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?"

this book." She motioned toward the merfolk

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

Veronica looked anything but

good news?" I asked, because looking at

is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to

daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around,

said. Cóntent

that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

it pulled my heart out a little. I

the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical power to

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

her

I do is mere child's play compared to

myself crashed and burned 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

"If I were stronger-*

enough, Veronica." I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm

herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

the merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the only one with

said she would appear again to me when I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could

just started.

meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew

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

Elva 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

said to

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

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

cool down,"