Page 5 of The Other Side

Chapter

Three

CYPRESS

“ E verything is set and ready for you, my pet.” Tuft sighed, gazing out into the Abyss. I couldn’t help but revel in his anxiety, knowing he had no choice but to do as I asked. The scarred man looked over his shoulder at me, his blue hair hiding those golden molten eyes of his. Damned heavenly irises, just like Ozias’ and all the upwards ethereals.

“I’m not your pet, Cypress. Not anymore.”

My fire burned with my temper, turning white as I approached his side. My hand gripped his face as I forced him to look at me.

“Until my dear Iris-Marie has completed my favor and I have been restored, yes, you are!” He remained still, enduring my wrath. Submissive fool. “Remember, I possess your wings and your soul. The only way you may be free of me is if I allow it. Me, not Ozias or his bastard son. Me .” His irises fell in submission as my flames subdued to their natural state.

“What must I do?” he asked.

What a weak creature you have become. I released his face.

“You, pet, will travel to the human world.” Tuft’s expression lifted with curiosity. “You will stay with Bastien and our Iris- Marie, doing everything in your power to guarantee she does what needs to be done. She already possesses all she needs. All that is left is for you to give her a gentle push in the right direction. A guiding hand, if you will.”

“I’m not exactly the most confident, and your human witch has never met me. Who is to say she will do as I ask or even listen to me?”

I couldn’t help but scoff at his words. “Indeed, Iris-Marie is a feisty thing.” I leaned against the edge of the balcony, my back grinding against the stone as I looked at him. “Alas, why do you think I allowed her to possess my power for so many years before calling upon her? I wanted her to taste my power, to become addicted to it, so reliant that the idea of losing it seems far worse than the fact of losing her soul. My dear witch may have become powerful in her world—” I opened my palm as shadows formed a small silhouette of the witch dancing over my skin. “But she is nothing more than a puppet in mine. All this time, she has had no idea, but I was here in the darkness, pulling her strings. And now, it’s time to remind her who holds her fate.” I raised my second hand, strings of fire growing from my fingertips as they wrapped around the shadow witch’s frame, controlling her. “She will do what needs to be done because my dear Iris-Marie is nothing without me. And should she deny me my favor, well…” My fingers flexed as the fiery puppet strings strangled the shadow witch, forcing it to its knees until it fell, lifeless. My eyes raised to Tuft as he stared in absolute fear. “Make sure she succeeds, Pegasus.”

He silently nodded. I squeezed my hands, extinguishing all within my grasp.

“Do not fail me. If you do...” I stepped towards him, closing the space between us. “I promise, there are much worse things to be afraid of than an eternity in the Abyss.” The cave began to shake as darkness grew from my body, black smoke filling it as blue lightning and hellfire crackled from my core. “Much worse things,” I hissed in an altered voice as monstrous shadows branched from my spine. Tuft’s eyes widened in terror at my morphing exterior.

“I-I swear, I will do all in my power to see she does not fail you.”

Good. My true form dissolved as the underworld returned to normal.

“Now, go. It’s only a matter of time before Ozias pays my witch a visit—if he hasn’t already. It would be such a waste if he were to snuff out her life before I could make my move.” Tuft bowed, hurrying away through the waterfall of hellfire. I turned back towards the Abyss, watching the helpless souls below as they swirled in the eternal darkness, writhing in agony.

After all this time, my revenge is just within my grasp. It’s so close, I can almost taste it. I glanced up towards the ceiling of the cave, peering through my memory as I envisioned the heavens where I once resided long ago. The painful memory of what once was stung as I frowned. I shall never forgive you, little brother. Never. You, my nephew, and all the heavenly celestials shall fear the day my witch succeeds, for when she does, hellfire and darkness will rain down upon the heavens and consume you all.

The Underworld shook as a crack within the veil formed. I knew it was Tuft leaving for the human world in search of Iris-Marie, and my frown moved upwards as I laughed to myself.

To think, the great Ozias will be defeated by a mere human. But not just any human—my human. My dear Iris-Marie .