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?"

this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses

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

looked anything but happy about

that good news?" I asked, because looking at Veronica, I

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 who

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,

Veronica said. Cóntent

that good?" I was

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

curses," Veronica said. "It

Veronica was the only one I

you remove her

deepened. "No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to what

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,"

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

her head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how

the merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the only one with

said she would appear again to me when I had removed doubt from 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

"I've only just started. Maybe there's more I

you," I told her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her.

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

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, and that she

Frank," Nicholas said to the

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

stood side by

needed to cool down,"