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?"

motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how to

She 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

anything but happy about

asked, because looking at Veronica, I was really

curse and the magical power level needed to

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

Veronica said. Cóntent

was beginning to suspect

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, that it indicated a curse

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

power? Veronica was the only one I knew who

her

I do is mere child's

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. "I'm sorry," Veronica

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

"If I were stronger-*

are enough, 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.

dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

said. "She's the only one with enough power

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

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

told her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would

ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water.

to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had

Frank," Nicholas said to

attention waned fairly quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the best

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

to cool down,"