Right In Two by Nicholas Catron (new reading txt) 📕

Braeden floated in the infinite Nothing, more bored than he’d ever been. Being told to wait until called for; he could do nothing but just that. Earlier in the week he’d been spying on the pathetic humans that dwelt just outside of Eden; contriving different ways of toying with and tormenting them. That was his pleasure. Now, he was forced to sit and wait; nothing was worse for him.

He’d heard the rumors going around though; a new battle heating up between them and those accursed angels. He was hoping to possess some poor sap of a human for the battle. Not only could he cup up and smash some angels but let the human suffer the torment of possession. Maybe even get him to sell his soul in the end. Of course, the soul wouldn't be his. That would go to one of the higher ups, perhaps Beelzebub or Asmodeus. Who knew?

In time, Braeden had been called for. He was to be a scout in the upcoming battle that was to take place in one of the ethereal realms between Heaven and the Earth. This time the humans wouldn't be used; mores the pity. Braeden thought of the last time he was in battle, such a glorious time. It’s not like you could actually kill an angel but there are things a lot worse than death. The more he fantasized, the more anticipation had crept through his veins, like a human kid the night before Christmas.

Soon enough he had been sent out. His job was to spy on the legions of angels awaiting them and report back to his commander just what he had seen. Braeden was also expected to cut off the wings of any angel scouts he came across and bring them back as a trophy. Such things were coveted as a demon, considering they all used to be angels and had lost their wings when cast down.

Moving as fast as he could for the time, he needed to get as close as he could to the enemy without being noticed. Luckily for him, the agreed upon place of battle was similar to earth. “This must be some sort of dream realm” he thought to himself. He loved places like that; everything was malleable, controllable. You could create just about anything and change whatever was already there by just thinking. A demon like him, one with a hell of an imagination, would do well in a place like that. As he flew along he started to envy Nightmares. “They have a great job; should probably ask for a transfer when I get back.” He told himself.

Almost daydreaming about the prospects of this battle he had hardly noticed her at first. There, off in the distance was an angel scout…one who hadn’t noticed him. Before she could see him he stopped and hid behind a tree. Slowly, carefully, he peered out and watched. She still hadn't seen him. “She must be looking for scouts also, I really need to get her wings…and fast! How glorious would it be to report back with a fresh pair of angel wings before the battle?” Braeden had thought.

Changing his form into a snake, Braeden quietly and quickly slithered his way towards the angel. Strange though, the closer he got the more nervous he became. His skin started to tingle and his stomach felt nauseous. He’d never felt that before, something was wrong. Then, out of nowhere, a voice entered his head.
“Right in two.” The voice whispered, almost as if it was spoken right in his ear.

Feeling fear worm its way into his skull he decided he should stop and turn back. The angel must have seen him and was trying to scare him. “Maybe this is an Archangel! I can’t handle an Archangel! The thing would tear me limb from limb and then pin each of my limbs to a post just outside the gates of heaven for all eternity!” he thought as his imagination and fear mingled together.

“Wait a minute! What the hell am I thinking?!” Braeden muttered to himself. He was letting pre-battle jitters get the best of him. He had never been scared in battle before and he wouldn't allow himself to be scared as he stalked an angel.

On he continued, slithering through tall grass and around trees. Still, the closer he got the more his skin tingled.
“Right in two.” The voice whispered again.

This time Braeden ignored it. Emboldened by determination, he slithered on; persistent in his goal of obtaining a pair of angel wings. She wasn’t far now and Braeden had already formed a plan. He was going to come up right behind her, then let his arms and legs change back into their normal form while the rest of him would stay as a snake. Using his claws, he would rip off her wings then bite her neck, letting his saliva drip into her veins and poison her. With any luck she would be paralyzed before she could scream. He would then drag her and her wings back to his commander where he would revel in the praise and prestige that he would receive.

“Right in two” The voice said but this time it had come from right in front of him. There she was, staring down on him as he’d been daydreaming. Fear had filled him to the point of overflowing.

The angel had bent over and gently picked him up, looking at him with nothing but warmth and understanding. Her very touch was of silk and he had almost melted in her hands. Leaning forward she had pressed the side of her face against his and whispered “Right in two.” in his ear. At that moment everything in Braeden's life had changed.

He could feel all the anger inside him ebb away like waves when the tide was on the out. Filling in that gap was something he hadn’t felt in millennia. It was warm and comforting, mysterious yet familiar. The tingling sensation he’d been feeling was now almost overwhelming. Slowly, without knowing it, he’d been changing back into his normal shape…though he hadn't looked this way since before he was cast out. The only thing that was missing was his wings.

As she held him in her arms Braeden’s shame was almost too much and he had broke down crying. Tears seemed to rain from him for hours as a torrent of emotions ripped through him, breaking down all his defenses. He could remember, clear as any memory, his life before The Separation. He remembered how it felt to be an angel, how it felt to be loved. He could feel the love he had for others and how it all changed when the words of the Light Bearer seduced him into sedition. It was like he had woke from a dream; a nightmare.

When Braeden’s tears had dried up and the shame started to fade, the angel looked into his eyes and said, “We were one…but you split right in two.” As soon as she finished Braeden found himself back in hell; floating in the nothingness, still waiting to be called on. When the familiar voice of his commander called him he knew it was time to go and what they were going to tell him. As he cleared his head and was about to leave he heard himself whisper, “Right in two…”

Text: Nicholas Catron
Publication Date: 12-29-2012

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