Mini Gets a (Spooky) New Power
“Go into ancient tunnel. Check.”
Aru held out Vajra as a lantern, which revealed a ceiling of dark kelp waving above them like the tangles of a sea giant’s beard.
Mini squeaked. “This is creepy.”
“Says the girl in the goth outfit,” teased Aru.
“I’m going to get eaten!”
“They’d probably use you as a toothpick,” said Brynne. “I, on the other hand, would bean entrée.”
Aru rubbed her temples. “I can’t believe you’re bragging about being eaten first. Whodoesthat?”
“Brynne does,” said Aiden. He clutched his camera protectively to his chest.
“I’m just pointing out that I make a better meal,” said Brynne, twirling one of her dozens of trophy bracelets. “Than anyone.”
They walked down the damp passage slowly. Mini had charmed Dee Dee into a sphericalmirror that cast light andilluminatedcorners, but it still wasn’t enough to remove the undeniable essence ofcreepythat lurked there.
“At least it’s mostly dry,” Aiden said cheerily. “I thought we were going to have to swim.”
“Piece of cake for Aru. The rest of us? Not so much,” said Brynne. “How come you can do so much underwater? It makes no sense. Indra is the sky god, not the sea god.”
Aru shrugged. “I dunno.”
“Maybe your mom’s part nagini?” suggested Aiden.
“Nope,” said Aru.
“What about your real dad—?” Brynne tried, but Mini cut her off with a swift shake of her head.
Aru pretended she hadn’t seen Mini’s gesture, but she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t heard the question. Herreal dad. It sounded simple, but it wasn’t. The Sleeper might be her biological father, but he wasalso their enemy … the reason behind the demonic mischief, the shadow of fear that had fallen over the Otherworld, even their quest to find the thief of the god of love’s bow and arrow. When Aru thought of him, she didn’t picture the person who had cradled her as a baby…. She saw a puppet master pulling strings behind a dark curtain.
“Well, that’s the only explanation I can think of,” said Aidenawkwardly. “Otherworld kids always inherit their parents’ traits.”
“Does that mean you dance really well, Aiden?” asked Mini. “Like an apsara?”
“I. Don’t. Dance.”
“Um, yeah you do!” said Brynne, laughing. “One time, Aiden didn’t know I was there, and—”
He clapped his hands over his ears.“La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la—”
“I’d ask my soul dad where I got the underwater skills, but it’s not like hetalks to me,” said Aru, mostly to herself, before adding, “ever.”
Vajra glowed, and the light seemed sorrowful to her. Mini touched her shoulder briefly.
After a time, Brynne said, “No Pandava’s soul dad is allowed to speak to them directly.”
“Yoursdoes,” Aru pointed out.
Brynne’s shoulders fell. “Not … exactly. He keeps to the rules and doesn’t interfere, but he did sometimes send messagesbefore I was officially claimed, through my half brother Hanuman. Not often, though. When I got my first Otherworld trophy, Vayu sent a tiny whirlwind of daisies to my room. And there’s other ways I know he cares…. Like, I never have to wait for my baking to cool. I just ask the air to blow on the food, andvoilà! Room temperature. Pretty useful for cooking.”
“Not to pry,” said Aru, totally prying,“but how long have you known you’re a Pandava?”
Brynne shoved her hands deep into her pockets. “Since last autumn.”
