Sisters and Graves Read online

  thatIhopedwouldcontainthebiteI‘dreceived.

  “DidyougethurtwhenyoufoughtwithBran,”Felixasked.

  ItookadeepbreathbeforeIadmittedthetruth.“Yes.PrettysureIam overlyexhaustedfromit.”

  TheyweremurmuringagainasIsearchedthroughmybaguntilIfoundmy familiarcasewithitsvials.Icould taste thepotionbeforeIevenopenedthe case.

  “Youareaddicted,Rue,”Itoldmyself.Mycovenstoppedtalkingfora momentbeforetheywentbacktotheirwhispers.Iopenedthatperfectvialand letthesmellfillmynosebeforeItiltedmyheadbackanddowneditwithout measuring.

  Theburnofithitmefirstbutitwasfollowedquicklybyarushoffalse-energy.Itdidn’ttakeawaythepain.AndIwastoolegitimatelyexhaustedforit tomakemefeelaware,butitgavemethestrengthtoturnthekeyinthewagon andstartforhome.

  “Rue,”Jessieasked,“Didyougethurtenoughtobleed?”

  Ilookedintherearviewmirror,noticedtheswellingblackeye,thebloody noseandmouthandthenglanceddownatthebiteonmyarm.

  “Yes,”Isaidwearily.

  “We’recomingforyou,”Felixsaid,cuttingoffwhateverJessiewasgoing tosay.

  “I’mgoingtobemostofthewaytherebeforeyoureachme,”Isaidand thenyawnedapainful,jerkingyawn.AsIdid,IdiscoveredbruisesonmybodyI hadn’tnoticedbefore.Ishould not beyawningafterthatenergypotion.

  “We’recominganyway,”hesaidfirmly.

  “Kay,”Irepliedandblinkedseveraltimestosortouttheglowinghalosof headlights,taillights,andstreetlights.

  TherewassilenceforamomentbeforeCyrussaid,“She’sbeingtoonice.

  She'sreallyhurt.”

  Isnorted.Yeah.Ihurtinmyhead,myheart,mybody,andthepulsating painofmybitewithitshauntinginfectionwastheworst.

  “Wehavetomakeastop,”Jessiesaid,“Andthenwe’llmeetyou.”

  “Youdoknow,”Isaidwearily,“thatIhaveouronlycar?”

  “Don’tworryaboutit,”Felixsaid.“Justanswerwhenwecallagain.”

  Inodded,rememberedtheycouldn’tseeme,andsaidIwould.Theyhung upandIletmyphonefalltomylapandfocusedontheroad,hopingIdidn’tkill mysisterandmyselfbutknowingitwastoodangeroustostayandletthemget us.Notwiththatbiteandthosebindingsonmypoor,haunted,sadsister.

  Chapter9

  Ididn’trememberthedrive.Iknowthat’sbad.IthankedHermes,godof travel,thatBranandIsurvived.Myphonebuzzedsomeincalculabletimelater, andittookmetwophonecallstoanswer.

  “We’rebehindyou,Rue,”Chrysiesaid.Hervoicetookaminuteortwoto register.Iblinkedstupidlyandkeptdriving.

  “Pullover,Rue,”Felixordered,andhisvoiceseemedtoregistermore easilyinmybrain.

  “Oh,”Ireplied.Myeyesburned,mybodyhurt,mywoundshadsortof spreadacrossallofmeleavingmejustone,achingmass.“Ok.”

  Thecarrolledtoalong,slowstopandasitdid,Felixopenedthedriver’s door.

  “Whatinthehells,Rue?”FinnsnappedashesteppedupbehindFelix.

  “Youshouldn’tbedriving.”

  “Branneedshelp,”Isaidtiredlyandpulledmyselfoutofthewagon.

  “Couldyoubemoreirresponsible?”FinntookmyarmwhereI’dbeen bittenandIgasped.

  FelixshovedFinnoffasChrysietoldhim,“BackdownFinn.”

