III. Fleeing from Sunbeams and Moonbeams Alike

Rikki had only just gotten herself comfortable on the rock outcropping, when the boy's hand jutted out in front of her.

"My name is Edward Cullen. It's incredible to meet you." His earnest expression and polite manners made her feel awkward. People outside of her friends didn't generally like her. Before her friends, people didn't like her period.

Rikki squashed the urge to snap at him, and instead clutched his frigid hand. "I'm Rikki." After a brief pause, she released his hand and leaned close, demanding, "So? You gonna tell me how you did that sparkle trick?"

"Oh. That," the boy wrinkled his nose with distaste. "I suppose it's only fair," he said reluctantly.

She waited, wondering what kind of magic he was and why he seemed so indifferent to it. Not even the light of her transformation could compare.

Edward met her curious gaze with a resigned smile. "It's a characteristic of my kind," he explained, and gestured towards the dreary sky. "We don't generally go out when the sun is visible because that's how our skin reacts to the light. We can't control it."

Rikki furrowed her brow in thought and counted off across her fingers, "So, you sparkle in the sunlight, you can hold your breath for long amounts of time, and animals are afraid of you. What are you, again?"

"You haven't guessed?"

Rikki scoffed. "Mate, I can barely keep track of the mermaid lore, let alone whatever else is out there."

"Touché," he smirked and flashed her a view of his perfect teeth. "I'm a vampire."

Rikki snickered. "Sure you are. Be serious." But Edward only lifted an eyebrow, expression unamused. "Shit, mate. You're not pulling my tail?"

"It's not really the sort of thing I joke about."

She snorted, "Yeah, I got that. Although, I've no idea how any of those clues pointed to vampire."

"The animals―they can sense the danger I pose to them. And I don't need to breathe at all. One benefit to being dead."

Rikki whistled, impressed. "That's quite nice, actually. The not-breathing part―I'd be bummed if dolphins were afraid of me. I'm a mermaid and I can only hold my breath one hour at a time," she admitted. Part of her was at least glad she'd improved from the mere fifteen minutes she'd started off at.

"That's it? Don't you live in the water?" he asked, now leaning towards her, eyes bright with curiosity.

"If you're asking about Atlantis, I've yet to find it," she teased. "But no, I don't live in the water. I usually camp out in underwater caves or on the shore." Technically she could go inland and find herself a hotel, but she liked being near the ocean. It was her home.

Edward gazed at her for a quiet moment and said, "You're alone."

The statement startled her quite badly, and for a moment her eyes burned and there was no air in her lungs.

"Yes," the word came out weaker than she'd intended. Rikki scowled up at the dismal sky. "What time is it?"

Edward didn't appear phased by her snappish tone. "It's 6:34."

"Damn. It's getting late," Rikki's expression darkened. She could feel it. It wouldn't be long now before the rise of the full moon. While it'd been years since her and the girls had overcome the moon spell, it was still dangerous, especially when she was so far from Mako Island.

"Do you have a place to stay the night?" Edward asked, not quite understanding her meaning.

"No, I haven't been here long. Mostly I've been camping out on this rock. I've only gone inland for food, but it looks like I'll have to book a room for the night."

He frowned. "It's not likely you'll find a room at this hour." At her affronted expression, he explained, "It's summer. A lot of the hotels are fully booked, especially by this time of night."

"Well that's grand," Rikki glowered, and then sat up and looked at Edward. "You don't happen to have a room, do you?"

"Err, yes. Do you mind explaining the urgency? What's different about tonight?"

Rikki waved a careless hand in the direction of the overcast sky. "Tonight is a full moon. I can usually overcome the moon spell cast on me, but I prefer not to brave it alone." Not without Lewis and the girls keeping an eye on me.

Edward's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I thought you were a mermaid, not a werewolf?"

"...Werewolves exist?"

He offered a single nod. "Barely. We call them Children of the Moon, but they've been hunted down to near extinction."

Rikki frowned. "Hunted down by who?"

He grimaced. "A story for another time. But yes, I suppose you can use my room for the night. I was only there long enough to drop off my luggage. I haven't been there in days," he confessed.

"Perfect! I'll put it to good use," Rikki shot him a cheeky smile. "Where to?"

"Follow me."

Rikki slipped into the water after him and easily kept up with his rapid pace. She grinned when she noticed he kept speeding up, likely trying to test her. By the time they'd arrived to the southern coast of the island O'ahu, she'd only reached a quarter of her speed. Vampire he may be, but no one could outmatch her in the water.

Fortunately, he was clever enough to find a secluded beach where she wouldn't be spotted.

"Will this be adequate?" he checked, once they were waist-deep. Well, he was waist-deep. She was just floating along.

"Yup. I just need to get out of the water―bloody hell! Put me down!" Rikki hissed.

