Sisters and Graves Read online

  Monicaoverheardandstoodtograbmyarm.“YouriskedFelixforyour idiotsister?Youfacedoffaghostyoudon’thavethetrainingtofightfor someonewhocannotbesaved?”

  “WhatdoesthatgirlmeanthatBrankacannotbesaved?”Daddy’svoice crackedandIheardthehorrorinhisvoice.Morepowerfully,Ifeltitthroughthe instinctsofmyheart.Hewascrumpling.

  IjerkedmyarmawayasChrysierose,insertedherselfbetweenmeand Monicaandmadeherbackoff.

  “Getawayfromme,vampire,”Monicashrieked.

  “Getoutofhere,”ChrysiesaidinatoneIhadneverheardbefore.Itwas low,deadly,andchillasablizzard.

  “Daddy,”Isaid,tryingtoignoretheothersasmycovenandthekeeper teamfacedoff.“Branis…notinagoodway.”

  Howtoexplaintherollingred,yellow,andblackeyes?Thedemonvoice?

  Thebiteonmyarm?ThewayBran’spossessedbodyhadheldmylittlesister andthreatenedherverylife.

  “Thatgirlsaid…”Daddywascrying.Hisvoicetrailedoffbecausehewas chokingonit.“Ithought…Ithought…withwitchcraft.”

  “Witchcraftcan’tfixeverything,”Isaid,myowntearsfalling.

  “Butitcouldtakemylife,”hesaid.

  Wasthataflashofanger?Wasitterriblethatitmademehappyforhimto beangry?Tonotfeeljustdumbfoundedandlost?

  “Daddy,”Isaid,carefully.Ididn’twanttogivehimfalsehope,butIdidn’t wanthimtogiveup.“I’mnotdonetryingtosaveBranyet.”

  Hesniffedandthenseemedtostraightenhisspine.Itcertainlyfeltthatway throughourconnection,“Ifanyonecandoit…”

  Heclearedhisthroatandfinished.

  “Ihavefaithinyou,Veruca,mybaby.Ialwayshave.”

  Myhandswereshakingfromtheforceofkeepingmyemotionsinasmuch checkaspossible.Iwasn’tabletospeakthoughandkeepmyselfcontained.

  Daddyclearedhisthroatagainandasked,“WhatdoIdoaboutyour mother?”

  Somethingtofocuson,thankthegods.

  “CallHazel.TellherthatIforciblyremovedthetalismanfromMother.”

  Daddylaughedforamomentandthensaid,“Idon’tevenknowwhatthat means.”

  “AndIdon’tknowwhatyouuserandommedicationsfor,butyoudo, Daddy.Hazelwillhelpyou.”

  *****

  PortiaonlyletFelixchoosethreevisitors.ItwasMonica,me,andChrysie.

  MonicawentfirstandthenPortiasentusinafewminuteslater.

  “…understandwhyyouarelivingthere.Orwhyyouconsortwiththem?

  Youaren’tabadwitch,Felix.Youcoulddosomuchbetterthansomeidiot, unconnectedHallowanda vampire. MyFatherisverydispleased.”

  “Isn’tthatthepoint?”Felix’svoicewastiredbutsteely.

  “What?”IcouldheartheshockinMonica’svoiceandIwonderedifFelix hadletherseethatintractablesideofhimbefore.

  “Thepoint?Thepointofmeistomakeyourdadfurious,right?”

  “Ican’tbelieveyou’resayingthis,”Monica’svoicetrailedoffintoherown tears.Itseemedtobetheeveningofweeping.

  “Idon’tknowwhynot,”Felix’sexhaustionwaspouringthroughandIwas determinedtostepforwardandprotecthim,butChrysietookmyarmandheld meback.“Itwasobviousfromthestart.Ijustdidn’tcarebefore.”

  “Oh,butnowyoudo?Why?Because RueHallow doesn’tlikeme?You thinkIdon’tknowthatyou’retakingyourchanceatabetter-connectedfamily?

  Thatyoumeantoslideyourwayintoherlifelikeyoudidintomine?Please.”