  “Ididn’tmeantohurther,butshe’snotmeaningtohurtus,isshe?Where’s thetalisman?Howlongarewegoingtoletherfamilyleaveusindanger?It’s their faultthatwedon’thaveakeeper.It’stheirfaultthatwehaveacursedhaunt inourtown.It’s their fault.All.Of.It.”

  Hethrusthishandsintohishairasheyelled,probablytokeepthemfrom grabbingmeandshakingme.

  “Backdown,”Jessieshouted,pushingbetweenFinnandmeandshoving Finnback.“Backdown.Thisisn’tthetime.”

  “It’sneverthetime.There’saghosthuntingattheOldCemetery.Issheout there?No!Butshe’skeepingthetalisman.”

  “Thatisn’ther,”Jessiesaid.“I’msorryforwhathappenedtothatgirl,but thatwasn’tRue whohurtthatkid.”

  “It’sneverRueorherfamily,isit?”Finnshouted.

  “Enough,”Dr.Hallowyelled.Ihadn’tevennoticedhim.“Let’sjustget backtoSt.Angelusandhelpthesegirls.”

  Iwantedtoyelltoo.Butgods,Iwasjusttootired.

  “Rue,”Felixsaid,“Youlookterrible.”

  “Whome?”ItriedtojokeandfailedsinceIlostmybalanceandstumbled forward.Finn’scursehadmestandinguprightandfacinghim,thoughIwavered.

  “CanwesavethebattleforwhenI’mnotsobeatdown?CauseI’lltakeyou downanotherday,CaptainFinny.”

  “You’remyfavorite,Rue,”CyrussaidasFelixopenedthebackdoorofthe wagonandstareddownatBran.She’dwokenupandwassortoflatheringand cursing.

  “Itgetskindofmelodic,”ItoldFelixasBranmoaned,“Hungry.”

  Felixnoddedandthenlookedthroughhisbagandpulledouthisscarf.

  “Gag?”

  “She’sgoingtomakeyoupayforthat,”ItoldFelixasItookitfromhim.

  “Rue,”Dr.Hallowsaidgently,andmythroatwentdry.“Thereisn’t anythingthatcanbedoneforsomeonecursedwithahaunting.”

  Thatcouldn’t…No…Gods…No.HewasWRONG.

  “Ican’tacceptthat,”ItoldDr.HallowfirmlywhileIwasdyinginsideat thethoughtoflosingmysister.Mymother…that…that…shemusthave known, andsheleftmetofindout.IfocusedonmymotherbecauseIcouldn’t,wouldn’t considerthealternative.

  “Youdon’thaveachoice,”Finnsaid.Buthesaiditsoftlytoolikehewas tryingtobekindandwasn’tquitesurehow.Imethisgaze,hismoviestar handsome,perfectgazeandsnarled.

  “I don’t acceptthat.”

  “Youcan’tchangethetruth,”hesnapped,losingtrackofhisgentleness.

  IbitmylipuntilithurtandprovidedathreadofclarityandthenIsaid,“Go toHades,Finny.Andquitshowingupinmylife.”

  ChrysietookFinnbythearmanddraggedhimawaywhileFelixandI turnedbacktomysister.

  Felixshowedmetwopairsofcuffs—onelargerandIassumedforher ankles.

  “JessieandMarthaworkingtogetherarecapableofuntolddepths,”Felix saidashehandedmetheanklecuffs.Theyweren’thandcuffsbutwidebracelet andanklecuffs.FromwhatIcouldseetheywereetchedinrunestobindthe hauntback.Itwouldn’tworkforever.Butitshouldworkforawhile.

  “Careful,”ItoldhimasBransnappedherteethatFelix.

  “‘Lixy,”sheasked,andhervoicewas her voice.MyheadsnappedupandI

  steppedtowardsher,butFelixheldmeback.

  “Lixxxxyyyyy,”shegrowled,andthehauntwasback.

  Dr.HallowandJessiedoctoredmeupandthenFelixhelpedmeintothe backseatwithhim.CyrusandJessiegotintothefrontseatswhileChrysiejoined Dr.HallowandFinninhisvehicle.

