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 of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how to properly evaluate

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

looked anything but

asked, because looking at Veronica, I was

and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's

that won't happen," I said. Jane was the one to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

good?" I was beginning to

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 little. I wanted her to say purple was the best color, that it indicated

"It

of power? Veronica was the only one

remove her curse?"

far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's

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

I said quickly. "This isn't on

"If I were stronger-*

dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know

with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how

the only one with enough power to have

oracle had said she would appear again to me when 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

just started. Maybe there's more I

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

to her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out

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 roundabout child

Frank," Nicholas said to the

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

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

cool down,"