Chapter 20. (Patreon)

Hours that felt like days passed. The pair spent most of it in a tense silence. Every so often, Scylla would stake out the edges of their cell, inspecting it for cracks or loose stones. Pushing and prodding in hopes something would shift. Nothing did. She’d settle back down, letting out a frustrated sigh. Charybdis watched her every time, without rising from his spot. Patience would be key here. Not wasting any strength. Scylla ought to do the same and rest, yet at the same time, these little bursts of activity seemed to keep her calm, so he didn’t say anything.

Scylla plopped back down in what little empty space remained next to him. Back so soon? He thought about joking, but kept his mouth shut. There was a time and place for jokes. This wasn’t it.

With a twist of her tail, Scylla rolled over, facing him with a bored expression.

‘They’ll come.’ He said while reaching for her hand.

‘I know…’ with the tip of her claw, she ran a finger across his palm. ‘I just hope it’s before you grow hungry.’

Charybdis wanted to speak up, to tell her she needn’t worry about that. That he’d just eaten, but wisely chose to keep his mouth shut at the last second.

‘I have some self control.’ He hissed.

‘Can you teach me?’ Her head lifted from the ground.

Once again, she showed her age. Sometimes he forgot how young she really was. Unable to stay still for any amount of time. Or maybe she was right and he was just an old man. Lying in wait for days on end was easy for him, harder was starting to move again after such a feat.

‘Self control?’ he purred with feigned innocence.

‘No, blood magic!’

‘Darling.’ Charybdis pulled himself upright. The first real movement he’d made in hours. ‘You’re a matron. You don’t need any blood magic.’

‘Please Diz. I’ll go crazy if I stare at those rocks any longer and I can’t just take a nap like you. Just talk to me.’ Actually, he’d been awake the entire time, listening to the stone in case another quake happened. From an outsider's perspective, it could look like he’d been sleeping.

Watching her ears flick back and forth, he let out an exasperated sigh.

‘What would you like to talk about?’

Having achieved victory, her eyes lit up.

‘Tell me about yourself. How did you become a blood witch?’ Folding her arms across his chest, she settled back in. So right into the thick of it, huh? He glared at her for asking, but his scowl didn’t seem to impact her.

‘There never was a time when I wasn’t one.’ He began after a moment of contemplation. ‘Even as a pup, I could do things. Strange things. Like sensing which of my family carried disease. Knowing when and how someone would die. Sometimes months in advance. I didn’t eat as much as my brothers and sisters, so I always looked sickly and weak. As you can imagine, I was quite popular with my pod.’

‘You look fine now.’ Scylla cooed. Charybdis nodded curtly.

‘Thanks. Yeah well, They all had their suspicions, so they didn’t waste any time. As soon as I got old enough to take care of myself, they cast me out. I really came into my own after that.’

Curiosity crept onto her face.

‘How long ago was that?’

It had been decades since Charybdis last thought of his family, and even then it was only in passing. Come to think about it, he probably outlived every single mer in his pod, even his mother, who was a matron herself last time he was allowed home.

‘I don’t remember.’ He finally admitted.

‘Shunning young sounds like a cruel thing to do.’ her jaw tightened on top of his ribs.

‘Perhaps. It’s one way of handling it.’ He hummed in return. ‘Maybe your mother has a better system for dealing with mer like me?’

‘I knew a male once.’ Charybdis tensed a little as she rolled her eyes at him. ‘When I was a pup. He was really fun to play with. Would always win at hunter hider, cause he knew all the best hiding spots. He even taught me a couple tricks.’  Scylla’s eyes brightened while recalling the memory. The happiness in them quickly faded.

‘One day he just disappeared. I never knew what happened to him.’

‘Ah. Then she does have a better way of handling it.’

Scylla shook her head wildly.

‘You’re not suggesting…? No way, she wouldn’t hurt a pup! She’s not capable of that!’ Yet her voice was uncertain. Dirty dealings like these should be kept from a future queen. He wholeheartedly agreed  and could respect Agathis for that decision. Leaving her daughter in the dark…

After all, she made the right call. It’s what his pod should have done. A little cruelty to spare a mountain of pain and suffering down the line.

