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?"

"That magic trick' was actually an incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses

sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the oracle

anything but happy

good news?" I asked, because

purpose of the incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it.

daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

was beginning to suspect

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

is the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will

was the only one

remove her curse?"

by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to what

for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault.

no. No, no," I said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

line of vision so she could see

head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not

Veronica said. "She's the

I still didn't know if I could

said. "I've only just

hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would

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

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

said

an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the best she

to me. Together we stood side by

down,"