Sisters and Graves Read online

  TableofContents

  TitlePage

  Dedication

  Chapter1

  Chapter2

  Chapter3

  Chapter4

  Chapter5

  Chapter6

  Chapter7

  Chapter8

  Chapter9

  Chapter10

  Chapter11

  Chapter12

  Chapter13

  Chapter14

  Chapter15

  Chapter16

  Chapter17

  AlsobyAmandaA.Allen

  Author’sNote

  Copyright

  Sisters&Graves

  ByAmandaA.Allen

  Dedication

  Obvythisonehadtobeforyou,Em.

  Loveyousister

  Chapter1

  MynameisRueHallowandI’mtheeldestoftheeldestoftheeldestofthe Hallowline.ThatlittletrickoffateisimportanttofarmorepeoplethanI’dhave everexpected,butitmeantjacktomysisterBranka.

  “Tellmewhat’swrong,”Ibeggedherforwhatfeltlikethehundredthtime.

  Weweresittingtogetheratthemassivefarmtableinthekitchenofmyhouse, Martha.Thelightwaspouringin,theradiowasplayinginthebackground,and exceptfortheFruitLoopsanddonuts—itcouldhavebeenanymorningofour lives.

  “Idon’twanttogetintoitrightnow.Tellmeaboutthedarkwitchagain.”

  “No.You’vebeenheretwoweeks,andyoustillhaven’tsaidwhatiswrong withyou.”

  “Andthegravesinthewoods,”shesaid,ignoringmeasshetossedherred curls.Itriednottoletthewaysheflungherperfecthairaroundirritateme.I failed.Ifsheevennoticedthelookonmyface,itdidn’tshutherup.“That’s somespookysh—“

  Icutheroffwithmysnapped,“No. Whatisgoingon?”

  “Andyourclasses.”

  “No.”

  “Andaboutthatguywhohasthehotsforyouandthenastyhair.”

  Ipausedonthatone.

  “Youknowhisname,”Isaidsincewebothknewhelivedintheservants quartersofmyhouseandwasaroundallthetime.Thewenchknewme toowell.

  IbetshehadmeandFelixfiguredthemomentshewalkedthroughthedoor.

  “DoyouthinkIdidn’tnoticethatyoudidn’ttellmeabout‘Lixy,”Branka said,narrowinghereyesatme.

  Myeyesnarrowedbackather,butshejusttookamassivebiteofherFruit Loopsandraisedabrow.Shewasfourteenmonthsyoungerandknewmebetter thanIknewmyselfwhichmeantthatshewaswellawarehowhardIwantedto punchher.Thatwasprobablywhyshestartedcacklinglikeacrazedorangutan.

  ThethingaboutBranwasdespitethefactthatshewascurvywhereIwas

  willowy,underthosecurves,shewasstrongerthanshelooked.I,ontheother hand,thoughnotaweaklingcouldn’twinagainsther.Branhadbeenbeatingme ineveryaltercationsinceweweretoddlers.Soinsteadofpunchingherashard asshedeserved,Idumpedmybowlofcerealdownthesink,grabbedmyschool bag,andleftherbehind.Laughingatme—likeajerk.

  *****

  St.Angelusisbothatownandacollege.I’dgottenafull-ridescholarship therewhichiswhyIhadtraveledfromoneofthefarthestpartsofWashington StatetoNewEngland.Thatscholarshipandmymotherwereplentyofincentive.

  Thetownhadancientoaks,lushgreenery,andhadbeensettledbymyancestors whohadalsofoundedthecollege.They’dbuiltmyhouse,Martha,too.Isuppose youcouldcallitamansion,butthatfeltweird.Shewaslayeredinspells,had somethingofapersonality,andwasmyownineveryway.She’dchosenme whenIknockedonhergateandeachdayIwasastoundedbyhowluckyIwas.

  Likemyhouse,thecollegewasoneofthosestoneandbrickplacesthat oozedsignsofpower,money,andexclusivity.I’dbeendelightedwhenIarrived atschoolhavingnoideamyscholarshipwasbecauseofanaccidentofbirth ratherthanmyskill-set.

