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~ Planet Earth ~

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Another stolen form disguised the evil shapeshifter as Redek posed as a lifeguard named Remerick Mredymion.

He lay back with his hands resting behind his head. His long legs spread out on the beach chair, his red swim shorts already dry from an earlier swim.

His bare chest sparkled in the sunlight, making him look like his skin was made of crystalline jewels. Short blond hair caught camera flashes as he displayed an eye-catching body with attractive abs. His lips curled into a smile as he stared at women in bikinis through his dark sunglasses.

Redek relaxed as he breathed in the salty ocean air and listened to the waves, chuckling as seagulls fought over a sardine. His skin was bathed in warmth from the sun, sending shivers of pleasure through his body.

Life on Earth is just as great as life on Iredescent, especially the beach part of it, Redek thought delightedly, enjoying his new life, hardly missing his home planet.

Redek loved the beach. Loved its warmth, its calmness. He had traveled to nearly every beach in the world and decided to revisit a beach in Spain, having recently gone to one in France. After indulging in fun entertainment and exquisite operas, he went to explore the nightlife in Spain. And now, he relaxed on the beach, enjoying the afternoon sun.

A flash of sunlight caught the glint of iridescent light that gave off a jewel-like radiance. Distracted, Redek's eyes followed the iridescent light as it rested upon the source. His eyes narrowed in confusion as the iridescent light miraged into what looked like strange, shimmery tattoos.

The sipriant had worn off, revealing the tourmaline pink meromyt gemstone tattoo and a shimmery violet purple birthmark on Tessa's body.

Tessa was walking along the beach in a two-piece strapless light purple swimsuit, collecting seashells along the beach. She passed Redek, unaware he was looking her way, and therefore completely disregarding his presence.

Redek's blood chilled despite the sunshine warmth. His eyes widened in alarm, his body half-rising from the long, fold-out beach chair.

The tourmaline pink meromyt gemstone tattoo and a shimmery violet purple birthmark continued to shimmer an iridescent light in the bright sunlight, glaring at Redek as he continued to stare, his heart racing with excitement.

Those tattoos....are not real tattoos. That girl is an Iredescent, Redek realized as he recognized the Iredescent Rose emblem. He glanced down at his own shimmery birthmark, a dark orange that was shaped exactly like the birthmark on Tessa, but a different color.

I found her, Redek thought as amazed astonishment overtook him. I actually found her.

Redek was so shocked that he just sat there for a few minutes, before he got up and followed Tessa in his urgency to keep her in sight, so he wouldn't lose her. His eyes were glued to Tessa as he studied and watched her every move.

If Iressa is here, that means Markerer is here. I must get her alone with me, so that he doesn't interfere. I would take the last of Aryle's spawn to my motel room, hold her captive, and teleport to retrieve my firi from the Irish moat, before I can finally kill her.

Eager to fulfill his murderous plan, Redek continued to masquerade as Remerick.

Redek saw Tessa return to the Eclipse family, who were sitting on fold-out beach chairs, eating potato chips and Capri Sun fruit juice drinks. He felt his heart lurch in alarm when he saw Markerer, his face beaming as he looked upon Tessa.

Glittering stars. Markerer and Iressa are here. It took me almost two decades, but I finally found them. Redek ran a hand through his hair, feeling shaky from nervousness.

Redek waited for a moment when Tessa was alone, but Markerer watched Tessa like a hawk, always keeping her in sight. Irritated, Redek went surfing, to release frustration and to not look suspicious. It wouldn't do to stand all day, Redek thought, needing to be in motion, since he teleported often and was not used to being still for long periods of time.

Markerer's eyes scanned the beach like a light from a lighthouse, constantly on the lookout for danger, even though the water appeared calm. Redek was the silent shark in the calm water, lurking for prey to devour. And Tessa was the naïve fish that seemed to swim towards danger.

The danger that sprung out of the water in relief, eagerly seizing the chance that appeared when they finally left the beach.

After changing clothes in the motel room, the Eclipse family went to the shops on the boardwalk. Tessa wanted to go to a souvenir store, but the Eclipse family was drawn towards a store that had cool lava lamp structures.

Redek leaned against a palm tree from afar, silently watching and hoping for a favorable outcome, wanting a division to occur. He dressed Remerick in a yellow graphic shirt with dark sunglasses, black acid wash cargo shorts, and wristlets. The bait was set; now he waited for the catch.

Markerer opted to go in the souvenir store with Tessa, but after Darz and Lisel had issues processing payment, Markerer needed to stay with the Eclipse family to sort out credit card issues.

