Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Pandava Quartet #3) - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,221

an object caught her around the middle like a hook, snapping her backward. She fell to the ground, clawing at the earth, scrabbling to get back to her sisters. But whoever caught her was stronger. And faster.

“Aru!” screamed Nikita.

Aru was dragged back nearly twenty feet before the hook released her. She slumped to the ground as Vajra zoomed around her, surrounding her with a lightning net. She pushed herself to a standing position, her heart racing. Shadows poured out of the torn ground once more, but this time they blanketed the grove in a poisonous-looking fog. A low laugh filled the sanctuary, and the trees quivered.

Aru knew that laugh. She heard, even, the traces of what it had once been—the kind of deep belly laugh that warms the people who hear it.

Not anymore.

Aru jerked her head around but saw nothing.

The fog floated toward her. She had to act. Now.

Aru snapped her fingers, and Vajra flattened into a hoverboard beneath her feet. Something grazed her wrist, but she was quick. One leap and she zoomed over the fog, back to her family. She tumbled to the ground, and when she righted herself, Vajra was a powerful spear in her hand.

The Pandavas formed a tight circle. Rudy hissed, slapping the earth with his tail. Brynne whirled her mace. Mini held out her Death Danda. Nikita crouched on the ground, her fingers in the earth. Aiden had his scimitars at the ready.

But no fight came.

Nothing barreled toward them.

A low, dark voice spoke:

“You see what I can do? What I can take from you?”

Aru squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself not to recall Suyodhana’s memories. His pain. His love.

It’s not him anymore, she told herself.

But she hated the part of her that wished it was.

“It’s almost impressive how far incompetence can take you these days,” said the Sleeper.

“Thanks,” said Aru, steeling her voice. “We try.”

“And you will fail,” said the Sleeper, simply. “You see, children, this war is mine to win. It always has been. If I have to spill your blood, I will not hesitate. But I will give you an option to live a little longer. For I am—”

“Inevitable?” asked Aru.

The Sleeper paused. “What?”

“Please don’t tell me you were going to steal your villain line from Thanos.”

A different voice, off to the left, asked, “Do we know him—?”

“Quiet,” said the Sleeper.

There was a sharp smack! followed by a whimper.

Brynne pointed out a shadow to the left and some newly trampled grass. The walls surrounding them groaned, as if being pressed by hundreds of heavy shoulders. Aru’s gaze flicked to the tree of paint and the willow tree closest to them, looking for any signs of movement among the branches.

“The truth is I am inevitable, Aru Shah,” said the Sleeper. “I am war. And I am destiny. Now give me the girl.”

From behind her sisters, Nikita hollered, “There’s NO way I’m helping you!”

The air rippled. Sheela appeared, gagged with a shadow and bound with silvery ropes. Her eyes looked frantic, but she held up her chin.

“And what about her?” asked the Sleeper.

Nikita faltered. She looked to Aru and Brynne, torn. Aru set her jaw.

“Use your powers to bring me to the wishing tree, and I will return your sister to you,” said the Sleeper. “After all, you cannot win a fight against an army you cannot even see.”

Aru’s hands balled into fists as she stared at the ground, the Sleeper’s words running through her mind. Only one word caught hold: see.

The time for the prophecy had run out. Today was Holi. People would be celebrating. Feasting. Throwing colored powders at one another….

Aru’s eyes darted to the paint tree on her left. Brilliant colors dripped from its boughs. There was a smudgy quality to it, its bark made with daubs of paint. The branches were slender paintbrushes, and from their bristled ends hung wet fruit of every shade imaginable.

An idea took root.

Aru caught Aiden’s attention. He looked at her questioningly, his scimitars still raised in anticipation of a fight. She subtly pointed to the tree of paint, and then to him and Rudy. Their eyes went wide.

Next, Aru tapped into her sisters’ minds.

Get ready. We’re going to celebrate Holi.

Green Is Not Your Color, Trust Me

Aru tightened her grip on Vajra.

The six of them had lined up next to each other. Nikita’s lip trembled as she stared at Sheela. Aru squeezed her shoulder, and Nikita looked up at her, her eyes shining, before her eyes searched the grove full of twisting black shadows.

“First…give me my