  Ithadbeenarudeawakeningtorealizethatthe realskillsIhadspentmy lifedevelopingandpursuingmeantnothingto thiswitchcollege.Theywere necromancers.Ilovedbrewingpotionsandthetraditionalcraft.ButI’dbeen determinedtopushonwhichcouldalsobedescribedasnotcallingmymother forhelp.ExceptthenIbecameamurdersuspectanddidcallher.BeforeI’deven startedmyfirstclasses,I’dfacedoffwithapossessednecromancerwhohad killedgenerationsofmyfamilyandI’ddoneitasamurdersuspect.That madnesswasfollowedbyhavingtodealwithanevilnecromancerthathadbeen manipulatedbytheHallowFamilyCouncilandadarkwitchwhokidnappeda littlegirlandmyroommate.Ihadbarelysurvivedeachtime.

  Atthisrate,Ithought,I’dbeluckytomakeitpastChristmas.Sorecovering frommyfirstfewmonthsofcollegehadleftmewithoutalotofsympathyfor whateverBranhadbeenupto.Branka,myonlysibling,pronouncedBrawn-kah hadshownupoutofnowhere.She’daskedforhelpandthenrefusedtoexpand, exceptitcouldn’tbe thatbad.ShewasprobablyjustfleeingourMothersince Branhaddonesomethingtocrippleourmother’smagic.OnceMothergotfull useofhermagicback,therewasnowayBranwasn’tfacinganastyhex.

  WasIcoldtofindherhedgingirritating?Ihatedfeelingtoomuchlikean evilsnakesinceIdid not wanttobemymotherwhowasfullreptileandpartial super-villain.ButBran,Imean…she’dbeenathome.Nothinghappenedthere thatwouldmakeherneedhelp.Especiallyhelpthatmadeherneedtocrossthe

  country.Sowhatelsecoulditpossiblybe?She’dprobablyhitchhikedherway acrossthecountryforrefugefromMotherasthoughIcouldsaveBranfrom Mother.Icouldn’t.Bothofusknewit—whichdidmakemytheorykindof shaky.

  Iwantedtohelpher.Shewasmy sister. Butthiswasn’tagoodtimeforher tojustbeherescrewingaround.Myroommateandcousin,Chrysie,hadbeen kidnappedbythatdarkwitchthathadBransocuriousatthetable.Ihadfeltlike itwasmyfaultshe'dbeentaken,andIhaddoneeverythingpossibletobringher back.Butshe'dstillbeendamaged,shehadbarelygottenherhandback—yes thedarkwitchhadremovedit.Chrysiewasrecovering slowly.Itmadeithardfor metofeelsorryformysisternomatterherreasonforbeinghere.

  “Hey,”IheardBrancallbehindmeandturnedslowly.BranandChrysie werebehindme,hurryingabittocatchupasIheadedtowardsthecampus.

  BecauseIhadto,Ipausedandwaitedforthem.I’dhaveenjoyedaquietwalkto schoolwhereIdidn’thavetoworryaboutmycousinandbefrustratedwithmy sister.

  Chrysiewaseatingabagofpecans.Shewasawkwardlyholdingthebagin herbadhandandpretendinglikeitwasn’tbotheringher,butIknewChrysie betterthanthat.Magicmighthavegivenherbackherhand,butithadn’tmadeit easy.BranwastraipsingafterChrysieasifeverythingwasnormal.

  “Youdon’thaveanythingelsetodobutfollowmetoschool?”

  “Nope,”Bransaidcheerily.Shetossedherredcurlsoverhershoulderand shruggedatme.“IthoughtI’dvisitthelibrary.”

  Imethergazeandshegavemeamischievousgrinthatdaredmetocallher onthatloadofbullcrap.IlookedatChrysie,butshedidn’trealizehowoutof characterthatstatementwasforBran.MyattentionwascaughthowChrysiewas sortofploddingalong—shehadlostherairofpixiness.Itmademewantto screaminfrustration.Whathappenedtomydancing,alwaysonthetipsofher toesfriend?Oh,that’sright.Adarkwitchhadkidnappedher.

