Forces Beyond The Grave

14.4

Her wit was not appreciated. With a shriek of frustration, Ekaterina swiftly hurled Lennox across the forest floor into the nearest tree trunk. Her head struck the base of the tree, disorienting her as she tried to regain her footing. But she found herself trapped against the wood, fighting against whatever force had her pinned down as Ekaterina suddenly appeared in front of her. 

"The legend said nothing of this. It shouldn't be possible, so you can imagine that I'm beginning to become a little frustrated." 

"Don't hurt him." Lennox's voice was strained as she spoke; a result of being winded upon impact with the tree. 

"Why would I hurt him?" Ekaterina enquired, a hint of humour tainting her tone. 

"If he doesn't love you and you can't make him then you have no reason to keep him around anymore, and he won't obey you forever. It's only a matter of time before-" 

"Before what? Before he goes against me? He'll die if he tries." 

"But he doesn't care does he? He's already told you to kill him." 

From Ekaterina's tense look and lack of response, Lennox could gather that her guess was right. 

She let out a quiet laugh. "But you won't. Because to you he's still Drew. The only piece of him you have left because if the cycle has been broken you might not get another chance in another lifetime. You don't care about leverage anymore do you? How badly did it hurt you to know that you couldn't change his mind, not even with magic?" 

"He is under your protection, apparently that is not something I can compete with." 

"So what now? I thought the whole point of this thing was to break the curse. If I already did that, what happens to you?" 

The implication of something happening to the priestess now that the cycle was broken angered Ekaterina more than words could describe. She considered the question, slowly lifting her gaze to meet Lennox's eyes. 

"Nothing. I am the embodiment of immortality. I have the vessel of the legend in my control, and soon the loyalty of the world. Your civilisation will be nothing without me, if you are lucky enough to ever reach the surface and see it for yourself. As for Jay, you best hope that I find another purpose for him before I run out of patience."