His respect didn’t extend far though, because Agathis turned out to be a hypocrite. Getting rid of one blood witch, only to allow another? The pale one flashed before his mind's eye. One of Scylla’s brothers. It made sense. Perhaps murdering her own young was too much, even for her.

Seeing Scylla sink into a downward mental spiral, Charybdis brushed aside a fin from her face.

‘My turn to ask questions. What’s the first thing to go once your matron and you have the run of this place? If you have a hard time answering, I am willing to provide suggestions.’

Without looking up, Scylla started drawing little circles in his abdomen.

‘If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be matron.’

Well, wasn't that interesting? After coming here to steal power away from a spoiled pup, and failing miserably, said pup turned out to not even be interested in power.

‘Why not?’ he cocked his head, genuinely curious.

‘Telling others how to live, when I haven’t even figured out who I am or what I want? Maybe never even getting the chance to find out? I barely even get a say in picking a mate. No offense. My whole life has been like this. No freedom. It’s downright awful.’ Her claws pricked into him.

The way she looked at it was all wrong. Power was freedom. The very essence of it. The lack of it turned you into a mindless drone. He craved power, more than anything else…

Charybdis groaned. Or so he thought.

‘If it turns out like that…-we can just go.’

‘Go?’ Scylla raised her head, blinking.

‘Go.’ He growled once again. ‘Anywhere. You don’t have to stay here. We could…hunt pirates. Explore the ocean. The world is an oyster… or something along those lines.’ Emphasizing his words, he drew little circles with his palm in the water between them.

She laughed, a genuine, out loud laugh.

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

His gaze found hers.

‘You should know by now that I am many things. Ridiculous is not one of them. I’m serious. If  you don’t like it here, then fuck them…’

‘A pod needs a matron.’ She scoffed.

‘And?’ raising himself up on one arm, he repositioned himself to look down at her face.

‘I could never be that selfish.’ Scylla tried escaping his gaze by downcasting her eyes, but he forced her chin back up, demanding she look at him again.

‘What if a nasty blood witch arrives in the night to steal you away. Would that work?’

‘If you can find one that isn’t trapped in a cave with me, sure.’ A mischievous spark shone in her eye.

‘You’re infuriating.’ He hissed, leaning in  to nuzzle her forehead.

‘So I’ve been told.’

-

Telling how long they’d been stuck became an issue. Scylla guessed it had been around twelve hours. She was surprised when Diz told her it was more around twenty. Almost a whole day since the cave in. If nothing had happened, the third and final trial would be under way right now. At least being in here had a bright side…

Slowly but surely, doubt crept in. What if nobody found them? What if the cave in was too deep and there were too many rocks blocking the tunnels? Was there even anyone left to come looking for them?  When she expressed her doubt, Diz swiftly reprimanded her.

‘They’re out there.’ He mumbled. ‘I can hear them. Just be patient.’ But as more time passed, his body grew more and more tense.

Another day crept by and their little cell grew more and more cramped. Hunger became another distraction. Every so often, Scylla would glance over at Diz and though she could tell his stomach wasn’t bothering him, something else was. Pain shot across his face when he believed she wasn’t looking. It burdened his movement and turned his breathing heavy.

Trying not to bother him, Scylla pictured what the final trial would be like. Unlike the first two rounds, where only the suitors got to partake, the third trial required her participation as well. It wouldn’t be anything like the previous two trials. The last trial was a hunt.

Scylla glanced over at Diz, wondering if she should tell him. Maybe it could give him an edge? Except the thought of telling him, when they were forced this close together with no way out, sent heat rushing to her ears. The remaining suitors would hunt their chosen mate.

When they first met, Scylla got Diz to chase her through the tunnels, and though he’d been about as slow and graceless as a rolling boulder, it was invigorating. The rush, the adrenaline. Remembering the chase now, got Scylla’s pulse to race.

Diz perked his ears and glanced in her direction, suspicion and worry clear in his gaze. Wait? Could he hear her heartbeat?

‘What’s wrong?’ He questioned with unveiled intrigue.

‘Nothing.’ She answered a bit too quickly for her liking. Diz’ eyes narrowed and his ears flicked back and forth. They were way too close…

Please don’t look at me like that…Scylla had to stifle a whimper. It was way too embarrassing. They were surrounded by stone from all sides, practically in a premade grave, yet here she was, picturing what it would be like if he actually caught her.

She’d put up a fight of course, you couldn’t just let yourself be caught.  Those were the rules. Rules that, for once, she’d gladly adhere to. But picturing his arms around her frame after chasing her down… Females were faster in short bursts, but males had more stamina. He would catch up to her. And then…

Scylla had to give herself an imaginary slap, shaking her head. Who was to say there would even be a third trial this year?! When she glanced back up, Diz was staring at her with a wide grin. Her heart dropped as his nostrils flared and his tongue darted out from between his lips, tasting the water with a short flick. It was such a strange sight, yet it caused her breathing to hitch.

‘Reaaaaally now?’ he hummed. Shit. In an attempt to cover her neck and core, Scylla’s hands shot up.

‘What’s got you all…worked up I wonder?’

‘Now’s not the time.’ Scylla growled, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. The male chuckled at her response.

‘I’m not the flustered one here, Darling. This isn’t on me. Feel free to include me in your fantasies if it alleviates some boredom, though.’ That look of pure male smugness had Scylla wishing she could dig herself even deeper into the rock and disappear. She gave him a lackluster shove, but his body was solid and unmoving. Her tail curled up a bit in response. Would it really be all that bad? To let herself go? To just give in to what she wanted? Selfish female, He’s a blood witch. One that made her feel like this. It was wretched.

Now his scent struck her as well, and it made heat rise up to her chest and neck, clouding her thoughts. He smelled… nice. Warm. Aroused. Oh fuck.

‘Now’s not the time…’ A pained groan escaped him as his face contorted. Those were her words that he repeated back to her. She knew this, still she couldn’t stop herself from seeking him out. From pressing her nose against his neck and breathing in the scent that sent her mind into the darkness but her heart alight. She ran her tongue up past his gills, desperate to taste more of him and he moaned. Moaned! She could make him moan. A senseless pride fluttered in her chest. Diz caught hold of her wrists, but didn’t pull her away. She used the opportunity to cup his cheek with one hand. His hand followed the angle of her arm down to her waist and sought to dip down even lower, but she snagged his wrist in return and pinned it against the nearby rock.

Their last encounter led to him taking the lead. Not this time. His breathing turned uneven and Scylla made up her mind. She would get to enjoy him this time. Besides, he still owed her an apology. Getting to explore his body like this was an okay place to start. Placing light fluttering kisses atop the bump in his neck. The feeling of power came over her when he willingly lifted his chin so she could reach his throat was almost too much. Then his throat bobbed.

‘Did you hear that?’ Holding perfectly still, the pair froze.

‘Hear what?’ Her ears flicked from side to side, bummed at the sudden interruption.

‘There’s movement.’ Pressing the side of his face against the stone, Diz turned his head and grew quiet. Scylla mewled as he gently turned away from her, but then she felt it as well.

A faint presence, right there beyond all the stone. Diz’s throat bobbed again.

‘Call out.’ His voice was but a whisper. All of Scylla’s nerves came flooding back as the intoxicating scent started to fade, clearing her mind from its lustridden daze.

Placing her hands against the stone, Scylla strained her voice.

‘Hello?! Is anyone there!?’

A tidal wave of pressure surged up from the wall, rippling Scylla’s scales until every last one of them stood on end. She knew this power almost as well as she did herself.

‘Mom?’

A loud crash resounded from the other side of the stone and shook their cavern. Diz pushed backwards, shielding her from any possible danger. Scylla wrestled out of his grasp. Without paying any mind to the possible danger, she pressed her claws against the rock.

‘Mom! In here! Mom!’ slamming her fists into the wall with every breath, she cried out. Another rush of energy resonated from the rock as tiny cracks started to appear. Pieces of debris fell down from the ceiling and into their little cavern and Diz let out a hushed curse.

‘Careful…’ he whispered.

‘Scylla?’ Her mothers panicked voice replied once the rumbling stopped. Hearing her voice, instant relief flooded Scylla’s body, releasing tension from her frame like a wound up coil let loose. Oh, she was so happy she could cry.

