Demon Possession (34 page)

Again Anya ignored his request and moved to a compartment on the wal , just beside where Bastian stood. Opening it revealed a tangle of wires.

The ship shook angrily as three more blasts assaulted the ships exterior.

“Captain, the shields are down to fourteen percent!”

“Aidan, resume evasive maneuvers. Get us out of here!”

In a strong voice that gathered al her intensity she said. “Captain, you must trust me. Prepare the ship for warp. Now!” When he shook his head she pul ed out the one wire that would give her ful access to the ships power and, holding it in one hand, she hovered it over her wrist. Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

Gravely Anya said. “Once I do this Darius wil know, without a doubt, that I am on this ship. He’s only playing with you now. He wil attack with al his force.

Please cal the order. Prepare the ship!”

“Anya …”

Another round of explosions tore at the ship. A warning alarm sounded, sparks jutting out further from the wal . A ful y panicked voice cal ed out over the noise, “Captain! Shields are down to three percent. We can’t take another hit!”

With that Anya shoved the exposed wire into her skin, penetrating. A smal trickle of blood flowed down her arm and into the metal of the wire.

Sebastian’s brows drew together in confusion. “Anya?”

The pul of the ship was sharp. It drank from her like a hundred-year-old thirst being quenched at last. It also hurt like hel ! More than she thought it would.

This was a straight draw, and she wasn’t used to that. Soon her wrist became like fire. Anya schooled her features to keep the pain off her face. Bastian didn’t need to see it.

“Uh,Captain? The shields have spiked! They’ve shot up to ninety-two percent.”

Jaw dropped, Bastian’s head snapped to her. The look he gave her was as though he wereseeingat a stranger, like he’d never truly seen her before. She had to force herself not to turn away in shame.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The blasting renewed with a frenzy, each explosion only mil isecond apart, rendering the ship into a continuous vibrative state. With her connected to the ship, the tremendous thundering was like a force onto itself.

He knows!

“Bastian! Do it now!” She pleaded.

“Shields, eighty-five percent.”

Final y, he cal ed over the loud speaker. “Attention al . Prepare yourselves for warp drive in ten seconds.” He looked back at Anya, expression unreadable.

Grateful, she nodded. “Run it for as long as you can. Half a minute at least.”

Aidan started the countdown. “Ten”

The fire in Anya’s wrist had spread to her elbow.

“Nine.”

In a tone void of emotion Bastian asked. “Wil this harm you?”

“Eight.”

“Shields, seventy-one percent!”

“Seven.”

Afraid he would back out,Anya lied. “I’l be fine.”

“Six.”

TheExtargacontinued battering the ship, each blow like a secondexplosioninside her.

“When this starts …” She said to Sebastian.

“Five.”

“No matter what you see or hear …”

“Four.”

“Don’t touch my skin. Okay”

“Three.”

Sebastian steadied his gaze.

“Promise me!”

“Two.”

“Why?” He demanded.

“One.”

Her vision blurred, going white with nausea as the ship surged into warp. The fire that she’d been able to keep contained in her arm now swal owed her completely. In vain she gasped for air that wasn’t fil ed with liquid heat. Her lungs burned, her skin burned, the blood in her veins burned with every merciless beat of her heart.

Gripping her wrist tight to keep the wire in place, she leaned her weight against the wal . It felt as though something were reaching into her and clawing at her insides, the pain worsening with each pul of the ship.

How many seconds had passed?

How much longer would she suffer?

TheExtargawould not be able to fol ow as long as enough time had passed in warp. They wouldn’t be able to spare the energy, not without her. The thought made her want to smile through the consuming inferno. Final y she was using her gift for her own purpose, a truly freeing act.

The pain was nearing the point of agony. Anya bit her tongue to keep from begging for it to stop. Her friends needed her to be strong. Sebastian needed her to be strong.

Impossibly the fire in her grew hotter, any second she would burn away. Her eyes were closed, hot tears burning their way down her cheeks. She was afraid to open them and see if her skin was actual y aflame. A scream must have escaped her, she could barely hear.

Sebastian’s voice penetrated, it sounded so far away. “Anya! Stop! Aidan can’t stop it!”

Good. She’d be able to get them as far away as she wanted, as she could stand.

