Page 18 of The Other Side

Chapter

Sixteen

IRIS-MARIE

“ Y ou ready?” Tuft asked, pulling back the mossy canopy that hung over the roof of my old home. We had decided to have everyone gather out in the swamp outside the old shack. There was a large enough clearing within the bayou, offering plenty of space for all to stand and watch. It also gave me a sense of comfort, and right now, with the immense pressure to please not one, but two gods, I needed as much comfort as I could get. That and a stiff drink.

I could hear Tuft’s voice as he spoke, see his mouth moving, but it was muddled and distant. My primary focus was on the delicate potion bottles, both nestled in my pocket. My hand was tightly wrapped around them, second guessing myself and the decision I had made.

“Iris?” I shook the stress-filled thoughts and fears from my mind, forcing an automatic smile. “Are you alright?” Bastien waddled to Tuft’s side, growling as he sensed my apprehension. Tuft’s golden irises examined me closely. “I know you don’t want to do this, but we are so close. So close to ending all of this. To being free.” My hand reached out and touched his pale, scar-covered cheek.

“I can’t wait to see your wings.” Tuft’s eyes watered at my statement, his hand pressing against my own as we stood there, the heft of our choices weighing us down into the swamp.

He had no idea Ozias had summoned me, giving me his own potion. He only knew our fates would be decided tonight, based on how I performed…not the decision I made. And the one I would make tonight was for him. For Tuft.

“When you soar through the clouds and gaze upon that golden city in the sun, I hope you remember how much you mean to me and how grateful I am to call you friend.” I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “Truly and forever grateful.”

“Wait. How did you know the heavens—” I pulled away before he could finish his sentence, his hand trying to stop me as I stepped around the old shack onto the back porch. “Iris?”

The sound of the townspeople drowned out his voice as I wiped my tears and forced a smile, presenting the strong front they all knew and feared. A few children squealed in excitement, adults equally split as their faces told me they were anxious to see what I promised to do. It was obvious we were all nervous, but the thing that really stopped me in my tracks was seeing her skull-like mask burning in the crowd, revealing herself to me. The flames flickered as she stared back at me with those powerful eyes of hers.

Cypress.

She was here as she promised, in her human form, hidden within the crowd. Part of me relaxed at the sight of her, watching her lips curl as she nodded to me in confidence. I wanted to rush to her side, take her in my arms, and run away from all of this, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough for her. She needed this.

Tuft and Bastien joined me, helping me to the platform they had made just for tonight. I could smell the fear in Tuft’s veins as he gently held my hand. He refused to let go as I tried to walk past him.

“It’s all going to be okay. I promise. I’m going to free you, Tuft,” I whispered to him. “Let me go.” He hesitated, the look of dread washing over him before reluctantly letting go of my hand. The two shadowed me onto the platform, their postures stiff and harsh as I stepped to the front and gazed out into the sea of faces. I took a deep breath, adjusting the grip on my walking stick as I slipped into the character I had created for them all these years.

Breathe. You’re so close. So close to ending all this madness. Soon, it’ll be over, and you can be free. We will be free. All of us. Just give them a show, use the potion, and end this.

As the thoughts began to calm me, I could feel my shoulders relaxing and joints easing. The familiarity of showcasing my magic, fueled by Cypress’ power, settled in as I slowly raised the walking stick, my eyes closed. I tapped it against the platform three times. Each tap echoed like thunder as the third rolled into a crackling sound, burgundy smoke consuming my body. The crowd gasped, the sound of their surprise filling my ears as I breathed it in, feeling the essence of their energy flow through my veins. My body spun as I blew the smoke away, revealing the very bayou witch they had all come to know. The conjuror of shadows. The infamous Iris-Marie.

My elegant black dress hugged my body and flared from my waist to the ground, the large slit allowing more than enough room for my bare legs to move. My limbs were adorned with numerous pieces of jewelry, matching the beaded crystal and bone accents that hung from my ears and trailed around my neck. I flourished my hand, my all-too-familiar top hat lined with burgundy velvet appearing as I gracefully placed it on my head, the matching coat forming from magical fire as it ruptured into existence. For the first time since Cypress reappeared into my life, I felt empowered and unstoppable. I felt like my real self. The real Iris-Marie.

“Ahhh,” I exhaled, opening my eyes to see the stunned faces of the crowd. “What? Cat got your tongue?” I flicked a brow as they whispered to themselves. “Oh, don’t be shy.” I extended my arm, my magic crackling from it like electricity as it spread to the hands of all present, wrapping around their wrists. “Now, show me the respect I deserve, the respect you have all kept hidden from me all these years!” As the words fell from my mouth, I swayed my hand, conducting theirs as they began to clap, applauding me. “Oh, thank you. You are too kind!” I offered a bow, my eyes meeting Cypress’ as she grinned with delight, slowly clapping, her blue mask concealing her pale human face. My head tilted as my own grin grew, pleased to see her so enamored with my performance.

My body rose, and my smile instantly dropped as I caught sight of him. He too was hidden within the crowd, in his human form to blend in, just like his sister. But it was no use. Even out here, amongst the entire town, Ozias reflected perfection and looked like a god. I turned back to catch Tuft’s gaze, moving past me to him, his face dropping at the sight of his lover’s father. Our eyes met once more as Tuft nodded, telling me to do what needed to be done.

Showtime.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” I swirled back, returning to the facade of my performance. “Boys and girls. Creatures of the bayou and souls of the damned!” Bastien snapped his jaw in excitement. “You have all ventured deep into this swamp, to the very home I once resided in, to witness the impossible, risking your lives to watch as I call upon the heavens above and hell below, using my power to summon the very thing we all know and fear.” My eyes met Cypress’, energized by her anticipation, burning in my chest. “The goddess of death, the keeper of souls, and the ruler of the Underworld!” I raised my walking stick, preparing myself for whatever she had planned.

Please, don’t fucking mess this up!

“I summon you, oh mighty Cypress! I call upon you to slither from your cave and step onto the world. To break through the veil and join me here, on the other side!” I slammed my walking stick onto the platform as it hit with a thundering boom, burgundy smoke blasting from the impact as it rushed the entire crowd, blowing away hats and flyers while rusting the trees. My eyes moved to her, watching as she too blew away like smoke before my magic could touch her body.

Where did she go?

Everything settled, the bayou falling into a cricketing silence as the crowd glanced around, murmuring and waiting. Seconds turned to minutes as we waited in anxious and eager anticipation. The townspeople began to make faces, pointing as they shouted their distaste.

“Liar!”

“Trickster!”

Come on, Cypress. I turned to look at Tuft, equally freaked out as he shrugged his shoulders. Fucking hell! Where are you?

The crowd became more unsettled, spitting insults and shouting obscurities. I began to panic, unsure of what to do. Cypress promised she’d be here, that she would appear. Why would she lie? Why would she vanish just when I needed her most? Was Ozias right? Was she—

The ground began to shake and rumble, the wind suddenly increasing as it whizzed by my ears and a storm began to brew in the evening sky. The clouds gathered until the bayou was drenched in a cold darkness. Blue lightning cracked from the menacing sky, striking at my feet, nearly missing me. My body fell back as Tuft caught me, the ground quaking and splitting as blue light began to glow from the torn platform—a blue I immediately recognized.

Cypress .

Shadow demons screeched, climbing from the hellhole as they slithered into the swamp and rushed the crowd of humans trying to escape. They corralled them, keeping them in place as more shadows joined them. Giant, black smoke tentacles shot from the tear, wrapping around the townspeople’s feet, holding them prisoner as the horror ensued. More pitch black smoke poured from the torn platform, flooding the bayou like a frightening fog of death as it clouded the air. Menacing laughter and unnatural growls echoed as the ground continued to quake, Cypress’ shadow-like arms extending from the crack as if a monster of hell was crawling through. Tuft and I leaned in closer, both traumatized to see her reveal the glimpse of her true beastly form here in front of the whole town.

“Who dares summon me? Me! The goddess of hell!” Cypress hissed and snarled, her shadow body emerging from the splintered earth. As she climbed out onto the platform, the crowd screamed and cried, shouting in fear of the god—no, the monster before us.

“Iris!” Tuft screamed to me, the sound of the wind and oncoming storm drowning our voices out. “She’s doing it! She’s performing! You need to stand up and perform alongside her!” I nodded, mustering all my strength as I stumbled back to my feet, blocking the wind from my face as I approached the devil herself.

“Cypress!” I screamed as her monstrous form whirled in my direction, growling. “I am the one who summoned you, and I command you contain your wickedness!” Her eyes flickered, her unnatural mouth curling into a smile as a deep roll of laughter ruptured from her essence.

“Make me,” she grumbled.

Was this part of her act? Or was she truly challenging me?

“Cypress!” She ignored me, striking her blue lightning all around the bayou as Ozias tried to help the frightened people. “Cypress!” Nothing. “ Soul eater! ” The goddess whipped her head around, disgusted by the name. “I said, contain yourself!” My fingers curled as I used my magic like a lasso, wrapping around her, pulling the shadow demon down. “Be still and listen to me!” I grunted, commanding her with my power. “Enough!”

Cypress fell to the ground, her shadow-like form blowing away like smoke as the air calmed and settled into a simple storm. Darkness surrounded her. I retrieved my magic, watching as everyone fell silent and watched in a curiously fearful anticipation.

“Cypress?” I whispered, cautiously approaching her shadows. “Cypress?”

A hand reached from within it, grabbing my wrist as the entire town gasped, watching as Cypress slowly rose, now in her ethereal form. Her naked and ashen body glistened like the night sky as I helped her to her feet. I leaned close and whispered into her ear, all eyes wide and glued to the two of us. “Are you alright?”

She grinned, whispering back to me. “Forgive me, my love, but I couldn’t help but put on a show.” Cypress winked, adjusting her posture as she became her usual delicately deadly self.

Leave it to Cypress to make an exaggerated and fucking ridiculous entrance . I chuckled to myself. Always so dramatic.

“Goddess of death,” I addressed her as the town listened, hanging on my every word. “I have summoned you here to show the bayou the extent of my power, to witness the impossible.” She watched me, her flames dripping from her hair in anticipation. “But that is not the only reason I have called them here. You see,” I turned to the crowd. “We are not in the presence of one god, but two. And he is here among you, watching my spectacle all the same.” Everyone gasped, searching and scanning the sea of faces.

Cypress looked out, spying his face immediately as she grinned, her power flickering from her fingertips. Ozias didn’t seem pleased. He had a stone cold look plastered across his bronzed face, flaring back at his older sister.

“Oh Ozias,” I called to him, gripping my walking stick. “Would you please join us?” Whispers and questions breached the humans as they continued to look for him, unaware that he stood among them, ignoring me. “Ozias, please, join your sister .”

“Sister?”

“Did she say sister?”

“I can’t be, can it?”

“Oh, yes. Ozias is the brother of Cypress—well, baby brother. Apparently, the gods have decided us humans are not worthy of knowing the truth of their existence. Only the perceptions of their chosen realities.” Ozias gently shook his head, insulted that I used his words against him. He refused to budge, telling me he would not be so easily controlled, just as I expected.

“It seems the mighty god of the heavens is shy, too scared to step forward and reveal himself.” Coward. I looked over to Cypress, nodding as her flames flickered with excitement. “You have left me no choice, oh mighty god.”

I stepped back and joined Tuft and Bastien as Cypress took center stage, her power growing with the dark expression of absolute chaos that brewed within her beautiful, godly face. She raised her arms, her elbows tucked as hellfire slithered from the crack in the platform and wrapped around her legs, reaching up to her fingers. She raised a single hand and flexed her fingers as her power shot in the direction of her brother in an angry snarl. The people near him screamed and shouted in fear. A burst of golden light ruptured from his core, blocking her power as he now stood in his ethereal form, the crowd backing away from him in awe.

“Welcome, baby brother,” Cypress snickered, her flames turning white as the celestial siblings glared at one another.

I quickly moved to Tuft and handed him the two vials. His eyes met mine as he noticed the one with the sun charm.

“Iris,” he breathed. I clasped my hands around his, concealing them from the two gods.

“You know what to do.”

“Iris, no.” I gripped his hand, my magic shocking him as I stared into his molten eyes.

“Trust me, Tuft.” He flared his nostrils. “I promise, you will be free. I will get you your wings. Just do this, for me. Please .” He reluctantly nodded, turning to watch as the two gods continued to bicker publicly.

“Join us, brother!” Cypress looked at me. I flashed her a devious smile and joined her back in the center of the platform.

“Yes! Join us, Ozias, god of the heavens!” I shouted.

Ozias huffed, reluctantly stepping towards the platform. His sunshine eyes shot to me, burning my soul as he joined opposite his sister. The atmosphere around us split into two as half of the swamp remained in a sullen storm brewing in the distance while Cypress bore her eyes into her brother. The other half of the bayou had cleared, sunshine peeking through as it reflected off Ozias’ golden flaked skin. The two remained locked on another. I looked past them and out to the crowd, silenced in absolute shock and awe. I had become so accustomed to being in their presence, I almost forgot how baffling it must be to see.

“It is a sight to behold, is it not? Two gods standing before you in their ethereal forms!” Concerning whispers carried with the breeze. “Do not fear, people of the bayou. I promise, neither of the two celestials will harm you.” I glared at them over my shoulder. “Not if they want the very thing they came for.”

Cypress’ face twisted as she glanced from Ozias to myself, silently questioning my words. Ozias too seemed confused, looking from his sister to me. I turned my face back towards the crowd and motioned with my hand. Tuft quickly joined me with three silver glasses in hand. I retrieved one for myself as he stood between the two gods and offered them each a glass.

They exchanged a look before both turned to look at me.

“No more games,” I whispered to Cypress. She stared down at the glass filled with the glowing potion. The fear of the unknown was clear as day across her face as she looked at Ozias, equally confused.

“A potion for us both?” Her attention returned to me as he inhaled deeply. “No more games.” Cypress hesitated a moment before taking the silver cup. Tuft looked at Ozias, watching as he remained still, refusing to even take the offered glass.

“What is wrong baby brother? Are you too afraid to drink from a mortal’s cup? Too godly to touch anything less than that perfect, precious gold you surround yourself with? Or does seeing the Pegasus who caused your son’s murder sour your mood?” She grinned. He snatched the glass, holding it close as I exhaled in relief and addressed the crowd once more.

“A toast!” I raised my cup high. “To the gods!” Cypress and Ozias mimicked my movements and raised their own glasses as the two took a sip, drinking all the potion.

Cypress licked her lips, breathing a gleeful exhale as she chucked the silver cup aside, unaffected. She watched Ozias’ face drop in disappointment. His eyes widened as he looked at his cup in disbelief. I closed my eyes and quickly downed my own glass.

“At last!” Cypress shouted. “I have waited for this moment for far too long. Now, Iris-Marie! Oh, your reign ends tonight, Ozias! The time has come to—Iris—”

My harsh coughing stopped her rant as I began to choke on the potion, falling to my knees. Tuft ran to my aid and grabbed my arms as I cried out in pain, clutching my stomach as the most excruciating pain overtook me, a pain even worse than Cypress’ torture.

“I do not understand,” Cypress muttered aloud. “What is happening? What have you done to my human?”

My body twitched and snapped as I rolled to my back, knocking Tuft away. I screamed as tears of hellfire poured from my eyes and burned the flesh of my cheeks. My body began to convulse and shake, the blood within my veins boiling through my heart. I could feel Cypress’ power fighting the effects of the potion, crawling deeper into my soul as if to shield itself, but it was no use. It dripped into every essence of my being, burning all her hellfire, taking my magic with it.

“Iris!” Cypress screamed as she rushed to me. “What is happening? Tell me what is happening!” I could hear her voice quivering in fear.

“She has taken the very potion you intended to poison me with, sister. Mo chagren, but your witch is becoming human. Your power is leaving her, breaking your deal.”

“No,” Cypress whispered. I tried to look at her, but she only stared at Tuft, her flames surging white. “Tell me this is not true, Pegasus. Tell me she did not drink it!” He didn’t answer. Instead, he lifted my body to his and cradled me away from her. Cypress’ power and my magic, tangled together, began to swirl in my stomach and make me sick. My fingers clawed my body away from him as I rolled to my hands and knees and began to gag on it, choking it back.

