Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 26

'We need to move, darling...' a softspoken voice lulled Scylla out of her slumber. Tired but satisfied, she hummed, before rolling over in the now way too cramped nest. Dark scales blocked her vision, and for a moment, it was hard to believe anything existed beyond them. The heat of Charybdis body burned against her back, and she could feel his nose trail past her neck.

'Wake up.' He nudged her gently, but the commanding tone in his voice was clear. Her scales rippled in response as Scylla lazily blinked her eyes open.

It was too soon...this moment in its intimate stillness and warmth, was too perfect. She didn't want it to end. Not yet.

Turning to face him, she placed a lazy kiss against the side of his neck.

'Don't think you can distract me with kisses, little witch...' he chuckled as his tail shifted to lift her upright, but keeping her close enough to still enjoy the little attentions she was giving him. Apparently she'd been laying on it, not even registering the difference between his rough scales and the soft moss that made up her bedding.

'Your brother must already be thinking I mauled you to death in some dark crevice, let's not give him more time to plot his revenge.'

'Can't we stay a bit longer...?' Scylla whined. Twisting her body around, she pressed herself against her mate's chest, before letting out a content purr. The scent of sunkissed sand was everywhere, a smell she'd forever acknowledge as a part of herself. She had a mate... the very thing she'd been trying to avoid when this whole trial started, and she was happier for it. At least mother had been right about that. Even if she'd been wrong about everything else...When he returned her purr, her heart jumped and her stomach fluttered with bliss. Taking her wrist in his hand, he pressed a soft kiss against her palm.

'I would prefer to remain like this as well, but do you remember what I said about this place turning into a tomb?' He mumbled with his lips still pressed to her claws. 'Time is running out. We need to leave, darling. Now. It's getting worse out there...' A shiver surged across her scales. Ah yes. Somewhere in the darkness, something lay in wait, biding its time to throw the whole place into chaos. It seemed such a far off and ludicrous suggestion now...

As if on queue, a faint tremor shook their nest.

Charybdis growled, his anxiety rippling over through some ancient magic to her. Instantly the fins at her back raised as she felt his dread like it was her own. His fear was real, and imagining what could possibly scare him automatically put her on edge.

Taking a deep breath, Scylla glanced over her shoulder at the hidden exit. 'We should hurry then.. '

The halls were empty. As were the tunnels and dens. It made sneaking through the caverns all too easy, but did nothing to help with the nerves. Where did everyone go? The sun must have risen by now, this place was supposed to be bustling with activity. Mers would gather to hunt or to craft supplies or just to socialize. But there was nothing. Not a soul. Not even the elderly who had their nests nearby the hunters for easy access to food, and basically never left their post.

Charybdis' eyes darted from one side of the hall to the other, past the rows of columns that led up and out of the caves, glaring at the stone like it had offended him. The silence clearly bothered him too.

'Let's keep movi-...' but he stopped, staring dead ahead at a gaping hole in the ground. Scylla almost shrieked. She knew the caverns inside and out, and that...was never there before. The hole was fresh, and as wide as she was long. Peering inside of it, scratchmarks covered the edges of a circular tunnel, it almost looked as if something burrowed straight down into the ground and disappeared into the dark. Something huge.