She walked towards them slowly, her long, black dress red where it dragged on the ground, the skirt and her thick braid both floating behind her as if they were underwater, and a single red streak at the front of her hairline glowed against the darkness of the starry sky.

She was the first real-looking deity Johan had seen in years. The level of intimidation she cast by just standing there felt terrible in his skin.

Johan sucked in a breath. How did she get past them?!

“You!” Carlotta’s clear voice made silence fall, her eyes glowing like fire as they settled on their target.

Suddenly fire lit up and like a flash of lightning it traveled across the ground, straight at them. Johan felt an arm pulling him away just in time, and when he opened his eyes Signe stood alone in a circle of fire, her hands in tense fists at her side.

“Shit.” Signe muttered. “She’s after me.”

Yeah, Johan could have guessed that. He felt the heat of the flames even where he stood, well out of reach. He clenched his jaw and glanced around. They needed to do something quickly!

“Where do you think you are going, girl?” Carlotta took slow steps forward, one heeled shoe clicking against the ground at a time, the dress’ thigh-high slit showing off a pale leg at every other step, her eyes never leaving Signe.

Signe laughed. “Girl? I am not a child.”

“You instigate a fight and leave before you get involved yourself. Only a child runs from the consequences of her actions.”

As Carlotta spoke, Signe turned to meet Johan’s eyes, worried despite the earlier laugh. She looked past him for a second, at Note.

“Come with me before you do something you regret.” Carlotta said. “You made no lasting damage, the consequences will be light, but there will still be consequences. Drunken stupor is unfortunately very common at that place.”

Signe sneered, turning back to the lady of fire and falling into a fighting stance, worry completely gone from her face.

Oh no.

She whirled around and jumped over the flames without a single care for how they licked at her legs. “Give me that!” Johan watched in trepidation as she ripped the axe from a random man’s back, forcing him to the ground with a kick to the back of his knee when he tried protesting.

Soon she was back in the circle, the fire burning even brighter than before, flames flickering into taller walls, and she scraped the axe blade hard down against the front edge.

“Don’t talk to me like that!” She yelled, axe heavy in her hands. “Back off before I make you regret it!”

Oh no.

“Why does she have to be so brash?!” Johan hissed, sharing a look with Note. He looked around aimlessly, but the answer was clear. The only thing they could do to get out now was to fight.

Well, Johan was prepared for that. He eyed the people around them. Surprisingly there were no guards in sight, and while most of the crowd probably had hidden weapons, none of them seemed like they were going to join the fight.

The dagger was heavy in his hand. Carlotta might be strong, but she would be no issue against all three of them. The issue would be reinforcements, either Lust and the other sins, or guards.

They would need to be quick.

Carlotta laughed. “Come on, I don’t have all day. Why don’t we do this the easy way.”

Signe attacked.

In a split second she was on the bridge, high in the air and axe even higher above her head, both hands wrapped tightly around the shaft, and with her whole body- she brought it down!

Carlotta barely managed to jump back, the axe hitting the ground in sparks right where she was standing.

“Impressive.” Carlotta hissed, cracks reaching her feet, and she lashed out. Signe had just managed to land when it hit her.

Johan jerked forward, mouth dropping open in a soundless shout as Signe disappeared in the fire. People screamed around them, blinding heat carrying all the way through the street.

But as the fire and smoke died down, Signe was there, crouched behind the big axe blade shielding her from the attack.

Johan let out a relieved breath, she was fine! But she might not be if they didn’t act soon.

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“We have to fight.” Note said. Johan nodded and cursed.

“Is that all you got?” Signe taunted as she got up, her hair falling down from the ponytail in waves down her back, her wide eyes brighter than they had been in years. A huge smile of pure excitement spread across her face as she watched her opponent.

“The sins can be here any second!” Johan yelled to Note. Lust had hit the wall hard, but it wouldn’t take him long to get back up. They needed to hurry before he gathered the rest of them!

“Wait, she looks really familiar. She looks like Death!”

Johan froze, mouth shutting with a click.

What?

Suddenly he was extremely aware of just how many people were around them, the crowd had gotten bigger and bigger during the fight. They had an audience now, people pushing in to see it from up close. But nobody was close to them, Johan and Note had their very own bubble, and people were watching them too.

And worse. They seemed to be realizing who they were.

“Oh wow, she does look like Death!”