  HolyHecate,Iwasn’ttryingtobreakinandsaveFelixanymore.Iwas shocked,andIwantedtoheartheanswer.

  “InevercaredthatyouwereaPreskitt.Youwerejusttoobusytelling everyoneyouweretonotice.”

  Hergaspwassoshockeditechoedintothehall.

  “Ican’t…Youhorrible…Areyoukiddingme?IT’SOVER!”

  “It’sbeenoverforalongtime,”Felixsaid.“Weshouldhaveletitgoalong timeago.”

  “Thenwhy didn’t you?”

  “BecauseyouwerefunandIlikedyouandIknewthatyouwereusingme togettoyourdad,buttherestofthetimeyouweren’tsuchaplastic…Barbie Doll.Gods.”

  “Barbie?”Thesneerwasviciousandlow.

  “Plastic,”Felixsaid.“I…Gods,Mon…let’sjuststop.”

  “Nowthatyou’vegotyourinsultsin?”Monicaseemedtobesoangryshe mightsetsomethingonfire,butChrysiestillheldmeback.

  “I’msorryforsayingthat,”Felixsaid.“I’msorryforeverything.”

  “RueHallowwillneverwant you. Ifyoudon’tthinkshe’sfocusedon power,you’reasblindwithherasyouwerewithme.”

  “Gods,Mon…Justgoandbehappy.”

  Butshedidn’t.“She’sgoingtodieinoneofhermisguidedinterferences intothingsbeyondher,andyou’llprobablydietoo.Ifyou’relucky,that’sallthat willhappen.Iwouldn’tputitpassthetwoofyoutotaketherestofyourinept, incapable, ridiculous covenwithyou!”

  Sheslammedoutoftheroomthen,sawus,andhereyesseemedtoblaze, butshejustbrushedpastandslammedoutoftherecoveryroom.

  ChrysieandIlookedateachotherandthenChrysietookastepforward, pullingmewithheraseasilyasshe’dkeptmebehindlasttime.

  Felixlookedlikehe’dbeendrainedofblood,hewassowhite.Therewere darkcirclesunderhiseyes,adraincomingoffofhisshoulderandanotheroutof hisside.Helookedlikedeathwarmedover.

  “Hey,”Chrysiesaidbrightly.

  Felixlookedatherandthenatme.“Soyouheardthat?”

  “Notmuch,”Chrysielied.“Justthetiniestbit.Don’tworry.”

  “We’realive,”Felixtriedtofakecheerandfailed.“Doesthatmeanwe won?”

  “Iguessso,”Isaid.Itooktheseatnexttohim,wantedtotakehishand,but didn’t.“Daddycalled.Motherisunconscious,soIguessit’sminenow.”

  IflashedthetalismanandFelixnodded,“Iknewyoucoulddoit.What next?”

  “I’llthinkofsomething,”Ilied,becauseIdidnotwanthimtoworryafter he’dbeenimpaledbytwobranches.Evillittlegirlghosts.Ofcourse.And becauselifewascruel,Iwasgoingtogettorememberstabbingtheghostspine ofagirlwhoremindedmeofmylittlesisters.

  “Wegotthis,”Felixsaid,butashesaidit,hiseyesflutteredclosedandhe slippedintosleep.Perfect.Irose.Ihadthingstodo.

  Chapter16

  “Ineedhelp,”ItoldPortia.

  Shewasinheroffice,behindalargecherrywooddeskthatwasspreadwith papers.Sheleanedbackinherchair,crossedherfingersoverherchestandrose abrow.

  “Tonightisthefullmoon,”Isaid.“Ghostswillbethestrongest.”

  “Yes,”Portiaagreed.

  “IneedyoutomeetmeattheoldHallowFamilyCemetery.”

  “Idon’tworkatyourbeckandcall.”

  “Whatdoyouwantfromme?”Itwasanofferandshehearditassuch.

  “IwantyoutogiveLeanderandFinnachancetotransferthetalisman.”

