Charon - Bond (Patreon)

(I had some ideas floating around about how to write Charon, so I decided to pen some of it down and make a short introductory chapter to what could possibly be his story. Enjoy!)

‘There’s too many of us.’ A silence fell upon the room. Scylla met each of her brothers gazes with a heavy heart.

‘I hate to say ‘I told you so, several times, but…’ the hag curled himself tighter around one of the pillars as he watched his mate groom the scales of her tail.

Scylla snarled at the interruption, but her lack of a reprimand at her mates taunt revealed just how worried she really was.

‘I have an idea.’ She eventually broke the silence. Lycaon and Cetus perked up.

‘That’s more like it. Go on, Sis.’ Lyca’s voice rumbled through the room. ‘Tell those nonbelievers how we can fix this mess.’

The blind fate he had in his little sister was heartwarming, but the way Scylla cowered at the attention, told Charon this plan might not be as solid as Lyca hoped.

‘I’ve sent out scouts. There’s a small pod whose territory borders ours. About a week's swim away. They’ve plentiful and untouched hunting grounds. Such a place could help sustain our numbers without any issues.’

Cautious excitement rippled through the present Mer, but Charon merely clicked his tongue.

‘This stretch of ocean sounds ideal, sister. Except for the people already living there. What makes you think they’d be willing to move?’

Scylla turned to face him, the look on her face serious. She’d probably expected this line of questioning from him. The sober one, the voice of reason.

‘They won’t have to move. We’ll merge.’

Everyone froze.

‘So, the solution to our ‘overpopulation’ problem is… absorbing even more Mer into our numbers? That sounds counterproductive.’

‘I know how it sounds, trust me I know. But think about it. We’d be spread out more, everyone would have more room, plenty of food, we’d be stronger than ever.’

‘And how does this other pod’s Matron feel about your masterplan? I assume you’re unwilling to relinquish your control. Is she prepared to just stand down instead?’

Charon really didn’t want to antagonize Scylla, but so far, this plan of hers was full of holes.

‘She won’t have to stand down. That territory is quite far and I can’t be in two places at once. I need someone to keep things in order, so she can keep her position, but ultimately, I'll be calling the shots.’

‘That doesn’t sound very likely, sis…’ Lycaon interceded. ‘There’s nothing in it for her…’

‘No? The way I see it, she either goes along with this peacefully. Or…’

‘Or her pod gets wiped out.’ Charybdis took to his mates side and stretched to his full height. ‘Our numbers are enough to overwhelm them. They wouldn’t stand a chance.’ Everyone in the room went dead quiet as they gazed up at him. Even weakened, the hag remained an imposing figure.

‘You wouldn’t?’ Lycaon’s claws dug into the stone dais. ‘That would be a slaughter! It goes against everything we stand for!’ Charon watched on as his brother’s chest puffed up. For such a hulking guy, he really disliked violence, and though Charon shared the sentiment, Scylla had clearly given this more thought than he’d expected. Something more was going on here.

If she was considering waging war with a neighbouring pod over territory, perhaps the powers of her mate were already at a breaking point. After all, the plains had been empty for weeks, yet food was still being brought in. Charybdis had gone from freighting to pitiful in the same amount of time. It stood to reason that Scylla couldn’t allow this to continue for any longer. Both for the sake of her pod, as well as her mate.

‘Violent takeovers lead to rebellions, you don’t want that kind of trouble, sister.’ Charon sighed as he lowered his head in submission. ‘I will stand by you, but please tell me this isn’t the full extent of your plan.’

Scylla exchanged a look with her mate. There was something between them, an understanding that surpassed spoken words. The hag relaxed his tail and lowered himself down to her level, wrapping his arms around Scylla’s shoulders from behind. There he kept them, pressed around her frame, as she once again spoke up.

Deep down, a twinge of jealousy reared its ugly head. Charon did his best to keep a straight face, to hide behind his usual calm facade, but he knew. He wanted what they had. More than anything.

‘It isn’t. As luck may have it, their pod's previous matron recently passed away. Leaving a young, new female to fill the role. The best part? She’s unmated.’ A mischievous twinkle glistened in her eye. Lycaons face went from intrigued to disgusted in the flash of an eye.

‘Woa, Hold on a minute. What exactly are you hinting at here?’

‘Let her finish, beefcake, and you’ll know.’ The hag muttered without removing his head from Scylla’s shoulders.

