Demon Possession

by Kiersten Fay

  He stood, concentrating on the source, opening his ears to the smal est noise. Al he heard was the hum of the ship. The sound had been very close. He thought it had come from behind, but the only thing back there was the bulkhead and a smal maintenance compartment.

  Approaching the wal he stood silent, a rasping sound came from the other side. He bent down to open the door to the smal compartment and staggered back in shock as a pair of tiny bare feet came into view.

  “Who’s this?” He bel owed, his voice a mix of threat and confusion. His horns heated as his body reacted to the flood of demon rage.

  The owner of the wee feet made no move.

  Sebastian bent closer, cautiously placing his hand on a thin ankle—stil no movement—he began to pul until a ful y feminine body emerged from the smal space.

  The first thing he noticed was how thin and frail she looked, as though she would break with a light squeeze. She was marked with dirt from head to toe. A dingy, piece of cloth clung to her like a second skin, barely covering her.

  He moved his gaze to her face. Her skin was pale but flawless, poutylips,ful and a tempting shade of pink, blond curling locks draped over her bare shoulders.The femaleshivered.

  “Who are you?” He ground out, final y pul ing himself from his stupor. He realized he was holding her upper body in his arms.When had he reached for her?

  At his booming voice her eyes flew open—if he wasn’t already on the ground he would have fal en to his knees—Sebastian was instantly lost. The ship fel away and there was only her. The blue of her eyes was indescribable, so light they unabashedly pul ed him in. No color imaginable compared. Her eyes turned pleading, for what? He didn’t know, but at that moment he would have given it to her.

  What was wrong with him?

  Too soon the color dul ed and her head lol ed before she slipped into unconsciousness. Sebastian,alarmed more than he should have been,felt for a pulse.

  Faint but stil there.

  The natural sounds of the ship slammed into him, as his surroundings came back into focus. Some of the crew had already gathered around, apparently repeating questions he hadn’t heard them ask. They looked at him expectantly, and at her with curiosity.

  Lifting her off the ground Sebastian took note of her weightlessness.

  “Back to your posts!” he ordered, and then carried her out of the room without another word. The crew must have been as shocked as he was, to find this tiny creature, because none of them moved at his command. He didn’t care, his only focus was getting her to the doctor—so he could find out how she was able to get onto his ship, not so he could see the vivid color of her eyes again.

  Racing down the hal he hardly noticed people stopped to stare at the stranger in his arms. The elevator made him impatient, moving slower than he remembered. He should get someone to look at it. Final y he reached the deck housing sickbay. A few more passageways and he was there, the doors parted for him and he careful y laid her on one of the cots.

  From a desk in the corner of the room, Dr. Oshwald looked up. He was a thin lengthy man from one of the short lived races.

  It seemed to take the doctor a moment to comprehend the sudden disturbance before he rushed to Sebastian’s side surveying the situation. His jaw dropped.

  “Where …? Who is …?” He studied her as Sebastian had, prickling his ire.

  In a pointed voice Sebastian replied. “I don’t know who she is. I just found her hiding in a maintenance compartment. She looks on the brink of death.”

  With a skil ful determination, Dr. Oshwald went to work while Sebastian leaned against the wal , arms crossed, and watched. The doctor came from a race of healers, their unique gifts worked on most but not al . Sebastian had no knowledge of the mechanics behind the doctor’s invaluable gift. He’d asked him about it once and the doctor had told him that it was like looking inside the body with his mind’s eye. Oshwald could search out the problem and then fix it as needed. That’s what he was doing now, searching through the female’s body, al the while intermediately checking her vitals in stony silence. Sebastian made his impatience known, and the doctor final y began his healing touch, placing a hand near her heart and the other at the crown of her head.

  He stayed like that for a lengthy time. The whole while she didn’t stir, didn’t make a sound, the breathing movements of her chest were light and barely noticeable.

