Between 18. (Patreon)

(This is a long one. It took blood, sweat and tears to make. Just kidding, but it did require some pondering and quite a bit of staring at the pages... These two are a toxic mess. Do let me know what you think!) 

There was something…different about Diz. Scylla couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Alluring wasn’t the right word. Diz could be plenty alluring when he wanted to be. This was something else. Entrancing was more like it. Intriguing? Terrifying.

Her skin rippled as he approached.

‘There you are.’ she sighed as she pretended to catch her breath. This way, she hoped it looked like finding him had left her winded, but really she’d been holding her breath ever since she swam into the tunnel. The sight of him stopping her dead in her tracks. The walls closed in on her, enclosing her until all she could still see was him.

‘Here I am.’ he groaned in return. A low tremor colored his voice and it made the fins in her neck stand upright. This was dangerous. She didn’t know why, she just knew it was. Like a creeping feeling tickling the back of her tail. Perhaps if her mind wasn’t as clouded by Ambrosia? If her heart wasn’t racing out of her chest? Maybe then she could have guessed.

But no. Her gaze was transfixed on the male before her. Diz wasn’t the largest male ever, but he was built. Defined muscles underneath glistening black and white scales. Then there were his eyes. Yellow and piercing. They reminded her of lightning and they were looking right at her.

Why was she seeing all of this now? They’d spent several days together at this point. She knew what he looked like, almost by heart. But this time was different.

A fog, she realized. There had been a fog obscuring Diz. Dulling him. Hiding him. Even through that fog, Scylla had seen him.

But that fog wasn’t there anymore.

‘What do you want?’

What did she want? Scylla swallowed. Her senses heightened.

He was brilliant.

‘I came looking for you, who else?’

He didn’t respond, but a glint in his eye told Scylla that she caught his attention.

‘Talk to me, Diz.’

The male rolled his shoulders, his head swayed from one side to the other and Scylla could swear she heard his neck crack.

In a heartbeat, he was on her. Claws poked uncomfortably into the flesh of her cheeks as he raised her chin up to look at him. The whites of his eyes were gone. In their stead were black voids that threatened to suck her in with each passing second.

Scylla froze. Before, her first instinct would have been to claw and scream at him. To try and tear him to shreds until she was far, far away.

Now that just seemed like a plain horrible idea. As if she could ever get away from him? The thought sounded ridiculous. So she stayed very still, unblinking. Locked in a suffocating embrace while the rest of the world ceased to exist.

‘You did this.’ His voice was raspy. Flashes of a mangled body burned into her retina. as real and as lifelike as if she was looking right at it. Lifeless empty eyes stared back at her. Red scales and once graceful features sunk to a cavern floor.

The horror of it should have rattled Scylla to her core. She’d never seen a body before after all, but all it did was leave her only mildly upset. Flustered. More uncomfortable than anything. What was he talking about? How was ‘that’ her fault?

Then it dawned. She knew that cavern. Knew it's twists and turns like the back of her hand. It wasn’t that far from where they were right now. Scylla tried to shake her head, but his grip on her neck was too tight.

‘You pushed too far, Scylla.’ He continued with a pained, almost guilt ridden expression. Could Diz really be capable of something like that? To kill his own kind? Yes. The way he was now, without a doubt.

‘What did you do?’ To Scylla’s credit, she managed to keep her voice relatively calm, but her mind was in overdrive. There was a body nearby. Diz knew about it and was now looking at her with an unrivaled bloodlust in his eyes. What did he do?!

Cold searing pain struck Scylla behind her eyes. The sting of it made a way down her neck and into her chest, cooling her down from the inside out. She wailed in pain, her body instinctively doubled over, slamming head first into Diz’ chest. He caught her, arms open and ready for her. As torturous as the pain was, what came next was much, much worse. Bland gray snuck into the sides of her vision, slowly enveloping everything until only a thick mist remained.

