“But”—Aru held up the lantern—“the nectar of immortality is in there….”
“And so ishe,” said Krithika. “There has to be another way.”
Aru’s head started spinning. She thought of Sheela’s wispy words:I’m sorry.
For what?thought Aru, panic racing through her veins. Sorryfor what?
“Oh gods,” said Krithika, her eyes widening.
Aru followed her gaze to where the shadows had begun to peel away from the column, revealing something in its depths, something backlit by the glow of the nectar that was tucked far into its interior. A tower of rocks stretched nearly fifty feet into the air, its pieces sliding in and out of place, making it teeter dangerously.
It was going to fall.
On them.
Now Aru understood Sheela’s apology. If Aru struck the tower with her lightning bolt, the rocks would fly in all directions and still hurt them. Mini was too far away to cast a shield, and for all Krithika’s armor, her head was unprotected. Aru could turn Vajra into a hoverboard for a quick escape…but it would not hold both of them. Aru could cast a net of electricity, but it wouldn’t be able to contain that many rocks.
The shadows cinched around them. Outside the circle, the growls and chattering of the Sleeper’s soldiers returned. There was nowhere for Aru and Krithika to run.
“Aru,” said her mom, her eyes wide, brimming with tears. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. But you have to get out of here. You have to leave.Now.”
Aru went numb. She was about to watch her mother die. She knew it in her bones.
No.
No.
No.
Aru grabbed her mom’s hand. Overhead, the rocks slid and started thundering into the ground. A wave of dirt rushed up, and Aru couldn’t find enough air to pull into her lungs. Pebbles slashed her face and dirt sprayed into her eyes. Vajra flashed wildly, sparks of lightning breaking against the sudden dimness.
Aru felt a sudden pressure in her ribs and the sensation of flying backward only for Vajra to catch her, suspending her in a net of light.
“Mom,”croaked Aru, blinking rapidly.
But her mother was fine.
And she was not alone.
The Sleeper stood in front of her, breathing heavily, his hand thrust out. Whorls of darkness swirled around them.
“Suyodhana,” said Krithika Shah, taking a tentative step toward him. There was a world of feeling on her face.
“Why?” asked the Sleeper, staring down at Krithika with haunted eyes. “Why is it that no matter what happens, I can’t seem to stop caring? I couldn’t let it—”
He gestured at the rocks, which had now been reduced to sand by his own powers. Not far away, Aru saw Nikita locked in combat with Kara near the nectar of immortality. A cage of thorns closed up around them, cutting off all visibility.
“It doesn’t have to be like this, Suyodhana,” said Krithika. “Maybe there is some truth, after all, in starting over…but not like this. Not with so much damage. Not with Time overturned and the world laid to waste.”
“I cannot see any other way,” said the Sleeper, his voice hollow. His eyes met Krithika’s, and a fragile wonder snuck into Aru’s thoughts. When he had lassoed Aru and thrown her backward, had it been because he’d wanted to keep her out of harm’s way? Was the real reason he hadn’t drunk the nectar of immortality because…because he couldn’t bear to do it?
Was it possible thathemight change? Was this, perhaps, the solution she’d been looking for? That all would somehow be restored, and her parents might even find some way back to joy?
“Then let us help you see,” said Krithika, holding out her hand. Her wedding ring glimmered there, and Suyodhana looked up at her.
His hand lifted.
Something shot out of the air. Light flashed. The illumination threw her mother into stark relief, and as the object met its target, Aru screamed with all that was left in her soul.