Suddenly she stopped breathing, or her body was using up al the oxygen so quickly that she felt like no air was coming with each heavy draw of breath.

Her blood boiled, body contorting from the pain, the suffocating, burning pain growing hotter stil . She screamed again, too much pain.

She’s suffering!

Sebastian’s first instinct was to grab her, but heeding her words, he remained in place. “Anya! Talk to me!”

She made no sound, no movement. Her jaw was clenched. Was she trying to keep quiet? Keep her pain from showing?He knew shewould do anything toprotect the people on this ship, but how far would she go. The answer scared him.

“Aidan, cut the warp drive!”

After a moment Aidan cal ed back. “I … I can’t stop it. For some reason I’m locked out.” He banged at the computer in frustration.

Just then Anya let out an agonizing sound that tore at Sebastian’s heart. “Anya! Stop!” He pleaded. Either not hearing him or ignoring him completely she didn’t move. He tried again. “Anya,listen to me! Aidan can’t stop it. Whatever you’re doing, it’s hurting you. Stop this or I wil .”

She screamed again, protectively pul ing her wrist closer into her body …In an attempt to keep it from him?Her eyes were closed tight but tears had begun to escape. Then the strangest thing happened. The tears sizzled on her cheeks before evaporating before his eyes. “Anya! Damn it! That’s enough!”

When her whole body became clenched in pain he took matters into his own hands. She said not to touch her skin but she didn’t say anything about the wire. Swiftly he gripped the wire and pul ed it clean from the wal . Anya sucked in a harsh breath and slumped to the floor.He felt the thrusters shut down instantly.

Scooping her up Sebastian mindlessly yel ed out orders. “Find a place to hide. Scan the area, make sure we’re safe. Run diagnostics on the ship, I need to know how damaged it is. Find out where the hel we are. Report to me in ten minutes.”

With that he left, racing down the hal grumbling. “Dammit Anya. How many times do I need to rush you to the doctor? This wil be the last time. You hear me!” Of course she didn’t. Once more, she was unconscious in his arms. He promised to keep her safe but it seemed an impossible job.

In his arms she looked so fragile, so easily broken. But, aside from his sister, she was one of the strongest, bravest females he’d ever met. “You’d better get through this one or I’l rip through the underworld to bring you back myself.” Her lips were parted on a breath but she didn’t seem to be taking in any air.

Dr. Oshwald looked slightly disheveled when he’d entered sickbay. Sebastian lay her down on the bed, then attempted to explain, as best he could, what had happened. Before he was finished, Cale burst through the doors.

“Here you are! What the fuck was that? Did we seriously just warp? What the fuck happened toher?”

Oswald placed one hand over her forehead and one over her heart. “Ow.” He pul ed away.

“What is it?” Both demons said in unison.

“She’s burning, literal y. Must be two hundred degrees at least. Didn’t you feel it when she was in your arms?”

“Heatdoesn’taffect demons the same way it might you. Is she alive?”

“She lives, but barely.”

Cale growled. “Wel , do something about it Doc!”

“Both of you out! One demon hovering is bad enough,but two is intolerable.”

Once outside, Cale slapped Sebastian on the back. “Drink?”

Knowing there was nothing he could do to help Anya Sebastian reluctantly agreed.

“What the hel is going on?” Sonya asked,as Cale approached the bar. Sebastian was seated in a corner booth, head in his hands. “How is it possible that we warped? Not that I’m complaining. I was actual y starting to get a little worried when the bombing wouldn’t stop. The shaking of the ship claimed more than one of my more expensive liquor bottles.” Sonya resumed her nervous cleaning with a semi dirty rag.

“I haven’t got the whole story yet. Al I’ve been able to pul out of him, is something about Anya powering the ship.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

Cale shrugged.

Tossing down the rag Sonya walked toward Sebastian and sat down across from him. Cale fol owed with drinks in hand.Sonya had never been a patient chit.

“Can you please explain to me what’s happened?” She demanded.

Sensing that he was in great need Cale handed Sebastian the very large,very strong drink. Sebastian took the glass and ingested it with one swal ow.

“We can get you an I.V. mate. Fil it with a hundred proof.”

Sonya impatiently crossed her arms.