“ You ,” she growled, moving away from me. “You did this!” The ground shook as Cypress shouted at her brother. The skies became fully drenched in darkness as a thunderstorm approached, blue lightning crackling along the sky with her anger. I began to vomit, hellfire and burgundy magic pouring from my mouth onto the platform, draining me of everything.

“Pronga to, Cypress,” Ozias spoke. “There are humans present. You cannot—”

“Silence!” Her fire surged from her body as it fully surrounded her. “I do not give a damn about your precious humans!” Lightning struck throughout the crowd, causing them to scream and scatter. “Not even this one.” She glared at me with hatred, her voice altering as her darkness took over.

No. Cypress, this isn’t you.

“Cypress,” I groaned, trying to stop her, weakened by the absence of both my magic and her power, heartbroken by her words. “Please.” I tried to stand, but Tuft caught me before I could fall. Bastien grabbed his shirt with his jaw and pulled us away as we helplessly watched the two gods challenge one another.

I failed.

Cypress fumed with anger and pain as she stepped towards her brother, her storm striking the bayou, killing any who dared remain. Ozias stood his ground, clutching his fists, as if trying to restrain himself from using his power.

“I have waited far too long to take back what is rightfully mine. And now, just when it was within my grasp, you stole it from me! Again ! Soul or not, I am done playing by your rules. If I must die to kill you, then so be it.” Her mouth widened and stretched in the most unnatural way as her true form began to crawl from within it, fully formed and beyond anything my nightmares could’ve imagined. We’d experienced glimpses of her true form but never the full thing. Not until now.

The giant shadow demon stood, lightning and hellfire wrapping around its limbs as her arms snapped and grew, stretching far. Sharp, menacing claws grew from her fingernails resembling an animal. Tentacle-like limbs burst from her protruding spine as her face twitched and resembled that of a devil, serpent tongue reaching from within her opened mouth. I couldn’t help but cry as I looked upon her true form, the feeling of death dripping from it and soaking my heart. She extended her jaw wide, hundreds of sharp teeth exposing themselves as she released the most soul shattering and unnatural screech.

“Cypress,” I cried out softly.

By taking her potion, I thought I would solve everything, thinking that by removing her power from my body and dissolving our deal, it would end this madness. That somehow, I would be enough for her. But I was wrong. Instead, I broke her more, pushing her over the edge as the very monster she fought within herself clawed its way to the surface. Cypress was gone. All that remained was the infamous soul eater.

Cypress lunged towards Ozias. He stomped his foot, transforming within the blink of an eye into a living embodiment of the sun. Tuft and I flinched from the exposing brightness, shielding our eyes as we tried to watch. He resembled a marble statue, only he consisted entirely of sunlight, blazing brighter than the sun itself as flames of golden fire flickered from his body. He grabbed Cypress’ jaw, their impact creating a deafening thunder as she tried to consume him, the two grappling with one another. Cypress snarled and pushed back as she clawed into the platform, the wood breaking beneath her weight. Ozias remained firm, holding her back as he flourished a burst of light. Ozias may have been the second born, but without her soul, Cypress was weaker than him, and it was showing.

Cypress ripped her mouth from him, her tongue wrapping around his body like a snake, squeezing him tight as he grunted, trying to wiggle free. His light burned her darkness, smoke seething from her tongue as she screeched, determined to not let go.

“You cannot defeat me, sister. Without your soul, you are bound to lose. Tanpri! End this madness!” he screamed, his light peeking through her shadows as she continued to let it burn her, too stubborn to release him.

“Never!” she hissed, struggling to hold him still. “I cannot lose again! The heavens are mine. Mine ! You have taken everything from me, betrayed me the moment you breathed your first breath. I cannot live like this anymore! I—” Cypress screamed, her tongue ripped apart from his fire as Ozias wriggled free. She fell to her knees, her many arms holding her weight from crushing into the earth as she panted, eyeing her brother with a seething hatred. “I would rather die than see you on my throne another moment!” Before she could strike, Ozias waved his hand as sunlight broke through the clouds. The immense light bore down on her and burned her true form, slicing through her shadows like they were simple smoke. She screamed in pain, unnatural sounds filling the night as light surged from the clouds, tunneling into her. It burned away her monstrous skin, leaving nothing but her ethereal form, curled up like a fearful child. Cypress shook and shivered from the exposure to the sun as she stared up at her brother, hellfire dripping from her eyes. She was in pain, miserably tortured by his light.

