"East Maharashtra. You have to know that." He sounded annoyed.

"No, we don't know." Bethany persisted. "What country is this? Just tell us, please."

"India, of course." He threw up his hands. "Stop trying to distract me, you kids. I know what you're doing. You're going to have to tell me where you're from, no playing games. I'll figure out what to do with you tomorrow. I suppose you need a place to sleep?"

The house was one swash of bright color against another. Vivid fabrics hung from the ceilings and draped the lights, casting the rooms in glows of red and orange. A fire crackled in the front room fireplace, and soft couches cluttered the floor, woven with patterns of beautiful green, gold, and yellow silks. The wonderful smell of home cooking filled the air. Erec took a deep whiff. Indian food.

Two young kids were playing a game in front of the fire. Erec and Bethany watched them, unsure what to do.

"Welcome to our home," Rajiv said. "It will soon be a guest house for visitors to Tadoba Park. We stay in the basement, make the meals."

"It's lovely." Bethany looked around.

A woman rushed at Erec. She was wrapped in a colorful silk sari, the purple-and-red pattern melting into greens at the bottom. Her long black hair was pulled into a bun. "Oh, no." She was shaking her head with disapproval. "No, no, no."

Erec was about to excuse himself and leave the house, thinking 101.

that she must not like the looks of him. He could certainly understand why. But then the woman grabbed his wrist and yanked him into a bathroom. Bethany followed to watch. The woman unscrewed a bottle and doused a cotton ball with its contents. She dabbed it over the scrapes on Erec's chest.

"Ow." He winced. "That hurts."

"It will feel better soon." She tsked, shaking her head. "You'll need new clothing. I think you'll fit into Rajiv's. What attacked you?"

"A crocodile." Erec actually thought the scratches on his chest were probably from his own claws, but how could he explain that? The woman drew her breath in horror. She blotted Erec's chest again without thinking. Somehow, knowing a crocodile had attacked him made him need extra attention.

"And a tiger," Bethany added. She tilted her chin up with a hint of a smile.

Warmth filled Erec. He realized that she was proud that he was able to fend off the dangerous animals.

The woman looked confused. "And a tiger?" she repeated. Erec could tell she was deciding whether to believe them. He hoped Bethany didn't blurt out that he had breathed fire and scared it away.

"Well, the tiger didn't really attack us," he said. "It just came close."

The woman put her hand over her heart. "I don't even want to think about you kids out there in the preserve alone. Let me get you clothes and some food. Then we'll find your parents. I'm Sunita, by the way."

Sunita rushed off and brought back clothing for Erec. He changed into a white, long-sleeved collarless shirt, with embroidered stitching decorating the top. It hung below his knees. The white cotton pants were oddly shaped too, and seemed wide 102.enough on top for three men to fit into, but they narrowed to fit his lower legs better. He pulled a drawstring at the top, gathering all the extra fabric into a big bunch. At least it was hidden under the long top. It felt like he was wearing pajamas, which actually was what Sunita said the pants were called, even though they were not meant for sleeping in.

Bethany laughed when she saw him and he felt his face get hot. "Hey, you look pretty good in that thing," she said.

Hearing that made him feel much better, even though he guessed she was just trying to cheer him up. They sat with the kids in front of the fire. "My name's Shreena," the little girl said. She pointed at Erec's amulet. "I like your necklace. This is my brother Sunil. What are your names?" Erec noticed Sunil wore a smaller version of his outfit. Shreena's shirt was shorter and pink.

"I'm Bethany, and this is Erec." Bethany smiled at the kids. "What are you playing?"

"Poker." Shreena batted big eyes at them. "Want to join?"

"Maybe later," Sunita said, appearing with large silver plates loaded with steaming rice and different foods. It smelled delicious. "Let them eat first."

Bethany looked at her plate in wonder. "What is all this? It smells so good." She tasted a little steamed pancake.

"That's patodi," Sunita said. "And those are varhadi prawns. And rice. The crunchy bread is dhapoda, it's like papad. And the soft bread is chapati. That's a potato, cauliflower, and tomato bhaji." She looked excited at their interest. "Let me know if you like. I'll be cooking for English-speaking visitors soon. We haven't met any tourists yet."

Bethany tasted the prawns and her eyebrows shot up. "These are amazing! I've never had anything like this before. And both breads are so good."

"Use the bread to scoop the food," Sunita instructed.

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In between bites, Bethany said, "I've never had Indian food before."

"You haven't?" Erec asked. "Why? Did you think you wouldn't like it?" Then he felt bad for asking. Most of Bethany's life had been spent with Earl Evirly, who had been posing as her uncle. He never gave her anything. There was no way he would have taken her to a restaurant.

"Oh, this is nice!" A familiar woman's voice filled the room. Erec glanced around but did not see anybody.

"Erec, I'm over here, on the chair." His eyes darted to the chair under the window. "No," the voice said, "on this side of the room, by the fireplace."

He jerked to see, almost spilling the food on his plate. Who knew him here? But nobody was there.

A laugh rang in the air. "It's me, Mom. You forget me already?"

Erec smiled with recognition. Of course. He had forgotten about his mother's Seeing Eyeglasses. "No, I didn't forget you."

"Looks like you're doing okay. How's the quest going?"

"I don't even know what the quest is yet. I'm in India." He held his plate of food up a bit. "Met a tiger today and a crocodile." Only silence followed, so he quickly added, "I'm fine. Nothing bad happened. Just scared them off."

He heard June sigh. "I see Bethany's with you. Did you take anyone else?"

"No. It's just the two of us this time. We have to get to the Oracle in Delphi, Greece. Not sure how we'll get there, though. Any ideas?"

June laughed. "Got any money for a plane ticket? I could call and arrange it for you."

"Our whole bag of it got stolen by monkeys." Erec grimaced. "And Alypium money probably wouldn't be good here, anyway."

104.

"Gold, Erec, is good anywhere," June replied. "As long as you know the right people. Speaking of that, who are these people? Did you meet them in India?"

"I just met them," he said. "They're really nice." He smiled at Rajiv and Sunita. Then he noticed they were staring at him, shocked. "Uh...I better go, okay?"

"Sure, sweetie. I'll check on you again in a few days. I'm trying not to bother you too much. Bye, honey."

"Bye." Erec's voice was soft as he gazed around the room. Everybody was looking at him. Usually Bethany could think of something to say to explain things, but even she was speechless.

Rajiv asked, "And who were you talking to, boy? I didn't see anybody there."

Erec was silent. What possible explanation could he give for what had just happened? How stupid was he? Why couldn't he have just not answered his mother? He hadn't even thought about how that must have looked.

And why hadn't June realized? Maybe she'd just assumed anyone with Erec would know what was going on with him.

"Um..." Erec stared at the stunned faces around the room. His heart sunk. These nice people would not want some freak staying in their house. And he was a freak. Breathing fire. Sprouting scales. Talking to an invisible mother. He had no place on Upper Earth anymore. It had been his home, but no longer.

Rajiv stood. "You just talked to someone here that we can't see. Don't deny it." He poked a finger toward Erec with each word. "We can tell with our own eyes."

"I'm sorry, I..." Erec put his plate down on the couch. "I should go."

Bethany looked worried. "He just...does that sometimes. He's sorry," she said. "He won't do it again. Erec's a good kid, really."

105.

"I'm sure he is." Rajiv smiled thoughtfully. "But see? He said he wants to go." Rajiv rubbed his hands together. "I know what is happening. He is being led somewhere by the unseen. And I'm sure I know where he wants to go."

Erec couldn't believe his ears. What was Rajiv talking about?

"Where?" Bethany asked.

"To see Swami Parvananda. That is the only possible explanation." He sat down, satisfied. "A boy appears, attacked by a crocodile and a tiger but unharmed, does not know what brought him here, and he is talking to spirits." Now he was looking at his wife. "He is being led by the gods, maybe Ganesha, to somewhere. And the only place here where that would be is to Swami Parvananda. Our yogi guru. His presence sometimes calls people to him."

Sunita, Shreena, and Sunil sat and stared at Erec and Bethany like they were a television show. Maybe they were waiting to see the next crazy thing Erec might do. He was tempted to jump up and shout, "Boo!" but that would confirm whatever it was they were thinking, so he stayed quiet.

"And where are your parents?" Sunita asked. "Do they know where you are?"

"My parents are dead," Bethany said.

"I don't know who my parents are," Erec added. He did not feel like talking about his adoptive mother in New Jersey, especially as he might end up explaining that he had just been talking to her.

Rajiv nodded forcefully. "See? Of course. It all fits." He pounded his fist into his palm. "I'll take them in the morning to see the Swami."

106.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Swami Parvananda.NONE OF THE five boys in the overly plush game room of the Stains' mansion looked quite right. If you were to see them, you would probably turn away and pretend that you hadn't, rather than go introduce yourself.

Dollick Stain was odd without question. Wooly white hair covered his head and ran down the sides of his cheeks like a beard gone wild, sprouting all over his neck and chest, despite the fact that 107.

he was only thirteen. Pointy white ears poking through his tight white curls, plus his thin face, only made him look more like a sheep.

Damon Stain had striking steel-blue eyes, as his brothers did, but his seemed a bit out of focus. On his head sat the floppy gray hat he always wore, sticking out at an odd angle from his head. Under it he had what looked like an oversize dog bone growing from the top of his head.

