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?"

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

great sign! If the book talked about

looked anything but happy about

that good news?" I asked, because looking at

power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course, if the person who made the curse removes

the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that

Veronica said. Cóntent

Is that good?" I was beginning

I 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,

said. "It will require the

amount of power? Veronica was the only one I knew

you remove her curse?" I

She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to what is

for myself crashed and burned all around me. It

no," I said quickly. "This isn't on

"If I were stronger-*

line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this

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

need the merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the only one with enough power to have

my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic was foreign, even to Veronica. How could I be certain I could

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

heart. I hoped she knew how much I

to give her some space. I looked out

Elva called, "Nick-lass! Look at my birdie!" She showed her folded bird to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She

Nicholas said

waned fairly quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate

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

to cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm