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?"

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

said 'remove them'! That should 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 appear

anything but happy about

I asked, because

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

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

Veronica said. Cóntent

that good?" I was beginning to

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

"It will require the highest amount of magical

Veronica was the only one I knew who could do

you remove her curse?" I

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

burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should

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

"If I were stronger-*

her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm

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

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

would appear again to me when I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't

only just started. Maybe there's more I

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

walked off a little ways, wanting to give her

stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given it to

said

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

stood side by side. We both turned

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