Demon Possession (43 page)

Ethan spoke quickly, “This could be it. The code seems to be pointing me toward a solar system in this particular galaxy.” He started speaking more quietly, calculating, as if he would be speaking whether or not they were there to listen. “Five moons, two moons, eight moons, three moons …” He said as he cycled through images of the foreign planets. When he stopped at the last image Anya was almost knocked over by an unfamiliar wave of energy.

Sonya was by her side in an instant. “Are you okay?You’re notpregnantare you?”

What!” That gave her pause.She supposed it was possible.“I don’t think so.” For some reason she looked to Ethan.

Ethan studied her. “Did you take his blood into you?”

“No, of course not!”

“Then it’s impossible.” He faced the computer once more, hiding his emotions. But Anya didn’t need to see his face to know he was deeply hurt that she didn’t choose him. Even though Ethan knew perfectly wel that he wasn’t attracted to her either.

“So Faieara have a mating ritual similar to ours?” Sonya asked.

“It’s not a mating ritual, it’s a fertility rite. We don’t believe in fated mates like you. We choose who we want.” He averted his eyes back to his screen, “But without the fertility rite, which could be likened to yourideaof mating, there wil be no offspring.”

“Idea?” Sonya growled.

Anya interrupted before they broke out into a ful -fledged fight. “This is not important right now. I think seeing that planet is what affected me.”

“Hmmm. What a coincidence,this planetis at the top of my list.”

Undewla—the planet they were currently heading toward, in the cramped shuttle ship—was various shades of whiteandblue, a result of being covered entirely in ice. Ethanule had done some research before they’d left, and the demons had heard rumors of it.

Possibly a clan,or hierarchy based society, the inhabitants are cold, literal y, their blood was chil ed, which helps to make the harsh conditions livablefor them. They keep to themselves and typical y don’t trust outsiders. They are said to have domination over the ice, whatever that means. Their appearance mimics the snow and ice that encompasses their planet—white hair, pale skin. Itwil be difficult to find them if theywish not to be.

Anya staredthroughthe smal windowof the shuttleas the blue surface of the planet eclipsed her view. She’d insisted on being part of the scout team, which included Sebastian, Cale, Marik, and Ethan.

Once she’d demanded that she be al owed to join them Ethan had practical y forced himself into the group as wel , earning himselfa kil ing look from Sebastian, butAnya knew he hadn’t come to try to win her affection. She’d seen it in his eyes, Ethan had accepted her choice. He came because he was an elite soldier and loyal to his King, he felt it was his duty to protect his princess. She was grateful to him for that loyalty. She hoped that one of her sisters would find him worthy.

“Tel me about the energy you felt,” Sebastian probed.

It was the only reason he’d al owed her to come at al . Anya felt a pul , even now, to this planet. She had no words to explain it other than an encompassing need to get to Undewla as soon as possible. There was an urgency sifting through her with each passing minute.

“I felt a strong energy just by looking at a picture of the planet,” She studied the growing planet once more. “I sense something terrible wil happen unless we get there to stop it.” If one of her sisters was on this planet, she feared she was insome kind ofdanger.

“If I’ve deciphered the code correctly, Princess Nadua, second in line to the throne should be found on this planet.”

Anya hoped to the gods that Nadua had lived a more advantageous existence than she had.

Sensing her troubled thoughts Sebastian placed a strong hand on her upper arm, making smoother circles with his thumb. “If she’s here, we wil find her.”

Anya nodded, knowing he would do anything in his power to make that statement true.

Suddenly Anya received another jolt of energy. In the cramped space she made her way to the front of the cabin where Cale control ed their trajectory. The front window was like a miniature of the huge control room window, it wrapped wide around the entire front of the smal vessel.

“Do you see that basin with that patch of trees?” She saidto Cale.

“You mean that treacherous looking canyon with the thousand tons of potential yunstableice-wal on either side?”

“Yeah, land us there.”

“Right on.”

After a slightly rocky landing the group donned their cloaks and heavy boots. Al the males began fastening weapons to their person, easily hidden behind their thick clothing.

