Dark Kings (Feathers and Fate #1) - Sadie Moss Page 0,7

big deal. It’s not like they’ve existed, unredeemed, for thousands of years.

I don’t know much about them, to be honest. I don’t think most angels do. We just kind of let them do their thing, and they let us do ours. They aren’t interested in the whole “battle between Heaven and Hell” business, duking it out for the souls of humanity and overall control of the universe. From what I understand, the sins just like to indulge themselves and don’t really care if the people they’re convincing to join them end up in Heaven or in Hell.

They’re all about living in the moment.

I definitely am not going to ask my support group about them. The other fallen will want to know why I’m asking, and if they find out that I might get to go back home if I succeed, they might try to take my place and do the job first. Or, if they’re one of the fallen who resents Upstairs, they could try to sabotage me so I can’t go back, or so that at least Upstairs fails in its quest.

Either way, it wouldn’t be good for me.

So I have to rely on that classic human resource: the internet.

Oh, internet. You’re so useful. I’m so glad you were invented.

Not all of the sins like to make themselves known. I can barely find any information at all about a few of them. But there is one sin who likes to splash himself all over the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. He keeps popping up over and over in my searches, and even though he looks different depending on what decade I search for, I start to recognize the telltale signs that it’s the same man.

The sins are immortal, just like angels and the corrupted. As long as the sins they personify exist and are embraced by humans, then these creatures will exist too. Or at least, I think so. Anderson didn’t exactly give me a handbook on the sins before he left, so I’m flying a bit blind here. Haha. Pun intended.

This particular sin likes to re-invent himself every few decades. He pops up every so often in the history books when I look for him.

Greed.

He’s living in New York City, a place I’ve never visited.

It’s not the distance that kept me away, it’s just… well, I came to Seattle when I fell, and I never really worked up the nerve to leave. I’ve moved to new neighborhoods a few times, and I keep to myself enough that no one’s ever noticed my distinct lack of aging.

I’m filled with equal parts excitement and trepidation at the idea of traveling all the way across the country for this insane new mission Anderson’s given me.

As much as I wish I could fly all the way to New York using the power of my own wings, it would take too long, so after spending a couple of hours doing research, I book a plane ticket. There’s no point in delaying this, as intimidating as the task before me might be. I can’t stall. Anderson’s going to be checking in, and if he thinks I’m not taking this seriously enough, he might give my chance to someone else.

I can’t afford to let that happen.

There isn’t much for me to pack. I mean, what do you even pack when you’re traveling across the country to convince a thousands-year-old personification of avarice that maybe he should try being generous and humble instead of a greedy tightwad? Is there anything I could possibly bring that would make the job less daunting?

That thought doesn’t exactly give me a boost of confidence, so I shove it away as I slide off the bed and begin shoving a few changes of clothes into a small bag.

“Future Trin” will be the one who has to face the seven sins.

And I’m sure she’ll be up to the job, even if I don’t feel like I am.

New York City is a big, loud place, but I think I’m prepared for it. It’s just going to be like a regular city, right?

Wrong.

So, so wrong.

I can feel myself gaping as I stare out the window of the taxi. Oh… wow. This place is absolutely pulsing with life. So much variety, all of these tiny areas with their distinct personalities, and yet it’s still all New York City.

I think I’m in love.

As overwhelming as it all is, it’s entrancing too. I swear I can feel a thrum in the air, as if the city has