Demon Possession (17 page)

“Now you attack me.”

Gripping the hilt of her sword,she froze. “Shouldn’t I practice on a dummy or something? I might …”

“If you can even touch me with the air from your swing, I’l eat my own hand. Now do it. Attack!”

Her first strike was limp,and he batted it away with the smal est flick of his wrist. She tried again,and this time was no better. The third was worse,and even she knew it lacked conviction.

“Pathetic. Try harder.”

She did, but only a little. Countless more swings of her sword and she was panting, sweat gleamed on her skin.

Calegrowled at her lack of progress. “What gets your blood boiling? What makes you angry? Who has wronged you?”

Darius.

“Close your eyes and think of someone else in my place. If you can, try to remember a time when you were ful of rage,and hold on to it.”

She didn’t have to think long. There were too many times to choose from, too many moments when she thought she would go mad from the anger festering inside her. It was stil there, underneath the surface, clawing to get free. She’d spent so much time burying it she hardly recognized it when a spike of fury flushed through her.

Darius,murdering her mother! Darius,locking her away! His breath on her neck as he would tel her she belonged to him. The memories of every time he abused her,or tried to break her,started to flood her mind.

When the sound of metal grating against metal fil ed the air,she opened her eyes. Her body had moved without her permission, and even Cale looked a little shocked.

“Very good!” His eyes flashed with something … approval? “Again!” He ordered.

Her rage hadn’t left her,in factit was stil growing. Maddening. Harder than before she slashed at Cale, picturing only Darius.

Clang!

Without a pause, her sword carved through the air.

Clang!

Darius, ripping at her hair.

Clang!

Throwing her to the ground.

Clang!

Laughing at her pain.

Clang!

His eyes swimming with pleasure at what he was about to do to her.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

She went mindless with her rage, her horror, her fury. Only the sound of metal on metal satisfied her, wishing it was metal against flesh. At some point she’d begun to cry-out with every swing,and was advancing on the mat. She no longer felt her body. A building energy buzzed through her,and guided her movements.

The image of her sword slashing through Dariusswam in her mind, thoughhis expression remained arrogant,alwayslooking at her as though superior to her in every way. He reached out and grabbed her shoulders.

Analiascreamed.

“Anya!” Two male voices yel ed her name repeatedly.

The image of Darius vanished, and she felt warm tears streaking down her face.

Shaking,Analiasank to her knees,buryingher face in her hands. Fuzzy images of the memories she’d cal ed stil misted through her mind. Warm armsgently camearound her,and she smel ed the musky scent of Bastian. How long had he been here?

Fisting his shirt in her handsAnaliaclung to himas shesobbed. “Don’t let him hurt me anymore!” She couldn’t stop the words from coming out. Sebastian tightened his gripon her. Analia felt his head snap to Cale,and could only blubber unintel igibly.

“She’s not talking about me mate!”

Analia thought she heard a hint of concern in Cale’s voice,but decided she was mistaken.

Sebastianforced a soft tone,“Who are you talking about sweets?”

Analiashook her head,her face stil buried in the crook of his neck. Her grip was like a vice on his col ar,as though she would never let go. Her only response was a gut-wrenching wail that cut him to the bone.

What had brought her to this? Once again he turned his attention on Cale, who looked at Anya as though he didn’t know what to make of her. To anyone else Cale would have seemed uncaring,but Sebastian saw the gleam of guilt in his eyes.

Anya’s sobs began to slow to a quiet weep, though her body was stil shaking wildly. Sebastian petted her hair, hating himself,because she was wil ingly in his arms and he felt a twinge of satisfaction for it.He knew it was only because she was so distraught that she al owed the contact, but like the selfish bastard he was, Sebastian would take anything he could get.

“Shhh …” He cooed. “You’re safe. No one wil hurt you here.” He didn’t know if his words had any effect. Reveling in her warmthSebastianpul ed her tighter against him. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck. A hitch in her breath was the only sound from her now.

He didn’t know how long they sat like that but when she began to pul away he reluctantly let her go. After pul ing herself to a stand, her red eyes darted between him and Cale. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “That won’t happen again.”

