“Why did you want to meet us? Why now? You could have reached out to us, to me, at any time in the past, but you didn’t. Why?” Perhaps my questions seem too aggressive, because Assi and her companions bristle. My sisters gather closer to me, and I wonder if I’m going to be handling blood. I hope not. I am wearing one of my favorite dresses.

Taraana places a hand on Assi’s shoulder and the woman glows. Whoa. I wonder what their relationship is. Or maybe the boy makes everyone he touches glow. He seems like he would.

“I will tell you, but…” He pauses, so I seize the chance.

“But not here,” I say. I look around the dark garden, bare of any flowers. The dark house promises ghosts, and I’m not in the mood to entertain hauntings. I want to talk to this boy but not in this place.

“It is not safe to talk elsewhere,” Assi says before the boy, Taraana, has a chance to respond.

“Why?” Valentina asks.

“That…,” the boy says, looking at Assi, hesitating.

“What if I promise that we’ll keep him safe?” I say, and my sisters look at me as if I’ve just announced that I’m giving up desserts.

“How can we take your word for it? Do you think you’re strong enough to resist the monsters chasing him? Chasing us?” the middle worlder woman with green thorns sticking out of her neck says.

“Do you want a demonstration of our powers?” Our hotheaded Ligaya takes umbrage at the woman’s words.

“Fine, if you’re not willing, we’ll leave,” I say, and nod at Areum, who lays her open palm on the garden wall.

“Wait,” Taraana says, and we all look at him. He tugs at his collar and lowers his head. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, you won’t.” Assi immediately overrides him.

“Yes, I will, Assi. I need to do this.” His voice is firm, and the feather-haired woman’s lips flatten.

She looks at me, and her gaze promises to tear me into thin strips before she roasts me. Her gaze is very eloquent. “Keep him safe and bring him back.”

I look at the boy and raise both my eyebrows. He doesn’t seem to find her domineering. Huh. I wouldn’t like her attitude if I were him, but I’m not and I never will be. I just need to know what he has to say, and then I can return him to her and continue on my way. No big deal.

The boy walks over to me. He looks so lost that he reminds me of my girls. I grab his hand, intending to comfort. It’s an unconscious action and I mean to let go after I squeeze it, but he latches on. Great job, Paheli. He’s going to become a duckling and follow me around.