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?"

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 and how to properly evaluate

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

anything but happy

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

power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course, if the person who made the curse removes

was the one to 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 Jane, the curse on Elva

Cóntent

was beginning to suspect that it

in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say

Veronica said. "It will require the highest

the only one

her curse?" I

Not by far." She sighed. "What I

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

no. No, no," I said quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

into her line of vision so she could

I

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

help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully

said. "I've only just

her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I

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

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

Nicholas said

after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't

stood side by side. We both

cool down," Nicholas