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?"

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

and I perked up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked

looked anything

asked, because looking

"The purpose of 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 the person

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

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

I appreciated her bluntness. She was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a

the curses," Veronica said. "It

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

remove her curse?" I

"No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere

It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the

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

"If I were stronger-*

I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We

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

the

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

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

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

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

onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given

said to

to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica

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

to cool down,"