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?"

actually an incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how

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

Veronica looked anything but

good news?" I asked, because looking

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 curse

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

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

good?" I was beginning to suspect that it

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

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

power? Veronica was the only one I knew who

her curse?"

She sighed. "What I do is mere

It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the diagnosis was not very good. "I'm sorry,"

said quickly. "This isn't on

"If I were stronger-*

to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that

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

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

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

only just started. Maybe there's more I

told her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure

her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some

house. She explained in

Frank," Nicholas said to

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

we stood side

to cool down," Nicholas said.