Chapter 16: Nice swimsuit
After breakfast, everything was falling perfectly into place. My moms had enthusiastically accepted the itinerary I suggested, and they were already buzzing with excitement about the historic tour and spa day.
The image of Seraphine giggling like a teenager while Riley rolled her eyes fondly was burned into my brain. I couldn't help but smirk; my genius plan to keep them occupied had worked flawlessly.
Back in my room, I hummed to myself as I packed my beach bag. A towel, sunglasses, a good book, and, of course, sunscreen.
The swimsuit I'd chosen was a little daring, but not too much just enough to turn heads without being over the top.
I gave myself one last look in the mirror, adjusting the straps and making sure everything was perfect. I looked good, and I knew it.
Satisfied, I slung the bag over my shoulder and opened the door, only to find Rowena leaning casually against the wall across from my room. Her arms were crossed, and her usual mischievous grin spread across her face.
"You're up to something," she said, eyeing me with suspicion.
"I'm always up to something," I shot back, brushing past her.
"Where are you going?" she asked, trailing behind me.
"To the beach." I jabbed the elevator button, keeping my back to her.
"Oh, so am I," she chirped. "Guess we're hanging out."
I groaned internally. Of all the days for her to tag along, it had to be today. But arguing with Rowena was like arguing with a brick wall it only wasted time and energy. The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside, determined to ignore her.
A few seconds later, the elevator dinged, and I was at the hotel entrance. The warm sea breeze greeted me as I stepped outside. A few staff members were stationed near the doors, smiling politely as they greeted me.
"Looking lovely today, Miss Rhiannon," one of them said, and another added, "Enjoy the beach!"
"Thanks," I said with a polite nod, barely slowing my pace. Compliments were nice, but I was on a mission.
A few minutes later, I was at the beach. It was stunning soft golden sand stretching out as far as the eye could see, with crystal-clear waves lapping gently against the shore.
The sun sparkled off the water, and the air was filled with the sound of laughter, seagulls, and the occasional crash of waves.
I picked a spot near the middle of the beach, far enough from the crowd to have some privacy but close enough to people-watch.
I spread out my towel and settled my bag next to it. My eyes scanned the beach, searching for any sign of the purple-haired woman from last night.
There were plenty of people families building sandcastles, couples splashing in the water, and a group of demons playing volleyball but no sign of her.
Disappointed but not deterred, I slipped off my sundress, revealing my swimsuit. Adjusting the straps, I grabbed the sunscreen and started applying it.
The sun was already warm on my skin, and I wasn't about to risk a burn. As I worked on my arms and legs, I realized I'd need help with my back.
"Need help?" came a familiar voice from behind me.
I sighed, already knowing who it was. "Sure," I muttered, holding the bottle out to Rowena.
She plopped down next to me, taking the sunscreen with a smirk. "Nice swimsuit. Where'd you get it?"
"That's a secret," I replied.
"Oh, come on," she teased, squeezing some sunscreen into her hands. "It's not like I'm going to steal it."
I hesitated. The truth was, I'd bought it from a sketchy website that specialized in "custom demon designs." It had taken forever to arrive, but it fit perfectly, so I wasn't complaining. Still, admitting that to Rowena was out of the question.
"Let's just say it's exclusive," I said, keeping my tone mysterious.
Rowena laughed as she started applying sunscreen to my back. "Exclusive, huh? You mean you ordered it from one of those weird demon marketplaces, didn't you?"
"Maybe," I admitted reluctantly. "But it came, so it's fine."
She snorted. "One of these days, you're going to order something, and it's going to be cursed."
"Better than wearing whatever monstrosities you dig out of clearance bins," I shot back, smirking.
"That's called thrifting, thank you very much," she said, feigning offense. "It's sustainable."
"Right, because you're all about saving the planet," I teased. "Or is it just saving money?"
"Both," she said proudly, finishing with the sunscreen. "There. Now you won't fry like a piece of bacon."
"Thanks," I muttered, setting the bottle down.
I stretched out on the towel, intending to enjoy the sun, but something felt… off. I glanced around and noticed that no one was coming near us. A couple walking along the shore even gave us a wide berth.
"What's with everyone?" I asked, frowning.
Rowena shrugged. "Maybe they're intimidated by how awesome we look."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Or maybe they think we're a couple."
Rowena burst out laughing, clutching her sides. "Seriously? That's what you're worried about?"
"Yes!" I said, horrified. "Do you know how disgusting that is?"
"Relax," she said, still laughing. "Nobody actually thinks that."
"They do!" I insisted. "Look at them, they're avoiding us like we're some kind of taboo."
Rowena glanced around, her grin widening. "Okay, maybe you're right. So what do you want me to do about it?"
"Go sit somewhere else," I said bluntly. "Preferably far away."
She smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you to your 'exclusive' beach experience."
"Thank you," I said, exasperated.
She grabbed her stuff and wandered off, still chuckling to herself. As she disappeared into the distance, I sighed with relief. Finally, I could relax and enjoy my time at the beach alone.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone