Page 5 of The Other Side

“No? Dear Iris-Marie, look what has happened to you just earlier this evening.” Cypress stepped closer, reaching her gray hand out as her fingertips grazed my swollen cheek. A single blue flame dripped from her skin onto my flesh as the tender wound burned lightly. I could feel her power seep into my wound and heal it, the pain disappearing as if it never existed. Cypress smiled as I touched the same spot, my cheek now unharmed and returned to normal.

“How did you—”

“You may not think you are weak, but you are not able to protect yourself, not without some…assistance. I can help you, Iris-Marie. You are not like the other humans before you. No, you possess magic, as feeble and weak as it is. It’s a gift, but you have made it into a sideshow. You rely on using it to perform, atrickster hoping to earn enough not to starve…but what if I could give you more?”

“What do you mean by more?” I asked hesitantly.

“Morepower. Imagine having the ability to protect yourself, never needing to rely on another.” She stepped closer, her eyes heavily on me as my heart raced. “What if I could offer you everything you need? Everything your little human heart desires? Magic, protection—” she stepped even closer, her face merely an inch from mine, “real power.”

Power.I could feel a spark ignite behind my eyes at her offer.

“You could do such a thing?” I whispered eagerly. Cypress laughed gently, the flames of her hair dancing along her back as she moved away from me.

“Dear trickster,” she waved her hand as the transparent blue fire covered her gray skin, “I can doanything. You forget, I am not just the keeper of souls. I am agod. I can give you all you desire. All of it…in exchange for a tiny, simple favor.”

Ah, there’s the catch.

“What favor?” I asked cautiously as I crossed my arms. I knew her offer was far too good to be true.

“There’s that spark!” Cypress snapped her fingers, and fire burst from them, startling me. “Yes, a simple favor. But you mustn’t worry about that now. When the time is right, I will reveal it to you. Once a deal is struckyouwill receive all the promised benefits of our transaction. Then, you will be indebted to me to carry out my desire while flourishing on your own. A fair exchange, if you ask me. I may not call on you today, or tomorrow, or even ten years from now, but whenever it may be, youmustdo what I ask, when I ask, or your soul will belong to me.”

“I may be curious, but do not take me for a fool. Everyone knows not to make a deal with you, soul eater.” The insult burned on my lips.

Cypress’ smile faded as she lurked closer, her voice altering as she spoke. “Careful human. You are in my domain. Now,” she snapped her fingers as I forcefully fell to my knees, “show some respect and stay down.” Her eyebrow flicked as she gently brushed my cheek. “I always did enjoy the sight of humans on their knees before me.” I tried to brush off the odd tease.

“Did you actually think I would offer up my soul? So easily? For what…a promise of something you’ll take back, claiming I have failed my promise when truthfully, you have cheated?” I tried not to laugh at the ridiculous request, straining to stand as her power held me in place.

“That depends.” Cypress began to circle me as she spoke. “However strong your decency and morals are, the real question is this: how strong is your craving for power? Let’s weigh your choices. On one hand, you may refuse my offer and return home merely by my grace to attempt to live a long and peaceful life.”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad option,” I groaned, unable to stand.

“Indeed, but I wasn’t finished. Now, who is to say that when you return home, another event, much like today, will not occur? It is only because of Bastien you were able to live past this day. Next time, he won’t be there to protect you. Tell me, Iris-Marie, how often do you find yourself escaping violent situations? How often does a woman such as yourself have to fight off hungry men?” She stopped behind me, leaning in close. “I know their hearts. They are all the same, filled with nothing but anger and lust, soaked in a self-entitled drive to take whatever they please, no matter the cost.” Her hands slowly wrapped around my waist as she hissed into my ears. “What claim do they have to your body?” Her hands began to morph, turning into those of man’s as another set joined hers, followed by a third and fourth, each pair caressing my body in unwanted ways as I began to panic, trying to peel them off me.

“Stop,” I whispered as more joined. The many hands began to consume me, touching my body all over, growing in number until every ounce of my skin was swallowed beneath their fingers. “Stop it!”

She cackled. “That’s what you cry out when they continue, touching and forcing themselves upon you despite your screams and protests. If only you possessed the ability to stop them. Imagine having the power to not only stop them, but to make them pay for ever even thinking of touching you in such vile ways. You would belong to no man ever again. Instead, you would have the power to use your magic freely with no restraint or reprimand, to call upon the other side to aid you in your conquests and fill your desires in every way. Is that not what you want?” I began to hyperventilate, clawing at the many hands as they covered my face. My magic sparked, but it was useless against them. “Isn’t it?” Cypress repeated in my ear.

“Please,” I whimpered, the hands wrapping around my face as I began to drown in them, their touch smothering my breath. She was right. I was weak.

“Say it,” Cypress hissed. “Say it!”

“Yes,” I whispered, followed by the sound of thunder. Cypress backed away, the hands slowly retreating into her flames as I gasped at the sudden release from her power. I clutched my chest in a panic, eyeing past her to the strange man from before. She stepped in front of me, noticing my gaze, and my eyes returned to hers as she spoke.

“There are worse fates than losing your soul to the Abyss, dear human.” Cypress reached her burning arm out to me, raising her head high. “I offer you three things, Iris Marie, all in exchange for a simple favor to be collected upon as I see fit.” I eyed her hand closely. “Magic, protection, and power.”

“Are magic and power not the same thing?” I asked, still debating her offer.

“Are fireflies and stars the same?” She lifted her palms as fire danced within them, forming pictures as she spoke. “Fireflies may glow the same, twinkling in the night like stars—” her words brought the flames alive as a blue firefly buzzed above me, “but stars are far more powerful, bursting with fire.” A constellation formed above her other hand, glistening as I stood in awe, watching her words play like a picture before me. “A firefly might burn with light, but stars alone can light up the whole night. They may seem similar, but trust me, trickster, they are not the same.” She closed her hands, the flames dissolving as she looked at me with a smirk. “Do we have a deal, Iris-Marie?”

I contemplated Cypress’ proposal, surprising myself as I weighed the risks. I was defying everything I had been taught, ignoring the warnings from my childhood. But something about this proposal—this deal—made the gamble seem almost worth it. I didn’t want to place my soul on the table, but she was right. I was weak. Magic or not, I could only protect myself so much. It was only a matter of time before my lack of strength failed me. If I returned as I was, it was only a matter of time before someone else stumbled onto my path, putting me right back in the same position as before, taunting death. The idea of possessing more power was enticing—too enticing. My eyes shot to hers as she delicately offered me her hand.

Power.

I gripped her hand fiercely, her fire dripping onto my skin as it blazed across my arm. Cypress grinned as her hair burned brighter. She yanked my body close, a flash of eerie excitement casting over her gray-scale flesh.

Just do what she asks, and you’ll get everything you’ve ever wanted.

“Remember, should you fail to keep your end of our little bargain, your soul will belong tome, Iris-Marie,” Cypress hissed.

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