Cale handed her the sword he and Sebastian had gifted to her. “Your first field test.” He said, wrapping her fingers around the hilt. Trying to feign bravado, she fastened it to her belt, al owing her cloak to fal over it.

Final y ready, they stepped out into what she quickly declared as the most horrific environment she could imagine. The cold bit at her exposed skin, stinging whenever the wind brushed past. Her lungs struggled to bring in the icy air that was so cold she feared her lungs would freeze from the effort.

They hadn’t gone ten steps and shivers were already developing.

“How can anything live out here?” Ethan mimicked her thoughts.

“Wel ,” Cale offered. “When you are the same temperature as your surroundings, it probably works out fine.” He didn’t seem to mind the cold.In fact,none of the demons did, though more of their skin was exposedto it.

Ethan noticed as wel . “Don’t you guys get cold?”

Marik brushed past him, “Internal heating. Come, before you both freeze to death.”

They walked a little way, guided by Anya. Sheprayedthat her gift wasn’t on the fritz. Sebastian offered to carry her more than once, but she refused, wanting to be strong for him.

She did cleave to him however, when smal white bal s began to fal from the sky. In her alarm she tried swatting them away, until Sebastian explained it was just frozen water. Apparently, when cold enough, water particles would freeze, become weighty, and fal to the planet’s surface. She felt a little sil y not knowing this, but nobody faulted her for it.

It wasn’t too much longer that the smal white bal s became large white bal s, gliding calmly to the ground. If she wasn’t so cold, she would have appreciated the beauty of it. White masses of the stuff clung to her hair and clothes, traveling with her for a moment before melting and dripping down her neck.

It was official, she hated this place!

How could her sister have lived so long insuch anawful place?

Sebastian’s voice rang out beside her. “Looks like this storm wil worsen before long. We should take shelter back in the ship and wait it out.”

Anya was al for that plan. She was about to say as much when she caught a whiff of something familiar. Heart pounding, she sucked in a harsh icy breath as emotions assaulted her. Unshed tears pricked her eyes.

Nadua.

“I feel her!” Anya yel ed over the sound of the growing wind. “She is close!”

The men paused and looked to Sebastian. “It’s getting too cold. Look at you, your lips are turning purple.”

“I’m fine. What if she’s hurt? What if she’s alone?” When he continued shaking his head she resorted to begging. “Please.” He knew she could never live with herself if something happened to her sister when they were so close.

“She’s close you say?”

Anya nodded, biting back tears.

“Spread out, everyone, but keep in sight of one another.” To Anya he said. “We only have a few minutes.” Sebastian rubbed his hands vigorously over her arms to warm her.

“Please Bastian, go look for my sister. I might be colder than I’ve ever been in my life but she could be dying. I’l wait here, I promise.”

At length he nodded. “I won’t be far.” His warm lips met her icy ones, and then he was off.

After a few lonely minutes Anya bounced impatiently, nothing to do but think of the cold and her sister.Was she okay? What would she look like? How could any place be so cold?

A thick gloved hand wrapped around her mouth cutting off her air.

Sebastian trudged through the snow, glancing back at Anya every few moments. She’d been shivering uncontrol ably when he’d left her. He’d agreed to look for her sister but after a quick perusal he was getting her back to the warmth of the ship as quickly as possible. The storm was already thickening, limiting his vision. Too much longer out here and they wouldn’t be able to find their way back.

Atop the summit he saw nothing but white, white, and more white. It was no use they wouldn’t find anything in this stuff. He turned back ready to gather the group when his heart stopped at the sight below.

Squinting in the haze it looked like someone was slowly approaching Anya’s back. When the darkened figure wrapped a hand around her mouth and she began to kick wildly Sebastian sprinted toward them. The Edge came swiftly, rage coursed through him.

Bel owing Sebastian watched in horror as the person was dragging his Anya toward something. Aship! His thick tights kicked harder against the soft snow covered ground.

He almost came crashing to his knees when Anya went limp, body slumping against, what now looked like a large male. He recognized the face as Darius’s second-in-command. Fire burned hatred through his blood.

I’m too late!

The shuttle door shut tight and the ship began to rise. Sebastian threw himself against the door, clawing at the thick metal. “Anya!” He screamed, knowing it would make no difference. He’s lost her.

