Okay guys, sorry this took so long. The (hopefully) long-awaited next chapter of "Sid and the Girls"!
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Envy pawed through her closet, sighing. Nothing looked good. This one, too garish, that one, too symmetrical, that other one, just plain ugly. She sighed again as she tossed the outfit closest to her hand on her bed. If they were all unattractive, what difference did it make which one she put on?
"You're always such a slowpoke in there," Lust chided as she finished slipping on her high-heeled shoes.
"Like you're even wearing that much to begin with..." Envy muttered. She began taking on her mortal guise, her horns and tail sliding into her skin, her fingers seperating into five digits instead of the normal three. Envy marvelled at how she looked even worse as a mortal than she did as a demon- nothing remarkable or interesting from head to foot. She looked over at Lust, who was smoothing out the wrinkles in her deep-necked, hip-slit red dress, her breasts barely contained in the velvety fabric, and sighed.
"I might have to make a trip of this," Lust said as she admired herself in a mirror, bending over to more perfectly accentuate her curves. "It's a waste to look this sexy and only seduce one person."
Envy shook her head and got into her clothes- grey skirt, light blue sweater, green shawl, and a cap. The clothes were ugly, sure, but at least they covered up her skin, which was even worse.
"C'mon, you don't wanna keep Pride waiting..." Lust said as she opened the door to the foyer.
"Priscilla," Pride's voice came from outside, using the name she chose to use while in the Mortal realm. The name they gave to Envy was Erin, and though she didn't like it, she couldn't think of one that sounded better, either, so she just resigned herself to it. Slipping on her dark shoes, Envy followed lust into the foyer, where the other sins were waiting.
"I always hate these trips," Wrath said as she folded her arms onver her chest. "Mortals are so sissy. Look at this," She said, holding her hands in front of herself, "no claws, no horns, hell, they've only got two decent points on them at all!" She finished, poking her thumbs into her canines.
"I kinda like it," Gluttony said, running her hands down the sides of her tank top and past her sarong. "I like feeling soft all over, much as I like my horns."
"You would like it, 'Gina'," Wrath said, looking sour.
"I rather enjoy it, 'Wendy'," Greed said as she descended the stairs, her multitude of jewelry glinting like a fire in every diamond, sapphire, band of gold and platinum. "It's nice to go somewhere my valuables can be appreciated- and maybe added to," she finished, grinning hungrily.
"Wendy. What a sissy name," Wrath said, fuming. She shook her legs out, the flame-patterned track pants flapping against her leg. "And why do you get 'Gail'?" She asked Greed. "Only good name in the lot, sounds like 'gale-force winds' or something. 'Wendy' is a sissy name, why do I have to-"
"Because I SAID so,' Pride said, hands on the hips of her pin-striped black and silver business suit. "I trust that is sufficient reason?" She asked pointedly, arching an eyebrow at Wrath.
"Yeah, well..." Wrath muttered, staring at her feet and popping the knuckles of each finger in turn. "...Sloth! Get your fat ass out here, we gotta go!" She yelled, turning towards her and Gluttony's room.
"Coming!" Sloth yelled back from her room, causing Wrath to roll her eyes.
"Um, Pride? Er, Priscilla?" Gluttony ventured, twiddling a knuckle in her palm. "Don't the mortals usually wear another garment under a suit like that?"
"MORTALS wear undergarments to shape and support their features into something more pleasing to the eye. Obviously I need no such enhancement- My body is perfect as it is."
"Sorry, sorry," Sloth said, shuffling down the hall in what Envy was sure she imagined was a hurry as she finished pulling her arms through a red hooded sweater, her board shorts making a zipping sound as her still-generous thighs rubbed against each other.
"Good, we're all here and... mostly presentable," Pride said as she looked down her nose at Wrath and Sloth. "We will be entering the mortal realm through a portal near the Golden Gate Bridge."
"Sissies," Wrath interjected. "Couldn't face their own fights so they DQ'd themselves."
"Nevertheless," Pride continued, her eyes narrowing slightly, "It is a place of much infernal energy, so it will make for an easy transition. Now remember- discreetness is paramount- Father's greatest asset is his anonymity. If a mortal addresses you by your true name-"
"You will revert to your demonic form," Greed said, echoing Pride's words as she rolled her eyes.