‘This won’t kill you.’ Diz muttered, seemingly more to himself than to her.

‘Why?’ It was such a dumb question. What reason could anyone have to do something like this? How was this even possible?!

His answer didn’t matter. Her hearing went before he could respond anyway. He was wrong though. This ‘would’ in fact kill her. This she knew for certain. She was running out of time and he wasn’t even giving her time to explain.

‘You’re a fucking idiot.’ She screamed. Even though she couldn’t hear, she knew her voice still worked. She knew, because his body jolted and shifted to one side, rocking her in his embrace.

Panic had caused her to scream, but that same panic turned to sheer fury very quickly.

‘An idiot, a coward! A cowardly, jealous, blind, emotionally stunted old man! Whose probably impotent too!’ She spat. Her strength began fading quickly. With what little remained, Scylla lunged forward, pounding her fists into what she assumed was Diz’ chest. He caught her wrists and they continued to struggle for a little longer. All the while Scylla spat every curse she could conceive at him, until her strength finally gave out and she let out a final sob.

-

After what seemed like an endless berate of slurs, Scylla slumped in Charybdis’ arms. Lifeless like a doll. He couldn't process what just happened. Not completely. The spell should have worked, it was supposed to put her under his control, make her more agreeable. But this? This wasn’t agreeable at all. This was worse than death. This was empty.

His anger and bloodlust had subsided, now all that was left was doubt. The spell should have worked. Why didn’t it work? Was it because she was a matron? Did her magic reject him? Did she choose to break rather than bend?

That realization sent his heart sinking to his stomach. How very like her that would be. Careful, he pried open one of her eyes. The pupil lay still and unresponsive. Shit.

‘Scylla? Awaken.’

No response. He repositioned her, curling his tail underneath her body and resting her atop of him. ‘Scylla? Darling? Wake up.’ Her head rolled to the side, unresponsive again.

Shit.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Sure, his magic was fickle, even on good days, but he’d never missed the mark by this much. He took pride in the spells he cast, they wouldn’t betray him like this. Again, he lifted Scylla, cradling the she-mer in his arms. Her breathing was shallow, barely even there. He hadn’t killed her, but chances were he had destroyed something vital. Crushed what gave her life. What made her… her. Could he forgive himself for that?

The hag fell silent, staring at the limp female in his arms. This was his fault. This was unacceptable. He contemplated using his magic again, but quickly relented. What’s broken can’t be unbroken in the same way.

‘Scylla, if you can hear me, you need to find a way through it.’ The tone of his voice surprised even him. It was shaky, distraught, very unlike him. ‘If you do, you can yell at me all you want. If you do, I’ll…’

I’ll what?

Just what would he do? What could he offer her but death and misery? What would she possibly want from him after this? He let his anger get the better of him and this was the result. He didn’t deserve her, and the way things looked now, he never would.

The cavern fell silent, only occasionally disturbed a low drum out in the distance.

‘You’re a matron, damnit…’ Charybdis gritted his teeth. Scylla wasn’t like the other female. Not disposable. She was special.  She could overcome his… fuckup.

‘-So start acting like one. Come back. Come back to me and I'll give you whatever you want. Just name it. It’s yours.’

He meant it. To hear her laugh or scold him again, he’d do anything.

‘Come on, princess…’

-

Scylla drifted in a thick and heavy mist. Surrounded from all sides, only hearing the sound of her own heartbeat echoing inside her head. She had gathered her emotions into a fragile state of calm. Panic would destroy her, she’d curl up into a ball and fade away into nothing. That couldn’t happen. It would not.

Diz did something to her. She always knew he was hiding something, but blood magic? How hadn’t she seen it? Outside of Matrons, no others were allowed to use spells. They corrupted lesser souls, destroyed the meek from within, until all that remained was insanity and rage. The very rage that was clear in Diz just seconds earlier. Those who refused to abolish their power were killed. Or fled their pods, only to become outsiders, misfits and castaways. Never to be looked at or thought off again. A fate worse than death.

