The Demon's Possession

by Kiersten Fay

  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, shooting back 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 rolled 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 all looked at the two in question. They were laughing, Anya's face was turning red, and she was half covering it with her hands in a show of embarrassment. Xandar reached out and pulled her hand away. Keeping her hand clasped in his, he whispered something in her ear.

  Grinding his teeth, Sebastian looked away. “Sonya,” he rasped. “Keep a close eye on her. Walk her back to her room if you have to."

  Sonya nodded. “Okay, but you'll have to stay and keep an eye on the bar till I get back.” When Sebastian nodded in agreement, she continued. “She's never had a lick of alcohol. I gave her very little, but…” She looked back at Anya and shook her head. “I'll watch her.”

  Calic cleared his throat. “Yeah, yeah, she's a big girl. Grown woman and all that.” He looked pointedly to Sebastian. “If your objective is avoidance, then don't go interfering in her affairs.” Then, grumpily, he ordered, “Two Infernos.”

  Sonya bristled. She slammed her hand down on the table with such force that the entire room went quiet and focused on their table. Most quickly realized it was a table of demons and resumed their own conversations, unconcerned by the outburst. However, Anya's gaze lingered.

  Sonya angrily faced Cale. “First and foremost, don't order me around! Second, Anya has had a tough life, and she deserves a little looking after. Got it?” Her horns had gone fully red, indicating her level of anger.

  Backing down, Cale replied, “Got it, watch the chit, keep her safe. Why's everyone got such a hardon for her, anyway?”

  Sonya huffed and left without responding, returning shortly with their drinks. Sebastian's glass was set nicely in front of him. Calic's was slammed down on the table, causing half of it to slosh and spill on the table. Calic ground out a sarcastic thank you as Sonya walked away.

  Usually a quarrel between Cale and Sonya would amuse Sebastian, but today it barely registered. His constant attention was on Anya. She was laughing and enjoying herself with another male, and that bothered him more than it should.

  He gulped down his drink, and a rush of warmth and an aftershock of a sting entered his throat. When Sonya glanced over, he motioned for another. Calic, silently brooding, had finished his drink just as quickly.

  When Sonya came with two more drinks, she had a slightly sweeter demeanor and gave Sebastian her pouty eyes. Inwardly, Sebastian cringed. This ought to be good.

  “You know,” she drawled, “with the wards and contract and such, I'm going to be really busy here at The Demon’s Punchbowl, don't you think?”

  Sebastian looked at Cale, who was now grinning, knowing the battle had switched from him to Sebastian.

  Sonya continued. “I was thinking about keeping the pub open longer, to capitalize on the constant flow of customers.”

  Sebastian gave her a dreary look.

  “When Anya leaves the ship, wouldn't it be good if she had some money in her pocket? I could pay her.”

  Sebastian's stomach twisted.

  Cale laughed out loud.

  Thinking about Anya working here, in the pub, serving drunken males made his teeth grind. Sonya was tough and could handle herself. But Anya?

  Sonya read his face perfectly. “I'll train her, stay with her till she can do it on her own. Come on, Marik doesn't need help in the galley, and she would be such a draw, I could pay her so much,” she pleaded. “You have to admit, it would be a really great opportunity for her, and she would get some experience with how to deal with males, I'll be sure of that. I'm worried for her when she leaves us. I want her to be prepared.”

  Sebastian suddenly felt like his skin was being stuck with a thousand pins and needles. Anya should learn how to handle herself before she leaves Marada. Otherwise, she could easily end up back where she started.

  He glanced in Anya's direction. Xandar had his hand on her thigh, and Sebastian thought she looked a little…uncomfortable. He registered the feel of Sonya patting his shoulder, and realized he had been growling out loud. If Anya had more experience with males, and a little more confidence in herself, Xandar's hand would possibly be shoved up his own ass at the moment.

  Sonya had always been good at dealing with males of all kinds and could help Anya in certain ways. He hated the idea, but Anya needed to know how to protect herself. Sebastian nodded to Sonya and she jumped out of her seat with joy, rushing back to the bar. Sebastian called after her, “I'll tell her in the morning, Sonya!” Then he looked at Cale with an expectant gleam in his eye. There was something else Anya should learn.

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Cale held up both hands. “What are you thinking? And the answer is no. No!”

  “She should know how to protect herself, Cale.”

  “So, get her a dog. One with three heads, I don't care.”

  “I'll expect you to train her.”

  “No! I'm no trainer. Ask me to kick the shit out of someone, sure, but I'm not a trainer. I don't even believe the chit's story. She's fooling you all.”

  “It doesn't matter. We're all stuck together for possibly the next seven or more months.” Once they reached the first rendezvous point, their real destination would be revealed, which meant Sebastian had no idea how long this mission would last. “You need something to occupy your mind. What better way?”

  “With loads of women! What about you, why don't you train her?”

  Sebastian looked back at Anya. Xandar was no longer touching her, but he was still too close for comfort. “Do you really need the answer to that?”