  “Soquicktothinkofsomething,”Isaid.IfiguredIhadverysmallchances ofactuallysurvivingtheeveningwithmysister.Myagendaforthedayincluded writingaletterofgoodbyetomymother,newsiblings,mydaddyandmycoven.

  IhadalsocreatedawillthatgaveChrysieHallowHouse.Iwasn’tsureifitwas legal,butIdidmybest.

  Portiajustraisedabrowandwaitedformetoagree.

  “Fine,”Isaid.“Butyoucan’thaveituntilafterItrytosaveBran.”

  Portianoddedonce.Iknewshedidn’tthinkIwouldbesuccessful.Ihadno ideaifIwouldbeeither.

  “Bethereatthelunarzenith,”Isaid.“Don’tbringLeanderora
nyofthe council.”

  Portianoddedonce.

  Itgotdarkaround5:00p.m.Ihadsometimebeforethen,andthelunar zenithwouldtakeevenlonger.Ihadmuchtodo.

  *****

  “Hi,”IsaidtotheghostsasIenteredthecemetery.

  Theydidn’treply,butIcouldfeeltheirgazes.Theyhadhelpedmeonce before.Ihopedtheywouldhelpmeagain.ItalkedasIsetup,litteringthe graveyardwithcandles,tellingthemmyplan.Thelittlegirlghostwhohadonce toldmenottotrustanyonewasthefirsttoappear.

  “Risky,”shesaid.

  Inodded.

  “Itcouldwork,”anothersaid.Ididn’tthinkIhadseenthisonebefore.It wasamaninclothingthatfitthemoviesofthe20s.“Butyoubothmightdie too.”

  “Igoogledwheretoputit,”Isaid.

  “Idonotknowwhatthatmeans,”themanrepliedandthegirlghost nodded.

  “I…don'thavetimetoexplain.”

  BythetimeIwasdonewithmypentaclearoundthegraveyard,thecandles, andtherunesI’dburnedintothegrassofthegraveyard,HiroandCyrushad shownup.

  “Youneedtostayoutsideofthegraveyard,”Itoldthemastheysetthechair withtheboundBrandown.

  “Whatareyougoingtodo?”HirolookedatBran,atthesetup,andthen shookhishead.PortiaarrivedwithMartin,asHirosaid,“Itwon’twork.Those symbolswon’tgetthehaunttoleaveyoursister.”

  “Ok,”Isaid.Ilookedaroundandthensaid,“Don’tcomeinunlessthis works.”

  TheystaredatmeandIcouldhearPortiaaskingCyrusandHirowhatIwas goingtodo.

  “Areyouready?”

  Theghostsofmykindreddeadbeganappearing.Theynodded,andI crossedtotheedgeofthepentacleandsealedit.Itwasamirroredpentaclemade withspelledchalk,pebbles,ash,andbone.ItwasthefirstnecromancypentacleI hadevermade,butIcouldtellbythezingofitinmymindIhaddoneitright.

  ThepentaclewouldkeepBran,thehaunt,andIinside.Anditwouldkeepthe othersout.Nomatterhowitturnedout,theywouldn’tbeabletocomeandsave BranandIunlessIbrokeit.

  “Whatdidyoudo,Veruca?”Dr.MartinHallowtriedtocomeintothe cemeteryandwasblockedbymypentacle.

  “Justtryingtokeepthehauntfromdestroyingyouall,”Isaid.Ismiledat him,notcaringforoncewhathisagendawas.Orwhetherheevenhadone.

  Icrossedtomysisterandsaid,“Youalwayswerethebiggestpain.

  RememberthattimeyouopenedallofourChristmaspresents?”

  “Hungrrrryyy,”thehauntsaid.

  Iliftedmyarm,cutitinfrontofthehaunt.

  “Rue!”MartinHallowyelled.“Don’tdothat!”

  “Ineedtotalktomysisternow,”Itoldthehaunt.

  “Hungrry.”

  Itiltedmysister’sheadbackbythemaneofherhairandallowedseveral dropsofmybloodtofallintoitsmouth.BecauseIwasusingmagicthewholeof thetime,mybloodwasinfusedwithit.ThehauntscreechedwhenIpulledmy armback.

