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?"

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

them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book

looked anything but

asked, because looking at Veronica, I

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

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

said. Cóntent belong

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

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 indicated a

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

Veronica was the only

remove her curse?" I

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

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

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

"If I were stronger-*

could see my face and

talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not

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

heart. I 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

keep reading." Veronica said. "I've only just started. Maybe

bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how

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

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 and given it to

Frank," Nicholas said

to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately,

Nicholas made his way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned to look out over the

needed to cool down,"