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?"

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

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

anything but happy about

that good news?" I asked, because looking at

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

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

said. Cóntent belong to

good?" I was beginning to

in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the best color, that

"It will require the highest amount of magical

only one

you remove her curse?" I

Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared

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

quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

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

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

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

just started. Maybe

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

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

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 it and given it

Frank," Nicholas said

a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did

me. Together we stood side by side. We

needed to cool down,"