  “You’regonnabefine,”Felixsaid.“Goodeven.Therehastobesomething wecandoforBran.”

  HehandedmeathermosandItookitgratefully,lettingthewarmliquid flowovermytongueandprayedthecaffeinewouldhitmequickly.Instead, lethargyhitmefullforce.

  “What?”

  “Sleep,”Felixsaidsoftlyandmyheaddroppedontohisshoulder.

  “Ok,”Isaidsoftly,toocompliantly,very,veryserumedup,“Youjerk.”

  *****

  IwouldhaveexpectedmyonlythoughttobeofBranwhenIwokeup,but itwasn’t.ItwasofourpoorDaddy.He’dlostthislifetimelovehe’dbeenso proudof.BranandIhadbothlefthome,andIalreadyknewthatneitherofus wouldeverreturn.Whatwasleftforhim?A
ndthentoloseBrantherestofthe way…andjustwhowasherfamily?Whyhadn’tsheansweredanyquestions aboutthem?

  Ididn’tgoaftermysisterlikeshedeserved.Ididn’tmakesureshewasok.

  Ididn’tcallDaddyandtellhimwe’dmadeourwayhome.Ididn’tfindmy covenandfindthestateofthings.Ileftthemalltothemselvesandhobbledto thebathroominstead.Mybathroomwasnothinglessthanridiculousandthat puritanshameI’dfelteverytimeIhaduseditbeforewasabsolutelyabsentthis time.IslidintowaterdeepenoughtoswiminandsankaslowasIcould,letting thewaterworkintome.Theheatwasmuchhigherthanusual.Itwasonebreath fromburning.Thefanoverheadwassendingdownaperfectbreezeasmy musclesrelaxed.

  Mybitewoundwasburning.Theyhaddonewhattheycouldforitafter dopingmeliketheydid.Icoulddobetter.Iwashed,letthewaterswirlclean, andthenwashedagain.Ifeltcontaminated.But,ofcourse,Iwas.I’dhaveto figureoutthatbite.Ididn’tneedtotalktosomeonebetteratcursesand necromancyorwhateverthiswasthanmetoknowthatIwasindanger.

  Asdelightfulasthewaterwas,Ineededtogetbacktomysisterandthings.

  Ihadclasseseven.Maybe.Dependingonhowlongthesleeppotionthey’dgiven mehadkeptmeasleep.Iwasgoingtoflunkoutofcollege,giventhelastfew months.

  Maybe—sincetheHallowFamilyCouncil—seemedtoruntheschool,I

  couldfinaglemywayintoanotherchance.Ihadnoidea.Rightthen,Ididn’t carebeyondtherandomthoughtofit.Iwenttomypotionscabinetandrustled throughituntilIfoundapotionIhadn’tusedinawhile—consecratedwater.I tookitbacktomybathroomandpoureditoverthebiteonmyarm.

  IthoughtIwascrossingasimpleprecautionoffofmylist.Butit burned.

  Well,Itoldmyself,ifyouwonderedwhetheryouwereinfectedwiththiscurse—

  theanswerisyes.Irenewedthecontainmentrunesonmyarm,hopingthey wouldworkandweren’tawasteoftimeandpowerandfinallydressed.

  “Martha,”Isaid,speakingtomyhouse,“PleaseshowmethewaytoBran.”

  Idon’tknowwhatIexpected.Idon’tknowwhatIwouldhavedone,but Martha’slittlefairylightledmedownthemainstairs,tothebackofthehouse, anddownthesecondsetofbasementstairs.

  Marthawasamansion.Itwasoneofthosejaw-dropping,youcan’tbelieve anyoneactuallylivedinthattypeofplace,places.Evenwiththatbeingtrue,the poolinthebasement,whichcameacrossasasortofmarbleandcolumngrotto, wasshocking.Evenotherpeoplewholivedinextravaganthomeswouldpause.

  Insidethepoolroom,apentaclehadbeendrawnonthefloor.Asecond pentaclehadbeenplacedoutsideofthefirstandspelledcandleswereateachof thepointsoftheinnerpentacle.Insideofthat,mysisterBranwastiedtoachair.