  “Right,” he sneered. “Because you can't control yourself.”

  “Seems so.”

  “Well, what about Marik? Or…anyone else? There are lots of decent fighters on the ship who would suffice.”

  “I only trust you to do this.”

  Cale growled, “Fine, but I'm not going easy on the chit. She'd better be ready to deal with a demon.”

  * * *

  ——

  * * *

  Analia tried to ignore Sebastian and focused her attention on Xandar. He was a talker, and kept the conversation at a steady rhythm. But she was constantly stealing glances at Sebastian.

  Under a long black coat, Sebastian wore a plain white shirt and a pair of black pants that fit him just right. A thick silver chain necklace hung around his neck, mirroring the neckline of his shirt. Dark horns poked through his black hair, which ruffled around his face.

  The sight of him made Analia's body respond in a big way. Blood quickened through her veins. He looked intense as he spoke to Sonya and Cale, glancing her way every so often.

  Xandar had asked her a question, breaking her attention away. “What?” She replied.

  “I asked what your home planet was like.”

  Analia buried her distress. Of all the invasive questions from the last few days, no one had asked her that one. She shook her head. “I'd much rather hear about your home planet.”

  Xandar chuckled. “I don't have one. I'm a space-lifer. Born and raised. I'll probably die in space too. What about you?”

  Again, she avoided the question. “You do
n't ever want to settle on a planet?”

  “Nah, from what I hear, it's a boring existence. There are planets I like to visit, but I've never found one that was so enticing it could make me want to stay in one spot forever.”

  Analia took another sip of her nearly empty drink. She was feeling a little strange, she suspected she was the giggly type, but was suppressing the urge—at least, she thought she was.

  Sonya bounced toward them with a satisfied grin.

  “Why are you so happy?” A little slur crept into Analia's voice.

  Sonya simply smiled at her. “Are you ready to go back to your room? I have a feeling you'll have a big day tomorrow.”

  Anya tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

  “I can't say for sure. I just have a feeling.”

  “I do need to get some sleep.” Analia slid off the chair, taking a moment to steady her balance. Then she really did giggle.

  “I'll walk her back,” Xandar offered.

  “No, I'll take her. You stay and finish your drink. If you need anything, Sebastian and Cale will be watching over the bar.”

  As they passed, Analia tossed Sebastian another angry look. He only grinned and waved.

  Sonya helped her down the hall. In the last hour, her heels seemed to have become harder to walk in.

  Sonya chuckled. “I guess next time we'll go even lighter on the alcohol. I think it might have an abnormally strong effect on your kind. Or maybe it's just you.”

  For some reason, Analia found that extremely funny, and after laughing herself to the floor, she remembered she needed to speak with Sonya about something. About Bastian. “What is wrong with your brother?” Analia blurted.

  Sonya picked her up from the floor. “Which one?”

  “Bastian.”

  “He's a bit of a control freak mostly, strong fighter, an unnatural sense of integrity, a little too honest in my opinion. Why?”

  “He's being a jerk!” Her mouth seemed to have no filter.

  Sonya snorted. “I can imagine. He's…odd over you. More protective than I've ever seen him. Even more than he is with me. He just wants what's best for you, I think.”

  Now Analia snorted, mimicking Sonya. “Like he knows what's best for me.”

  When they entered her room, Sonya asked, “Anya? Where's the couch?”

  “Exactly!”

  “Ookaaay.”

  Analia waved her hand at the empty space. “He took it. It's gone. No more couch. If he thinks this is over, then he is so wrong. I don't need a damn couch. I've gone without for decades.”

  Sonya looked truly confused now. Analia couldn't understand why. She had explained herself perfectly.

  Sonya helped her change into the comfortable shirt that Sebastian had given her, and, after asking, for the umpteenth time, if she was okay, bid her good night.

  Once Sonya was gone, Analia angrily stripped the bed, and fashioned a nest out of the covers in the corner of the room. Bastian was trying to force her to his will by taking away the couch, and she felt it was essential to her new sense of freedom that she not submit.

  She threw the pillows down with a little more force than necessary and then snuggled in. Sebastian might show up in the morning or he might not. She didn't care.

  * * *

  ——

  * * *

  In the morning, Sebastian showered and strapped on his clothes. He'd kept himself up all night, debating having Anya work at the pub. When he thought he had finally come to a decision, another worry would crop up.

  The males on his ship were fairly tame, while on the ship anyway, but the pubs and bars in the space cities were rowdy, feral places. Imagining Anya in one tweaked every protective bone in his body. Why should he care? She wasn't his responsibility. But he couldn't send her out on her own without some knowledge of what was out there. Hell, her natural curiosity alone would get her killed.

  Over the last few days, he found himself thinking about all the space cities and planets that he'd frequented as a merchant. There were a lot. He wanted to find the best place for her, where she could be safe, free from harm. He was at a loss.

  But after delaying long enough, he headed toward the salon to inform Marik of Anya's move. He thought, at the very least, Marik would be happy about the situation.

  How wrong he was.

