Demon Possession by Kiersten Fay Page B

almost taste it in the very air around her. Vibrations of energy seemed to flow throughout the ship and into her. She wanted to touch and see everything.
    There was so much she had never experienced before and Sebastian was unwittingly proving that to her. He didn’t know how naive she was and she wanted to keep it that way. But she suspected, by her blatant reactions to everything, that he was beginning to see through her.
    He showed her a room where, he explained, people would gather for physical exertion or to spar. It was large, as al the rooms were, and fil ed withextravagantequipment. A variety of strange looking weapons lined the wal s. He explained that they were for practice only.
    Walking her through the room, he pointed out each piece of equipment, showing her what it does and how to use it, if she wanted to. He didn’t offer the same for the weapons.
    Close by was another room with a large vessel,lowered into the floor,and filed to the brim with water. He cal ed it a swimming pool. She couldn’t imagine what it was used for. When she inquired he said he would show her later, then, with a strange expression shook his head. The action confused her but, then, everything he did confused her.
    They continued to a room, smal er than the first, with many seats facing a large screen, apparently another gathering spot for entertainment purposes.
    In the next room she spotted Sonya who genuinely seemed glad to see her. Waving and rushing toward them she circled Analia twice.
    “Very nice,” Sonya said. Then her features turned somber. “Unfair, they look better on you than they did on me.” Analia realized with a start that she was talking about the clothing. Quickly apologizing she vowed to take them off if Sonya wanted them back.
    Sonya laughed and looked around the room at some of the other people in the room. Sebastian growled doing the same. Had she said something wrong?
    “You’l be keeping your clothes on.” Sebastian said, pul ing her from the room. She tried to thank Sonya before they were out of hearing distance.
    Sebastian had a scowl on his face again and they walked in silence for a moment. From the corner of hereye,Analiastudied him with curiosity. Besides his scowl and his fists being clenched, there were no other signs of his annoyance. He walked with an air of confidence,and he leaked a sense of danger.
    The cut of his muscles promised pain to anyone who dare chal enge him.
    He was a strong male.
    Being around him titil ated her, even though she knew it was wrong to al ow herself to feel that way. Sooner or later he would prove to be much the same as Darius. But for now, she was surprised to find that she was enjoying herself with him.
    Her good feeling lasted until he turned to her and gave her such a glower, his gaze studying and disapproving. He looked at her as though she were something to be squashed. His disdain—startling and unexpected—shocked her to astandstil .
    The way he had been with her the night before had been so tender and almost even pleasurable, this new attitude was frightening. She was right in thinking she should fear him.
    When he continued walking ahead of her it took her a moment to snap back to herself and fol ow him, though her happiness was diminished.
    “What was that place?” She asked, clarifying, “Where Sonya had been.”Sebastianhad pul ed her out of there so fast he hadn’t even explained where they were. People had been scattered among many tables and there was a wal fil ed with bottles obviously fil ed with liquids, some clear, some brightly colored, others were different shades of brown.
    “That was Sonya’s pub,” Sebastian replied. “She serves alcohol to the crew when they’re not on duty.”
    “Alcohol?”
    Stopping suddenly he looked at her, bewilderment coated his features. “You don’t know what alcohol is?”
    “Should I?”
    Shaking his head he replied, “It’s a drink. It affects different races in different ways, but mostly it’s