Demon Possession (38 page)

Sebastian scooped her up, squeezing her to his chest just as hard as the guard had, but instead of pain she only felt a deep satisfaction at being in his arms again.

“Let’s get to the ship,” Cale said from out of the darkness.

“Agreed.” Sebastian, stil holding her, began to move.

“Wait, the book!” Anya nearly forgot.

“What book?”

She pointed through the darkness to where she thought the book might be. Her vision had not yet adjusted to the pitch-black chamber but she figured that Sebastian’s had. Sure enough Sebastian fol owed her directions without the slightest care for his steps.

“I left a book on the ground here, just by the wal .”

“Anya, there is no book.”

“There must be. It must be here.”

“There is nothing love, we must go.”

Because she stil couldn’t see clearly, Sebastian continued carrying her as they made their way through the tangle of caves. The demons al seemed to be in silent concurrence about the path they fol owed. When she quietly questioned this Sebastian told her they could smel the ship.

Eventual y they traveled far enough through the caves that some of the lights remained undamaged, and she had Sebastian set her down.

As they began to move once more Sebastian froze, putting himself protectively in front of her. “The ship is just up ahead, but we’re not alone.”

Anya once again felt the familiar energy, Ethanule and roughly ten guards with weapons appeared at their front.

Ethanule was holding the book.

“Analia,” Ethanule started. “We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. I apologize.”

She tilted her head, eyes darting between Ethanule and the book in his arms.

“There are things you need to know, things about our people.”

“Our people?” Anya asked dimly.

“We are the same you and I.”

From behind her Sonya huffed, “Ha! He’s lying.”

Then he did something staggering. He reached up and brushed his hair to the side, revealing a pointed ear just like hers. Anya sucked in a breath and mindlessly reached out, Sebastian gently pul ed her back.Could it be? After al this time?The whole of her life she’d longed to find one of her own.

“I was about to tel you just before your pesky crack to my head. That hurt by the way.” He gave a crooked smile as if he were secretly proud of her.

Ignoring his chide she asked, “Why did you lock us up? Why drug us?”

“I feared you were being held captive by these demons. There are many who develop an unnatural obsession with our kind. I meant only to protect you.”

“And the lock on my door?”

“In—which it seems to be the case—you were with these demons by choice I did not want you able to flee before I could speak with you.”

“So youdoknow what I can do?”

“I have been told, yes.”

He’d been told about her? How? “By who?” Shedemanded.

Ethanule paused, debating his next words. “Your Father.”

Anya swayed on her feet. Sebastian placed a hand on her back to steady her. She leaned against him for support, eyes growing stark she whispered,

“My Father?” Sebastian felt a slight tremble run through her.

Ethanule continued, “I can explain everything if you’l let me.”

Anya narrowed her eyes, “Why did you ask me about Darius?”

“What!” Sebastian bel owed. He exchanged glances with the others.

Ethanule noticedtheir unease. “He contacted me, asked me about a woman fitting Analia’s description.” To Anya he said, “I didn’t like what I saw in his eyes when he spoke of you, so I told him I’d seen no such woman.”

“We must go. Now!” Sebastian motioned his crew forward despite the guards stil blocking their way. “Tel me Ethanule, do you know how far away his ship was when he contacted you?”

“I do not.” Ethanule al owed them to push past and fol owed beside Sebastian. “Who is this Darius?”

Sonya Answered, “You spoke of unnatural obsession. Wel he’s the prime example.”

Stil looking utterly shocked Anya began firing off questions as they walked, “What of my father? Where is he? How did he know I’d come to be here? How is it he knew to tel you of me? Does he stil live? Does he know where I’ve been?”

Ethanule edged, “As far as I know he lives. As for the other stuff we wil have plenty of time to speak of it later, seems the demon’s in a hurry.”

Anya halted,looking almost wild. “Does he know where I’ve been?” She repeated.

With compassion in his voice and heavy sigh Ethanule replied, “Analia, it’s complicated.”

“Doyouknow?”

He paused, “I’ve been told very little. But what I was told … I’m…sorry.”

Sebastian saw the truth of it in his eyes, Ethanule somehow knew something of Anya’s history, and the pirate’s remorse seemed genuine.