"Why does Pride treat us like we're stupid?" Envy thought as she looked at the floor, her cheeks burning. "We've all been to the mortal realm before, we all know the rules, so why does she explain them to us every time like we're forgetful children?"
"And finally, if you must recall to the infernal plane, one of the mortal 'restrooms' are a fairly discrete place. The mortals, being naturally ashamed of their imperfect bodies, are wont to follow you into such spaces, especially mortals of the opposite gender."
Envy could see Wrath's teeth grinding and her fists clenching as she used every last bit of her meager restraint to keep from hurrying Pride along, while everyone else simply watched in boredom. Sloth looked to have fallen asleep entirely, leaning against the staircase with her hands in the front pouch of her hoodie.
"Well then, I think that covers everything," Pride finally finished. "Follow me."
The six sins followed Pride up the stairs, Gluttony giving Sloth a helpful push to wake her up. They went down the hall between Pride's room and the Viewing Room, entering the black and red Portal Room and taking their positions around the pentagram etched into the floor.
"Now focus, everyone- try to keep up," Pride said as the pentagram began glowing. She opened her eyes wide and they burned with purple fire, the infernal enegry seeping from her into the pentagram, a firey tempest beginning to swirl in the middle of the pentagram. "Focus... Focus..." She continued, as Wrath and Greed's eyes similarly set ablaze, increasing the speed and size of the tempest. "Focus... Focus... FOCUS, Sloth!" She snapped, causing Sloth to start from where she'd been daydreaming. Finally, the tempest began to part in the middle, the swirling column of flame becoming a disc, the center of it fading away to reveal blue-gray skies and orange metal beyond it. "Follow me," Pride commanded, the fire extinguished from her eyes as she stepped through.
The seven cardinal vices now stood on mortal soil, or mortal pavement as the case may have been. As the wind swept over the group of women, they could sense every bit of sin and vice in the city, especially those relating to their incarnate vices.
"Oooh, there's some good fun to be had here..." Lust said, her cheeks flushing in anticipation.
"And some good food!" Gluttony added, looking off towards Fisherman's Wharf.
"And some good fights!" Wrath continued.
"IF you all are finished babbling," Pride said, arms crossed over her chest, "We are here on official business, not for tourism." She checked her watch and turned towards the curb, waiting only momentarily before a limousine pulled up to the curb.
"What's that for?" Envy asked.
"Me, of course," Pride said as the driver got out and hurried to open the door for her. "Surely you don't expect me to *walk* to our destination from here?"
"Woo hoo!" Sloth cheered, getting in after Pride.
"But how'd you get him to arrive so quickly?" Greed asked as she climbed in, taking a seat near the mini-fridge and grabbing a few bottles of liquor, squeezing them as best she could into her purse.
"Because I have the foresight to arrange these things ahead of time, obviously," Pride said, crossing her legs and folding her hands over her knee. "Driver- to Chinatown."
* * *
As the girls piled out of the limousine, they took a moment to survey the area.
"He *lives* in this dump?" Greed asked, looking at the cramped apartments and run-down vendor stalls. Sensing as she could all the wealth in the area, the entire block combined barely registered as a blip on her radar.
"Well of course it is beneath *us*," Pride said, "though I must admit this is meager even for mortals."
"Oooh," Gluttony said, inhaling. "Fresh kim-chee!"
"Silence!" Pride hissed as the limousine pulled away. "Here he comes!"
All seven girls turned to look as their target emerged blinking into the early-morning light, scratching the back of his head as he snugged his jacket closer around his shoulders.
Immediately the seven vices began scrutinizing him; were one looking carefully they might have noticed a slight glow behind each woman's eyes as they saw beyond mortal sight.
"No gut at all..." Gulttony started, dismayed.
"Knuckle's're pretty clean, too," Wrath said. "No fights, the pansy."
"His dress is strictly utilitarian," Pride added. "Not even making the attempt at impressing."
"Or attracting," Lust pouted.
"With a wallet that thin, how could he?" Greed finished, balking.
"And he's walking wherever it is he's going," Sloth said as Sid turned and began walking down the sidewalk away from them, "So there goes me."
"Hmm..." Pride mused. "It appears Father was right to send me..." She paused, thinking for a moment before turning and facing Envy. "...Are we boring you?"
"Wh-what? N-no, I just, I-"
"Then why did you not report?"
