Page 9 of Seducing Scylla
“Ish dere enee weer I can washh mai salf?” she speaks her strange tongue again, hands gesturing to her body and rubbing her arm in a circular motion.
She wishes to bathe, I think. She must be uncomfortable in her stiff dress. Her hair has formed a nest upon her head, and sand smudges the constellation of freckles across her cheeks. I nod my head in understanding, and relief washes over her face as her shoulders relax. I offer my hand for her to take. I am nervous she will dismiss me, but I greedily hunger for her skin against mine once more. She glances at my hand and then back to my face before tentatively placing her soft pale hand in my own. My eyelids flutter,her skin is much warmer than our first touch when she was icy cold like death. Now she feels alive, and I wonder how warm she would feel if the sun had a chance to kiss her skin. How warm she would feel wrapped up in my arms and pressed against me. I ache for that warmth. She stretches her legs out from beneath the furs, bare feet caress the stone floor. She flinches at the cold.
“D’yoo knoee weer mai shooz arr?” She waves her hand toward her exposed feet, and I know she is asking about her foot coverings. The same ones I removed when I laid her on the furs, thinking it would be more comfortable for her. Warmth floods my face as I recall trying to figure out how to take them off, the woven material tearing beneath my claws at my attempt. I swallow, shaking my head, pretending I do not know what she is asking. She sighs and embarrassment floods my core. I am thankful we do not understand each other yet, but I do not know what I will tell her when we can.
She lets me lead her into the darker corners of my home, her hand tensing slightly, the only sign of her nerves as we leave what little light is left of the fire; a reminder that human sight is not as good in the dark as mine. I hold her hand firm, a reassurance, I hope, that I will not let her go.
We pass the shallow pool in one corner with an underground entrance that leads directly to the sea and the entrance I use most often to enter my home. My darling pets circle the water lazily. My mate makes a noise, her eyes wide in alarm, and I shake my head. While she could bathe here, the salt water will cling to her delicate human skin, and I want her to feel fresh and clean. I also do not want my sharks to take a nibble out of her soft peachy skin, mistaking her for dinner.
I lead her past it to the back of the cave where there is an entrance to a short, wide tunnel swathed in darkness that forks in two; the left leads to where I found my human mate, and the right leads further into the underground cave system beneath Aeolia. I am mindful of my arms around her feet, careful not to trip her up as I lead her to the right. My mate babbles her strange tongue the entire time, and I can barely keep up with the different sounds she makes. After millennia of mostly my own company, the chatter soothes my soul despite not understanding a word she says.
I hope my mate does not mind waiting a little longer to be clean. The fresh water underground hot spring I have in mind is an overnight journey, but there, we will solve not one problem, but two.
10
Morgan
My feet ache from the cold stone and I’m pretty sure my toes have started to go numb. The sea creature hasn’t let go of my hand as she leads me through the underground tunnel system, and I find her strong grip reassuring that she won’t leave me in the dark.
My heart is fluttering rapidly. I know I should be afraid, but for some reason, this is the first time in this whole horrible ordeal that I feel safe. I haven’t been able to stop rambling, spilling everything that has happened to me so far like verbal vomit even though I know she doesn’t understand me. My hand rubs at my sternum, at the ache behind my ribs; like an inescapable tug that keeps me tethered to this creature’s side. Ever since I woke, my body has felt hot and tingly, and I can’t figure out why. I’m worried I’m catching a fever, which would not be ideal here in this place where my suspicions of therebeing no town are feeling more and more likely as we traverse the underground tunnels.
I’m really starting to feel warm now, a stark contrast to how cold I was when I first climbed into the cave. I pull at the neckline of my dress, the fabric feeling like a suffocating vice around my chest. Is it getting warmer the further we travel? I place the back of my hand against my forehead to check if I’m burning up, but if I am, I can’t tell. I look at the creature to see if she’s noticed a difference in the temperature, but she’s showing no signs of discomfort. She really is beautiful. My eyes graze over her long blue-purple hair that has mostly dried now and looks so soft and silky. I wonder what it would feel like to run my hands through it.
“Ah!” I hiss sharply.
