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?"

read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains

sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse,

looked anything

because looking at

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

to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

Is that good?" I was beginning

it pulled my heart out

curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest

amount of power? Veronica was the only one I knew who

you remove her curse?"

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

and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions

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

"If I were stronger-*

I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could

her head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

the only one

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 was foreign,

Veronica said. "I've only just started. Maybe

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

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

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 to her, and that she loved it and its name was

Nicholas said

fairly quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the

we stood side by side. We both turned to look out over

cool down," Nicholas said.