Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 7. The second Trial (part 1)

The edges surrounding the crater were already filled to the brim with Mer. Scylla trailed ahead, only glancing back on occasion and slowing as she reached the drop-off. Was she checking whether he still followed? Charybdis felt his lips curl upward. There was something innocent and youthful about the gesture and it drew him in more than he cared to admit. How tantalizing the petit female turned out to be as opposed to the rest if her kind.

His gaze lingered on the way her tail curled as she swam, how her arms tucked into her sides as she glided through the water. There was something elegant yet bashful about her movement. By the time he'd caught up to her, he'd been halfway reaching to brush a claw past her right arm.

Scylla froze before he could though. Not because of his presence, but at the sight of a large dark male heading straight for her. Her posture immediately grew rigid, her shoulders raised and tensed and a small hiss escaped her lips. It didn't take an expert to figure out that she was anything but comfortable. Charybdis observed as the male crept closer, a deep gaping mark marred his chest from collarbone to the bottom of his ribcage. The wound was... remarkably fresh, and to his knowledge the fights hadn't even started yet. How curious.

'Well, well. It seems we have ourselves a bottom feeder heading this way.' He purred.

'Oh, shut it...' Scylla reprimanded, but a glint of amusement returned to her eye. 'Behave.'

Charybdis' gaze shot back and forth between Scylla and the stranger and his grin grew wider.

'When don't I behave?'

'Scylla!' The male gasped. 'Oh, am I glad to see you. I'm so sorry about earlier, I shouldn't have...-' Diz leaned in ever so slightly, enough to obscure Scylla at least partially from sight.

It was as if the male only just then noticed Diz, his head turned towards the hag and something in the way he carried himself shifted.

Two more tailstrokes and the male was right beside them. Charybdis couldn't help but notice his compact but muscular build. Black scales accompanied with sharp looking quills. The male had all characteristics to be both fast and deadly. An alarming combination. This had to be the one known as Scully. Going by Scylla's response and his groveling, the two of them had already had an encounter today. Both Charybdis' ears perked up and he felt a tickle creep up his throat.

'This is him then?' Scully sneered.

'Leave us be, Scython.' Scylla pushed from behind Charybdis and glared at the newcomer. Scython? Scully suited him better. He was definitely acting like a Scully.

'You'd pick an outsider over one of your own? Over me?' How Scython did it, Charybdis had no clue, but he made 'outsider' sound filthy.

'I'd pick an anemone over you at this point. Don't you have a fight to prepare for or something?' Scylla spat as she drifted past the two males, once more glancing back over her shoulder. Diz was glad the encounter was almost over and moved to follow when a sharp pang crept down his shoulder. Scythons nails dug into his skin, pressing down forcefully.

'Where do you think you're going? The rabble goes on the other side of the arena.' Scython growled. His claws dug painfully into Charybdis' flesh. The hag trailed his tongue past the inside of his fangs. The bottomfeeder dares touch me?

Within the same breath, Scython directed his attention back to Scylla, still pressing his claws firmly into Charybdis.

'Your mother is looking for you. You're expected on the dais to announce the first fights.' He yelled at her rather unceremoniously.

'I'll get there when I get there.' She turned around, murder plastered on her face as she noticed the pickle Charybdis found himself in. 'Let go of him, Scython.'

'What? Can't the outsider talk for himself?' Scython grinned. 'Do you need a female to do the fighting as well?' Scython's quills quivered with satisfaction as his smile contorted into a mocking grin.

Bottomfeeder does dare. What had started as a mild annoyance, was rapidly turning into a giant pain in the neck as well as one in the shoulder. Charybdis pushed the other males' claws away, some blood seeping from the tiny puncture marks left behind.

'No, that simply won't do.' Charybdis grinned. 'I'd hate to be without an opponent when the trial starts, as much as I'd enjoy seeing her pound some much needed respect into you.' He glanced back at Scylla, who floated only a few feet away. Her eyes were wide and some color had drained from her face. 'That claw across the chest clearly didn't do the trick.'

Scylla pushed between Scython and Charybdis, forcing the two males apart and away from each other. Charybdis hadn't realized how much he'd gone into his usual hunch and straightened up, rubbing a hand over the painful spot on his shoulder.

'Go tell mother she can do the introductions. I'll be right there.' The female growled at Scython. For a moment it looked like he was about to protest, then he glowered at Charybdis and turned.

'I'll be seeing you in the ring.' He hissed.

The pair of them watched in silence as Scython sauntered back towards the crowd.

'He's gonna kill you.' Scylla eventually whispered. Charybdis turned towards the tiny female with a look of disbelief.

'Darling, I'd like to see him try.'

'He's unbeaten, Diz.' She pleaded, desperation clear in her voice.

'Would you believe me if I said the same is true for me?' He retorted.

'No.' An instant reply.

'No hesitation? Damn, that stings.' His ears comically drooped.

'I don't say it to be mean. You just..., I don't know. You don't look like a fighter.' The way her voice drifted off as she spoke bothered him. She really didn't think he could win.

Well as they say, you are what you eat and in Charybdis' case, that was a scrawny looking merpuppy. He chuffed.

If only she knew. That thought echoed inside his head as the meaning of the words started to sink in. Did he want her to know? Really know? She wouldn't think of him as weak or frail at all if she did.

When he glanced back at the mini-matron, she had a claw wedged between her fangs, her gaze firmly affixed on the ground before her.

'Scylla.' he calmly exclaimed. The female jolted at the sound of her name but snapped out of it and looked over. He didn't like the way she cowered all of the sudden. Scylla was to be Matron, she held more power than any of the schmucks at the pit. How did she not realize this?

He took a deep breath and swam up to her, curling his body close to the ground and banking upward until they were face to face. With one claw he lifted her chin, paying extra attention to the way her gills fluttered and her lips parted at his touch.

It was doubtful she'd admit it, but he had her attention alright. At least that part of his plan was going smooth.

'I meant it when I said you could take him on. That worm is nothing compared to you. You can wipe the cavern floor with him if you like and he can't do a thing about it. Hell, you can even have others do it for you if you don't wish to get your hands dirty.'

Scylla blinked a couple of times. Her lips pressed together into a thin line.

'You don't know that. They won't listen to me.' She sighed while trying to turn away. Charybdis didn't let her.

'Won't they? Have you ever tried it?' He smirked and leaned in closer. Scylla's gaze affixed on his. Hovering just inches away from her lips, her scent was overwhelming. All consuming, almost mind numbing and that was exactly the thing he couldn't afford right now.

Charybdis pulled away at the last second, bunching up the tentacles on his scalp with one hand until all of them were neatly wrapped together again.

'Wish me luck.' he muttered, well aware that his face was too flushed to look at her again. 'I'll want another reward after this.'