Page 213 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

I purse my lips, thinking. “Maybe we can give him another donut?”

“I doubt that’s going to make him disappear.”

At hearing our conversation, the demon starts to shout again, though this time his voice is high-pitched and sharp, almost that of a toddler.

“There is something else…” I trail off, unsure. Digging into my pocket, I take out the pin. It only has a bit of energy left, but it could make the difference between a life-and-death scenario.

“Minnie, no,” Mine immediately interjects. “It has spiritual energy within it. It mightfeedhim and make him stronger.”

“I know.” I sigh. “But compared to the dresses, this is far more important to me.”

“We can’t take any chances that he might regain his strength. We have nothing left to give him.”

I think on it for a moment. “Charity is also about trust.”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. You’re giving a person something that matters to you and you hope they will prize it just as much. There are beggars in Aperion as I presume there are here as well. A lot have become addicted to Zantrax, and they’ve lost everything while trying to fund their addiction. Most people don’t want to give them money because they fear they will just buy more Zantrax.”

“In this world that is true as well,” he mentions thoughtfully.

“So when you’re giving the charity, you’re doing so on a basis of trust. Trust that they will use the money, or the items, in a beneficial way, but at the same time, you leave it up to them to make their own decisions.”

“He’s a demon, not a regular beggar, Minnie.”

“Aren’t demons a form of beggars, too? They are so empty on the inside, they can only thrive by draining others.”

“That might be so, but?—”

Before he can voice out another objection, I hand the pin to the demon. “It is freely given,” I say.

“Minnie…” Mine groans.

He grabs my hand and pulls me back as we watch the demon stare at the golden pin for a moment before popping it into his mouth, glee written all over his features.

“Foolish female!” He laughs as he absorbs the pin and its energy. But his words turn into a screech as his energy starts flickering at the speed of light , followed by a blinding light.

Mine pulls me to his chest and covers me with his body.

Once the light is out, we both slowly turn to look at the demon.

“I’ll be damned,” Mine mutters. “You were right. You did it, Minnie.”

The demon is gone, no trace of him left behind.

“I…was?” I ask in disbelief.

Perhaps now I will get my much-desired commendationandmy powers back. But with that realization also comes the sad reality that when that happens, I will have to leave Mine behind.

“I guess I did it,” I whisper softly, sadly.

THIRTY

I stareat the calendar while Mine takes a shower and prepares himself for his next mission. The last few days have been something out of a fairy tale, just the two of us without the threat of the demon hanging over our heads. The base, too, is back to normal, and much more lively and healthier.

Five more days. Only five days until I’ll get my powers back. What once would have been something I desired with all my heart, now it’s something I dread with my entire being.

What will happen to me once I get my powers back? What will happen to Mine?

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