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?"

in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top

If the book

anything but happy

because

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

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

Veronica said. Cóntent

purple. Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that

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

is the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical

only one I knew who could

you remove her

I do is mere child's play compared to

hope I had built up for 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,"

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

"If I were stronger-*

could see my

couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe

"She's the only one with enough power to have

to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was

Veronica said. "I've only just

I told her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew

ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water.

"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

said

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

over to me. Together we stood side

down,"