‘We could try to sweeten the deal for the opposing matron…’ Scylla purred. ‘-by offering a bonding.’ Going by the look on the matron's face, Scylla was embarrassed to even make the suggestion. Especially since she was the one previously fighting tooth and claw against the custom of mating rituals, but there was no denying the convenience in it.

Bondings were rare. They happened when two high ranking Mer from separate pods mated to forge alliances and had little to do with feelings of love or attraction. It was a dated custom, but it offered a measure of safety to the young matron. Diplomatic safety. A strong mate or even a hostage, if needed. Basically, it guaranteed that Scylla wouldn’t be able to get rid of the other matron easily.

‘I’m sorry Lycaon.’ Charon hummed. ‘She’s making sense.’

Lycaon stiffened, his whole body going rigid, drawing a chuckle from Charybdis. Except, the chuckle was directed at him.

‘Actually, a bond tends to happen between the oldest members of the families.’ Scylla coughed as she stared his way. Now it was Charon’s turn to freeze.

‘Me?’ Surely his sister was jesting?

‘Well technically, Midas is the oldest, but he’s obviously not an option anymore.’

‘And he’d die sooner than go for this plan…’ Cetus hissed.

‘Next in line would be you.’ Scylla uncomfortably rubbed her hands together, while looking directly at Charon.

‘Unless you are opposed to the idea…’

So it wasn’t a mistake. Relief washed over Lycaon, but the nerves got transferred to Charon in turn. To his surprise, it wasn’t dread or anger or even sadness that came over him, but shame. He really wanted a mate, but had made peace with the idea that it was probably never going to happen. Now, the insecurity he hoped to have left behind after all these years, came bubbling up to the surface.

‘I’m not opposed,but shall I point out the glaring flaw in your plan, sister?’ Charon waved a hand past his face, gesturing at the coral mask covering the right side of his visage. Nothing more needed to be said, they all knew what stigma was hidden there.

‘Offering the third son, when the second is still unmated, can easily be interpreted as an insult.’ Scylla rubuttaled.

‘And you think shoving me in her face won’t be seen as an insult? It’s a cruel joke at best.’

That got her attention. Scylla bristled, the fins at her side flared angrily.

‘Any female would be lucky to have you, Brother.’ She hissed. ‘Your value exceeds your looks. Once she gets to know you-’

‘Females won’t come near me. Neither do young for that matter. They’re terrified of me.’ Charon's voice was calm and controlled. He was simply stating facts. ‘How would she get to know me? Via message carrier? There’s no way this plan will work.’

‘We do not have another choice, Charon. We’ll starve. It’s a bonding, total surrender or we take what we want by force. If you agree, then I have made my decision. All we can do now is go and lay those options out for them.’

The room went quiet once more.

‘Just keep your face covered and everything will be fine.’ Charybdis groaned eventually. Charon glared at the hag, but couldn’t fault him for any of this. He did all he could to stave off this dilemma. For the longest time, he’d helped Scylla in any way he could, given her everything he had. Now, when Charybdis was down for the count, it was his turn. Being the dutiful brother he was, how could he object?

If he could be useful to his sister, he’d give it his all.

Sensing her brother swaying to her side, Scylla continued.

‘And you won’t be going alone. I will join you, as well as Lyca.’ All eyes drifted to Charybdis, whose name didn’t get called. That clearly agitated the hag, a ripple shooting through his tail being clear proof.

‘You’re not going anywhere by yourself.’ Stone got crushed underneath the length of his tail and several mer recoiled ever so slightly.

‘That’s what I said. I won’t be by myself. Both Lyca and Charon will be there, and I can take care of myself. You know I can.’ There was no argument to be made there. In his current condition, there wasn’t much Charybdis could do. For now, Scylla was a way bigger threat than him, and would remain so unless he had had ample time to recover.

‘You can come join me once you’ve had your rest.’ The matron embraced her mate, pressing a passionate kiss to his lips. The hag sank into her arms, wrapping his tail around hers. Cetus made a soft retching noise, drawing a grin from Lycaon, but Charon couldn’t find the will to look away.

So many Mer thought Charybdis a monster, even now, but Scylla adored him, and he adored her in turn. Together, they shone brighter than the moon and stars in the sky. A match that would go down in history. Surely, if what they had could exist, he too, could find even a fraction of that same happiness for himself. Will it into existence, despite the way he looked.

It was a frail hope, but Charon clung to it nonetheless. All that’s left to do was meet the unfortunate female.

And pray she wouldn’t choose a war over a life with him.