It didn’t want to move. I tugged a bit harder, careful not to damage the golden fruit. Surprisingly, it felt like a real mango with leath-ery smooth skin, even though it twinkled with dazzling golden light. I braced my body on the branch again, yanked firmly, and was finally able to pluck it from the stem.
All at once, my body iced over and became rigid, and my mind was carried away in a black vision. A burning heat seared my chest, and I stood in complete darkness. A ghostly figure started making its way toward me. The misty features swirled around a shape and solidified into a form. It was Mr. Kadam! He was clutching at his chest. When he removed his hand, I saw the amulet he was wearing was glowing red hot. I looked down and saw mine too, glowing in the same manner. I tried to reach out to him, and I spoke, but he couldn’t seem to hear me or I him.
Another ghostly figure swirled up across from us and slowly took form. He was gripping a large amulet as well. When he became alert, he turned his eyes to Mr. Kadam. Immediately, he focused his attention on the amulet Mr. Kadam was wearing.
The man was dressed in expensive, modern clothing. His quick eyes showed intelligence, confidence, determination, and something else, something dark, something . . . evil. He tried to take a step forward, but a barrier of some kind prevented any of us from moving.
His expression tightened and twisted into a vile rage that, though quickly suppressed, continued to swirl like a stalking beast behind his eyes. Black, desperate fear congealed in my stomach as the man turned his attention to me. He clearly wanted something.
His eyes examined me carefully from head to toe and then settled on the glowing amulet around my neck. Gleaming malice and loathsome delight swept over his face. I looked at Mr. Kadam for support, but he was studying the man meticu---lously as well.
I was very afraid. I cried out for Ren, but even I couldn’t hear my own voice.
The man pulled something from his pocket and started muttering words to himself. I tried to read his lips, but he seemed to be speaking in another language. Mr. Kadam’s features were becoming transparent. He was becoming spectral again. I looked at my arm and gasped as the same thing started happening to me. My mind swirled dizzily. I felt like I was going to pass out. I couldn’t stand anymore. I fell down . . . down . . . down.
22
Escape
When I opened my eyes, I was staring up into Ren’s face.
‘Kelsey! Are you okay? You fell. Did you faint? What happened?’
‘No, I didn’t faint!’ I then mumbled, ‘At least I don’t think I did.’ He was holding me in his arms, cradling me close, and I liked it. I didn’t want to like it, but I did.
‘You caught me?’
He lectured, ‘I told you I wouldn’t drop you.’
I muttered sarcastically, ‘Thanks, Superhero. Now put me down, please. I can stand.’
Ren set me down carefully and, to my great dismay, my legs still wobbled. He reached out a hand to steady me, and I howled, ‘I said I can stand! Back off a minute, would you?’
I had no idea why I yelled at him. He was just trying to be helpful, but I was frightened. Strange things were happening to me that I had no control over. I also felt embarrassed and was overly sensitive about him touching me. I couldn’t think straight when he touched me. My brain got all fogged up like a mirror in a steamy bathroom, so I wanted to get away from him as soon as possible.
I sat down on the stone border of the pool and put my tennis shoes back on, hoping the dizziness would soon pass.
Ren crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at me. ‘Kelsey, tell me what happened, please.’
‘I don’t know exactly. I had a . . . a vision, I guess.’
‘And what did you see in this vision?’
‘There were three people, Mr. Kadam, some scary man, and me. All three of us wore amulets, and they were glowing red.’
He dropped his arms and his face became serious. He asked quietly, ‘What did the scary man look like?’
‘He looked like . . . I don’t know, a mob boss or something like that. The kind of guy that likes to be in control and kill things. He had dark hair and black, glittery eyes.’
‘Was he Indian?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe.’
Fanindra had curled up at my feet in her jewelry position. I picked her up, slid her onto my arm, and then looked around desperately. ‘Ren? Where’s the golden fruit?’
‘It’s here.’ He picked it up from where it had fallen at the base of the tree.
‘We should hide it.’ I picked up my backpack and yanked out my quilt. I reached for the fruit and took it from Ren’s hand carefully, mak-ing sure our hands didn’t touch, and then I wrapped it in my quilt and stowed it in the backpack. I guess I’d been a little bit too obvious in my desire to avoid touching him, because he was scowling at me when I looked up at him.
‘What? You can’t even touch me now? Nice to know I disgust you so much! Too bad you couldn’t convince Kishan to come with you so you could avoid being with me altogether!’
I ignored him and yanked my shoelaces into double knots.
He gestured toward the city and smiled mockingly, ‘Whenever you feel recovered enough, rajkumari.’
I glared and poked him in the chest. ‘Maybe Kishan would have been less of a jerk. And for the record, Mr. Sarcastic, I don’t like you very much right now.’
He narrowed his eyes at me. ‘Welcome to the club, Kells. Shall we proceed?’
‘Fine.’ I turned my back to him, adjusted the straps on the back-pack, and marched off on my own.
He threw up his hands in exasperation, ‘Fine!’
I hollered back, ‘FINE!’ and walked stiffly back to the city with him following silently behind me, fuming.
When we passed the first building, the ground started shaking. We stopped and turned to look at the golden tree. It was sinking back into the ground, and the two pool halves were moving back together. There was a strange glow coming from inside the four monkey statues.
‘Uh, Kells? I think it might be wise to exit the city as soon as possible.’
We double-timed our pace and jogged briskly between the buildings. I heard a hiss and a screech, followed by several more. Monkey statues were glowing and coming to life. Something moved overhead.
Small black and brown figures leapt across buildings following us. The screeches became cacophonous, and the noise level was incredible.
I yelled over at Ren as I ran, ‘Perfect! Now we’re being chased by hordes of monkeys! Perhaps you would care to name their species as we’re attacked, just so I can appreciate the special traits of said monkey as it kills me!’
He ran along beside me. ‘At least when the monkeys are harassing you, you don’t have any time to harass me!’
The monkeys were getting close. I almost tripped over one as it darted in front of my legs. Ren leapt over a fountain with his tiger power. Show-off.
‘Ren, you’re holding back. Just get out of here! Take the backpack and go.’
He laughed acerbically as he ran ahead of me; then, he turned to look at me while jogging backward, ‘Ha! You wish you could get rid of me that easily!’
He ran a bit farther ahead of me and switched to the tiger. Then he barreled back toward me and actually leapt over my running body into the throng of monkeys to slow them down.
I shouted back at him while still running, ‘Hey! Careful where you jump, Mister! You almost took my head off!’
I kept on course, pumping my legs as fast as they would go. I heard terrible noises behind me. Most of the monkeys had switched to full-on attack mode. Ren was biting, slashing with his claws, and roaring thunderously. I looked back over my shoulder. Brown, gray, and black monkeys covered his body and clung to his fur. A dozen or so monkeys were still chasing me, including the huge baboon from the reflect-ing pool.
I turned a corner and finally saw the drawbridge. A monkey leapt and latched itself onto my leg, slowing me down. I tried to shake it off as I ran.
Batting at him ineffectually, I hollered, ‘Stu-pid mon-key . . . get . . . off!’ In response, he bit my knee.