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 properly evaluate and remove

said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how

looked anything but

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

and the magical power

own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would

Cóntent belong to

good?" I was beginning to suspect

case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the best

curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest

Veronica was the only one I knew

her curse?"

"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 the diagnosis

said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

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. "We wouldn't

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

the only one with enough power

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

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

the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I

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

my birdie!" 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

said

attempt to replicate

Together we stood side by side. We

needed to cool down," Nicholas said.