The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0509 “Elva!” I cried out, and rushed to wake her. “We overslept, honey. We have to go now!” I I had so many questions. Where was Charlotte? Why didn’t my alarm go off? Why didn’t anyone come looking for us? But there was no time to consider them, let alone process them long enough to find answers.

I tried to think back to what Nathan said about proper etiquette for meeting the merfolk in their territory. We would have magic cast on us to breathe underwater, so we should wear swimsuits.

I quickly picked out a swimsuit for Elva and helped her change. It was an adorable one-piece, sky blue, with little shorts and purple bows dotted all over it When Elva was ready, I opened my

-— bed.

drawer to grab one of my own swimsuits Yet, the place I had stored my swimwear was entirely empty! I opened the rest of the drawers, searching, frantically thinking that maybe the swimsuits had I fallen down into the other drawers somehow.

\ But no matter where I looked, there was no sign of any of the swimsuits! How could this be? A knock sounded loudly on the door, more like pounding.

“piper!” Nathan called through the door.

“If you are not down in the boat in two minutes, we will leave without you!” “I can’t find my swimsuit!” I called back.

“We can’t afford to be late!” Nathan shouted. “Just make do!” His footsteps were loud as he thundered away, “Mommy?” Elva asked. She had tears in

her eyes. “Are we not going to breathe underwater?” My heart broke at the hint of defeatirn her voice. The poor little girl really thought I we’d be left behind. And she was likely I right, if I didn’t hurry up and ‘make do.’ I As quick as I could, I threw on the first dress I could grab, then I took Elva’s hand and rushed out the door.

Nathan stood on the dock, his arms crossed, glaring at me.

“We're here!” I said, as Elvaand I approached.

“Never be this late again,” Nathan snapped and motioned his head toward the boat.

so sure of it myself. Nathan likely wasn't eager to listen to me anyway I hurried forward, and

I the boat.

was a yacht more than a boat, with two

of the ship. So Elva and I went there to

us. Well, to look at me, specifically, and what I was wearing. I was the only one on

I inched over

“Piper...” she began.

happen to have

of the boat stirred to life, and the

“TI don’t know,” I admitted. “Whentwent searching for them, they just weren't I there...” That combined with Charlotte’s I absence and the mysterious turning off of I my

could I think at this point? “You don’t think

at Bridget. She was sitting on a bench, far too close to Nicholas, though he had

want to think Bridget capable of something like this, but why wouldn't I? On top of all the other petty things she'd done to me

the jungle island. She hadn’t even

bad in front of

moment of looking at Nicholas, she turned her head to consider me again. Maybe

turned away from all of us to look out

to go over to him.

wasn’t bothering her. I hoped he would distract her

whatever it was, it

her gaze down

nature of her smile shifted