Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Pandava Quartet #3) - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,4

of Mini’s illusion abilities. “Mini, can you make the clairvoyant’s booth look like all the others?”

Mini’s hand tightened on her shoulder. Through the mind link, Aru sent a message to Brynne: We’re going to need one more powerful gust.

Aru felt a gleeful answering tremor from Brynne. Done and done.

A flash of blue came from far below. At the same time, Aru heard Mini whisper the command “Hide” as a violet shimmer burst in the air like colored sugar crystals. The twins’ battered compartment blinked back into view as the Ferris wheel began to turn—slowly, then fast and ever faster until its lights blurred. Even Aru couldn’t tell anymore which booth held the twins. The rakshasa’s grip loosened and he tumbled, his bull head knocking against the metal spokes as he dropped from one rung to the next.

“Hold tight!” Aru said to Mini.

She urged Vajra through the sky, and the lightning board took a sharp dip, careening toward the earth. Aru and Mini jumped off the hoverboard, and Brynne and Aiden raced to meet them. Brynne twirled her mace like a baton, and the Ferris wheel screeched to a halt.

The rakshasa had hit the ground near a compartment and was sitting up, shaking his head. “Feeble effort,” he growled, slowly rising. “I know they’re here, and you’re too late.”

Aiden brandished one of his scimitars, but Brynne held back her friend. The demon hobbled over to the booth, and when he reached it, Aru shifted Vajra into a spear and pointed it.

She waited for Mini’s quick go-ahead nod, then took a deep breath, aimed, and let loose. Electricity rippled around the door just as the rakshasa grabbed the metal handle. He howled as a surge of lightning shot through his arm, sending him crumpling to his knees. Vajra rebounded into Aru’s outstretched hand. Instantly, Aiden, Brynne, and Mini had their weapons pointed at the demon.

The rakshasa raised his head, clutching one arm to his chest. Behind him, the compartment was smoking and the door had been blown off, revealing nothing inside.

“What did you do to the seer?” he screeched as he struggled to his feet. “I need that prophecy!”

Once again he wielded his S-shaped stone, but Aru was quick. Her lightning bolt erupted into a crackling net and sprang toward the demon, covering him completely. The rakshasa tried to pull out his sword, but the net held him fast.

“Too bad you can’t find your way,” said Mini, spinning Dee Dee so that a shimmering illusion wrapped around the rakshasa.

“Too bad about that freak wind,” said Brynne, waving her mace so a cold gust blew against him.

Aiden leaped forward and tossed a glowing scimitar across the cement. “Too bad about that fall,” he said, grinning.

The blade tripped the rakshasa. He let out a terrifying roar right before he knocked his head on a telephone pole and promptly passed out.

Aiden, Brynne, and Mini dropped their weapons and surrounded their unconscious foe. Vajra the net gave the demon one last squeeze before boomeranging back to Aru’s wrist as a bracelet.

“That. Was. Amazing,” said Mini.

“Correction,” said Brynne, pocketing her mace. “We are amazing.” She nodded toward three other rakshasas that she and Aiden had knocked out and dragged to the side of the road.

“That too,” said Aru.

“Aren’t we forgetting someone important…?” said Aiden. “The clairvoyant? The ginormous prophecy?”

Mini pointed to a booth three spots up from the sizzling ground-level compartment. Brynne summoned a new wind that turned the Ferris wheel gently. Once it stopped, Mini waved Dee Dee and the air in front of one booth rippled and twisted, as if someone were tearing down a curtain to reveal a compartment wrapped in black vines. From within, a green light pulsed faintly.

“You guys can come out now,” called Aru.

The light cut off abruptly, and the vines started to retract with a wet, suctiony sound, like tentacles letting go. Aru lifted her chin proudly. They’d done it. They’d rescued the twins and beaten back the rakshasas and kept the prophecy out of the Sleeper’s clutches. Aru grinned, thinking of how the Council would react once they got back.

Two days before the assignment, Aru had overheard Boo loudly defending them: The Pandavas are ready for anything! I’d stake my feathers on it!

Don’t worry, Boo, Aru thought now. Your feathers are safe and sound.

And when Aru caught sight of herself in a rain puddle, she thought her hair looked pretty good. So that was a plus.

Aiden moved beside her. As usual, he was reaching for his camera, Shadowfax. But