Page 148 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“A demon of that level? No. With my powers, I can dispatch him much quicker.”

“That’s impressive.Youare impressive,” he praises as he gets closer to me. His shoulders brush against my own and I stifle a shudder. The image of him running with the items toward me as he evaded the demon’s tentacles is still fresh in my mind. It makes my heart beat rather wildly in my chest. My stomach, too, is a little unsettled, though that might also be from the demon stench.

“Let’s get more items,” I announce, stepping forward and putting some distance between us.

I walk straight to the broken cases and read the description of the artifacts. They are, as he first mentioned, believed to have belonged to witches. So he was right that they would be imbued with energy. Nodding to myself, I browse the intact cases, cross-referencing the descriptions to make sure the items also belong to witches.

When I find one that is similar enough, I prepare to break the case, but Mine stops me.

“Allow me,” he murmurs, trying to push me aside.

I narrow my eyes at him.

“You’ve already done plenty. I can do it myself,” I say as I shove him back.

Does he think I can’t break a damn case? I just killed a demonandkept him safe within my shield.

He opens his mouth to protest, but I’m quicker as I bring my elbow down on the case with the remaining bit of energy I have left.

The glass shatters and I reach inside. The item is a slight, golden hairpin with a leaf design at the top. Pretty. I might even keep it after we’re done. I quite like the color gold. And humans do make pretty jewelry.

I hum to myself in satisfaction, but Mine is mumbling on about doing it himself.

“Minnie, you’ll hurt yourself.” His hand is inside the case, too, as he tries to grab the item before me.

“No. I can handle myself,” I fire back, reaching for the pin.

Our hands bump one against the other and I pinch him. He releases a small yelp of pain, and that distraction is enough for me to get hold of the pin.

Holding it tightly in my hand, I focus on the energy within.

My mouth parts in shock as I feel the enormous amount of spiritual energy it contains, but for some reason, I am unable to siphon it.

I try again, focusing harder.

Nothing.

On the third try, I give up and open my eyes.

“It’s not working,” I whisper dejectedly.

Thereisenergy inside. I can feel it. But I cannot get hold of it.

“Can I see it?” Mine asks.

I extend my arm to give him the pin when a voice resounds from behind us.

“That belongs to me.”

We both turn around at the same time.

I freeze in shock, and the pin drops to the ground with a thud. Mine doesn’t seem to realize the danger we’re in, so he stoops down to grab it.

“Another ghost? Demon?” he asks in a laid-back voice.

“Worse,” I whisper.

“You have taken what is mine,” the voice continues. “I will now require something in exchange.”

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