There were dozens of guards outside the building, swarming around with little to no pattern. Most of them didn’t seem like they were there to work, instead only passing through.

  With no delay, Envy walked out of the alley, stalking confidently towards the main entrance of the building. Johan glanced uncertainty at Frey when she waved back at them, signaling for them to follow, but he didn’t seem worried at all.

  Johan could only watch with wide eyes as the guards caught sight of Envy and immediately dispersed, leaving nobody to see Johan and Frey following her from a safe distance. Even the few that stayed in their post pointedly looked anywhere else, not noticing at all that intruders were sneaking inside.

  Now the hard part. Johan peeked in at Envy through the glass doors, crouched carefully out of sight against the wall outside, Frey right next to him- and there he was. Standing behind a desk, looking menacingly down at whatever he was occupied with.

  The receptionist.

  He gave Envy a small bow with his head and Johan watched as he replied to something she said. After that he kept talking at intervals, calmly gesturing here and there but not leaving his desk.

  Johan could hear the guards coming back, getting closer and closer now that the danger had passed. Then, much to his shock, Envy left down the hallway to the right.

  For a second he thought he was done for, the guards were quickly closing in, their chatter getting louder and louder and any second now they would round the corner and see Johan and Frey hiding-

  But then the receptionist pulled something up from behind the desk, put it down in clear view, and left through the door behind him.

  Not a second later Johan was pushed inside. He looked back to see Frey slowly shutting the door, not making a sound, before turning to Johan with a finger over his lips, signaling that they should stay quiet. Then he quickly led the way down the same hallway Envy disappeared into.

  Johan eyed the desk as they passed by it. ‘On break.’ The wooden sign said.

  Down the hallway, they quickly ascended to the second floor, then the third and eventually stopped at the fourth where Frey quickly led them through the maze of hallways.

  Wasn’t this building supposed to be heavily guarded?

  Then suddenly Frey stopped, almost making Johan trip over him with how quickly he knelt down to look around the corner. They had reached a fork in the corridors, the path separating into two.

  “It shouldn’t be long now.” Frey muttered silently, then reeled back as a door opened and the sound of voices filled the air.

  Johan’s back hit the wall next to Frey with a soft thud, his heart was really starting to beat now. Was this really their hiding spot?!

  He held his breath as the voices got louder, and soon a group of people walked past. If even just one of them looked slightly to the side then they would see Johan and Frey.

  Johan let his ribbon into his palms, just in case.

  Envy was easy to pick out where she walked in front of the group. Though a different deity caught Johan’s eye. He recognized the kid easily, his pure white hair sticking out like a sore thumb.

  A couple more deities were with them, some that Johan didn’t recognize, but just when he thought they had all passed by, one last one appeared.

  Johan’s eyes widened and he had to bite down on his lip to not make a sound.

  Carlotta walked slightly behind the group, with an air of confidence that put her above all of them. A long black and red coat spreading out behind her as she walked, the material mimicking the flicker of flames as it moved.

  Not even she noticed them, and neither did the guards flanking closely behind them. Johan stayed still and watched Frey as he stretched his neck to look after them until eventually the voices faded away.

  Johan let out a held breath and took a second to lean his head back against the wall in relief.

  “That was way too close.” He muttered and followed Frey down the path Envy and her group had just come from.

  From there it didn’t take long to find the room. Frey expertly led them until they reached the large door.

  Frey knelt down in front of it and fished something out of his hair.

  He had just moved the thing into the lock when the door creaked open.

  Both of them froze.

  The door wasn’t shut.

  For a second they held their breaths, then Johan’s eyes widened at the sound of voices. Multiple voices. He exchanged a long look with Frey. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone except Greed in there.

  He swallowed.

  Well. Time for his part…

  Johan quietly snuck inside. Right inside the door was something like a small hallway, like what you would find in the entrance of a house. A shoe rack stood to one side, and the walls on the left were covered from floor to roof in sliding doors, presumably covering a closet.

  The most important thing however was that a wall was still separating Johan from the voices, an open archway leading into the next room. He eyed the archway cautiously as he moved to hide, the door shutting quietly behind him.

  “Nothing to say to me?” An unfamiliar voice taunted. There was a moment of silence. Then a violent hiss and the scuff of shoes against the floor. “The earthquake was your doing. Don’t think I don’t know! Who did you use?! Earth?! Did you get Earth to come back to Heaven?! To fight for you?!”

  Johan’s eyebrows furrowed at the screams. Earth? Nobody had seen him for close to a millenia, at this point he was nothing more than a myth. There was no way Greed had even met the guy, let alone recruited him to his cause. Who in their right mind would accuse Greed of that?

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Thomas.” Greed rasped and Johan jerked, eyes flickering to the doorway. The second person was Thomas?! “What could I possibly do from inside this room? Though I cherish your faith in my ability, nobody has seen Earth for a thousand years. I cannot do what is impossible.”

  Johan frowned at the state of his voice. Before it used to be loud and strong, able to hold power over anyone, but now it was low and rusty, without even a hint of emotion.

  Greed barely finished speaking before footsteps hurried across the room followed by an almost inaudible gasp and the squeak of compressing springs.

