Page 13 of The Other Side

“She sent you, didn’t she?” The man nodded. “But why?”

“You’re not the only one who owes the keeper of souls. I’m here to earn my freedom, same as you.” He crossed his arms and stepped past me towards the counter. “Tell me, do you have any idea who that man was who left as I arrived?”

“He said his name was Elias.”

Tuft picked up the gold coin and peered over his shoulder at me. “Of course he did.” I approached the counter, returning to the opposite side as I watched him admire the unworldly gold coin. “I haven’t seen one of these in centuries.”

“You know this coin?” He nodded.

“Just as I know where it comes from andwhogave it to you.” His gold eyes stared at me from across the counter. “Look closely.” He extended the coin towards my face. “What do you see?”

“Cypress and Ozias,” I stated what Elias had told me.

“Look closer,witch.” I grimaced at his annoyed tone. “What do you really see?”

I used my magic to levitate it, rotating it in the air slowly as I gazed closely. My eyes studied the features of Cypress’ face, almost identical to her ethereal form. Whoever made this coin captured her beauty well—too well. My hand rotated it again. I began to study Ozias’ portrait on the other side. He was also beautiful, with such striking features. Features that—

“Wait,” I whispered, pulling the coin closer with my fingertips, feeling the grooves. “They look like—”

“They are.” My eyes rose to his. “Cypress may be the goddess of the Underworld, but her brother, Ozias, is the god of theheavens. They are opposites in every way, as depicted on this coin from the heavens.”

“Siblings? Cypress and Ozias? How come I haven’t heard this before? We know all the stories and tales of the gods and goddesses, who they are and what they do, but not this. Why?” Tuft shrugged.

“My guess is, they did not want you humans to know.” But why?

“So Cypress and Ozias are siblings. It’s a mind boggling thought to grasp, but what does this have to do with me?” I shook the coin at him. “Or that damn soul eater’s favor? You said she sent you here to help me, to earn your freedom, but what does any of this mean?” Magic flickered from my fingers, and my voice rose as he stood there, unphased by my temper. “I have half the mind to fry you where you stand!”

“Easy, witch. Believe it or not, we’re on the same side here.” Tuft exhaled, taking the coin from my grasp and holding it, showing me the side with Ozias. “See him? That’s Ozias.” I rolled my eyes as he stated the obvious. “No, listen.Thisis Ozias. Does he not remind you of someone? Someone who was just here?” I raised a brow at him, fuming with annoyance.

“Just get to the point.”

“Fine, impatient human. Elias, the customer before me, is Ozias. They are the same.” I looked at the coin with a laugh. Tuft only made a face, telling me he was being serious.

“Oh, come on. Elias is not Ozias. And even if he was—which he isn’t—why would Ozias, the great god of the heavens, visit my shop?” I placed my hands on my hips. “Well?”

Tuft groaned. “You are impossible! I don’t know why Cypress thought I would be of any help to you. You’re too damn stubborn! Listen, witch—”

“Watch it, boy!” My hand raised, engulfed with maroon fire as he groaned like a wounded animal.

“Sorry—Iris. Listen, Iris, that man—that god—was Ozias. I know, because…” He trailed off, a shadow casting across his flesh.

“Because what?” I snapped.

“Because I’ve met him before!” His temper shocked me. Bastien hissed him a warning as he began to settle. “Forgive me, but I have met the god of the heavens many times. Long ago, we were once acquaintances.” My magic was extinguished by his heavy and painful words.

“When?” I pressed. “And how if—”

“I will not speak about it. But trust me when I say, that man—Elias—isOzias.” Despite not knowing him, I felt an odd sense of truth in Tuft’s words.

“Why would Ozias be here, in the human world? In my shop? And why would he say his name was Elias?” Tuft shook his head.

“I don’t know. It's probably because he knows you made a deal with Cypress.”

“How would he know that?” Tuft eyed the crystal atop my staff, releasing a laugh.

“You shined too close to the sun, Iris-Marie. You performed your magic tricks and summoned souls from the other side for thirteen years, right in front of him. Did you not think the other celestials would notice your sudden god-like power? Or that you were ripping apart the veil between worlds? These things do not go unnoticed and are closely monitored by many, including Ozias.”

“You mean, all this time, Ozias and the others…they were watching me?” I asked as a wave of anxiety began to build in my chest.

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