Page 12 of The Other Side

Chapter

Ten

TUFT

“ I ris?” I gently knocked on her bedroom door, hoping for a response. But like before, there was none. A heavy sigh fell from my mouth as my head hung low. “I’m here if you need me.”

It had been a few days since Cypress paid us her unfateful visit, ripping Iris from this world and dragging her into her darkness while she tortured her, simply for not doing what she asked. Now, poor Iris was suffering, reliving the trauma in her room, alone. The saddest part was, Iris had been performing and summoning souls, hoping to lure Ozias back all this time, for her . And yet, it wasn’t enough, for Ozias or Cypress. I fully blamed myself. My hand slid down the wooden door as my head slumped against it in a sullen cloud.

It’s my fault. I should have known better than to think it would be so easy. Ozias is no fool. He’s a god. A god would have seen this coming. I should have seen this! I slammed my fists into my skull, hitting myself again and again for being so stupid. You worthless idiot. Get your shit together. Iris needs you.

“Iris,” I breathed her name into the door, feeling absolutely and utterly defeated. “I promise you, we will get through this.” I didn’t know how, but I knew I would do everything in my power to ensure we find a way to lure the god here. I couldn’t fail her again. I couldn’t fail Iris or my demi-god.

As I closed my eyes, I began to picture him the way I remembered him: his golden flaked skin, his sunshine hair woven with threads of gold, and those sunlit eyes that burned into your core and melted your existence. My heart fluttered at the very thought of him, feeling his warmth and touch surround me in nothing but tender love. His fingers traced the feathers of my wings with the most sensual, delicate touch. I huffed at the painful memories, my eyes stinging from the heartache. I needed to save us both. I needed to do whatever it took to return to my love.

I will figure this out, I swear it.