Searching for Sirens [Carziger]

Chapter 6

Father Siren watched as the two Sirens scuffled with each other, sand erupting between them as Zach seemed to try to keep Cody in place. Stroking his beard, he sighed; If the golden Siren wasn't constantly keeping Cody in line, he would have been thrown to the orcas a while back.

'Cody Carson.' Father Siren's voice rumbled through the silence, and the hundreds of Sirens turned to stare at the small blue Siren.

'The fish you want now ?' Cody snapped up at the Elder before slapping Zach's hand away.

'Cody-' Zach's voice was low and urgent; 'You still have the human's shirt on.'

Zach watched as Cody's blue eyes filled with horror as he slowly turned to look up at Father Siren.

'What's that you're wearing?' The Elder frowned, gesturing a hand towards Cody.

'Um, it's-' Cody lifted the collar of the shirt, looking for an excuse as his brain ran double-time; 'It's a treasure I found.'

A communal laugh rumbled through the large assembly and Cody flushed, gripping Zach's arm and trying to hide behind the larger Siren.

Even Father Siren gave a hearty laugh at that;

'Cody Carson, it is a knowledgeable fact that you have never been able to maintain any treasure you have ever found.'

Zach made a face as Cody's claws tightened round his bicep, sharp talons sinking in.

'Holy whale, Cody, that hurts.' He whispered, and Cody apologised meekly.

'Where did you find it?' Father Siren questioned, and Cody merely blinked angrily.

'Nunna your fishness.' Cody snapped, baring his canines in readiness for a fight; 'It's mine .'

'Okay.' Father Siren shrugged, and waved his hand, dismissing the Sirens. His golden-orange eyes snagged on Cody's own crystal blues for longer than they should have, his face holding a knowing look.

Zach noticed, frowning and dragging Cody away;

'That dude's a weirdo.'

'So why the fish is he Father Siren? Someone should just off him.' Cody snapped, flexing his claws and scraping them on a metal part of a long-forgotten submarine.

'That's not how it works, Cody.' Zach sighed, ignoring Cody tugging at his folded arms before looking at the smaller male; 'What is it now?'

'You normally hold my claw.'

Zach blinked.

Cody watched with a blank look on his face.

'Do you remember the day we met, Codes?'

'Yeah..'

Zach swam over to a rock, sitting down and patting it; Cody went to join him, the two sitting in silence for a while before Zach finally spoke;

'When I saw you for the first time, Cody, I thought you were really pretty.'

'Really?' Cody's eyes lit up; 'But you're, like- the prettiest Siren I've ever seen!'

Zach blushed, covering his face; The way Cody managed to say things so innocently never ceased to amaze him.

'Cody, I really like you.'

'I really like you too !' Cody gushed, eyes sparkling.

'Holy fish, Cody. I mean, like- would you want to be-'

'Your best friend?!' Cody gasped, tail carding through the water as his face lit up even further; 'Of course !'

Zach couldn't help but smile at his friend- no, best friend, as he got distracted by another Siren's singing.

Sadness filled Cody's eyes, and Zach followed his gaze;

The voice that sang was rough and choppy, but had a certain beauty to it; Zach tried to read the words.

'My high hopes are getting low

Because these people are so old

The way they think about it all

If I tried I would never know.'

'Dom.' Cody breathed softly, and Zach watched the red-black Siren collect a bunch of objects on the seabed before swimming away.

'That's Dominic? Your pup frien- person?' Zach whispered, and Cody nodded sadly.

'Let's go home.'

Cody took Zach's claw before the two swam off, blue and gold shimmering away.

Father Siren smiled, silvery-gray scales shimmering from behind a larger rock as he slowly swam away.

Zach was in love with Cody, hmm?

Well, he could use that to manipulate the two.

Today was turning out to be very interesting indeed.

Cody had a claw on the door handle, and was about to open it when he looked over at Zach, whose face was downcast. As soon as he caught Cody looking at him, he plastered a bright smile on his face.

Cody wasn't stupid. He knew it was fake.

So he didn't think about what he did next, leaning forward to kiss Zach's cheek before shooting into the house, leaving the door open.

Zach blinked, wondering if he had just imagined that before giving a start at Cody's scream;

'Maxx is gone!'