“What exactly happened?”Sebastian asked. When she didn’t respond, he pointed to Cale,“Did he hurt you?” Sebastian knew Cale wouldn’t have hurt her intentional y, he only asked to get her talking.

In a solemn voice Anya replied, “No, Cale didn’t hurt me.”

Sebastian scowled in frustration. “Tel me who did.”

She gave him asilentwithered look.

“I wil find out.”

Anya only shrugged.

“Do you feel up to working in the gal ey today? I could take you back to your room.” Sebastian was hoping for the latter. Not only did she look tired but her melancholy plagued him. And for reasons beyond his comprehension, he wanted her wel rested and smiling again.

Plus, during the training he had replaced her couch. Not with the old one,but with one from his own room. It was soft, comfortable,and large. It would make a satisfactory bedfor her.

When he’d seen her huddled on the floor this morning, Sebastianrealizedshe wouldn’t back down, and accepted defeat.He thought if she saw what he’d done for her,it might cheer herup, but to his disappointment Anyashook her head,and said she’d like to see Marik. A pang of jealousy nagged at him.

Marik had a connection with her, a shared experience thatSebastianwould never understand.

Cale interrupted his thoughts. “You impressed me today Anya. And that’s not easily done. I expect you here tomorrow.”

With a tight nod she turned and walked away. Sebastian remained only a second longer to order Cale to meetwithhim later.

Sebastian caught up with Anya. At first she didn’t acknowledge him, just kept walking as if he wasn’t there. He was okay with that, he just wanted to stay near her in case she broke down again.

“You don’t have to walk with me. I know the way now.” Her voice seemedempty, but he knew there must be a storm of feelings brewing inside her.

“Maybe I’d like to walk with you.”

Laughing without humor she replied. “I think you want to make sure I don’t blubber al over myself on the way there.”

Sebastiandidn’t respond.

“I’m fine now.”

“I don’t think you are. I think you’re on the Edge.”

She whipped around,coming to an abrupt stop. “Why do you care? I don’t understand you!Why don’t you just leave me alone?”

Sebastian didn’t know what to say. He himself couldn’t understand why he felt such a pul toward her. He was constantly trying tokeep his distance, trying not to care.He didn’t care. Did he?

For a moment, as she looked at him expectantly,Sebastianpondered how best to respond, deciding to go with the truth. “I feel … protective of you.I shouldn’t, but I do.I just want you to be safe. Happy.” He paused, “And I want to find the person who hurt you,and rip out his goddamn throat.” Sebastian growled the last part and her jaw dropped. Turning,shebeganher swift pace again.

Not a word was spoken between them until they entered the salon, and even then, she only thanked him before disappearing into the gal ey.

Marik was pissed.

Anya had arrivedto work thelunchcrowd, but she was like a shel of her former self. She was closed off and wouldn’t talk tohim.Mariktried to ask her what happened during training,but sheonly shook her head. Shehardly spokeal day,offeringshort commentswhen anyone tried tostrike up a conversation. She stil worked hard but it was as though a cloud of gloom surrounded her.

Marik wasn’t angry withAnya, butwithSebastian and Cale, even Sonya would be wise to stay clear of him. Whatever was the cause of her mood was most assuredly their doing. They didn’t understand theinnerturmoil a newly freed slave.How could they. They had watched Marik go through so much during his recovery, had empathized with himas best they could, but that was different than truly understanding.

When Anya was serving the last customer of her shift Sebastian and Cale entered the salon,taking a corner table.Mariksaw her glance at them for only a second beforehurrying into thegal ey, to hand Marik herlast orderof the day.

It was a soup order and required no preparation.Marikfil ed a bowlbut left it on the counter. “Stay here for a minute,” He ordered,and entered the salon, stalking toward the two men. After glancing his way, they knew immediately he was pissed, and offered no surprise as to why he might be looking at them with daggers in his eyes. When he reached the table Marik didn’t greet them. In a low,but harsh tone, “What the fuck did you do to her?”

Cale spoke first. “During training, I had her tapinto her anger.I didn’t know it would be so strong.”

Marik scoffed. “Do you remember what happened when you tried that with me?” Marik had almost taken Cale’s head off.

“And look at you now, the picture of perfection.” Cale sneered.

“You have no idea what she’s been through.”

