V Here There Be Monsters

Scylla

I'm a Monster!
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Prey...

An eerily cheerful smile lighted upon a childish face, deep blue eyes turned up towards what she knew as the sky. Thin beams of light pierced down from the heavens above, shimmering and waving erratically, their tenuous, warming grasp choked out by an oppressive blue long before they reached Scylla. But where another child would reach desperately, screaming, towards the little glimmer of hope they could see, Scylla simply... snickered.

How stupid those immortals had been, thinking they could keep her down for even a moment. How terrified they must have been, to decide they’d cast her away rather than deal with her properly. The child giggled, her body almost... moving on its own, it seemed. Beneath her, in the inky recesses, low growls distorted by water, rumbled up. Rocks scattered and fell, and glowing red orbs turned upwards in the same manner Scylla did.

Well, it didn’t matter to her. They could’ve killed her and chained her down in Tartarus and still she would claw her way free. None of them could have captured her and contained her. And sure enough, neither would this hell they’d thrown her to. As soon as she knew where she was, she could find her way back, and when she did... Oh, those immortals would be so surprised.

Scylla took in a deep breath, salty brine filling up her mouth, and her lungs (if they could even be called that anymore). She snapped out a brusque order, voice distorted to something... unrecognizable as human by the ocean water. But perfectly coherent to others. Beneath her flowing gown, her dogs shifting, growling eagerly, throwing aside current-worn pebbles beneath their scaly bodies.

Ajax, Achilles, Cyril, and Zoey, all spurred on by the master’s order, turned their heads up and thrust off the rocky ground. Their heads waved back and forth, their serpentine bodies slithering up through the water, carrying away their master, connected to them by body. High, high above, where water met air, where the ocean gave way to heaven, where tumultuous, raging wings ravaged at the surface of the sea, Scylla could see Prey.

The aquamarine light streaming erratically through the water wasn’t the light of the sun. It was the dim light of a storm, where pounding rain and flashing lightning ruled the surface, and even sent the depths into turmoil. Massive waves pounded above, the very ocean itself shifting about as one horror of this ocean deep rose up.

And amidst it all, stuck in all this chaos and mayhem, the monster could make out hulls. Wooden ships that just so happened to have the misfortune of getting stuck above her hideout when the storm struck. They could weather this squall alright. When she’d first ventured to the surface of this strange new place, Scylla had watched. She saw the massive, floating islands above, and far below, almost insignificant when compared to the heavenly land masses, boats. Fleets, even. Poor people cast down, never to be seen again, stuck to live the remainder of their miserable lives floating.

And since she’d watched, Scylla knew. Those who lived here knew how to handle the ocean. They fished up prey of their own from the sea, they handled monsters well, and she’d never seen a wreckage after a storm. But while they knew how to handle monsters and storms, it occurred to Scylla that both at once certainly wasn’t easier.

Up and down, up and down, up and down... The little girl’s eyes locked onto the smallest boat of the fleet as the massive swells tossed it around. And, to a lesser degree, her, as she got caught in the stormy currents. Up... and down... and drawing ever closer. Each dip in the waves only brought them closer to their death, and Scylla closer to her meal. And then, with the small wooden ship only meters away, a command.

With a quick movement, the small redhead darted to the left and grabbed hold of Ajax, holding tightly to the dog just in time for Achilles to respond to her order. With gnashing teeth and a water-distorted bark, the wolf-headed creature lunged forward, massive fangs sinking into one of the water-sogged wooden planks. A low growl rose out of Achilles as it shook and twisted its body. Scylla’s whole form writhed with the one dog, and with the flow of the current as a wave dashed her body against the side of the ship, but safely clinging to Ajax, it was only her dogs who were really subject to it.

With a powerful snap, the board Achilles attacked broke loose, and with a flick of its head, the dog discarded the plank. The ship lurched, and Scylla shouted out another order, followed by another. Ajax’s coiling body wiggled away from the ship, carrying its master to safety, and Cyril lunged forward with the same, bloodthirsty growl as Achilles. More teeth sunk into more wood, and already weakened by the previous assaults, the two dogs made short work of board after board after board.

Ocean poured into the newly made hole, tugging at Scylla and her dogs, but too weak to drag them in, even as the opening was quickly made wider and wider. And then, a command. All four of her dogs lunged forth into the abject darkness of the hole, hidden from even the light of the flashing lightning. Their snake-like bodies spread out in every direction, pulling the entire monster into the ship. Releasing her grip on Ajax, the small girl lifted up, up towards the surface of the water, and with a splash, she broke free of the rising waterline.