The third Stain triplet, Balor, had the windswept black hair of his brother Damon. He was the only one who had a chance of looking normal. Unfortunately, the wild glint in his eyes and his manic expression took care of that possibility.

The other two boys did not do much to inspire confidence, either. Tall, blond, and gangly, Ward Gamin was smirking and dressed far too warmly in an oversize coat that flapped around him oddly. Rock Rayson was blond and beefy, and had the habit of flexing his arm muscles whenever someone looked at him. Today he looked surly.

"Go sit on a Hydra pie," Rock snarled at Balor. "I don't care what you say. My dad said I'd be one of the three kings. Hecate Jekyll promised him."

"And where is she now?" Balor laughed. Damon joined in with a goofy guffaw until Balor slapped him on his head. "Baskania promised us we'd be the next kings. The Stain triplets. Can't beat that."

"But I'm the one who won all those contests with you guys," Rock whined. "Dollick just hung out and...grazed or whatever he does. This is the thanks I get?"

"You'll get your thanks when I'm all-powerful." Balor stifled a grin. "You'll be high up in the food chain."

"You didn't actually think they were going to let you rule," Ward's eyes mocked Rock. "The Stains will be lucky if they even get to touch the scepters once the Shadow Prince gets his hands on them."

"Shut up," Balor sneered. "Nobody's taking my scepter away from 108.

me. Not even Baskania, the great Shadow Prince." He stuck his chin in the air. "Plus, why do you think he chose us anyway?"

"Uhh..." Ward scratched his head with a sarcastic look. "Great question, actually."

Balor rolled his eyes. "It's because we're superior, doofus. Our father is Mauvis Stain, one of the greatest sorcerers on the planet, and we've inherited his abilities."

"Yeah, right." Ward pointed a thumb at Damon, who was kissing and cuddling a rubber pizza that he'd been carrying. "Bunch a' brainiacs."

Rock bunched his fists up. "This is garbage. You'd never let me me talk like that to you." He glared at Balor. talk like that to you." He glared at Balor.

Balor Stain cocked his fist back at him. "That's because you never have anything interesting to say."

A tall figure materialized in front of the boys. Two eyes were on each of his ears which, at the moment, were larger than normal to fit them, and more eyes covered his hands. He held up a finger to quiet them while he watched something.

Baskania turned around, gazing through his many eyes. As soon as he faced away, Damon began jumping up and down, scratching his armpits like a monkey.

"Stop it, bonehead." Balor batted him with the rubber pizza. "He's got eyes in the back of his head."

Sure enough, several dark eyes peered through his black shiny hair, looking wildly about. Luckily for Damon, they were occupied seeing things far away.

Baskania swung about again. "I have news for you boys. I want you to be on the alert for something."

He looked down his nose at Ward and Rock. "Having friends over? Show some respect and kneel before the future kings and emperor." Ward's and Rock's faces clenched in pain as a force slammed 109.

them onto their knees, then smashed their faces on the floor, arms stretched out in front of them. "Much better," Baskania sneered. The two boys lifted their heads, but remained stuck on their knees.

Baskania tapped his chin thoughtfully. "It has come to light recently that Erec Rex's friend Bethany Cleary, Ruth's daughter, has a secret. One that she doesn't want me to know. She almost told this secret to Oscar Felix a while ago. If she had, of course my informant would have reported it to me right away. But, unfortunately, he waited awhile to tell me that she had a secret at all, not realizing the urgency of the matter. I would like to have learned about it earlier."

He cleared his throat, a look of disgust on his face. "If I had found out about this secret before, I would have captured Bethany when I saw her last at the Labor Society and found out what it was. I'm very disappointed that I lost that opportunity. However, I will find her and learn what she is hiding one way or another. As soon as Oscar next sees either her or Erec Rex, I will be there, rest assured."

Dollick bleated, "Baaa-ut I thought you went to capture Erec Rex and his friends in the Castle Alypium when Oscar found out they were there and King Piter was gone. Baaa."

Baskania's many eyes narrowed to slits. "Do not speak in front of me ever again, you wooly simpleton. They escaped somehow before I could find them." A few of his eyes gazed out a window, and the rest remained glaring at Dollick. "I should have killed Erec Rex immediately when I saw him last," he mused. "Little good he did pulling that torn quest out of Al's Well. I'm not too worried, though. He managed to get away from me a few times now, but his luck won't last."

He focused on the crew in front of him. "I want you five boys to watch for Bethany Cleary, and Erec Rex, too. I've taken too much time dealing with him. He was so pathetic and weak last summer, he wasn't a threat. But now he has two dragon eyes, which I would 110.

greatly like to own. I need to capture him before he and his amulet grow any stronger."