  “Finally,”shesaidinawithering,I-will-make-you-payvoice.“Ohmygods, Rue,your face.”

  “Hello,”IsaidasIcircledthespells,examiningwhattheyhaddone.“We fought.Youwerewinning.Iusedmagic.”

  Bran’smouthopenedandclosedseveraltimesbeforeshetookadeep breath,pressedherlipstogetherforamomentandthenshruggeditoff.

  “Letmeout,”Branordered.Andit was her.Icouldhearthatedgeofpanic inhervoicethattoldmeshehatedbeingconfined.SomethingIknewtoowell already.Herexpressionwassteely,buthergazedartedaroundandaround, lookingforescape.

  “Yeah,”Isaid,steppingforward.

  Chrysiegentlylaidherhandonmeasshesaid,“Youcan’tletherout.She’s haunted.”

  “Not now,” Bransnarled.

  “She’sgoingtokeeplosingtime,”Chrysiesaid.“Untilshedoesn’tcome back.”

  IturnedtoChrysieandconsidered.Shewasourcousin.Butshecouldn’tbe moredifferent.Evenasavampire,sheexudedasweetnessthatbeliedthefact thatshelivedoffablood-basedpotion.She’dbeenstolenbyadarkwitchtofuel herspellsandstillChrysiewasgentleandsweet.

  “I’mgoingtofixher,”Isaid.

  “Yeah,”Branadded,butIheardthepanicinhervoice.Isuspectedthatshe knewwhathadbeendonetoherandherprognosisgivenherreaction.Iturnedto facemysisterandshelookedawayfirst.Yes.Sheknewexactlywhathadbeen donetoher.

  “You….”Istartedbutstopped.

  “Don’tdothat,”Bransaid,gazenarrow.

  “Dowhat?”Chrysieaskedgently.

  “Stopyourselfbecauseyoudon’twantthelastthingyousaytometobe mean.”

  “Itwon’t,youstupidsnake,bethelastthingIsaytoyou,”Iyelled.“Iam goingtofixthisandthenIamgoingtomakeyoupayfornottellingmeright awayandgivingmemoretimetohelpyou.”

  Herbreathjerkedandhergazemetmine.Shedidn’thavemuchhope,but therewasaglimmerthere.

  “Ican’tsurvivewithoutyou,Bran,”Itoldherhonestly.“Iwilldo whatever ittakestohelpyou.”

  “I’vebeenthinkingaboutthat,”Chrysiesaid.“SinceI’vebeenstuckdown herewithyoursister.”

  “You’restuck?”Brandemanded.“You!Iam tied toachair!”

  ChrysiesmiledsweetlyatBranandsaid,“Someonecursedwhateveryou wentafteronyourhunt,right?”

  “Obviously,”Bransnapped.“Itwaslinkedtotheopeningofthetreasure.”

  “Didyousaytreasure,CaptainJack?”Iasked.

  MysisterandChrysieignoredme.

  “Sooooooo,”Chrysiesaid.“Someone,somewhenknewhowtomanipulate thehaunt.Tobindittothatlock.Weneedtofigureouthowtodothat,andthen doittoo.BindittosomethingotherthanBran.”

  Ipausedonthatcommentandsaid,“You…brilliantangel.ByHecate and Hestia,Chrysie.Youcouldbeontosomething.”

  Bransighedandsaid,“Listen,Idon’twanttosoundlikeadowner,butdo youhavethebookofancientmagicusedbypirates?BecauselastIchecked around,noonedoes.”

  “WearegoingtofixthisBran.”

  “Iamtiedtoachairinsideofadoublepentacle.Idon’thavealotoffaithin thatrightnow.”

  “Crymeariver,”Isaid.“Ifyouhad said somethingwhenyoushowedup, maybeitwouldn’thavegottenthisbad.”

  ThedoortothepoolroomopenedandFelixcamein,“Youhaveaphone

  callfromaHiro.”

  BranandImetgazesandthenIsaid,“Ican’trightnow,Felix.”