Immediately Scylla was assaulted by the sound of frantic steps and harried screaming, the simultaneously salty and musky scent of below decks, and the glimmer of lantern lights. For a second, everything froze, everyone froze. All that sailors that had been rushing about trying to bail the water, pail in hand, had stopped at the sight of that little girl springing suddenly to the surface.

A creepy grin, illuminated only by the soft glow of the lanterns, lit the child’s face. She spat out a lungful of water as, beneath the slowly-rising waters, four pairs of glowing red eyes slowly slithered forward. Scylla’s mouth opened, baring fangs just slightly off, and with one word, she broke the terrified silence.

“Hunt!”

The order came out rough, aggressive, but still ostensibly childish, and all hell broke loose. Salty waters erupted in a powerful spray as all four of Scylla’s dogs attacked, lunging to the surface in a trained formation that kept the girl stable. Physically, at least. The frantic yelling morphed into horrified screams as the sailors discarded their pails (with a few throwing them at the dogs) and began a panicked charge towards exits, and towards whatever weapons might be found in the bowels of the ship.

And above it all, rose that downright evil cackle of Scylla’s. Ajax and Achilles slithered up out of the water, onto the damp platform just forward of them and, snarling, immediately lunged for the first fleeing souls in sight. Two screams cut off into choked garbles as the massive wolf heads seized them, their bones and bodies crunching as both dogs gave ‘em a good shake and then quickly discarded them to the side.

Off to the sides, Cyril and Zoey did much the same, hauling the armed and dangerous up by their feet and dashing them against the wall. Together, all four of them worked like a pack of well-trained ratters. Spending no more than a second on one little rodent before moving onto the next. They could feast after the slaughter, after all...

“Stop!” It wasn’t long before the order came. Scylla’s dogs cleared out the lower decks in what felt like record time. All four froze at her command, turning curiously to face her. In Zoey’s jaws hung the still-whimpering form of one last sailor, bloodied, battered, and missing... a delightful amount, but not dead. The look Scylla gave Zoey was enough. One last soft crack and the sailor fell silent, before being ungracefully dropped in the water with a splash.

The redhead cast her gaze about the almost completely flooded hull, chuckling quietly to herself as she counted up all the floating corpses, and all the stains of viscera stuck to the walls lit up by the dim light of overturned lanterns, one after another being slowly snuffed out by the rising waters. All this would be washed away once the depths claimed this vessel.

“Alright~” Scylla’s voice held a menacing tone in it. “Ajax? Achilles? Cyril? Zoey?” She said smoothly, almost singing, glancing between each wolf-headed snake as she said their names. “Let’s have some fun!” Though innocent-sounding, those words were as much an order as all her others had been. Glowing red eyes and snarling visages turned up towards the staircase that led above decks, and the slithering dogs carried forward.

There was no doubt in Scylla’s mind that the other ships knew about her by now. If not from the one or two escapees, then by the screams. It didn’t matter though. That only made it all the more exciting!
 

Neona Black

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Moments before, the crew of one of those other ships in the distance had their own problem to deal with.

Galvin and Victor were two different generations of sailors. Galvin was a young novice that wasn’t so green that he didn’t handle the waves so well, but one of the more naive people on the ship. Victor, grey and scarred from his years on the endless sea of Opealon. His wisdom was written across his face. They couldn’t be any different if they tried.

Waves that towered over the ship’s main sails, lightning that flashed behind it illuminated the full terror of the swelling watery mass before the skies go black once more, only strike horror in Galvin's heart as he feels it lift the ship into an unnatural angle. His life flashed before his eyes as he clung to the guard on the very edge of the ship to stare into the churning abyss. Surely, most certainly, the ship would capsize.

Victor, however, knew it would not. He too grabbed the wooden railing, but to brace himself as the vessels sharp angled bottom cut into the wave and swam up against its side. It broke the crest as a desperate swimmer surfaced for fresh air, abruptly and ungracefully.

Saltwater splashed up and over both men as the whole ship dropped back into the seas, again leaving Galvin feeling like a drowning hopeless child. Victor's only player in this was that the oil lantern’s flame survived.

