Forces Beyond The Grave

14.6

"Jay." 

"Hm." 

"Jay, can you hear me?" 

"Who..." 

"It's me, wake up." 

Jay shifted, sitting up on his elbows and opening his eyes. The morning light flooding through the thin curtains was bright enough to obscure his vision, but upon looking away from the window his eyes fell on Lennox, and he found that his sight had no trouble adjusting to the brightness of the new day. 

"Lennox," He jumped out of bed, kissing her without hesitation before embracing her in his arms. "You're here, how is this possible?" 

"I know," 

"I thought you were dead, I don't understand, how are you here?" He released her, examining her person as if not believing she was real, which caused her to let out a sweet laugh. 

"I'm not, not really. But I'm not dead, I can promise you that." 

"But...but you're right here, I'm looking at you, touching you," 

"I know, Jay listen to me because I don't know how long this will last and you need to hear this."

And in just a few minutes, Lennox was able to relay everything she had heard from Ekaterina during their previous encounter. The two sat on the bed, Jay absorbing everything as she awaited his reaction. His expression combined confusion and relief, but leaned more towards relief as he spoke. 

"You can come back." 

"I think so. I don't know how yet, but what else could she have meant by saying those words right? If I can keep going with these books I might find a way to reverse the ritual." 

"Can't you just tell her to leave? Or push her out?" 

"Maybe if I hadn't have agreed to do the ritual in the first place. But this is why the ancestors needed my consent, because without out Ekaterina's spirit would've been vulnerable, I could've told her to get out the second I wanted to. But because I said yes, she had complete control, she was free to come and go as she pleased. It's complicated, but these books, they have to tell me something, I mean I didn't even think I'd get to see you again but I'm here aren't I?" She smiled as she ran her hand gently over Jay's cheek. 

He closed his eyes, allowing himself to bathe in the sensations caused by her touch. He sighed as his body relaxed for the first time since the ritual. 

"I miss you." He whispered. 

She could see the exhaustion in his posture and hear the pain in his voice, resisting the urge to let a tear slip out onto her skin as she leant her forehead against his. 

"I know, I miss you too. But I'll be back, okay? Just give me time, I'll fix it." 

"Do it fast. I don't know how much longer I can do this." 

"I'll try. I love you so much, do you know that? I love you Jay."