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?"

magic trick' was actually an incantation I read about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top

heartbeat kicked up and 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 need to wait for the

anything

because looking at Veronica, I

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

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

said. Cóntent belong

good?" I was beginning

this case, it pulled my heart out a

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

power? Veronica was the only one I knew who could

remove her curse?" I

She sighed. "What I do

It was my own

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

"If I were stronger-*

my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know

I

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

Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic was

just started. Maybe

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

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

had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica

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

distracted, Nicholas made his way over to me. Together we stood side by

down," Nicholas