by Kiersten Fay
Anya shrugged. “He's been kind. I still don't understand, though. I have spent an evening here with Xandar. What is the difference?”
Sonya thought it was best to be as blunt as possible. “That wasn't a date. Guys tend to expect things during, or after, a date. He might just hold your hand, or try for a kiss. Or, he might be hoping to get into your pants.”
Anya looked considerate for a moment. “Get into my pants?” Then her eyes widened. “And if I refuse?”
“You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Just make it clear to him if you want him to keep his distance. Remember, you're the one in control. You say what happens, and what doesn't.”
Anya was turning a sickly shade of green.
“Are you okay?”
“This is more significant than I thought.”
“Listen, we'll all be there. You won't be left alone. Everyone on the ship will be there, and over half would be willing to kill the man if he tries anything funny.”
Sonya wasn't even exaggerating. Anya had a way of enchanting everyone she met. She had a warmth and a brightness about her that couldn’t be ignored. Marik was already treating her with the same big-brother-like affection that he bestowed on Sonya. Most shocking, Calic was becoming less irritable than usual. He would sometimes come into the pub, after their training session, to gloat about Anya's progress.
Sebastian's growing protectiveness was something to worry about, where Xandar's safety was concerned. Hopefully the man had a little more sense than to try anything with Anya. Sonya didn't know Xandar well enough to be sure of his character. He'd only joined Marada a few years ago.
“So, how does it work?” Anya interrupted her thoughts.
“How does what work?”
“A date. Xandar said we would spend the evening together and maybe dance. Is that it?”
“Well he'll probably want to walk you there. I would think anyway. He might offer to bring you a drink, or something,” Sonya stumbled. She'd never really been on a date herself. “You would sit at the same table and talk. At the end, he'll probably want to walk with you back to your room. That's the part you have to watch out for. That's when he might lean in for a kiss. If you want him to kiss you, then you'll let him.” She hoped for Sebastian’s sake she didn’t. “If not, then just say good night and duck into your room quickly.”
Anya was silent for a moment. “And I am in charge?”
“Yup, what you say, goes.”
* * *
——
* * *
Anya woke the next morning a little sluggish. She had worried all night about the date. She understood now that Xandar was asking to start a relationship. She didn't know how to feel about that. He was kind, but she didn't feel anything for him. His eyes didn't draw her in. His scent, though nice, didn't make her heart race.
As long as she could remember, she’d yearned for someone who would love her, someone she could love. But was she even ready for a relationship?
Her slavery already seemed like a dark memory, but she hadn't been free for very long. How long should she wait before allowing herself to live? She wanted to experience everything life had to offer. Though she was a little nervous, she was also excited to try dating, kissing, maybe even more—with the right person.
Sebastian's face flashed in her mind, and her stomach tightened. She imagined what it would be like to dance with him. What would it be like to be kissed by him? At that thought, her heart sped and her skin grew warm. As a test, Anya imagined what it would be like to kiss Xandar.
She felt nothing.
The date of the celebration had been announced and was scheduled four days from now. She considered rescinding her acceptance to go with Xandar, but decided to honor her commitment, though she promised to tell him that she wanted to remain friends.
Her days were becoming routine. Mornings with Cale learning defense, and every now and again he would show her some attack moves. Afternoons with Marik and the lunch crowd. She was enjoying trying every new dish Marik created. It was quickly becoming one of her favorite things to do. Evenings with Sonya, who was giving her lots of advice on how to manage people, males in particular. Out of control, drunken males were Sonya's specialty.
Though Sonya had admittedly never dated in her life, she still held a vastness of information. Anya soaked up every word.
Sonya described the male ego as fragile, their competitive streak fierce. If left unchecked, some could become controlling and overbearing. In the case of demons, they were protective to a fault, especially where loved ones were concerned.
Sonya admitted the extent of her knowledge came from watching her brothers and other males on the ship, and that her interpretation of men was loose at best.
When she wasn't working, Anya would spend her free time exploring the ship, learning the layout. Sonya's room, she found, was just around the corner from hers. Most rooms, in fact, were located on the same floor as hers, or one floor below. The control room was two floors above. Aside from the elevators, stairwells were also available, but no one seemed to use them.
She would sometimes visit the training room and practice on her own. She wanted to be strong, and strove to impress her teacher, as well as Sebastian, if she ever saw him again.
Marik told her they had entered the warring zones, and Sebastian was spending much of his time on duty, only stopping in for dinner near closing time.
Anya worried about the warring zones and kept her fingers crossed that it was the right path to take. She felt a little guilty about her opinion on the subject. Surely she hadn’t swayed Sebastian's decision on the matter.
The fact that Sebastian only came in for one meal a day gave her concern. Marik informed her that everyone working in the control room was pulling double shifts. And with Cale training her, Sebastian was often working longer hours too.
Guilt swelled inside her and seemed to be making a permanent home in the pit of her stomach. Not only had she taken Cale away from an important job, they were going through an aggressive area of space, which was putting the ship at risk every second. Not to mention, her mere presence was a danger to everyone.
