That’s his Rick. Gently petting the top of his head as a reward for being so disgusting.

“Such a good boy. Have you infected anyone since we arrived, my fiendishly filthy friend?”

“Pity… Though I suppose we should maintain a somewhat low profile.” Placing Rick on his shoulder. He can hang out there.

“Death is here somewhere, Ricky…” He’s in town to check out the situation. Maybe try to infect him while he’s supposedly human…

Such a loyal rodent… This is why he’s Pestilence’s favourite.

Ah, there he is. The vulture among the sparrows.

The you now.

I prefer thinking of you as a creepy bald bird. Crows are far too cool for you.

No… No, you don’t. [Sipping from his cup] It’s funny, seeing you so helpless.

You’re like a wet kitten. So small and pathetic.

I’m aware. When was the last time you got sick?

You should pray your immune system never detects your eyes or it’ll destroy them. Funny, isn’t it?

Wouldn’t it be fun to grow one of those?

I think it would be hilarious to see you with one on your face.

Stepping closer to him, the stench of infected wounds growing stronger, rot carried on his breath. “You have no idea…”

“Or I could make you puke your guts out. Oh! I could even make your teeth fall out and your flesh rot away from your bones while you’re still breathing!”

Pestilence closes the gap between them, reaching out to grab Aeron’s face in a hand covered in a flaky rash, boils popping and oozing thick yellow pus. He’s going to enjoy inflicting disease on his brother… “I prefer to be addressed as Pestilence, actually.”

Eyes snapping wide open the moment his grip exceeds human limitations, Pestilence bares his rotten teeth in a snarl and curls his fingers, forcing more of the sickening substance to pour out of his stinking sores. “Typical…”

Staggering backwards, still no match for Death and unwilling to even try, Pestilence hisses at him like a cockroach and flicks his wrist to splatter his feet with vile goop. “…Welcome back.”

“I thought it would be funny,” he mutters, lip curled up in a sneer. His plan to torment his brother failed… Maybe he should infect one of the fragments to make himself feel better. “So what?”