Page 8 of The Other Side

Chapter

Six

IRIS-MARIE

M y body felt like it was on fire, burning from the inside out like a ravenous fever, consuming me. The feeling of pressure—something touching my hand—startled me. It trailed down my arm and traced my collarbone. My breathing increased as the temperature became overwhelmingly unbearable. I tried to sleep, to ignore my nightmares and this odd, sick sensation, but it was impossible. My nightmares morphed as darkness flooded my brain, the image of Cypress’ true form snapping towards me as I shot up with a loud gasp.

Sweat rolled down my temples as I stared ahead, the flickering light of my candle playing tricks on me. I watched shadows dance around the room, thinking I saw Cypress sitting in the corner of my room. As I blinked, the vision dissolved, relieving me. I clutched my chest, noticing the sheet tangled around my feet, as though I had fought some monster in my dreams.

“It was just a nightmare,” I whispered to myself, exhaling. “Nothing else.” My body eased as I laid back down. My hands covered my face as I tried to steady my breathing, the image of Cypress’ frightening form still burned into my brain. “Just a dream,” I whispered once more, beginning to drift back to sleep.

Just a dream.

A gentle breeze brushed my hands as I peeked through my fingers, noticing the flame of my candle flickering in the night, as though wind had snuck into the room and tried to snuff it out. The feeling of being watched slowly crept up my spine as I sat up once more and peered around the dark room.

“Is someone there?” I asked in a quiet voice. The floorboards gently creaked, telling me I wasn’t alone. “Show yourself!” Magic flourished from my hands as I shot from the bed and stood, in no mood to be tampered with. Two glowing orbs appeared in the shadows, burning the same as the very hellfire in the underworld.

“Easy, trickster.” My back stiffened at Cypress’ voice, realizing it was her eyes staring through the shadows before me. Her silhouette began to form as she moved closer, stepping from the darkness, dragging it with her as it formed around her bare body, leaving her nearly naked. She was in her mortal form, her pale skin and midnight hair contrasting the warmth of my room. “Always so dramatic. There’s no need for that .” She tilted her head, blowing softly as my magic extinguished from my hand.

“W-why are you here?” Cypress glided to my side and began to circle me like a predator sizing up their prey. “What do you want?” Her cloudy eyes stared at me as she moved, making little sound.

“As my pet has informed you, I have been keeping a very close eye on you.”

Her pet?

“You mean, Tuft?” She nodded her head. The idea of Cypress watching me was rather unnerving.

Wait, was she here about her favor?

“Cypress,” I breathed. “I know everything. The truth of our deal, why you gave me that bottle, what you want—” She rushed me, placing her cold finger against my lips.

“Shhhh.” My voice silenced. “There is no need to worry in this moment.” Her finger took its time falling from my lips. She remained close—so close, her breath hit my face.

“Then why are you here?” I asked. Her only response was a sinister smile.

Cypress stepped back and began to speak as she continued to circle me, leaning in every few words as her lips brushed along my exposed neck.

“You see, my little trickster, I was keeping a close eye on all my pets when I noticed you were experiencing some…troubles. Was it a really bad dream?” she asked with a raised brow, as if knowing she was the one who haunted my nightmares. She bit her lower lip, laughing to herself. “I did warn you about seeing my true form. And to think, you only got a taste!” She lunged at me, snapping her jaw like she did in my nightmare. The aggression caused me to flinch, stumbling back as my calves hit the edge of the bed. Cypress laughed again. “Oh.” She wiped her eyes, as if her immense laughter made her cry. “Forgive me, I can’t seem to help myself. It has been such a long time since I’ve had a human to play with.” My heart tried to relax from her jump-scare.

“I’m not a fucking toy. Now, speak your purpose or leave, soul eater.” Her smile dropped as she glared at me.

“I really don’t like it when you call me that,” she spoke in a flat monotone voice. “You make me sound so carnivorous and vile.”

“And I really don’t like it when you lunge at me like some animal! Or that you toy with me like some ragdoll or pawn you use!” Her head tilted at my shouts.

“Since I seem to have offended you, allow me to show you I’m not the monster you see me as. Let me ease your terrors.” She stepped closer, flourishing her hand as the back of her palm touched the side of my face. “Let me help you sleep and erase those dark clouds from your mind so you can experience all I can do for you.” The back of her hand flowed along my cheek as her touch made me shiver. She leaned close, her mouth parting as she kissed me.

