A blink later, it was in her hand.
“Okay, that’s a little cooler, but still useless in a fight against a demon.”
“Give thanks anyway,” scolded Boo.
“Thanks, Universe,” said Aru. “Even if I die, at least I can be buried with this ball attached to my hand.”
“Not buried,” said Mini. “Wouldn’t you be cremated? I guess that depends on if you want to follow Hindu burial practices….”
“Not helping, Mini.”
“You never know what might turn out to be handy when you need it most,” said Boo.
It looked like he was going to say something else, but then Mini squeaked.
“Whoa!” she said, staring at the compact she’d gotten from the Dharma Raja.
Envy flared through Aru. Did Mini’s gift actually do something magical? Why didn’t hers?
“What’s it showing you?” she asked.
“A zit!” said Mini, pushing her nose to one side.
“What? That’s it?”
“It means I’m growing up!”
“Or it means bad hygiene?” teased Aru.
“Or that,” said Mini. She looked far less excited when she closed the compact.
“So we have a mirror and a glowing ball,” said Aru.
“Yes,” said Boo.
“To fight monsters.”
“Yes.”
Honestly, what was thepointof being a demigod if this was all they got? The shiny weapons were half the appeal anyway! And where was her majestic steed? She’d feel a lot better if she at least had a cape.
“Perhaps you will not need any additional weapons to get all three keys,” said Boo.
“And if we do?” asked Mini.
Boo’s feathers shivered. “If you do, then I must take you to the Night Bazaar.”
Night Bazaar?That sounds awesome, thought Aru.
“Assuming we survive getting the first key,” said Mini.
That thought was less awesome.
Mini looked around at their surroundings. “If this is where Urvashi’s mehndi map led us, then the first key should be somewhere around here….But why would anyone hide a key to the Kingdom of Death in a strip mall?”
The three of them looked around the parking lot. There was a Chinese takeout place and a dry-cleaning store. Also a Starbucks that was missing some letters in its sign, so it read:STA B S.
Aru’s gaze fell on a sign that was a little brighter than the rest:
