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?"

this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar.

kicked up and I perked up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse,

Veronica looked anything but

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

nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it.

happen," I said. Jane was the one to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would

Cóntent belong to

good?" I was beginning

in this case, it pulled my heart

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

power? Veronica was the only one I knew

her curse?" I

"No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to what

all around me. It was my

I said quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know

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

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

appear again to 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

said. "I've only just

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

to give her some space. I looked out over

onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica

Nicholas said

and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the best she

way over to me. Together we stood

to cool down," Nicholas said.