Page 4 of The Other Side

Chapter

Two

IRIS-MARIE

T he bell above the shop door jingled as my body remained facing away from it. A smile branched from the corner of my mouth as I struck the match, listening to cautious footsteps. I stared at the flame before me as it burned, its weak, warm glow nearly an inch from my face.

“Your fear grows stronger with each step, mon cher.” My voice remained low as the steps halted. “You have no reason to fear me,” I spoke, lighting the incense before turning to face them. “Salut.” I removed my hat, offering the man a gentle bow before returning it to my head. “Now, tell me. What can I do for you?”

The man was tall, his gangling frame towering over me. He was completely anxious and drowning in fear, twisting his cap in his hands as he swallowed, his eyes frightened to meet mine.

“I-I hear you c-can conjure s-shadows—spirits of souls w-who have left our world.”

“Is that a question or a statement?” My brow raised as I stepped closer, my jewelry clanking together as I moved, the floorboards of my shop creaking from my weight.

“S-statement, miss. You see, I-I am looking to speak w-with my wife. She passed recently, but I—” I raised a hand, magic drifting from my palm as I gently silenced the man.

“You’ve come to speak with your deceased wife, correct?” He nodded. “Well, I’m sure we can arrange some sort of deal.” I tilted my head with a smile. “Bastien?” The man’s eyes widened as the floor creaked, the giant alligator slithering into the room, a book firmly grasped in its mouth. I reached down, my eyes locked on the man as I retrieved the old book from the alligator. “Thank you,” I cooed as the beast grumbled, circling behind me. “Now.” I lowered my gaze and flipped through the pages with my magic, searching the old text for the right spell, one I recently found myself performing all too often.

There it is.

My fingertip traced the inked letters, pretending to find what I was searching for when truthfully, I already knew. It was something I had learned over the years—people in this town liked the show of magic, not just the outcome. I’d come to learn how to perform to entertain them, something I had grown rather fond of doing.

“I can bring your wife’s soul forward, but you know the deal. Such a task is not so easily achieved. It will cost you.” I raised my hand, opening my palm as he fumbled with his pockets, searching frantically before dumping a few coins into my hand. I raised a brow at the disappointing amount. “I’m afraid it’s going to take a little more than that to bring her soul back from the Underworld.” The man began to sweat, pulling the fabric of his empty pockets out to show he had nothing else to give. As I watched, I noticed the metal flash of a ring on his finger. A simple silver wedding band.

Perfect.

“Your ring.” The man furrowed his brows, glancing at his ring finger. He shook his head as I dropped my smile.

“No…anything but that,” he protested.

“Well then, I guess you don’t need to speak with your wife,” I hissed as Bastien began to growl. “Pity.” I shrugged, slamming the book shut. The man wrung his hat in his hands.

“Wait,” he exhaled. My body turned as I watched him hesitate, rotating the simple band from his finger before placing it into my palm with regret. “Wonderful!” I clutched my hand shut. “Now, let’s bring your wife’s soul back.”

Darkness began to cloud the room as a storm of power took over. Magic grew within my body as I lifted my walking stick and swayed my hands. Burgundy fire and smoke waved through the room as lightning cracked and shadow-like creatures danced along the walls, their unnatural noises filling our ears as a wind began to pick up, frightening the man.

“I call upon the other side and demand the return of the soul of this man’s wife.” I stared up at him, conducting the magic and power within my grasp. “Careful, my shadowy friends might bite.” An evil grin overcame me as the man swallowed hard. “Come to me!” I slammed my walking stick into the floor, and an electric blue crack formed, splitting the wooden boards. Hellfire peeked through as darkness crawled from the broken veil. A single shadow wriggled from the split and formed the silhouette of a woman, taking her place between us.

“I can’t be,” the man breathed in disbelief. The woman’s shadow-like soul turned to face the man.

