Page 28 of Spit

“Unlikely.” Legion winced. “Mars is known to be very lenient, and Quinn is known to be fair. Demons do not often go against their superiors.”

The car rolled into the city, the buildings unfurling like someone waking from a deep sleep. Growing in size until I could no longer see their roofs from the limo window.

“This city is unique; many red cities only have one steward,” Legion commented lightly.

“And the other stewards?” I asked. “Has anything happened to them?”

“Save from Camio’s death? No.”

“How did Camio die?” I asked.

A troubled expression crossed Legion’s face. “I don’t know.” It pained him to admit it.

“But you know he’s dead?” I continued.

Legion chose instead to answer my earlier question. “The other stewards are unharmed, to my knowledge. Our bond would tell me otherwise. Arlo is one of the stewards. I would say that he is my second in command.” Mr. Legion added blithely. “He rules over the dominion of Wrath.”

“Wrath?” I sputtered. “Arlo? The Arlo I met at the house? That Arlo?”

Mr. Legion gave me a knowing look. “Yes. Wrath is the Second Circle of Hell. Its magic is strong and perhaps older than even the First Circle. Wrath is not anger. Wrath is a burning vengeance. It is divine punishment. Sometimes wrath is cold and calculating, and other times all-consuming. No Sin is simple. Each are faceted, and as such, the role of Steward has been split. My facets and I do what we must to control the city.”

“Okay.” I nodded as I digested that information. “You, Arlo, and four others. Six people in total.”

“Yes, my facets.” Mr. Legion tented his fingers together.

“Strange terminology, but okay.”

He continued as if I hadn’t said anything. “Two of my facets have gone missing.” Ichi Legion’s eyes grew distant and troubled. “We share a bond so that we may always know each other's location. We may always know if there is danger. It is a bond that is as old as we are. Two of the seven have gone missing, and I cannot find them. Something has disrupted the bond.”

“Did you ask your witches to scry?” I asked.

Mr. Legion nodded. “We are going to the location now.”

“And you need a null because…?”

“You’ll see.” He warned.

As if that wasn’t ominous at all.

We drove into the center of the city, and as Mr. Legion had described, it did seem to resemble a clock. Our route was straight, traveling through Pride; its magic had a distinct taste. The same sugary candy that clung to Ichi Legion. I didn’t have to guess at his sin after he had told me about Arlo and the circles.

The center of the city was a point where all of the sins met. Ominous but innocuous at the same time—a small lake with picnic tables around the edge. The skyscrapers surrounded it like a cradle.

“Do demons like picnics?” I asked, eying the picnic tables in the park.

Mr. Legion’s brows disappeared into his hairline. “Do I look like Yogi Bear?”

I held up my hands as if I was being disarmed by the cops. “I don’t even know who that is.”

He rolled his eyes and gestured to the street past the railings. He’d parked up, and we had a small way to walk.

People on the street moved out of our way as if they knew who he was. Mr. Legion’s long legs ate up the pavement, and I did my best to keep up without appearing like a scrambling puppy on his heels.

We reached a corner between two blocks. The city center seemed more ambiguous when it came to what sin belonged where. Some high rises had recognizable names—banking companies and big pharma.

“Happy Cow?” I read out loud. “Don’t they make burgers?”

Legion shrugged. “We have many human companies in the human sector. The tax relief in the Red City is enough to encourage them to locate their offices here.”

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