My house looked almost like it had been repainted the following morning. The red letters were gone, and I could only hope no one had seen it. I hadn't heard Eric at all, and had quickly fallen asleep as these late nights were really starting to take a toll on my body. Now it was light outside again, I could see how thoroughly he had cleaned it. The physical evidence was gone, but I was very glad I had taken pictures. If I ever needed to go to the police at least I had proof all of this had happened and I wasn't making it up.

I didn't have to come into work today, but there was something I needed to do. While Eric promised me he would find out who had been tormenting me the past week, things weren't moving fast enough to my liking. I had come to Bon Temps to live in freedom, not in fear, and if he wasn't able to help me, there was no other choice for me but to take matters into my own hands.

Sam was stocking shelves in the back when I entered Merlotte's. I had driven over here as soon as I could, waiting outside for him to unlock the doors. I was earlier than the rest of the staff, and there were no guests yet at this hour, which was perfect. I didn't want anyone overhearing our conversation, for both me and Sam's sake.

"Serena," Sam said, placing a box down on the ground before turning himself to me when I appeared in the kitchen. "What are you doing here? You don't have a shift today."

"I know," I nodded, twisting my fingers together. What I was about to do could go horribly wrong, and I would be lying if I wasn't a little nervous. "Can we talk in your office?"

Sam nodded, probably sensing I was about to ask something rather serious, and followed me to his office. He proceeded by sitting down on the edge of his desk while I remained standing in front of him, my eyes focused on his as I was quietly debating if I really wanted to confront him like this.

"I need to tell you something," I finally said. "There is something I know… About you…"

His eyes widened ever so slightly, trying to keep a straight face, as if he didn't want to let me know that my suspicions were true. But I knew better.

"I know you are a shifter."

Sam crossed his arms in front of his chest as he looked to the ground to let the revelation sink in. He remained calmer than I expected, which made me wonder if he already knew what I was.

"How long have you known?" he asked, looking up again.

"Ever since I came here," I admitted. "But that isn't the only reason I needed to talk to you."

I repositioned myself as I was looking for the words to speak. Now I outed him as a shifter, I was about to do the same for myself. Could I trust Sam with that information? I had no idea, but if Eric managed to keep his mouth shut, Sam could do the same. Perhaps it was some kind of unwritten rule of the supernatural species.

"The past couple of days, someone has been tormenting me. I received very intruding pictures of myself, and last night I came home to find the word freak painted all over my house."

I could see Sam was struggling to keep up, which confirmed he didn't know what I was, much to my relief.

"It's because I'm a supernatural as well, Sam. I'm a mermaid."

Sam's brows ruffled as he rubbed his hands over his cheeks. "Mermaid? I thought they went extinct a long time ago."

"As far as I know, I'm the only one," I replied. "Considering my position, I don't want anyone to know about me, and now someone does. Do you perhaps have any idea who could do this? Other shifters? Werewolves?"

Sam shook his head. "Serena, if it is any consolation, I had no idea you were like me, so I doubt anyone else is able to notice. I have no idea why anyone would do this. As you probably know, I try to keep a low profile and don't meet up with others like us that often. Are you sure it's not a vampire?"

"I'm sure," I said, even though there was definitely still a chance Eric would be lying to me. "And the pictures were taken during the day, so if it was a vampire they were working with someone else."

He let out a sigh before speaking again. "I'm really sorry I can't help you, Serena."

I could hear the sincerity in his voice, which was very comforting. I didn't have anyone to talk to about my condition, but Sam came close. At least he knew what it felt like to live in secret, and above all, feel like an outsider.

"I will definitely keep my ears open, okay?"

I nodded and forced a smile on my lips. While I was glad he had taken this all so well, I was definitely disappointed he didn't know anything either. I had been hoping for some kind of breakthrough that could speed the process of investigation along, but alas.

"Thank you, Sam."

He stepped forward and touched my arm with his fingers.

"If you ever feel unsafe, or just need someone to talk to, I'm here, okay? We'll find whoever is doing this."

I was craving water again. It was like the stress in my life only made it worse, and it left me with no other choice but to call Eric. Nothing had happened last time, and it convinced me this could work again. I also didn't want to fully admit it, but I really wanted to see him again, and what better way than to get naked and be vulnerable to predators?

He answered the phone himself. I told him I was having some problems with my water supply, which meant enough to him to understand why he needed to come. I knew he couldn't resist another opportunity to see me like that, and as I expected he got down to my house within a whim.

"That was fast," I said as I stepped down the porch. I had already undressed and was wearing only a towel to cover up my body. I hadn't even thought about bringing my stake, but if it went anything like last time I wouldn't need it. It felt strange to admit it, but I did really trust Eric, the vampire.

"Speed is just one of my perks," Eric teased, turning himself towards the body of water we used last time. "Shall we?"

I nodded, made sure my towel was fitted tightly, and came to stand next to him as we went to my usual spot.

"Has anyone seen the paint on your house?" Eric asked, keeping his gaze straight ahead as we spoke. I didn't know if he was just paying attention to potential photographers, or if he couldn't look at me because he knew I was naked underneath.

"I don't think so," I said, shaking my head. "You cleaned it up nicely."

He didn't respond with a "you're welcome", not that I had expected any less. The silence between us persisted until we reached the edge of the water. I wasn't sure if it was tension between us, or awkwardness. Was there something he knew that I didn't?

"You know the rules. Don't come into the water and stand back when I come out, okay?"

Once Eric had nodded his head, I turned around, my back towards him, and let the towel drop. He had seen me naked anyway, and considering I always swam around naked, I never had been prudish. I let my toe dip in the water, noticing it was colder than it usually was, and dropped in completely, immediately allowing the process of transformation begin.

After I felt my energy replenished, I returned to the surface of the water again. Eric was still in the exact same position where I had left him, and just like last time, his fangs were striking in the night. Where they once scared me, they no longer did. There was no way I wanted to get bitten, but I had learned that it didn't particularly mean hunger, it could mean lust as well.

"No one here?" I asked, keeping my chin just above the water.

"All safe," he replied, his eyes following my closely as I swam to the edge.

"I have some news, regarding the investigation," I began carefully, remaining safely in the water where I was stronger than he was. "I asked a shifter if he perhaps knew anything or heard anything, but he said he didn't. So maybe, my stalker is coming from outside of Bon Temps, or even further than Shreveport."

"You asked a shifter?" Eric remained standing which made him seem like a giant from my angle.

"Yes," I nodded.

"You told the shifter about your situation?"

"Yes," I repeated. I began to grow a bit worried as I heard a hint of anger in his voice.

"I was handling the investigation, Serena. You shouldn't interfere."

I scoffed, slightly offended. "You know this is about my life, right? I think I am allowed to do what I want."

He then crouched down on his knees, his eyes demanding me to look at him, and like usual, I couldn't look away.

"You shouldn't tell anyone else what you are. It puts you in danger. How do you know he can be trusted?"

"I trusted you," I hit back. "If I can do that then I can trust anyone."

I felt myself drop down slightly in the water as he seemed to lean forward.

"Besides, like you haven't told anyone else. Pam? You're her maker, aren't you?"

I knew how vampires were made, or rather, created. Generally, they weren't very affectionate to anyone but their progeny, or basically, their children. I had seen Eric with Pam, and I figured their warmhearted relationship hadn't been a coincidence.

"I haven't told anyone else."

His words were cold, and they stung. He hadn't? I let my eyes drop down, kicking myself for underestimating Eric once again. One day, it was going to cost me. Angering a vampire was one thing, but offending was another.

"You haven't?" I set carefully before letting my eyes meet him again. I felt like a deer staring down the headlights of a car.

"I would never put your life at risk like that," Eric stated. "It is too valuable."

I wanted to be flattered, and deep down I was, but on the other hand, his words were making me think. Did Eric not want to put me, as a human being at risk, or me, as a mermaid supernatural being? While I was glad he wanted to keep me alive, I wasn't sure if it was for the right reasons.

"Why?" I found myself saying. "Why would you care what I tell other people. If I die, I die. As far as anyone knows, mermaids are supposed to be extinct. What would change if I was gone?"

"I care," Eric began, "because as I have told you, I knew a mermaid once. She was rather… special, unlike anyone I had ever met at that point. I cared for her, deeply."

"You loved her."

My words weren't a question, but rather an observation. The way his eyes lit up in both grief and admiration as he spoke was enough to convince me. I always believed vampires weren't capable of love, but by now I should've known Eric wasn't like any of the others I had ever come to know.

He didn't respond, and pushed himself upwards from the ground, arching his back as he looked around the swamp.

"I should probably head back to Fangtasia."

I nodded, wanting to tell him to stand back but he did so by himself. Eric moved closer towards my house, even turning his back towards him. I had definitely stuck a cord by proclaiming he had once loved someone, and it wasn't the right one.

My legs returned to me fairly quick. I wrapped myself in the towel again and headed through the swamp until I saw Eric again. He was watching me from a distance, and before I could come any closer or say anything to persuade him to stay, he shot up straight into the sky.

A/N: Thank you all for the support! I really appreciate it, and I'm really happy you're all enjoying the premise of this story. Please let me know what you thought, and until next time. Take care 3