We are flying so fast, everything's a blur. It's like turboswim, but instead of water, air rushes along my skin. It's amazing because the air feels as substantial as water when you're going this fast. Pierce dives toward the bay, and right before we crash through the surface, he levels off, and we're blasting over the water so low the spray from the whitecaps hits my face. The silvery dark head of a harbor seal pops out of the water. He seems a little startled, but before I can telepathically explain the situation, he is far behind us.

Pierce increases our altitude, so we're almost flying vertically. We're shooting up along the face of a cliff toward the sky—perfectly blue except for a few smudges of gray clouds. Pierce's arms are still around my waist, and it takes a moment for me to realize we're no longer flying. We have landed in the high grass of a meadow atop a bluff overlooking the bay and the ocean. The meadow is dotted with wildflowers in vibrant shades of orange, yellow, red, and purple.

"That was amazing," I say, breathing hard even though Pierce did all the work. Pierce is still holding me as tightly as he had been when we were flying. I'm totally in bliss until I realize he's sniffing the back of my neck. Apparently, he's hungry. I mean, I am too; we've missed lunch.

"Don't get any ideas, vampire. No mermaids on the menu today. I don't care if you're attractive and charming and poetic."

"But I took you flying," Pierce says, nuzzling my neck. I break away from his hold and turn toward him. I give him my hardest glare—no easy feat for someone with rainbow eyes. "I'm only kidding, Waverly. I promise never to sample your blood without permission."

"Good."

"No matter how hungry I am."

He's giving me sad eyes, fluttering those thick dark lashes, and using his dimples to bend my will. "Not going to work, vampire."

"Can't blame a vampire for trying," he says, grinning.

A gust of wind whips past us, and the ocean is rumbling and churning and reminding me of home. Someday I'm going to swim with Pierce to Pacifica and introduce him to Carla, and my mom, and my brothers and sisters. I want him to see our cave. In some ways, a vampire is a perfect boyfriend for a mermaid (if you ignore the whole problem of mermaid blood being like vampire crack) because they don't need to breathe and can share the experience of being underwater. "This place is amazing," I say, because it is. "What's it called?"

"Pierce's Point."

I laugh. "Very funny. Come on, for real."

"It is called Pierce's Point, and it's a very special place for me. I've never brought anyone here before."

He looks kind of solemn about this, so I go along with it. I mean, since he's not snacking on me. "Why is it special?" I say.

"This is where I became a vampire, Waverly. Where Crumpet found me and turned me. That's why I took the name Pierce. Vampires choose a new name when they are turned, because they must disappear from their human lives. I am named for this spot, not the reverse. I brought you here because you are special to me."

And then he leans in and kisses me, softly at first, then more hungrily. And somehow, I don't care at all about missing lunch.

Suddenly he breaks off the kiss. Wait, no! Come back!

"Waverly, you must tell me what's wrong. I'm sure I can help. Come here. Sit down, and we can talk."

We both sit cross-legged in the meadow, our knees touching. He plucks a blade of grass and twirls it around his finger, not making eye contact. He's probably giving me time to think.

What am I going to tell him? I've promised my dad not to mention the cave to anyone, and a Fishwater never breaks their promise. "Pierce, it's not like I want to keep secrets from you. It's just that I promised my dad."

He arches one of those dark eyebrows and frowns. Even when he frowns, his dimples are adorable. "Your dad ... does he know something about why you're worried?"

I nod.

"What exactly did you promise? Maybe there's a loophole."

"Hmmm," I say, looking up at the sky, as if the exact words are written there. Focus, Waverly. "I think he said: 'And promise not to discuss this with another living soul.' And then I gave him an exceptionally good eye roll and said 'I promise.'"

"Oh, then you can definitely tell me," he says, dropping the twisted blade of grass onto the ground.

"How do you figure?"

"Technically, I'm dead."

"You mean undead."

"I suppose. But either way, you can tell me, because I am not 'another living soul' in the traditional sense."

Maybe he's right. And don't I owe it to Beau to do everything in my power to help him? Maybe dad worded it like that because he wanted me to tell Pierce. I take a deep breath and plunge in. "He wouldn't tell me much. But I am so worried about what's happening to the water."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember that weird glow we saw from the back of the yacht at the party?"

"Yeah. I've noticed it from here a couple of times."

"Really? Oh, no. Where?"

"There." He points toward a section of the bay which I'm certain is close to the cave. If I squint, I can just barely see the glow. My stomach is churning with worry for Beau and the other creatures in the bay. My mind is going in a thousand directions, trying to come up with a plan. Step one: tell Pierce what I know.

"Well, when I was swimming to the party, I ended up in a cave that was contaminated with something like acid. The water inside glowed with those same colors. The sharks are getting stupider, even more than usual. My mom had to leave the bay because she hasn't been well. I have friends there, Pierce. I have to help them."

"Wait, slow down, Waverly." He takes my hands in his cool ones, and I relax a little.

Just then, we hear a thrumming near the cliff. We get up and walk to the edge. Beneath us is the Sharkweather yacht, a shiny metallic blade cutting through the waves.

"I wonder what it's doing over here?" I say.

"It has been coming near the shore almost every day."

"Seems dangerous to be that close." I look down at the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff.

"And there's something else," says Pierce.

"What?"

"The Sharkweather yacht. I've seen it in the area of the bay near that glow." A flock of seagulls comes screeching past us. They are so rude. One of them actually buzzes by my head. I duck and lose my footing. Pierce grabs me and pulls me away from the edge.

"Thanks," I say. "See, even the seagulls are getting stupid. What do you think all of this means?"

"There might be a connection between the yacht and the glow. Maybe Brack Sharkweather has something to do with this strange contamination of the water. I can talk to Headmaster Crumpet. Find out if he knows anything."

"Don't mention this to him. What if he says something to my dad?"

"I have access to all the files in his office. I could see if I can find anything on my own."

"That'd be great," I say. It feels good to have an ally in this mess. "Thanks, Pierce." I put my arms around him and lean my head against his chest. He's running his fingers through my hair, and it feels so incredible, I never want him to stop.

My stomach rumbles, and we both laugh.

"Poseidon's beard, I wish someone would deliver lunch." I'm remembering the outstanding smell of pizza.

"Uh, Waverly?"

"Yeah?" Hmmm. What is that amazing smell? Garlic? I turn around.

In the middle of the meadow, there is now a shimmer of green fabric decorated with the same wildflowers that are in the meadow. It almost looks as if it's made from the meadow itself. On top are fluffy pillows, a huge, round garlic and sausage pizza in a pan, and bottles of something red. Urgh. This is when I realize I'd forgotten my solemn vow never to wish for anything. How did Pickles even hear me? On the other hand, I am starved. "Picnic?"

Pierce wrinkles his nose. "You're seriously going to eat all that garlic?"

"Sure am."

"Alright then," he says, eying the bottles.

I decide I will not let that red fluid ruin my appetite.