“This is wrong, all wrong. The heavens are mine, Ozias. Do not make me a villain for defending my right.” The hellfire rolled down her face as Tuft and I watched, taken back by seeing her so battered and broken. “Tanpri,” she begged. “Please.”

Ozias remained in his true form, illuminating Cypress’ ashen face as he glared down at her.

“Mo chagren.” Sunlight beamed from his hand and hit her flesh as he began to torture her. She grit her teeth, fighting back her pain. “I did not make you a villain. You were born one, sister. And now, I will cleanse you of that demon and take away the evil within.” Cypress screamed, golden light filling her veins as she began to burn from the inside.

“No,” I breathed, struggling to my feet.

“Iris?” Tuft tried to stop me, but despite everything, all the pain and torture and even her own hatred, I still loved Cypress, and I refused to watch her suffer anymore.

“Stop it!” I screamed as I rushed to Ozias, shoving him over, his light evaporating as it slowly faded from Cypress’ body. “Leave her be!” He stood, his true form melting away as he returned to his ethereal form. His eyes were widened in disbelief, staring at me.

“Don’t you see? That soul eater isn’t Cypress! That devil you witnessed is the monster you birthed from your own hatred, from all the lies and perceptions you cast into the world! Cypress isn’t the villain here. You think she is a monster, but the real villain is you !” I pointed at him, weak and trembling. “You think because you are a god, you can do no wrong, but you have done everything wrong. You do not deserve to rule the heavens!” I spat at his feet. “I may be weak and merely human but I will not let you harm her. If you want to kill her, you have to kill me first.” My chest heaved with exhaustion and anger, seething as I watched him step closer. “Go on. Do it! Smite me, Ozias, oh mighty god of the heavens! Show everyone the real you, the god who stole a kingdom and damned his sister to a cave because he knew, deep down, he was too weak to face her.”

Ozias tilted his head in absolute wrath, golden electricity sparking from his body.

“Iris,” Cypress moaned. I turned to face her, tears burning my eyes as she watched me, taken back by my boldness. “Don’t—don’t do this.” She clutched her chest, suffering from the effects of her brother’s power.

“I may mean nothing to you, but you mean everything to me. You have stolen my heart, even if you don't want it, but that’s okay. Because what I felt with you was real. All of it. And if my love for you is the reason I die, so be it.” Her eyes glistened as she stared, baffled by my declaration. “I may be human, but I love you, Cypress.”

“Iris.” Her face softened. “I—I—” Cypress’ eyes bolted past me, widening as her face twisted at something behind me. “No!” She stretched her arm out, reaching for me as she shouted.

I swung around to see Ozias lunging at me, a bolt tight within his grasp. He raised the lightning like a knife, intending to place it straight through my heart. Time halted, the whole thing transpiring in slow motion as I stared up at the white light, nearing closer. My time had come.

“Cypress,” I breathed, closing my eyes as I awaited my fate.

Thunder boomed, time snapping back to normal as something wrapped tightly around my waist and snatched my body backwards. I landed on the platform with a heavy thud, rolling as my body groaned from the sharp impact.

“Iris?” I had to force my eyes open at the sound of his voice. My body rolled, and I faced him as I screamed at what I saw.

No!

“Tuft!” Without hesitation, I rose and ran to his aid. He fell to his knees, trembling as Ozias’ bolt pierced through his heart from behind. Tuft remained silent as blood poured down his pale, battered chest. His fingers shook, touching the bolt as small sparks popped his flesh. “No!” I fell before him, tears burning my eyes while my own hands trembled, unaware of how to help him. “Tuft!” His eyes met mine, reddened as tears swelled within them. He trembled, his breathing sharp and erratic as he tried to speak. “No.” I placed my hand on his chest, gently pulling Ozias’ light from the wound as it clattered on the platform behind me. The wound gushed blood, soaking my body as it began to pool around me. I tried to stop it, but it was no use.

