Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Pandava Quartet #3) - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,88

say. “You know, it’s hard not to see stuff clearly. I should know. I’m color-blind. But think of it as just experiencing reality…differently.”

“Oh, well, that’s lovely,” said Shani, clasping his hands. “And I do like hugs.” The planet extended his arms.

“We’ll hold the door for you, Rudy!” called Brynne, taking another step forward.

Meanwhile, the bug kept inching its way toward them. Aru pointed at it wildly. Finally Brynne noticed. She aimed her wind mace at it, trying to blast it out of the way. It flipped upside down, then righted itself. It seemed even more determined now. A glinting silver light emanated from its hard shell. It clicked its wings.

Uh-oh.

The bug charged forward. Aru realized it was heading straight for Shani’s duck-slippered feet.

Rudy gave Shani a quick and awkward side hug. Shani started talking about how terribly sad it was that no one seemed to read poetry anymore. Aiden darted forward, Nikita bouncing across his back, as he tried to stab at the bug with his scimitars, only for Mini to block him.

“It’s a living thing!” she said.

Shani said, “Quite right, child. Literature is a living thing, much like myth itself! Fairy tales gain new life with every retelling and such. Very wise of you—”

“That living thing could get us all killed!” shot back Aiden, trying to spear it once more with his blade.

Shani frowned. “Kill? Well, people have died for the right to make art….”

Time slowed as everything spiraled out of control. Mini tried to trap the bug in a force field, but her aim was off and she only ended up bouncing the beetle into the air. Aru spun Vajra in her hand, thinking she could net it…. Unfortunately, Brynne aimed her wind mace at the same time, which sent the beetle arcing through the air. Too late, Rudy spied it. He leaped up, his palm outstretched….

But instead of batting the beetle out of the air, he sent it flying right toward Shani’s face.

“I’ve been meaning to reread Twilight. I could never decide if I was on Team Edward or Team Jacob, and I— Oop!”

The beetle smacked into his forehead.

Aru froze.

The beetle froze.

Shani froze.

EVERYTHING FROZE.

Then the beetle scuttled over his nose, and the planet screamed, “IT’S ON MY FACE! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!”

“Keep your eyes shut!” called Aiden.

Brynne jumped to the side, frantically directing them all toward the Door of New Day. Aru started to run. Twenty steps, now fifteen…

But then the earth trembled. A tendril of ice wound through her heart as Aru realized that Shani had lifted his head.

Not the Tiny Legs!

Brynne, as strong and sturdy as ever, didn’t even blink.

“Don’t look back! Just go!” she ordered the Potatoes.

Aiden sprinted ahead, holding on to Nikita’s feet as he ran. One jump, then two, and he’d made it to the threshold of the Door of New Day. The door sparkled, and Aru could almost imagine the sensation of its strange, cool metal beneath her palms, like a pond that wasn’t frozen but whose surface she couldn’t breach.

“Come on, Shah!” called Aiden.

The ground shook under Aru’s feet, tripping her forward. Aru risked a glance over her shoulder and saw that Shani had flung the beetle off his forehead and was now scrubbing furiously at his face. He blinked once, and a smoking line of fire shot straight out of his eyes. The glare of it sent spots blinking through her own vision. His burning gaze fell on a birdbath, which, two seconds later, split down the middle like a banana.

“So revolting!” shouted Shani. “Where’d it go? Someone kill it!”

“It’s gone!” called Mini. “Just keep your eyes closed!”

But Shani wasn’t listening. He kept blinking, searing a new hole in the land each time. Rudy darted past him, clutching his messenger bag to his chest, and caught up with Aru.

“Well, there goes the garage!” howled Shani. “Manda will be furious with me!”

Aru could see the Door of New Day shining brightly not ten feet away, along with Aiden’s outstretched hand. She tried to take a step forward, but the ground opened right in front of her, plunging into a fifty-foot-long chasm that separated her, Brynne, Mini, and Rudy from the door.

Brynne hollered at them to move, and Shani loudly squealed, “I CAN STILL FEEL ITS TINY LEGS ON MY NOSE!” A burst of fire lit up the air behind Aru, and she felt as if a thin line of flames had started to nip at her heels. Shani was turning his gaze toward her and she needed to