‘Mom…’

‘We're coming, sweetheart. Hold on. Are you okay? Are you hurt?’ Her mother's voice broke. Shaking her head, Scylla let out a sob, wishing she could hug her mother through the stone.

‘No, we’re both okay! Where were you? Is everyone alright?’

There was a short silence.

‘Both? You’re not alone? Who’s in there with you?’ More gravel fell down from the ceiling, Diz’ chest pressed into her back, completely rigid.

‘No, I’m with…’ Turning to face him, his face had turned ashen. Scylla’s stomach twisted. Why did she have a bad feeling about this all of the sudden? ‘I’m with Diz.’

Another pause, this one even longer than before.

‘Mother? Are you still there?’ Scylla’s chest tightened a bit.

‘Yes sweetheart, I’m here. We’re getting you out, just hang in for a little longer.’ Something was off. Mothers voice went from relieved to stoïc at the drop of a hat. Things grew very quiet after that. The rumbling stopped. After a couple of minutes, Scylla would call out again, only to find that the person on the other side was someone else entirely.

‘Sister?’ Her heart jumped. She’d know that voice anywhere.

‘Midas??’ Now physically scratching at the stone, Scylla hissed in frustration, begrudging the barrier between her and her brother. ‘Midas, you’re here!’

‘I swam into mother on the way here. By the time we arrived, everyone was in a panic. What the hell happened?! Gaia’s beyond herself with worry.’ Gaia’s alive! Scylla suppressed another sob.

‘Where’s mother, Midas? Is she with you?’

Another pause.

‘This place is unstable, little sis. She’s going to get something to help with that. Stay put, and you’ll be out in no time.’

‘Like I’d be able to go anywhere…’ She grinned. The happiness she felt at knowing her oldest brother was waiting for her, pushed away any hunger or discomfort. Midas, who she hadn’t seen in over a year! However, when she turned once again to face Diz, his expression had soured. His claws were balled into fists and his jaw shut tight.

‘She knows…’ he growled.

♫♫♫♫

Ten minutes passed. Then an hour.  Tall tales of Midas' travels kept Scylla distracted for a bit. He described scene's of underwater rivers, upside down forests and lakes of fire, all the way at the bottom of the sea. Though a welcome distraction, Scylla couldn't shake the suspicion that something was in fact very wrong. Diz hadn’t moved a muscle since hearing her mothers voice.

‘She’s back.’ He whispered eventually.  Concentrating on the tiniest sounds, Scylla could make out soft whispers of movement  from the other side of the stone.

Noticing Diz recoil, she turned away from the sound.

‘What’s wrong?’ clutching his wrists, Scylla pulled them together and herself into him. He should be happy, she should be happy! They were about to be rescued. Then why was her stomach slowly churning, feeling like she was about to throw up?

‘You remember how I promised that I would never hurt you again?’ He gritted his teeth.

Don’t say it. He was about to say something stupid, or heartbreaking. Or both.

‘I know it hasn’t been that long, but… I might not be able to keep that promise.’

‘Hush…’ She cupped his cheeks. ‘You’re being silly. There’s no way she knows.’ Their pocket of water shook, more cracks appeared in the rocks. ‘And if she does… I’ll talk to her. She won’t lay a finger on you. I won’t allow it.’ A muscle in his jaw clenched and his gaze turned sad.

‘Princess…’

‘Just, stay calm. Act normal.’ She shushed him. Could she trust him to listen? Did he trust her enough to listen?

A loud bang shook their cavern and a small hole formed in the center of the wall, casting in a bright white light. Magic, Scylla realized. Her mothers magic.

Agathis' face appeared on the other side, swallowing back tears once her gaze found Scylla.

‘There you are…’ Her voice was a mixture of relief and concern.

Any relief her mother felt was quickly ripped away when she set sights on Diz. Her mothers eyes darkened. Sensing him pull away at her back, Scylla leaned into him and puffed up her chest.

‘Please get us out of here.’ As hard as she tried to keep her composure, her voice shook a little.

Clenching and unclenching his fists, Diz let out a low, almost inaudible hiss. It traveled down Scylla’s spine like an unspoken warning, setting even the tiniest nerves on edge.

