Rick Riordan Presents Multiverse: The Path of Darkness

A Totally NOT Dangerous Quest

Aru Shah was having a bad day. The museum was in ruins after the Sleeper had come and taken Kara. Her sisters' weapons, as well as her own, had been stolen from them. And everything was in chaos.

"Aru! Aru? Hey, are you paying attention? ARUUUUUUUUUUUU???" Brynne's voice said.

"I-uh-what? How?" Aru stuttered, her mind working a bit to process Kara's betrayal.

"Mini, Aru's brain got fried. You can handle it with your epic knowledge of the human body or something." Brynne called to her sister. Meanwhile, Aiden and Rudy were picking their way through the rubble towards the Pandava sisters, Rudy carefully avoiding every dust cloud.

"So. What are we gonna do now? It's not like we can just go after them, much as I want to." Aiden grumbled. "We have literally nothing that can defeat Kara now."

Aru playfully shoved Aiden. "Don't worry Wifey, me, Mini, and Brynne will protect you!" Aiden glared daggers at her while her sisters laughed from behind.

"Okay, someone please explain that." Rudy said, somehow sounding bored and intrigued at the same time. No one paid attention to him except for Mini, who gave him an I'll tell you later look, which he completely missed. Aru sighed. She really wanted Rudy to finally notice Mini. But honestly, that was a problem for another time. They had bigger ones.

"Aru," A voice said, close to the entrance.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Aru asked as Krithika made her way to the small band.

"Of course I am. It's you I'm worried for. Suyodhana- the Sleeper-has grown even more powerful with Kara back in his possession, not to mention your weapons." Krithika sighed. Aru thought, tell me something I don't know. "On one of my many travels, I've heard rumors of-and you will not believe it-other gods." She let that sink in. Brynne was the first to say something.

"Other gods as in gods we haven't met? Or what?" She inquired. Aru's mom's eyes gleamed with excitement, despite the circumstances.

"Other gods as in Greek gods, Egyptian gods, Norse gods, Mayan gods-a whole bunch! Apparently, our gods-Indian gods-aren't the only gods around." Her mom revealed. At first everyone seemed to doubt this theory a little.

"How come we've never seen or met one?" Aiden asked carefully. "After all, the world is only so big."

Krithika let a thin smile onto her lips. "Perhaps we've never been looking, or they've never wanted to be found." Rudy looked uncomfortably at everyone.

"So...no chance of another perilous adventure where we get the chance to die painfully a thousand times?" He timidly asked.

"Well actually-" Mini was cut off by Aru, saving them from a speech about the many ways they could die. Aru looked to her mom. And saw for the first time how much Krithika trusted her to take care of herself. Krithika noticed her.

"Aw, but just because I'm letting you go doesn't mean you're not my little honey buns anymore." She smiled and hugged Aru tightly, giving everyone else a pat on the back. Mini pouted.

"How come Aru gets the hug, and we get a pat which could dislocate our spines in certain places and that could lead to death?" She said. Before anyone could respond, Krithika interrupted them by reminding them to take Boo. They said their goodbyes, promised Mini that they brought floss, almost forgot Boo 6 times, and restated their goal a gazillion times.

"Okay, so what are you guys going to do?" Krithika quizzed them at the mouth of their portal.

"Ask the other gods for their help in defeating the Sleeper." Aru answered. Through the Pandava mind link Brynne said with force if necessary followed by a smiley face, which Aru didn't even know you could send in a thought. Then suddenly Rudy yelped and they all got sucked into the portal, the last thing Aru saw was her mother flabbergasted.

(643 Words)