Beyond Charybdis by Bruce McLachlan Page A

did you come by it?’ asked Oceanus, his words muffled slightly as he chewed a bite of his sandwich.
    â€˜I have friends here and there,’ the Titan replied amiably. ‘A few illicit favours provided to a certain government and it was more than willing to let me create my own little empire out here. In fact, a few high-ranking officials make this their favoured vacation spot.’ He chuckled as a serving slave appeared as if by magic to pull out a chair for him.
    â€˜Are these slaves from Scylla?’ Tethys wondered as she reached down and presented a piece of fruit to her pony’s lips. Mina leaned forward and nuzzled her face into her owner’s palm, experiencing some difficulty in getting to the juicy fragment over the bit. Once it was in her mouth, she mulled it over and swallowed carefully, her tongue doing most of the work of softening it up and breaking it down since she could not use her teeth. Stretching her jaws wide, she slipped her tongue out around the bit and lapped up the trace of juice lingering on her lips as best she could, savouring her humiliating position as much as the taste of the fruit.
    â€˜No, so far I have recruited all my slaves myself,’ Poseidon replied proudly. ‘They are all willing and genuine submissives saved from humdrum lives and given purpose and direction by their tenure here.’
    â€˜Not bad.’ Tethys nodded, glancing at the slave her husband was still idly caressing. ‘Not bad at all.’
    â€˜How many Titans are here at the moment?’ Oceanus asked languidly.
    â€˜Not many,’ their host informed them, owner of the island and Mina’s personal saviour. ‘Most are probably still blowing down from the complex trying to make it to the party on time. Everyone else is from the other sects.’
    â€˜I don’t see much identification.’ Tethys’s seat creaked as she glanced over her shoulders at the other nobles enjoying the island’s decadent lifestyle.
    â€˜It’s one of my unwritten insistences,’ Poseidon explained. ‘I don’t like the obvious means of sect membership here; there’s too much factionalism in Cabal. Getting rid of such trinkets helps keep things more amicable.’
    Listening intently, Mina abruptly realised her owners were not wearing their rings, which fit in with their altered titles.
    â€˜It’s gotten that bad?’ Oceanus sounded concerned. ‘I had no idea.’
    â€˜Being on the complex severely limits our awareness of the outside world,’ his wife reminded him in a disgruntled whisper, clearly none too pleased with Charybdis’s blackout on information.
    â€˜It’s not that bad,’ Poseidon assured him. ‘It’s rare, but it does happen. I mean, the Parisian sect and the sect from Berlin constantly bicker and moan about each other’s presence. Getting rid of their markings tends to make them a little more tolerant of each other. There’s plenty of other sects that don’t mix well, but that’s as good an example as any.’
    â€˜I’ve heard some rumours of it,’ Oceanus admitted, ‘I reckon they’re both just playing for extra power by getting rid of a neighbouring rival.’
    â€˜There’s an underlying animosity between all the European sects. It’s just one of those things spawned by territory and proximity, and emphasised by the unification occurring there. The borders are dissolving and people are getting paranoid of losing their identity.’
    â€˜Good point, I suppose it’s natural,’ Oceanus sniffed disdainfully.
    â€˜Human nature,’ Tethys chuckled.
    â€˜So, how is the pet you wanted me to help you rescue from her doomed fate?’ Poseidon changed the subject.
    â€˜She’s fine now,’ Tethys replied merrily, ‘and glad to be back with us, where she belongs.’ She reached down and yanked Mina’s tail, making the jelly dildos rub