Page 16 of The Other Side

Just a dream.

A gentle breeze brushed my hands as I peeked through my fingers, noticing the flame of my candle flickering in the night, as though wind had snuck into the room and tried to snuff it out. The feeling of being watched slowly crept up my spine as I sat up once more and peered around the dark room.

“Is someone there?” I asked in a quiet voice. The floorboards gently creaked, telling me I wasn’t alone. “Show yourself!” Magic flourished from my hands as I shot from the bed and stood, in no mood to be tampered with. Two glowing orbs appeared in the shadows, burning the same as the very hellfire in the underworld.

“Easy, trickster.” My back stiffened at Cypress’ voice, realizing it was her eyes staring through the shadows before me. Her silhouette began to form as she moved closer, stepping from the darkness, dragging it with her as it formed around her bare body, leaving her nearly naked. She was in her mortal form, her pale skin and midnight hair contrasting the warmth of my room. “Always so dramatic. There’s no need forthat.” She tilted her head, blowing softly as my magic extinguished from my hand.

“W-why are you here?” Cypress glided to my side and began to circle me like a predator sizing up their prey. “What do you want?” Her cloudy eyes stared at me as she moved, making little sound.

“As my pet has informed you, I have been keeping a very close eye on you.”

Her pet?

“You mean, Tuft?” She nodded her head. The idea of Cypress watching me was rather unnerving.

Wait, was she here about her favor?

“Cypress,” I breathed. “I know everything. The truth of our deal, why you gave me that bottle, what you want—” She rushed me, placing her cold finger against my lips.

“Shhhh.” My voice silenced. “There is no need to worry in this moment.” Her finger took its time falling from my lips. She remained close—so close, her breath hit my face.

“Then why are you here?” I asked. Her only response was a sinister smile.

Cypress stepped back and began to speak as she continued to circle me, leaning in every few words as her lips brushed along my exposed neck.

“You see, my little trickster, I was keeping a close eye onallmy pets when I noticed you were experiencing some…troubles. Was it a really bad dream?” she asked with a raised brow, as if knowing she was the one who haunted my nightmares. She bit her lower lip, laughing to herself. “I did warn you about seeing my true form. And to think, you only got a taste!” She lunged at me, snapping her jaw like she did in my nightmare. The aggression caused me to flinch, stumbling back as my calves hit the edge of the bed. Cypress laughed again. “Oh.” She wiped her eyes, as if her immense laughter made her cry. “Forgive me, I can’t seem to help myself. It has been such a long time since I’ve had a human to play with.” My heart tried to relax from her jump-scare.

“I’m not a fucking toy. Now, speak your purpose or leave, soul eater.” Her smile dropped as she glared at me.

“I really don’t like it when you call me that,” she spoke in a flat monotone voice. “You make me sound so carnivorous and vile.”

“And I really don’t like it when you lunge at me like some animal! Or that you toy with me like some ragdoll or pawn you use!” Her head tilted at my shouts.

“Since I seem to have offended you, allow me to show you I’m not the monster you see me as. Let me ease your terrors.” She stepped closer, flourishing her hand as the back of her palm touched the side of my face. “Let me help you sleep and erasethose dark clouds from your mind so you can experience all I can do for you.” The back of her hand flowed along my cheek as her touch made me shiver. She leaned close, her mouth parting as she kissed me.

My body ignited as I watched her, her strange mortal appearance making me feel uneasy. Her mouth pulled away from mine. Cypress noticed my gaze and almost read my thoughts. “Do you not like my human form?”

“I—I just… It’s not what I see when I think of you.” She raised a brow.

“You think of me? Why, you naughty little witch.”

“No! I—” Her mouth returned to mine as her skin began to ripple. The vision of her flesh frightened me as I pulled away from her grasp and landed back on the bed.

Her human skin began to shed as hellfire ripped through it, patches of her mortal form floating from her body as her ethereal form peeked through. Her normal, ashen skin began to consume her body, fire blazing along her midnight strands, igniting to their normal selves as she stood there and grinned.

“There.” She flicked the last bit of her human skin from her body as if simply a morsel of lint. “Much better, is it not?” Cypress stepped to my bedside and leaned down, blowing out my candle, the only light remaining from her burning hair.

The room fell into a sea of blue as she crawled across my bed towards me. Fearful and hesitant, I tried to back away from her, but she grabbed my ankles and yanked me close until her body hovered perfectly over mine. Seeing her hair glow in the dark reminded me of my nightmare as fear quickly took over. My body rotated as I tried to crawl away, but she only captured me, pressing her body against my back as she spoke into my ear and held me firmly.

“You have nothing to fear from me, Iris-Marie. I will not harm you, not like this.” Her tongue extended from her mouth, licking my ear as I released a surprising moan.

“What game is this?” I asked through clenched teeth. Despite my body’s reaction to her touch, my mind knew she was toying with me—using me somehow—but for what?

“Game?” Cypress laughed, her hands sliding down my arms as her fingers curled over mine, pressing her breasts into my back. “This is no game, my pet. Right now, we are in our own little world. No deals, no plots, no games. Just you and me. And right now, all I want to do is give you what you desire.”

“I don’t desire this.” Her weight nearly crushed me as she held me in place. I wanted to get away—needed to leave this room. I wasn’t strong enough to fight off her temptations.

“You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to me. I know your soul and I’ve tasted your desires.” Her hands released mine, her body pulling away from me. “And they are filled with the longing to be touched.” She kissed my back. “To be desired.” She kissed my neck. “To be loved.” Shadows swirled around my arms as they raised my body, keeping me on my knees and forcing my torso back as it slammed into Cypress’. Her hands gripped my waist as more shadows wrapped around my thighs, spreading them wide, holding me against her. “Let me give you all these things.” Her hands traveled along my skin. My core began to ache and burn as one of her hands grazed my hardened nipple, pulling the thin strap of my nightdress aside as she delicately kissed my exposed shoulder. “Let us have just this night. Forget our deal and all else.” She kissed me again, teasing my hunger as I struggled not to moan, fighting my carnal urges. “Let me love you, Iris-Marie.” Her second hand grazed my inner thigh, reaching under my nightdress.

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