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?"

I read 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 to properly

them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove

anything

I asked, because looking

of the incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove

that won't 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 never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If left to

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect

this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was

"It will require

Veronica was the only one I knew who could

you remove her curse?"

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

built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the

no. No, no," I said quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know

head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew

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

Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a

Veronica said. "I've only just

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

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

house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica

Frank," Nicholas said

to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to

way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We

down,"