The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Nicholas held Elva safe and secure in his arms as he stood to his full height. Elva buried her face into the corner of his neck and shoulder. He gently patted her back.

He glanced down at Elva, his gaze so tender that it made my heart clench.

“There, there,” he whispered. “You are safe now.”

“Oh my God,” said one of the other girls in the room, fanning herself. “Of course he’s good with children.”

“Someone pinch me,” said another. “I think I’m dreaming.”

Nicholas’s soft expression hardened as he glared out at the rest of the room. “Whose child is this? Why is she here?”

I started forward, but the girl in the pink dress spoke before I could reach him.

“An outsider sneaked in, unless she’s a maid.”

Some of the other girls snickered at my expense.

“She can’t be a participant,” another girl fake-whispered, loud enough for half-the room to hear. “I thought we had to be virgins, and she’s got a kid.”

I wanted to disappear into a corner. Whether virgin or not, I was nothing compared to the rest of these girls.

My clothes weren’t as nice as theirs, and my figure wasn’t like what it had been at the Academy. I’d lost much of my musculature. I was skinny from too many nights of skipped dinners.

Elva’s wellbeing had always come before my own.

Her sake was the only reason I continued forward rather than hide in embarrassment. I stopped only when I reached Nicholas.

He looked at me, and I looked at him.

I’d forgotten how gorgeous his eyes were, golden brown with flakes of green. When we’d dated, I had spent hours looking at them, trying to memorize that color, but it had seemed different each time.

Before, when I’d stared long enough, I could earn a bashful smile from him. Now, his face was totally devoid of emotion. He looked at me like I was a stranger.

Did he… not recognize me?

truly had sealed me away in his

save face. I could be a great

Maybe he hated me.

girl

look into this,” Nicholas said, and even his voice was monotone. Another moment of staring

so I followed him. He led me to

please remember that per the selection

look at the man, who nervously backed up a

is an exception,” Nicholas

Of course, sir.” The man

I went inside after them. A servant stepped forward and closed the door behind us, leaving Nicholas, Elva, and I alone in

I thought I might be sick. I had never imagined I’d meet Nicholas again, and especially not

idea what even to say. What would he think of me, to see me as I was? To see me here, as part of

have cried herself to sleep, eyes closed and

Nicholas, and at once, his perfect façade cracked. He frowned.

his hands stayed gentle on Elva, his arm looped more protectively around

hide my child from me?”

I blinked once, twice, but, no, I couldn’t

Eloquently, I said, “Huh?”

sleeping in his arms. She was three years old. That lined

We’d been so young then, too eager

couldn’t remember where he was when he’d climaxed. But, hadn’t he been wearing a condom

the certainty that fueled it seemed to slide into bewilderment.

said, hoping to give

said so on television. For me to hide a child from him would

name.

before the

wanted to say, he seemed to struggle to get it out. He swallowed it

between me and Elva.

Her birth mother was my identical twin sister. But I wouldn’t tell that to Nicholas. Elva was mine in every

to answer some unspoken question for

straightened, startled. What could

immediately cut off the

Elva down onto one of the plush

at Mommy,” came