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?"

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

and I perked up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need

Veronica looked anything but happy

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

to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course,

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

Cóntent belong

that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

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

said. "It will require the highest amount of

Veronica was the only one

remove her curse?"

Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared to what

hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault.

I said quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know

herself. I couldn't talk. I knew

the only one with enough

didn't know if I could

only just started. Maybe there's more I can

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

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

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

Nicholas said to

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

stood side by side.

down," Nicholas said. "I'm