  “Brawny,”Isaidflatly,“FortheloveofHecateandHestiacombined,I don’tneedyoutolietomeaboutwhatyoudo.I’mnotMother.Dowhateveryou want.Trynottobetoostupid.”

  “Rude,I am goingtothelibrary.Iread.”

  “T
heydon’thavechooseyourownadventurethere.”

  “Shutyourface.”

  Igrinnedather,andshegrinnedback.Thenshepunchedmeonthebicep.

  “You’regoingtohavetotellmeeventually,”Isaid,shakingoutmybicep.

  ShestuckouthertongueandranupthestepsoftheQuietusBuilding.

  ChrysieandIwatchedBranthrowherselfupthestepstwoatatimeand

  thenlookedateachother.

  “Shemakesmetired,”Chrysiesaidwiththetiniestofsmiles.

  Inoddedandasked,“Didyoutakeyourpotions?”

  “YesMum,”sheansweredandsmiledforreal.“I’mok.”

  Shewaslying.Shewasn’t,butmaybeshebelievedherliesormaybeshe justwantedmetofeelbetter.BecauseIwantedhertofeelbetter,Isaid,“Yeah youare.”

  “Whatdoyouthinkisgoingonwithher,”Chrysieaskedasweswungaway fromtheQuietusBuildingtoheadtowardsourownclasses.

  “Ihavenoidea,”Isaidhardlybelievingmyself,thoughitwastrue.“Idon’t understandwhysheisn’ttellingme.”

  Atthatthought,ItextedJessietokeepaneyeonBran.Mycovenmateand friend,shealsoworkedatthelibraryandcouldeasilycheckin.

  “Givehertime,”Chrysiesuggested.

  “Ifwedon’tfigureitout,mymotherisgoingtocomegether.Ican’treally believethatshehasn’tcomealready.”

  “Orevencalled.IfeellikeyourMomisanaxehangingoverthedoorevery timeIopenit.”Chrysiesaidandthenwincedandimmediatelyapologized.

  Shewasn’twrong.Mymotherwasasnake.Herswasadream.Elspeth, Chrysie’smom,beenvisitingnon-stopsinceChrysiehadbeentaken.Hermom woulddrive10hourstovisitusforaneveningandthengohomeearlythenext morning.She’dbroughtChrysie’slittlesisterstwiceandherdadonce.Iwas aboutoverit.Iwantedthingstogobacktomynewnormal,whichwasmy mostlyemptymansionfilledwithmycovenwhoconsistedofChrysie,Felix, Jessie,andCyrus.Withjustus,thehousewassobigitwasmorelikewewere peoplewholivedaloneuntilwewantedtospendtimewithsomeoneelse.

  “Branisuptosomething,”Isaid.“She’sactingtooweirdtonotbehiding somethinghuge…ashardasthatistobelieve.”

  “Hmmm,”Chrysiesaid.Sheturnedtogoandstumbled,andIcaughther.I wasn’taslouchbyanymeans,butbeforethedarkwitch,Chrysiehasbeenone breathfromflying.Nowshetrudgedandtripped.“Ooops.”

  Thewordwassolight,airyandintendedtomakeherlittlefalteringseem likenobigdeal.Itwas,however,ahugedealwhenyouwereavampire.Iletit gojustasshewanted.Weweresoverygoodatlyingtoeachotherwithout sayingaword—justlikerealfamily.

  Chapter2

  “Arewegoingtotalkaboutit?”Chrysiesaidwhilebothofourgazeswere fixedonourroommate,Felix.Hewasacrossthecourtyardwherehewaseating withhisgirlfriend,MonicaandFinn—thepseudoKeeperoftheSt.Angelus Thinning.

  “Hmmm?”Iasked,pretendingnottoknowwhattheyweretalkingabout andhopingplayingidiotwouldwork.Itdidn’t.

  “Abouthowhekissedyou?”Jessietookalargebiteofhersandwichand thenshrugged.“Felixlovesyou,Rue.”

