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?"

about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how

If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't

looked anything but

good news?" I asked, because

frowned. "The purpose of the incantation is 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 who made the curse

come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If left to Jane, the curse on Elva would

Cóntent belong to

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

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

of power? Veronica was the only one

you remove her curse?"

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

to the ground. Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was

said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

are enough, Veronica." I inched closer to her. I 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 of this if it weren't for

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

Veronica said. "She's the only

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.

just started. Maybe there's more

meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she

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

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

Frank," Nicholas said 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 could

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

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm