Spirit Law prevents the Seven Sins from coming back until 100 years have passed, Alex recollects. It prevents the Spirits from leaving the same country as their brethren, and forces them to take a host. Only 12 months have passed since the other six were slain, so another holder is impossible.
But there was one.
"How is that possible?" Alex asks, sat in an alley. It's not the same one he was in yesterday, when he killed the three thugs. That's a crime scene; the police are patrolling it in hoards. He avoids them like the plague.
Anger snorts.
Out of all the spirits, only the Seven were allowed out into your world. There are more of us than you realize.
"So this is another spirit then?" Alex asks.
Impossible. No other spirit has left the spirit realm since Spirit Law was enforced. Maybe we missed one of the others.
Alex let's out a dry laugh. "We impaled Gluttony, ripped the heart out of Envy, and destroyed Sloth's torso. Lust had a snapped neck, and Greed and Pride were defeated by Sloth. There's no-one left."
Anger seems to find something amusing. It won't tell him what.
Not that it matters. Another spirit is out there. Another holder.
Another target. And if he could kill the other Seven Sins, how hard can a lesser spirit be?
"How do we track it down?" Alex asks, now walking among the crowds.
Anger snorts.
It will come to us.
"Why are you so sure of that?"
Powerful figures invite challenge and subjects. In the Spirit Realm, my brethren and me held sway over all other spirits for close to 1000 years before we turned our attention on your kind, and were thusly banished. If the other spirit is watching us as closely as you believe they are, they will come to us.
Alex shrugs. "Okay then."
From the shadows, it watches. Smokey white wisps rise from its skin, and its eyes are blood red.
"There it is," the thing skitters, "the master."
The host makes a muffled gasp, hostage under the spirit's influence.
"Get closer," the invader commands.
Against their will, the holder moves towards Anger, then stops again at the spirit's whim.
"Oh, isn't it perfect? Powerful, destructive, chaotic? That is what I shall be like. We shall join forces, and rule together!"
The host suddenly drags in a breath, and asks, "why do you watch it from the shadows? Can't you talk to it and get it over with?"
The spirit laughs. "Of course not. You don't approach a king without gifts."
Anger twinges.
Behind us.
Alex turns around, but he can't see anything out of the ordinary.
"The holder is nearby?"
Very.
"Can you tell who?"
Not without your input.
"What should I do?"
Block out all other sounds. I will tune you in to the Spirit Realm; you will hear things you could not otherwise.
It starts in his ears; a cold sensation that pushes around his veins like icy water. The world becomes muffled, like hearing noise under the ocean, until the sound of people around him becomes nothing more than a whisper.
One noise suddenly draws his attention. Alex focuses on it, Anger boosting his hearing and enhancing the sound.
"He sees us."
Alex jumps, his focus lost.
What are you doing?!
"I'm sorry, it took me by surprise."
But when he submerges himself again, he hears nothing.