For a second, Charlotte was too surprised to move.

The vampire, a tall, beefy guy in a trucker hat with the same demon face had grabbed Rikki from behind, holding her arms behind her back, and was now burying his face into the crook of her neck.

Get in there! Her mind screamed. This is what you wanted, right? To save the day?

Rikki's eyes fluttered open, and through the darkness her blue eyes locked onto Charlotte's,

"Charlotte…" she whispered, her eyes shutting, and her body going limp.

She looked around her; she hadn't brought anything with her except for her cellphone. There were a few tree branches on the ground, those would have to do

Slowly, quietly, Charlotte reached down and grabbed one of the larger branches on the ground. Her brain hummed and her muscles itched; she knew what she needed to do. It wasn't very pointed, so she'd have to use a lot of force to shove it in.

Quickly, but as quietly as humanly possible, Charlotte picked up a branch that had fallen onto the ground. Right through the heart, easy as pie. Of course, she had to make sure she missed Rikki as well. Her hand tightened on the tree branch, and she darted through the shadows to behind the vampire, running up behind him and throwing her arm around his neck.

The vampire jerked, and his arms loosened, leaving Rikki free to break away.

"Rikki!" Charlotte shouted, "Get in the house, quick!"

She stumbled to her feet, holding her neck. "What about you?" she croaked.

The vampire growled, and then grabbed her arms, tossing her to the ground. Charlotte grit her teeth and scrambled to her feet. He started towards Rikki, and Charlotte gathered her strength and kicked him at the base of his spine, sending him to the ground.

"Forget about me!" She whispered urgently, the blood pounding in her ears. The sooner she knew Rikki was safe, the better she could focus on killing this vamp. She grabbed Rikki's forearm and helped her to the door. "Just get in the damn house!"

Rikki looked at her, her eyebrows raised.

Was this really happening? Was she really saving Rikki from a vampire?

Yes.

The door opened just as they got to it, Cleo and Emma quickly helping her into the house.

"Stay inside," she ordered. They nodded and quickly shut the door. Charlotte focused her attention back to the vampire, who snarled and lunged back at her.

She sidestepped easily, and her eyes narrowed as she concentrated. Right in the middle of his chest was the heart, right where the tree branch in her hand needed to go.

But then something caught her eye, a light in the upstairs window. For the smallest second, she saw the three girls standing there, watching her with shocked expressions.

Her lips perked up, and the vampire took advantage of her distraction to punch her in the stomach, sending her to the ground. Instantly, her mind was brought back to her clear and present danger.

Right. Vampire. He's gonna kill me unless I stake him first.

Her mind sharpened and her eyes narrowed. This wasn't how she was going out. Charlotte grit her teeth and jumped back onto her feet. Her mind whirled, and she ducked from the second fist that was aiming for her head.

Upstairs, the three girls were watching the action playing out beneath them.

"This is impossible," Emma gasped as Charlotte gave a great roundhouse kick to the chest of the vampire, knocking him down.

Cleo continued to bandage up the bite marks on Rikki's neck. The blonde girl winced slightly, but otherwise betrayed no feelings of pain. She felt a little faint, but other than that, she felt fine. She had escaped just in time, thanks to Charlotte.

That was something strange to admit.

"We can't just sit here while she tries to kill that thing!" Rikki exclaimed, her hands clenching. She got to her feet as Cleo put the butterfly bandage on her neck. "I'm going to help her."

"But she said to say inside," Cleo protested. "Besides, what are we supposed to do?"

"We're mermaids, we have powers!" Rikki exclaimed. "Em, don't you think so?"

"I don't think it matters, you guys."

The two other girls rushed to the window, where Charlotte had somehow gotten the vampire on his back and was now straddling him, raising a tree branch over her head.

"Oh my god…" Cleo whispered.

Before they could blink, Charlotte plunged the branch into his chest, and the vampire erupted into dust.

Charlotte looked up back to the girls. Her lip was cut, and a bruise was forming on her cheek, but she was smiling.

"That's impossible," Emma whispered, shocked. The three girls turned from the window and looked at each other. Was it possible that the new abilities Charlotte possessed could make her the same threat as before?

Rikki rubbed the bandage on her neck. "C'mon, we have to go make sure she's okay."

The three rushed to the door, but Charlotte had already taken off.

"Charlotte, wait!" Cleo called out, but Charlotte didn't slow down, or even turn around, just kept running.