Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 4. Luck of the draw

Scylla waited to be inside of a crevice on the far side of the main cavern, before wolfing down the fruit. Even the center, though rather chewy, was filled with a delicious sweet and juicy flavor. She hadn't lied. She really never tasted anything like it before and wondered where the idiot had managed to find something this delicious.

Her tongue ran over her lips, savoring every bit of the sweetness that remained on them.

Perhaps he wasn't as useless as she first assumed he'd be.

She lingered out of view for a moment, thinking about what was to come. Tomorrow was the second trial. It wouldn't be as tame as the one today. Tomorrow's trial was meant to test physical strength and cunning. The prospects would need to face each other in one on one combat. Scylla pursed her lips. Using lethal force was forbidden, but that did not mean everyone would come out of it okay. On occasion some candidates would still succumb to their injuries after. Scylla caught herself biting on the inside of her cheek.

It would be fine, right? Diz wasn't as big as some of the others, but he at least did not look frail. All he had to do was win one match. That would be enough reason for her to advance him to the third and final trial. It was risky, but Scylla had no other choice but to pray. With the apple now completely gone, she made way to leave the crevice, when a pair of guards swam by. With a flick of her tail, Scylla ducked back into the shadows, keeping still as they passed.

'I don't know how to feel about this...' one muttered. 'We've never had to do anything like this. I don't know what her majesty is thinking.'

Interest peaked, Scylla leaned in closer, curious what the pair were discussing.

'It isn't our place to question her, If she wants the matches a certain way, that's how it will be. I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason for it.'

'Sure but who's fighting who is supposed to be determined by chance on the day itself. The faits will decide and whatnot. Rigging the draw just feels wrong...'

Scylla's dorsal fin straightened. Mother wanted the draw rigged? Why on earth would she want that?

'Did you see the pairings?'

'Some of them. I'll tell you one thing. If you ask me, the matron wants the outsiders to fail this trial..'

'Mmm, that's what I thought too. But don't we need outsiders for diversity?'

'Sure, but this year is special, an exception. You know how it is.'

The second guard nodded.

'I suppose, If my daughter was in the mix, I'd meddle as well. It makes sense.'

'Right! I just feel sorry for the one versing Scython...Did you see what Scython brought Scylla today as an offering?'

'I swear that male is downright mental. Scylla is a catch for sure, but I'm not risking my tail by fighting a giant squid for her.'

'Whose he up against then?'

'That commerson Dolphin weirdo from the meeting.'

Scylla squeezed herself as close to the rocks as she could, completely paralyzed. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Mother was up to something. She remembered the mer who brought her the tentacle earlier. A huge black specimen with nasty claws, fangs and quills. He was lined up to become the next captain of the guard. Mother watched the two of them like a shark watched a fresh carcass earlier. She obviously wanted Scylla to pick Scyton for her mate and would do anything in her power to see it happen. If he won, it would be extremely difficult to keep Diz in the running. This was bad.