Page 62 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

I quickly move back so he doesn’t see me as he heads toward the west of the base. As I get further and further away from the military barracks, I can’t help but replay that conversation in my mind.

That male’s speech was not bad. It certainly did the job of making those soldiers realize the stakes of the war. Though I’m still mad at him for his role in me losing my powers, I have to begrudgingly admit that he is a…decent leader.

Once there are no more people around, I sneak off in search of a more secluded place.

It takes me some ten minutes of walking in circles around the base to find a quiet spot.

Taking a deep breath, I concentrate on Molokai’s energy signature. Of course, without my powers, I can barely sense it. But that doesn’t deter me from trying to reach out to him.

“Kai? I need you,” I say aloud. “If you could put aside your anger with me for a moment and come, I would really appreciate it.”

Crickets.

“It’s really important. I think I’ve stumbled onto something here.”

I wait.

Once more, the only sound that greets me is the symphony of music and loud voices coming from the base.

I mutter a curse under my breath and try again.

“Uhm, Kai? I think there’s a demon here. Maybe a high-ranking one,” I say again, doing my best to focus on my voice reaching him.

Of course nothing happens.

Ugh!

Couldn’t he have at least left an open channel for communication? He didn’t have to shut me out completely.

When he doesn’t reply after I call out to him for the tenth time, I realize my only recourse is to physically summon him here.

I let out a sigh. I didn’t want to do this since it will physically yank him from wherever he is and bring him here. That means he willnotbe happy with me.

Rummaging through my bag, I take out a knife and press the pointy tip to the inside of my forearm.

Digging the blade inside my flesh, I carve out Kai’s personal symbol. That, combined with my blood, will send out the signal and summon him here. This method is usually frowned upon, and only very few people know a god’s personal symbol to be able to summon him. But Kai and I are close enough that we know each other’s symbol.

I bite my lower lip in pain as I finish carving out the symbol, and as blood pools to the surface of the wound, drops of it dripping to the floor, I mentally prepare myself for his arrival.

Not two seconds later, he’s in front of me. He’s sporting a scowl that only deepens when he sees the wound on my arm.

“What do you think you’re doing, Minerva?” he barks out.

My lips tremble as I force a smile.

“You didn’t answer my call. This was the only way to reach you.”

He narrows his eyes at me. He’s dressed in his battle gear, and there is dried blood all over his clothes.

Oops. I might have summoned him mid-battle.

“This better be important, Minerva.”

“It is!” I protest. “Really important.”

“Well?” He crosses his arms over his chest.

I clear my throat.

---