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?"

motioned toward the merfolk

them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to

anything but

because looking at Veronica, I was really

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 who made the

her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else.

Cóntent belong

I was

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

said. "It will require the highest amount of

was the only one I

remove her curse?"

sighed. "What I do is mere child's

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

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

"If I were stronger-*

could

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

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

I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a

just started. Maybe there's more I

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

returned 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 good

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 her, and that she loved it

Nicholas said to the

to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be

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

to cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm