Transgressions

Greed

Max had once been an orphan. Yes, it's true. The handsome lad who stood before the mirror staring back at him hadn't always been handsome. He hadn't been as powerful. Max had been the opposite of powerful, Max had been weak. Incapable. Never enough. He had been working part time as a stable boy, trying to make enough for him and his sister, Cory. Being 17 and a poor boy, no one ever wanted him. He couldn't read nor write, nor speak eloquently. He simply had a knack for horses. Cory was the smart one, but then, women weren't meant to be smart those days. They were meant to be pretty.

All had gone south when the witch hunters came to their town. Their mother, a woman accused of witchcraft had been dragged away, screaming her innocence. Max as a child had run up to her, trying to reach her, but his father pulled him away. He had no love for Mother. Cory was just a baby, but she whined as well.

That night, Max snuck out to see what would happen. His father had refused to speak. Max had climbed a large oak tree and hid behind it's magnificent leaves. Below, his mother and other women were tied to what looked like a pyre. There were men surrounding them, mocking them, cursing them. Some woman were crying, but not mother. She held her head high, so high that she caught sight of Max. Max froze but his mother simply gave him a slight smile. The men then did something terrible. They began to burn the pyre. Max opened his mouth in fear to scream but no sound came. His mother raised her hands, as flames caught her dress, and whispered an incantation. Max couldn't move. He heard her voice.

Close your eyes and don't come down yet. Leave as soon as you can. I love you, Max.

But Max hadn't closed his eyes, and he had watched her burn.

Max blinked, returning to the present. Even after centuries, his memories haunted him. He picked up his phone and called Drake.

"Hi Max! You have to visit Thailand sometime! These skewers they sell on the streets are out of this world!", Said Drake his mouth full.

"Acedia died, Drake",said Max gravely. He heard Drake choke.

"What?! That's impossible! Haha, good joke Max, you really got me.", Said Drake chuckling.

"I'm serious, Drake. He's dead. Gone. Poof. Moved on to Hell or something."

"What happened?"

"I don't know yet. But there are people hunting us. My phone call with Fiona confirmed that. She was attacked by a man carrying Sanctified Silver."

"Oh God. Is she alright?"

"She's fine. You know Fiona, a few wounds don't stop her. Malcolm is calling a meeting of The Seven Sins, Tomorrow at 12pm. His mansion."

"I'll be there. God, I want to reach through this phone and give you a hug."

"Me? Why?"

"Because of these people hunting Sins, it's alot like how your mom died. I'm sorry you have to go through this."

"Im fine. That was centuries ago. I'll talk to you later.",said Max as he hung up.

He stumbled to the bathroom and shut the door behind him, leaning against the wall. He glanced at the mirror once more. His face was covered in tears as he heaved a shaky breath. He curled his hands into fists and pressed them to his temples. Don't cry, he thought. But he did. He cried and sobbed till his tear ducts went dry and he could not longer stand.

He cried till his heart ached and his breathing turned heavy. He cried for his mother. But most of all, he cried for the little boy who watched grotesque things happen to the one he loved most. That boy had no one left in the world who loved him. Max heaved a weary breath. That little boy needed to grow up before he gets his heart broken again.