The lake house really was only a few miles away. It would be a bit of a walk into town if I had to do it, but it wouldn't kill me. The house was more like a cabin set against a very still lake that reflected the moon high above me. The only deviation from the perfection of the view was a large rock jutting out of the middle of the lake, almost like a small island. It really was a magical sight. Harlan and I were walking up to the front of the cabin when I stopped to look at the view.

He started talking, "That's Soldier Rock Lake. The story goes, one of the soldiers from Lee's Army in the war between the states, was lured to the lake by a siren's song in the middle of the night. A night much like tonight's with the moon high and full and reflecting off the lake. He followed the siren's song from camp to the lake and waded out to the big rock island out there. By the time they found him the next day, he was nearly dead from hypothermia and was muttering crazy stories about mermaids. But even after he regained his senses, he still claimed he saw a beautiful woman swimming in the lake. Since then, there have always been wild tales of mermaids and even a monster in the lake that will eat your toes if you dangle them off the rock island. It's all a bunch of nonsense. You know we Southerners like to embellish the truth a bit, but it keeps tourism up in the summer!"

I heard Harlan unlock the door to the house and open it. I couldn't stop staring at the lake. I had never been to a lake like this before. Growing up, any vacations we took were spent at the Cape or Martha's Vineyard. Sometimes it was a trip to Europe. But we never went somewhere like this. My parents wouldn't be caught dead in a place without five star restaurants and valet parking. I liked the idea that once again, I was detouring from their lives and setting out on my own. It was peaceful here. Calming. Something about it was drawing me in. It didn't seem like much of a stretch that someone could be lured to a midnight swim.

"Doc? You comin' in?"

I reluctantly turned from the lake. There would be time enough to spend at the lake, It's not like there was much else to do.

Walking into the cabin, Harlan set about turning on lights and checking the appliances for life. I appreciated his thoroughness since I wasn't quite sure what to do. I put my bag on the floor and looked around me. It was more or less a big room that encompassed a living room and a kitchen. At the other side of the room was three doors. It felt a little like a game show. I could almost hear the announcer asking, "What's behind door number two?"

"There are two bedrooms. They're both about the same size so you can sleep in either one. Bathroom in the middle. The hot water can be a little tricky so don't stay in longer than about 10 minutes or it will shrink the dickens out of you. There isn't really anything in the way of food, but I can have Tanya bring by some things tomorrow for ya."

"Thank you, Harlan. This is incredibly nice of you to do this."

He waved at me saying, "It's really no problem Doc. I'm happy to help out. Well, if you need anything just holler. My numbers are on the wall by the phone. I'll send someone out to pick you up in the morning. Oh- and how about that dinner at my house this week? Maybe Thursday?"

"Alright, sounds good."

I watched him walk out the door and as it closed behind him I just stood there. I was exhausted. I had eaten Izzy's dinner on the way over and I was still hungry. It was the best food I had ever eaten and I wanted more. I poked around in the kitchen but all I could find was some old crackers and some instant coffee. Fuck it. I just needed some sleep and to start the day again. I turned and walked to the door on the left. Door number one it was.

The bed left something to be desired and the blanket had a musty smell but I didn't fucking care. I didn't even get under the covers before I was out.

I sat up abruptly and looked around me wildly. Everything was dark. Where the fuck am I? Oh yeah, Harlan's cabin, Soldier's Rock Lake, Gloryville, USA. Then I heard it. It was coming from the lake. Shit, there really is a fucking monster in the lake.

I heard the sound again. It sounded like splashing. I decided to investigate. Why? I have no idea. Let's chalk it up to sleep deprivation. Luckily the moon was bright and it left me enough light to see my way forward. I headed to the front door but decided I might need some sort of weapon. There was a small paddle propped against the wall and a fishing net. I grabbed them both, not that I thought I could catch anything but it was good to be prepared.

