angrily on me.

"Nonsense!" I waved him off. "I've missed you—our brothers and sisters missed you, Angelo. It's time to come home," Melancholy laced the words drifted from my mouth. "You've had your fun, brother. It's time to go."

"I will not." He stubbornly whispered, folding his arms over his chest.

"You know what is to come if you decide to stay." I said, eyes widened and shock evident on my features.

"I know, brother."

a/n:
idk why i wrote the prologue from cael's perspective but fuck it, we ball?