A jagged rock slices through the sole of my foot, my hand slipping free of the creature’s as I hop around on one leg. I lean against the wall of the tunnel, bringing my foot up to inspect it, my hand coming away slick with blood that drips from the gash. I tip my head back against the wall, scrunching my eyes against the pain before I’m airborne with a gasp. Two thick, velvety octopi tentacles cradle me against the creature’s body. I don’t need a mirror to know myface is flushed a deep crimson. I groan in embarrassment, covering my face with my hands, forgetting they’re smeared with my blood. I can’t believe I cut my foot on a rock because I was too busy thinking about how her hair would feel sliding between my fingers. I don’t know what has come over me. I know it’s been a while since I’ve had anyone in my bed but girl, get a grip on yourself.
Silken fingers gently pry my bloodied hands away from my face and I can only imagine the sight I must be. She looks at me with what can only be described as concern on her face as she says something I don’t understand, and I can feel the growing frustration between us that we can’t understand one another. I wish I knew her name, so I had something to call her other thancreature.
“Morgan.” I point to my chest, hoping this will work.
She cocks an eyebrow at me.
“Mor-gan,” I repeat.
She places her hand on my chest, the fire sizzling beneath my skin flares at the touch. I inhale sharply at the sensation, and she yanks her hand back, hurt flashing through her eyes. How do I tell her it isn’t fear that makes me gasp, but an overwhelming need I can’t explain pulsing in my veins? I reach out for her hand, her gaze wary as shelets me, and place it back on my chest. I swallow as I stare into her eyes, the black so all-encompassing that I can see myself reflected in them.
“Morgan.” Her tongue wraps around the syllables as she tests out my name. Her voice is sweet and melodic, the type that lures men to their deaths in the deep.
I sigh happily and nod. This pressure beneath my skin likes the way my name sounds on her lips.
She takes my hand and places it on her own chest. “Scylla”.
“Scylla.” I smile, relieved that I can call her by her name.
Something about the name Scylla tickles my brain and I’m sure I’ve heard it before.
Scylla proceeds to carry me through the rabbit warren of underground tunnels, and I know that without her to guide me, I would easily get lost amongst the twists and turns and little light available. She moves so smoothly across the stone floor, the motion lulling me into a drowsy relaxed state; but the more relaxed I get, the hotter my body feels. I think of her tentacles wrapped around me and how I didn’t expect them to feel so soft and silky like velvet against my skin. Need pools low in my belly and I grimace, squirming againstthe bind of her arms. What has gotten into me? She glances down at me and away again quickly, and I almost think she knows what I’m feeling. I immediately still. What if she does know what I’m feeling? I feel a hot flush spread up my neck and across my cheeks.
11
Morgan
After traveling for what feels like all day, we come to a small alcove in the tunnel. It’s fitted out with some furs, a small fire pit, and a shelf of dried meats and fruits. I guess it’s some kind of resting place to stop in on long journeys. Scylla sets me down on the furs and I assume we’re staying here tonight. My desire to bathe will have to wait, but I hope it’s not too much further tomorrow. Having to make this trip every time I want to wash will be annoying. I shake my head. I’m thinking as if I’ll be making the trip from Scylla’s cave again. As if I’ll bestayingthere. I don’t know where that thought came from. No, I’ll be getting out of here as soon as I can.
Scylla strikes a fire, the smoke filtering up through a small hole in the ceiling of the cave where I can see the darkened sky and a few twinkling stars, confirming we have, in fact, traveled all day. She hands me some dried fish and mango, which I cautiously nibble on,too hungry to be picky now. Surprisingly, the fish isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. A little on the salty side, but if I alternate bites between it and the mango, the sweetness of the dried fruit actually makes it rather tasty.
I finish my meal, while Scylla quietly works through her fish, taking a bite and staring into the fire. Even though we can’t talk to each other, our silence is companionable, and a calm washes over me. Despite the circumstances, I don’t mind being here in this cave with Scylla. I can almost pretend it’s an adventure with a new friend; a Contiki tour to a mystical island filled with strange creatures. I snort, causing Scylla to look at me with an eyebrow raised. I shake my head, the twinkle of a smile in my eyes.