“There must be something I can do. Since they can't come here, couldn't I bring some food to the control room? So they can at least eat lunch?”
Marik nodded with approval. “That's a great idea.” He pulled a rolling cart from a closet and filled it with a variety of foods. “You know where to go?”
“Yes. I'll be quick about it.”
“Don't worry. I've survived years without you. I can manage for a little while.” Marik's smile lifted her heart.
It was only the second time Anya had been in the control room, and she was awed anew as the great domed window, darkened by space, came into view.
The room was full of people, with every console occupied. Sebastian sat to her right at the command center. As if sensing her, his head snapped up, mouth parted in surprise. His amber gaze was intense as ever. Anya stifled a shiver as the energy of it flowed through her. Then, noticing the cart of food, he nodding with approval, but didn't say a word.
The sweet smell of Marik’s cuisine consumed the room, making many heads turn to find the source. Some shouted with glee and hurried over to grab what they could.
“Anya, you're a lifesaver,” one of the men called. She thought his name was Jackson, or maybe James.
The feeling of genuine usefulness filled Anya with satisfaction. “Come and take whatever you like. I'll be bringing a lunch cart everyday around this time.” Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Sebastian. He was unreadable, as usual, and showed no intention of taking the food she offered.
Maybe if she gave him some room, he'd grab a bite or two. She really wanted to get a closer look at the control room anyway. Beyond the large window was a colorful array of space dust gathered in tight clumps. A small star in the middle illuminated the tiny grains into a mist of multicolored hues. “That's beautiful,” she muttered.
A man sit
ting close to her commented, “That's one of the mining clusters.”
She eyed the man thoroughly. He was tall and of strong build. The majority of his attention was on the console in front of him. “What is your job?” she asked, ever curious.
He glanced at her, caught slightly off guard by her question. “I monitor and distribute the ship’s power supply. From the lights to the engine, I allocate the amount of energy used in each area and divert it to areas that need more power at certain times.”
Kind of like what she used to do. Only she didn't monitor the power of the ship, she supplied it. “Do you mind if I watch you for a bit?”
Her request delighted him. Straightening his posture, he replied, “Not at all. Look as long as you like. My name is Nikolai, by the way. Nick, for short. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you yet.”
“It's nice to meet you, Nick. I'm Anya. Tell me, does this ship have warp drive?” It was something she’d contemplated during long nights full of worry. If the Hell Ship showed, the only way she could conceive of a clean escape was through warp drive. The Hell Ship could only warp for about ten or eleven seconds before too much of the energy was consumed. Marada was smaller than the Extarga, which would give it the freedom to use less energy and the ability to go farther.
“Unfortunately, we've never been able to get the warp drive working. I'm sure there's something wrong with the code, but I can't figure it out.”
Damn.
“I've always wondered how warp works. You said it uses a code?” She knew how it worked, but she needed to lead him into showing her the code.
“Well, when it's functioning properly, warp uses a ton of energy, so, on most ships, it's hardly ever used. It's pretty complicated. The short version is that there's a specific algorithm programmed into the ship that sets things into motion. The algorithm is different for most ships, depending on engine type and the size of the ship.”
“Algorithm? Is it possible for me to see what it looks like?”
“Sure, but you won't understand it.” He flicked a few buttons and a string of digits and letters appeared.
“Is this the algorithm for the warp drive?” She knew it wasn't.
“No, this is one of the simpler algorithms.” A few more clicks of the keyboard and the screen switched. “This is the warp.”
She quickly browsed the code. It was indeed different from the Hell Ship, but within seconds she spotted the mistake. Only a few numbers out of place and the entire system was useless. She filed the information away, hoping she would never need to use it. “Hmm, that does look complicated.”
“Not when you learn how to read the code. Only, this one has me stumped.”
“Keep trying, I'm sure you'll figure it out.”
“Have you heard about the party coming up?” he suddenly asked. Anya nodded. “I just thought, if no one has asked you, I would love to go with you.”
A little stunned, she gave him a grateful smile. “I'm sorry, I'm going with Xandar. From what I've learned one shouldn't agree to more than one date per night.”
Nick gave a hearty thick laugh that shook his shoulders. At the same time, Anya noticed Sebastian's head jerk in their direction.
“I figured someone had already asked you, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try. Maybe next time.”
She nodded and began to move freely around the rest of the room, eagerly learning everyone's name and job. Being constantly surrounded and interacting with people, Anya was learning there is another side to her gift. She seemed to be unintentionally reading the emotions of others. Nick had been genuinely happy. After meeting Aidan, the pilot, she felt his energy was…mournful? He hid it well, though.
Then she focused on Sebastian who seemed to be in turmoil, almost angry. Was it because she was here? Did he want her to stay away from him? Is that why she hadn't seen him for days?
Marryelli, the navigator—a tall blond woman with almost feline-like features—called out coordinates, and the crew fell into a steady rhythm.