  A sheen of sweat began to glisten on the doctor’s forehead. Final y he removed his hands, and slumped in his chair with obvious exhaustion. With effort, he wiped his forehead before he spoke. “She wil live.” The words were heavy. “If she’d been brought to me any later, there would have been nothing I could have done for her.” Again he paused to catch his breath. “Forgive me, she took much of my energy.”

  Sebastian waited patiently for him to continue at his own pace.

  “I’ve healed her body but she has been without nourishment for a long time it seems.”

  “Are you saying she was in there starving to death?”

  The doctor nodded.

  “How long?”

  “I couldn’t say for sure. So many different races so many different dietary needs. We won’t know until she wakes and can answer for herself.”

  Sebastian knew that many races could survive long periods without food. A demon could go three or more months without nourishment. You would have yourself an irritable demon, but he would be alive. If this creature was anything like a demon she could have been hiding on his ship for months.

  As the doctor continued his business, fury began to rise in Sebastian. Before, irrational y, he had felt compassion for her. Now he had regained his senses and was livid at her trespass. How dare she think to steal herself onto his ship? Then a thought burned through him, settling deep in his gut.What of the wards?

  Analia fel in and out of blurred consciousness, the muted gray maintenance compartment tightened around her. She had waited too long and had run out of time, her body was giving up. She knew she had only two choices ahead of her. Make her presence known within the tiny compartment, or resign herself to death. At least it washerchoice to make and though she was dying,she basked in that thought. No matter what she chose, her last action would be that of a free woman.

  Inside the cramped box she felt herself trying to leave her body. But she fought it.Why?Death would be so much easier. Suddenly there was a warmth around her ankle, and then strong arms around her torso. A voice cal ed her from the darkness. She sensed the presence of others with her, but strangely she didn’t feel threatened.I must final y be dead.

  When she opened her eyes she saw the most beautiful male she could have ever envisioned.He had the blackest hair,andacontrasting goldenshade ofeyes that shimmered with some kind of emotion she was not familiar with. His features were exquisite, and he was so warm pressed against her freezing skin. She wanted to stay in his arms forever. He must be a being of the afterlife, come to guide her through deaths doors. Her body stil hurt with a lingering grasp of life, but that would soon be gone.

  When the man began to fade, she begged with everything she had left for him to stay with her. But he was soon gone, a dark abyss taking his place.

  Fuzzy, she awoke. Awareness came to her slowly as her mind brushed away the thick haze. She was no longer curled in a bal on a cold hard ground.

  Keeping her eyes closed, she accessed her other senses to evaluate her situation.

  Her chest hurt and her limbs were heavy and unresponsive. She was lying on something that was soft but firm. A musky fragrance lingered nearby.

  Cautiously, she peaked from underneath her lashes.

  The beautiful being that she had thought would guide her through the portals of death, loomed over her. No longer were his eyes warm, but an immense coldness covered his features. She realized then that she must be alive. Fear swept through her with renewed strength, and her heart sped. His eyes flickered toward her as he noticed she was awake.

  In a deep too-calm-voice he asked, “Where
did you come from?” It unnerved her because Darius would sound that way when the pain was about to start.

  She stifled a whimper, seeing this man as her newest threat. He could be just like Darius, especial y if he found out about her gift. She wanted to curl up into a protective bal but her arms and legs felt like lead.

  Growing visibly impatient the man waited for her answer.

  She didn’t know how sheshouldanswer. Would he take her back to The Hel Ship if she told him? She thought he might. He did business with Darius and would want to stay on good terms with him. Yes, he would definitely return her to hel .

  Maybe she shouldn’t answer at al . Pretend ignorance of his language. Pasting a look of confusion on her face she shook her head as if to sayI don’t understand. The smal movement was painful, causing her eyes to go temporarily blind. She let her head drop to the soft pil ow beneath it.

  “Sebastian, she’s stil recovering. She could stil be in shock.” A voice offered from her right. Her gaze darted painful y to the other man, she recognized him as a doctor.

