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Kory’s Secret (2)
“Sister?” Bradan stared at Kory and his brow lowered into a frown. “Look, I’m as broadminded as the next dead guy, but if you’re saying…”

Travis took a step closer. “They’re not sleeping together,” he said. “This asshole made up the whole ‘mate’ story just to keep men away from Kaia.”

“I was trying to protect…” Kory started.

“You were being a dick!” Travis spat back and took another step.

“Every time she speaks, she risks entrancing a male,” Kory’s voice was raised and the anger in his tone was clear. “You don’t understand…”

“Understand this,” Travis barked and lashed out. His fist connected with Kory’s jaw and the merman fell backwards over the table he had been sitting on and dropped to the ground. Travis launched himself over the table and landed on top of Kory, pinning him with his knees while he delivered another punch to his face. Kory struggled against the weight of the shark man on top of him but Travis was too heavy. Kory raised a knee and sent a blow into the middle of Travis’ back. Travis bent backwards allowing Kory to work an arm free and shove Travis backwards. He pulled himself out from underneath the shark man and threw himself on top of him.

“Shouldn’t someone try to stop them?” Kyle suggested.

“Be my guest,” Bradan gestured as the two fighting men rolled across the ground and out from under the canopy, “but before you do, ten bucks says Travis comes out on top.”

“I’ll take that bet,” a voice called across the canopy.

“My money’s on the fish,” shouted another.

“They’re both fish!” a third called out.

“ENOUGH!” Little Mo’s voice cut across the cacophony that was erupting beneath the canopy, but it wasn’t just her voice that brought silence to the crowd, it was the scene of Kory and Travis suddenly kneeling on the ground, clutching at their own chests with pained expressions, and the Voodoo Queen stepping towards them. In each hand she held a limp cloth doll and her thumbs were pressed into the fabric of their chests. “If you two want to rip each other to pieces, then take to the lake and have at it. Or if you are so eager to kill each other, I will gladly save you the time and ourselves the trouble of watching!”

Silence fell around the canopy, but Kory spoke.

“Lady,” he said, “He started it…”

“You speak like a child, boy!” Mo shouted. “Be treated like one, then… both of you!” Mo brought the two dolls crashing together with her hands, and both Kory and Travis were hurled towards each other, their backs slammed together and unable to pull themselves apart. “I can keep you like this for as long as it takes.”

“Takes for what?” Travis growled, as he struggled, his face pressed against Kory’s cheek.

“To learn some boundaries!” Mo barked. “To learn to be truthful,” she glared at Kory. “To learn to control yourselves,” she growled at Travis.

“And to learn that I will not tolerate fighting amongst ourselves,” came the voice of Mr. Tzin. The people under the canopy began to disperse as Mr. Tzin walked towards the tightly-bound men on the ground. He looked down at them and shook his head with a look of disappointment.

“Shall I free them?” Mo asked the Chinese man.

“Not yet my lady,” Mr. Tzin raised his hand. “They need time to learn their lessons… but perhaps not so tightly, madam?” he suggested. “Their hips will suffice.”

Mo released her grip on the dolls, but kept the hips of them touching. The effect was immediate as the two men on the ground found the forces that held them together relax a little. Kory tried to rise but the earth-bound body of Travis kept him from reaching his feet. Travis tried the same, but he too was unable to stand.

“Having trouble, gentlemen?” Mr. Tzin asked.

“How are we supposed to get up?” Travis shook his head.

“We’re stuck together,” Kory added.

“And together you will stay,” Mr. Tzin nodded. “At least until you learn to respect each other… and to co-operate. Come, my lady,” he said to Mo and extended a hand to her. “I have been trying to mix a Crémas, and I would dearly appreciate your expertise.”

The thought of the traditional Haitian alcoholic drink made Mo’s eyes brighten. She took his hand. “Lead the way, Tzin,” he smiled, “My expertise is, as always, at your disposal.” The two of them began to walk away as both Travis and Kory called out to them.

“What about us?”

“Learn to co-operate,” Mr. Tzin repeated, without turning around. “And once you have learned that lesson, there are many dishes that need to be washed. Consider it another lesson in how to work with each other instead of against. I believe you will find the experience most enlightening.”

“Yes!” Bradan hissed and punched the air. He ran from the canopy towards the caravan he shared with his brother, and shouted “break out the playing cards, bro! We’re out of dish-washing duty!”

Back on the ground both Kory and Travis glared at each other over their shoulders. Kory made another attempt to stand, but Travis didn’t move.

“That’s never gonna work,” Travis growled.

“Do you have a better idea?” Kory growled back.

“Actually, yeah, I do.” Travis huffed and then started to push his shoulder against Kory.

