Demon Possession (14 page)

Perhaps she should speak with him about it … once he calmed down about the couch incident that is. Maybe there’sa database of planets she could search through,to find something close by, so he wouldn’t have to travel too far out of his way. That would be ideal.

What kind of planet would suit her? A place that was calm, warm. She dreamed of sun on her skin and vegetation that didn’t try to eat you. Smal , nonthreatening flying creatures would be good too.

As the breakfast crowd thinned,she took the time to clean and dry the dishes, and wipe down the counters for the lunch hour. Methodical y she scoured the counters til they shined.

Marik often remained quiet while workingthestoves, she suspected he liked it that way and normal y tried not to bother him with conversation. But her curiosity got the better of her.

“Marik?”

He grunted in answer,and didn’t look up from the pan of food he was working with.

“How did you come to be here?”

Moments ticked by and she thought he wouldn’t answer.

“I didn’t escape like you.” He final y offered. “Not that I didn’t try. I tried. Many, many times.I was always caught,but that didn’t stop me from trying, even though the repercussions grew worse with each attempt.” He paused, brows drawn in at some memory Analia couldn’t imagine. “No, in the end I had to be saved, by none other than Sebastian himself. He purchased me at an auction and immediately offered me my freedom. I didn’t trust him at first,when he offered me a position here onMarada. I almost refused but, Sonya actual y convinced me to come aboard. She reminded me of my sister …” he trailed off. Anya sensed in him a deep-seated pain, and didn’t want to push him for more but he continued. “My sister was taken … along with me … but we were separated, she’s stil out there … somewhere.”

That means she could stil be a slave. “I’m sorry,” Analia didn’t know what else to say.

“I remember what Sonya had said that day, to convince me.She said,’don’t worry Marik, if Bastian ever acts like he owns you I’l kick his ass,and we’l take over the ship’. Sebastian had laughed,and said she would probably succeed.’You’re damn right I would’she had said.” Analia laughed at that,and Marik gave her a melancholic smile. “They’re good people, you’re in good hands.”

“I hope your right.”

“You could probably stay,if you play your cards right. From what I’ve seen, half the crew is in love with you already.”

Analia shook her head. It sounded nice, real y nicein fact, but Darius was a threat to everyone not just her. She would be responsible if her actions led to anyone here getting hurt or more likely kil ed. “I real y should leave the ship as soon as the wards come down,” she said, averting her eyes.

“Wil someone be searching for you?” Marik guessed.

Her gaze snapped to his but before she could formulate an answer she heard a smal crowd of people enter the salon. Eager for escape,she turned to tend to them, was almost out the door,when Marik caught her by the arm. Gasping, she hadn’t even heard him move. His features were harsh,and her heart began to pound,as a lump of fear gripped it. “If someone is after you, we can protect you.”

No, they couldn’t, but she wouldn’t tel himthat. She only gaveMarika tight nod, ful of emotion from the unexpected offer of protection. “I’l think about it.” She lied.

Marik let go of Analia and she disappeared into thesalon,clearlyafraid. Someone, herownerperhaps, mightcomefor her. They’d never take her of course.Sebastian would reign down destruction onany whothreatened his ship, or anyone on it.Even if he was protecting an escaped slave,who had snuck onto his ship. Even if there wasn’t something strange going on with him, where Anya was concerned.

Marik had heard about the brawl between Cale and Sebastian,had sensed something was up when Sebastian left that morning. Cale had done a good job at providing a release for Sebastian’s rage. HadSebastiangoneto the Edgebecause Anya hadn’t told him of her past? Or was it something more?

Marik couldn’t put his finger on it,but there was an inkling of a suspicion that nettled at the back of his mind, thoughit waseasily dismissed.

Sebastian never let any woman close.

None of them did. Marik supposed it was because they were al deeplyscarred in some way or another. Many of Marik’s scars were displayed on the outside,as wel as in. Where women were concerned he, Bastian, and Cale al shared the keep-them-at-a-distance mentality. But with Anya, Sebastian seemed different.

Anya entered the gal ey, repeatingthe orders she’d just taken, stil not meeting Marik’s eyes. Immediately she busied herself with cleaning and didn’t say another word. When he finished plating the orders she quietly carried them to their destination.

If someone wassearchingfor her, Sebastian should know about it. Though Marik had faith in the strength ofMarada,it wouldn’t be good to be caught off guard. The next time he saw Sebastian,Marik would relay his suspicions.

