Kara couldn’t finish, but Aru knew what she would’ve said.
Sisters.
Garuda’s fierce expression softened. “It is a kindness, child, though you may not see it as such right now,” he said. “This is the balance that must be struck. Sometimes life is full of loss, but at least you will not know of it.”
“But I just found them,” said Kara, staring at her feet, and Aru felt as though someone had taken a hammer to her heart.
“And perhaps you will find them again someday,” said Garuda. “There may come a time when you prove yourself worthy of the power you once held.” His eyes narrowed at something in the dirt. Aru followed his gaze to where the Sun Jewel lantern rose out of the ground and flew into the bird king’s taloned hand. Garuda stared at it thoughtfully. “There will be other trials, other wonders and terrors. And perhaps their stories will collide with yours. But until then, it is time to say your good-byes.”
Garuda withdrew to speak with Urvashi and Hanuman, leaving Kara to stare wordlessly at the rest of them. Rudy started to say something, but Aiden wisely led him away from the group. He paused only once, as if he might look over his shoulder at Kara. But in the end, he kept walking.
Brynne didn’t meet Kara’s gaze. Her expression was torn, caught between anger at Kara’s first betrayal and maybe sadness, too. Mini looked pityingly at Kara, but she also didn’t step forward. When Sheela made a move to console Kara, Nikita grabbed her twin’s hand and gave a fierce shake of her head.
Kara stood apart from the Pandavas, and while there might come a day when that distance could be crossed, it was not now.
Kara released a shaky breath and then turned to Aru. “I really wish we could’ve been sisters.”
“Me too,” said Aru, struggling to speak past the lump in her throat. “Maybe another time?”
“Yeah,” said Kara, with an uncertain smile. “Another time.”
The last person to say good-bye to Kara was Krithika. Aru didn’t want to hear their exchange. It felt too intrusive.
Could you give them a privacy bubble?Aru asked Mini through their mind link.
Mini nodded and gently cast a sphere around Krithika and Kara. Aru couldn’t help peeking. Her mother and sister stood barely a foot apart as they talked, and eventually they embraced. Kara started sobbing, her thin shoulders shaking, her brown hair falling in front of her face. Aru kept watching as the sunlight grew fiercer, forming a puddle at Kara’s feet. Mini pulled back her shield, and Kara glanced over her shoulder at the Pandavas. Then she closed her eyes, stepped forward…and disappeared into the light.
The numbness of before hadn’t left Aru. She seemed to be experiencing things in slow motion, as if Time itself wasn’t quite reaching her. She startled when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. It was her mother, pulling her into a hug as the sky turned bright blue and a warm breeze wafted around them. Aru didn’t know what to do next, but she didn’t feel panicked anymore. She felt anchored. The past held pain and the present bore a raw and tender peace, which left only one thing for the future….
Hope.
And Aru Shah had plenty of it.
“Weneedto be prepared,” said Mini, leaning over the dining table with a thunderous look in her eye. “Everyoneis our enemy.Nothingis safe. Andeverythingis a trap.”
“Mini,” said Aru. “It’s a standardized test, not a war.”
The Potatoes were in Brynne’s penthouse for their weekly study session. Mini hated it.I’m the only one who’s taking this seriously!she would usually lament.
Which, Aru had to admit, was true. Nikita and Sheela were too young for the various perils that accompanied high school, like standardized tests and cafeteria “surprises,” so Sheela usually took this time to read while Nikita offered unsolicited fashion consultations to Brynne’s abysmally dressed uncles.
“Now can we eat?” asked Brynne, slouching at the head of the table.
Hira raised her hand. “I’m hungry.”
Sometimes, when Mini wasn’t looking, Hira would stand behind her, shape-shift into Mini’s form, and pantomime tugging out her own hair and swooning dramatically. It was very funny. Of course, Mini didn’t think so.
“Come help me in the kitchen,” said Brynne, smiling at Hira.
Brynne thought of studying the way others thought about eating brussels sprouts—it’s really good for you and therefore completely unenjoyable. Aru had once made the mistake of pointing this out, only to receive a lecture on the Various Ways Brussel Sprouts Have Been Disrespected by the American Palate.
Cool.
“Guys,focus!” said Mini, smacking the sheaf of papers in front of her. “This could really determine the rest of our lives!”
“Eh,” said Brynne, reappearing in the doorway with a spatula in her hand. “Partof our lives. We’re always going to have Pandava duties. Therecouldbe trouble down the road. Not likely, but definitely still possible.”
Mini harrumphed. “Well, I’m not going to exist on demon standby. I, and by that I meanwe—”
