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

the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the oracle to appear

Veronica looked anything but

I asked, because looking

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

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

Cóntent

that good?" I was beginning to suspect

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 curse easiest to

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

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

her

Not by far." She sighed. "What I

the ground. Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was

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

"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 earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this if it

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

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

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 stranger. This magic was foreign, even to Veronica. How could I be certain I could trust

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

it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would until Elva

ways, wanting to give her some space.

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 her, and that she loved it and its name was now

Nicholas said to

she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the best

Together we stood side by side.

to cool down," Nicholas said.