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?"

a breath. "That magic trick' was actually an incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top

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

Veronica looked anything but happy

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

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

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 Jane, the curse on Elva would

Veronica said. Cóntent

Is that good?" I was beginning to

it pulled my heart out a

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

Veronica was the only one I knew who

you remove her curse?" I

far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to

I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from

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

"If I were stronger-*

could

I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how

"She's the only one with enough power to have a

arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This

said. "I've only just started. Maybe there's

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

her some space. I looked out over the water.

deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child

Frank," Nicholas said to

in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the

stood

down," Nicholas