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?"

trick' was actually an incantation 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 evaluate and remove

If the book talked about how to remove

looked anything but happy

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

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

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

Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that it

said 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 to say purple was the best color, that it

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

only one

remove her curse?"

"What I do is

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 the diagnosis was not very good. "I'm

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

"If I were stronger-*

could see my face and know that

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

oracle," Veronica said. "She's the

from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't

only just started. Maybe there's more

bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how

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

showed her folded bird to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained

Frank," Nicholas said

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

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

cool down,"