Page 39 of The Other Side

I woke to find myself standing on the edge of the swamp. The nightlife sang as the trees swayed with a gentle breeze. Fireflies buzzed all around, dancing in the night sky.

“What’s happening?” I whispered into the night. “Why am I here?”

“Do you not like the place I have chosen?” I spun to find Cypress gracefully walking towards me. Her arm was healed, as if nothing had happened. “I chose it just for you, my love.” She began to circle me.

“I don’t understand. Why are we here? How are you healed? What happened after we escaped? Cypress, please, I—I—”

“Allow me to break it down for your human brain to comprehend.” She grinned, her choice of words concerning me. “As I pulled you back into the Underworld with me, my brother struck you with one of his infamous lightning bolts.” I made a face. “I know,shocking. The impact was so intense, you slipped into a coma. Your soul wavered between life and death until today, when you awoke.”

“How long have I been in a coma?” I asked.

Cypress slithered to me, her face close to mine as she studied me.

“It has been three years since you betrayed me, Iris-Maire. Three long, tedious years of waiting.”

Three years? Wait.

“I didn’t betray you, Cypress.” She pulled away. “I chose to take the potion to save you! Ozias tried to turn me against you, to trick you with his own potion—”

“His what?” She snapped her head back towards me as I swallowed. “My brother came to you, asking you to betray me, and you did not think to tell me?”

“It wasn’t important.”

“Oh, my dear pet, you truly are a fool. Even if you did not use my potion on me, Ozias still got exactly what he hoped for. He won, and it is all because of you.” She grabbed my face as I gasped. “I have loved you too much. It has made you feel as though you can break my rules and live in the gray area of my expectations. I am grateful for all you have done for me, Iris-Marie, and I will forever cherish our time together, but it is with a heavy heart that I must end our affair.”

“No,” I breathed. “Don’t do this. You love me. I know you do! Let me help you. If you want your revenge so bad, let me help you take it!” Tears rolled down my face as my heart ached. “Please, my love.”

“Do not worry, my pet. You will remain by my side for all of eternity, just as I promised.” Cypress leaned close and kissed me. My tears fell to our mouths as I kissed her back, weakened by her love.

“Cypress,” I whimpered as we began to lose ourselves in one another. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Iris-Marie.” My heart leapt with joy at her words. “But that is why I must do this.” She pulled away from me as I stood there, confused.

“Cypress—”

“Do not fear, this won’t hurt one bit.”

Chapter

Nineteen

IRIS-MARIE

“Still as feisty as ever, I see.” Cypress grinned at my temper as I hissed a warning. “Such spark you have always possessed, my dear.” The underworld began to shake as I remained on the floor, eyeing my surroundings. “Ahh, yes. Come, my pet. It seems we have company.” Cypress strolled to the waterfall of hellfire, waiting.

I remained still, sullen and irritable.

“Iris-Marie, it has been weeks since your transformation. Enough sulking. We must meet the new arrival.” I snapped my jaw in defiance, and her flames flickered white as she glared down at me. “Listen here, my love. You chose your fate long ago when you drank that potion. You begged to spend eternity by my side, and I have given you that very desire. If it is not good enough for you, I could always release you to my brother or take your soul and toss it into the Abyss!” Her flames calmed. “Now, come!”

Cypress had broken me, yet somehow, despite all she had done to me, I still fucking loved her.

My head lowered as I crawled, shadowing her as we stepped through the flames and approached her throne. I strode to oneside as her hand fell and grazed my head. Standing in the middle of the pool was Bastien and a human. The woman was strikingly beautiful, her pale skin contrasting her deep burgundy hair. She stumbled around, frightened of where she was, a feeling I remembered all too well.

“Bastien!” Cypress exclaimed as the large alligator climbed the stairs to greet her. “What a tasty new treat you have brought me.” Cypress stood and began to descend the stairs, approaching the woman as she gawked at the sight of the god.

Bastien’s eyes met mine, and a voice I had never heard before filled my mind as it spoke to me. “Iris-Marie, is that you?” The alligator titled his head as I realized it was him talking to me.

“Bastien?” I spoke back. “How—”

---