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

kicked up and I perked up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked

Veronica looked anything but happy

asked, because

"The purpose 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

I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to

"Yes," Veronica said.

that good?" I was beginning to suspect that it

was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my

"It will require the

Veronica was the only one I knew

her curse?" I

by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to what

Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I

I said quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

she could see my face

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

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

heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic was foreign, even to Veronica. How could I be certain I could trust

just started. Maybe there's more I can

heart. I hoped she knew how

wanting to give her some space. I looked out over

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 that she loved it and

Frank," Nicholas said

and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the

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

to cool down," Nicholas

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