  “Felixhasagirlfriend,”Isaidclearly.“WhoIhave always hated.Itisn’t lovetomakeamoveonagirlwhenyouarewithanother.”

  “Monicaisarealsomething,”Chrysiesaid,whichwasherwayoflaying downaslewofinsults.Iwaseatingachickensaladsandwich.Jessiehada cubano.Chrysiehadatriplecheeseburger,alargefry,atunasaladsandwich,and twoicecreamsandwiches.Shewasavampirewhichrequiredblood-based potionsandaridiculousnumberofcaloriestokeepherwell.Shewasalso recoveringfromherkidnappingso….shewaseatingevenmorethannormal.

  “WhatIamsaying,”Iinterrupted,“IsthatFelixandwhathappenedarenot somethingtobetalkedaboutwhenhehasagirlfriend.Whydon’twetalkabout youandCyrus?AreyousleepingtogetherinMartha?BecauseI’mnotsureshe’s preparedforthatkindofew-ness.”

  Jessieblushedinawaythattoldmeifshewasn’tsleepingwithher boyfriend,shewasclosetocrossingthatlinewithCyrus.Iwouldn’thave thoughtofthemtogether,buthewasjustgenuinelykindandthoughtful.Anyone wouldlovehimgivenachance.Hells,Ilovedhimalittlebitthoughmoreasa brother.

  “Soyoursisterwasdiggingthroughbooksaboutnecromancy,ancient treasure,curses,beautyspells,shapeshifters,vampires,andsomeofthose romancestheykeepinthelightreadingsection.”

  “Smoothtransition,”Chrysielaughedasshefinishedherburgerandstarted inonthetunasaladsandwich.“ButIdon’tknowifwe’redonetalkingabout

  Felix.”

  Meandmytworoomieswereeatinginthecourtyarddespitethecold.Felix wasourotherroomie.HewasaJunioratSt.AngelusCollege,Jessiewasa Sophomore,ChrysieandIwereFreshman.Despitethecold,thesunwashigh andfeltsogoodonmyfacethatIdidn’tcareabouthowmyfingertipswere goingnumb.Ihadmygiantpuffyjacketontokeepofftheworstofthecoldand I’dgetanearlgreylattetobringtomynextclass.

  MyguitarclasswascomingupwhichIlovedmorethanIhadever expected.Afterthat,I’dstudyforafewhoursinthelibrary,turninmyextra creditforNecromancy101—Ihadmissedtoomanyclasses,soextracreditwas vital.Ididn’tlikepracticingnecromancyverymuch,soIwasn’tdoingsogreat inmy101class.

  Iwouldendmydaywithmyfavoritepartofcollegesofar—PotionsClub.

  EvenwithmostofthePotionsClubhatingthatIwasaHallow,Ilovedbrewing withthem,justbecausetheothermemberslovedbrewingalmostasmuchasme.

  “ButwhatareyougoingtodoaboutFelix?”Chrysiewastryingtobekind assheasked,butshe’dbeenbringingitupalotlately.Maybebecausesheknew Iwasbecomingmoreandmoreconflicted.

  “SoBranwasjustkillingtimeinthelibrary,”Isaidhastily.

  “Felix,”ChrysieandJessiesaidtogether.

  “No. I’mgoingtoclosehimoutofmymind thatway,”Itoldthemsince theywouldn’tletmeavoidit.“Hehasagirlfriend.Heisnotfree,andIamnot goingtomakesomesortofmoveonhim.”

  “Hey,”Bransaid,ploppingdown.“IassumefromRue’sblushyou’re askingherabout‘Lixy?Youcan’tdate‘Lixyuntilhecutshishairanywaycause ewandgross.Chrysie,Igotyousomepie.”

  Mysisterhandedoverthechocolatecreampieandthenleanedbackasshe said,“Rue,thisplacemakesmyskincrawl.It’sallbooksandlearningand snootiness.Icanseewhyyouloveit,though.”