Edward shot her a look, appearing completely at ease with holding her, tail and all. And after all those times she'd had to drag Emma or Cleo out of sticky situations, she knew how heavy her tail was. "You said you needed to get out of the water."

Rikki glowered up at him. "Don't get smart with me. Now go and put me over by the sand," she commanded. As irritating as it was, it was slightly preferable to dragging herself onto shore. But only slightly.

Edward snickered under his breath but didn't say another word. Which was good for him, otherwise she might've decked him.

Once he gently sat her down beyond the tide's reach, Rikki set to work, suspending her palms above her tail and curling her fingers into fists until steam rose from her scales.

"Incredible," Edward murmured, kneeling beside her. "What are you doing exactly?"

"Drying myself. I have to be completely dry to stay human. One drop of water, and bada bing bada boom, I sprout a tail. An inconvenience, to say the least."

"Huh. I suppose it would be."

Within minutes, the water in her hair, skin, and tail had been steamed dry. The light of her magic enveloped her then, and in the blink of an eye, her landlegs returned, accompanied by her travel clothes and her camping pack.

"Where did all that come from?" Edward asked. The awe in his gaze was unmistakable, and Rikki would be lying if she said she wasn't flattered.

"Magic." Rikki snickered when his expression dropped in disappointment. She hopped to her feet. "Really, I have no idea. Anything I have on me disappears when I transform. Mostly it's annoying, but it's got its good uses," she shrugged. "Now, where to?"

"It's not far from here," Edward assured her, jumping up in one fluid motion and directing her down the coastline. To her relief, he kept a fair amount of distance between them, seeing as he was still soaked from their swim.

"Tell me about being a vampire," Rikki said, hooking her thumbs into the straps of her backpack as she trekked alongside him. "I don't really know anything about your kind, except you… drink blood?" Rikki frowned. She imagined what her blood might taste like, and hoped he wasn't a fan of fish sticks.

Edward offered her a solemn glance. "It's not what you think―at least, not in my case. Most of my kind do partake in drinking human blood. But a few of us choose to abstain."

"Oh. You can do that?"

"Yes, although it's rather difficult at first," he admitted. "But we've chosen to value human life. We feed on animal blood instead."

"Hope fish isn't on the menu."

Edward grimaced with disgust. "Trust me. It's not."

Rikki shrugged. "Just making sure!" Despite her carefree voice, she was relieved to hear him say so. "But really, tell me the truth. Have you ever eaten a dolphin?" Unfortunately, by now they were within range of other tourists. More than one person gazed at them in horror.

Edward shot her a look of exasperation. "No."

She laughed. "That's a relief."

"I'm sure it is," he muttered, as he lead her off the beachfront and onto the road running alongside the coastline. They crossed the empty street and continued walking down the sidewalk lining the shops and restaurants.

"Now that we got all that gory business out of the way, tell me something else."

"Hm? What do you suggest?"

She shrugged. "I'm sure you have at least one thing you enjoy about your powers. What about―Edward?!" Rikki whirled around when she realized he'd vanished from her side. It was dinner time and the road wasn't so busy, but she couldn't see him anywhere. She really hoped he hadn't turned into a bat and flown off. She was running out of time.

"In here!"

Rikki quickly backtracked her steps and found Edward standing inside the doorway to a bakery shop, holding the door open for her.

"What are you doing? We don't have time for a snack," Rikki hissed, until the warm scent of pastries sent her stomach rumbling.

Edward shot her belly a pointed look, before shaking his head. "No. Look."

She followed his gaze towards the horizon, where the clouds had thinned out and the golden rays of the sunset pierced through, belatedly realizing he was just out of reach, standing within the shadow of the doorway.

"I must remain here until nightfall," he whispered. "You'll have to go the rest of the way on your own."

"What? How do I even get to the hotel?!"

"It's alright, it's just down this street. Keep walking until you reach Lili'uokalani Avenue, and―"

"Until I reach what now?" she said flatly.

Edward had the gall to roll his eyes. "The third street you pass from here. Take a right, and you'll reach 'Alohilani Resort almost immediately."

Rikki nodded, expression pensive as she tried to memorize his instructions. Edward reached into the pocket of his swim shorts and pulled out a damp keycard. Grasping the hem of her flannel, he quickly wiped it dry, before pressing it into her hand.

"I'm in room 802 on the fifteenth floor. Go on ahead. I'll catch up in due time," he assured her, gently nudging her towards the open door.

"802, floor fifteen―got it!" Rikki shot him a confident grin, before turning and sprinting down the walkway. The moon would make its appearance soon. She could feel it.

A/N: Here's something a little longer for you guys! What do y'all think so far?

And if anyone has suggestions, let me know! I really didn't plan for this to go beyond chapter 1 x)