Page 29 of The Other Side

“It’s not possible.”

“But why?” I pressed, rising to my knees, clutching the sheet close. “Why can’t this be enough? Why am I not enough?” Silence. “Cypress?” I reached my hand out to her, but she moved away from my touch.

“You don’t understand, Iris-Marie.”

“Then explain it to me. Tell me why you can’t change your mind.” I could see she was fighting back emotions, holding back what she felt. “After all I have given you, why can’t you be honest with me?” Nothing. A darkness began to fill my chest as I doubted everything.

I should have known this was too good to be true.

“You say I’m stubborn, but you’re no better,” I snapped, turning to leave. “I’ll leave you to your fucking revenge—” Cypress grabbed my arm before I could leave her bed.

“My birthright has nothing to do with your worth. You are more than enough, Iris-Marie, but this has nothing to do with you. Do you not see? I have waited over a century to find a human even worth taking a second glance at, someone I couldentrust my power to in the empty hope they would even attempt to aid me. When I found you, I knew you were special, but I had no idea justhowspecial. I do not want to harm you, nor do I want to see you suffer by my hand. I cannot bear the thought of you hurting because of me, but I did not choose this life! I did not choose for my brother to betray me and send his armies to kill me simply because I wanted the very thing I was born to have. Me, not him! The very thing I was bred and taught to do! Do you think I want this? Any of it? I hate the monster he has made me into for simply defending my right! And now, you, my sweet goddess, are stuck in the middle of this wretched bloodbath. I know there is a chance you will die from all this, and I am in absolute agony knowing you are risking your life for my birthright. For me.” Her eyes began to drip fluorescent beads of hellfire. “I did not choose to fall in love with you Iris-Marie, it just happened. But do you not see? There is no winning in the end for me. I either lose my place in this world and suffer for all eternity, or I lose you.” I blinked at her grand statement. “All I have ever wanted was to take back what is rightfully mine. He stole my throne from me, Iris.Mythrone! I am the rightful ruler of the heavens and earth—me! And because he has a dick and I do not, I am supposed to bend to his will? He sent thousands of his followers to kill me and those who supported my claim. I have only ever acted in self-defense. And when I was finally close, he ripped my soul from my existence.” Cypress wheezed through her tears. “No, I cannot turn a blind eye to this.”

“So instead you spent a century ripping souls from humans—torturing them just the same—forcing them to aid you with your revenge.” I could feel tears burning in my eyes.

“Do you think I like doing this? I know what it feels like to have your soul taken from you. I feel that pain, mine and theirs, over and over again every time I am forced to perform the very sick thing done onto me! I did not choose to be condemnedto the Underworld! To be cursed to perform such sick things over and over again! Ozias has me trapped here! Part of my punishment for daring to challenge him is to do all of this! So excuse me if I try to use whatever is within my reach to break free of my prison!” She released my arm, rushing from the bed. “Once you spend a century hearing humans and celestials call you the most vile and disgusting things, you eventually start to believe it. Their poisonous words take such effect as they begin to alter your view of yourself, eventually making you into the very things you denied yourself to be for so long.” She stopped not far from me. “You are right, trickster. I am a soul eater. Not because I want to be, but because that is what he made me.” Her flames had turned a deep maroon, something I had never seen from her before.

Cypress glared at me, fuming with anger and sadness, and my heart nearly broke, hearing how much she must suffer alone in her purgatory. Behind that tortuous, menacing front she showed everyone was really a hurt and broken shell, empty and alone.

“I forgive you.”

Cypress’ expression dropped as her flames returned to their usual blue. “What?”

I swirled, standing from the bed as I kept the sheet wrapped tightly around my body and approached her. My hand gently touched her cheek, a tear falling down my own as she stared back at me.

“I forgive you. For everything, Cypress.” My lips gently touched hers, offering a sweet kiss before I forced myself to pull away, brushing past her towards the waterfall.

“Where—where are you going?” she asked.

“I’m returning home to do whatever I can to ensure you have your revenge.” Cypress rushed after me, grabbing my hand. Istopped, looking over my shoulder at her. “I’m going to end this.”

“Iris.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not just doing it for you. I’m also doing it for Tuft and myself. We deserve to have our souls, but you deserve to be free. Let me free you.” Cypress pulled me close, wrapping her arms around me.

“You could die—”

“Good thing you’re the keeper of souls,” I teased through tears. She laughed alongside me. “I can’t promise I’ll succeed, but I can promise I will try my best.” Cypress nodded, kissing my forehead.

“Wait. Before you go, what is your favor?” I snapped my head up.

“What?”

“Your favor. What is it?” Cypress stared at me so tenderly.

“But—I thought—”

“Either ask it now, or I shall forget the whole damned thing.” Cypress raised a brow. My head lowered. “It is far too late to be shy, my pet.”

“We-we have an idea to lure Ozias back to us, Tuft and me. But—but we—Ineed your help.” I swallowed, anxious to ask such a request of her.

“I am listening.”

“I want to summon you in front of the whole bayou. It would be such a grand task, Ozias would have no choice but to show.”

Cypress watched me, dissecting my words. I bit my lower lip, nervous to see how she would respond. I knew she’d feel insulted at the idea of a human summoning her, but it was the only way to get her brother to return, to give her what she wanted.

“You want to summon me before the whole town?” I nodded in response to her question. “A bold request.” She pondered a while longer, releasing me before turning away.

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