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?"

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

'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

looked anything but happy

news?" I asked, because looking

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

make the 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

Cóntent belong

that good?" I was beginning to

Veronica said 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

Veronica said. "It

only one I

her curse?" I

sighed. "What I do is

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 was not

No, no," I said quickly.

"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. "We

I knew exactly how it felt

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

I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This

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

from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure

to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view

from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given it to her,

said to

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

we stood side

cool down," Nicholas said.