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?"

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

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

looked anything but happy

I asked, because looking

purpose of the incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power

on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane

said. Cóntent

good?" I was beginning to suspect that

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

the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of

was the only

her curse?"

Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared

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

no. No, no," I said quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

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 any of this if

herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you were

the only one with enough power to have a

had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully

only just started. Maybe there's more

I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I

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

at my birdie!" She showed her 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

said to

rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately,

way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned

to cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm