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?"

"That magic trick' was actually an incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how to

heartbeat kicked up and I perked up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the oracle to

anything

that good news?" I asked, because looking at

to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course, if the

that won't happen," I said. Jane was the one to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane

"Yes," Veronica said.

Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

supposed I appreciated her bluntness. She was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the best color, that it indicated a curse easiest

the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount

was the only one I knew who could

remove her

frown deepened. "No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do

and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the diagnosis

no. No, no," I said quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

Veronica." I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this

couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you

Veronica said. "She's the only one with enough power to have a

wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic

keep reading." Veronica said. "I've only just started. Maybe there's more I can

you," I told her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would until Elva was completely

a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I

stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given it to her, and that she loved it and its name

said to

quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the

stood side

needed to cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm

discussion, but I didn't think he had anything to be sorry about. "I'm not mad that you