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?"

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 and how to properly evaluate and remove

up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse,

looked anything but happy about

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

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

that won't 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

"Yes," Veronica said.

was beginning to

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

Veronica said. "It will

was the only one I

her curse?"

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

dropped down to the ground. Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my

said quickly. "This isn't on you at

"If I were stronger-*

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

her head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you were

Veronica said. "She's the only one with enough power to

help Elva, but I still didn't know if I

only just started. Maybe there's more I

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

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

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

Frank," Nicholas said

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

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

needed to cool down," Nicholas said.

had anything to be sorry about. "I'm not mad that you want to keep me