Page 259 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

He tilts his head to the side, studying me.

“I do not understand you.”

“It is not for you to understand, Kai. But I would appreciate it if you did not tell anyone.”

His lips are pursed, but he gives me a tight nod that must have cost him a lot given his strict adherence to the rules.

“Do you sense something odd about this place?” I ask and change the subject.

Another thing I’d noticed the moment I got here but couldn’t analyze further because my entire focus was on Mine.

Kai frowns. Looking around, his nostrils flare as his eyes shine a dark blue. Suddenly, he flashes himself to the barbed wire fence and traces his hand over its surface.

Then he’s back.

“Runes,” he states quietly. “Not Aperite.”

I nod slowly. I’d suspected as much.

Pressing my palm against the wall of the barrack, I reveal even more such runes.

“This is a prisoner camp, but there are also rumors of extermination camps. Do you think?—”

“That these Nazis are using demon magic to harvest the souls?” He completes my thoughts.

I nod.

“It is possible.” He sighs. “I will report this back and go around the other camps to investigate. If demons are working together with humans to harvest souls, then?—”

“This war and wars in other worlds could be a result of demon interference.”

“It would not be regular demons either. Elite Sons of Tenebreis, since only they have the power to make such bargains. But the question remains if they’ve made their way to Anthropa or if they communicate with humans through other means.”

“High-level demons. It’s possible.”

“Or those high-level demons could be in positions of power to dictate the terms of the war. We’ve been so focused on opportunistic demons who might come across the carnage and feed on the souls that we did not even look at the people ordering that carnage. That would change everything.”

He has a grim expression on his face as all the implications become clear.

“These demons… they might be far more powerful than we gave them credit for.”

“Perhaps you should head back and let the commander know,” I tell him, hopeful he would get the hint and leave.

“I’m not done discussing this madness you’re engaging in.”

“And what do you think is left to discuss? I’ve already made up my mind.”

“That is?—”

He stops. His entire body freezes as his eyes glaze over. Shimmery particles appear around him, almost like a cloak.

In the blink of an eye, he’s gone.

I stare at the place he just vacated in shock, knowing fully well what his sudden departure means. His sigil was used.

And if it’s the faerie who did it…oh my, Molokai will be so angry with me!

Why did it have to happen just now when he promised he would keep my secret?

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