  Sebastian’s harsh gaze didn’t waver. It became darker as he silently demanded an answer from her.

  Analia decided to remain quiet.

  “When did you sneak onto my ship?” He emphasized the word my. When she didn’t answer he leaned his body over her, bringing his face close to hers, his hands landing on either side of her head, boxing her in. Two inches was the only thing that separated them. “You wil answer me.”

  The warmth of his breath rol ed over her and stroked her skin making her shiver. She stared, wide eyed. His golden glare bore into her, demanding obedience and surrender. Something protruding from his hair caught her attention.Horns?Her heart picked up a notch and her breath hitched. His features were godlike, perfectly shaped. She felt the need to touch his face but her arms stil would not respond. Then for some reason she became hypnotized by his lips. As she inhaled his delicious scent her mouth watered for a taste. Ever so slowly she inched forward. His lips parted slightly, encouraging her. With a start she realized she was becoming … aroused?

  “Can you speak miss?” Thankful y the doctor interjected, freeing her gaze and putting an end to …whatever it was she was about to do.

  Sebastian pushed away from her with a growl.

  They must have given her something, she rationalized, some kind of drug. Darius never hesitated to keep her drugged for long periods of time. Grinding her teeth she thought, this was turning out to be just another hel ship.

  Then she realized why she couldn’t move her arms or legs. She was strapped down. Al thought left her and she cried out, struggling against the restraints.

  Anger soon turned in to panic as she fought uselessly to free herself.

  The doctor placed his hands on her shoulders to hold her stil . “It’s okay. We only strapped you down so you wouldn’t rol off the bed.” His attempt to calm her didn’t work. As she continued to flail she could feel the skin around her wrists start to break and bleed. Breathing was becoming labored as the panic grew like a virus inside her.

  “Calm yourself woman.” Amazingly she stil ed at Sebastian’s clipped words. His voice, stil commanding, held a hint of concern. Or was she imagining that? Staring straight at the ceiling, drawing in deep breaths, she contemplated how that one phrase had diminished her distress.The drugs?She quickly surmised. The concern in his voice was only for his equipment, and not for her wel being. She registered the feel of hot tears streaming down her face.

  Sebastian continued, “The restraints wil stay until I receive answers.”

  “How do you feel?” The doctor resumed his questioning, as if he hadn’t stripped her wil away with his drugs.

  She locked her jaw and stubbornly refused to talk.

  He then focused his attention on Sebastian and they began speaking as if she wasn’t there. “I’ve healed her as best I can,though I suggest she get some sustenance in her, so her body can take over the healing process. I’m not sure what species she is. The shape of her ears should give us a clue.”

  Analia knew herears were abnormal, pointed with a slightly rounded tip. She had never seen anyone with ears like hers. It was the one thing that made her feel more alone than being locked away in isolation.

  “What of her blood sample? Have you found anything there?”

  Blood!Analia again became alarmed. Would they be able to determine her ability though her blood?Would there be something different about it? How could there not be? Everything about her was different!

  Sebastian keenly noticed her reaction to his words and gave her a crooked smile. She hated herself for thinking it sexy.

  “So youcanunderstand us.” It wasn’t a question. “Then you can answer my questions. Where did you come from? When?”

  Analia nibbled her bottom lip, sickened at not being able to better control her emotions.

  Impatient, Sebastian grated. “Tel me, damn you … What is your name?” She flinched. He took note of her reaction and calmed his tone, “Just give me a name.”

  A name wouldn’t hurt. It wouldn’t tel him anything about where she had come from. She hesitated for a moment and then opened her lips to speak, stopped however, at her dry cracked throat. She had to swal ow several times before she could speak.

  Noticing her discomfort the doctor lifted a glass of water to her mouth. She turned her head away, refusing to drink. The last thing she needed was more of their drugs in her system. Shrugging he put the glass back down.

