Part 9
Another distraction is due.

"So," the writer began. "Besides your parents, have any other visitors?"

Wren smiled and nodded. "Avery stopped by. Brought me a panini from FLP. He said it was a nightmare making sure it was okay to bring it in, but damn was it good. The hospital food's not bad, but it was great to have sandwich. Love those things." His mood was already improving, and he sat up more. The sheet slid off the stump of his arm, and he glanced at it briefly before he turned back to Nathan with a shrug. "His mom and brother came too. Dexter said I should get an arm-cannon attached, or a Gatling gun. Funny how much that kid looks like he could actually be Avery's brother."

"Dexter?" The name had bothered him since he'd heard it, and up until then, the nagging sense of familiarity wouldn't go away. But now, the pieces finally clicked, and Nathan ran his fingers through his hair, still absorbing the shock. "Jesus Christ..."

"What?" Wren asked, confused by his reaction. The writer shook his head, then explained.

"Dexter is Micah's charge, or Micah is his guardian angel. When we went to that warehouse, we found him in Alton's care, both of them locked in a freezer. Micah freaked out." He swallowed the knot in his throat. "He'd been brought there to keep Micah distracted so he couldn't help rescue anyone else. I couldn't figure out why the name sounded familiar until you just said it." He pressed his thumb into his temple to stop the headache that threatened.

"Fuck." Wren stared at him in awe, slowly shaking his head. "Thank God he's alright, seeing as he was the one visiting me and not the other way around. That must've killed Avery, if he knows anything about what happened."

"I don't know," Nathan admitted. "But given who else was involved, I'm sure he could guess."

Wren sighed and leaned back against the pillow. "This sucks. Even after Avery lost his parasite, the other Sins are still fucking with him." He looked over at Nathan with a frown. "Guess I have more crap to look forward to, huh?"

"Maybe." Since they'd circled back to the subject anyway, he figured he may as well go for his original plan and ask him questions. "Wren, I don't mean to drag this up any more than it already has been, but is there anything else you can tell me about your time stuck with Ira and Gula? Any information at all could be helpful getting the rest of the sisters under control."

"Under control? That's a good one..."

"I'm serious, Wren. They're trying to utterly destroy the only person who's had any power over them. They intend to kill Alton, and they're using their hosts and me to do it." He took a deep breath. "I'm stuck no matter what I do, but maybe we can get you and Avery out of the loop somehow. Your hosts have been dealt with, but there's no guarantee the remaining Sins won't try to use you too. Gula is still out there, and remember, she likes your cooking."

Wren shot him a half-angry, half-fearful glare. "Don't remind me."

"I'm just saying..."

The teenager growled, but then sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know what else I could tell you. Ira had a short fuse; Gula was a bottomless pit for food, but both of those are givens. Hmm..." Nathan could see he was was trying to think of something, anything else to tell him. "Gula once asked if Ira had gotten Avaritia back, but she said (and I quote): 'If Superbia wants to deal with that traitorous bitch, that's her problem.' Don't know what that means."

"Avaritia warned me that the Sins were taking over Alton's game, so that's probably what she was referring to." He paused, realizing more explanation was needed. "Long story short: I'm being tested by the Devil. We'll leave it at that."

"Fair enough," Wren agreed. "I don't want to know." He hummed again. "Ira also went on a tirade about some of the other Sins, but names are just... weird, and I'm not really sure which she was talking about."

Nathan laughed a little. "Their names are Latin, since it was the Catholic church that really finalized the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. Maybe you could guess from context?"

"I can try. Not like I have anything better to do." He gave the writer a rueful smile. "As much as this really fucking sucks, it's better than being stuck in a hospital bed, staring at the ceiling." Wren paused. "Part of me almost wishes I was still possessed. At least then I had something more practical to offer: nigh invulnerability. And both arms..."

"You wouldn't want that," Nathan told him, a little disturbed by his suggestion. "You said so yourself: you didn't want to be angry all the time anymore."

"I know. I said part of me. The other part is sane enough to know that's utter bullshit. I still wish I had both arms though."

Before guilt hit him too hard, Nathan encouraged him to continue. "So, guesses on which Sins she was talking about? Maybe if you describe what was said, I can help you figure them out."

"Right. Okay." The teen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Well, first she complained that it was stupid to even get one of them involved -- can't remember the name -- because she wouldn't do anything to help."

"Sloth, maybe?" Nathan suggested. Wren shrugged and looked at him.

"Or just one who didn't want to help. She said the same of another one, only adding that she would probably take too much of a fancy for her host or anyone else she could get her hands on. And the last she mentioned that they couldn't find. Gula said she might be hiding, but Ira thought she was probably working against them, or trying to one-up Superbia. She also said that she only worked with Gula because Gula stayed out of her way."

"I can see why you're confused." Nathan rubbed his face. "Let's see: in plain English, we've dealt with Avarice and Wrath. Gluttony is still at large, and Pride is the mastermind. That leaves Sloth, Lust, and Envy unaccounted for, so her rant most likely pertains to the three of them. But yeah, I get why you couldn't figure out which was which. The Latin names would have helped."

"I know I'd remember them if I heard them again," Wren said. "I just... they were just really weird names."

The angels would know the names much better, especially Alton. Maybe I should call one of them and ask... but I can't use my cell inside. I could go out, I guess, but it would be easier just to summon them. What should I do? Who should I contact?