My body ignited as I watched her, her strange mortal appearance making me feel uneasy. Her mouth pulled away from mine. Cypress noticed my gaze and almost read my thoughts. “Do you not like my human form?”

“I—I just… It’s not what I see when I think of you.” She raised a brow.

“You think of me? Why, you naughty little witch.”

“No! I—” Her mouth returned to mine as her skin began to ripple. The vision of her flesh frightened me as I pulled away from her grasp and landed back on the bed.

Her human skin began to shed as hellfire ripped through it, patches of her mortal form floating from her body as her ethereal form peeked through. Her normal, ashen skin began to consume her body, fire blazing along her midnight strands, igniting to their normal selves as she stood there and grinned.

“There.” She flicked the last bit of her human skin from her body as if simply a morsel of lint. “Much better, is it not?” Cypress stepped to my bedside and leaned down, blowing out my candle, the only light remaining from her burning hair.

The room fell into a sea of blue as she crawled across my bed towards me. Fearful and hesitant, I tried to back away from her, but she grabbed my ankles and yanked me close until her body hovered perfectly over mine. Seeing her hair glow in the dark reminded me of my nightmare as fear quickly took over. My body rotated as I tried to crawl away, but she only captured me, pressing her body against my back as she spoke into my ear and held me firmly.

“You have nothing to fear from me, Iris-Marie. I will not harm you, not like this.” Her tongue extended from her mouth, licking my ear as I released a surprising moan.

“What game is this?” I asked through clenched teeth. Despite my body’s reaction to her touch, my mind knew she was toying with me—using me somehow—but for what?

“Game?” Cypress laughed, her hands sliding down my arms as her fingers curled over mine, pressing her breasts into my back. “This is no game, my pet. Right now, we are in our own little world. No deals, no plots, no games. Just you and me. And right now, all I want to do is give you what you desire.”

“I don’t desire this.” Her weight nearly crushed me as she held me in place. I wanted to get away—needed to leave this room. I wasn’t strong enough to fight off her temptations.

“You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to me. I know your soul and I’ve tasted your desires.” Her hands released mine, her body pulling away from me. “And they are filled with the longing to be touched.” She kissed my back. “To be desired.” She kissed my neck. “To be loved.” Shadows swirled around my arms as they raised my body, keeping me on my knees and forcing my torso back as it slammed into Cypress’. Her hands gripped my waist as more shadows wrapped around my thighs, spreading them wide, holding me against her. “Let me give you all these things.” Her hands traveled along my skin. My core began to ache and burn as one of her hands grazed my hardened nipple, pulling the thin strap of my nightdress aside as she delicately kissed my exposed shoulder. “Let us have just this night. Forget our deal and all else.” She kissed me again, teasing my hunger as I struggled not to moan, fighting my carnal urges. “Let me love you, Iris-Marie.” Her second hand grazed my inner thigh, reaching under my nightdress.

Gods, why do I want this? Why do I want her?

Her first hand exposed my breast as she played with it, tugging at my hardened nipple as the second touched my aching center, gently caressing it, her fire gently burning my swollen clit. All I could do was gasp and moan, my body leaning into her as I reluctantly surrendered to her touch, to her love.

“Please,” I whispered, her eyes meeting mine as my head fell back into her. She watched me react to her touch, our eyes locked. More fingers joined her as she parted my walls and teased my painfully swollen clit, rubbing and flicking it as I jolted in response. “Please,” I whimpered, gently swaying further into her touch.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t think of this before. Many times over the years, I had caught myself envisioning the two of us tangled together, haunted by this unknown desire for her. I never imagined the day would come that she would slither into my room and relieve me of my deep, dark secret, but here we were. And even though I knew what I was doing was wrong, that being with Cypress was dangerous—it was all I wanted. I didn’t love her, but I desired her. And now, having her here, desiring me back, I fucking wanted her, more than I had ever wanted another. And with that very thought, she broke me.

“Don’t stop.” Cypress’ cloudy hellfire eyes flashed as she inserted a finger into my now dripping pussy. My mouth widened as my breathing hitched, her own mouth crushing to mine, consuming my air as she drowned me with her kisses. Her finger moved faster, a second joining as she thrusted deeper. I moved further into her, wanting to dissolve into her flesh. Her free hand gripped my breasts, grunted as she squeezed so hard, it ached.

