In another city at the earliest crack of dawn Scylla slipped back into her normal form. 
Tucked away in the shadows and corridors surrounding the Avitus’s residence. Slipping in as quietly as she could she worked her way up the alabaster stone staircase. 
Silence still filled the house, though she noticed the other shapes and glances of those who were already up, intending not to notice her. 
The servants or slaves, it made no difference how you called them, they were there and they were the least of her problems. 
Not returning with Eilis would not be appreciated by the young Master. The young Teryn.
Teryn Balbus Avitus, had been a powerful man, but had not needed to put his strength on display. His reputation did that for him and the paintings of some of his conquests hung for all to see in the main hall. 
Paintings of battlescenes and of his hunting prowess... Scylla still felt unnerved ever since she had laid eyes on them, the still images screaming at her, clawing in desperation as sword, arrow or spear of some sort was driven into them. 
Still she had had a sense of security.
With the old master gone the son would inherit his father’s position and unlike his father, Scylla knew the young man felt the need to prove himself. To show off his power and control over others.
And whilst Scylla had been able to retain her beauty and had tried to manipulate the young Teryn to see how far her suggestions would carry her, it had come to somewhat of a relief to her that she still had been an object of desire.
A thing she considered a blessing and a curse.  
She checked the next corridor, its marble not yet coloured golden by the day’s early rays of sunlight. The grey empty shadows gave her some comfort. She would need to find her sister first, discuss what had happened so that they may think up a plan, a potent enough explanation of her unsuccessful mission. 
Now Scylla moved swiftly, sending a prayer to the All Mother that somehow she had managed to get back before the Teryn’s waking. 
Rounding the corner to their sleeping quarters however, she was met by a steady arm halting her advance.
“My, my don't they say something about early birds catching early worms...and look at what I've caught." His lips tugged upwards regarding her carefully. "How fortunate of me.”
Scylla tried to maintain a mask of calm interest and raised a playful eyebrow locking her eyes with his as she turned her head to face him.
“My Teryn, how can this poor woman serve you?”
“Forgive me Scylla, my...hunger for news lead me to seek you out and see whether or not you had returned.”
“I but just returned, my Teryn.”
“Splendidly, of course I trust you were successful?”
Scylla inhaled sharply trying to calm her heart from what she was about to do.
“I was unable to bring her back as of yet. My capture of her was successful, but my retrieval was foiled, not only by her…but by two other men as well.” She eyed him carefully, trying to see if there were any changes in his eyes.
“So you failed me.” His voice sounded a bit more flat.
“Yes. For now at the least.” She spoke rather honestly.
She eyed the young Teryn with calculation. She had seen him react to treachery harshly and to honesty with a ‘less’ cruel hand. Knowing what the young Teryn was capable off, she preferred the latter, well if it was up to her, she would try to persuade him from beating her at all, but failure was not something that would simply go unpunished. 
She winced slightly as he raised a hand to touch her cheek and with his thumb gently stroked it.
He eyed her with a look she did not understand, she couldn’t read him as well as she had the old Teryn. 
His thumb continued its stroking movement before it slowly moved down to her throat, the touch was light, but the hold implying all he needed to as he tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
“Failure is not an option Scylla… I thought you would understand such a simple command.”
“I do.”
“And yet she’s not here… Tell me, what am I to make of that?”
“Simply a delayed delivery.” She calmly replied, knowing he could crush her windpipe without anyone to stop him.
He smiled at those words, before a chuckle passed his lips and his eyes narrowed regarding her with a strange glint.
“Oh my dear Scylla. My sly witty little serpent, if you were not so pretty and clever I would have made sport out of you a long time ago. Fortuitous it is that your tongue wags just as well as it performs other tricks.” He insinuated as his other hand passed over her velvet covered curves.
All Scylla could do is keep him engaged. Being a ‘Being of Pleasure’ she knew that it was her way of maintaining some control over her own fate. Though at times she wondered if her sister had not gotten the better deal out of all of it.
“I aim to be of service to you my Teryn. Whenever you wish me to be.” She purred knowing it was better to let his lust drive him then his cunning, as she pressed herself against his form.
“The morning is young still, barely broken, I suppose letting you rest would be… of better use to me later. I will let you sleep to recover some of your strength. However I will expect to see you this afternoon so I may receive a full report of your exploits and the failure of your retrieval.” His eyes raked over her skin, telling silent tales of their own, before she felt his body step back and he turned away from her, to return to his own chambers.
Scylla watched him and waited until his footfalls faded in the distance, before she released a trembling exhale, grasping support of the wall next to her.
The initial first fear had been released. 
She had survived for now, but she was certain she was not in the clear yet. Nothing ever was as simple with that man. 
The old Teryn had been formidable enough of his own that sending them out on a mission had never been on the man’s mind. They had been status symbols and the only missions she had done for him had involved her…talents. She was a Being of Pleasure after all not of brute force. Well there had been that incident years ago, but she had volunteered for that. Almost succeeded too.
Straightening herself she continued to her chambers.
Scylla wouldn’t deny that she herself didn’t enjoyed the range of freedom she had in comparison to others. The old Teryn had instructed her in ways of old, ritualistic magic and the like, they both had been allowed to read and grow in their skills. He had been a good master all things considered.
After all, he saved them from destitution. Two scrawny Vaimese orphans from one of the many backalleys of Old Victus. Unlike all the others, he hadn’t seen two worthless little scarecrows. He had regarded them with a sharp eye, seeing worth where others saw nothing. True the sight must not have been too particularly pleasing; One deformed and the other… well let’s say that her own fate had been forced upon her early enough. She sighed.
The man had pulled them out of the gutter and into the realm of possibilities. True, nothing came without its price, but had it been so hard to pay it? 
They had been so close…
Everything had been set in motion and just like that they would have to start planning all over again, but with a blade hanging above their heads this time. A son was not his father after all.
As she entered the room she watched the weak form of her sister sit up, her breathing shallow and whistled at times.
“So you have returned…” The soft cold voice stated. 
Scylla moved towards the bed greeting her sister with a kiss of tenderness and affection knowing her coldness was but an unwanted effect.
“I have.”
“Are you well? What about the girl?”
“I am fine. Can’t say anything about her though. She’s still there I’m afraid. She had help.”
“So I saw, we cannot make too many mistakes or Waelwold will be unleashed.”
Scylla frowned.
“If he decides to bring in the Tahjai and whatever poor souls they have kept locked away there, I doubt we’ll be needed much longer.”
Her sister remained quiet eyeing her calmly.
“Did he not say failure was not an option?”
Scylla bit her lip in frustration. She turned to her older sister.
 “What are we to do then?”
“Beget her before he calls upon the Tahjai again, make him see that we are all he needs to fulfil his every desire.” Her sister spoke sadly knowing it would not be her taking the punishment and risk.
“Sure! The only reason he hasn’t sold us off or cast us out yet is because I have been able to play for time. But the moment he will tire of me both our lives will be at risk. Giving in to his wiles will not excuse us forever. We need another option.”
“We have both paths open before us… I just assumed you wished to take the more pleasurable one.” 
Scylla grumbled, but her sister merely raised an eyebrow.
“You could always kill him.”
Scylla shook her head. 
“You know I can’t! Not without knowing…”
Her sister looked at her unapologetically. 
“You know there is no guarantee that his words held any truth or that his son will gift you something that his father took away in the first place. More than likely upon discovery he will have it killed.”
A harsh bitterness formed in Scylla’s eyes.
“It’s all her fault in the first place! If word hadn't reached him of her force magic, things would have been fine.”
Her sister shook her head with a sad smile. 
“He wouldn’t have considered any of the foolish dreams you had…no matter how well you bedded him.”
Scylla’s eyes spat in dark fury as she eyed her sister venomously. 
“And what would you know about it? You’ve never been able to hold a man’s attention long enough that did not result in disgust or pity. What would you know of the hearts and desires of men?”
“I know enough to know that one should not simply trust pretty words and empty promises…lustful looks of primal desire, burning but fleeting. It all withers, it all burns out…whether they be from a noble Teryn or a humble slave. And I know that old Avitus would never have entertained the idea of acknowledging your son. As soon as you would have suggested the idea he would have scolded you for it. You think lying with him once or twice would have secured him of the idea it was his? My darling sister do not be naive now. We both know who’s it was and it is best it remains where it is, out of sight and forgotten.”
“How can you say that?”
“Then why didn’t you tell him?”
“You ‘know’ why!”
Her elder sister sighed rubbing her head in frustration.
“Then cease this pointless discussion and focus on the young Teryn. Find his father’s old contracts and I am sure we’ll be able to figure out what to do next. We’re playing a dangerous game little sister, in order to not be taken off the board we’ll have to tread very lightly. Patience for now is our best bet. As well as all your skills concerning the art of pleasure.” 
Scylla snorted derisively.
“I don’t know who’s worse, those pimps from the whorehouses or you sister.”