Scylla gritted her teeth. She hadn’t seen it in Diz. Intelligent, charming Diz. A blood witch. She wanted to growl, to thrash her tail, scream. Anything at all, if only her body would respond.

At the same time, she understood why he hadn’t said anything. Magic could be a curse as much as a gift. That much was painfully clear. Still…

He’d fucking tucked her away inside of her own body. Paralyzed, deaf and blind like a newborn. It was unforgivable. And for what? Out of spite? Jealousy? Diaval would never. Ever. Do anything like this.

Which was exactly why Diaval would never hold her attention the way he did..

Her breath hitched and Scylla had to scold herself. Now wasn’t the time to become sentimental. She was going to break out of here. And when she did, that blood witch was going to get a piece of her mind.

What would mother do? As much as she hated the idea of being like Agathis, she would know what to do. Getting out of this mist would be a breeze for her. Scylla chuffed. Mother wasn’t here.

Scylla wasn’t as strong as her. Not yet at least. Some of her mothers powers should already be starting to seep into her, but would it be enough to make a difference? Only one way to find out.

There were so many rules. So many intricacies about magic and its use. Scylla only muddled with it a little before, finding she had no real talent for it and giving up just as quickly. Now she had to try again.

Slowing her breathing, she focussed on what was around her. Mist, nothingness. Silence. All very unhelpful. If she wanted to pull herself out, she needed to find something. Anything to latch on to. But what do you latch onto when you’re deaf and blind?

There it was. A scent she would recognise everywhere at this point. Heated sand and sunlight. The bastard was still there. He was right there!?  Doing god knows what to her. A fatal mistake. If he wanted to keep her like this, he should have left her alone in this silence.

Scylla didn’t know any words in the old tongue. Only a select few still knew Leviathan's song nowadays, so she didn’t have any chants to help empower the first hit… Raw power would have to do.

There was nothing elegant about her first attempt. Power, like a pressurized current gathered around her consciousness, and when she could no longer keep hold of it, Scylla let it go. All of it at once in every direction.

She gasped, pain shot up her side as her body hit something hard and sharp. A rockwall. The pain didn’t bother her though. It delighted her. Carefully, she wiggled her tail, raised her head and curled her claws against the bottom of the cavern. She had her body back, but sight and hearing still eluded her. No matter. It only took a whiff to pinpoint Diz across from her, his usual scent mixing in with a hint of fear.

‘Oh, you better be fucking scared, you bastard.’ She hissed, channeling the anger of a siren possessed. The next hit was more precise. Scylla narrowed her strike, and felt the ground shake as the full force of it hit the other side of the cavern. It missed…

‘Where are you? You piece of turtleshit…’ Not very ladylike, as Charon would often say. Scylla didn’t care right now. She wanted to see him beg for forgiveness. Her fangs extended outward as her jaw popped down. Perfect to tear his throat out if it came down to it.

‘Come for me, if you dare. I swear you’ll regret it.’

Arms wrapped around her frame and she was turned around instantly. Adrenaline surged through her body like wildfire. She bit at a stray limb, tasting blood. It wasn’t as satisfying as she’d imagined, the taste of iron made her stomach turn. She spit in what she hoped was the direction of his face.

‘Let go of me!’

He didn’t, but there was no retaliation for her bite either. No teeth or claws marred her in return. She merely got pulled into what almost felt like…a hug?

‘Bastard…’ she growled. To her surprise, she could hear a voice reply. Faint as a whisper and distant.

‘You’re back?’

‘You’re worse than a leech, worse than a slug.’ Yelling at him wouldn’t do much, but it sure felt good. ‘A krill, no! A worm. An insolent worm.’

‘Yes!’ he laughed. It sounded warm, relieved. How dare the bastard be happy in a time like this?

‘Don’t laugh, don’t even smile. I’ll fucking claw your eyes out for what you did.’

