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?"

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 sections on curses and how to properly evaluate

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

looked anything but happy

that good news?" I asked, because

to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power

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.

Is that good?" I was

supposed I appreciated her bluntness. She was never one 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

Veronica said. "It will

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

you remove her

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

I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's

said quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't

I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

Veronica said. "She's the

to help Elva, but I still didn't

said. "I've only just started.

the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I

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

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

said to the

quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica

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

to cool down," Nicholas

had anything to be sorry about.