“What are you doing?” Kory grumbled and shifted his position as best he could.

“Don’t move,” Travis said, “push back and force yourself up with your legs, you idiot!”

“Don’t call me an idiot!” Travis yelled.

“Fine!” Travis barked. “I’m sorry! Just push!”

Pressing their shoulders against each other they forced their legs into the ground and pushed. They managed to get their backsides off the ground and as they rose they moved their legs underneath themselves and, using each other as a brace, they managed to ease themselves to a standing position.

“Wow,” said Kory, “that actually worked.”

“Of course it worked you…” Travis started and then stopped himself, took a breath, settled his tone, and started again. “Yeah, it worked. Now, walk with me.”

“What for?” Kory asked.

“Because until we get these dishes washed,” Travis sighed, “we’re gonna be stuck at the hip all fucking night, and I really don’t want you as my bedfellow… no offence.”

“None taken,” Kory smirked. “And… I’m sorry too.”

Travis acknowledged the apology with a nod. “I’m still gonna see your sister after this,” he added.

“Fine,” Kory huffed. “But don’t expect me to like it.”

“I won’t.”

Between the two of them they began to collect the plates and cutlery that had been abandoned under the canopy, occasionally crouching together to retrieve a dropped knife or fork. Their movement across the grass was awkward but together they finally found a rhythm for walking and reached the water trough where they could wash the dishes. Kory washed while Travis dried, and the job was completed in short order. Neither even realized that, half way through the task, the magic that bound them together faded and it was only when Kory turned to Travis and laid a hand on the shark man’s broad shoulder that they realized they were free.

“Promise me something,” Kory said.

“Why should I?” Travis asked.

“Because it’s important,” Kory answered. His look was sincere and Travis shrugged, but listened to Kory. “If you’re going to talk to Kaia, I can’t stop you. Just… do it underwater. I know you can, just as we can. Her charm doesn’t work beneath the surface. You might be immune to it, but they’re not,” he gestured around the camp. “Just… be careful.”

Travis laid his own hand on Kory’s shoulder and nodded. “So, we’re sharing the water tank now?”

“Sure,” Kory nodded, though somewhat reluctantly. Something that might have passed for a smile crossed Travis’ face. He held out his other hand in a gesture, and Kory took it. They shook briefly, then stepped away from each other.

A pair of brown eyes watched them part, then their owner made his way across the camp towards the tent where the water tank stood.

Description
Kory’s Secret (2)
“Sister?” Bradan stared at Kory and his brow lowered into a frown. “Look, I’m as broadminded as the next dead guy, but if you’re saying…”

Travis took a step closer. “They’re not sleeping together,” he said. “This asshole made up the whole ‘mate’ story just to keep men away from Kaia.”

“I was trying to protect…” Kory started.

“You were being a dick!” Travis spat back and took another step.

“Every time she speaks, she risks entrancing a male,” Kory’s voice was raised and the anger in his tone was clear. “You don’t understand…”

“Understand this,” Travis barked and lashed out. His fist connected with Kory’s jaw and the merman fell backwards over the table he had been sitting on and dropped to the ground. Travis launched himself over the table and landed on top of Kory, pinning him with his knees while he delivered another punch to his face. Kory struggled against the weight of the shark man on top of him but Travis was too heavy. Kory raised a knee and sent a blow into the middle of Travis’ back. Travis bent backwards allowing Kory to work an arm free and shove Travis backwards. He pulled himself out from underneath the shark man and threw himself on top of him.

“Shouldn’t someone try to stop them?” Kyle suggested.

“Be my guest,” Bradan gestured as the two fighting men rolled across the ground and out from under the canopy, “but before you do, ten bucks says Travis comes out on top.”

“I’ll take that bet,” a voice called across the canopy.

“My money’s on the fish,” shouted another.

“They’re both fish!” a third called out.

“ENOUGH!” Little Mo’s voice cut across the cacophony that was erupting beneath the canopy, but it wasn’t just her voice that brought silence to the crowd, it was the scene of Kory and Travis suddenly kneeling on the ground, clutching at their own chests with pained expressions, and the Voodoo Queen stepping towards them. In each hand she held a limp cloth doll and her thumbs were pressed into the fabric of their chests. “If you two want to rip each other to pieces, then take to the lake and have at it. Or if you are so eager to kill each other, I will gladly save you the time and ourselves the trouble of watching!”

Silence fell around the canopy, but Kory spoke.

“Lady,” he said, “He started it…”

“You speak like a child, boy!” Mo shouted. “Be treated like one, then… both of you!” Mo brought the two dolls crashing together with her hands, and both Kory and Travis were hurled towards each other, their backs slammed together and unable to pull themselves apart. “I can keep you like this for as long as it takes.”

