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?"

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

sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the

Veronica looked anything but happy

news?" I asked, because looking at Veronica, I was

show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level

was the one 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

"Yes," Veronica said.

that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

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

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

only one I

her curse?" I

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

burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's

said quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

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 if it weren't

I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you were

Veronica said. "She's the only one with

again to me when I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I

only just started. Maybe

heart. I hoped she knew how much

wanting to give her some space. I

called, "Nick-lass! Look at my birdie!" 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 had made it and given it to her,

said to

to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to

made his way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned to look

to cool down," Nicholas said.

feeling protective from our discussion, but I didn't think he had