“It’s why I suspected the demons, but now I’m thinking …” He looked to Sebastian, “Darius?”

Sebastian gave a tight nod. He could only imagine what Anya must be feeling at this moment. She’d just discovered a link to her people, a link to her father, and it seemed both had knowledge of her suffering and done nothing about it. He knew there must be more to the story, had to be, but if Anya asked him to kil Ethanule for her right now, he would, with pleasure. Ethanule must have seen the darkness in Sebastian’s eyes because he took a step back.

“There’s much I must explain, it’s not as simple as you think. If your Father could have done something I know—“

“Enough,” Anya interrupted. Sebastian could hear the pain in her voice. “I don’t want to hear any more.” With a firm step, she pushed past them.

They entered the docking station. The ship was intact, guards al around. Everyone must have been forced to remain on board for the duration of their not-so-hospitable stay. Good, that meant there were fewer people to round up, the faster they can get going.

From behind him Ethanule said, “I’m coming with you.”

“Is that what you think?”

“Remember, I’m the one in control of al the guns.”

Sebastian spared a glance to a nearby guard and kept moving. Bul ets hurt, but rarely packed the power to incapacitate a demon—especial y a demon as strong as he. Taking a bul et would only enrage him, which in turn would make him stronger.

Ethanule continued, “It’s important that I explain things to her. I must stay with her until I can. It’s my duty, to my people, my king. After that, if she doesn’t believe what I have to say you can, I don’t know, throw me into space or something.”

That made Sebastian chuckle, “What is it with your kind and wanting to be thrown into space?”

“What?”

“Never mind. She waslookingfor a book earlier. Is that the book you carry?”

“Yes, but only I can translate it. She’l need me for that.”

A muscle ticked in Sebastian’s jaw. The thought of Anya needing this male, one of her own kind, for anything, irked him, it brought out his possessive instincts. But if Anya could final y learn about her heritage—something he sensed she was desperate for—then Sebastian would go against his instincts and al ow it. Only if that was what Anya wanted,that is.

“It’s Anya’s decision.” Sebastian final y said. “I’l abide by her choice.” A deep sense of foreboding washed over him. Sebastian was sure there would be a lot to Ethanule’s story. And he was also sure he wasn’t going to like any of it.

Sebastian watched as Ethanule crossed the room to speak with Anya. She’d gone to the ship and was waiting impatiently to board. Sebastian signaled everyone to give them space, even though it pained him to do so. His instincts screamed for him to keep them separated.

“What do you think?” Cale and Sonya had gathered around.

“I don’t like him.” Sonya sneered. “I don’t trust him, he’s a damn pirate. Anya has wanted to find someone like her and then boom, here he is? It’s too coincidental.”

Cale added, “I would have loved to see little Anya crack him over the head with that massive book.”

Sebastian would have loved to see it too. He continued to watch the emotions play over his Anya’s face, fighting the urge to go to her. When her lower lip began to quiver he lost the fight. He was to her in an instant. “What did he say to you?” She reached for him, burrowing her face in his chest. Though it kil ed him to see her hurt, it was also deeply gratifying that she was in his arms, had reachedtohim for comfort. Sebastian laid a soft kiss on the top of her head.

Ethanule’s eyes flashed with something inscrutable. “I told her that our people are at war,and they are depending on her.”

“I can’t think,” Anya mumbled to his chest. “Ethanule wants to come with us.” She looked up at him with a mixture of terror and hope. “What do you think?”

He wanted to tel her to tel this pirate to screw off. They could take the book and find someone else who could translate it. Demons, for one, were very good at deciphering languages of al types. He wanted to tel her she didn’t need Ethanule … for anything. But seeing that glimmer of hope in her eyes he said, “I think you should at least listen to what he has to say.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, “Then if you want I wil kil him for you.”

With a crooked smile Ethanule scoffed, “You could try demon.” But then he turned hopeful as Anya looked him over, preparing to make her choice.

“Alright,” Is al she said.

When they started ascending into the ship Cale asked, “Is it true what these Denaloids do to prisoners? I’ve heard some nasty stuff.” It was rumored that the Denaloids often sexual y abuse the criminals of their race, among other barbaric tortures such as castration.

Ethanule replied simply, “Just be glad youareunder my protection.”

