Chapter Six
A/N: Thank you for the reviews on Chapter 5 - especially Anna the Zikki fan :) You persuaded me to update sooner so here's the next chapter!
There was a pause on the other line before a voice answered. Zane was starting to panic. "Yeah?" Lewis answered.
"Lewis, I don't know what to do!" Zane yelled down the phone. Rikki was creeping towards him now.
"What's going on?" Lewis asked.
"It's Rikki. She-she's in some sort of trance," said Zane, clearly panicking.
"What's she doing?"
"She-" Zane bit his lip- "she's trying to kiss me."
"Oh," said Lewis, "right. It's not a full moon. This shouldn't be happening."
"Just tell me what to do, Lewis! What's wrong with her?"
"Can you feel her head?" Lewis asked. "Does she have a temperature?"
Zane put a hand on Rikki's forehead. He snatched it away fast, feeling it tingling. "She's completely burning up! She burnt my hand, Lewis! What do I do?"
"Wait a minute," said Lewis. Zane could hear keys tapping as Lewis searched something up.
"I don't have a minute, Lewis! She's insane!"
"Aha!" Lewis exclaimed. "It's not a full moon until next week but tonight is the first night in 150 years that there has been a blood moon on a half moon. It must have triggered her heat powers, making her burn up like that. It hasn't affected Cleo so it must just be her because of her powers over heat."
"What can I do?" Zane asked.
"Cool her down?" Lewis suggested. "Maybe she'll be less... that, when she's cooler."
"Maybe!?" Zane yelled. "What if she's not?"
"Call me once you've tried to cool her down and we'll see," said Lewis doubtfully. "I'm on my way."
Zane put his phone down. "Now, Rikki, listen to me. You're not yourself. I've got to get you cool so sit back down on the sofa and I'll get the fan."
Rikki was centimeters away now and she placed her hands on his chest. Zane smelt burning and stumbled back. There were scorch marks on his top. "Rikki, stop this."
Rikki crept closer, and there wasn't any of her in her eyes. She seemed like a different person. She pressed her lips against Zane's, the heat making him feel woozy.
"This is so important that I ran. I ran, Zane. You might only live a block away from me but I had to run pretty fast-" Lewis came round the corner into the living room- "Oh."
Zane broke away from Rikki, breathing hard. He was sweating and his entire body felt dry. He went over to the sink and took a large glass of water. "Boy am I glad to see you, Lewis. What can we do?" he asked.
"Maybe if we get her in the water she'll return to normal," Lewis mused. "We could get her to Mako. She'll be safest there."
"How do we do that, Lewis?" asked Zane patronisingly. "We can't touch her or we burn."
"She follows you, right?" Lewis asked. "So lead the way."
"What do you expect me to do, swim?"
"Lead her to your boat, get her inside and get over to Mako," said Lewis patiently. "I'll meet you there. Try not to get into any more trouble."
Zane lead Rikki down to the docks and they climbed into the Zodiac. The red half-moon glowed in the sky, giving the night a sinister feeling. Being careful to drive slowly so the spray didn't hit Rikki, Zane drove towards Mako Island. When he got near the shore, he spotted a head poking out of the water.
"Zane?" It was Cleo in mermaid form, having swum there.
"Did Lewis tell you what happened?" Zane asked.
"Yeah. Is she alright? I was really worried," said Cleo.
"Lewis suggested we get her to the moon pool," said Zane.
"I'll meet you there," said Cleo gravely and disappeared under the water.
Rikki followed Zane to the land entrance, starting up little fires along the way. He slid down the entrance and Rikki followed him in her dreamlike trance to the moon pool cave. The pool bubbled slightly and Cleo emerged at the surface. "Will she come in?"
"I don't know," said Zane, his eyes worried. "Rikki, go into the pool with Cleo."
Rikki didn't do anything. For a moment she just stood there staring at him and then moved closer again.
"Stop that, Rikki!" said Zane, exasperated. "I'll have to come in." He sat by the side of the pool, patting the sand beside him for Rikki to join him. Slowly he slid into the pool, and she did the same, transforming into a mermaid. Zane held steady to the side with one hand and watched for Rikki to come to the surface. When she did, she was gulping at the air and grasping the water around her. The half-blood-moon was directly above the moon pool and it slowly passed over.
When the cave was dark again, Rikki swam over to Zane and burst out in tears. He hugged her and comforted her whilst she was out of tough-girl mode. Cleo looked on in sympathy.
"Is everything okay?" Lewis' voice could be heard as he came down the tunnel into the cave. "Oh, sorry," he added softly as he saw the scene below.
"Lewis," said Cleo, swimming over to him. Lewis knelt down by the pool. "The water was hot, almost scolding. Will that happen again?"
"There won't be another half-blood-moon for another 150 years," said Lewis with a smile.
"How did you know the moon pool would work?"
"Lucky guess," Lewis grinned.
"Of course it was," said Cleo. She glanced over at Rikki and Zane. "I'll meet you on the beach?"
"We should give them some space," Lewis agreed. "I'll meet you there."
Lewis left through the tunnel and Cleo through the moon pool exit, seeing if she could beat him to the beach.
"Zane?" Rikki whispered once they were gone.
"What?"
"Please don't mention this to anyone."
"Never."