  “My name is Analia.” Her voice was pained.

  “Analia,” Sebastian repeated in his deep rumble. She stifled another shiver at the sound of her name on his tongue. “Let the doctor give you some water Analia.”

  “No.” She cleared her throat, trying to summon her own moisture.

  “Why not? You must be thirsty.”

  “Why not? You must be thirsty.”

  “Because you’ve most likely drugged it. You’ve already given me something, I can tel , it’s making me react … differently.”

  Sebastian glanced at the doctor. “Have you given her anything?”

  The doctor shook his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”—pause—“But, again, I haven’t been able to determine her species. She may be having a reaction to one of our medicines.” Focusing on her again the doctor asked, “How are you feeling exactly?”

  “I … just …” She couldn’t tel him that she seemed to desire his captain. “I just feel strange.” Her head fel back and she al owed her eyes to close as a wave of dizziness washed through her.

  “You need to drink some water. It wil make you feel better” Sebastian commanded again.

  Again she refused with a simple shake of her head.

  “We haven’t drugged it, I promise you.”

  “I have no reason to take your word on it”

  A tick started in his jaw. She got the feeling that he wasn’t used to being disobeyed. He reached for the glass and took a swift gulp. Analia watched the thick muscles of his throat work as he swal owed. “There, is that enough proof for you?”

  “You could be immune,” She rasped.

  Growling he shoved the glass at her. “Drink it or I’l make you drink it.”

  A hard dry gulp stuck in her throat. She tried to reach out for the glass but her bindings held her tight.

  Frustrated she began struggling again. Sebastian placed his hand on her stomach, and she froze completely, shocked at its gentle weight.

  Afraid to look at him—and risk becoming entranced again—she kept her gaze on the ceiling. Her stomach quivered under his hand. “Remove your hand”

  she managed, though her voice was less commanding than she meant for it to be.

  “If you promise to stay calm and take a drink, I wil free you from your restraints.”

  Slowly she nodded, not trusting him in the least. He began at her feet, his hands lightly brushing her skin. Leaving trails of warmth fol owed by a lingering coolness. Where he touched her she felt a jolt of energy.


  To her humiliation her body began to react again. What did it think? That he was going to take her here? On the table? In front of the doctor? The thought sobered her. She didn’t want anything to do with him. He was just another obstacle keeping her from her freedom. After he unclasped her wrists, she sat up and al owed her legs to drop over the edge of the bed. As if to saya deals a deal, he held out the glass and she took it. Bringing it to her lips she took a smal sip. It tasted … okay. The smal amount of liquid was quickly absorbed and she took another sip. Soon she was gulping back the cool drink with fervor, barely taking a moment to gasp for air. She hadn’t realized how badly she was in need of it.

  “Good girl,” Sebastian said when she set down the empty glass.

  Unexpectedly he scooped her up in his arms. She’d been so taken by surprise at the sudden action that she’d actual y wrapped her arms around his neck for support. When she realized what she was doing she weakly pushed away from him. She wasn’t long in his grasp,as he had only crossed to the other side of the room,and set her down on a thin cot within a smal alcove—which became like a smal room when a solid beam of energy flashed between them.

  A force field? It was clear with a slight haze, masking everything outside of it in an auburn hue.

  She rol ed her eyes.From one prison to another!

  “There. You’re free of your restraints.”

  She made a rough noise in her throat. “You cal this free.”

  “It’s as free as you’re al owed on my ship. You’ve committed a serious crime by smugglingyourself onto my ship. It requires serious punishment. I’m wil ing to be lenient, though, if you tel me where you came from I promise to take you back there unharmed.”

  “I’d rather die.” She supplied.

  He raised an eyebrow at that,and waited a moment before speaking again. “You’re in luck then. The punishment for your crimeisdeath.” He scanned for a reaction. When he didn’t receive one he continued. “If you don’t tel me where you came from then your only other option is to be released into space.