“Speak, shadow,” I commanded, watching as it flinched at my command.. The shadow woman stood before us, the room trembling in a storm of fire and darkness as my magic tried to control the crack within the veil.

“Jacob,” her soft, altered voice spoke, echoing as his eyes ignited with longing and a spark of life. The woman reached her arm out, the man doing the same as they nearly touched.

“Marie? Marie, is that really you?” The man stopped, unsure of how to embrace his wife’s soul, tears falling from his eyes as he smiled with joy. “Marie, I-I’ve missed you so much.”

The woman opened her mouth to speak, but no words or sounds came out.

“Marie?” The shadow clutched its neck, clawing at it in a panicked silence. The man’s eyes moved to me. “What’s happening?”

This is new.

“I said speak!” Once again, I slammed the walking stick into the floorboards of my shop, a wave of shadow magic rolling from the impact. The woman remained silent. Thunder boomed within the shop as more shadow creatures began to seep through the crack, snarling and growling as they pranced throughout the room.

This isn’t right. Something is wrong.

Blue hellfire raged. Branching from the cracked veil, reaching higher and higher as it poured from the other side and began to consume the room. The woman reached for her husband one last time before a monstrous shadow arm ruptured from the floor and grabbed her, trying to pull her back down into the depths of the Underworld. She opened her mouth to scream, nothing escaping it as the most unnatural and sinister growl erupted from beneath us, shaking the floorboard as they rattled and trembled.

“Marie!” The man shouted.

What magic is this?

I tried to use my power to contain the insanity, but it was no use. Whatever new force this was, it was stronger than me.

The man fell back, watching in horror as a second shadow arm burst from the crack, clutching the woman’s soul. It forcefully dragged her through the fiery sliver into the hellfire, closing the veil as it disappeared. The other menacing shadows continued to ensue chaos, roaming freely throughout my store. Their disobedience infuriated me. I spun my walking stick once more and slammed it into the floor as I grit my teeth.

“Enough!” My voice vibrated the entire room. “Listen, all of you! Return to your home at once! Return to the other side!” The shadows whimpered at my magic, shrieking as they seemingly evaporated into thin air.

The room instantly calmed as the dark clouds disappeared and warm light returned, everything falling back into place and resuming its natural state. I exhaled, wiped my sweating forehead and adjusted my posture, unsure of what the hell just happened.

“Forgive me. It seems something has unsettled the other side.” The bell above the store door jingled, immediately followed by a voice.

“Indeed.” My body fell cold at the familiar voice.

The room became dead silent, broken only by the sound of a finger snapping as the man before me was set ablaze in blue fire. No—hellfire.

Cypress.

Within seconds, the man’s body had dissolved, leaving nothing but a single black shadow hovering in the air. His soul. Just past the shadow was a woman, slender and pale. Her appearance took me back. She sounded like Cypress but looked nothing like the goddess of death. Instead, this woman wore a mask of fire, burning blue in the shape of a skull, hiding her face. Her grinning parted, and her mouth stretched unnaturally, her tongue falling free. She began to inhale, her eyes rolling as she consumed the man’s soul. It was the most disturbing thing I had ever witnessed. The woman closed her eyes, licking her lips as she moaned faintly, seeming to savor the taste.

“What a delicious little soul,” she cooed, turning away as she spoke. “Though it could use a little more flavor. Frightened souls are quite a treat, but helpless ones are absolutely marvelous.” The woman closed her eyes again, reminiscing the horrific thing.

She sounds like Cypress, but can it be her? After all these years?

Her head snapped towards me, her eyes wide, the cloudy color instantly recognizable. My body became rigid as the color drained from my face.

It was her.

“Cypress,” I whispered, trying to understand how the queen of the underworld and keeper of souls was here, standing before me, and why she appeared so different.

Something isn’t right.

