Page 19 of Forever Bound

And so the master and the monster battle nightly. Every night the monster dies, and every night he is reborn.

He is called the Koschei, and it is said he cannot be killed until his soul is found. But his soul is hidden separate from his body. It was cast into a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in a crystal chest, which is buried under a green oak tree. As long as his soul is safe, he cannot die. If the chest is dug up and opened, the hare will bolt away. If it is killed, the duck will emerge and try to fly off.

There is only one true way to kill Koschei. If anyone possesses the egg that contains the needle that contains his soul, they can control the monster. And if the egg or needle is broken, Koschei will die his final death. So it is written.

* * *

We sit stillfor many long minutes while I process the story he's told me. My hand grips him more tightly, and I hold his gaze. "You're the alchemist in the story," I say. And it all makes sense. The jars, the potions, the strange magic of this place. And the monster… "And each night you have to fight the monster who was once like a son to you and watch him kill others."

Ivan nods. "So you tell me, Love. Which of us is the greater monster? I unleashed true evil into this world, one who is killing innocents. And now he kills during the day, during the time I cannot protect the people. I have failed."

Chapter 6: What is love? Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more. Hey, don’t judge. It’s a legit song and fits what’s about to happen, okay? Just keep reading.

His pain enters me,a mirror of my own. This bond we have connects us in ways more intimate than anything I've ever experienced. It draws me to him. Not just because of the magic, but because of what I can feel within him. What he can feel within me.

We are one.

We share all.

I reach for him. My heart is full. I want to erase his pain. Show him how beautiful he is to me. To the world.

"You are the hero of the story, not the villain," I tell him. "You cannot control the deeds of others."

I place my palm against his cheek, and he closes his eyes, a feeling of peace washing over us both. "You've done everything you can for this village. They need to know the truth."

His eyes open, his gaze holding mine. "They know the truth," he says, shocking me.

My hand drops, and I stare, mouth agape. "What do you mean?"

"The village elder, he knows. He knows I defend the village night after night. We have spoken."

"What? You've spoken to Boris? That jackass who scarred my face?"

Ivan's eyes narrow. "He did this to you?"

I nod. "I was injured in the plane crash, but yes, he whipped my face with a wooden rod, leaving the wounds that you healed that night."

Ivan's teeth elongate, and I feel the rage bubbling in him, but it doesn't scare me. I know that anger could never be directed at me. We are bonded. We protect each other.

"I will kill him," he says.

The vodka is wearing off remarkably fast, maybe because of the vampire blood in me, and my mind is gaining clarity. "We need a plan. You said in your story that Koschei can be controlled if someone finds the egg his soul is in?"

Ivan nods.

"And he's suddenly attacking during the day? He's never done that before?"

"He hasn't, this is true."

The wheels in my mind turn. "What if Boris found the egg? And he's trying to pit the village against you, so he can kill you off and let Koschei run free?"

"Why would he do such a thing?" Ivan asks.

"Men in power will do anything to keep that power," I say. "And he's getting some challenge from Vara. Maybe he wants to keep the women in their place. It wouldn't be the first time."

"I must turn you," Ivan says. "We must make you immortal. You will be safer. Harder to kill. And we will gain strength from each other and be able to feed on each other for power."

I hesitate. "I…this is hard. After what I've done to my family, why should I be the one to live forever? And…if I do…I'll never see them again." My voice grows thick with tears. "I don't know what the afterlife holds, but I had hoped…I had hoped I would one day be with them again, so I could apologize. So they could know how sorry I am and how much I regret my choices."

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