THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 6 Episode 25

With Nathan gone, some of the guilt set upon me. Nathan had been gaslighting me, I knew that. Bridget’s actions were not my responsibility, but his words had given me a measure of discomfort inside of my chest.

Even though Bridget’s actions hadn’t been directly caused by me, she was likely acting a bit more aggressively out of jealousy. Nicholas had come to my defense, but did not do the same for her, even when she tried to push the issue.

It wasn’t my fault, and she should have behaved more like an adult. But I could sympathize with her hurt feelings. It would pain me greatly to have Nicholas defend someone else and not me.

But my sympathy stopped short when I remembered all that Bridget had done to me, and also that her incident tonight could have been so easily avoided.

Nicholas touched his hand to the small of my back. “You alright?” he asked me

“I’m fine,” I told him. I wanted to thank him for all that he’d done for me, yet when I went to speak once more, Elva tugged on Nicholas’s hand instead.

“Look, Nick-lass! Dolphins!”

He gave me a small smile, which I retumed. Then he let himself be pulled closer to the railing. Out in the water beyond, dolphins breeched the water. They chased alongside the boat like they were making a game of it.

Exhausted, I looked for a place to sit down. I saw one beside Veronica. Julian had chosen to stand near her, and they were chatting. Veronica held a book on her lap, that was strangely dry for where it must have come from.

Did the merfolk use magic to enchant their books, keeping them safe from the salt water?

Curious, I came closer to the pair. Veronica immediately patted the empty seat beside her. I must have looked as tired as I felt. I flopped down in the seat and then thanked her.

“Veronica was just telling me some of what she leamed,” Julian filled me in.

“I was only able to visit with the keeper of the library briefly before it was time for us to leave,” Veronica said, “But when I told her I was interested in learning more about merfolk magic, she seemned very excited. She led me straight to this book. She even let me borrow it, knowing I might have no way of returning it.”

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That was incredibly generous. The kindness of the merfolk people seemed to know no bounds. Or perhaps the keeper of libraries simply appreciated Veronica’s truthfulness about what she wished to know.

Veronica flipped open the book and gently turned the first few pages. Inside, the words were hand-written in a tight, neat scrawl. Some pictures and diagrams were added among the text. Those too appeared hand-drawn.

“I can tell just from skimming so far that this is very old magic. Even older than the magic I know and use.” She looked at me. “It makes me believe the mystic might know of a cure, after all. Her knowledge of ancient magic might very well hold the key.”

That was a hopeful thought, but there was a very big problem regarding the mystic now.” She never reappeared to me,” I said. “I don’t know if she ever will again.”

*I wouldn’t put it past her to show up when you least expect it,” Julian said. “She told you, what? That she’d come to you again when your heart was clear of fear? Was that it?”

I nodded in assent.

“Well, there you go,” Julian said. “You still have fear in your heart, so she’s keeping her distance.”

That was true. I tried to find comfort in the words. Yes. I was doubtful before, but there was still hope that she might reappear. Though, admittedly, I was still a bit afraid that the mystic would prove to be another person who wanted to do harm to me or Elva.

It was unfair to think that, I knew. The mystic had done nothing to me, as far as I knew, and as merfolk valued truth so highly, she was unlikely lying to me. But I had been so hurt before, so many times. And I couldn’t take chances with Elva’s life. Even though I desperately wanted her cured.

My heart was a tangled web of doubts and more doubts, with such a tiny glimmer of hope. I didn’t know what to do.

Veronica must have been able to tell. “I’ll read through this as quickly as I can. When I can understand more of the merfolk magic, we should be able to have at least some idea of what the mystic intends to do about the curse.”

“Thank you, Veronica,” I said, and meant it from the bottom of my heart.

Veronica gave me a soft smile, a rare expression from her. I treasured it.

“You know,” Julian went on. “This magic might give us an edge against the underground organization. The merfolk would likely see through their dishonest tactics. I doubt the merfolk royal family would be so forthcoming with them, even if Hawk or the rest could deceive their way into an invitation.”

Good news all around, then. Hawk and the underground were so adept at magic, that any upper hand we could achieve could potentially save all our lives if we faced them again.

“I’ll do my best to study,” Veronica said.

Julian placed his hand on her shoulder. He didn’t say anything, but winked when she looked up at him.

A soft red dusted across Veronica’s cheeks.

After the boat docked on our familiar island, the sun had crept down to the horizon, and everyone seemed tired, Elva most of all. She yawned bigly, then curled up against my side on the chair, even as I tried to tell her it was time to get up.

I finally coaxed her, pulling her up into my arms as I stood.

As we left the boat, Nicholas caught me by the elbow. He tugged slightly, coaxing me nearer him. In my ear, he whispered, “After you put Elva to bed, visit me in my room.”

Immediately, my heart began to pound. It was incredibly difficult not to rush as I took Elva upstairs, greeted the guard, and then slipped inside. I changed Elva into her pajamas and then helped her crawl under the covers of the bed.

She was asleep before I even lowered the covers down over her, snoring softly into her

pillow.

There was still no sign of Charlotte, though it was late now. She might have gone back to bed. I made a mental note to track her down in the morning if she still hadn’t shown herself, or if I didn’t receive a note or anything. Maybe she came down with a cold or something. I didn’t worry too much yet.

After I made certain Elva was settled, I sneaked out of the room. The guard saw me, of

course, but they had been swom to discretion.

“Elva’s sleeping,” I told him.

“No harm will come to her,” he replied,

With that comfort, I backed up into the hall, then turned and lightly walked to Nicholas’s

room.

I knocked on his door. It opened after only one wrap of my knuckles to the wood.

Then, Nicholas pulled me through the door, closed it, and backed me up into it. He quickly closed the distance, and kissed my breath away.