Cypress’ shadows replaced her hand and pulled my nightdress further and gripped my bare breasts, playing with them with her hand dragged up my sternum and took hold of my neck. She forced my face closer as she burrowed her tongue down my throat and gagged me, shoving her fingers deeper. Her speed quickened as my pelvis moved with her, grinding harder against her hand. My arms reached back, gripping her thighs as I steadied myself. We moved together as she fingered me, my body surrounded by her hazy darkness. Loud moans and steamy grunts filled the room as the temperature rose. Her shadows spread my legs further, allowing her more room as she moved faster and faster. My body began to tighten, my nerves firing across my skin as I began to constrict around her. I tried to push back, to fight my urges and live in this moment longer, but it was difficult. She felt so good inside me. The way she caressed my nipples with her shadows and kissed my gapping mouth, her fingers fucking me like I’d never been fucked—it was all perfect. Too perfect. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to stay here, locked away in our own little world of darkness to be fucked by the goddess of death until my heart could take no more.

“No,” I cried. My chest tightened, my orgasm building too quickly. “No, not yet.” Cypress ran her tongue along the side of my neck, tasting me. “Please.” I tried to force my pleasure back.

“You’re so close, my pet. So very close.” Her hot words burned my skin as her thumb rubbed my clit. “Don’t be shy. Soak me in your desires.” She thrusted her fingers deeper with such aggression, I gasped and lightly cried out. “Show me just how much you love the touch of a god. My touch .” She thrusted again and again, each with more pressure and force until my constraints completely snapped.

I nearly screamed, gasping and moaning as I began to climax, soaking her hand. The walls of my aching pussy squeezed and contracted around her as she refused to let up, dragging my orgasm out. Our bodies ground together, the two of us completely lost in one another as I continued to come, completely lost in her godly presence. My heart nearly gave out as I tried to breathe, my vision blurring, my orgasm slowing until it faded away. Magic sparked from my hands as I was overrun with emotions.

“Cypress,” I moaned, my body limp as I fell into her grasp, gasping for air. My head began to spin as the room wobbled. “What—” Her fingers slowly pulled from my soaked pussy.

She lifted them to her mouth, her tongue licking my wetness from her skin as I blinked, feeling light headed. Before I knew it, I was laying in my bed on my back, and Cypress was between my legs on her knees. She grinned, those fire eyes watching me as she lifted my nightdress, her tongue extending and pushing through my slit. Her hot, wet touch caused my back to arch as I gripped the sheets and moved into her. The room began to spin as her head dropped and her mouth met my center, her lips kissing my clit before pressing her tongue through my lower lips and into my drenched pussy. I pushed against her, rubbing into her face as she snaked deeper, my body sensitive from coming already. I moaned and whimpered as my orgasm quickly returned and the room blurred, lost in how she made me feel. Cypress continued to consume me, moaning into my body as I cried out. Lightning flashed in the dark room as my body twitched and flooded with another heavenly orgasm.

Gods save me.

It was too much. Too fucking good. I felt as though I was stuck in a lust-filled fever dream, lost in this warped reality. I couldn’t tell if I was in heaven or hell, shadows and fire surrounding me as things began to spin out of control. I tried to scream, but nothing came out. No sound. No scream. Nothing except my ongoing orgasm.

“Iris-Marie.” My name was whispered from her altered voice as I gasped.

My body shot from the bed, ripping me from the thick, sensational moment. I had to blink a few times before I realized I was in my room—alone. No Cypress, just myself. I looked down to see my nightdress undisturbed, my sheet as it was when I fell asleep.

“It—it was just a dream,” I breathed with questioning relief. “Just a dream.” My hand pressed against my sweaty forehead as I tried to catch my breathing and calm myself, my body still slightly excited. Something small flickered, pulling my attention as I noticed a second candle on my nightstand. It was a slender, pitch black candle lit with a single blue flame.

Cypress.

The color drained from my face as my stomach sank. I glanced around the room, searching for any sign of her, but there was none, aside from the candle. I quickly scrambled from my bed and tried to blow the blue flame out. It swayed but remained bright, its flame untouchable. Absolute fear flushed along my cheeks as I rushed from my room, the feeling of something watching me pressing against my back.

It wasn’t real. It wasn’t fucking real. I kept repeating the phrase to myself, trying to convince myself of the words. It wasn’t real. My body felt her touch, remembered the way she felt inside me, her tongue meeting my center. No, stop it! I tried to force the lust-filled dream from my mind. It wasn’t real.