Scylla got pulled in tighter, the pressure forcing some air out of her lungs. So he wasn’t trying to kill her anymore? Then what was the chokehold for?

‘Let go of me this instant!’ Arms retreated and Scylla shuddered at the sudden lack of them. Not only did the male betray her, but her body as well. Her growl grew in fierceness.

‘For a minute there, I thought…’ His voice sounded strange, raspy. As sweet as it was to hear again, Scylla longed for her sight back. Without it, she felt vulnerable. She couldn’t tell where exactly Diz was, at any given time he could come at her again.

‘What? You thought, what exactly?’ If only he would make a sound. Something that would betray his location again.

‘I thought I lost you.’

Lost me? That would indicate him ‘having’ me to begin with. He was making presumptions alright. Her head snapped towards the sound of his voice. He was close.

‘Are you going to attack me again, Blood witch?’ She hissed, hoping it would keep him at bay long enough for her eyes to start working again.

‘I won’t.’

‘Yeah, right.’ After what he just pulled, whatever it was, she wasn’t just about to believe him. Not anymore.

‘It wasn’t my intention to hurt you, I was just…upset.’

‘Upset?’ The gaul…Scylla snapped. ‘Upset?! That’s your excuse? Did I hurt your feelings? You got a little angry? Is that supposed to make it okay? Do you honestly think that's an excuse?!’

A hiss unlike any Scylla had ever heard before echoed through the caverns. It vibrated the very water they were swimming in. Rough hands snaked up the side of her arms, only to halt at the top of her shoulders.

‘My feelings aren’t an easy thing to hurt, Princess. Neither is my confidence or my pride as a male.’ He let the words linger. Scylla could feel the warmth of his body tickle the scales on her chest. ‘Yet in one fell swoop, you crushed all of them. You did this to me. Nobody does this to me.’

This is your fault.

Scylla froze up. oh no… She wasn’t expecting that as a response. Shapes and colors returned to her as she desperately tried to blink away the darkness. Yellow splotches took up her vision. His face was right there.

‘You killed someone tonight?’ If only her vision would return faster.

‘Yes…’ His voice sounded deep and rumbling, but unapologetic.

‘Because of me?’ He paused, thinking.

‘Because I had to.’ That didn’t eaze her at all.

‘And then you almost killed me.’

‘Would you believe me if I told you that wasn’t my intention?’

Scylla let out an uncomfortable chuckle.

‘Not at all. Maybe before I would have, but not anymore.’

A hand covered her eyes and the world was once again as dark as before.

‘Then what was your intention?’ Scylla could feel him shift around in front of her, the very scent of him sent a shiver down her scales. She really shouldn’t feel like this. He killed someone. He betrayed her. He hurt her. He lied to her. He was a fucking blood witch!

The palm of his hand pressed against the small of her back, pulling her into him until she couldn’t move. Scylla was about to squeal, but his lips pressed to hers, smothering any sound she would have made. His grip on her was relentless. No matter how much she struggled, his hold on her only tightened. The press of his lips was warm, but a faint hint of iron lay upon them. She wanted nothing of it, yet at the same time, she wanted it all and more.

He retreated for a moment, allowing her a brief repit. The hand covering her eyes lifted, returning her vision to her, causing his facial features to slowly come into focus.

‘My intention was for you to stop slipping through my grasp. Every. Damn. Time I turn around. –I want you to look at me and only me. To be mine–, without the need of a contest or some ridiculous made up ritual.’

Scylla shuddered. What was happening? Before in the cave, though intense, had been light. Playful. This was….anything but. The intensity in Diz’ eyes seemed to pierce right through her.

He continued. ‘Seeing you like that. Broken. Knowing I did that to you. I couldn’t bear it, and I promise you, I’ll never, ever, hurt you like that again.’ Diz trailed his nose down her gills, nuzzing the crook of her neck.

