Page 32 of The Other Side

“Allow me to introduce myself. Mo pele—”

“I know exactly who you are. Your name isn’t Elias, it’s Ozias. And you are the younger brother of Cypress.” The god pressed his lips together and scoffed.

“Indeed.” He bowed, redirecting me. “It is something to behold, is it not?” He stretched his arms out, motioning all around. “What do you think of my kingdom, Iris-Marie? Is it not the most magnificent thing you have ever seen?”

It was magnificent, but even sitting there in awe of it all, I truthfully preferred the damp and fiery Underworld Cypress resided in. Ozias watched me, waiting for a reply. I simply blinked, staring back at him. He sighed, standing as he placed his hands behind his back and puffed his chest.

“You must be wondering why I have brought you way up here to my kingdom.”

“Indeed I am, Ozias,” I hissed his name.

“Oh, my what a temper you have, Iris-Marie. It is no wonder Cypress has taken a liking to you.” My facial expression gave away my shock as he only laughed. “Oh yes, I know everything. Pray tell, were you scuffling around your shop searching forthis?” He flourished his hand as a small glass bottle suddenly appeared from it.

The potion.

“How—how did you get that?”

“I am a god, Iris-Marie. You cannot hide things from me.” I lunged forward to snatch the small bottle, but he pulled it away before I could.

“Give it back!” I snarled.

“Enough.” His voice boomed as the cloud beneath my feet constrained me, holding me still, allowing only my head to move. I tried to fight it, grunting as I tried to wriggle free, but itwas no use. My magic sputtered, useless as Cypress’ power failed me too.

“What—”

“Much like your weak magic, her darkness is powerless here. You cannot use it.” My eyes shot to his as he twirled the vial before me. “It is always so interesting to watch you humans fall for her tricks. You all think you are so special, so worthy to be loved by a god, but truthfully, you are all the same. Let me guess: you made a deal with my sister long ago in a time of need or desperation. Cypress then presented herself to you, dazzled you with her powers, and promised you everything you have ever wanted. Your heart’s desire—which, by the looks of you, I am going to assume was power. That is how you, bayou witch, can conjure the souls of the fallen.” He tsked. “But you see, she did all this in return for what was guised as a single favor. Now, she has called upon you to give her that favor, only, it is not so simple. It is the very thing she cannot do. Cypress has given you this potion, which will drain me of my godly abilities, making me human, so you could then kill me, granting her my throne so she may rule the heavens just as she has always craved to do. Am I correct? All of this, of course, levied against you by the threat of stealing your very soul, leaving you no choice but to obey her.”

I glared back at him. “Why even ask me if you already seem to know everything?”

Ozias ruptured in laughter. “Perception is reality, mon cher. I am simply trying to clarify what it is you perceive to be true and weigh it against the facts. For example, you believe Cypress is the true ruler of the heavens, but my dear sister was never promised the throne.”

What? But she—

“Ah.” He waved his finger, hearing my thoughts. “She is the firstborn, that I will not deny, but she lost her claim long beforethe crown was ever bestowed upon me.” I didn’t want to hear his false truths. “Everything she has told you is false, Iris-Marie.”

“Lies. It’s all lies! You stole her birthright and decided to imprison her in the Underworld, ripping her soul away so she could never return or challenge you.” Ozias’ face darkened as the heavens began to turn gray, the clouds souring with his anger. “You knew that was the only way to protect yourself from her wrath.”

“Do not speak to me in such a way, Iris-Marie. I am a god.” I sucked my teeth as he grabbed my face, forcing me to look upon his light as thunder rumbled in the distance. His veins bulged, glowing golden beneath his dark skin as he tightened his grip. His light branched along my face and pierced my flesh, seeping into my blood and searing my thoughts.

“I see,” he hissed. “My sister’s lies have taken deep root in you, bayou witch. Her venomous words have spread like a poison, tainting your blood with her falsehoods. Non, non, non. Allow me to offer the antidote to your misery.” His light pressed harder and his words continued. “Cypress was heir to the heavens long ago, this is true. But her jealousy of me and hatred for our father darkened her heart and led her to do the most unthinkable thing. In her impatience to be crowned, she decided to take fate into her own hands. She used this very same potion on our father, ripping away his godliness. Without it, he was nothing but a weak old man, no match for a god like her. Cypress tortured our father. She slithered beneath his flesh and tore him apart from the inside until his human heart could bear it no longer. And just as his soul began to ascend from his human flesh, she ate it, ensuring he would never know peace.” My eyes began to water, remembering the very torture he described. “Ah, yes. You know the very pain, having tasted it yourself. And yet you still fall prey to her deception. You may think she loves you, but I can guarantee she does not. Cypress loves no one.You are but a pawn in her endless game, just like all the others before you. And when you fail to deliver to her the one thing she desires most, she will cast you aside like all the rest.” Tears rolled down my cheeks to his hand. “Spare your tears, Iris-Marie. That demon does not deserve them.” Ozias released my face, recalling his light from my blood as his clouds cleared and my body fell from his grasp. Thunder continued to rumble in the distance, rolling through the heavens as the wind began to pick up.

“She’s not using me. I am nothing like the others.” I wiped my face, standing to face him. “Cypress loves me, and I love her.”

“She loves only herself. Herself and her revenge.”

“You speak as if you are any better.” I laughed through the pain. “You are no different, Ozias. Just as self-centered and uncaring as your sister. At least Cypress can own her faults and admit her mistakes.” Lightning struck nearby, causing me to flinch. “See? You two are the same! You both drag me through the veil and tear me from my world, threatening me with your powers and words, dangling my life before me all the same. You gods are all the same! Why should I believe anything you say? It wasn’t you who saved me that night in the swamp. It was Cypress.Sheprotected me and offered me a better life.Shemade me who I am! Not you. All these years, you sat up here in these clouds and indulged yourself, watching all us humans suffer. You say you imprisoned her for our sake, but my world has gotten no better since you did. For a god who claims to protect and love us humans, you sure have a poor way of showing it.” His nostrils flared as he glared at me, restraining himself.

“No human has ever spoken to me in such a way.”

“I imagine that’s a difficult thing to do when you neglect them. But if you gave them even a minute to tell you how they really feel, I bet you’d be so familiar with my words, you could repeat them back to me!” The sunlight behind his eyes flickered in a way that reminded me of Cypress' flames when her temperrose, her own anger reflecting his. The two of us stared at one another, heated by our argument. I was terrified he was going to kill me, but strangely, I welcomed it. If I were to die, then at least I would die in possession of my soul. Unlike Tuft.

Tuft.

“Ah, the Pegasus.” Ozias’ mood shifted. “You have a soft spot for him. And he you.”

“You don’t get to speak of him,” I growled as my magic weakly flickered on my fingers. “You are the reason he is her prisoner.”

“Non. He is the reason, not I. If he had done his duty and protected my son, then neither of them would have endured such a treacherous fate. He was too weak, and it cost my son his soul, even just for a moment!”

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