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?"

took 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

exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about

looked anything but happy

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

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

was the one to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane

"Yes," Veronica said.

I was

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

the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the

of power? Veronica was the only one I knew

remove her curse?"

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

It was

said quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my

talk. I knew exactly how it felt

Veronica said. "She's the only

I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle

only just started. Maybe there's

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

her

to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She

Nicholas said

an attempt to

over to me. Together we stood side

down," Nicholas said. "I'm

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