The implication of his words sent Scylla spinning. He wanted her. Without the ritual. Blasphemy. Without the power of a matron. Insanity. Her chest tightened.

‘But…’ she stammered. ‘You’re a blood witch?!’

Diz continued his assault on her neck, continuing to lick up until he reached the rim of her ear.

‘Yes, and…?’ His voice, that close to her ear, sent a shiver running down her spine.

‘You didn’t tell me! Blood witches are monsters!’ A fang pricked against her earlobe.

‘You never asked…’

‘And you didn’t think this was something worth mentioning?’ The attention at her ear stopped and Diz leaned backwards with a skeptical look in his eye.

‘You mean to say that if I swam in here, announcing the quality of my blood, I would be welcomed with open arms and not chased out with spears and harpoons? Silly me.’

He had a point there. If this got out, Diz would be killed on the spot.

‘But you could have told me.’

Diz’ ears flicked back and forth as he stared at her. Was the pause him thinking of an excuse? Or was he mulling over something else? Perhaps he was trying to come up with another lie.

‘If I had it my way, you would never have known. Like you said, we are monsters.’ A wicked grin snuck onto his face. The way he looked at her, a mixture between adoration and hunger, made the whole of Scylla’s body tense.

‘But I know now, where does that leave us? Are you backing out of the ritual?’ The words just popped into her head and left her lips just as fast. It was what he should do. It was the right thing to do. She should demand him to leave. Back down and leave these caves at once. It was only right.

Scylla held her breath, unable to move even an inch.

‘I never said that…, why would I go through all this effort to just give up now?’

Relief washed over her. This was all so messed up! I started out not even wanting a mate, and now, i’m lusting after a murderous blood witch! Hold up. Lusting? Diz let out another chuckle.

‘Don’t look too happy there, Princess. You’re  gonna give me the wrong idea.’

‘Shut it, I’m still angry at you.’ Scylla snapped.  Diz grinned and bowed his head a little.

‘As you wish…’ His gaze returned to her chest, leaning forward and eagerly running his tongue between her breasts. Scylla shuddered in anticipation, when a sudden rumble had her gripping a nearby wall.

Rocks and sand trickled down from the walls while the caves shook heavily. One second she was upright, the next Diz had her caged against the cavern floor while rocks tumbled all around them. Scylla covered her face as clouds of sand filled the space they were in. It stung her eyes and nose.

A loud crack pierced through the stone as more rocks fell. Diz yanked on her arm, pulling her into a side tunnel.

‘Swim!’ He roared. He didn’t have to tell her twice. Scylla glanced around to orient herself and took hold of his claw, shooting forward while pulling the male behind her. The water moved around them, getting displaced by falling stone and debris. Scylla got pushed aside as a tunnel collapsed in front of her, cutting off her escape route. They had to get back to the great halls. But who's to say those were intact? Her pods home existed entirely of caverns. They could already be gone, all of them, leaving them trapped. What was this? An earthquake? Where could they go?

Diz sensed her hesitation and pulled Scylla in a different direction.

‘Don’t slow down!’ They barely dodged another falling boulder, but couldn’t squeeze past a smaller one that nicked Scylla’s shoulder. The impact stung as scales got separated from skin. Luckily her tail was fine, she could still keep up with Diz. They reached a section where the tunnels widened. Her first instinct was to duck away into a crevice, hoping to be safe from the falling rocks. Diz roared, grabbing her by the tail, just in time to pull her out from between the stone as it closed in on itself. Scylla gasped, staring at the spot where the rock now fused together.

Groups of Mer shot past them, all yelling or screaming, trying their best to outrun the closing tunnels. Scylla let out a wail as she watched a group of four disappear underneath a wave of stone. Diz turned her around, pressing her against his chest and closing his arms around her. His heart beat out of his chest, but the touch in itself was a comfort. They couldn’t see where they were going anymore, swimming around blind would get them killed, so they squeezed themselves in a corner, praying for the chaos to stop.

Eventually it did.