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?"

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

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

Veronica looked anything but

news?" I asked, because looking at Veronica,

to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier,

own daughter no less. I'd come to accept

Veronica said. Cóntent

that good?" I was

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 a curse easiest

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

of power? Veronica was the only one I knew who could do

remove her curse?"

frown deepened. "No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I

stomach dropped down 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

said quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

Veronica." I inched closer to her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this if it weren't

head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not

"She's the only one with enough power

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

"I've only just started. Maybe there's more I

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

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

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

said

quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately,

we stood side

to cool down," Nicholas said.