“I don’t even understand it myself.” He began. “I’l need to speak with Anya to be sure but, I think,Anya fixed the warp algorithm,and then powered the ship with herbody.”

With that, Cale sat, and took a deep swig of his own drink. He’d known there was something more to Anya, but this?

Sonya dropped her arms. After a moment, she replied. “Where is she now?”

“Sickbay. She was hurt badly doing … whatever it was she did. How could I have let that happen?”

“Did you know what she was planning?”

“No. How could I?”

“Then how could you have known to protect her?”

“She’s suffered so much, whenIcould have stopped it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She’d been on that ship for years, suffering. How long have we been supplying TheExtarga? How many times have I gone aboard to meet with Darius?”

Sebastian’s fists clenched. “I should have known! I should have felt her presence. I ignored my instincts. Ilefther there! Now she’s suffering again, because I couldn’t keep her safe.”

Cale wondered, if he were in Bastian’s place, would he feel as responsible. There is no question that he had loved his mate, but some things are just out of your control. Sonya seemed to feel the same.

“Sebastian,” She sighed. “After seeing you with Anya, the way you are with her, I have no doubt that if you had caught even a hint of her scent, you would never have left that ship until you found her. You can’t blame yourself.”

“How can you be sure? I denied her for so long when she was so close.”

“You denied yourself, not her. You must have been blind to your own reactions to her. When she’s in the same room as you, she commands your ful attention.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“It couldn’t have been more obvious if you had paintedthis is my mateon your forehead with an arrow pointing to Anya.”

Sebastian laughed. Sonya could always make that happen. Thankful y Cale was wise enough to let Sonya do the talking. Cale would have just told him to stop being a pansy and get over it. They had more important things to deal with. Like finishing this damn mission, and getting the fuck off this ship for a couple of hours. He had long exhausted his supply of fresh females.

Anya had been awake fora fewminutes but only managed to crack her eyes open for a few brief seconds, scanning for Bastian. She quickly took stock in her situation.Hurting. On a bed. Stil alive. She’d caught a glimpse of Dr. Oshwald. She must be in sickbay.But where is Bastian?

Careful to inhale slowly, her lungs burned with each breath, she tried to imagine what Bastian might be thinking right now. He knew what she was now, and he wasn’t here with her. What if he found what she’d done repulsive? How could he not?

With a brief, unusual y painful energy scan she determined enough to know that the ship was intact, for the most part. They must have been successful in their escape. That at least was good news. It was some comfort to know she’d helped in the escape. That everyone was safe … for now.

Now she began to worry for herself. Would Bastian see her as a prize, an asset to keep and use as he pleased? A ships biggest expense was fuel.

Would he think to use her as Darius had? A tool to be exploited?

“Anya?” DoctorOshwald’s voice rang out in the quiet little room. “Are you awake child?”

Her eyelids fluttered in answer but she couldn’t keep them open.

“You heal almost as quickly as they do. It’s amazing. What are you?”

“Who?” she managed. Her voice didn’t sound like her own. It was too deep and scratchy. The use of her throat brought renewed pain. She wouldn’t attempt to speak again, for a while at least.

“The demons.” He replied. “They are one of the fastest healing races. They rarely need my services. Seems you are too, but you real y did a number on yourself. Your insides were nearly mush. I’ve never seen anything like it.” She felt a cool hand on her forehead, the relief was astounding. “Ah, you’re healing very wel indeed. I’m going to use my ability to help it along. Let me know if you feel uncomfortable.”

A very welcome chil rol ed over her, driving out the incessant heat. She hadn’t realized how hot she’d been feeling. But too soon the doctor removed his hand and the heat returned.

“That’s al I can manage for now. You’ve taken most of my strength as it is.” She could tel he’d moved to his chair and was now sitting. “Rest now, I’l try again in a little while.”

It didn’t take long for her exhaustion to claim her.

“What do you mean she woke?And you didn’t cal me!” Sebastian was fuming.

Dr. Oshwaldwas surprisingly calm in the face of an enraged demon. He sat at his desk scribbling notes. He didn’t even look up as Sebastian bel owed.

Nonchalantly Oshwaldsaid, “It was only for a few minutes. She’l wake again. Soon I expect.”