Nearly a full week had passed and all was calm.
Sebastian had been working his crew hard. Round the clock detail. Each day brought them closer to their goal.
No one had complained. Everyone seemed as eager as he to get this job over with. Maybe they sensed what he did. There was something different about this commission. It was taken more seriously by everyone. Even the most careless of the crew were noticeably working harder.
Sebastian was at his command center, checking the status of their progress. For the last week, Marada's engines had been churning at nearly constant full speed. It wasn't fast enough. He had hoped to be farther along than this.
Sighing, he settled into his chair, watching the vision of space at his front. It was stoic, calm, and never ending—deadly, if you weren't careful.
He imagined how different his life would be if he still lived on his home planet. If the war hadn't destroyed it, and if he'd never been deceived by those closest to him. He would have found a woman, he supposed, made a family. He would have built them an adequate home on his ancestors' land, and he would have strove every day to keep it up. Life would have been...boring.
As it was, he loved his adventurous existence, leading his crew and meeting all the strange races of the universe. Learning and mastering all the different languages and cultures. It gave him a purpose.
A faint groan jarred him from his thoughts, barely audible against the steady rumble of the ship, but distinct. Sebastian looked around. No one else seemed to have heard it.
Another moan, this one even quieter...anguished. His brows drew together. He had definitely heard something. He sniffed, again noticing something different in the air. Had been for a while, but he hadn't thought much of it.
He stood, concentrating on the source, opening his ears to the smallest noise. All he heard was the hum of the ship. But the sound had been very close. He thought it had come from behind, but the only thing back there was the bulkhead and a small maintenance compartment.
He approached the wall and stood silent. A rasping sound came from the other side. He bent down to open the door to the small compartment and staggered back in shock as a pair of tiny bare feet came into view.
"Who's this?" he bellowed, 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. Still no movement. He began to pull until a feminine body emerged from the small 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 shifted his gaze to her face. Her skin was pale, but flawless. She had pouty lips, full and a tempting shade of pink. Blond, curling locks draped over her bare shoulders.
The female shivered.
"Who are you?" he ground out, finally pulling 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 Sebastian wasn't already kneeling on the ground, he would have fallen to his knees. He was instantly lost. The ship fell away and there was only her. The blue of her eyes was indescribable. So light they unabashedly pulled him in. No color imaginable compared. Her gaze turned pleading. For what? He didn't know. But in that moment he would have given it to her.
What was wrong with him?
Too soon, the color dulled and her head lolled before she slipped into unconsciousness. Sebastian, alarmed more than he should have been, felt for a pulse.
Faint, but still 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 hall, he hardly noticed people stopping to stare at the strange beauty in his arms. The elevator made him impatient, moving slower than he remembered. He should get someone to look at it. Finally, he reached the deck that housed sickbay. A few more passageways, and he was there. The doors parted for him, and he carefully 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."
Dr. Oshwald went to work with a skillful determination, while Sebastian leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and watched.
The doctor came from a race of healers, their unique gifts worked on most, but not all. 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, all the while intermediately checking her vitals in stony silence. Sebastian made his impatience known, and the doctor finally 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. Finally, he removed his hands and slumped in his chair with obvious exhaustion. With effort, he wiped his forehead before he spoke. "She will 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, irrationally, 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 fell in and out of blurred consciousness, the muted grey maintenance compartment tightening 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 was her choice 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 called her from the darkness. She sensed the presence of others with her, but strangely she didn't feel threatened.
I must finally be dead.
As she opened her eyes, she saw the most beautiful male she could have ever envisioned. He had the blackest hair and a contrasting golden shade of eyes 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 death's doors. Her body still 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.
——
Fuzzily, she awoke. Awareness came to her slowly as her mind brushed away the thick haze. She was no longer curled in a ball on the 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 peeked 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, especially if he found out about her gift. She wanted to curl up into a protective ball, but her arms and legs felt like lead.
Growing visibly impatient, the man waited for her answer.
She didn't know how she should answer. Would he take her back to Extarga 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 hell.
Maybe she shouldn't answer at all. Pretend ignorance of his language. Pasting a look of confusion on her face, she shook her head as if to say, I don't understand. The small movement was painful, causing her eyes to go temporarily blind. She let her head drop to the soft pillow.
"Sebastian, she's still recovering," a voice offered from her right.
Her gaze darted painfully to the other man. She recognized him as a doctor. Sebastian's harsh gaze didn't waver. It became darker as he silently demanded a response from her. She 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 landed on either side of her head, boxing her in. Two inches was the only thing that separated them. "You will answer me."
