Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 6. Love is war

Charybdis was a little upset due to circumstances entirely out of his control... He'd been subdued by a Mer a fraction of his age and had nothing to show for it. Well at least he'd gotten a better nights rest than he had in literal ages, but that's besides the point.

But How? She wasn't Matron yet. She's supposed to be powerless. What else was she capable of that he had no clue about? Turn invisible? If she had but a fraction of her mother's power, this whole plan just got a whole lot more risky.

But first things first; The next trial. Charybdis threw his head back and let out a frustrated sigh. If Scylla was right, he'd be up against a highly skilled opponent. What was his name again? Scallion? His memory was a little fuzzy.

Losing wasn't an option, but fighting the way he was used to required his tail, and something told him that showing up like that wouldn't sit well with Agathis. What other options did he have? The hag sat in a moment of silence.

Maybe if he'd let his spell slip just a little bit? Enough to regain some of his usual strength but not to show any of the dead giveaways that he wasn't in fact, a mer. Could that even work? No way of knowing unless he tried.

Charybdis let some of the power holding him in wraps slip away. The spell wafted like a membrane of pure energy and slipped from his skin. The change started in his chest. Painful boiling throbs coursed through his ribs, expanding his chest in tune to his heartbeat. A pressure pushed against the skin of his collarbone, the bone protrusions that usually rested there fighting for a way to the surface. His claws grew heavier, gaining a nasty curl at the very tips. The hide around his tail hardened, but not enough to be visible to the naked eye. However, if you ran a hand across it, you could definitely tell.

That was about as far as he dared go. Perhaps it was too much already. From what he could tell, someone who hadn't paid him much attention would never be able to tell. But Agathis? Her eye had been on him way more than he anticipated. And what about Scylla? If anyone could potentially catch on, it'd be her. He'd just have to risk it. If Scylla really was hell bent on him winning, perhaps she'd overlook some...questionable physical changes and keep her mouth shut. All he could do was hope.

The ritual grounds for today were outside. Not too far from the main entrance was an old crater. Whatever fell there had turned to dust long before Charybis could get his hands on it, but the mers used the crater for gatherings such as this one. There was a certain tension in the air. Not the excited kind that the mer had portrayed yesterday, but a heavy and nervous air that hung over the clusters of mer swimming alongside him.

As he'd expected, not a single one of them gave him a second glance. The real test would be...

Scylla. Speaking of the devil, he spotted the little Matron welp a stone's throw away, staring at a sea of reeds. A twinge of anger nipped at the back of his mind as he remembered the little trick she pulled on him yesterday. But his demeanor cooled as he approached. Upon closer inspection it was clear something was off. Scylla's little body was rigid, her claws extended, and the faint smell of blood hung around her.

'Darling? Are you alright?' he announced himself in a soft spoken voice.

Her body shook, but she remained quiet, clearly aware of his presence. Charybdis' eyes scanned her body. No clear cuts or injuries, but she definitely smelled of blood. Not hers then? His frame involuntarily relaxed, and at the same time he wondered what creature had the misfortune to get on the she-mers bad side. What he wouldn't give to see her go of at some unsuspecting sucker.

'Do you need a minute?' he continued, 'The trial is about to begin, but I'd doubt they'd start without you.'

'Am I a prize to be won?' she growled without warning. Diz stopped and turned to the she-mer blinking.

Yes? Wait, that's probably not what she wants to hear. No? Does she want the truth or does she want to be doted on? Gods, how he wished mind reading was in his repertoire right now.

'Well?!' The frustration in her voice was clear. Charybdis lifted his chin and took a deep breath. There was no way of telling whether she'd like his response.

'Do you want the hard truth or the sugarcoated version, princess?'

The two stayed quiet for a second. The girl remained stoïc and Charybdis found himself unable to gauge her response.

'I suppose that in itself is answer enough. 'She replied eventually, turning away from him.

'So what happened?'

'I don't want to talk about it...' The she-mer pushed off towards the thoroughfare and the crater, giving the kelp a wide berth. He lazily trailed alongside her, taking the long way round to the ritual site.

'Good. I'm not the best when it comes to the soppy stuff anyway.' He joked while shaking his head.

'Soppy stuff?!' She repeated in an almost offended tone of voice.

'I assumed because of the long face. You resemble a seahorse, darling.' Maybe he was pushing too hard, but his taunt seemed to hit as the she-mer turned back towards him.

'If this is you trying to cheer me up, you are failing horribly! Besides, I don't need you comforting me!'

'Again, Good. Wasn't comforting you.'

Fine.' She spat. Silence again. This really wasn't getting him anywhere and once again, Charybdis wished he could just be back in his den. Surrounded by his bones. Alone.

'Maybe we can just leave?' The thought slipped out of him before he could filter it.

Scylla gawked at him like he'd suggested the sky was falling down.

'Leave? What do you mean?'

'Well, you look about as happy as a barnacle that's stuck on the wrong side of a manatee, and I for one am not exactly looking forward to this either. So why don't we just...—*go*? He pointed at the empty ocean over his shoulder.

Scylla gave him a small, but genuine smile.

'That's not how it works. And what do you mean, "You don't want to be here?"'

The hag dipped his head to the side and folded his arms to his chest while smiling wide. 'Easy princess, I'm kidding. Although, I would much rather be on the sidelines than in that pit in all fairness.'

The she-mer paused, pressing her lips together.

'Hmm, I'd rather fight. At least I'd have some control then.' She mused after giving it some thought.

'Maybe your mother will let us swap places?' He purred while raising one eyebrow. 'You can fight Scallop and I'll sit on my butt and enjoy the view.'

'Don't get your hopes up...' The female purred back while rolling her eyes, the inflection in her voice changing to have a pleasant warmth.

As the pair arrived, Scylla turned towards him, her chest expanding as if she was about to say something. But before she could speak, her brow furrowed slightly and she let her gaze wander from his face, all the way to the tip of his tail. Charybdis stayed very quiet, waiting and observing the female's response. The fact that she managed to keep a somewhat blank expression was impressive, but her body betrayed what she was trying to hide. Her arms raised up to slightly cover her neck and her tail cut through the water to curl in between them, forming an extra barrier.

She saw.

Charybdis lowered himself down to her eye level, forcing Scylla to look directly at him. There was a hint of fear in her eyes...Confusion, Suspicion...and something else. Something more raw...Then she gave him a little smirk.

Without as much as a word, the female turned leisurely and continued her way towards the pit.