"I just, I- I didn't see anything," Envy stammered, shrinking down into her shawl. "...He seems very content," she whispered.
"Hmm..." Pride pondered, feeling the familiar prickle of mortal eyes on her. Of course they were looking at her- why wouldn't they?- but their adulation was inappropriately timed. One such mortal was staring dumbly as he walked down the sidewalk towards the girls, obviously enraptured by her radiance.
"Hey, what're you lookin' at, old-timer?" Wrath growled, causing the elderly oriental gentleman to jump and hurry past, pulling his hat low over his eyes.
"It appears we need to find a more discrete vantage point, as my perfection is drawing attention to us that may compromise our observations," Pride said, looking around.
"How about up there?" Lust said, pointing to the line of rooftops across the street. "The puildings are squeezed so close together we should have no trouble following from up there, and we'd be well out of sight. Mortals- er, people never tend to look up unless they're motivated."
"W-we could, ah... 'jump' from in there, where no one would see us..." Envy offered, pointing to a narrow alley a little ways behind them.
Pride turned, examined the entrance, then gave a curt nod and strode into the dark opening, where the early reaches of dawn had not yet penetrated.
"Oooh, a penny!" Greed exclaimed, running a little past Pride and picking the grime-encrusted coin off the ground.
Pride's lip curled as she watched Greed slide the filthy coin into her purse. "Is it *impossible* for you to have standards?" She asked.
"What?" Greet retored, indignant. "Money's money, and now it's mine!"
Pride rolled her eyes as she turned to face out of the alley, looking at the rooftop on the opposite side. "Are we ready?" She asked.
"Yup, and I'd like to get out of here," Gluttony said. "Being near wasted food makes me sad."
"Of course it does," Pride sniffed. "Are we ready?" The rest of the girls nodded, and Pride bowed her head briefly, the others following suit. In a brief moment, a boquet of flames blossomed from their feet, nearly instantly engulfing them and burning out just as quickly, leaving nothing but a faint smell of sulfur and brimstone behind. A jogger paused as she passed by the alley, curiously sniffing the lingering stench before turning and continuing on her jog, the miraculous teleportation otherwise unnoticed.
With a similarly brief but intense conflagration, the seven girls all re-materialized across the street, on the roof of one of the many small apartment complexes that crowded the tiny street.
"Now then," Pride started, we n-"
"Wuoh-oh-hwoah!" Sloth cried out, windmilling her arms as she teetered on the edge of the roof.
"Look out!" Gluttony said, reaching out and grabbing the front of Sloth's hoodie and pulling her off from the edge.
Pride's eye narrowed in annoyance. "Sally, why did you teleport to the very edge of the building instead of over here with the rest of us?"
"Well, I dunno, I just kinda figured I didn't need to teleport *all* the way over there, so long as I got on the roof..."
Pride just put a hand to her face. "Let's move on, shall we? I don't want our target getting ahead of us. Wendy, are you coming?"
Wrath was leaning over the edge of the roof, arm over her bent knee as she scanned the street below. "...Yeah, I'm comin'. Just thought... ah, nevermind, let's just get going already."
The seven demons walked single file along the rooftops, Pride at the lead, Greed and Wrath behind her, Lust and Envy trailing them, and Gluttony and Sloth taking up the rear.
Envy listened in to his desires, being able to feel his wants and needs, but came up surprisingly blank. All she could "hear" from the man's soul was a contentness with the sun and the sky and the weather. Envy wished she could be so contented, but it was a hard sentiment to share when she was so deficient in so many ways.
"Theft!" Greed suddenly exclaimed, pointing. "He just pulled that bottle of juice out of that cart without paying for it!"
"It's a start," Pride said, narrowing her eyes as the seven girls rushed to keep pace with him, "But thin... wait..."
Pride leaned in, jumping across an alley to the next rooftop as effortlessly as a mortal would hop a curb. Her supernatural senses could pick out the words as he spoke, even from that great distance.
"Good morning, Mr. Li!" He said, pulling a dollar bill out of his pocket.
"Ah, good morning Mr. Sidney Arthur," the elderly oriental gentleman said, his coffee and newspaper held in his right hand. "Same as always?" He asked as he reached for the bill.
"You bet," He replied, smiling. The elderly man took the bill and the two continued on their seperate ways.
