“I think we’refine, Brynne,” said Aru. “There’s no one behind us, and if Mini moves, there’s a higher chance that someone will spot us. I say we stay put.”
“I say we switch!” said Brynne.
“Aru, Brynne, let’s not fight,” said Aiden. “We need to stayfocused.”
“Okay, fine,” said Brynne, stopping and holding out a fist. “How about we rock, paper, scissors it?”
Aru crossed her arms. “I amnotrisking my life on a game of rock, paper, scissors.”
“Ooh, I love that game!” said Mini.
Something happened at that moment. Aru could sense it even before she realized what it was. In her excitement, Mini had moved too fast, and Dee Dee must have touchedthe metal wall of the dome.
Their magic shorted out. It was just as Agni had said: the dome rendered celestial weapons powerless. Instantly, Aiden’sscimitarsstopped glowing, and Vajra transformed into a lifeless ball in Aru’s hand. She stashed it in her pocket.
Worst of all, Dee Dee’s shield melted, leaving them completely exposed.
“What was—?” started Aru, but before she could finish, Aidenclapped his hand over her mouth and pulled her backward.
Just as Aru was ready to bite him, Aiden lifted his hand and silently pointed at the Heartless.
Before, the eyes of the Heartless had been blank, their bodies still as statues. Now, their pupils—a furious, inhuman red—fixated on Aru and the others. The army took a step forward in perfect unison.
“I was wondering when you’d show up,”allthe Heartless said at the same time in different voices.
The hairs on Aru’s arms prickled….
The crowd of zombies parted as two figures walked—well, one slithered—toward them:
Takshaka, the naga who had betrayed Queen Uloopi.
And Surpanakha, the rakshasi princess. Strapped across her back was a heavy bow, and dangling loosely from her hand was a long golden arrow. It was so bright that it lookedlike a shard of sunlight.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you,” she said.
“Meet you, meet you, meet you …”the Heartless echoed.
