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

'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we

anything but happy

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

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 removes

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.

"Yes," Veronica said.

that good?" I was beginning to

case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the best color,

Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical

power? Veronica was the only

remove her

"What I do is mere child's

dropped down 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 expressions that the diagnosis

quickly. "This isn't on

"If I were stronger-*

closer to 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

with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you were

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

wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if

just started. Maybe there's more I

from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would

book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some

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

Frank," Nicholas said

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

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

to cool down," Nicholas said.

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