Under the telltale hollars of the night that would continue until morning, somehow piecing the storms overwhelming thunderous roars and the pelting rains’ rattling both men heard a clear voice cry out. “Help me!”

Galvin was spurred into some sense of bravery upon this, as he was sure it was female, and tripped down the small staircase that leads to the main deck once more. He found the mixing types of water to be slippery and the breathing ocean around him to be brutal as it knocked his chest into the banister. But he strained every muscle in his eyes to look out and find the source. He watched the dim orange light of their flames travel across shivering ripples to land on a figure about 10 meters out. She, whoever she may be, reached out her hand as the light barely caressed her.

“By the gods, we have to help her.” Galvin was quick to say, ready to bolt for whatever he could toss to her.

He was stopped by Victor, his solid hand grabbing his shoulder and those same steely eyes stared into the darkness with grand amounts of suspicion. “Don't be too sure about that, boy. The ocean plays a plenty tricks on the mind.”

“She'll drown out there!” Galvin pleaded, voice cracking with pressure and fear.

“If she even can.” Victor's voice was calm. Darkly raspy, but calm.

“What do you mean if she can!?” his voice jumped an octave as it may not be able to get higher in volume.

Victor never tore his gaze from the woman as she bobbed up and down in the furious sea. She had splashed around and cried for help, she let the water consume her so abruptly that the young man beside him tensed up as he squeezed the wooden rail under them until his knuckles became moonlight white. The older sailor held the boy in place though and just continued to stare her down.

Without warning the man that latched onto the boy's shoulder turns and gathers with some crew, leaving Galvin with his conscious to wrestle with.

“Help!” the haunting voice cried out once more. “Help me!”

He imagined of that were his mum he would be reckoned he would not be wasting time. Galvin slapped the railing in impatience before he left the post to find something!

The young man dropped to his knees near a cannon and rummaged through some supplies quickly. He found a length of rope that he guessed was long enough in his panic and returned to the side rail he'd been perched before. His eyes turned to the group of men, lead by Victor who was pointing and shouting orders, they would take too long! Galvin was a man of action and he refused to let some old fool be the reason a young woman drowned.

He tied off the rope securely, then with all his weakened might he cast the line of rope overboard and in her direction. He at least hoped it was.

All he could see without Victor's lamp was the rope vanishing into the inky blackness. Seconds ticked away painfully against his anxiety as he watched the nothingness.

To his greatest relief, he watched at the edge of his usable light, the rough brown line becoming taught as the storm continued to rock them around dangerously. He crashed to his knees in relief and just breathed heavily, watching the rope grind against the wooden anchor, satisfied with his actions and their immediate results. He wasn’t sure she could climb up the rope after fighting for her life, however, he was exceptionally proud to know that she at least wouldn’t be swimming alone. That forced all of his tired muscles to give out though, no longer under the pressure of the situation, so he laid his head down and closed his eyes for a moment.

The world continued on around him at a rapid pace, but none as rapid as the woman he’d saved.

In his half rest, he could practically see her moving along the length of rope, hand over hand, to do so. He flinched only at the slightest thudding sound against the ship, certain that it was another wave crashing against them and threatening to tip the boat once more. He was too weak and too tired to even look up, his eyes barely had the strength to check the rope. And despite his relief to see the weight of the woman has shifted to directly below the side, he couldn’t keep them open longer.

The darkness of his mind within the darkness of the storm, he could hear another strange noise. Stranger than anything he’s ever encountered in this new banishment world below the floating islands.

Singing.

It started in hushed whispers, lulling him to a deeper sleep Within his dreams he saw a gorgeous woman of his dreams, singing beautifully. Her voice invoked images of sensual lust and worldly desires, promised they all would be his if only he jumped into the sea and joined her in its depths. The hauntingly echoed song called to him instinctually and he felt his body rise on its own.

~*+*~​

Victor had thought the boy would be reckless, but he did not consider how quickly shit would hit the deck. He stood in a circle of veteran sailors who all had the same thought as he did as he told them what he’d seen over the side of the ship. The boy might have not been able to make out the figures finer features, but he had seen the woman’s mask for what it was.

The conclusion was simple, they would deal with the monster with powerful and swift justice.

