The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0597

When I blinked my eyes open again, I was reclining on a leather seat with the back dropped way down. The ceiling seemed to be curved. There were other seats beside my own, similar in shape and style. Nicholas was sitting in one of them.

The ritual was over, then. I didn't feel much pain anymore, though exhaustion did weigh down heavily onto me. But where was I? And where was Elva?

I wanted to ask Nicholas, but my thoughts felt sluggish. My mouth wasn't totally working just yet.

Nicholas was talking, but not to me. He had his phone to his ear.

"I want a medical helicopter ready and waiting at the airport the moment we land," Nicholas said.

Airport? Oh, we were in an airplane. That would explain the curved ceiling and matching chairs. And we were set to return home the day of the ritual. I must have been passed out all of this time.

But wait... medical helicopter? Had something happened to Elva?!

At once, my sluggishness dissipated and I sprung upright in a panicked rush. My thoughts went from too few, too slow to so many at once that I was having trouble organizing them.

My heart raced out of control. I needed to see Elva. Where was she? Was she okay? What happened with the ritual?

Nicholas immediately noticed my distress with a look of concern crossing his face. "I have to go," he said into the phone and hung up. He turned toward me in his seat. "Piper? How are you feeling?"

"What happened to E-Elva?" I said so quickly and with so much emotion that my voice cracked. I reached out and gripped his sleeve with both hands.

down at where I was holding him.

he said. "Elva is fine. Better than fine, really. It's

"But the medical helicopter...?"

you, Piper. You've

the exhaustion in his face. The concern I had earlier perceived was not as new as I thought. Worry seemed etched into his features. Was it

in affection for him.

asked. "With the ritual? And the Oracle? After

"You were in so much pain, more than the rest of us combined. Afterwards, not even the Oracle could explain why, though she suspected it

of my hand," I said. "Did that

said. "Just as I was ready to stop it, the spell ended. Then,

to protect me, I supposed I would have done the same in his position. But saving Elva was and would always be my top

see Elva." I wanted to make sure with my own eyes that she was healthy

walk?" Nicholas asked. "She's just nearer the

crawled to see her if I had to, but I didn't want Nicholas to worry more. So,

was true, I told Nicholas,

rose from his seat and stepped into the aisle. He waited there, giving me enough room to get by while also being

was a powerful motivator. Even though my legs wobbled, I

as we walked toward the front of

spotted my little girl, bouncing around the plane like she had rubber for bones. It was as if she couldn't sit still. When she crawled

a hug. I wanted to lean down and hold her, but I wasn't

up at me with wide, bright eyes. "Are you up from your nap? You were sleeping

wanting her to worry, I gave her my softest smile. "I

some turbulence and began to shake. I was no less a nervous flier than the last time we'd been in this airplane, so I quickly ushered Elva into one of the seats. She moved into the

all fastened