She whispered something to Dee Dee under her breath, and the violet-tinged veil slowly expanded across the terrain behind them. Aru watched in awe as it stretched hundreds of feet. Mini’s teeth were clenched and sweat had broken out across Brynne’s forehead. Aru wanted to help, too, but her talents were significantlylouder.
“Dad?” called a familiar voice.
It was Kara…Aru’s sister. She looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes. Her brown hair was greasy and pulled back in a messy ponytail. She wore ratty pajama pants and a hoodie two sizes too big with the wordsTHESPIAN CAMP1986 splashed across it along with a picture of the ancient Greek tragedy and comedy masks.
Aru recognized the hoodie immediately. It had belonged to her mom—theirmom—and Aru had loved wearing it to bed. She’d let Kara borrow it one time, and she remembered her sister laughing at the logo.
“Goat song!” she’d said.
“What?”
“Goat song,” repeated Kara, tapping the tragedy mask. “That’s where the wordtragedycomes from!Tragosorgoat, andoidos, which meanssongin Greek. Scholars are pretty divided on how it got that name. People used to compete by performing songs and skits. I think the winner took home a goat.”
“I wouldriotif someone gave me a goat as a prize,” Aru had declared.
Kara had laughed.
Aru felt a lump in her throat as the memory washed over her. When did Kara get the hoodie? Had she gone back for it when the museum was empty?
“You owe us an answer, child,” said the Sleeper now.
He snapped his fingers and the great golden kalash holding the nectar of immortality appeared in their midst, dragged in by a pair of shadows who gingerly set down the glowing liquid. Even from a distance, the air hummed with the presence of the amrita. A sweet perfume infused the air, and Aru felt a little light-headed. Here it was. The nectar that had united gods and demons, split oceans, summoned wonders, and destroyed lives. Such was the cost of attaining a sip of the eternal.
“What news of the amrita?” asked the Sleeper, gesturing to the pot. “Is it safe for us to consume or not?”
Kara fidgeted. Her eyes were fixed on the ground.
I know that look, said Mini through the mind link.
No, we don’t, said Brynne stubbornly.Clearlywedon’t know herat all.
Part of Aru—the wounded part—wanted to agree with Brynne. Kara might be her sister, but she was still a traitor. The Sleeper was her father, after all, and look what he’d done to them.
But something in Kara’s stance nudged a memory in Aru’s skull.
Yes, Kara had betrayed them…but, unlike Aru, she was a terrible liar. And whenever she was about to lie, she looked just like she did now.
“I can’t tell if it’s real yet. I’m sorry,” said Kara, her gaze sliding away from the nectar of immortality. “I think I’m tired. My powers haven’t been working as well. And…and my stomach is hurting.”
Aru rolled her eyes.Your grand excuse is “My stomach is hurting”? Seriously? Always say “I have cramps.” It makes men freak out! No one asks questions after that!
Aru, she doesnotneed—ordeserve—your advice right now, retorted Brynne.
I don’t know about that…said Mini through the mind link.
The Sleeper regarded Kara calmly. “There are those in the camp who seem to think you are delaying us on purpose, child. That perhaps your true allegiance lies with those who betrayed you. I told them such a thing would be foolish. I am right, aren’t I?”
“Of course!” blurted out Kara.
“Then what is the delay?”
Kara stammered, “I—I don’t know!”
“Does your allegiance lie withmeor withthem?” demanded the Sleeper, taking a step toward her.
“You, of course!” said Kara.
But her gaze went sideways, and her right foot hooked behind her left ankle, and Aru knew without a doubt Kara was lying.