"Arrrgh," Greed fumed. "Not only did he pay for it, he let the old man keep the change! A tip! A tip on a stupid bottle of juice!"
"Calm yourself, Gail," Pride said. "Patience. If Father could keep at his work for forty days and forty nights, we can wait for more than a morning to get results..."
The women followed him to the street corner, where he stopped to wait for an opportune time to cross.
"Anything?" Pride asked impatiently.
"Not hungry."
"Not horny."
"Not angry."
"Not jealous."
"Not grabby."
"Not tired."
Pride blew a breath through her mouth. Patience. Some mortals just took a while to start sinning- they're too tired in the morning to be self-centered. Pride knew from her experience that if you wanted to see the true nature of a man, catch him when he is at the limits of exhaustion or when they were gravely ill; when they had neither the strength nor compunction to build the constructs around oneself that made it so easy to rationalize their sins as necessary or permissable.
"Ooh!" Wrath exclaimed, darting forward as a woman on a cell phone hastily shouldered past Sid, sloshing his juice out of its bottle and splashing on his shoes. As the woman stepped past him, Sid's free hand darted to the woman's collar and pulled her back up to the sidewalk.
"Ye-" Wrath started, before a taxi zoomed by where the woman had been momnets ago.
"Careful there," Sid said, shaking the spilled juice off his foot.
"Dammit," Wrath spat, crossing her arms as the woman apologized and Sid continued across the street.
"Hmm..." Pride thought, focusing on him. She could detect the barest hint of frustration at his shoes possibly being made to look less than presentable, but it wasn't even up to the level of deserved pride, much less the kind of arrogance mortals fell prey to so easily. Even down in his core, in the dark corners of their minds mortals thought no one ever saw, Pride found herself unable to discern a weakness, no glaring flaw for her to exploit. Perhaps Father *was* going to need to make use of her skills after all.
"This guy's like clergy-level clean," Gluttony said as Sid finally stopped moving along the sidewalk, ducking inside a small grocery store.
"Yeah, but he doesn't smell like one of *them*," Greed said. "No vow of poverty or anything like that. He's not holy, just..."
"Not sinful," Pride finished. "He is balanced. No stench of sin nor of holiness."
"Well, hell, just means it's less to go to tilt the scales to our side," Sloth said, already sitting down.
"Maybe," Greed started, "but-"
"It's always easier to get them to cross over if they've built up some momentum by falling first," Wrath interrupted, punching her fist into her palm. "Sometimes it's the ones that are so sure they've got it made that are the easiest- they build up this little tiny tower of good and it just takes a little shove to get them crashing all the way down."
"Besides, he just got to work," Gluttony said. "You know how mortals get at work, especially when they miss lunch and all that."
"Indeed," Pride said, putting one foot up on an air conditioning unit and leaning forward on to her knee as Sid became visible in the front windows of the store, an apron tied around his waist as he began working the cash register. "I suppose all we have to do is wait, and watch. Something will come sooner or later. No mortal is perfect."
* * *
Pride paced back and forth, her high-heeled shoes crunching the asphalt on the roof. She looked over the edge, the tenth time in twice as many seconds, seeing Sid walk around to the side of the grocery store and dump a can of garbage into a dumpster.
"...Anything?" She finally asked of the other vices.
"Hasn't so much as had a nasty *thought* about a customer, even that one whore with the stroller who deserved it," Wrath said, who was kicking some of the larger asphalt pebbles over the edge.
"All he's had to eat for lunch is a fruit-smoothie concoction," Gluttony said, sitting on the edge of the building, face in her hands and elbows on her knees as her legs dangled over the side.
"Which he paid for, including tax, even," Greed continued, sitting next to Gluttony in the same position.
"He's looked at one woman's ass all morning, and that was because her slip was showing and he told her," Lust said, lazily twirling around an antenna pole.
"The only thing he's wanted was a package of snow peas to add to dinner tonight..." Envy said, sitting against a brick chimney.
Pride continued pacing, before breaking her normal path and stading in front of Sloth, who was laying on the ground with her hands folded behind her head and one foot up on her bent knee. When Pride's shadow passed over Sloth's face, she opened one eye.
"Well?" Pride asked, hands on her hips.
"Is he still moving?" Sloth asked.
"Yes."
"Got nothin'," She said, and closed her eye again.