  “Don’t try to play with me! I know your power!” Thomas screamed and Johan jumped at the change in volume. He could hear violent thrashing as Thomas’ snarled. “Maybe it’s not Earth, but that boy. Your dear, dear nephew. Your last hope, come back to the slaughterhouse to save his precious uncle.”

  Johan stared at the doorway with wide eyes. Slaughterhouse?! Did he mean Heaven?!

  “I have no one!” Greed yelled, finally showing some emotion in his voice and the thrashing stopped. “I cannot do anything.”

  The squeak of springs. Footsteps, this time slower, like someone was backing away. Then laughter.

  “That’s right! You can’t do anything. Nothing. Not one thing!” Thomas laughed like a crazy person, Johan had never heard anything like it. “Your little sins scattered in the wind at the first face of opposition and here you are. All alone. Nobody to use your pesky little powers on.”

  The laughter faded and Thomas’ voice fell to a whisper. Johan inched closer to the doorway, straining to hear what he was saying. “Like always I was the one to stick around. You better remember that. In the end it will be me. And only me.”

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  Loud breathing filled the sudden silence. One long intake of air, then slowly breathing out. When Thomas spoke again he sounded like a completely different person. “I have a meeting to attend. I will be back.”

  Johan stood completely still as the sound of footsteps came closer, his heart pounding in his chest. Soon he would get to see this guy. In his memories, the man was more of a blurred shadow hiding behind old Life/Death.

  Johan leaned his head back against the wall, flattening himself to the best of his ability.

  And then there he was, stalking in through the doorway and finally Johan got to see the man everyone was blaming. Somewhat.

  The man passed him without looking back so Johan only saw his back. The first thing he noticed was the black suit and the huge and vibrant, embroidered peacock that ran down the left arm and spread down across the back, all outlined in gold thread. The second thing he noticed was the hair. It was long and uncombed, covered in an oily shine like he hadn’t washed it for weeks. It reached just over his shoulders, not unlike the length of Note’s hair when he let it down. When he reached for the doorhandle Johan saw the glint of a white gemstone on a gold ring.

  For a second Johan thought to push forward, to grab him and kill him right there. But no. That wasn’t what he was there for. Not who he was there for.

  Then he was gone, shutting the door behind him with no idea anyone was standing right inside. Johan stayed silently as he heard the rustling of keys and the lock turned, trapping him inside, alone with Greed.

  Slowly Johan pushed from the wall, his thoughts becoming quiet. Three names flashing across his mind.

  He walked out.

  He couldn’t quite hide how his eyes widened.

  Greed laid on a bed in the corner of the room, on top of the sheets and propped up on one elbow, the other holding his throat as he stared blankly out in the air. He was wearing the same as he had been in the dwarfs’ workshop, white old style dress shirt and black slacks. This time he was barefoot, with no shoes in sight.

  Johan paused, only a few steps into the room. Greed’s hand stilled at his neck, tensing up.

  Then Greed slowly raised his head and Johan saw his uncle for the first time in years.

  For a second Johan studied the man’s face. His uncle had always been pale, but now he was as white as the sheets he laid on. He used to have freckles, but now Johan could barely see the faint trace of them. Deep shadows colored his face and he was bleeding from a small cut under one quickly-bruising eye, the ruffles of his shirt doing a good job of soaking it up where it dripped down from his chin.

  Johan lifted his gaze.

  Their eyes met.

  Greed looked like a mess, watching him with clear shock in his eyes but Johan just watched him coldly, three names once again flashing across his mind.

  There’s the murderer. Johan cocked his head.

  For a long moment neither of them moved. After a while Greed seemed to shake the shock and was now watching Johan with cautious, all-seeing eyes.

  “Johan.” Greed must have tried to sound normal but his confidence quickly disappeared under the rasp of his voice.

  Greed jolted as Johan tok a slow step forward. Then another. And another.

  “Trym the blacksmith.” He said and watched Greed frown, a flicker of confusion passing over his face. Greed kept tensing up as he came closer. Johan almost smiled. His once powerful uncle was scared of him. “Ulfhild the healer. Husband and wife. Burned to death in their own home.”

  Greed’s eyes widened in an instant. Good. He was catching on.

  “Astrid. Their daughter in law...” Johan breathed, jaw clenching. “You killed them. All just to bring me here. Well, I’m here.”

  Johan let his ribbons fall into his palms-

  He launched forward, throwing the ribbon out. It twisted through the headboard and Greed gasped, hands flying up as it wrapped around his neck and pulling him flat on his back.

  A second later Johan was on top of him, eyes glowing red, and Greed’s hands stilled where he tried to pull the ribbon away, staring up at him with fearful eyes.

  Johan felt no satisfaction as he relentlessly tightened the ribbon with one hand, his eyes wide and unblinking as he raised his other hand high. A flash of bright light and he closed his hand around the heavy hilt of the dagger.

  Just one more step.

  He brought it down.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Johan froze halfway. Hand stopping dangerously close to his target and his mind blanked. Greed stared up at him, jaw clenched.

  “What?” Johan asked breathlessly, not sure he heard right.

