“But if we know exactly where to go, isn’t that…good?” said Mini.
Rudy winced.
“What’s the problem?” asked Aiden.
“Um, theguards?” said Rudy, wide-eyed. “I’ve never been down there, so I don’t knowwhoorwhatguards those treasures, but my dad says that it’s protected by the greatest fear of the weakest men.”
“What doesthatmean?” asked Aru.
Rudy shrugged. “I dunno. On our school trips, we just took a picture by the balcony vantage point. No one goes into the ruins anymore. Too dangerous.” He squared his shoulders. “But I can get us there. We’ll have to leave tonight, though.”
Brynne threw up her hands. “Tonight? Why can’t we gonow? We’ve already lost so much time!”
“We have to wait until my parents go to sleep before we can use the fancy elevator,” said Rudy apologetically. “In the meantime, I’m gonna grab us some food and stuff. Get comfy!” He flailed a hand at the different hallways shooting off from his own private lobby/room/thing. “There’s a war arena down there. I didn’t know what to do with it, so it’s mostly my recording studio. Showers and pools thataway.”
With that, Rudy opened his door and slipped out.
“This’ll give us time to eat, freshen up, take a quick nap,” said Aiden calmly. “I’ve got some chocolate. Want some, Brynne?”
“I’ve got no appetite,” she said.
Aru and Mini exchanged shocked looks. Brynne Raoneverturned down a snack.
You okay?asked Mini through the mind link.
Brynne sent a mental grunt down the line.
Gonna take that as a solid “maybe,”said Aru, but Brynne didn’t seem amused.
“C’mon, Aiden,” Brynne said. “Let’s run through some drills. I gotta stay sharp. I want to try out some new shape-shifting forms, and I can’t get…”Weak, she finished telepathically.
Aru wondered if Brynne had meant to think that aloud, because without another word she turned on her heel and stalked off in the direction of the arena. Aiden looked over his shoulder at Aru. For a moment, it seemed like he was trying to catch her eye, but Aru didn’t look back. Every time she did, she missed Vajra’s electrocuting properties too much.
“I’m worried about her,” said Mini when she and Aru were alone. “I’m worried aboutallof us. And that test Agni mentioned…What if I screw it up?”
“That’s impossible, Mini,” said Aru. “You’re the most neurotic and good-est demigod I know.”
“That’s not a real word, Aru.”
“See?” Aru grinned. “Nothing gets past you!”
Mini laughed. “I wish I was like you sometimes.”
At this, Aru’s grin faltered. She didn’t know how to tell Brynne and Mini that, for all her plans, she still felt lost. What if, when the time came, she did exactly the wrong thing? Aru changed the subject.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I think Rudy likes you just the way you are.”
Mini’s shoulders slumped. “Pretty sure what he liked most was all the power I had. Key word:had.”
“Don’t think like that,” said Aru. “It’s like what Boo said…We’re more than the things we fight with, right?”
Mini held her gaze. “And is that how you feel?”
Aru paused. Mini had her there.
“Thought so,” said Mini.
That night, Aru didn’t think she’d ever fall asleep, but one moment she was staring at the wall, and the next…