The group of men was ready to take action when one of the crew cried out for Victor in particular, pointing out the opposite side as the large arcs of blinding light radiated over the world to give them all perfect vision of the smallest ship of the fleet. The Arriana Zune bobbed a little heavier in the sea as if weighed down by something enormous. Waves not much smaller than the one that had threatened to consume their own ship rocked her relentlessly. Over its deck fires danced like excited nymphs with permission to play until the end, making a looming shadow look even more ominous. They could hear the faintest screams of tragedy unfolding, mere moments before the belly of the buoyancy balance of the ship tipped chaotically and the show came to a disheartening silence as she laid down on her side.

Beyond that steady silence with just the drumming rain, as it pelted the planks of their ship, with disturbing clarity, Victor heard a child’s laughter.

He was not given much time to deal with the implications before a few solid notes of a song were hummed. It felt like it was right inside his head, the deeper tones resonating perfectly with his soul and the higher pitched ones clawing into his tired mind in search of his deepest desire.

Suddenly all members of the small group he’d gathered turned with stoned faces in the direction of Galvin. None were surprised to see him standing, swaying as if he were walking in his sleep. He faced the bow of the ship with a tired smile, in that direction besides him sitting elegantly on the rail was a figure that was best described as half a woman and half aquatic beast. One hand grabbed onto the ship, the other ran up Galvin’s body furthering her seduction, her voice promising him everything a man could want. With the familiarity of a lover’s touch and perfect pitch, it was hard to resist.

“The fool…” One man spat.

“One of many…” Victor excused the youth.

“What are we to do, Victor?”

“Deal with the siren, prepare for the unknown.” Victor directs them, motioning for the biggest of the group to take the net he gathered.

~*+*~​

Galswintha’s skin was marbled white and just as perfectly chiseled as any greek sculpture. High cheekbones, flattened cheeks, sharp jaw, relaxed brows, and a straight, narrow nose with a perfect pinch between her ghostly white eyes that gauzed through the young man who ‘saved’ her. They were blind, dead even. Her full-lipped mouth beckoned to be kissed as she sang to his vices, completely ignoring his virtuous actions to ‘save’ her.

Her hand had the same warm grey tint to it, but with elongated fingers that stretched across his defined chest. His exhaustion made him especially susceptible to her melody which made the effort to enchant him much easier.

When her hand reached his vulnerable neck, she closed her fingers around it and sank her razor sharp claws into the flesh. The youth in her handmade no effort to stop her, he simply just died for her. Crimson liquid drained from his veins and mingled with the saltwater in his shirt.

I’ll have to eat you late, my dear, but we shall see each other soon.” she promised the man who was vaguely still alive before unceremoniously picking him up like a broken doll and tossing him overboard. Into the ravenous waters which would drown him if he did not bleed out first.

She let out an amused laugh as she brought her hand close to her face, the red was a stark contrast to her porcelain skin, translucent webbing could be seen between her fingers in the brightest of lamp lights. She brought it over her cheek, nails sinking into her raven black hair as she smeared the blood across her perfect face as a demonic smile slid into place.

Several men approached her, the largest with a net and the oldest with an unsheathed sword. “Foolish humans, why don’t you save me the trouble and take your friend’s lead. Just DIE!!

The rain made it impossible to fully change into the form that Aphrodite herself would approve, but in this case, Galswintha didn’t mind. Upon her command, for them to decrease, her hips swiveled and an elongated silver scaled tail as thick as a tree’s base truck batted at half the entire deck’s girth. Swift was the attack that most of the men she aimed to blunged to death fell under the weight of her fin.

At the end of her swing the tail slammed into the walls of the captain’s quarters, the wood buckled and splintered under the force of her blow. She pouted in displeasure as some of the men she knocked over began to lift their heavy bodies to get up for another round. “Stay down!” she demanded with another slap of her tail.

This time the strongest of the group was prepared for the attack and caught her with both arms.

Unhand me!” she cried out as she struggled against this grip.

“Men, get her!” The giant of a man encouraged, wrestling with the elongated tail. Its shining white scales cutting into his skin.

Without much need for any further instructions, several men came to his aid. The net came over her, trapping her despite the defensive hands she threw up. She grunted with disapproval while the sparable crew came down on her with their weight and weapons.

Meanwhile, the on-deck crew gathered on the other side to prepare cannons, the ominous shadow on the move.
 

