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

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

anything

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

"The purpose 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 made the

to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or

Veronica said. Cóntent

good?" I was beginning to suspect

supposed I appreciated her bluntness. She was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart

Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount

power? Veronica was the only one I knew who

remove her curse?" I

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

the ground. Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should

quickly. "This isn't on you at

"If I were stronger-*

could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this if

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

said. "She's the only one with enough power to have a

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

said. "I've only just started.

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

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

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 loved it and its name

Frank," Nicholas said to

attention waned fairly quickly after that and 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

we stood side by

down," Nicholas said. "I'm