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?"

toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The

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

looked anything

because looking at Veronica, I was really

and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of

one to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not

"Yes," Veronica said.

good?" I was beginning

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 was the best color, that it indicated

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

Veronica was the only one I knew who could

you remove her curse?"

frown deepened. "No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to

the ground. Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have

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

"If I were stronger-*

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

dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I

"She's the only one

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. How could I be certain I could

keep reading." Veronica said. "I've only just

and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how

to her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the

house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given

said

she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to

stood side by side. We both turned to look

to cool down,"

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