did. She would’ve been the same way if everything had been taken from her.
“Once we have the tree, we can fix everything,” said Brynne. “No more war. No more doubt—”
“No more nightmares,” finished Aru.
The box sprang open, revealing three gleaming outfits, and a letter tucked inside a fold. Brynne pulled it out, and a slow smile spread across her face as she showed it to Aru and Mini. It looked like instructions, and right on top, in neat black script, was a single line:
Thanks for turning on the light.
Aru grinned.
Fine, she thought. Maybe little sisters weren’t so bad after all.
“We. Look. Awesome,” said Aru, inspecting her enchanted pants.
They were bright-yellow silk with glittery white swirls sewn on the hem. According to Nikita’s notes, the embroidery was made out of sticky threads that could detach and form a nearly unbreakable rope.
Brynne had on a fuzzy sky-blue jacket designed to act as a parachute—while also keeping her comfortable in any temperature. Mini wore a plum-colored sweater and skirt that not only could serve as armor but also coordinated perfectly with Dee Dee.
“Now can we go?” shouted Aiden.
He and Rudy had been forced to wait for them in the hallway.
“Yes, yes,” said Aru.
The boys trudged into the living room. Rudy stepped back. For today’s ridiculous outfit, he was wearing a white denim jacket, a white tee, white jeans, and blindingly white high-tops. Beside him, Aiden looked like an elegant shadow.
Rudy looked them over. “You guys almost look as good as me.”
“Thanks!” said Mini brightly, but then she frowned once she caught on that it was a typical Rudy compliment. Which is to say, it wasn’t one.
Aiden, for his part, didn’t say anything. He just looked from Brynne to Mini and, finally, Aru. His gaze seemed to linger on her a fraction too long. Long enough that Aru wondered if maybe she should’ve put up her hair or borrowed Mini’s eyeliner or—
“Aren’t you going to agree we look awesome?” she blurted out, lifting her chin.
On one level, Aiden’s opinion didn’t matter. Aru thought she looked awesome and her sisters thought the same, and that was enough. But another part of her wanted him to notice that she wasn’t just some kid scuttling around with a lightning bolt and making Sméagol sounds. That she was a demigod and looked the part.
“You look…” he started to say, before suddenly glancing away.
Aru leaned forward, her skin prickling, but she knew it wasn’t Vajra this time.
“Yeah?”
“Fine,” said Aiden flatly.
Fine. Something behind Aru’s chest sagged a little with hurt, but she shrugged it off. Well, okay, then, she thought, and marshaled everyone to the door.
“Time to make like a tree and—”
“Oh, Aru, please don’t,” groaned Mini.
“I can’t take it,” said Brynne with a sigh.
“LEAVE!” Aru cackled.
Using her ability to conjure exact coordinates, Brynne led them to a busy crosswalk. Around them, bright-yellow taxis honked and scooted their way down the streets. Tall trees swayed beside glossy, luxurious storefronts showing mannequins draped in jewels and silks and lots of other stuff Aru couldn’t imagine actually wearing because it looked super itchy. Across the street lay the alley they were looking for, only it was blocked by a hot dog stand whose owner was fast asleep.
Brynne rubbed her stomach and sniffed the air hungrily. “I could really go for a hot dog.”
“How can you be hungry when we just ate breakfast?” asked Mini.
“I’m a growing girl,” said Brynne daintily.
Aiden rummaged through his camera bag and tossed Brynne a protein bar.
“Woot!” She grinned. “Thanks, Ammamma.”
Rudy looked deeply horrified. “Hot dogs?” asked Rudy. “That’s messed up.”
“They’re not actual dogs,” said Brynne.
“Oh, so they’re like mutant chimera creatures that you just call dogs,” said Rudy, nodding as if this were completely sensible.
“No,” said Brynne.
“Now I’m confused,” said Rudy, shaking his head.
They ventured into the alley, which was crammed with trash and (at least) two dead rats. Aru wasn’t usually squeamish, but hello? Her new yellow pants had not been made for this.
“This is the entrance to the super-fabulous House of Months?” asked Aru.
“Trust me,” said Rudy.
Mini turned to face the opening of the alley. The hot dog owner was still asleep. A couple of people walked by toting their small dogs in huge purses or staring down at their phones.
“Adrishya,” said Mini.
She swiped Dee Dee through the air as if she were drawing a curtain, and a veil of violet light shimmered down between them and the street. When Aru looked through the force field, it was like glimpsing the city beneath water. The