by Ragara Belladonna (age 8)
In Resplendent Wood Mister Azræl took me to heaven. I wanted mummy and daddy to come but he said they had to do work for the Empress. In heaven I saw big golden lions and green spiders as big as me, a big bouncing spirit with lots of smaller friends and I saw a real Dragon of Earth. I rode on a cloud and went on a boat on a silver river and there was another river that had gold instead of water. When I fell and hurt my knee a big cloud of colours came and made it better because Azræl told him to. Azræl took me to his work once and I met the God of Silence. He was very boring. Daimon broke one of his statues and I got into trouble for it. I ran away and a big purple man with five hands tried to catch me but he was too slow. I spoke to a man made of light and me and Daimon liked him, so I gave him my bonsai tree I got last Calibration. Then a dog man found me and took me back. That night Azræl said I had done well and let me drink wine, so nobody was too unhappy. There were lots of parties every night, but everyone there was so old they were no fun, but I got to eat whatever I wanted. When we got back I was told daddy was a foul anathema and mummy had killed him, but she was very ill and I’m not allowed to see her now. Mister Azræl told me not to worry as he would be my new daddy. I hope mummy gets well soon.