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?"

read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book

book talked

anything but happy

asked, because

and the magical power level needed to

make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

was beginning to suspect

this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the best color, that it indicated a curse easiest to

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

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

you remove her curse?"

She sighed. "What I do is mere child's

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 sorry," Veronica

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

"If I were stronger-*

my head into her line of vision so she could

talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not

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

I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This

only just started. Maybe there's

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

walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view was pretty good from the

called, "Nick-lass! Look at my birdie!" She showed her folded 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

Frank," Nicholas said to

quickly after that 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

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

down," Nicholas