The warmth of his breath rolled 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 still 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?
Thankfully the doctor interjected, freeing her gaze and putting an end to...whatever it was she was about to do. "Can you speak, miss?"
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 sedated for long periods of time. Grinding her teeth, she thought this was turning out to be just another hell ship.
Then she realized why she couldn't move her arms or legs. She was strapped down. All thought left her, and she cried out, struggling against the restraints. Anger soon turned into panic as she fought uselessly to free herself.
The doctor placed his hands on her shoulders to hold her still. "It's okay. We only strapped you down so you wouldn't roll 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 stilled at Sebastian's clipped words. His voice, still 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 well-being. She registered the feel of hot tears streaming down her face.
Sebastian continued. "The restraints will stay until I receive answers."
"How do you feel?" The doctor resumed his questioning, as if he hadn't stripped her will away with his tonics.
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 her ears 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! Would they be able to determine her ability through her blood? Would there be something different about it? How could there not be? Everything about her was different. She swallowed hard.
Sebastian keenly noticed her reaction to his words and gave her a crooked smile. She hated herself for thinking it sexy.
"So you can understand 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.
Sebastian grated, "Tell 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 tell him anything about where she had come from. She hesitated for a moment and then opened her lips to speak, but stopped, however, at her dry cracked throat. She had to swallow 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 concoctions 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."
"Because you've most likely drugged it. You've already given me something, I can tell, 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." He paused. "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 tell him that she seemed to desire his captain. "I just feel strange." Her head fell back, and she allowed her eyes to close as a wave of dizziness washed through her.
"You need to drink some water. It will make you feel better," Sebastian commanded.
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 swallowed. "There, is that enough proof for you?"
"You could be immune," she rasped.
Growling, he shoved the glass at her. "Drink it or I'll make you drink it."
A hard dry lump 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 once more, she kept her gaze on the ceiling. Her stomach quivered under his palm. "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 will free you from your restraints."
Slowly, she nodded, not trusting him in the least. He began at her feet, his hands brushing her skin, leaving trails of warmth followed 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 allowed her legs to drop over the edge of the bed. As if to say a deal's a deal, he held out the glass. She took it and dared a sip. It tasted...okay. The small amount of liquid was quickly absorbed by her dry tongue, 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 the empty glass down.
Then he scooped her up in his arms. She'd been so taken by surprise at the sudden action that she'd actually 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 an alcove—which became like a small room when a solid beam of energy flashed between them.
A force field?
It was transparent with a slight haze, masking everything on the other side in an auburn hue.
From one prison to another!
"There. You're free of your restraints."
She made a rough noise in her throat. "You call this free?"
"It's as free as you're allowed on my ship. You've committed a serious crime by smuggling yourself onto my ship. It requires serious punishment. I'm willing to be lenient, though. If you tell me where you came from, I promise to take you back there unharmed."
"I'd rather die," she supplied.
He raised an eyebrow and waited a moment before speaking again. "You're in luck then. The punishment for your crime is death." He scanned for a reaction. When he didn't receive one, he continued. "If you don't tell me where you came from, then your only other option is to be released into space. Actually, you'd be releasing yourself into space. In my culture it would be seen as an honorable death." He crossed his arms in expectation.
Analia considered his words carefully. He was offering her death at her own hand. She'd contemplated suicide before—many, many times before. But, as closely guarded as she'd been, she never found ample opportunity. Now it was being offered to her on a silver platter.
Thinking over her life, she could only call up memories of suffering and sorrow. There wasn't a single moment that brought her joy. No memory sparked a hint of happiness to make her want to cling to this existence. Could she really push the button that would end her completely?
Yes.
Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.
At least I had tried.
Her greatest and, sadly, sole achievement was her escape from Extarga. If she were dead, Darius could truly never hurt her again. The time she had spent in the small maintenance room had changed her completely. Even though she was technically still trapped, it was a small taste of what true freedom could be. It had been her choice, her decision, and no one else's, that brought her here now. She had felt the power of freedom and knew she could never go back. The moment she set one foot back on the Hell Ship would be the moment her spirit broke completely, reducing her to a mere shell of herself.
And here she was, locked up at the amusement of yet another arrogant captain. If she couldn't be physically free, then his offer was the only way to end her suffering.
With her decision resolved, she met Sebastian's gaze. "I accept your offer."
"Good. First tell me the moment you came to be on my ship."
"No. I accept your other offer." She almost smiled when his jaw dropped.
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