No matter what was happening between him and Anya, Sebastian would never let her go back to being a slave. Marik knew this for certain.

At the end of the day Analia finished helping Marik close down the gal ey,and headed directly for her room. Sonya hadn’t shown up tonight to escort her.

She was probably working in her pub. Anya briefly considered stopping by for a minute or two, but she was tired from the long day and hadn’t slept wel the night before.

On her way she passed the nursery, the scent of the plants, and the energy pul ed at her, caressed her senses and almost lured her in, but she passed by, thinking of Sebastian’s warning.

Analianoted how tired she was, her body wasn’t used to the constant physical exertionofworking in the salon. Maybe sheshouldtry to sleep in the bed tonight, like Sebastian wanted. She didn’t want any more morning arguments. Plus, the ship was beginning to feel more comfortable, safe even. There was a chance she wouldn’t be plagued with the usual nightmares. Nightmares that felt so real she would wake up in a sweat, disoriented, and fighting off the phantoms of whichever horror clutched at her. Since she’d beenonMarada, Analiahadn’t experienced any nightmares, thus far.

Entering her room,Analiawalked a few steps before stopping abruptly at the sight before her. She sucked in a harsh breath. “Son of a bitch!” She’d heard that phrase used when people were pissed,and nowseemed like theperfect moment to use it.

The couch was gone!

Emptiness,and a few light dents in the carpet held its place. She stomped her foot and cursed again. “Overbearing stubborn …” She growled.Actual y growled.

Analia stormed out of the room, disgusted with looking at the blank open space. She was tempted to find Sebastian and tel him just what she thought of his little stunt, but she decided instead to go to the pub, seeking a female perspective. On the way she marveled briefly at the notion that she could actual y seek a female perspective.

For a long while,Analia wandered the hal s in a huff, circling and searching for something familiar to point her in the right direction. She should have made it to the pub by now.Analiafeared she’d taken a wrong turn. Negotiating corner after corner, Analiafinal y admitted to herself that she was lost.

“You look lost.”A familiar voice spoke from behind her, causing her to jump.It was Xandar, wearing an expensive looking, tan coloredshirt,and a pair of black trousers. He looked sideways at her before giving her aslowsmile, not the obtrusive smile from before.

“Ibelieve Iam. I’m looking for the pub.”

His eyes lit up. “That’s where I’m headed now, I’l walk with you.” He turned around. “Fol ow me, you’re going the wrong way.”

Analia flushed and fol owed, catching up to walk by his side.Hesmel ed faintly of soap,mingled with some fragrance she couldn’t name. His blond hairwasparted to the side, andfel around his face,fol owing the line of his jaw. Anya figured most females would think him handsome.

They waked in silence for a moment before she asked. “Why are you going to the pub so late?”

“I work the evening shift and just got off so this isn’t late for me. Besides this is when the pub real y comes alive. Iwasgoing there to look for a beautiful woman to keep me company, but it seems I already found one.”

Anya felt her cheeks go red.

“Why areyougoing so late?”

“I need to speak with Sonya.”

“So this isn’t a pleasure cruise? You should stay and keep me company, so I don’t get lonely.”

“You don’t seem like the type of guy who gets lonely.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

Analia only shrugged.

“Is your opinion of me already set then? You should get to know me before you make judgments. Come on, stay for a drink and let me change your mind about me.”

“Maybe,” she offered, not intending to stay long.

When they entered the pub,Xandar fol owed her to where Sonya stood behind thebar. Music beat in her ear, but it wasn’t so loud that you couldn’t converse with someone nearby.

Lining the bar were seven tal chairs, two of which were unoccupied. Xandar rushed to pul oneout for her.That was nice of him. Then he took the chair next to hers.Shoot. She was hoping to speak privately with Sonya.

Sonya glided toward them. Tiny black horns poked out of midnight colored hair,braidedneatly down thesidesof herface. She wore a tight black corset,with purple strings tied up the center, and a short purple, red, and black plaid skirt. Purple and black stripped stockings rose to her upper thighs and her shoes were, of course, black highheeledboots. As she walked, her tail swished back and forth from underneath her skirt. Analia envied her confidence.

“Anya!” Sonya squealed, throwing her arms in the air. “You came to see me.”

Analia had to smile at her enthusiasm. She was real y beginning like the demon female. “Hi Sonya.”