  “I’m sorry.” Greed repeated, and sucked in a deep breath. “It was not my intention to kill them, but that is not an excuse. Nobody should have died from this stunt.”

  Johan lowered his hand in disbelief. What was he hearing…?

  No. Johan sat back on his legs and shook his head. No. Greed was just trying to mess with him. He didn’t regret anything-

  Greed continued silently. “I had to get you here- I didn’t see any other way. I thought this could be done differently. The plan was to convince you, make you come here willingly. But there is no time. The city will see revolution soon and it cannot survive without you. I love this city and its people, I cannot see them burn.”

  Funny. Johan definitely could.

  “I hate this city. And its people.” He said coldly.

  “Please, Johan.” Greed begged. “What would your father have done?”

  “My father was killed.” Johan hissed.

  “Yes, by Thomas.”

  Johan closed his eyes in annoyance. “You keep blaming that guy-”

  “Please, I can’t keep living like this.” Greed pleaded, his voice cracking. His eyes shone with tears.

  Johan stared at him.

  For the second time that day, Johan tok in the sight of his uncle. The bruised eye. The bloody shirt. Johan had never seen him look so frail before and he had been living like this for four years.

  No. It didn’t matter. Greed still did it. He still burnt down the village. He deserved everything he got.

  A tiny newborn cradled in Emil’s arms flashed before his eyes. His small hand clutching Johan’s finger. Astrid’s kid. Orphaned just as he came to life.

  A sudden rage overtook him.

  Damn it! Johan stabbed down with a yell.

  He jumped off the bed and walked away, sucking in a deep, shaky breath as he ran his hands over his face. He should have never come to Heaven! Let the deities fix it themselves, they created the problem in the first place!

  “Johan?”

  Johan gritted his teeth, but it was done. All at once the tension and anger flowed out of him, leaving him exhausted.

  He took another breath. A slow inhale. This was happening wasn’t it? He rubbed his eyes.

  “You’re a terrible person.” Johan said, not even trying to hold back the loathing in his voice.

  By the time Johan turned back around, Greed had sat back up on the bed and was staring at him. Beside him was the gold handle of the dagger, standing in stark contrast to the white sheets it was stabbed into.

  “You missed.” Greed said and eyed Johan wearily.

  “Get up.” Johan ordered and stalked to the closest window.

  While at first glance the windows seemed unprotected, Johan knew what to look for. Thin, white strings, almost invisible to the eyes, ran from top to bottom like the strings of an instrument. They looked delicate but in reality they were stronger than iron and razorsharp. But that was fine, the plan wasn’t to go out the window.

  From the window he could see the front of the building. And straight ahead, in an alley on the other side of the street, stood a tiny soldier with pink socks. At the sight of moving curtains, she lifted a hand over her head, as if shielding light from her eyes.

  “Time to go.” Johan turned with haste as the street flooded with Envy’s army.

  Greed was still sitting on the bed so Johan quickly grabbed him by the upper hand and pulled him along…only to find him falling to the floor with a yelp.

  “I can’t stand very well.” Greed managed to get out through gritted teeth. “My legs…”

  Johan watched horrified as Greed pulled himself up to his knees with the help of the bed. Slowly he managed to stand up but his feet were shaking just from the strain of holding himself up.

  Shouts came from outside the building and Johan’s thoughts raced, it wouldn’t be long before someone came to check on Greed.

  Quickly he grabbed Greed’s arm again and pulled it over his own shoulder. “Can you walk now?” Johan asked.

  With almost all of his weight held by Johan, Greed tok a testing step, and gave a confirming nod.

  Johan moved them quickly through the room, trying not to think about how small Greed was. Four years ago Johan had to look up at him, but now Greed was a good half-a-head shorter.

  Johan pushed the door open easily, already unlocked, and the second Johan started to drag Greed out Frey came running. “Boss!”

  Johan shushed but Frey ignored him to fret over Greed. “Are you ok?!”

  “I’m fine.” Greed said with a small, but real, smile. “It’s good to see you again, Frey.”

  Frey’s lip wobbled and he worriedly hovered his hands around as he searched Greed with his eyes. He paused at his back eye and suddenly his head snapped to Johan. “Did you do that to him?!”

  “What- No!” Johan snapped back. Seriously?! Johan didn’t just go around beating people up!

  “He’s your uncle!” Frey said loudly, clearly not believing him. Johan opened his mouth to retort back but Greed spoke first.

  “He did nothing, Frey. Now, we should really be going.” Greed’s words seemed to snap Frey out of his accusations.

  From the hallways Johan couldn’t hear much of what was going on outside on the streets. “You don’t have a view do you?” Johan asked.

  Frey shook his head. “None of me have died yet.”

  Johan nodded. That was good. If none of Frey’s copies had died yet then that meant it couldn’t be going too badly.

  “We’re going out the front.” Johan said seriously. Greed stumbled on his feet beside him but didn’t say anything and beside them Frey made a happy sound, very similar to a cat being squeezed very hard by a toddler.

  The only allies they had were the sins and Envy’s army. Johan had hoped to avoid this but if he wanted to win, he would have to rally the deities.

  “Let’s give them a show.”