Page 38 of The Other Side

“Oh baby brother,” Cypress sang aloud. Ozias stopped, turning to look at Cypress, her legs dangling over the fractured veil, her arm nearly gone. She was grinning, twirling her fingers as he watched her in horror. “You may have won this round, but our game is far from over.” She released a sinister cackle. “Until next time!” Cypress slid into the crack as Ozias lunged towards her, trying to prevent her from escaping.

“No! Cypress!” he screamed after her, slamming his fists along the open seam of the other side. “Cypress!” The sky ruptured with the loudest thunder I had ever heard, lighting crackling with his anger. I couldn’t help but laugh, relieved she had gotten away, that she was safe. Ozias slowly rotated his head towards me, the same menacing temper I had become all too familiar with covering his face.

“You will pay for your part in her plans, human, even if she did fail.” He stood tall, his ethereal form threatening as hetowered over me. “As for your punishment, I will take your soul and ensure you and that she-devil can never be together, even in death.”

“Do it.” I grit my teeth. “End my life. Without her in it, it’s worthless.”

Ozias snarled, preparing to torment me, when a long shadow tentacle suddenly appeared from the veil. It gripped my waist and ripped me to the ground, pulling me towards the open crack. Ozias shouted after me, and bolts struck on either side of my body over and over again as the tentacle dodged their mark. I laughed, rain soaking my face as I glanced up to see a single lightning bolt aiming for me.

Cypress.

The blot struck its mark, slamming into me as everything fell into absolute darkness.

Chapter

Seventeen

CYPRESS

Bastien grumbled as I touched the remnants of my scorched arm. I knew it would heal over time; I just needed to be patient. Unfortunately, patience was something I did not possess.

“Ozias always did know how to leave a lasting mark,” I groaned to the beast. “Oh well. It may take time to heal, but at least I know I am safe down here.” My eyes roamed around the damp cave as I inhaled the comforting smells of my domain.

Bastien snapped his jaws.

“Don’t use that tone with me, beast. I may be injured, but I am still a god!” My flames flickered white as he calmed himself. “I know you think me wicked for leaving his body up there, but I had no choice, and your Pegasus friend made his.” As much as I hated to admit it, Tuft’s death saddened me. “At least we have hers.” My head turned to look at her body, laying across my elaborate bed.

Before she could truly escape, Ozias struck her down with one of his lightning bolts. The power was too much for her human brain, and it nearly killed her. Now, she was stuck in limbo, her soul neither hers nor mine as she lingered in the in-between. It was only a matter of time before it chose its path.

Iris-Marie had chosen to sacrifice herself to save Tuft, abandoning my revenge, but in the end, she chose me. I stepped closer, gazing upon her beautiful face.

She chose me.

My fingers grazed her cheek, surrendering to my heart for a brief moment.

“I shall remain by your side until you wake. And once you do, you will never leave mine again.”

Chapter

Eighteen

IRIS-MARIE

My eyes refused to open, my body slowly waking as if it had been stuck in a year long slumber. My limbs tingled and twitched as my nerves awoke and feeling returned. My brain felt like mush, sloshing around in my skull as I groaned.

“Careful,” a soft voice brushed past my ears, and I instantly recognized it.

Cypress.

My eyes shot open to see her smiling down at me. I had to blink, questioning whether she was real or a sick figment of my imagination sent to torture me in the afterlife.

“C-Cypress,” I croaked, reaching for her. “But…how? I thought—” Her finger gently pressed against my lips.

“Shhh. Rest, my pet. Rest. We shall speak soon.”

My eyes became heavy, only instead of returning to my empty slumber, I fell into something much more maddening.

“Iris.”

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