Deciding she'd been here long enough, Anya returned to the cart, which was now nearly empty. Sebastian, she noticed, hadn't taken anything. “Captain?” she called. His eyes darted to her. “Would you like something before I leave?”
The look he gave told her that what he wanted wasn't on the cart. When he moved toward her, she suddenly felt like prey in the path of a predator. With his eyes locked on hers, Sebastian leaned in close and snatched a sandwich. She couldn't stifle a shiver as his body came closer and his gaze dipped to her lips.
Then he seemed to snap out of it. “Thank you. My crew appreciates your service.” With that, Sebastian returned to his station.
A mixture of emotions followed her out of the room. Half in a daze, and oddly giddy, she pushed the cart forward until she reached the galley once again.
Marik greeted her and asked how it went. He had never provided an a-la-carte service before, and was visibly excited about it. Anya was too, and couldn't wait to go back the next day.
The energy of Sebastian's emotion had confused her, and she wanted another chance to figure him out. At first, she felt his surprise at her entrance, which turned into agitation as she interacted with the crew. But it was the lust in the end that almost knocked her off her feet.
Why so many emotions so quickly?
Sonya had told her that demon’s emotions were naturally intense. Was that it? Or was there more to it?
She needed to understand. And if he wouldn't come to her, then she would go to him.
The end of her shift came swiftly and she started toward the pub. When she came near the plant nursery, she couldn't resist stopping in the doorway. The energy of the room seemed stronger today than it had yesterday. She could smell the life pouring from the doorway. It tingled her skin. Leaning in, she inhaled the sweet air.
“You can come in if you want,” a familiar accent called from within the room. Anya peeked around the corner and spotted the woman with her glorious tattoo of blue and green shades. “Come in, little Analia.”
Hesitating. “I was told these plants are extremely valuable.”
“Indeed, they are rare and hard to come by.” The woman waved her forward. “Come in, come in.”
She reluctantly obeyed and was immediately engulfed. The tingling in her skin grew over her whole body. The energy flowed through her leisurely. Anya caught herself smiling and schooled her features.
“I am Raka.”
“It's nice to see you again. May I ask why these plants are here? They are beautiful, but what is the purpose on a ship?”
“They help to clean the air and provide peace to those on board.”
Anya cocked her head. “Peace?”
“Have you not visited the Sanctuary?”
Anya shook her head, intrigued, but a brightly colored flower caught her attention. She moved to get a closer look. The flower's thick stem rose through a forest of bright green leaves. Countless petals decorated the head with colors fading from yellow at the center to deep red near the ends. Small tendrils peeked out from the center, donning yellow balls of fluff. The scent was indescribable as it filled her nostrils.
“Would you like it?” Raka asked.
“What?”
Before Anya could protest, Raka snipped the flower from the plant and handed it to her. Shocked into silence, Anya took the stem. While gazing at the beautiful mixture of colors, she wondered what Sebastian would think if he saw her with this flower. He'd threatened her with a life of servitude if she disturbed the plants in this room.
A wave of sickness rippled through her.
As if her thoughts had summoned him, Sebastian appeared behind her, leaning against the door with an odd expression on his face. Her stomach lurched into her throat. She gulped down a ball of air as the stem dropped from her grasp. In a panic, she pushed her way past him and raced for the pub without a backward glance.
She hadn't meant to take the flower. She only wanted to look. What was Raka thinking, snippin
g the flower like that? Clearly, Anya couldn't be held responsible.
Safely behind the bar, she nervously busied herself. A drink here and there. She hardly noticed. Her thoughts were jumbled. Sonya kept asking if everything was okay, and she could only nod in response. It took several hours for her to calm enough to notice Sebastian hadn't followed her to demand reparation. Anya didn't know what to make of it.
When her shift ended, she didn't want to leave, knowing Sebastian might be waiting for her. And though, at any other time, the thought might have caused a flutter in her stomach, now she was reluctant, fearful of his anger.
Why did she take the flower? What would possess her to do such a thing?
With nowhere else to go in the late hours of the night, Anya took her time walking back to her room. She stood outside her door for many minutes, gathering her courage. Finally, she entered.
Darkness greeted her. Lights flared as she called them to life, and she found the room empty. A shimmer of color drew her attention to the coffee table.
The flower! Sitting in a slim vase half filled with water.
Cautiously, she surveyed the room. Nothing else was out of place. No sign of Sebastian. She peeked back out into the hallway. There was no one there.
Truly confused, she sank into the couch watching the flower with puzzlement. Its petals seemed to glow in the dim light. She stared at it until her eyelids grew heavy. Eventually she found herself curled on the couch, drifting into slumber.
Chapter 11
Anya woke with a stretch and a yawn; another night of deep, satisfying sleep. She allowed herself to linger in the warm cocoon made by the blankets and cushions. It seemed she couldn't get enough of their softness.
When she opened her eyes, she was filled with euphoria as the vase and its vibrant counterpart came into view. Overnight, the bloom had flourished. A drowsy grin fluttered around her lips.
Had Sebastian put it there last night? Or had it been Raka? The euphoric feeling drifted away.
