We got the green light to share the first chapter of Roshani Chokshi’s second installment of the Pandava series for Rick Riordan Presents, Aru Shah and the Song of Death. It’s so good, we’re going to let it speak for itself. Enjoy!

New Demon Who Dis?

Aru Shah had a gigantic lightning bolt, and she really wanted to use it.

But if she used it now, she risked attracting the herd of zombies currently swarming through the Night Bazaar.

“This is the worst Saturday ever,” moaned Mini, clutching her celestial weapon like a teddy bear.

While Aru’s soul father—the god of thunder—had gifted her a lightning bolt named Vajra, Mini’s soul father—the god of death—had given her an enchanted danda stick named Dee Dee.

The two of them crouched beneath a table by the Frozen Yogurt and Dreams stand, watching through the gaps in the wood as Otherworld citizens ran screaming, dropping grocery bags, or, in the case of one bull-headed rakshasa, walloping a zombie over the head with a tote full of tomatoes.

Overhead, a loud announcement blared:

“ATTENTION , ATTENTION ! WE HAVE LOCATED AN UNWANTED DEMONIC PRESENCE IN THE AREA. PLEASE EVACUATE THE NIGHT BAZAAR. ATTENTION, ATTENTION . . .”

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