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?"

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

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

I asked, because looking at

show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to

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

said. Cóntent belong

purple. Is that good?" I was beginning to

never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was

Veronica said. "It will require

only one I knew who could do

you remove her curse?" I

She sighed. "What I do

to the ground. Any false 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

I said quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

could see my face and

clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly

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

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

just started. Maybe there's more I can

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

off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view was pretty good from the

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 way that Veronica had made

Nicholas said to the

quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice

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

cool down," Nicholas said.