  Isaidagain,“Ineedtotalktomysisternow.”

  “Mooorreee…”

  “Ineedtotalktomysisternow.”

  “Rue,yourmagicfeedsthehaunt.You’remakingitstronger.Makingit wanttocomeafteryou.”Martinsoundedalmostfrantic.GiventhatIwasn’t likelytosurvive,Ifinallydecidedhewastrustworthy.Toolateforusthough.

  “Mmmhmmm,”Isaid.Thatwas,ofcourse,theplan.

  “Rue,”Hiroaskedcarefully.

  ButBran’seyesopenedthenanditwashergreengaze.Ismiledatherand shescowled.

  “Whatareyouupto,princess?”

  “Savingthedamsel,”Itoldher.

  “IthoughtIwasn’tsaveable.”

  “YouknowIammorestubbornthanthat,”Isaid.“I’msorry.”

  Andwiththatsimplestatement,Ipulledoutthetalismanandranitintoher lowerrightside,below—Ihoped—herliver.

  Herscreamwashorribletohear.Butworsewasthewaythehauntfledher.

  Thetalismanhadn’tjuststabbedher,ithadstabbedthehaunt.Itfledthefailing hostandcameatme.

  “Ruuueeeeeeeeee!”

  Iwasn’tsurewhowasscreamingbecausethehauntwasdivingintome.

  Divingthroughthecut,strikingatme,breakingthecontainmentoftherunesand tattoos.Iscreamed,thepainwasastounding.Mybodyarchedup,diggingmy headandmyfeetintothegroundwithmybellyintheair.

  Someonewasscreaminginpain,andthenIrealizeditwasme,butthere wasmore.Thecold.Theoverwhelmingcold.Mykindreddeadwerecomingto myrescue,fightingthehauntinmyverybody,andallIcoulddowasholdon andhopetosurvive.

  Chapter17

  “Rue,ohgods,Rue.”

  Someonewaspushingbackmyhair,holdingmyhandandweeping.I crackedopenedmyeyesandfoundthefaceofmysister.Allfreckledandcute witheyesIneverwantedtoseeanyothercolor.

  “Please,”shewascrying,“Pleasedon’tleaveme.Ican’tdothiswithout you.”

  “Bran…”

  Shestoppedbrushingbackmyhairtomeetmyeyesandgasped.

  “How’dyougetfree,”IaskedbecauseIdidn’twanttothinkabouthowI couldn’tfeelmostofmybody.

  “Magic,”shesniffed.“Rue…you’renotmoving.”

  “I’mok,”Ilied.

  “Don’tlie,”shecried.“Don’tdothis.”

  Shewasholdingherandtoherside,whereI’dstabbedher,butdidnot seemtonoticethewoundoutsideofthat.

  “Girlup,”Itoldher.

  “Youweren’tsupposedtoexchangeyourselfforme,youbigdummy.Iam goingtomakeyoupayforever.”

  Someonewasyellingbeyondus.IslowlyturnedmyheadandsawHiro, Portia,CyrusandMartinbangingonthepentaclewall.

  Iwonderedifthehauntweredead,orifitwerejusthidinginme.Wasit safetoletthemin?Thelittlegirlghostappearedandleaneddowntosay,

  “Thaddeustookitthroughtheether.Hewon’tbeabletocomebackforsome time.”

  IclosedmyeyesandasIdidamemorycamebacktomeofmykindred dead,theonewhodidn’tunderstandGoogle.Hehadwrappedhisspiritaround thehauntandused my magictoformtheethercageandpushthemboththrough.

  “Ican’tbelieveyoustabbedme,”Bransaid.ShemusthavedecidedI wasn’tdyingjustthen.Ididn’thavethesamefaithinherstate,analarming amountofbloodwasspreadingbetweenherfingers.

