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?"

incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how to properly evaluate and remove

up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe

Veronica looked anything but happy about

asked, because

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

less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to

said. Cóntent belong

purple. Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that it

flatly. 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,

the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest

was the only one I knew who

remove her

"No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is

Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that

quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

so she could see my face and know that I'm

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

the

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

only just started. Maybe there's more

the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would until Elva was completely

to her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The

just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica

Frank," Nicholas said

of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to

distracted, Nicholas made his way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned to

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm