The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story



Chapter 0550

Elva glanced up at Veronica and her laughter stifled. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Veronica startled a little, then tried to smile again. It wasn't as big as before. It barely twitched her lip, and certainly did not meet her eyes.

"Nothing's wrong," Veronica said. "I'm glad you liked the trick."

*How long does it last?" I asked, though as soon as the words left my mouth Elva's purple glow began to fade.

"Aww," Elva said, looking at her hands. "Do it again!"

"Elva, honey," I scolded lightly. "We don't demand things from people."

"I'm tired now," Veronica said. "Maybe another time."

Elva tucked her chin down, disappointed. But she said, "Okay."

*Thank Veronica for the magic trick," I reminded Elva.

Elva kicked her feet on the ground. "Thank you..." she mumbled.

"You're welcome," Veronica said.

Elva lifted her folded bird again. She glanced at me, as if for permission.

"Go on," I said. "Have fun."

Nearby I saw the nanny coming up onto the deck. Elva saw her too, and ran toward her, holding up the folded bird. With Elva thoroughly distracted, I turned to Veronica, looking for an explanation. "What just happened?"

incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections

up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse,

anything but happy about

that good news?" I asked, because looking at Veronica, I was really

incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to

to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If left to Jane, the curse on Elva would stay

"Yes," Veronica said.

I was beginning to suspect that it

She was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her

intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will

only one I knew who could

you remove her curse?"

"What I do is mere child's play compared to what

myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the diagnosis was not very good. "I'm sorry,"

no. No, no," I said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

are enough, Veronica." I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see

dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe

the merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the only one with enough power

help Elva, but I still didn't know if I

Veronica said. "I've only just

heart. I hoped she knew how

off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view

She showed her folded bird to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica

said to the

to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice

Together we stood side by side. We

down,"

had anything to be sorry about. "I'm not mad that you want to keep me