Page 81 of Glutton for Punishment

Tabby’s grin fades, and Cleo lowers the device in her lap.

“Holy shit,” Tabby whispers.

Cleo blinks several times. “That is… powerful.”

“It is?” I ask.

“It’s a little… terrifying,” Tabby admits.

Cleo nods. “Especially for Gluttony. I’ve never heard of a power like that before.”

I frown. “Why especially for Gluttony?”

“Because most of us don’t have powers like that,” Cleo explains. “Not active powers or mental powers, anyway. Most Gluttony abilities revolve around potion craft or enhancement. Utility. Amplification.”

Tabby lifts her hand. “Or Potion multiplication.”

I look at her as she beams. “My power lets me replicate potions. One becomes three.” She wiggles her fingers. “The gangs find multipliers useful and usually grab them up. It makes sense. Higher productivity with a smaller workforce. Extremely useful if you need to heal multiple people on the fly.”

“Which happens a lot here,” Cleo adds.

Tabby flips her hair back. “But yes. It’s considered a strong support ability. It’s why I’m in the academy.”

I turn to Cleo. “And yours? I assume it has something to do with how much of a tech genius you are?” I point to the device sitting half unassembled in her lap.

She shrugs and adjusts her glasses. “I’ve heard it referred to as a ravenous mind power. But who knows who thinks up these names. They all sound corny.”

“Ravenous mind? That sounds ominous,” I reply.

“I can replicate anything my brain has seen and processed if it involves formulas, systems, or code.” She says. “Chemical compounds. Engineering schematics. Encryption sequences. Most software architectures.”

Tabby points at her. “This is why she’s terrifying and hacks for fun.”

Cleo ignores her. “It’s not for fun. You know the story. My abilities attracted attention from people I would have preferred not to attract.”

That makes sense.

“So your power is rare,” Cleo concludes, looking at me.

Tabby nods. “The only people known for active combat-type Gluttony powers are usually Councilor West and his direct bloodline. Some of the top mafia lieutenants, maybe.”

As I process what they are saying, I can’t help but wonder if it’s connected to my high power rating?

“Do you know what Maddox’s power is?” Tabby asks.

Both of them look at me. I shake my head.

“You don’t know? You haven’t asked?” Tabby says.

I cross my arms. “We’re barely discussing the bond as it is. Asking him to disclose personal details about his sin power feels a little invasive.”

Tabby groans. “God, you’re both painfully repressed.”

Cleo nods. “However—while you do not need to ask him about his power…”

“It would be very useful,” Tabby cuts in, “if he knows his siblings’ powers.”

I pause. I don’t know if I want that knowledge. Cleo sets her device aside, all business.