Page 25 of The Other Side

I nodded. “I did.”

“And ripping through the veil, destroying my shop, dragging me to our own pocket of hell while you tortured me was theonlyway to learn my plan. Is that it?” Her eyes were reddening, her strength on full display as she fought the excruciating trauma I left behind. I could see it burning beneath her flesh, haunting her.

“You must understand.” My hand pressed forward, piercing through the veil, changing as it entered her world and became human. I reached for her cheek, but she turned away. Her shun made the flames on my side flicker white. “I can be a bit hot headed, but you do not understand how long I have waited for this. All of this. I can’t afford to lose another human—”

“Another human?” Iris snapped her face back, touching my hand with her cheek as she glared at me. “Is that all I am to you? Just another lost soul to toy with, tricking me into doing whatever it is you need? Tuft was right. This was all a game. I really do mean so little to you.” Her words were like venom.

“Iris—”

“Stop it. I know everything about you, Cypress. You have no soul. You cannot love. You use your power to torment others, humans and celestials, playing with us until we are brokenbeyond repair.” Her hand broke from her magic as it snatched my wrist. My power burst from my palm, fighting her magic as it surrounded my fire, the two colors igniting as we struggled. “You are exactly as all the stories say.”

“Don’t you dare say it,” I growled, gritting my teeth as we tugged against each other.

“You’re a soul eater, Cypress, filled with nothing but death. That’s all you will ever be.” A tear fell down her cheek, as if it pained her to say such grotesque things.

“Is this why you dared to glimpse into my underworld? To spout your poisonous words and call me such insufferable things?” Iris glared back at me, her rage almost humorous. I released a laugh as my power grew within my palm, surrounding her magic. “You forget who I am, Iris-Marie. And you, trickster, may shout what it is you thinkIam, but you seem to have forgotten yourself and your place.” I reached my second arm through the glimpse, gripping her other hand. “Allow me to remind you!”

With a single tug, I pulled Iris-Marie’s body through her mirrored glimpse, dragging her from the human world back into my Underworld. She fell into the pool of hellfire at my feet, the flames drenching her ruffled dress, her exposed shoulders dripping while she glared up at me in hatred.

“Welcome back,” I teased, offering her a ridiculous bow and a devious grin. “Did you miss it?”

“No, I didn’t! And I didn’t come here merely to insult you!” She slammed her fists into the pool, making a splash. My brow flicked at her heated temper, enjoying it a little too much. I vanished from sight like smoke in the night before suddenly appearing in the air above her. Our faces opposite of one another as I spoke down to her, my eyes level with her chin, hers the same.

“No? Well then, whydidyou call out for me? What would possess a human such as yourself to peer into the Underworld of the infamous soul eater you all claim me to be?” My finger grazed her chin, watching as her dark skin prickled at my touch. Iris-Marie waved her arms, brushing my image away like a cloud before stumbling to her feet, her chest raising with a heavy breath. I reappeared a few feet from her, standing in the pool and playing with my nails. “Well?” She stared at me, completely silent. So stubborn. I stepped towards her, watching as she moved away, taking a step back for each one I placed forward.

No more running from me.

My arm raised as shadows extended from it and fell into the pool, slithering to her feet. They wrapped around her ankles as I held her in place, closing the distance between us. She didn’t flinch, didn’t try to run. Instead, she held her head high.

“Tell me.” I stopped inches from her body. “Why have you called on me?” My face hovered so close to hers, feeling her breath as it rapidly brushed my face. “After everything you suffered…all I have done to you…why have you come back to me?” My fingers gently grazed her cheek. I could smell her hesitation and fear. Despite it all, she still spoke my name and summoned me to her. This very realization changed my demeanor, softening my gaze. “Why?” I asked, tenderly touching her chin.

“I—I have a favor to ask.”

I couldn’t help but rupture into laughter at her words. “Feisty, temperamental, and humorous. You are the whole package, Iris-Marie! A favor! Oh, you are bold, my pet. What’s next? Are you going to ask me to relieve you of our deal? To accept less than what I have asked for?” I turned away, waving the shadows from her ankles as I stepped onto the stairs. “Go home, Iris-Marie. Recover your wits and do what you must to end this torment…for both our sakes.”

“Will you at least hear me out? Cypress? Cypress!”

My body stiffened as she shouted my name. I slowly turned my head, glaring at her over my shoulder.

“I—I am asking you for one favor. Just one tiny favor. Please—”

“I am not a genie. I don’t give out favors or grant wishes. I fulfill desires to make deals with lost souls. That is it.” I couldn’t help but admire her spirit. For a moment, I thought I might have broken it. But here she was, strong as ever, challenging me. I was almost proud.

“And what if I desire this?” she asked.

My head tilted at her words. “Oh,” I purred. “I knowexactlywhat you desire. And I can assure you, a favor is not it.”

“You know nothing of my desires,” she spat. I raised a brow, turning to fully face my beautiful human.

“Oh, but I do. I have tasted it straight from your existence, Iris-Marie.” My elbows bent as I commanded the pool, the fiery liquid rising around her frame. The hellfire obeyed my silent command as it surrounded her, raising her body past the stairs until her eyes were level with my own. “You want something we both know you cannot have, something that would burn both our worlds if we surrendered to it. It is impossible, no matter how deliciously tempting it may seem.” Her dark eyes sparkled as the reflection of my flames danced within them, entrancing me, tormenting me.

Every nerve in my godly body pulsated with the desire to take her into my grasp and claim her as my own, to make her mine. It was something I had never experienced, something I didn’t know was possible…until I met her. My human. She had me transfixed. I wanted her, but I knew I couldn’t have her. And she didn’t want me, not truly.

“Show me,” she breathed.

Gods, I fucking want her.

“No.” I reluctantly released Iris-Marie with a sullen temper.

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