"No need to worry, Ver. She'll be next door to us," Lisel said, not worried about letting Tessa go on her own without supervision, but Markerer was attuned to always looking out for Tessa. He felt uneasy and nervous, but he reluctantly allowed Tessa to go alone to the souvenir store.

The lighthouse was out of range, the light fixed elsewhere, so the naïve fish swam out in the open, inviting danger that was the lurking shark.

Thank goodness! I thought he would never leave her alone. He is even more protective of that girl than her own parents.

Surrogate parents, Redek corrected himself. A cruel smirk danced upon his malicious lips as he envisioned the demise of the girl he targeted, the daughter of a woman he once obsessed over.

Tessa walked inside the souvenir store, unaware of the shadow following her. Her attention was drawn towards things that were glittery and sparkly, whether it be clothing, a candle, a book, perfume, or a hair accessory. 

After looking at an overly priced shirt, Tessa turned around to put it back on the rack, halting when she saw a stranger standing in her way. His tall frame cornered her near the back of the store, away from other shoppers and store employees.

"Well well," Redek said, his gaze fixed on Tessa. "What a pearl you are."

Tessa attempted to step back, but there was nowhere to go. Trapped, Tessa looked up at Redek, his arm resting on the wall beside her, his body leaning towards her.

A warning glimmered as Redek's eyes skimmed Tessa's sparkly pink spaghetti top underneath a white short sleeve cardigan and skinny light blue jeans, her layered hair framing her lovely face.

"Hi, uh, excuse me. I gotta go," Tessa murmured shyly, unsettled by Redek's intense stare. She didn't feel comfortable being this close to a stranger, especially one who did not seem to understand the definition of personal space.

"Go where, you darling girl?" Redek's voice was full of scorn, laced with hate. "To whom will you run, my dear?"

Confused, Tessa tried to find a way out, but there was none; Redek's body blocked the only exit. Redek smelled like citrus, overpowering Tessa's floral scent of freesia and violet. Had Tessa known who Redek was, she might've screamed in fright.

Redek reached for Tessa so he could teleport her. Tessa kept moving away as best she could, trapped with her back against the wall. Excited clamor came to Tessa's rescue, turning Redek's attention towards a large group of loud, noisy football players that came into the souvenir store.

He couldn't teleport, not with too many witnesses. The football players were everywhere, dominating the store with their boisterous commotion. Surely they would notice the shark and his cornered prey. Redek reluctantly stepped back from Tessa, deciding on a new approach.

"Lyrics," Redek said, a miserable effort to cover up his scornful words. "From music called 'Are You Alive' by Eleven Silvers. Have you heard the song?"

Of course she hadn't. It's an Iredescent song, Redek thought to himself. He watched as some curious football players came close, as if monitoring his interaction with Tessa. Redek forced himself to refrain from touching Tessa, from snatching her hand and teleporting to where he could fulfill his horrendous intention of murder.

Tessa shook her head, moving from the wall. Redek seized the glow-in-the-dark mermaid shirt she was holding, surprising her when he asked, "Did you want to buy that?"

"Oh, uh, I was just looking at it," Tessa stammered, startled. When Redek persisted in looking at her pryingly, Tessa felt the need to elaborate. "I'm looking for a gift for my Uncle Veren. I don't know what to give him. Can you help me find something?"

"Sure," Redek said, setting the shirt back on the rack. He forced a smile, going forward with his new approach. "Does your uncle wear jewelry?"

"Not really. He wears a necklace, and he owns a watch, but that's the only jewelry he wears."

Redek's eyes fell upon a glass dolphin necklace that reminded him of an object he carried in his pocket, having prepared for its use since the Eclipse family ventured out on the boardwalk. Envisioning Tessa wearing the necklace, along with the invisible object, Redek said, "This necklace would suit you perfectly. You should wear it."

"You would buy me one?" Tessa asked in surprise.

"Of course, hun." Redek playfully ruffled her hair and handed her the necklace, going over to some figurines. "What kind of things does your uncle like?"

"Well, he loves music, especially classic rock and glam metal," Tessa said, pausing to look at sparkly seashell décor. "He also likes dirt bikes, chess, and dogs."

"Would this be a good gift for him?" Redek asked, pointing to a chrome CD storage rack.

Tessa's eyebrows rose in excitement. "Yes, that would be perfect. He needs one. His CDs are all over his room."

"He must have quite a collection," Redek remarked, picking up the CD storage rack.

Tessa followed him, saying, "Oh yeah. He has an entire collection of all kinds of classic rock and glam metal. We listen to it all the time."

"Cool. I myself prefer trance and electronic music."

