The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0519 With the drama mostly settled forthe moment, I thanked Nicholas for his help.

He smiled once more at me.

Then we split ways, and I made my way down to where the children were playing I to check on Elva. As I drew closer, I could see how tired she was.

It made sense, while the other children were swimming around using their strong tails, Elva had only her two weak legs. Of course she would be exhausted trying to keep up.

She was still smiling, still having fun, but she wasn’t moving with quite the vibrancy she’d earlier displayed.

When she saw me, she waved. I kicked my way over to her, opened my arms, and immediately she came closer to rest.

“Are you having fun, sweetheart?” I

asked her.

“So much fun,” she said with a yawn.

“Don’t make me go home, Mommy” “Not yet, dearest. But you better rest for a moment.” “Just a minute,” she said. Her eyes drooped, but she fought off sleep.

Watching her efforts made my heart ache.

Poor thing didn’t want to miss a minute of this adventure.

One of the merfolk children tugged at my arm. She was a bit older than Elva, maybe seven or eight, with her hair done up in elaborate pigtails. A row of pearls dotted across her forehead. A royal, then.

She pointed at the wall behind them, where I noticed some shelfs had been set up, each covered in some soft-looking cushions.

“When we get sleepy,” the little princess said, “that’s where we sleep.” She

tail so that she could twirl her fins around her fingers. “Elva would like it. It's what the mermaids do.” She giggled at the

unsure if the term was politically correct. I should have I made certain Elva knew to call everyone merfolk. The little princess didn’t seem to mind though. She looked at Elva with the

own. I wondered if that rubbed off on the older children as well, who

“Would you show me the best spot?” The little princess guided me to the shelfs and picked one near

shelf. She was already drifting. I roused her slightly

tired, but she still gave an excited smile. “I get to sleep like a mermaid...” she said,

angel slept, the little princess tugged on my

make sure she sleeps undisturbed.”

like I had given her the greatest

backed away then, not wanting to interfere in

other children away

and warmed me through and through seeing such kindness. Elva has made a friend for life I here, I knew, even if they never

they would get

the others, only to find a mysterious older merfolk woman behind me. She watched me closely, then

a head of wild gray curls, topped with a towering crown, second only, that I'd seen, to Queen Sonal herself. Someone important then, and well-respected

purple that looked near black at times, depending on the light.

somewhat, as bright and mysterious as the float orbs at times, much dimmer

could tell just from looking at her that this was a matron of

I knew so little of magic, I had no idea if

Veronica

children treating yours

ma’am,” I said. I didn’t know her name, but felt she was worthy of some

yours is haunted by darkness. I had worried that the cause was linked to you, but I can see now that

I was surprised a second time

too know she is cursed.” ' So Iwas right. Only those with magical abilities would have been able to detect the curse, especially as it was currently inactive. Or, as inactive as it could be, with Jane’s distance and the