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?"

was actually an incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the

be exciting, 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

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

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

said. Cóntent belong to

that good?" I was beginning to suspect

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 best color, that it indicated a curse easiest to

said. "It will require the

power? Veronica was the only one I knew who

remove her curse?" I

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

me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's

I said quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

of vision so she could see my face and

talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you were

the merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the

me when I had removed doubt 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 was foreign, even to Veronica. How could I be

only just started. Maybe there's more I

my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would until

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

She showed her folded bird to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child

Nicholas said to the

to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able

Elva distracted, Nicholas made his way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm