Page 332 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

He knew so much, was capable of so much, and yet he still made me do all the work. Was he silently laughing at me all those times he portrayed himself as a puny human in need of help?

When I catch you, Marlowe… You’re going to regret making a fool out of me.

If anything, I’ll find a way to defy death just so I can get revenge for all the times you made me a fool.

He made me carry him on my back…The gall on this male. Back then I was impressed he would go along with it without taking a hit to his male ego. Now I know better—he was laughing at me all along.

I grind my teeth in annoyance—the only movements I am able to do with my body held still by those runes.

Every little interaction I had with him where he hid behind me, asking me to protect him because he’s just a puny little human flashes before my eyes. I was so proud then, that he would trust me to keep him safe. Now all I feel is a growing rage.

Marlowe, Marlowe. You will pay. It doesn’t matter what I have to do to get back to you, but youwillpay. How dare you use my weaknesses against me? Ply me with sweets and praises while silently laughing at me?

The door suddenly opens. There are no windows inside the room to notice the passage. Though I did not get the opportunityto rest, with my mind so busy working up scenarios to torture that blasted male, I do feel much better than the day before. My body is as healed as could be considering my low levels of energy.

Yet my mood immediately plummets when I note it’s not Azerius who comes inside.

It’s Cerenios. His gaze meets mine and a slow, sadistic smile pulls at his lips.

“We meet again, Minerva.”

FORTY-EIGHT

AROUND THE SAME TIME, AKKAYA

Marlowe

An unknown figuresuddenly shadows the light streaming through the window. He’s with his back to me, dressed in all black, his long hair flowing down to his shoulders.

“You are awake, I see,” he comments as he stares out the window. His voice is strange, both familiar and foreign.

“W-what happened?” I croak and pull myself in a seating position.

I remember bits and pieces since being blasted by Minnie through that portal. My eyes widen as I quickly feel my abdomen for that gaping hole Azerius caused, then sigh in relief when I realize it’s not there anymore.

But how? What happened?

More importantly, where is Minnie? What happened to her?

The man turns. His eyes are a piercing gray as he stares at me with a hint of sadness.

“You are healed, if that is what you are wondering.”

“Who are you? Where am I?”

“You are in my home, in a realm called Akkaya.”

I barely register what he says when it dawns on me the gravity of the situation. I’m in a foreign realm, away from her. The image of her, being held down by those two men flashes in my head, making my blood boil anew. She couldn’t fight them. She’s so strong, my beautiful Minnie, and she couldn’t fight them. They held her down, touched her. They…

The pain in my chest surpasses my physical pain.

They’ll kill her. They will execute her and I will lose her forever.

“Fuck!” I curse aloud, my heart thudding sickeningly fast in my chest. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! I need to leave. I need to get to Minnie,” I mutter and attempt to get to my feet. I barely manage to move an inch before my body explodes in pain.

The man comes closer, his lips flattened into a tight line.

“You should probably not move much. Not yet anyway.”

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