Urvashi smiled sadly. “What isfairand what isjustdo not always look the same. I know only that I believe in you, but I cannot help you beyond offering thispiece of advice: as with any lost item, the best way to find it is to speak with the owner first.”
“You mean Kamadeva?” asked Aiden.
“That’sallyou want us to know?” asked Mini.
Urvashi sighed. “Though it doesn’t help you, know that I do not agree with the naga queen’s decision.”
“What’s Uloopi’s problem, anyway?” asked Brynne.
Urvashi’s eyes looked far away, and even though she was eternallyyoung, she seemedoldin that moment. “She is very powerful, and she suffered a great tragedy. I believe it hardened her. Besides, she bears an incredible burden.” The apsara raised her hand in blessing. “Be well, children. I eagerly await your return.”
Withthat, she dissolved into the moonlight.
Aru looked around at her questmates: Mini, trying to pretend she wasn’t feeling anxious. Aiden,seemingly preoccupied with his camera. Brynne, who clearly wished she and Aiden could go off on their own. Not exactly primed for success.
“Well,” said Aru, “I guess it’s time to go shopping.”
Brynne was immediately drawn to a shelf markedSHARP THINGS. Mini ran a finger along the one that readMISCELLANEOUS SIDEKICKS. It held bottles marked with things likeTALKING DEMON-HORSE,WITTY GHOST, andUNREMARKABLE DRAGON.
Aru saw apples with golden skin, and those silver pistachio cakes from Indian weddings that always look better than they taste. Aiden had walked over to a shelf markedKITS OF NECESSITYthat had small satchels filled with different materials such asSUNSHINE ON YOUR SKIN,A GULP OF AIR,A FIVE-SECOND PAUSE,TWO NAPS SQUEEZED INTO TWO SECONDS,and evenA CLIF BAR.
Arucouldn’t decide what to get. There were too many options, and she had no clue where they were going after this. She walked over to a shelf markedBRIGHT IDEAS. It was covered with slender glass vials, each filled with a cloudy, colorless liquid. Something about them drew Aru closer. She moved to pluck one off the shelf when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
“No, Mini, I don’t think it’s poison,”said Aru tiredly. “And yes, if it was, it would probably kill me.”
“It’s not Mini?”
Aru whirled around to see Aiden. He had his hands shoved in the pocket of his dark green hoodie.
“What do you want?” asked Aru, not very nicely. She didn’t feel very nice after Brynne had ridiculed her in front of him.
Aiden flushed. “Listen, I know we got off to a bad start. I was thinking we should all juststart over. Is that cool?”
Aru glared at him. What did he want, a friendship bracelet? She crossed her arms and then, after a moment, let them fall to her side. Borrowed Jay-Z lyrics or not, Hanuman was right. Fighting would get them nowhere. She wasn’t going to hold on to a grudge if that meant Boo would stay imprisoned and she’d be exiled. Aru took a deep breath. From here on out, she resolvedto be the best, heroine-est version of herself. She was ARU SHAH. Devourer of Twizzlers and Swedish Fish. Bearer of a Ridiculously Powerful Lightning Bolt. Daughter of the God of Thunder and Lightning. Vessel of Movie Quotes.
She was not going to let herself feel embarrassed in front of anyone. Especially not Brynne and Aiden.
Aru smiled at him, then looked over at Mini, whom she hoped wouldsay something likeGood diplomatic Pandava move.
Instead, Mini sent over a mind message:You’ve got something in your teeth.
Aru stopped smiling.
“Fine,” she said. She held out her hand.
“Really?” asked Aiden, smirking.
Aru said nothing, mostly because she was still trying to work out whatever was stuck in her teeth.
Aiden sighed, then shook her hand. “Still can’t believe you’re a Pandava.”
Aru glared, and sparks of electricity shot off her lightning bolt bracelet.
Aidenquickly stepped back. “Not in a bad way! It was just weird to look across the street and realize—”
“Hold up,” said Aru, raising her hand. “So youknewI was a Pandava before the gods told you?”
Aiden went wide-eyed.
