“I don’t think we should’ve done that,” he said, staring at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
Aru gave herself roughly three seconds to be sad. Then she shoved the feeling far away from her.
“Are you…Are you okay?” asked Aiden. “Can we still be friends?”
Aru had never missed her lightning bolt more. Vajra would have happily electrocuted him on the spot.
“Am Iokay?” said Aru, taking a menacing step toward him.
Aiden nervously stumbled back. “Aru…? It’s not you, it’s—”
“Finish that sentence and even without a lightning bolt I willfryyou,” said Aru.
Aiden shut his mouth.
“No, Aiden, I’m notokay. My birthday was crap. My half sister hates me, and my weapon is gone.” Aru drew herself up. “I’ve literally got an entire world to save in nine days! I don’t have time for this!”
“Uh—” said Aiden, his eyes widening.
Aru flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Sure, Aiden, we can be ‘friends,’ mostly because I don’t need this nonsense on top of everything else. But when this is over, don’tevertalk to me again. That should be easy enough for you.”
And with that, Aru turned on her heel and stomped away. She caught sight of Aiden’s reflection in the mirror. He looked stunned. And handsome…
But mostly stunned.
Ha, thought Aru, even though she felt a terrible digging sensation behind her ribs.
It was only when she’d reached the exhibit and saw Brynne’s thunderous frown and Mini’s shocked face that she realized she’d accidentally broadcast all that through the Pandava mind link.
Brynne spoke telepathically:He might be my best friend, but I will beat the—
I wish you’d told us!Mini cut in before Brynne could finish.If you start crying, please drink water. Dehydration is serious!
Brynne:Really, Mini?
Mini:I’m looking out for her! Aru, what can we do?
It doesn’t make sense, said Brynne.There has to be a reason why he’d backtrack like that. Let me talk to him—
No way, said Aru.Please, just let it go.
Neither Brynne nor Mini looked convinced, but at that moment Aru’s mom cleared her throat and raised her hand to get their attention.
“Oh, hi, Aiden,” said Krithika. “I thought your mother was coming?”
“She’s on her way,” said Aiden. He lifted his camera, avoiding all eye contact with the girls. “I, um, I got the footage of Sheela’s fake prophecy to show you.”
He glanced at Aru, Brynne, and Mini. When none of them spoke, he pulled the images out of his screen, where they hovered in midair. Aiden must have filmed it secretly, because the angle was all off, and Aru could barely see the lower halves of Sheela’s and Nikita’s bodies. Judging from the glittering floor, they were in Urvashi’s dance studio.
“—a vision?” said Urvashi off-camera. Her voice was pinched with concern.
Sheela began to shake. Aru heard Nikita whisper, “Don’t overdo it.”
Sheela’s voice rang clear as a bell.“You cannot see, you cannot know, where the Pandavas will go….If you seek them, you shall find…destruction of another kind….”
“Aiden!” shouted Urvashi sharply. “Why are you filming this? Get help!”
“Sorry,masi,” Aiden muttered.