“Wait- the people with her! That guy looks a lot like Life!”

“Aren’t they supposed to be dead?!”

“Who’s with them? Is that Fate?!”

Johan could feel his heart hammering in his chest, he turned but no matter where he looked people turned into blurs, mixing together before his eyes. He gripped the hilt of the dagger tighter. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“He’s hiding his eyes, it has to be him!”

Then a hand landed on his shoulder, turning him around. “Snap out of it.” Note ordered.

Johan sucked in air through gritted teeth, trying to control himself. Distantly he noticed a slight tremble under his feet. He watched as Note’s face became sharper, the beating in his chest slowly slowing down.

“Are you ok?” Note asked quietly, eyes stuck on something over Johan’s shoulder. He licked his lips, nodded and turned.

“Death?” Carlotta wondered aloud, eyes scanning the crowd for just a moment before settling back on Signe. “Oh…it is.” She held her chin, a worried and calculating look on her face. “Oh dear, you’re not supposed to be alive. You are beneath that tree.”

Johan faltered. Didn’t they know he had gotten Signe and Note out a long time ago?

“Witch, I’m standing right here in front of you, where do you think I am?!” Signe yelled back at her.

“Get ready.” Johan told Note and fell into a crouch, getting ready for the inevitable. “Whatever happens, get yourself and Signe out.”

“Well, we have to fix that then. You have no place in this world.” Carlotta said and with no warning- she pinched her fingers together.

“Go!” Johan jumped away just in time to get away from the huge column of fire burning the street. It seemed like Carlotta was done playing. The crowd screamed and finally people started leaving, running and screaming as their clothes burned and the air became difficult to breathe.

But that wasn’t all. In the middle of the chaos Johan heard it.

“They’re right there!”

He threw a look over his shoulder, then realized with a heavy heart who had yelled. Envy’s army was there!

Time to act.

His dagger was ready in one hand and ribbon in the other. The second the fire died down, he charged forward, past Signe who was still recovering from the fire and smoke, panting heavily behind the axeblade and about to get back up when she saw him.

He launched at Carlotta, swiping the dagger through the air but only catching air as she jumped back. She was quick, but then Note was there too. Johan landed on one knee and felt his hair blow as Note passed over him, sword in hand.

They met with a loud CLANG-

Just before Note managed to land a hit, Carlotta summoned her sword and they clashed. Johan sent out a ribbon to wrap around her ankle, but yelped as it burned. He quickly snatched it back, the edge black.

Johan got his feet under him and fell into step with Note. They attacked together. Note with his sword, Johan with his dagger.

Carlotta paused in realization, eyes quickly glancing between them, then she showed her teeth and she threw out a hand. Fire once again lit up.

But it wasn’t directed at them. Johan sucked in a breath as he threw a look back over his shoulder, hearing Signe yell loud insults before suddenly cutting off, the fire surrounding her once again.

She hadn’t even caught her breath from the last time! Carlotta was trying to suffocate her!

Johan cursed and quickly met Note’s eyes. With a curt nod Note fell back and Johan breathed in the smoke-filled air. Now alone with the monster.

Carlotta’s eyes glinted as she watched Johan. “Little Fate, hmm. So this is where you went, King.”

Johan gritted his teeth, trying to find an opening, but every slash was deflected.

“It must be nostalgic to visit your childhood home, unfortunately I can’t let you leave.” She continued, almost managing to sound apologetic. Almost. Her voice lowered. “You are too important. Come with me and I will save you some pain.”

“I would rather die here than let you kill me!”

Carlotta sneered, their weapons clashed and the vibrations ran up Johan’s arms.

“Stop! Burning! Me!” A big rock came flying out of nowhere, and finally something hit Carlotta! “It’s not fair!”

She jerked back, hand flying up and before Johan could blink, Signe passed him, fist winding up- the axe gone - and punched.

Carlotta went down hard and suddenly a hand grabbed Johan’s, pulling him into a run.

“We’re leaving!” Note yelled, grip clenching around Johan’s wrist.

Before long they were halfway across the bridge and Signe fell into step with them. “That felt so good!” She laughed.

Johan threw a look back over his shoulder only to one of the soldiers skidding in front of Carlotta, arms stretched out wide and stopping her from following them.

What-?

He turned back and their feet pounded against the bridge as they ran, leaving the yells and shouts far behind them.