Pride held her temples between her thumb and fingers. "All right, this is getting us nowhere," She said, turning to address the other sins. "We'll go to his home. Perhaps we can find something useful there.
"Maybe he just hasn't been on his feet long enough," Sloth said. "He could be ready to snap at any-"
"UP," Pride commanded.
"All right, all right..." She said as she rolled over to her knees and got up.
"So, this guy's the real deal, isn't he?" Gluttony asked as they made their way back across the rooftops.
"Certainly seems so," Greed said. "But that's not really what's bothering me about him."
"What is, then?" Pride asked, brow arched as she looked over her shoulder.
"Who cares?"
"You, obviously, if you-"
"No, I mean, who cares?" Greed said, throwing her arms up. "What does this kid matter?"
Pride halted on the edge of the building they were crossing, turning to look at Greed. "Father sent us a missive," She said. "Ours is not the place to question him."
"But, all seven of us? For one kid? Surely you don't need our help, if he's just a regular schmoe..."
Pride was silent.
"He doesn't have a mark on him, does he?" Gluttony asked.
"What, are you nuts?" Wrath interjected. "Even fatass over there could have sniffed it out from this distance if he had a mark on him."
"But that's just it!" Greed said. "He's not going to be a pope, or a saint, or even a dirt-pastor. He's just a regular mortal. So what's the big deal? Why send all seven of us in for a garden-variety goody-two-shoes?"
"Father's missive-"
"-Which only you read," Greed said, hands on her hips.
"-said exactly what he needed to say," Pride said, her voice deepening only slightly.
"Then there's something you're not telling us," Greed said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Pride's head bowed almost imperceptibly, her brows furrowing.
"...Or there's something *He's* not telling *you*..." Greed continued, arching her brow.
"You doubt me?" Pride said, her gaze snapping up to meet Greed's.
Everyone took a step away from Greed, even Sloth. Greed set her foot back, but Wrath recognized it instantly not as a step in retreat, but in bracing for an attack. Part of her couldn't help but smile in anticipation.
"What Father tells me is all that he feels is required for me to complete the mission he sets before us," Pride said as she advanced on Greed, her footfalls sounding somehow heavier on the roof of the building. "Father says only what he feels is essential because he has complete confidence in my abilities, as well he should."
Greed backed up a step, finding Pride gaining distance on her far quicker than she was comfortable with. When Pride raised her hand up by her shoulder, Greed flinched away and tensed up.
"I am *Fastosus*," she said, jabbing a finger at Greed, knocking her to the ground. "Chosen of the Morning Star himself. If you- If *any* of you-" she said, sweeping her arm at the rest of the sins- "Doubt my abilities or prowess to carry out this mission, I invite you to prove yourselves against me!" She scanned the faces of the other women, Wrath alone even being able to meet her eyes.
"...I thought as much," She said, turning from Greed and walking back to the edge of the building before jumping down into the alley. The other demons followed suit, dropping down into the alley, save for Wrath who favored Greed with a snarling glare in Pride's direction before continuing on. Greed scowled, rubbing the spot on her collarbone where PRide had poked her as she followed the rest of the sins down into the alley.
"Stairs. Why did it have to be stairs?" Sloth asked as they ascended the narrow staircase to Sid's apartment.
"Oh, quit yer bitchin', fatass," Wrath said as they made it to the landing. "This is it, right?" She asked, grabbing the doorknob and rattling it.
"Yes," Pride said as she stood back, watching the doorway. "And NO," she continued as Wrath leaned back on her foot, "You may not break the door down. Gail?"
Greed squeezed her way to the door as Wrath stepped away, reaching up and snapping off her armlet. Opening the end of it, Greed pulled a lockpick from inside the circlet and set to work on Sid's door, quickly jimmying the lock open and standing back so Pride could enter first.
"All right," Pride said as she entered the apartment. "Quick, thorough, and... discrete..." She trailed off, looking around at the sparse apartment. A bedroom, a bathroom, a small living room and an even smaller kitchen
"...Did I miss something, or did anchorites make a comeback recently?" Sloth asked, standing in the foyer and looking around, one eyebrow raised.
"Anchorites don't leave their homes, dumbass," Wrath said as she went into the bathroom.
"Hermit, whatever," Sloth said. "This guy hardly has anything."