“In the flesh.” She flourished her hand, mocking a courtesy as her dead, cloudy blue eyes bore into mine. “I must say, the years seem to have favored you well, Iris-Marie.” Her gaze studied me as we stood still, staring at one another. “Tell me, how long has it been exactly? Time is so fleeting on the other side. It’s useless, really. What use does someone such as I have for it anyway?” She tossed her midnight hair over her shoulder. I couldn’t help but stare, baffled at her human-like appearance. She wore a tight, black, feminine suit, lined with rich blue silk and accents. A pitch-black leather corset snuggly clenched her waist and made her rather impressive chest even more appealing. Matching leather boots added to her already towering height as the blue flaming skull mask on her face flickered, just like her hellfire from the underworld. It was the only unnatural thing about her current state, marking exactly what she was.

My grip on the crystal of my walking stick tightened as I swallowed, pretending to not fear her presence, when in reality, her very presence unsettled me. I knew exactly why she was here. She wanted her favor.

“It’s been thirteen years since we struck our deal, soul eater.”

“Thirteen years!” Cypress slapped her hands together, blue fire sparking from the black gloves she wore. “And yet, you haven’t aged a day. Remarkable.” She stepped closer, grinning as she pointed to my now fully bleached and shaved hair molded into thick finger waves. “Love the hair. It really suits you.” She moved past me, approaching the alligator as it excitedly snapped its jaw at her surprise visit.

“Oh, I’ve missed you too, dear Bastien. Tell me, has this old trickster been keeping you busy?” He grumbled, answering her as I made a face. “I see,” she whispered, turning to look back at me. “Conjuror of shadows? You’ve really seemed to have built a name for yourself.” She tsked, straightening her posture as she began to glide around my shop. She tapped her finger at every item that hung from the walls and ceilings and traced the surfaces of the many trinkets and jars along the shelves. “Word of your abilities has traveled far and wide. The great witch of the bayou and conjuror of shadows. There are whispers, even in the Underworld, that you command the darkness and perform spells, telling fortunes to any who dare to visit you. It’s not just your power that has grown, but your reputation, Iris-Marie.” Cypress stopped, glaring back at me through a rack of hanging dried herbs, her blue irises burning in my direction. “It won’t be long before the gods know what you have become.”

The gods?

“You asked for power, and I have delivered it.” Cypress slowly stalked around the shop in my direction, her mask burning as she moved.

“Why the mask?” I asked without thinking.

“Oh, this old thing?” She laughed, waving her hand, grabbing the mask as it melted into a single flame. “It’s a glimpse of my true form. A form you should hope to never meet.”

Wait, true form? Does this mean the way I saw her before, on the other side, isn’t it?

“I see the cogs turning in that brilliant little brain of yours.” Cypress laughed. “You see, Iris-Marie, I am a god. Therefore, like all other celestial beings, I have many forms. Three, to be exact. This,” she motioned to her body, her human face fully revealed, “is my mortal form. You see my mask as we have struck a deal. Any mortal walking this Earth indebted to me would see it, an odd side effect of my deals. I guess the fates think it's only fair to keep me from hiding amongst you, preventing me from toying with my pets. They have no sense of fun. Alas, the form you met before is my ethereal form, the one I, like most celestials, prefer to reside in. But this—” She waved her hand and returned the mask to her face. The eyeholes darkened as the room fell pitch-black, the only light from the burning blue skull as it began to morph and her voice deepened. “This is a glimpse into my true form, a form no soul should wish to be greeted by.” Blue lightning cracked in the darkness, the fire rupturing in a vibrant blue hue as a menacing and ungodly growl vibrated my bones.

The very teasing glimpse of her true self sent shivers down my spine as I tried to look away but couldn’t. She was a fiery beast, entrapping my being as I fell helpless to her, fading away more and more with each gazing second. I felt as though all warmth and light in the world had dissolved from existence, leaving nothing but cold, empty death.

