Yes, Heaven is thine; but this
Is a world of sweets and sours;
Our flowers are merely--flowers
And the shadow of thy perfect bliss
Is the sunshine of ours.
-Israfel, Edgar Allen Poe
Where Angels Fear to Tread
Copyright 2013 Elisa Ferguson
"Where Angels Fear to Tread" is a work-in-very-slow-progress. It began as a very depressing short story that grew into a very depressing, yet humorous, book idea. I have worked out my characters and plot, but only wrote a handful of chapters before I became distracted by something shiny.
It is a post-apocalyptic story. The book follows four characters:
Conlan: One of the last free humans on Earth. He is a young man that hunts, forages, and steals to provide for the people living in a small community away from the cities. He's angry and rude all the time.
Allegra: A "demon" who feasts on dreams of the captured humans. These demon creatures have taken over the Earth and enslaved humans for food.
Rowan: A man captured by the demons and forced to fight for entertainment. He is the only human among the demons of the city that isn't in a permanent sleep state.
Jeraco: An angel of music. He is sent to Earth to find the Somniantus, a being chosen to save the world but is missing. He is not a fighter. He has no strength and little knowledge. He is Earth's last hope.
It is a post-apocalyptic story. The book follows four characters:
Conlan: One of the last free humans on Earth. He is a young man that hunts, forages, and steals to provide for the people living in a small community away from the cities. He's angry and rude all the time.
Allegra: A "demon" who feasts on dreams of the captured humans. These demon creatures have taken over the Earth and enslaved humans for food.
Rowan: A man captured by the demons and forced to fight for entertainment. He is the only human among the demons of the city that isn't in a permanent sleep state.
Jeraco: An angel of music. He is sent to Earth to find the Somniantus, a being chosen to save the world but is missing. He is not a fighter. He has no strength and little knowledge. He is Earth's last hope.
Depressing Excerpt
Gloria in excelsis, you mocked, that smile still upon your lips.
I knew there was no hope for you. That is why, when you leaned back to fall, I jumped as well. If you were going to fall, then you were going to have to take me with you.
You had two options. You could protect me, as you had always promised to do. Fly me to safety and let the battle continue, wondering if I would kill you, or call the army upon you again.
Or you could do nothing.
I felt the wind rush, and my heart beat, as I waited to die.
I knew there was no hope for you. That is why, when you leaned back to fall, I jumped as well. If you were going to fall, then you were going to have to take me with you.
You had two options. You could protect me, as you had always promised to do. Fly me to safety and let the battle continue, wondering if I would kill you, or call the army upon you again.
Or you could do nothing.
I felt the wind rush, and my heart beat, as I waited to die.
Depressing But Funnier Excerpt
"You know what I am?"
"The shiny halo kinda gives it away," Kemp answered.
"You've seen us before?"
The angel seemed surprised. Conlan joined Kemp and the angel. He looked like a normal human being, a bit nerdy maybe, but normal. His skin was pale from little light and there was not an ounce of muscle on him. Linus could beat the guy in a fistfight. Despite looking so weak, Conlan knew the angel had powers such as strength and speed. Gifts from the King of Heaven.
"Yeah, we've seen plenty," Conlan answered. "They always find us, promise to save us, and we never see them again."
"Surely, they are out fighting for you."
"You didn't see their faces when they looked at what human life has become."
"They were determined, regal, ready for battle."
"They were scared shitless."
The angel was shocked and his eyes grew wide. He looked scared. Even the mighty above him had failed, and the angel knew it now.
"That is not possible," the angel said, but he didn't sound too sure.
"In our neck of the woods, an archangel stands for cowardice. We figure they knew they couldn't win and tied the noose, pulled the plug, took an electric bath, tested the sharpness of their blades on their wrists. Called it a life." Conlan liked scaring this angel. He was fun to play with.
"So, what will you do?" Kemp asked.
The angel took a deep breath and faked bravery. "I will find the Somniantus and bring hope back to the people of Earth."
"Right, buddy," Conlan said. "When we find you dangling, we promise to bury you. We'll even plant those pretty pansies on your grave. Enjoy despair." Conlan waved goodbye to the stupid angel.
"The shiny halo kinda gives it away," Kemp answered.
"You've seen us before?"
The angel seemed surprised. Conlan joined Kemp and the angel. He looked like a normal human being, a bit nerdy maybe, but normal. His skin was pale from little light and there was not an ounce of muscle on him. Linus could beat the guy in a fistfight. Despite looking so weak, Conlan knew the angel had powers such as strength and speed. Gifts from the King of Heaven.
"Yeah, we've seen plenty," Conlan answered. "They always find us, promise to save us, and we never see them again."
"Surely, they are out fighting for you."
"You didn't see their faces when they looked at what human life has become."
"They were determined, regal, ready for battle."
"They were scared shitless."
The angel was shocked and his eyes grew wide. He looked scared. Even the mighty above him had failed, and the angel knew it now.
"That is not possible," the angel said, but he didn't sound too sure.
"In our neck of the woods, an archangel stands for cowardice. We figure they knew they couldn't win and tied the noose, pulled the plug, took an electric bath, tested the sharpness of their blades on their wrists. Called it a life." Conlan liked scaring this angel. He was fun to play with.
"So, what will you do?" Kemp asked.
The angel took a deep breath and faked bravery. "I will find the Somniantus and bring hope back to the people of Earth."
"Right, buddy," Conlan said. "When we find you dangling, we promise to bury you. We'll even plant those pretty pansies on your grave. Enjoy despair." Conlan waved goodbye to the stupid angel.