“And Xandar,” Sonya looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing with my little Anya?”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Anya?”Xandartested the name that seemed to be catching on with nearly everyone on the ship. “Anyawas lost,and would have wandered the entire ship if I hadn’t found her. We’d like to order a couple of drinks, on my tab.”

Drinks?

“Of course, what can I get you,” Sonya replied.

Xandar looked at Analia, “Do you know what you would like,Anya?”

“I …” She shrugged and looked to Sonya for help. “What kind of drinks do you serve? Sebastian said people drinkalcoholhere, to relax.” She’d said the word alcohol as if she’d never used it before, which she hadn’t. “What do you suggest?”

Both Sonya and Xandar gaped at her as if she had sprouted three heads.

“You’ve never had alcohol?” Xandar asked.

Analia shook her head. “Why is everyone shocked by that?” Sebastian had been too.

Sonya shrugged and answered. “I’venever met an alcohol virgin before.” She gave her a sly smile. “We’re going to start you off real y, real y light.” Sonya busied herself with mixing a pink colored drink,and placed it in front ofAnalia. She alsofil ed a tiny glassfrom the same mix, lifted itin the air, and drank it down in one gulp, slamming the smal glassbackonto the bar.

Strange.

As with the clothing, Sonya watched her expectantly, waiting for herto taste the liquid. Analia brought theslimglass to her lips and sipped it gingerly. Even Xandar watched with unusual interest.

After gathering the flavor,Analianodded her approval. “It’s sweet.” She said.

Then Xandar orderedsomething cal ed Demon’s Special Blend. Again, Sonya grabbed a variety of bottles,mixed them in a glass,and handed it to Xandar. His drink was a multicolored concoction, blue at the bottom, purple in the middle,and red at the top. Sonya lit a match by striking it against a rough part of her outfit,and inflamed the top of the drink. After a moment, Xandar blew out the fire and sucked down the liquid in one large gulp. Now it was Anya’s turn to gape.

The expression on her face made Xandar laugh. “You should just sip your drink.Alcohol can affect you in different ways,and since you’ve never had it before you should be careful.”

She tilted her head at him. “How can it affect you?”

“Wel , it depends on the species, and even then it depends on the individual. Some become relaxed, happy, giddy, lusty,orgiggly. Then there’s the opposite emotions like sad, depressed, angry,orviolent.”

Sonya chimed in, “For most it gives a relaxed euphoric feeling, but the same thing happens to everyone when they drink too much.”

“And what’s that?”

“If you drink too much, you can become veryil .”

Anya took another sip, a little more wary than before.Then something caught the corner of her eye and her attention was drawn to the door.

Sebastian had just entered.

Sebastian scented her before he saw her. Calic was with him,and alreadyhad his handclamped onSebastian’sshoulder in warning. Anya was sitting next to Xandar. Sebastian had nothing against the guy, but seeing him next to Anya, talking and leaning close, had him seeing red. As he recal ed, Xandar usual y respected the ruleno sex among crew members, but not always. Then again Anya wasn’t real y part of the crew.Damn.

Cale pul ed him to a table farthest away from the bar. As Sebastian sat, he wondered if Anya had been to her room yet. A fiendish grin spread across his lips, he knew that tonight she would be forced to take the bed, seeing as there was no longer anywhere else to sleep.

Cale raised a curious eyebrow at him and Sebastian dropped his smile.

“What’s with the look? You’re not about to go psycho on me again are you? Not that I wouldn’t enjoy kicking your ass again.”

“No, I was just thinking of something funny.” Focusing once again on Anya,Sebastian caught her gaze. She gave him a look that, if it were a physical thing, would have sliced through him with venom. He smiled, shootingback a wink. With her movements sharp, she turned away.Yup, she’s been to her room. He couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

Cale was scrutinizing the entire scene. “Sebastian?” He said slowly. “What did you do?”

“Nothing. We’re just playing a game, she and I, and I’m winning.”

Cale rol ed his eyes and let out a snort. “Yeah right.”

Sonya sauntered over and sat at their table with a dramatic plop. “Hey guys, do you see Anya with Xandar? He’s laying it on thick. Someone should keep an eye on that.” They al looked at the two in question. They were laughing, Anya’s face wasturningred,and she was halfcoveringit with her hands in a show of embarrassment. Xandar reached out and pul ed her hand away. Keeping her hand clasped in his, he whispered something in her ear. Grinding his teeth Sebastian looked away.