"And what he does have isn't even his," Greed added, emerging from his bedroom. "The TV, the pictures, his bedsprings- all second-hand gifts. He bought... his computer, from a friend, and the bathtowels from a thrift store. About the only things he paid full price for are his matress, his toiletries, and his food."
"And it's all healthy crap, too," Gluttony said from inside his refridgerator. "Not that it's *bad*- stir fry, fruits and veggies, lots of rice in the-"
"NO snacking, Gina," Pride interrupted as she looked at a picture hanging on the wall by the door.
"But I wasn't gonna-"
"And NO taking money from the change bowl, Gail."
"Aw..."
"FOCUS, people," Pride said, turning from the photographs and looking at the apartment. "We're looking for any weaknesses he might have."
"Well, you'll get nothin' outta me," Lust said as she flopped over the back of the couch, letting one leg dangle to the floor as she laid there. "Not a single dirty magazine or porn DVD or anything. Place is clean as a convent. One of the good ones, even."
"Nothin' for me, either," Wrath said, leaning against the doorjamb to the bathroom. "No punching bags, no weapons- about the only thing he's got are his kitchen knives."
"Not a drop of chocolate in the place!" Gluttony wailed from the kitchen. "How can he *stand* it?"
Pride rubbed her temples again. "There has to be SOMEthing," she said. "Mortals just aren't this pure without a mark."
The apartment was irritatingly silent.
"...Does he have any relatives?" Envy ventured. "You know, that are better off...?"
"No," Pride said, shaking her head. "Only pictures of his parents, and a few friends whom he's taking no pains to appear better than."
"What about a girlfriend?" Lust asked, sitting up a bit. "Those are always an easy way to get to a mark."
"No," Pride started, "he-"
"Not yet, anyways," Sloth interjected from the bedroom.
Every head in the small apartment turned towards the bedroom door.
"...What do you mean, 'not yet'?" Pride asked.
"Come look," Sloth said, and after a quick shared glance the six demons crowded into the bedroom.
Sloth was sitting at Sid's desk, lazily clicking through the internet.
"Well?" Pride said as she stood behind Sloth, hands on her hips.
"Take a look," Sloth said, clicking on one windown and bringing it to the foreground.
"Luvfinder.com?" Pride asked.
"Oooh!" Lust squealed. "That's one of those internet thingies for hookups! Don't tell me he's actually trying to get a *relationship* out of that place?"
"Says he just signed up last night," Sloth offered.
"...On a gift certificate his co-worker gave him," Greed added. "Doesn't this guy pay for *anything*?"
"Like you do?" Wrath shot from where she leaned against the doorjamb.
"There's a difference," Greed sniffed. "I'm frugal. This guy's just cheap."
Pride rolled her eyes. "So, who does he have lined up?" She asked.
"No one, yet," Sloth said.
"Oooh, I wish I could be put in there!" Lust said. "Who knows how many-"
"Lucy," Pride interrupted, "could it be that that spark of brilliance was intentional?"
"What?" Lust asked, confused.
"Sally," Pride said, "pick up that computer."
"The whole thing?" Sloth asked, turning in her seat.
"No, just the viewing screen," Pride said, sliding her left hand over her right index finger. When she removed her hand, the finger was silvered and clawed, reverted to its demonic shape. Sloth turned the bottom of the screen toward Pride, and she carved a pentagram into the base with her claw. As she finished the carving, the pentagram glowed red momentarily before vanishing.
"All right," Pride said as Sloth put the computer back down. "Everybody out. Nothing moved, changed, or especially *Stolen*," she said, glaring at Greed. "Everything back the wy it was."
* * *
"So what's the plan?" Sloth asked as she got in the limousine after Pride.
"If he does not or will not succumb to outside temptations," Pride said, "We will subject him to internal ones."
"By messing with his toys?" Wrath asked, brow arched as she folded her arms over herself.
"I know! I know!" Lust said, bouncing in her seat. "We're gonna enchant his little screen-thing so we can set ourselves up on dates with him!"
"Indeed," Pride said. "And once we've gotten-"
"Dibs! Dibs!" Lust said, waving her hand up as high as the limousine's ceiling allowed.
"Yes, Lucy, I will allow you the honor of the first attempt," Pride said, rolling her eyes before continuing. "Once we've gotten to know Mr. Graham, to learn his innermost thoughts and desires, then we will find a weakness."
Pride smiled as the limousine pulled away from the curb.
"And then his soul is ours."