  Ididloveit.Ihadcomeherewantingtoloveit,fellinlove,andthen discoveredsomanythingsIhadn’texpected.Buttherewasalsosomething aboutthiscampusthatspoketomysoul.

  “Somethingismissingwithyouguys,”Bransaid.“Youhavethebig spookyhouse.Youguysneedcats.Aswarmofcats.Imean…areyouwitchesor areyouwitches?Thisiswitchschool.Youshouldhaveatoad,likeNeville, Jessie.”

  Bransoundedhungry.Shehadn’tbeeneatingmuch,butitwasweirdhow shewentallgrowlytalkingaboutcats.Imean…shecouldn’twantonethatbad?

  Surelyshe’dgottenoverbeingtheonlywitchfamilythatdidn’thavefamiliars?I

  couldjusthearmymothersay,“Evenfamiliarsshedandpoop,Rue.”

  “BecauseIamtheawkwardone?”Jessiewasn’toffended.Therewas somethingutterlycharmingaboutBranwhenshewantedtobeliked.Hergreen eyesweresparkling,hercutelittlefreckleswerestandingoutonherskinwith thewindmakinghercheeksred.Shelookedlikeamovingragdoll.

  “Because,thevampireneedsthebat.Ruepromisedmewhenwewerelittle thatwecouldhavekittenswhenwegrewup,andFelixisclearlygoingtodo whateverRuedoes.Youhavetohavethetoadorthebird.”

  “Andwhycan’tIhaveaprettylittleparakeetonmyshoulder?”

&nb
sp; “Triteandoverdone.Ihaveseentwogirlswithcutelittlebirdsontheir shoulders.You,myfriend,aren’ttrite.”

  “Andyou,”ItoldBran,“Aremoreofacrowkindofwitch.Sowhywere youlearningaboutbeautyspellsandshapeshifters.”

  Bran’sgazeshiftedandsheshuffledjustabitbeforeshesaid,“Spy.”

  “Dropout.”

  “Don’tworryaboutit,”Bransaid.“What’sforlunch?”

  Ihandedherthesecondhalfofmychickensaladsandwichandlooked aroundthecourtyard.Thetableswerefullofotherstudentsandwitches.The brickbuildingsweregorgeousandold.Ifyoulookedcloselyorusedwitch senses,youcouldseethingsthatyouwouldn'tfindatanyothercampus.Things thatbespokeotherworldlypower.

  “OhmyHecate,”Bransaid,leaningforwardtostareatFelixwherehewas kissingMonica.“Whoinallthehellsisthat?”

  “Monica,”Chrysiesaidgently.“Umm….”

  “Felix’sgirlfriend,”Isaid,myvoicewasflat.Thethingwas—whenFelix kissedme,Ihadn'tbeenthinkingofhimasapotentialpartner.AndIdon’tknow thatheintendedtodoitatthetimeorifhewasreadyforittobeanythingother thanjustanintensemoment.But…he’dsortofburrowedhiswayintomymind.

  I liked himalot.Ilikedthathewasgoodathisownkindofwitchcraftanddidn’t careaboutmebeingaHallow.Ilikedthathewassneakyandsoldmypotionsto getusextracash.Ilikedthewayhegotscaredathorrormoviesdespitebeinga witchandthewayhetookcareofChrysieasifsheweredelicateinsteadofa vampire.But,Ididn’tlikehimhavingagirlfriend andkissingmeandtherewas thisangrywoundinsideofmebecausethathadbeenmyfirstkiss.

  Bran’seyesflaredinawaythatgavemeabitofashiver,maybeshe followedtheinstinctsofherhearttomineandgotaflashofmytornadoof feelings.

  Isaidcalmly,“Simmerdown.Piratetreasure?”

  “Haveyoukissedhim?”

  “Necromancy?Youheretolearnmoreaboutyourheritage?”Perhapsthere hadbeenasqueakinmyvoice.Sheseemedtoreadsomethingintomyresponse thoughIdidn’tsayyes.Besides, I hadn’tkissedhim.He’dkissedme.Itwas totallydifferent.