**Somewhere unknown**
"Brother has survived this Trial as well..." a slithering voice said.
"Poor boy... Not to worry, big sis will be with you soon," another seductive voice added.
"Oh! Can I eat his friends!?" a starving one interjected.
"Gluttony... at least let him bury them first," the seductive implied.
"No fun..." Gluttony replied. "I don't like dirt."
"Well while you dig his friend's graves," the slithering one said to her then turned his attention to the other mature, seductive one, "and you fuck your brother, Lust..."—turning away from them both—"I will pay their little abode a visit... again."
As he said this, the male stood in the spotlight of the dark room the three of them occupied. His hair was long and gray, and his eyes were a deep maroon. He wore a tight cropped shirt and black stirrup tights as he walked barefoot ahead of the other two: Gluttony and Lust who still remained in the dark. For a male, he bore distinct feminine features.
Behind them was an empty throne. A throne where their Lord usually sits, but was not currently present…
"The Lord is not here, but he did say 'let him face another Trial' before we pay him a visit. I think this is fair ground to cross into," he said lastly.
"Oh! Can we come Envy?" Gluttony asked eagerly.
"No. Just me. Besides," he said, turning his head to them in the shadows. His eyes reflected a seething, pent up emotion, "I want to beat Wrath to it. I know he got word of this too and will likely be breaking out of Tartarus soon. Since we are closer, and free... I will go first."
"Technically, you are the second... Pride was the first since he invaded the Valley," Lust said slyly.
"No one asked for your opinion, shit-hag. Besides… Pride couldn't fully immerse himself like we can… the Apostles have another agenda they're tending to. So it's a good thing we're not one of them, aren't we?" He turned his head slightly to glance at her from the side, "Why don't you touch yourself in the corner whilst thinking about brother while I'm away? That'll keep you busy," Envy teased.
"Oh, Envy… I already do that…" Lust replied, making even him feel uncomfortable. "But you have fun now."
He rolled his jaw as he pondered his response, then said, "I think I'm done here… Don't let Gluttony bring any more dead Grade 1's here, please... the place wasn't meant to be a graveyard for the beasts," Envy said lastly before heading off and leaving both Lust and Gluttony to their own devices.
***
**LeHarla. Night**
Somewhere in the alleyways of this factory town, the sole graffiti of a phrase was layered over the rest. It was written in red and from far away, it just looked like sections and slabs of other graffiti on this decorated wall.
As a possumrat scurried away, it hit a lamp thought to be long broken, startling a homeless man sleeping in the area.
"Goddamn possumrats…" he grumbled, taking the empty flask that he held on to like a precious heirloom, and raised it to his mouth, repeating, "Stupid possumrats…" Only air and dust met his lips.
The light from the lamp flickered and stayed on for only a few seconds, once again startling the derelict. And when he looked up to witness the red graffiti on the wall in front of him, he said the words out loud as if he knew the meaning; fear stained his tongue as he read,
"Riot is coming…"