  “YoualsohaveamessagefromtheHallowFamilyCouncil.Theywantyou tocometotheiroffices.”

  “Yeahright,”Isaid.“Weneedtofindsomeancientmagicbooksabout haunts.”

  “Doyouevenknowthedifferencebetweenghostsandhauntsand possessions,”Felixaskedgently.

  “No,”Isaid.IhadjustmissedmyNecromancy101class.Ididn’tknow jackaboutdeathmagic.

  “Ihatetosaythis,Rue,butIsuspecttheHallowFamilyCouncilprobably does.”

  Ipausedandthenmethisgaze.Helookedsorryforme,andIwassorryfor myself.TheHallowFamilyCouncilandIwerenotcongenial.Infact,whenthey weren’ttryingtoordermearoundormanipulateme,theywereshamingme.

  Giventhattheywerecousinsandrelatedtome,you’dthinktheywouldbeallies.

  Buttheyweren’tevenclose.

  “Wellhells,Felix.Youmightberight.”

  “I’llgowithyou,”Chrysieoffered.

  “I’llstaywithBran,”Felixsaid.“Youmightwanttodosomethingabout yourfacebeforeyougo.”

  “Damnit,Bran.Whenthisisover,you’llbepayingformakingmeask themforhelpANDformyblackeye.”

  “Ithinkyoumean,”Bransaidcasually,althoughIcouldseetheguiltinher eyes,“Yourblackeye,fatlips,andthatbruiseonyourcheek.”

  Chapter10

  TheHallowFamilyCouncilconsistedofthirteenwitches.Theywere mostlyrelatedtome,butnotall.
Theyrantheschoolboard,themayor’soffice, theyran—everything.TheyalsoheldthetrustforHallowHouseeventhoughI wastheowner.UntilIgraduatedfromschoolorturned25…ORbecamethe KeeperofSt.Angelus,theyhadmyinheritance.

  Theyweren’thappyaboutthatonelittlebit—asin,theydidn’twanttoturn themoneybackovertome.Ialsowouldautomaticallygainaseatontheschool boardandfamilycouncil.Itwasalllegal—butwitchstyle.Thinkfeudallordin somewaysandmebetheveryunwantedheir.

  ThethingtheymighthatethemostaboutmewasthatIdidn’twanttobe theKeeperofSt.Angelus.Forsomebackwardreason,theydidn’tseemtolike thatIdidn’twanttobethekeeperEVENthoughtheydidn’twantmetobethe keepereither.Iguesstheydidn’tlikemesnubbingtheirlittleclub.

  Butthenagain,Iimaginethemoneyfrommyfamilywasprettygreat.I don’tknow.Ihadnoideahowmuchaccesstoittheyhad.Orhowmuchofit therewas.AmemberofthePresidiumtoldmenottoworryaboutitandIhad enoughtothinkaboutbeforeIletthatbotherme.

  Thecouncilhadthreeleadershippositionsandoneclearoverallleader.The bigthreewereDr.MartinHallow,PortiaHallow,andLeanderHallow.Iliked theminthatorderthoughIdidn’ttrustanyofthemveryfar.TheoneIlikedthe least,Leander,wastheheadofthecouncilaswellasthemayor.

  Dr.MartinHallowworkedattheschoolandIkindoflikedhim.Portia Hallowwassnobby,rude,andreliable.Sheranthewitchhealingclinicandshe wasa good witch.Theyallwere,infact.Butthatdidn’tmeanthattheylikedme.

  ExceptforPortia,mostofthecouncildidn’trespectregularmagicwhichwas myspecialty.Theydidn’tlikethatmymother,Autumn,hadlefttheinheritance, disappearedintothewind,andlockedthemoutofHallowHouse.Butifshe hadn’t,therewasnowaythatLeanderHallowwouldn'thavebeenlivinginit.

  Ididn’tcareaboutanyofthatorthem.IhadgonetoSt.AngelusbecauseI hadgottenascholarship,notknowingIwasevenaHallow.Ihadneverbeen