Page 183 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

TheProhodoscomes to a stop.

“It’s our stop. Let’s go,” I say as I pull on his sleeve.

He has a droll smile on his face.

“You don’t have an answer, do you?”

I scowl at him.

“I just told you my answer. Just like the first primordials were made up of good, neutral and bad, so is the world. Everything is a copy of the first creation.”

“That’s not an answer,” he presses on.

“Yes. It is.”

“Fine. We can agree to disagree.” He shrugs, his expression akin to gloating. My competitiveness rises to the surface.

“I don’t have time to continue this now, but don’t think for a moment that you’ve won.”

“Fine, fine.” Another smile.

The military headquarters are only a short distance from theProhodosstop. It’s a rather nondescript building that blendsin with the background. Only those who’ve been inside any military compound would know most of the conference rooms and training spaces are underground.

“We’re here. Wait for me, all right?”

His smile drops.

“How long will you be there for?”

“I don’t know. It shouldn’t be too long. I will just inform the General of the situation and I’ll be back.”

He half turns and motions across the street to the statue of a woman holding an hourglass.

“You have until the hourglass has run its course.”

I frown.

“Until what?”

“Until I come for you.”

TWENTY-FIVE

A rune systemthat scans one’s energy print against the database locks the entrance to the military complex. I borrow some energy from the pin and run it through my body to recycle it and make sure the runes won’t detect any foreign energy. When I’m done, my energy signature swirls around my hand and I press it against the doorframe.

A loud click resounds, and the doors open.

Stepping inside, I note that this complex is different than the one I operate in.

The walls are a stark white, bare of any adornment. At the front, two soldiers are standing in front of two large doors, who immediately look me up and down suspiciously.

“Minerva An’yan here to see the General Leotar,” I state confidently as I march up to them.

“The general is busy and not open to the public.”

“I am a soldier under General Molokai An’yan, and I’ve been working in Anthropa for the past few months. I have information about demon activity in Anthropa that will interest the general.”

One of the soldiers gives me a bored look, but the other takes a step back and closes his eyes.

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