One more push was all it took to send the last couple rocks tumbling out of the way. Her mother tossed them aside like they were mere pebbles, clawing at the edges of the cave to make room, until at last, her whole frame came into view.

Their little space, first private and silent, got beyond cramped as Scylla’s mother pushed through the opening. Keeping her eyes fixed on Diz at all times.

‘Did he hurt you?’ The fierceness of her mothers growl caused Scylla to shudder.

Something about her mothers stance kept Scylla firmly planted where she was. As badly as she wanted to go to her, blocking anyone from getting to her male took priority. The slightest grin snuck onto her face. Her male. Blood witch or not. It didn’t matter what he was.

‘No. He saved me when the rocks came down.’ Scylla blinked, glancing back at Diz, who had gone deathly quiet. ‘He’d never hurt me.’

A golden face framed by dark greens and blues pushed past mother and wormed its way into the already crowded cave. Midas… Staying put just got ten times harder. Scylla almost moved, instinctively reaching for her older brother.

Mother took hold of him by the dorsal fin and pulled him back behind her.

‘What did you do to my daughter?’ A threatening snarl rose up from deep within her mothers chest and Scylla whimpered a little. Diz remained silent, his eyes flashing back and forth between Scylla and her mother.

‘Mom…’ Scylla muttered, but she got cut off.

‘Come to me Scylla.’ It wasn’t a request. Scylla’s body trembled at the command, but she stood her ground, unwilling to move anywhere.

‘Mother, be reasonable. We were in here for days. Just let us pass and I’ll explain everything. We’re exhausted, hungry.’ Hearing that last word, horror coated her mothers expression.

‘What did you do to her?!’ Her voice resonated in the small space like she had an army at her back, causing more debris to shift and fall from the ceiling. Catching a glimpse of gold in her peripheral, Scylla noticed Midas sink down against the cavern floor, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. What was happening?

‘Brother? What are you doing?’ Her voice hitched as pain shot across his face.

‘Come to my side, Sister. Trust me on this.’ How desperately she wanted to listen, but her whole being screamed with mixed signals. Stay. Go. She gasped, feverishly trying to get a grasp on the situation. Glancing at Diz at her back didn’t help either. His gaze had darkened, never tearing his eyes away from mother. So she did what she did best. Turning her fear into something else.

‘Will someone just explain to me what the fuck is going on?!’

They forgot she was a matron as well. She could make her voice bolder and shake the earth just like her mother could. Midas recoiled a little, but mother merely scowled at her, unveiled disapproval thick in her stare.

The disapproval wasn’t meant for her, Scylla realized.

‘This is all my fault.’ Tensions rose as her mother spoke once again. ‘I never should have second guessed myself. But I had to be certain. Had to verify it for myself. I wanted to spare you from all of this, Scylla. Please believe me.’ Agathis’ grip tightened on something in her palm, Scylla didn’t notice it before. It was white and sharp looking. Almost like bone.

‘All I wanted was to keep you safe, and instead…’

Diz stirred, closing in behind her. His chest pressed against her dorsal fin, and for the first time, a coldness spread across her scales.

‘He doesn’t deserve your protection, daughter.’ A hand appeared, clutching Scylla’s throat from behind, squeezing ever so slightly. Claws grazed the sensitive flesh below her chin. Confused, Scylla jolted.

‘Diz?’ Her voice was but a whisper. Her neck throbbed where his claws pressed down. ‘What are you doing?’ His chest rumbled at her question.

‘I want to keep my promise to you.’ His nose pressed against her ear. ‘Don’t make me break it. Please, don’t fight me.’

‘Get your claws off of her, Charybdis…’ Mother made her way forward, brandishing the bone, some sort of rib Scylla figured, in her hand like a makeshift dagger. For the first time in Scylla’s life, she saw fear in her mothers eyes.

‘Charybdis…?’ Scylla blinked, trying to turn her head. A shudder surged through Diz as the name left her lips.

‘Yes…’

A monster that only appears in night time stories. Meant to scare young ones and adults alike. A name only ever whispered in hushed voices. A remnant of Leviathan's wrath and hunger.

It couldn’t be. He couldn’t be.

The Hag of Bones.