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.

where I was holding him. He

"Elva is fine. Better than fine,

"But the medical helicopter...?"

Piper. You've been out

as new as I thought. Worry seemed etched into his features. Was it fear for me that

for him. He truly cared

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

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

my hand," I said. "Did that ruin

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

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

to see Elva." I wanted to make sure with my own eyes

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

see her if I had to, but

true, I told Nicholas, "I

didn't argue. Instead, he rose from his seat and stepped into the aisle. He waited there, giving me enough room to get by while also being close enough to catch me if

was okay drive me forward. Seeing Elva was a powerful motivator. Even

we walked toward the front of

plane like she had rubber for bones. It was as if she couldn't sit still. When she crawled over some empty seats and stepped into the aisle again,

toward me to give me a hug. I wanted to lean down and hold her, but I wasn't certain I'd be able to stand back up again. Instead, I gently patted her

eyes. "Are you up from your nap? You were sleeping a long

to worry, I gave her my softest smile. "I was just resting,

was starting to relax, the plane hit 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 window seat. I took the middle

all fastened