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

be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse,

Veronica looked anything but

because looking at Veronica, I

Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove

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

"Yes," Veronica said.

purple. Is that good?" I was beginning

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

curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of

only one I knew who could do

remove her

"What I do is mere

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 was not very good.

no," I said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

could see my face and know that I'm earnest.

I couldn't talk. I knew

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

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

just started. Maybe there's more I can

of my heart. I hoped she knew how

returned to her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view was pretty good from the

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 that she loved it and its name was now

Frank," Nicholas said to

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

distracted, Nicholas made his way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm

from our discussion, but I didn't think he had anything to be