“I-Iris—” He slumped forward, landing against my chest as I cradled him close, a soft rain drenching us.

“Tuft,” I cried, brushed his blue hair from his eyes. “Why? Why! You were supposed to live, to be free. Why would you do this?” He opened his mouth, blood pouring over his lips as he struggled to speak.

“I-I promised to protect you.” His hand reached for me, touching my cheek. “Don’t let her have you. You’re free.” Tuft gently smiled. “Be free.” I watched as the life drained from his eyes, leaving behind an empty shell.

“Tuft?” My arms shook him. “Tuft, wake up. Wake up!” His lifeless arm fell. “Tuft! Tuft!” I cradled him close, squeezing his limp body as I sobbed, the rain increasing and soaking us both. “You were supposed to live! To be free! Tuft! Tuft!”

“The Pegasus has always been a fool.”

My eyes shot open as I glared up at Ozias, who stood tall and emotionless. Anger boiled beneath my skin, my hatred for the god growing with each second. I kissed Tuft’s head, gently setting him down as I stood, his blood staining the entire front side of my body.

“ You ,” I growled, pulling a small, dull knife from my jacket. “How dare you speak to me of him! Tuft was no fool. He was more of a god than you can ever hope to be.” Ozias raised a brow, unamused by my temper.

“He was weak, just as you, bayou witch. Or should I say, human , for you are a witch no more.”

I laughed at his intended insult. “I may not have my magic, but that doesn’t make me weak.” I tilted my head, squeezing the handle of the knife with all my strength.

Ozias smiled. “We shall see, dear Iris-Marie.”

As Ozias raised his arm, white lightning fractured from the sky to his palm, gathering into another striking bolt power. He raised his arm and unleashed the godly weapon as Cypress lunged, and her body hit mine, shoving me over, saving me from his blast as Ozias snarled.

“Cypress!” he hissed as he gripped her arm, his hot touch burning her. Ozias pulled her closer, his tone disgraced. “Non! I have tired of your games! Your evil is too much for this world or any other. Imprisoning you to the Underworld is too good a punishment for you. It is time I erased you from existence, just as you erased our father!” As he shouted his threats, golden fire ruptured from his grasp and ignited her flesh. Cypress cried out, screaming, her ashen skin slowly flaking away from his power.

“Cypress!” I screamed, useless to help. “No!”

“Iris! The staff!” she grit through bared teeth.

“What?” I asked.

“Your walking stick! Find it!” My eyes scanned the platform, the rain clouding my vision as I tried to find the staff, Cypress’ screams filling my ears.

Where is it? Where is it!

“I can’t find it!” A familiar grumble caught my attention as Bastien suddenly appeared, the walking stick in his jaw. He swung his head and tossed it to me. The crystal atop the wooden staff was glowing, the hellfire somehow still intact.

But how? Cypress’ screams grew.

“I got it!” I turned, holding the walking stick close, to see Cypress now on the ground, her arm nearly disintegrated. Ozias grinned, pleased with the torture he was inflicting on his sister. He was too transfixed to even notice me. “Cypress!” Her teary eyes slowly rose, meeting mine.

“The veil—” she wheezed.

What? The veil?

Bastien made a noise as I looked at him. He grumbled again, stomping his feet as it all came together.

The veil. Of course.

My arms raised the walking stick high, just as I had done so many times before, the crystal beaming with blue fire. The color caught Ozias’ attention, and he looked at me, confused. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to perform my trick one last and final time.

“With the power of the Underworld and the goddess of death herself, I command the veil to open and allow us safe passage!” I slammed the walking stick into the platform, an immediate crack forming from the impact. It began to split, creating a large enough gap for us to slither through and escape. “Cypress!” I screamed at her, proud of myself. “I did it!”

“Non!” Ozias released her, tossing her aside as he ran to me. He snatched the walking stick, ripping it from my grasp before he snapped it in half. The crystal shattered onto the platform, the hellfire crystal flickering as the power within it escaped into thin air. “You fool! You are blinded by your love for her!” He swung his arm, slapping me straight across the face. My cheek burned from his abuse as I wobbled back. “She must be stopped! And if you cannot see that,” he stopped, standing over me, “then I will kill you as well.”

“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 he towered 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.