The shuttle rumbled to life and quickly disappeared into the sky. Sebastian’s mind was a haze of chaos. He’d promised to protect her, keep her safe.

Promised they’d be together forever. He’d failed her in every way.

Cale and Ethanule rushed up beside him,glancing around wildly for the threat.

“What happened! Where is Anya?” Sebastian couldn’t decipher who was speaking. His mind just kept repeating. She’s gone. She’s gone. Evidently he’d been saying it aloud too because someone said, “What do you mean she’s gone!”

Just then Marik came racing toward them with a look of urgency, “Run! The natives are coming. And they’re not happy! I think that ship spooked them.

What was up with that?”

Sebastian cleared his thoughts and took stock of the situation. He was no help to Anya in his panicked state. “Darius has Anya. Everyone to the ship I’m going after her.”

Swoosh.

A long arrow, attached to a thick rope landed in the snow beside them, as agroup of agitated natives appeared from behind the thick snowfal . Rows of white headed people, al but one was scantly clothed as if the cold meant nothing. Oneof them, standing at the forefront,was completely covered in skins and furs, a hood covered his features.Must be theleader.

At any other time Sebastian would have tried for diplomacy. “Let’s go!”

They hurried away, dodging arrows and spears. The snow was rapidly fal ing, obscuring Sebastian’s line of sight. He thought he saw their ship ahead, but when he looked again al he saw was a blanket of white.

A roar of agony rang out through the air. They al turned to see one of the arrows fixed with rope spearing through Marik’sthigh, the rope was taught. With a hefty tug his leg reared back, spil ing him to the ground.Clawing at the groundheslid backa few inches in the slick snow. When their eyes met, Marik’s were resolute. Sebastian’s heart clenched.

“Go! She needs you more than I! You know this!” When Sebastian hesitated Marik let go and he was dragged away, disappearing quietly into the veil of snow.

Marik was a fierce warrior, whoever held the other end of that rope would surely lose his head.

“Let’s go!” Sebastian cal ed to the others stil dodging angry projectiles. Leaving Marik sickened Sebastian. If it wasn’t his mate in trouble, he would have stayed to fight. Marik understood this, as any demon would. Confident in Marik’s skil s, he vowed to come back for him once Anya was safely in his arms again.

They reached the ship, Cale took the helm and the ship ascended, swiftly leaving the frigid land and Marik behind.

The familiar feel of cold hard metal aggravated her skin, stagnant air coated herlungs in the menacing darkness. Thefamiliar drawl of The Hel Ship surrounded her.

There was no help for her now. No sweet life with her equal y sweet demon. His face flashed in her mind and she had to bite back a sob.

No, there would be no happy endings for her.

Her only consolation was that Sebastian and the rest were left behind, eluding Darius’s attention. At least they had a chance to return to their lives, before she’d endanger everyone with her fatuous attempt at changing her fate.

Now that they had the book they had a chance at saving her people. They knew where to find Nadua, and Ethan could easily decipher the rest of the book.

Her involvement has been completed, and she was glad she’d served a purpose.

Her major regret was al owing Sebastian to claim her. She’d managed to ruin his life either way. How sil y it was of her to think so long term. Forever he’d be separated from his one mate. She hoped he could move on one day and find happiness. He had the luxury to try. She hoped he would succeed.

Be happy for the both of us.

As it was, she would never forget him. The memory of their time together she wil cherish always, even as it eats away at her sanity.

Shifting her body,Anya’sback ached from the lashings. Manacles at her wrists and ankles were attached to heavy chains that clanged against one another as she moved.

How many days had it been? She guessed two or so, maybe three.

Her newly enhanced gifts were becoming a menace. She could sense the people on board and wished she couldn’t. Most of them were appal ing, touching their energy made her feel contaminated.

Light flooded the room, burning her eyes. She blinked away tears as a man unlocked her bindings while another stood in the doorway.

Darius.

“The horde is on its way.” Darius sneered and threw something on top of her. She expected it to hurt badly since in landed on her wounded back. But it only slightly stung. Grasping soft material she strained her tired eyes to see it.