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. "The book contains many sections on curses

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

anything but

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

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

happen," I said. Jane 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.

good?" I was beginning to suspect

pulled

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

was the only one

remove her curse?"

by far." She sighed. "What I do is

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 known from Veronica's

I said quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

vision so she could see my face and know that

with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

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

from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I

"I've only just

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

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

my birdie!" She showed her folded bird to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in

said to the

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 best she

me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned to look out

down,"

think he had anything to be