Page 64 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

Damn it all, but it really hurts.

Would I get fired if I snuck into the infirmary to steal some bandages?

Since I’ve come here, it seems that thieving is all I’ve been doing. But how else would I survive when this world is not only at war, but I also happen to be an unemployed female with little to no resources?

Well, I am employednow, but I might not be in the morning if I get caught. Still, I am not used to such pain and I do not think I can go back to bed with this bleeding injury. Even sleep-deprived as I am, I doubt I would be able to close my eyes.

Muttering another string of curses at my current circumstances, I trudge my way to the infirmary.

In and out. It should be simple.

I wrestle with the door lock for a few moments but finally, I am in.

Going straight to the medicine cabinet, I grab an aspirin—this should be good for pain, no? Then I rummage for some bandages.

The light inside of the infirmary flickers to life.

I freeze.

Who the hell is here at this hour?

Of course my first instinct is to hide somewhere, but as I tiptoe my way around the room, I hear a voice.

“You don’t need to hide.”

I stop in my tracks.

Slowly, I turn and find myself face-to-face with Vitry.

The last person I wanted to see now.

“What are you doing here?” I burst out.

“I should ask you the same.” He raises a brow. “It’s the middle of the night. What are you doing here?”

“I… Uhm…”

“Don’t tell me you’re a Nazi spy, tiny darling.”

My eyes widen. That’s the last thing I needed—get firedandbe accused of espionage. I’ve heard about the abominable treatment of war spies. If I were to be imprisoned and tortured for being aspyon top of everything else that’s already happened to me already… I shudder just thinking about it.

Then again, wouldn’t the House of Moirai have a laugh at my expense if that were to happen?

“Me? A Nazi spy? How could that be…” I mutter nervously.

“Brilliant plan, really. Send a fresh-faced beauty to sabotage our healthcare,” he drawls.

“I’m not a spy,” I cry out. But then I realize he called me a fresh-faced beauty.

My cheeks flame.

No one’s ever called me that before. Or a beauty…

But that’s beside the point!

I avert my gaze so he doesn’t notice my blush. Heat unfurls inside of me at the compliment. In Aperion, I am hardly a beauty. If I were, I wouldn’t have to resign myself to marrying Captain Clown.

But maybe humans have different standards. Orthishuman has faulty eyesight. It’s been known to happen.

---