I slowly opened the door and it creaked a bit. I panicked thinking the beast might hear me and only opened it up enough to slip through. I tip toed off the front porch and into some tall brush near the beach and hunkered down. I realized belatedly, I wasn't wearing any shoes. I hope I didn't step in poison ivy or something. I peeked out and tried to make out the figure in the water. Something broke through the calm surface and bobbed for a minute or two. I stayed down, I wasn't getting too close to the shore for fear it would catch my scent and stampede. Apparently I am a master hunter when I am woken in the middle of the night.

The figure swam closer to the shore and stood up in the shallow water. All I could see was long dark moss and a pale back. It couldn't really be a mermaid could it? Harlan's story did a number on my psyche. For all I knew, I could still be dreaming. I squinted into the moonlight and tried to get a better look. The mermaid turned a little and tilted her head up to the night sky. I saw the outline of a rounded breast. She raised her arms over her head and dove into the water and a few seconds later came to the surface again and started to emerge from the water. I was relieved to note it was a human being when I saw two legs walk up the shore. Then I realized it she wasn't wearing any clothes. I recognized her.

Suddenly, something furry brushed across my foot and I shrieked in panic like a little girl.

"Who's there?"

Izzy's voice was frightened and she was looking around wildly. I stood up out of my hiding spot in the brush and shouted, "It's just me- Edward, Doctor Edward, Doctor Masen!" I rambled like an idiot.

She took a relieved breath and put her hands on her hips. "What the hell are you doing out here in the middle of the night? You scared the shit out of me!"

I stared open-mouthed at her. "I scared you? Um, I'm not the one taking midnight dips in the lake. Jesus, I thought I was going to be lured to my death by some sea monster!"

She busted out laughing and it made her tits jiggle. Fuck. I forgot she was naked. In all my annoyance I hadn't taken in the fact she was naked as the day she was born. Standing there like some sort of fucking wet dream. No wait. Maybe this was a wet dream. Her breasts were more beautiful than I imagined, and that was saying something, because in my dream earlier, they were spectacular. My gaze drifted down to her toned stomach and to the dark patch in between her legs. It was too dark to see that part clearly but it was enough to set me on fire.

"My face is up here perv."

Shit. Busted. "You can't honestly expect me not to look. Your fucking naked on a beach. Where else am I supposed to look? If I didn't take in your luscious fucking body right now, I'd have to turn in my man card."

She shifted feet, seeming nervous all of a sudden. She took a deep breath and turned to pick up her clothes from a pile on the ground I hadn't noticed before. Some monster hunter I am.

"I like to come out and swim at night sometimes when the moon is like this. It's pretty magical. No one uses Mayor Snow's cabin very often so I didn't think anyone would be here." She talked as she dressed. A light-colored t-shirt, sans bra, and some loose shorts. Even though she was covered, I could still see the outline of her naked body. Her hair was a wild tangle around her head. Fucking gorgeous like some sort of siren.

She slipped some flip flops on her feet and asked, "So, what are you doing out here?"

"Harlan is letting me stay in the house while I'm here. He told me the story about the lake and when I woke up to a sound, I guess my imagination got the better of me. I expected some kind of man-eating sea witch or something. I am more than happy to find you instead."

"Ah. So, what had you screaming like a girl?"

"I did not scream like a girl."

"Uh, yeah you did."

I huffed, "Who knows what fucking creatures live out here. It was probably a bobcat or something."

She giggled. It was an amazing sound. "There are no bobcats out here."

"Huh. Well it was big."

"And what were you going to do? Club it with a paddle? Snatch it up in your net?"

"A good hunter is skilled with any weapon." Yeah, that sounded legit.

"Alright then. I'll leave you to it." She turned and headed down the beach.

"Hey! No need to rush off. Why don't you come inside and towel off. I would hate for you to catch a cold with that wet hair!" I yelled after her. She just waved and kept walking.

I made my way back inside and put my "weapons" back where they had been. I tripped over a stool on my way back to the bedroom and as I sat on the end of the bed and rubbed it, I couldn't help but think about Izzy's beautiful body. Mmm- going to have some good dreams tonight.