The Luna Choosing Game

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?"

toward the merfolk book

That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the

anything but

that good news?" I asked, because

of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course,

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. If

said. Cóntent belong

that good?" I was

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

Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical power to

only one I knew who could do

remove her

I do is mere child's play compared to

for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should

No, no," I said quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

Veronica." I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this if it weren't for

dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to

merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the

still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic

reading." Veronica said. "I've only just started. Maybe

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

and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space.

at my 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,

Nicholas said

napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the

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

down," Nicholas said.