James had not been an altar boy for a long time. In fact, he had just started around Easter. But in this short amount of time he had come to love the old church he was serving in. It had been built near the end of the medieval ages, meaning the stones were old and weathered from use. The pillars were high and full of intricate carvings. The windows were large and full of colorful glass, depicting various bible stories. James loved the way the colorful light would dance around the walls, ceilings and floors during golden hour.
But most of all, he loved the acoustics. How the notes of the singing people would fill every crevice of the cold stone. Haunting James into the furthest edges of the building. Following every step he took. It would fill him with warmth under the thin robes he had to wear. It was easy to ignore the biting cold that would seep through the cracks of the old stones. Especially since it had started snowing a few hours earlier and it hadn't stopped since then.
Every time the doors opened to let in another visitor of the mass, flakes of snow would invade the halls until the wood fell back to close.
This would be a beautiful Christmas, James decided. He was cold and hungry, yes, but the embrace of the Lord‘s home filled him with warmth.
Mass was just about to start when James laid his eyes on him. An Angel had entered the halls of God.
Black strands coiled around a pale face and gray eyes pierced through the air. Thin hands held onto a dark binder filled with notes.
The boy stood in front of the choir. And James could not see anyone beyond this boy whose angelic voice filled his head. The high notes echoed through the halls, only supported by the low notes of the other singers. No instrument sounded. James knew he shouldn't think like this, but he just couldn't stop himself. The boy was the prettiest being he had ever laid his eyes upon. The boy had the prettiest voice he had ever heard. The boy must've been blessed by the lord himself. And for the first time since entering the building this night, James was filled with coldness. His blood was freezing in his veins and his bones almost started cracking. James knew the Lord disapproved of his thoughts, but no matter how hard he tried he could not bring his eyes away from the angel. The boy was dressed in black and the only things not being black were the collar and the puffy sleeves peeking out from under the robe and vest he was wearing.
It was as if the boy had a Nimbus curling around his hair, illuminating his face beyond recognition.
For the first time since starting as an altar boy, James was unable to follow the words of the priest. The words were muffled, and he was unable to understand anything the man was saying. It was as if his body was not listening to any of his mind's commands. He went through the mass without proper thought. He did what had been beaten into him since Easter. Kneeling, praying, standing, singing, kneeling, standing, walking, kneeling, praying, singing.
Hot wax dripped from the candle he was holding, right onto his hands, punishing his sinful thoughts, but James persisted.
The Devil filled him with coldness, taking his innocent mind to places it had never been to. Two tides were battling in his body, neither taking overhand. James was only a vessel, not controlling his own thoughts. Seeds of doubt were planted in his mind, but he persisted. The angel up on the steps illuminating his thoughts.
Only when the people started filing out of the sanctuary, James mind started to come back to him. A warm hand settled between his shoulders and he turned around, facing the old face of the pastor. “My dear boy,” he started, his face looking almost sad, “You know when you can come to confessions.”
James only nodded, his face and body numb, his mind elsewhere. “Yes, Father” he answered with a forced, little smile. The pastor looked calm and reached up to the boy's face, drawing a cross onto his forehead. “The Lord shall guide you.”
“Yes, the Lord shall guide me.”
The pastor left James standing in the middle of the sanctuary, when an angel stepped into the candlelight right in front of him. Guilt settled deep in James' stomach.
“I’m Regulus” the angel said.
“I'm James” the demon answered.