Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 13.

Scylla was the youngest of a brood of six. Much to mother's dismay, she'd given birth to five male pups before being blessed with a female heir.

The specimen currently having his arms coiled around Scylla's neck was named Cetus. Only a year and a half older than Scylla and the youngest brother in the troop, he was easy to mistake for her twin. Cerulean blue scales littered his arms and chest, and just like Scylla, they tapered down into deep black stripes and a solid black tail. The two of them together had a predilection for tricks, and got into heaps of troubles while growing up. Trouble, Cetus would usually end up taking the fall for, as he often got scolded for being a 'bad influence'. Luckily, he never seemed to hold it against her, that was just the way things were with mother...

'Did you miss me?' He purred with an inquisitive grin.

'Life hasn't been the same without you.' Scylla couldn't help but grin as well. She hadn't seen any of her brothers for at least a month now. They had wisely made themselves scarce as the mating ritual approached, like they did every passing year.

'Why are you here? There are a couple of days of the ritual left, you returned early. Mother might still try to pair you off.' Scylla teased. Mother couldn't really, but the taunt was worth the shiver it caused Cetus.

Her brother uncoupled his hands and twirled around his younger sister, big bright yellow eyes offset against the deep blue of his face.

'You haven't heard? Mother summoned me back. And it isn't just me, either.' He pointed to the far side of the room and there, hidden behind a group of loud bachelors, skulked Euryale. A thin pale gray male pressed against the wall. If he could sink into it and disappear, he probably would. Being the fourth brother and runt of the family, he preferred to fade into the background as much as possible.

'Wait? Euryale's here?' Seeing him in the caverns wasn't rare, but being in the same room with this many Mer made him anxious beyond belief. Even from this distance, she could see him unconsciously lean away whenever anyone swam too close by. He'd never ever be out here of his own volition.

'I'm pretty sure Charon had to force him to come.' Cetus mused while cocking his head to the side.

'That I did.' An all too familiar voice spoke up, originating from just besides Scylla. Both Scylla and Cetus jolted backwards like a pair of startled cats, away from Charon, who had seemingly appeared out of the shadows next to them.

'For fuck's sake, Charon! Do you have to do that every time?' Cetus growled while smoothing over the fins on his head.

'Do what?' Charon smirked while nuzzling the top of Scylla's forehead. 'Mind your language, Cetus. You are in the company of our future matron. We don't want that kind of language rubbing off on her.'

Charon was the second-oldest brother, and had a nasty habit of sneaking up on people, even if it really was unintentional most of the time.

'That ship has long sailed, brother. She bunked with Lycaon for three years, remember?' Cetus flicked a claw in Scylla's direction.

'-And Lycaon is a self-proclaimed leasing-monger, muck-spouting-' They started rattling in tandem like they'd rehearsed it, but Charon raised a hand, putting a halt to their prose.

'Please. Have mercy on my poor ears...'

As she let her gaze wander between the two brothers, Scylla found herself staring at the newly collected coral trinket currently adorning Charon's face. A bright pink cluster with stalks trailing outward to the sides of his face. It covered his right eye and clutched one of his ears. He must've chosen it for the occasion, judging by the intricate, elegant and fragile detailings. Not something he usually wore.