“Now.” Her voice slowly returned to normal as she released me from her hold, the room fading back to normal. I blinked uncontrollably, stumbling as she collected herself, standing before me in her mortal form. Cypress cleared her throat and adjusted her suit. “Long ago, we made a deal. Since then, I have watched you flourish in my power. Oh, you have been a magnificent surprise, my dear.” Her grin rose unnaturally high as she eyed me.

I was right. After all these years, Cypress had returned to collect her favor, something I had dreaded for thirteen years.

“Ah, yes. You know why I am here. We have a deal, Iris-Marie, and it’s time you kept your end of the bargain.”

“Tell me.” I clenched my jaw. “Pray tell, what sick favor would the goddess of death, ruler of the Underworld, keeper of souls ask of me, a mere human?” Cypress flicked an eyebrow.

“Mere human?” She laughed softly. “Oh, Iris, you are nothing of the sort.” My nostrils flared as a few sparks sputtered from my fingers. “Yes, that .” She pointed to my hands. “Do you not feel my power as it surges in your veins? I am curious. Does the very idea that a part of me is always lurking within, crawling under your flesh, eating away at your purity and consuming you not bother you?” My sparks grew as I gripped the walking stick. “Oh, do calm that fiery temper. I’m only teasing. Humans are such sensitive creatures.”

“What do you want, Cypress?” I gritted. She rolled her eyes, knowing I was in no mood for her taunts.

“You’re no fun.” Cypress sighed. “My favor is much simpler than you may think. However, it will require some work on your part.” She waved her hand, shadows swirling until they collided, forming a delicate glass vial filled with a glowing, vibrant pink liquid.

“What is that?” I asked, peering closer.

“This,” she waved her hand as the bottle levitated in my direction, “is how you will pay me back. My favor.” The glass vial gently landed in my hand as I stared at it, the pink liquid, the glow of it drenching my face.

Cypress approached my side. My eyes raised to hers as she closed my hand around the bottle, clasping her own around it. My breathing increased as I gazed at her, the flames of her mask flickering. Even in this world—my world—she was breathtaking. Just looking into her eyes and sensing her so close took me back.

Focus, Iris. Remember who, better what, she is.

“Wha—what am I supposed to do with this? What is your favor?” I whispered. She smiled, tilting my chin up as she leaned in real close. “When the time comes, you’ll know exactly what to do.” Her mouth lingered an inch from mine. I could feel a pull inside urging me to kiss her, but why? What was this spell she had over me? What the hell was in this bottle? What did any of it mean? What was her favor?

“Take care of Bastien, trickster. He may seem like a beast to you, but he’s far more important to me.” Cypress opened her mouth as her tongue branched from within and gently ran along my lips. It quickly retreated as she closed her mouth and tasted me. “Just how I remember,” she moaned. My heart began to race, and Cypress’ hand dropped from my chin as she backed away, leaving me dazed and confused. She stepped to the center of the shop and stopped with her back to me. “Oh, and Iris-Marie?” I looked at her, her face glancing over her shoulder as she stood there, posed and elegant. “Remember, if you should fail me, your soul is mine . Forever.”

Her face darkened as her sinister smile grew. The floor rumbled as another crack formed, hellfire reaching from it and surrounding the goddess. Black smoke poured from the fractured veil as fire completely consumed her, burning away her mortal form as if it were paper set aflame. It peeled and withered from her as her ethereal form revealed itself. Now, standing before me, was the same Cypress I encountered so long ago. I watched in awe as she dissolved into the hellfire and shadows, completely disappearing, taking the darkness and cracked veil with her. The thick, hazy spell she left over me lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to exhale in relief now that she had returned to the Underworld. I felt so confused.

What just happened?

Bastien crawled to my side, nudging my hand as I glanced down at the delicate bottle in my grasp. Cypress’ favor.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” I asked him, as if he’d know.

For the first time in a very long time, I felt something I hadn’t in years. It was the same thing I felt that very day I was hunted down in the swamp. I felt weak .