A Series of Aru Shah Oneshots

If Aru Shah had another massive cliffhanger

A/N This is set in the future, after TOW. It doesn't really make sense along the canon timeline, so this is kind of an AU, I guess? Consider this my 100 follower special!

I had the Mark of Athena cliffhanger in mind while writing this, so read at your own risk >:)

Aru blasted another demon with Vajra, and panting, turned to survey the scene.

Her friends had fanned out in a ring as the Sleeper's army attacked them. Her stomach sank as she watched their movements become slower and more sloppy. She probably wasn't much better.

A group of rakshasas charged her. She electrocuted them, but only a few fell, and more rushed in to take their place. Great. They were fighting an army, and half of them decided to come after her.

"As a kid, when I said I wanted more attention from my dad," Aru grumbled to herself, sweeping out her lightning bolt in another wide arc and stepping back, "I meant a phone call. Maybe an apology card. Or--"

Suddenly, something tugged her ankle and she tripped. She got to her feet but the same sensation pulled at her leg, making her stumble.

With a chill, Aru looked down and saw shadow tendrils weaving up from the grass. She tried to dispel them with Vajra, but they curled around her legs and wove up her body.

The rakshasas backed off, showing their teeth in eerie smiles. They'd separated her from her friends, she realized as she frantically looked around the battlefield. Their job was done.

Aru thrashed but the shadows held her tight. Her lungs constricted and she couldn't find the breath to cry for help. Kidnapped by my dad, again? Really? she thought dimly.

Someone sprinted for her. Aiden. He slashed at the shadows with his golden scimitars but they weren't affected at all. The shadows started to reach for him too.

"Get away," Aru choked. "Before you get taken with me."

"I'm not leaving you behind!" Aiden grabbed her free hand and pulled, but she seemed rooted to the earth. The shadows started converging at his feet.

"Go!" Aru shouted. Her voice broke as she whispered, "Please, Aiden."

"I'm not losing you again," Aiden said, holding Aru's eyes with his dusky gaze. He wore a look that she knew meant he had made up his mind.

Her throat tightened and she could only nod, overwhelmed.

As the shadows leaped up around them both, covering them entirely, Aru pulled Aiden into a hug, blinking back tears. She needed to know warmth still existed as the world grayed around them and finally vanished.