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?"

I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book

said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the oracle to appear again after

looked anything

asked, because looking at Veronica,

of the incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course, if the person

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 left to Jane, the

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

was beginning to suspect that

case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the best color, that it indicated a curse easiest

curses," Veronica said. "It will require

power? Veronica was the only one I

you remove her curse?"

Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere

for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the diagnosis was not very good.

quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

of vision so she could see my face and know

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

said. "She's the only

I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if

only just started. Maybe there's

heart. I hoped she knew how much

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

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, and that she loved

said to

she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to

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

down," Nicholas said. "I'm