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?"

She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how to properly evaluate and remove

She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked

Veronica looked anything but happy about

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

the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course, if the person who made

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

said. Cóntent

that good?" I was

flatly. I 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

"It

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

you remove her

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

down to the ground. Any 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 that

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

"If I were stronger-*

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

dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

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

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

said. "I've only just started. Maybe

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

her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space.

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

Nicholas said

she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't

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

needed to cool down," Nicholas