He briefly envisioned crushing her skull with the CD storage rack, but he set it down with controlled hands, forcing himself to continue acting nice and friendly, commenting on things in the store, and calling Tessa "my dear".

But like her Iredescent birth mother, Tessa wasn't lured with flirty advances. Feeling a repeat of the past, Redek seethed with abhorrent anger.

Even her daughter rejects me. Like mother, like daughter. She was into dark haired men. Had I known, I would've shapeshifted into a different man.

Hiding his dissatisfaction, Redek walked towards the cashier line. He paid for the merchandise and handed the bag to Tessa, closing his hand around hers the moment she took it. He was about to teleport when he heard Markerer call out, "Tessa!"

Cold, empty air replaced where his hand had been.

Markerer seized Tessa's shoulders, anxiously demanding, "Who were you talking to?"

"A guy," said Tessa, looking around for Redek, who had disappeared upon sight of Markerer.

"A guy?" Markerer repeated, instantly suspicious. "What did he look like?"

"Tall, blond. He tried to flirt with me, but I wasn't interested. He is not my type."

Alarmed, Markerer took Tessa's hand, his suspicions not eased in the slightest. "Your type or not, I don't want you talking to anyone you don't know."

"He was nice to me. He bought stuff for me. He didn't look like he intended any harm."

"Appearances can be deceiving. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Markerer fought to keep the panicked edge out of his stern tone. "Don't trust anyone, even if they act nice and friendly. Especially if they act nice and friendly."

"I know, Uncle Veren. I'm not a child."

"Exactly, Tessa! You are a beautiful young woman. There are guys who might try to take advantage of you. I know you are lonely, but your safety comes first."

"I'm very safe, especially with you. I was just in a store."

"Alone, without my supervision."

"So what? Am I to be supervised my entire life?"

"Yes!" Markerer blurted, feeling exasperated. "You are very important to me, Tessa. I cannot allow anything to happen to you."

"Nothing will happen to me. I live a very boring life, and people rarely talk to me," Tessa insisted, getting fed up with Markerer's overprotectiveness.

Tessa tried to take her hand away, but Markerer refused to let go. Frustrated, Tessa became silent, not saying another word, allowing Markerer to lead her out of the store and back to the family hovercar.

While Markerer reprimanded Tessa, Redek teleported to the location of his buried spaceship in the Sahara desert.

Redek shapeshifted into his true form, shedding his temporary Remerick form. He put on sunglasses to shield his eyes from the hot evening sun.

Before he teleported, Redek had slipped an invisible, clear tracking device on the glass dolphin necklace, attaching it on the clasp. That way he could find Tessa, even though they were apart.

Thoughts swarmed Redek's mind like angry locusts, consuming any good thought. The images of Aryle and Tessa merged into one. Though mother and daughter looked completely different, they were alike in Redek's deranged mind.

Incensed with the repeat rejection, Redek decided to acquire a device that would help him successfully lure Tessa. It was near impossible to get her alone with him, since Markerer was always with her. The forced flirtation gave Redek a sinister idea, one that fueled his drive for murder, along with a vindictive desire for revenge.

Aryle loved a man with black hair. Iressa will surely love a man with black hair. Since neither of them want to love me, neither in my true redhead form nor a blond form, it is only fair to give them both what they want. I allowed Arlye to die with the man she loved. Therefore, her daughter will die with the man she will love.

Eager to proceed with his wicked planning, Redek stood in the desert with his hands on his hips, wondering how to get his ship out from under there. He hesitantly stuck his shoe in the sand, feeling it sink underneath as the hot sand swarmed over it like water. He stuck his shoe back out, shaking the sand off it, and muttering to himself, "Well, stars. How m'I supposed to get this out?"

He pondered. He sat on the sand and pondered. He paced around and pondered. He lay back on the sand and pondered. He finally decided to teleport inside the spaceship.

Upon trying to figure out how to somehow blast out of there, Redek pressed a bunch of buttons and pushed some gears, activating the ship and making it ready for departure. He was about to chance it, thinking of blowing out from underneath, when he glanced at the screen.

"I feel so stupid. Of course I can control the ship by – " Redek didn't finish his own sentence, instead just tapping once on the screen.

Redek watched the spaceship lift from underneath, the engines groaning as the reactors activated and sent the ship towards the sky, pushing through the heavy sand with powerful force.

Bright sunlight glared at Redek as the ship emerged from the Sahara sand, the engines glimmering in the purple and orange paint palette that comprised the sunset, the dark sky heralding Redek's unexpected intention of returning to planet Iredescent. 

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Music:

"I Can't Dance"
by Phil Collins

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