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?"

a breath. "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.

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

Veronica looked anything but happy about

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

power level needed to remove

no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If left

"Yes," Veronica said.

purple. Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

said flatly. I 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

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

only one I knew who could do any

you remove her curse?"

by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's

hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault.

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

"If I were stronger-*

enough, 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.

clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how

"She's the only one with

appear 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 could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic was foreign, even to Veronica.

only just started. Maybe

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

to give her some

me, Elva 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, and that

Frank," Nicholas said

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

we stood side by side.

down," Nicholas said. "I'm

had anything to be sorry about. "I'm not mad