Page 143 of You’re So Vein

The helicopter is getting harder to operate. The weather is turning nasty again, and my fuel gauge is dangerously low. I keep getting knocked around, and the vines dangle over the edge of the roof, just out of Augustin’s reach. I bite my lip as I channel every ounce of my training into nudging Aishwarya closer, closer…

The wind whips up the vines, and he’s able to grab them and wrap them around him. There’s no one down there to pull him up, so he grabs the vine with his hands and starts hauling himself up, hand over hand, like some kind of badass vampire monkey.

My heart soars as my hands tremble on the throttle. He’s halfway up, he’s going to make it—

A huge gust of wind slams into us. I try to right us, but the helicopter drops, slamming the vines into a tree branch and shearing them in half.

Augustin drops into the churning waters below.

52Augustin

COLD.

Rather cold.

53Komal

“AUGUSTIN!” I SWING THE HELICOPTER around. The headlights shine on the churning water, but everything is a black abyss and broken trees.

Where is he?

I study the waters, my heart in my throat. I can’t see him anywhere. If he’s dragged under, into all that debris—

There he is!

Augustin’s head flashes above the surface, hurtling down the street towards the village. He throws his arms out as he slams into the large oak on the other side of the street. I wince. He’s probably cracked ribs. I swing Aishwarya around, hovering above the tree, trying to figure out how to get him.

Vines curl up from his arms again, reaching up up up, their tendrils searching. They wrap around the skid of the helicopter. I grit my teeth. Focus, Komal, focus.

This is probably the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done.

But Hannah is not losing him tonight.

As I keep the helicopter steady, Augustin hoists himself from the water and climbs, hand over hand, swinging precariously over the churning water. I don’t release my breath until his hand appears over the skid and Mamma and Papa haul his sodden body over the side. I have never been so happy to see a damp man crawl across the floor towards me.

With a SNAP, the vines whip free. I turn Aishwarya into the wind, so the force slams the door shut.

“That was amazing,” I tell Augustin.

“Get me onto the ground,” he mumbles as he crawls into a seat and buckles his seatbelt. His whole body trembles.

“Where are we going now, Beta?” Papa asks.

“Black Crag Castle.” I look down at my map. It looks like a clear run if we go quickly.

When the field opposite Alaric’s castle comes into view I find it’s underwater, with several cars floating in lazy circles. The road is impassable due to the number of vehicles parked haphazardly across it, but I discover a clear spot marked out with orange spray paint and the letter K ten feet tall.

My friends saved a spot for me.

I land without incident, and we follow a series of bright fairy lights illuminating the bridge. A hand-painted sign greets us at the door.

WELCOME ARGLETON RESIDENTS

BALLROOM IS UP THE STAIRS AND TO THE LEFT

IF YOU VALUE YOUR FINGERS

DO NOT TOUCH THE SWORDS