The splashing of his footsteps echoed in the cave.

  He took a breath. Then sent out his ribbons. He was back in the very same cave that he had used with Note and Signe to escape Heaven not even a year ago.

  Now he was using it again.

  The vines covering the hole had wilted, letting in the little light from the dark sky outside.

  He launched himself through and when his feet hit the grass on the other side, back in the meadow, he set red eyes on the palace towering ahead.

  His heart had calmed during the journey, and had settled from pounding rage into a slow and steady beat, but now as he stalked closer and closer to his goal he felt the anger coming back even stronger.

  Three names ran through his head. Over and over. Ulfhild, Trym, Astrid.

  More came rushing to mind. Note and Signe.

  All of them victims to Greed’s sins.

  The closer he got the more restless he got. He could feel the crawling under his skin, itching for him to move quicker, to find that guy and end it right there.

  They were going to pay.

  His feet hit stone. The sky moved above him, the black clouds passing in and out of each other, letting through thin streams of sunlight as he entered the courtyard.

  The big palace was in his way.

  His hands twitched.

  Maybe he should bring it down.

  It shouldn’t exist anyways. As if waiting for his decision, a moment passed where everything was quiet. Then the ground shook. The trees behind him started swaying in the vibrations and a strong gust of wind blew his hair around.

  He barely noticed the path cracking beneath his feet.

  Loud creaking noises came from the palace, a loud bang and the walls started cracking, dust started falling, filling the air.

  Johan watched, a weird but warm feeling filling his body. He let out a small laugh.

  “Johan!”

  His smile fell.

  That voice. His mind cleared just a little and he clenched his jaw. Ribbons falling into place in his palms.

  Instead of stopping the earthquake, he did the opposite. The earth shook even harder as he turned to meet the bright, blue eyes.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Surprisingly enough though, it wasn’t just Frey. Sloth and Envy were also there.

  “Pride.” He acknowledged drily, head spinning. How should Johan deal with him? An eye for an eye? He eyed the palace. Even stone walls could burn with enough heat, though the city itself would have no trouble lighting up.

  “Johan, you need to stop!” Frey yelled with panic in his voice. “You’ll hurt someone!”

  He didn’t quite manage to stop his smile at that.

  “That’s the point.” He said and watched in deep satisfaction as Frey’s eyes turned to fear. As Johan stalked forward, more and more anger seeped into his words. “You shouldn’t have burnt my village.”

  “Stop! Wait! Let me explain!” Frey yelled, backing up. “I didn’t do it! I saved them!”

  Johan gritted his teeth, his eyes burning. “You killed them.”

  “No, no. Johan, they are all safe in the caves with the giants!” Frey tried to placate, hands up in front of him. Besides him the rest of the sins watched with wide eyes.

  “Their deaths are on your hands!” Johan screamed.

  “Johan!” Envy yelled, interrupting their fight. “You need to stop right now! Thomas will know something is going on, if he doesn’t already!”

  Johan ignored her. Let the guy find them, it would speed things up.

  “If he runs away, you will never catch him!” She continued and the earth abruptly stilled. Run away? Johan frowned and Envy tok an encouraged step forward. “He is the one that sent the ships. He gave the order. He is the enemy! Not Frey! And not us!”

  “They were your soldiers on the ships.” Johan snapped.

  “Under his command.” She replied quickly.

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  The flash of guilt was gone before it was even really there, but Johan saw it. There was no reason for this Thomas guy to burn down the village. Even if he knew that Johan was alive, or even where he was, the only thing it would achieve was getting him to Heaven.

  He turned back to Frey. “I’m here. Are you happy now? You killed Emil’s family but I guess that was just an added bonus to you. All of that just to get me here.”

  “What?” Frey breathed, face paling.

  “That was not my intention.” Envy jumped in. “But I had to do something, Thomas needs to be-”

  Johan’s eye twitched. “Thomas is not my enemy! He has done nothing to me! He tok Heaven. He killed Note and Signe. But he only ever did what you and the other deities allowed him to do!” The sins stared in shock as he trembled in anger. “I’m only here for Greed, not some random guy.”

  They shifted uneasily at that.

  Johan tok a deep breath. “So, where is he?”

  He saw Envy clench her jaw. “I do not know.”

  Liar.

  “Tell me.” Johan insisted.

  “You cannot kill Greed.”

  Johan smiled, the earth shook in warning. ”Are you going to stop me?”

  “Johan! Listen to reason! He has countless allies! You cannot take him alone. Deities will not stand with you without an official fight! We have a plan. Join us.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Tell me where Greed is and I’ll leave the rest of Heaven alone.”

  She hesitated at that, eyes flickering, but she still stood her ground.

  “We have been waiting for this moment. All the deities in the city have waited for this moment. Few support Thomas. We will fight with you, just let us.” The sins formed a line beside her as she spoke, silently supporting her words as they waited for his answer. When he just stared at them, she added. “Besides, Greed is Thomas’ prisoner, even if I tell you where he is you would have to go through his army first.”

  You could hear a pin drop.

  Johan watched them unhappily. Then sighed.

  He was not going to like this.

  “What’s the plan?”

  Envy grew a bright smile, though right then, she was the only one happy.

  “Let’s speak inside.”