“Takes for what?” Travis growled, as he struggled, his face pressed against Kory’s cheek.

“To learn some boundaries!” Mo barked. “To learn to be truthful,” she glared at Kory. “To learn to control yourselves,” she growled at Travis.

“And to learn that I will not tolerate fighting amongst ourselves,” came the voice of Mr. Tzin. The people under the canopy began to disperse as Mr. Tzin walked towards the tightly-bound men on the ground. He looked down at them and shook his head with a look of disappointment.

“Shall I free them?” Mo asked the Chinese man.

“Not yet my lady,” Mr. Tzin raised his hand. “They need time to learn their lessons… but perhaps not so tightly, madam?” he suggested. “Their hips will suffice.”

Mo released her grip on the dolls, but kept the hips of them touching. The effect was immediate as the two men on the ground found the forces that held them together relax a little. Kory tried to rise but the earth-bound body of Travis kept him from reaching his feet. Travis tried the same, but he too was unable to stand.

“Having trouble, gentlemen?” Mr. Tzin asked.

“How are we supposed to get up?” Travis shook his head.

“We’re stuck together,” Kory added.

“And together you will stay,” Mr. Tzin nodded. “At least until you learn to respect each other… and to co-operate. Come, my lady,” he said to Mo and extended a hand to her. “I have been trying to mix a Crémas, and I would dearly appreciate your expertise.”

The thought of the traditional Haitian alcoholic drink made Mo’s eyes brighten. She took his hand. “Lead the way, Tzin,” he smiled, “My expertise is, as always, at your disposal.” The two of them began to walk away as both Travis and Kory called out to them.

“What about us?”

“Learn to co-operate,” Mr. Tzin repeated, without turning around. “And once you have learned that lesson, there are many dishes that need to be washed. Consider it another lesson in how to work with each other instead of against. I believe you will find the experience most enlightening.”

“Yes!” Bradan hissed and punched the air. He ran from the canopy towards the caravan he shared with his brother, and shouted “break out the playing cards, bro! We’re out of dish-washing duty!”

Back on the ground both Kory and Travis glared at each other over their shoulders. Kory made another attempt to stand, but Travis didn’t move.

“That’s never gonna work,” Travis growled.

“Do you have a better idea?” Kory growled back.

“Actually, yeah, I do.” Travis huffed and then started to push his shoulder against Kory.

“What are you doing?” Kory grumbled and shifted his position as best he could.

“Don’t move,” Travis said, “push back and force yourself up with your legs, you idiot!”

“Don’t call me an idiot!” Travis yelled.

“Fine!” Travis barked. “I’m sorry! Just push!”

Pressing their shoulders against each other they forced their legs into the ground and pushed. They managed to get their backsides off the ground and as they rose they moved their legs underneath themselves and, using each other as a brace, they managed to ease themselves to a standing position.

“Wow,” said Kory, “that actually worked.”

“Of course it worked you…” Travis started and then stopped himself, took a breath, settled his tone, and started again. “Yeah, it worked. Now, walk with me.”

“What for?” Kory asked.

“Because until we get these dishes washed,” Travis sighed, “we’re gonna be stuck at the hip all fucking night, and I really don’t want you as my bedfellow… no offence.”

“None taken,” Kory smirked. “And… I’m sorry too.”

Travis acknowledged the apology with a nod. “I’m still gonna see your sister after this,” he added.

“Fine,” Kory huffed. “But don’t expect me to like it.”

“I won’t.”

Between the two of them they began to collect the plates and cutlery that had been abandoned under the canopy, occasionally crouching together to retrieve a dropped knife or fork. Their movement across the grass was awkward but together they finally found a rhythm for walking and reached the water trough where they could wash the dishes. Kory washed while Travis dried, and the job was completed in short order. Neither even realized that, half way through the task, the magic that bound them together faded and it was only when Kory turned to Travis and laid a hand on the shark man’s broad shoulder that they realized they were free.

“Promise me something,” Kory said.

“Why should I?” Travis asked.

“Because it’s important,” Kory answered. His look was sincere and Travis shrugged, but listened to Kory. “If you’re going to talk to Kaia, I can’t stop you. Just… do it underwater. I know you can, just as we can. Her charm doesn’t work beneath the surface. You might be immune to it, but they’re not,” he gestured around the camp. “Just… be careful.”

Travis laid his own hand on Kory’s shoulder and nodded. “So, we’re sharing the water tank now?”

“Sure,” Kory nodded, though somewhat reluctantly. Something that might have passed for a smile crossed Travis’ face. He held out his other hand in a gesture, and Kory took it. They shook briefly, then stepped away from each other.

A pair of brown eyes watched them part, then their owner made his way across the camp towards the tent where the water tank stood.