Scylla

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The ocean muffled plenty of sound. The low rumble of thunder, reduced to a mere mockery of its former self. Overshadowed even by the inhuman beating of Scylla's corrupt heart. The growling, the gnashing of teeth, the creaking and groaning of wood as it was pried apart, board by board. Fragment by Fragment. Distorted and silenced, all the chaos sounded so far away...

Even as the monstrous girl clung to her dog, mere meters beneath the raging torrent, attached to her next victim, a certain... peace was rendered upon her. Enough to think. To lament at how quickly it was over. To crave more. And more. And more!

She had snuffed out 32 lives already. 32 humans reminded of their mortality. 32 rats flushed out of their little burrow. 1 ship capsized. 1 vessel consigned to a watery grave. 1 little burrow all filled up.

All in a matter of minutes.

And with still another dozen ships to go. Each larger than the last.

32 casualties and an entire ship. And still it wasn't enough. Something deep in her body ached. A hunger rumbled through her. For something more than food.

A watery growl roused Scylla from her thoughts, and she focused. The hole was open. Big and black and with the faint current of seawater gushing into it, replacing the air in the ship. For a moment, she paused, her dogs waiting for her command. This time, her prey would be more prepared. They would have seen the ship capsize. They would know only vaguely what to expect.

The monster in the form of a girl grinned, baring wicked teeth visible to none. Fangs parted, and a watery whisper, just faintly audible to her dogs, slipped out. And on her command, they silently slithered in. Bioluminescence flashed at her fingertips, as she was pulled into the dark maw.

She would have some fun too.

---

Captain Richards considered himself a good man. Born in exile to two wonderful parents, he felt there wasn't much of a reason for him to be down here. But here he was, and so he didn't question it. Instead, it was best to work with it. Whatever had happened that consigned his family to life down here was in the past. It was up to them in the now to make the most of what they'd been dealt.

Though kind in raising him, and though he loved them very much, he felt he had to do what all young men felt. He struck off on his own, leaving the refuge of his harbor village and joining a crew of traders. Season after season, he'd weathered storm and stress, myth and monster. Becoming a competent enough captain, and helping to carry this fleet through hardship.

Rain pounded against his scarred face, his clothes soaked through. With mournful eyes, he gazed upon the slowly-sinking wreck of the Arriana Zune. Thirty-two faithful men claimed by the sea, and a ship never to sail again. With attentive ears, he listened to the frantic shouts of his crew over the raging of the storm. Their cries telling of the lost men, the siren completely subdued, and of the worsening situation below deck. With a racing mind, he clung to the railing with a white-knuckle grip. Clouds of uncertainty hung over his thoughts.

Two dozen storms worse than this had been weathered. A dozen monsters slain or subdued. On his deck lay a handful of shipmates, ended by the siren. In the sea, one sailor would drown helplessly. Painful, yet routine. As it was here on Opealon.

And yet a dark fog hung over his heart. This wasn't ordinary. He didn't know why it was. His eyes laid upon the last few meters of the Arriana Zune. Why had she gone so quietly into that good night?

And are we next?


"Cap'n!" And then, a voice, frantic and shaking. "Cap'n!" It was the desperation of a dying man. He turned, already prepared for what he might see. "She's breached the hold!" Josef's voice was quickly growing ragged, his face pale. The Captain wasn't quite sure how he was still standing, fixated on the missing left shoulder and arm.

He opened his mouth to speak.

"Men.! C-crushed..!"

His heart pounded in his chest, jumping to catch Josef before he collapsed.

"Nets... n-nets only sl-"

And then, the loyal crewmate fell limp in his arms. It felt as though the world paused, the dying body weighing heavy in his hands.

So this is it, then?

His thoughts echoed.

It's over for us. For the Cordelia.

He swayed, letting the corpse of Josef fall to the ground with a hollow thud. An entire world, an entire life ripped out right from beneath him. The lives of countless good men ripped from them. All from one unfortunate day.

And yet...

He straightened up, the world before him snapping into focus. All the lives that weren't, all the futures that wouldn't be, didn't matter, in the end. It was up to them in the now to make the most of what they'd been dealt.

His voice, authoritative as ever, boomed across the ship, cutting through the tempest. All hands on deck. Subdue her at any and all cost.

Captain Anderson stormed over to his quarters, the orders given. His mind was made up. The message was sent. The others would know. And the stage was set.

He would not go quietly into that good night.

Faintly, through the pouring rain, through the pounding of his heart, and through the thin wood of his door, he thought he could hear a child's laughter...
 
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