Sebastian caught the gleam in Calic’s eye and knew what he was about to suggest. When Cale mentioned his plan to Ethanule, Ethanule answered sarcastical y, “My men would love apetproject.”

A few minutes later Xandar was being hauled out of the ship and presented to Ethanule’s second-in-command.

Sebastian noted that Anya watched, detached and distant. She hated the idea of someone suffering, even if they deserved it. Her kind heart would probably feel sorry for him later, but now she was in too much shock from Ethanule’s revelation to offer any kind or protest.

Sonya was al for it. With pleasure—and artful precision—she cracked Xandar in the face with a heavy right hook. Sebastian knew that right hook wel .

When sparing he would do everything to avoid it.

As Xandar slumped in Cale’s and Aidan’s hold Ethanule eyedSonyawith renewed interest, brows raised. Sebastian sometimes forgot how tiny Sonya actual y was,and to anyone who didn’t know her it was shocking that such a smal creature could pack such a mean punch. Sonya gave Ethanule an arrogant wink and flicked her tail before going to stand beside Anya.

The fact that Sebastian had been ferrying around a predator weighed heavily on his conscience. The number of victims under Xandar’s belt is unknown, but in Sebastian’s opinion one is one too many. Now Xandar begged for mercy, which was more than his victims had been al otted. The doors to the ship closed with a loud ominous sound, condemning Xandar to his fate.

Inside, quick little Sonya already had a dagger to Ethanule’s throat, a hardness to her gaze. “What should we do with the pirate?” Ethanule was looking at her with a strange expression, if Sebastian didn’t know any better he’d say Ethanule was amused by Sonya.

Anya replied first, “I think you should lock him up.” At that Ethanule’s jaw dropped, looking more shocked at Anya’s comment than the knife at his throat.

“Sounds good to me, how about you guys?” Both Sebastian and Cale nodded. It was safer to lock him up. They al needed to concentrate on steering clear of theExtarga, and a pirate running around the ship would be a distraction.In fact, it might be best if he remained in confinement indefinitely. Ethanule could do his translating just as wel from behind bars.

When Sonya began guiding him down the hal Anya cal ed out. “In sickbay please.” The same place she’d been kept, knowing it was more comfortable than the cel s where Xandar had beenincarcerated. Anya with a heart of gold, Cale rol ed his eyes. Sonya looked to Sebastian for confirmation.

Sebastian nodded, then turned back to see Anya trudging in the opposite direction, head down as though lost in thought, and most likely she was.

Catching up to her,Sebastian said, “I need to take command now and get us to a safe place. Are you going to be okay?” He wanted more than anything to stay with her, and for her to want him to stay with her.

“I’l be fine.” Her tone said the opposite. Do you mind if I go lie down in your bed for a while?

He felt a twinge of satisfaction that she would prefer his bed above her own. “I wouldn’t mind.In factI’d like it if you would stay with me, in my room, from now on. Think of it as your own.” He waited, growing a little nervous when she said nothing. He mused, waiting for an answer from this tiny creature made him more nervous than anything that came before.

Final y, “I’d like that too.” Then she paused and with an impish grin said. “Your room has a better view.”

Two days had passed and Anya stil hadn’t visited Ethanule. She’d gone just about everywhere but sickbay, if that was truly where Sonya had taken him.

She’d been avoiding him and the whole subject of himaltogether. Sonya asked her only one question. “So.” She said. “What do you think?” Anya had only shrugged in response while continuing to take drink orders.

There seemed to be a mutual consensus among the crew who’d been present on the asteroid to let Anya culminate. Marik asked her questions because he hadn’t been there, but his questions were more along the lines of her state of mind and how she was feeling. His concern gave her insight into what it might have been like to have a big brother.

Would a big brother have tried to rescue her when her father hadn’t?

Cale only wanted to know about when she’s struck Ethanule with the book,and how quickly he went down. Cale could be single minded, if it wasn’t women on his mind,it was violence.

Sebastian hadn’t even brought it up. Each night he would kiss her and hold her, make her feel safe and warm. He wasn’t happy about Ethanule’s presence on the ship, she could tel . But she also knew he was itching for answers almost as bad as she was. She was just afraid what those answers might be. After al this time wondering where she was from, and what came to be of her people …nowshe was afraid to know.