  “Whiner,”Isaid.Icouldn’tmove.ButIcouldn’tletherbleedout.Ifocused notmybody,butmywillandmymagicand threw thetalismanatthepentacle.It shatteredasmyheaddroppedbacktothegrass.

  Myeyesflutteredcloseandthenopen.Icouldseemysister’smouthmove andthenMartinandPortia’sfaces.

  Thelittlegirlghostwastherewiththem,betweenthem.Shewastalking too,butIcouldn’thearanyofthem.Thegirlreacheddown,placedherhandson myhead,andsaid,“It’sbecausemynameisAngela.”

  “What?”Iasked.

  “Theangel.Iwastheirangel.Eventhoughwe’repagans.”

  “Ohhh,thestatue.”Itwasgoodtoknow.Icouldfeelmysoul’sanchor shifting.Iwasdying.Itwasgoodtohavethemysterysolved.Wouldtheybury mehere?Ihopedso.

  “No,”Brancried,anditreachedthroughthehaze.Shereachedherhand downtomychestandpouredhermagicintome,herstrength,andherlove.She poureditinawaythatnooneelsecouldhave—throughtheconnectionbetween ourhearts.Wherethemagicofoursoulslinkedsooftenandsoregularlythatit wasasnaturalastakingasipofwater.“Noyouarenotallowedtoleaveme alonewithMother.”

  Ilaughed.Andtheanchorofmysoultomybodysnappedbackintoplace.

  *****

  “Iamprettysure,”BransaidasIsatdownatthetable,“Th
at I savedyou.”

  “Nope,”Ishookmyhead,takingahugebiteofmyburger.Iwas starving.

  “You’rethedamsel.I’mtheknight.”

  “Theprincess,”sheinsisted.

  “I’mthehero.Theonewhosaved.Youarethesavee.Iamthesavior.You damsel.Mehero.”

  Shereachedoverandtookthepieceofbaconthatwashangingoutofmy burger.

  “Rude,”Igasped,tryingformybacon,butIwastooslow.Eventhough she’dbeenstabbedthreeweeksago,Iwastheonewhoserecoveryhadbeenfull ofstopsandstartsandtoomanydelays.Ineededtorun,thoughcurrently,Iwas onlycapableofaslowhobble.

  “That’swhatyougetforstabbingme.”

  “Didyouwanttoseemybitemarks?AndIgoogledwheretostabyouand everything.”

  Shelaughedandnabbedthefallenavocadofrommyburger.Felixreached aroundherandplacedherplateinfrontofher.“Leaveyoursister’sfoodalone.

  She’srecovering.”

  “Iwas stabbed,” Branpouted.

  “Shealmostdied,”Jessiesaididly.HerfingerswerelinkedwithCyrusand thewaytheytouchedmadeitevidentthatsomethinghadalteredbetweenthem.I ignoredthepangofjealousyandfocusedonmyhappinessforthem.“Areyou goingtowearthosecuffsforever?”

  Bransmileddownattherunedcuffsthathadhelpedtokeepthehauntin checkuntilwewereabletostabit.

  “I’vegrownfondofthem.”

  “What’snextforyou?”ItwasChrysiewhoasked.

  Branhadlefthome,highschoolunfinished,crossedthecountry,anddid notwanttogohome.

  “Idon’tknow,”shesaid.“Somethingfun.”

  “Youcan’tbetrusted,”Itoldher,onlyhalf-joking.“You’regoingto probablyfindsomeothernastyhaunt.Meanerthanthelast.”

  “Oh…IthoughtI’dhauntyoumyselfforawhile.UntilI’m…youknow.

  Recovered.Plus,Ineedtogetajobandsaveup.”

  “Youcouldstayhere,”Ioffered,knowingshewouldsayno.Shemightstay awhile,butthewayshefeltthroughourlinkwasrestlessandreadytorun.

  Branshookherhead,shotmeamischievoussmileandthensaid,“Nowthat I’mnotbeingmurderedbyacenturies-oldcurse,Ihavetoconsiderwheremy effortsarebestdeployed.Whatadventuretoundertakenext.Whatcountryto visit.Whatcrimetocommit.”