Aru Shah and the City of Gold - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,109

“I’m the one who has taken care of you. I’m the one who rescued you from a terrible home. I’m the only one who truly loves you—”

“That right there is a lie!” yelled Aru. “We love you, Kara. You’re one of us!”

Kara’s gaze flew to Krithika, who was looking at Aru. Then Kara turned to Aru, tears flowing down her face. “Did you know?” she asked quietly. “Did you know she was my mom, too?”

“No,” said Aru. “No, I swear it, Kara. She—”

“We can’t always trust the ones we love,” said the Sleeper in his silky voice. Kara glanced at Aiden, hurt tugging at her mouth. The Sleeper bent down and whispered something in Kara’s ear. Her eyes went wide. Then he drew back and said, “Do you really want our family to fight?”

Kara shook her head.

“Then come with me,” said the Sleeper, holding out his hand. He addressed Aru. “This goes for you too, daughter. Everything I do is in service of our family.”

“Wait, Kara. Don’t go!” pleaded Aru.

On her wrist, Vajra flickered through shapes: one moment a bracelet, the next a ribbon of electricity furiously running up and down Aru’s arms and legs as it tried in vain to free her from her shadow bindings.

Once more, Kara took a step toward Aru.

Aru sagged in relief. At the same moment, the sphere of enchantment faded completely. Brynne and Mini leaped to Aru’s side of the lobby. Mini conjured shadows that whipped through the museum and Brynne sent a tornado spinning toward the Sleeper. He whirled on the two of them, casting out his hands. Light burst around the room as they battled, but Aru focused only on Kara walking toward her.

“Aru,” she said, a sad look in her eyes.

“Cut me loose!” said Aru. “We’ll fight him together!”

Kara pulled her into a sharp hug. “Families shouldn’t fight.”

“I know, but—” Aru started to say.

A rush of cold air hit her neck as the astra necklace fell off. Aru looked at the ground, stunned. Had the chain broken? That should have been impossible. Then she looked up and saw the gold pendant dangling from Kara’s hand.

Aru’s heart beat fast. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, Aru,” said Kara. “Please believe me when I tell you I’m doing this because I love you guys. I don’t want to see any of you get hurt. I…I want us to be a real family. I told you before that I want to do good in the world, and I think…I think I finally know how.”

A second too late, Aru realized what Kara was going to do. Her mind went frantic. She had made the rule herself: No one but a sister could take that weapon-destroying necklace from her. Kara was her sister. And so, when Kara twirled the astra over her head, Aru had no one to blame but herself for what happened next.

Dust and debris churned around them as a powerful gale swept through the lobby. Aru’s bindings dissolved. The roof of the museum blew off, and everyone was sent flying backward, hitting the walls. The wind howled in Aru’s ears, but it was nothing compared to Brynne’s scream.

“NO!”

Brynne looked like she was tugging on something that hovered above her. Her wind mace, Gogo, flashed in and out of visibility. It seemed torn—one moment it glowed blue, and the next it unraveled, dissolving into the wind that swept out of the room.

At the same time, shadows leaked out of the ground, pooling and bubbling on the floor like butter sizzling in a hot pan. Mini cried out in surprise, yanking on her Death Danda, which had dropped by her feet and seemed stuck there.

“Wait! No, no, no!”

Dee Dee melted into the tiles.

Panic seized Aru. Vajra was next.

Stay with me, she commanded it.

As if sensing her growing fear, her lightning bolt shimmered and twisted around her, like an anxious cat.

Fight with me, thought Aru.

She lifted Vajra and her lightning bolt lengthened to a spear. With one last burst of energy, Aru lunged toward Kara.

“What have you done?” snarled Aru, bringing down Vajra. She wanted to slice the astra necklace straight out of Kara’s hands.

But Kara was too quick. She ducked and lashed out with her light trident.

“Get everyone out of here!” Aru shouted over the din to the others.

Brynne, Mini, and Aiden grabbed hold of Rudy, Hira, and the twins, and fled to the front door. Nearby, Krithika lay slumped against the wall, unconscious, while the Sleeper got to his feet and watched his daughters with