Page 11 of The Other Side
Chapter
Nine
CYPRESS
M y hand brushed the fiery glimpse away, ashamed by the amount of pain I had inflicted on my dear bayou witch. I had become the very thing she feared, unable to break free from it as I tortured her in ways unimaginable. And as much as I hated it…it was a necessary evil. Despite her words being true, I had to show her that tiny, excruciating portion of the unfortunate fate before her if she failed, even if it was a fate neither of us wanted for her. I knew, even though it was just a taste, the impact of my nightmarish temper would leave a scar, one so deep, time might not even heal it. And despite my impatient desire to watch Ozias fall, I would grant my witch a small reprise…for now. Not many humans could endure such a thing and live to remember. It was impressive. She has such a spark—such a drive to live and fight. I didn’t know if it was her magic or just that entertaining stubbornness of hers, but Iris-Marie was something to behold, and I had no intention of letting her go, even if she did happen to deliver me everything I wanted. No, I felt myself wanting her. And after tasting the delicious sample of her dark soul, I knew that, deep down, she wanted me too. That alone was something I could not ignore, no matter how much I knew I needed to.
I stepped to the edge of the balcony, looking out into the vast Abyss as I listened to the souls softly crying. There was no hiss from Bastien, no scoffs or sulks from Tuft, no sparks from Iris-Marie. It was just me and the dead Underworld. I was alone, and for the first time in over a century, I felt the heavy impact of that emptiness as it weighed on me.
“Even though my little brother sentenced me here for eternity, you would think he would at least allow me the presence of those who sided with me!” I shouted into the cave as it rumbled. “But no, I am forever doomed to suffer this punishment alone. While all the other celestials were welcomed back into the heavens, they left me behind.” My body bent over the edge, my hair falling to my side as I sighed. “Why must I be the villain for doing what I was born to do?”
My fire began to fade from its usual blue to a burgundy-red, reflecting my saddened thoughts. The color reminded me of Iris-Marie’s magic, souring my mood further.
“Such a pretty color,” I whispered to myself, flicking the flames from my ashen skin. The vivid flames dripped onto the edge of the balcony, forming her silhouette as I watched it dance before me. The small human-like figure lightened my mood. My flames returned to their normal color as I added a second silhouette, representing myself. I watched as the two women danced together in perfect harmony, embracing one another as they moved. And for just a moment—however brief—I was lost in the thought of her.
“If you succeed, I promise to reward you in the most generous ways, to never let you suffer again.” The two silhouettes burned bright, shimmering as they spun and danced along the balcony, filling an old, ancient void within my chest.
“Iris-Marie, conjuror of souls, witch of the bayou, and goddess of the humans.” My lips curled at the sound of her name and titles. “Yes, that has a nice ring to it. Goddess of the humans.” The burgundy silhouette danced into my opened palm, and I raised it to my face to watch it closely. Iris-Marie performed for me, the fire of her figure reflecting in my cloudy blue irises. “If you succeed, I shall give you this.”