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?"

She 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

That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse,

anything

news?" I asked, because

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

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.

Cóntent belong

Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect

pulled my heart out a little.

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

only one I knew who could do any

her curse?"

deepened. "No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere

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 was not very good. "I'm sorry,"

no," 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 my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know

I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to

the

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

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

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

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

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

Nicholas said

to a pile of napkins in an attempt to

we stood side by side. We both

cool down," Nicholas