“Neitherdo you. You may have both been slaves,but your situations were different.”

“Aye, and hers no doubt was worse, but I know more than you do Cale. I’ve known pain like you couldn’t imagine.”

“Oh real y, do you know what it’s like to lose a mate?”

“I know what it’s like to lose family.”

“Enough!” Sebastian grated. “This isn’t a competition. We’ve al suffered. Every one of us. No one can know what the other is going through,and that includes Anya. That’s why she wil continue training. Learning to control her emotions,while defending herself could save her life one day. Don’t you agree?” They both nodded. “Today was a setback. There are always setbacks in the beginning.”

Cale’s shoulders went back,“She’s a good student. Didn’t complain, though I could see it in her face she wanted to. And fast, when she …caught her stride.”

“Justgo easy onher,” Marik replied.”She’s stil healing.”

A spark ofrealization coveredSebastian’sfeatures. “Does Anya remind you of your sister?”

Marik reluctantly nodded.

“You know Cale is a good trainer. He would do nothing to hurt her.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m a fucking angel.” Cale scoffed and leaned back in his chair.

Just then Anya appeared in the salon, headingstraighttowardthem. She gave each of them a wary look before she asked Sebastian. “Are you here to walk with me again?”

Sebastian looked as though he were torn. “Can you find your way?”

“Yes.”

“Then I wil leave you to it, unless … do you want me to?”

Without hesitation,Anya replied. “It’s not necessary.” She looked at each of them in turn.”I’l befine.”

Marik knew she wasn’t talking about finding the pub with that last remark. Hewatched her leave thinking,maybe it would be good for her to get closer to Sonya. Women have their own way of comforting each other,and their tactics seemed to elude male kind.

Analia was glad to get out of there.

It was obvious they were arguing, probably about her. She didn’t care. What she’d gone through during Cale’s training was none of their business. She was upset with herself for breaking down as she had,and vowed that it would not happen again. She would concentrate on learning what she could from Cale,soshe could leave here with confidence. That would be her only focus.

Sonya waved her over as soon as she entered the pub. “Did Bastian explain to you why you’re here?”She asked.

Analia nodded.

Sonya froze and studied her. “What’s wrong?”

Was she that transparent?She tried to fake a smile,“I’m fine.”

“No you’re not. What happened? Was Cale being an ass?”

Analia remained quiet.

“You might as wel tel me,because I don’t give up til I get what I want.”

Rol ing her eyes Anya proceeded to explain her failure this morning. Sonya listened quietly til the end. Then,to Anya’s confusion,Sonyasmiled.

“I’m proud of you. It sounds like you real y caught Cale off guard. It takes years to tap into your emotions for use in battle like that. Demons train for decades to accomplish it. I know it must feel awful now, but it wil get better. There wil come a time when you can tap the emotions for their strengths,and keep yourself separate from the memory that inspired the emotion in the first place.”Sonyapaused,a mischievous smile crossed her lips. “Then you’l have the boys running for the hil s.”

“Running for the hil s?”

“Yeah, fleeing to escape your wrath.”

Anya laughed at that. But Sonya did have a point. Before she had engaged her anger, she’d been useless with the sword. Much of it was fuzzy now, but she remembered causing Cale to step back more than once, obviously because he was stunned, but stil . She smiled. “Ididn’tfail.”

“That’s my girl. Now let’s serve some drinks.”

There was a lot involved with serving drinks. In Marik’s gal ey, he did the cooking while she only served the food. Here Sonya expectedherto mix the drinks exactly as she explained. There was a lot to remember,and she made more than a few mistakes.

To her humiliation a man with long dreadlocks and golden skin spit out a drink she had served him. Anya tried to apologies as best she could,but the man just waved her away and ordered her in a rough tone tofix it.Furthering Anya’s humiliation,Sonya had scolded the man and forced him to apologize toherfor his behavior.

Sonya had no fear. She was a strong female whodidn’t take crap from anyoneas she put it. Sonya was in charge here and didn’t hesitate to let it be known.

Anya was awed.

After the thirteenth or fourteenth drink order Analia began to get a handle on it. She liked it when someone ordered one of the bottled drinks,and she only had to open it for them. That was nice and easy. Many of them, however, liked their drinks mixed … and strong.