[ WP ] A demon suddenly decides to try to be good . He 's not the best at it .

The cottage on the outskirts of the village had a reputation, infamous amongst the area. Of the rumours, two often came up. One said that a demon lived there, covered in red skin and who smelled of sulphur, horned and yellow-eyed. The other spoke of an angel, pearl white and always in the golden light from a halo, feathered wings tucked neatly behind. 
 
 Idle gossip never decided which to believe, though. Both sides had all sorts swearing they saw what they saw. Of course, it would have been easy to find out who lived there, if only the clergy had n't forbidden the grounds. Angels and demons were all well in good in old books, but not the sort of thing that they wanted in their parish. Perish the thought. 
 
 In the end, the truth fit easily enough with the rumours: an angel and a demon lived there, together. 
 
 “ Ramiel, what have you found? ” asked Michael, resting the broom against the wall and walking across the stone patio. 
 
 The demon turned, hands cupped. “ A bird, come see. ” 
 
 Michael joined him, kneeling on the grass. Ramiel moved his hands towards Michael, showing the still body. Smiling sadly, Michael lay his hands over the top, hiding it away. “ Shall we bury it? ” 
 
 “ It is not her time, ” Ramiel said, with a puzzled frown. 
 
 “ God has decided so, and we should shepherd it to Him. ” 
 
 A shiver of electricity wavered in the air. “ But, she has so much life in her still. ” 
 
 “ There is nothing for us to do, ” Michael said sternly. 
 
 “ What of the woman with the fever last night? ” 
 
 Michael sighed. “ He takes whom He takes, none may interfere with that. I may lighten the burden of those suffering and no more. I may not take away their burden, or burden them further. That is His will. ” 
 
 “ Then she in my hands, who still strums with life, is beyond interference? ” 
 
 “ God wills as God wills. ” 
 
 Ramiel held the bird closer. “ Is to live according to His will to be good? ” 
 
 “ There is no good without God. To have a notion of good and evil in the absence of His will is as to defy Him, for He has told us that which is good, and that which is evil. ” 
 
 After taking a deep breath, Ramiel lowered his hands, breaking the connection to Michael. “ Do you think me a burden to ask such questions? ” 
 
 Michael smiled, and lowered his hands too, resting them either side of Ramiel's. “ Of course not. I have said as much before, have I not? ” 
 
 “ I wonder if I am, perhaps, beyond redemption. ” 
 
 “ He has said that all who believe in Him may be redeemed. What makes you doubt Him? ” 
 
 Ramiel shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. “ I do not doubt Him. ” 
 
 “ Then who do you doubt? ” 
 
 Closing his hands around the bird entirely, Ramiel answered, “ Myself. ” 
 
 A shock jumped from Ramiel's hands to his, and Michael flinched away. Ramiel opened his hands slowly. The bird darted out, flying into a nearby tree.
