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?"

about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the

be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked

Veronica looked anything but happy about

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

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

daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone

"Yes," Veronica said.

good?" I was beginning to suspect

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 a curse easiest to

is the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical power

amount of power? Veronica was the only one I knew who could do any

you remove her curse?"

Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared

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 was not very good.

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

"If I were stronger-*

I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest.

shook her head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I

merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the

again to me when I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her.

said. "I've only just started. Maybe there's more

I told her, 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

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

just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given

Frank," Nicholas said to

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

way over to me. Together we stood side by

needed to cool down,"

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