Page 37 of The Other Side

“Iris?” I had to force my eyes open at the sound of his voice. My body rolled, and I faced him as I screamed at what I saw.

No!

“Tuft!” Without hesitation, I rose and ran to his aid. He fell to his knees, trembling as Ozias’ bolt pierced through his heart from behind. Tuft remained silent as blood poured down his pale, battered chest. His fingers shook, touching the bolt as small sparks popped his flesh. “No!” I fell before him, tears burning my eyes while my own hands trembled, unaware of how to help him. “Tuft!” His eyes met mine, reddened as tears swelled within them. He trembled, his breathing sharp and erratic as he tried to speak. “No.” I placed my hand on his chest, gently pulling Ozias’ light from the wound as it clattered on the platform behind me. The wound gushed blood, soaking my body as it began to pool around me. I tried to stop it, but it was no use.

“I-Iris—” He slumped forward, landing against my chest as I cradled him close, a soft rain drenching us.

“Tuft,” I cried, brushed his blue hair from his eyes. “Why? Why! You were supposed to live, to be free. Why would you do this?” He opened his mouth, blood pouring over his lips as he struggled to speak.

“I-I promised to protect you.” His hand reached for me, touching my cheek. “Don’t let her have you. You’re free.” Tuft gently smiled. “Be free.” I watched as the life drained from his eyes, leaving behind an empty shell.

“Tuft?” My arms shook him. “Tuft, wake up. Wake up!” His lifeless arm fell. “Tuft! Tuft!” I cradled him close, squeezing his limp body as I sobbed, the rain increasing and soaking us both. “You were supposed to live! To be free! Tuft! Tuft!”

“The Pegasus has always been a fool.”

My eyes shot open as I glared up at Ozias, who stood tall and emotionless. Anger boiled beneath my skin, my hatred for the god growing with each second. I kissed Tuft’s head, gently setting him down as I stood, his blood staining the entire front side of my body.

“You,” I growled, pulling a small, dull knife from my jacket. “How dare you speak to me of him! Tuft was no fool. He was more of a god than you can ever hope to be.” Ozias raised a brow, unamused by my temper.

“He was weak, just as you, bayou witch. Or should I say,human, for you are a witch no more.”

I laughed at his intended insult. “I may not have my magic, but that doesn’t make me weak.” I tilted my head, squeezing the handle of the knife with all my strength.

Ozias smiled. “We shall see, dear Iris-Marie.”

As Ozias raised his arm, white lightning fractured from the sky to his palm, gathering into another striking bolt power. He raised his arm and unleashed the godly weapon as Cypress lunged, and her body hit mine, shoving me over, saving me from his blast as Ozias snarled.

“Cypress!” he hissed as he gripped her arm, his hot touch burning her. Ozias pulled her closer, his tone disgraced. “Non! I have tired of your games! Your evil is too much for this world or any other. Imprisoning you to the Underworld is too good a punishment for you. It is time I erased you from existence, just as you erased our father!” As he shouted his threats, golden fire ruptured from his grasp and ignited her flesh. Cypress cried out, screaming, her ashen skin slowly flaking away from his power.

“Cypress!” I screamed, useless to help. “No!”

“Iris! The staff!” she grit through bared teeth.

“What?” I asked.

“Your walking stick! Find it!” My eyes scanned the platform, the rain clouding my vision as I tried to find the staff, Cypress’ screams filling my ears.

Where is it? Where is it!

“I can’t find it!” A familiar grumble caught my attention as Bastien suddenly appeared, the walking stick in his jaw. He swung his head and tossed it to me. The crystal atop the wooden staff was glowing, the hellfire somehow still intact.

But how?Cypress’ screams grew.

“I got it!” I turned, holding the walking stick close, to see Cypress now on the ground, her arm nearly disintegrated. Ozias grinned, pleased with the torture he was inflicting on his sister. He was too transfixed to even notice me. “Cypress!” Her teary eyes slowly rose, meeting mine.

“The veil—” she wheezed.

What? The veil?

Bastien made a noise as I looked at him. He grumbled again, stomping his feet as it all came together.

The veil. Of course.

My arms raised the walking stick high, just as I had done so many times before, the crystal beaming with blue fire. The color caught Ozias’ attention, and he looked at me, confused. I tooka deep breath and prepared myself to perform my trick one last and final time.

“With the power of the Underworld and the goddess of death herself, I command the veil to open and allow us safe passage!” I slammed the walking stick into the platform, an immediate crack forming from the impact. It began to split, creating a large enough gap for us to slither through and escape. “Cypress!” I screamed at her, proud of myself. “I did it!”

“Non!” Ozias released her, tossing her aside as he ran to me. He snatched the walking stick, ripping it from my grasp before he snapped it in half. The crystal shattered onto the platform, the hellfire crystal flickering as the power within it escaped into thin air. “You fool! You are blinded by your love for her!” He swung his arm, slapping me straight across the face. My cheek burned from his abuse as I wobbled back. “She must be stopped! And if you cannot see that,” he stopped, standing over me, “then I will kill you as well.”

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