  Sonya was already in the salon, seething, and Marik looked pissed. Marik stalked toward him. “Bastian! What the hell is this? Sonya says Anya's going to work in the pub?”

  Sebastian hesitated and gave Sonya an irritated look. “We talked it over last night. We think it would be good for her.”

  “And she'll earn some money.” Sonya hummed her satisfaction.

  Marik glared at her. “You mean you'll earn some money. Why wasn't I there for this discussion? I need her here. She's doing fine here. You promised me an assistant, and I get her for, what, only two days? There's more to learn in a galley than there is in slinging drinks. What will that teach her?”

  Sonya's body shot stiff. “I do more than sling drinks! I have to manage people…”

  “You manage friends, and people you've known for years,” he interrupted.

  “Well Anya doesn't know them. And it would give her some much needed experience for when she leaves us.”

  “So would working in my galley. You don't think she's learned how to manage people here? There's not much difference between my galley and your pub.”

  “The hell there isn't. You serve people to fill their bellies and then they leave. I serve drinks that make people lose their common sense. I have to keep an eye on everyone to make sure nothing gets out of hand, and when it does I have to take command of the situation. There is much more skill needed for my job.”

  Marik growled, getting in Sonya's face. She didn't back down. Her horns were beginning to turn deep burgundy.

  “Enough!” Sebastian bellowed. The two backed away from each other, but didn't lose the challenge in their stare. “Marik, I thought this was what you wanted.”

  He didn't answer. Instead, he commented, “I suppose you believe her working in the pub will give her some kind of skill that will protect her in the future.”

  “Cale will be training her to fight, as well.”

  “It won't help.”

  Sebastian eyed him. “Why not?”

  “Yesterday, she wouldn't say for sure, but she gave me the impression that someone would be coming after her. She's afraid.”

  Sebastian digested this new information. It made sense that whoever Anya had escaped from would want her back. The question was how badly.

  “She should keep working here,” Marik said. “She feels a connection with me, because of our similar backgrounds, and I might be able to get her to open up more.”

  Sonya shook her head. “That means nothing unless she's staying on the ship for good. When she leaves, she'll need certain skills for her own protection. Besides, she might feel more comfortable opening up to me.”

  They both turned toward Sebastian.

  For a long while, he said nothing. He needed time to think everything through. Glancing around, Sebastian recalled how elated Anya had been to be working in the salon. She seemed to have settled in well.

  Though Marik and Anya shared a common past, Sonya was a strong female, and Anya could learn much from her. Sonya never failed to put an abrasive male in his place and could take hold of any situation.

  Either way Anya would be starting her training with Cale today, first thing. If someone was, in fact, searching for her, as Marik suspected, Anya should learn how to protect herself.

  Finally, Sebastian broke the silence. “I'll consider both sides and come to a decision by lunch.”

  Sonya's jaw dropped, while Marik nodded.

  Sebastian turned and walked away without another word. It was time to see how Anya fared without her couch.

  Chapter 9

  Anya awoke to a room bathed in darkness, which meant Sebastian wasn't there. She wondered at the time, bu
t elected to stay in her warm collection of blankets. Once again, she'd slept poorly. Releasing a soft sigh, Analia wondered why she hadn't just accepted defeat and taken the bed.

  The rumble of this ship was different from what she was accustomed to. Unfamiliar sounds and vibrations through the floor had woke her constantly.

  Suddenly, Analia sensed an energy in the room besides her own. She shot straight up and scanned her surroundings. A dark male figure sat across the room facing her. Analia sucked in a harsh breath. Scooting back she hit the wall. Not a single movement betrayed him. Only his silhouette was visible. He was so still, she couldn't even tell he was breathing. Her heart spiked in her chest. Was this a nightmare? If it was, it was a damn real one.

  “Good morning.” It was Sebastian.

  The revelation didn't calm her. He was malevolent, watching her from a chair that was pulled out deliberately to face her. He must be livid. Oh, why had she challenged him? Curling tighter into the corner, Analia awaited his first move.

  Then, in an undecipherable tone, he called, “Lights!”

  The lights flashed bright. Analia shut her eyes to the sting, struggling every so often to open them and keep him in her sights. His expression unreadable, almost void of emotion. Well, all but one. There was definite anger there, but as soon as she caught a glimpse of it, it was gone.

  They stayed like that for—she didn't know how long. Him, staring at her with emptiness in his eyes. Her watchful and wary. He seemed to be studying her. Every so often, it looked as though he would speak, but then changed his mind. What was he thinking? He must be deciding on a punishment.

  Finally, he said, “Get yourself ready. There's been a change in your schedule. Pick out some clothes that you can move easily in.”

  Uh oh.

  “What change?”

  “I'll explain when we get there.”

  His expression was blank, but she could sense his ire. Why hadn't he commented on her sleeping arrangement? Was the change in schedule her punishment? She closed her eyes at the thought, wanting to bury her face in her hands. Instead, she stood, holding his cold gaze for a moment, before searching for some clothing that she could move easily in.