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?"

the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many

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

looked anything but

news?" I asked, because looking at Veronica,

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

"Yes," Veronica said.

that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

pulled my heart out a little.

"It will require the highest amount of magical power to

of power? Veronica was the only one I

her curse?"

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

and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have

said quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

her line of vision so she could

I knew exactly how it felt to

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

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

"I've only just

of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I

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

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

Nicholas said

napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny

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

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm

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