Sisters and Graves Read online

  trainedinNecromancyandhadbarelydiscoveredIhadtheabilityatall.Butmy scholarshiphadcome—notbecauseIwasanexcellentwitch—butbecauseof myblood.IfIhadknown…Iwouldn’thavecome.Iwouldhavegonetoanother schoolandnevercaredthatIwastheeldestoftheeldestoftheeldestofthe Hallowline.

  Ididn’tregretwhathappened.Therewasapartofmewholookedatitas fateandapartofmewhoblamedmymotherandherendlessmanipulation.

  But…pre-HallowHouseRue,pre-friendswithFelixandChrysieRue,pre- this collegeRuewouldneverhaveletthisbeherlife.NowthatIwashere…I loved HallowHouse,andyoucouldpracticewitchcraftandbrewpotionsanywhere.

  Thiswasmyhomenow.Iwasmakingalifehere,andIknewthatIwouldnever consideranywhereelsehomeagain.

  NoneofthatchangedmyfeelingsabouttheHallowFamilyCouncil.

  AsfarasIcouldtell,mymotherhadthewidestdashofsnakeinher.BUT, theywereallpart-snakeanduntrustworthytooneextentoranother.

  “Rue,thankyouforcoming,”LeanderHallowsaid.Heleanedbackinhis maroon,plushchairandstareddownatmeoversteepledfingers.IfIhadn’tbeen sosickaboutBran,I’dhavegiggled.“We’resorrytohearaboutyoursister.”

  “Ineedhelp,”Isaidevenly.

  “Perhapswecaneffectanexchange,”Leandersaid.Hispointedbeard, piercingeyes,andauraofauthoritymademewanttomockhim.Demandedit, butIcouldn’t.NotwithBrankaneedingsomuchhelp.

  “Areyousayingthatyouwon’thelpateenagegirlwhoishauntedwithout payment?”

  “Ofcourseheisn’t,”MartinHallowsaid,leaningforwardtoglanceatthe others.Heseemedshockedattheveryidea.Iwasn’tsure,however,thathe wasn’tjustthe“goodcop”anditwasallanact.Ihadn’tdecidedhowmuchto trusthim.“But,Rue…nothingcanbedone.”

  “Idon’tseeanyreasonwhywewouldn’tbeabletoworksomethingout.

  We'repowerfulwitches.WemightbeabletogiveBrankamoretime.”Thelook LeandershotMartinwasdeadly.

  “I’lltakethatasayespaymentisrequired,”Isaid—stillevenlythoughI hadtoworkevenharderatkeepingmyvoiceemotionless.

  “Whydoweattempttobecongenial?”Leandersaidwithasmooth,snake smile.

  “Mysisterseemstobecursedwithahaunting,”Isaidflatly,decidingtoget tothepoint.

  Portialeanedbackandherexpressiongavemelittlehope.

  “Ahaunting,”Dr.MartinHallowsaidinalowvoice.Atonethatgaveme

  littlehope.“Cannotbecured.”

  Wellhells,Ithought.

  “RuewasbittenbyBran,”Chrysieinterjected.

  Thatgotthemshuffling.Thewholegroupwaswhisperingtoeachother.

  Portiaroseandimmediatelycameovertome.

  “Where?”HadMartinnottoldthem?Whatwashappeningthere?

  Ishowedher,andsheexaminedthebiteandtherunesverycarefully.

  “Youneedtobindthiscompletely.Asharpieisn’tgoodenough.”

  Itookabreathandthensaid,“I’mlookingintoit.Alsothesharpieissealed inplace.”

  “Apotion?”Portiaasked.

  Inoddedandthenmethereyes—thehealer’seyesandpled,“Whatcanbe doneformysister?”

  Whenhereyesshiftedtotheside,IknewIwouldn'tliketheanswer.And then,shelickedherlipsandsaid,“Idon’tthinkyoucandoanything,Rue.”

  “Butpeoplearehelpedfrompossessionsallthetime.”

  Martinwastheonewhorepliedtothat,“Hauntingsaretorturedghosts, spelledandboundtotakeoverthevictim.Theyare bound tothevictim’ssoul.

  Theonlywaytoendahauntingistoendthevictim.”

  “Wecouldtry,”Leandersaidsmoothly.

  Ilookedathimandsawhissnakeface—sofamiliarandthensaid,“Doyou reallythinkI’llgiveyouwhateveryouwantforyoutotryaspellthatI’ve alreadybeentoldwillfail?”

  “Wearepowerfulwitches—thereare13ofus—aluckynumber.Wemight beabletoimprisonthehaunting.”

  “Iwonder,”Isaidsarcastically,“Howmanytimessomethinglikethathas beensuccessful?I will saveBran,butIamnotgoingtoletyouwastemytime withsomethingyoualreadyknowwon’tworkjustsothatyoucangetyour hooksinwhateveryouwant.”

  “Wewantthetalisman,VerucaJones.”

  Ididn’tobjecttomyname.IhatedthenameVeruca,butit was myname.

  AndJoneswasmyDaddy’sname,somethingthatmeantmoretomenowthan everbefore.Butlegally,IwasactuallyVerucaHallow—somethingIonlycame tofindoutwithBran’snews.Mymotheractuallyhadafakebirthcertificate withmyincorrectname,soIhadn’tknownuntilrecently.Thatbeingsaid,they knewmebyRueHallowandusedVerucaJonestomakeitclearIwasn’tpartof thisgrouporthisfamily.

  “AstheeldestoftheeldestoftheeldestoftheHallowline,”Isaidflatly, butIenjoyedwatchingLeanderHallowsquirm.Hewasn’teven close tothe

  eldestoftheeldest.“Iamthenaturalheirtothetalisman.ButIdon’thaveit.I haveseenit,butitisboundtomymother.”

  “Wheredidyouseeit?”Leanderdemanded,leaningforwardeagerly.

  “Wheredoyouthink,Leander,”Portia.“Wehavelongsuspecteditisin HallowHouse.”

  “Marthaputitinmyunderweardrawer,”Itoldthem,nolongercaringwhat theyknew.“Ididn’ttouchitbecauseIdidn’twanttoendupthekeeper.It disappeared.IassumeMarthahasit.Idon’tknow,andIhaven’taskedsinceitis bound tomymother.Onceshefreesit,sendFinnyover.Seeifhecanbinditto him.Idon’tcare.ISthereawaytosavemysister?IStherearumorofaway?

  Someancientbookthatmightworkorusedtowork?Anything?”

  “NothingcanbedoneforBranka,”Portiatoldmegentlywiththatflashof humanitysheshowedhereandtherethatmademelikehera little bit.“Iam sorry.You,Icanhelp.ThereisnothingtobedoneforBranka.Iamsovery sorry.”

  Itookabreathtokeepfromscreaming,spun,andwalkedout.

  “Wecouldtry,Veruca,”LeandersaidasImademywaytothedoor.“Don’t letachancegobyjustbecauseyoudon’twanttopayforhelp.”

  Ipausedforamomentandthenkeptmoving.

  “Youwillregretthis,Veruca.”

  Chapter11

  Ididn’ttrusttheHallows.AsmuchasIhatedhim,however,ItrustedFinny, thewonderboy.CaptainoftheKeeperTeamandamanwhowasgenuinely concernedaboutwhatwashappeningtothepeopleofSt.Angelus.

  OnmywaytofindFinn,IcalledJessieandaskedhertoresearchthings out.JessieissmarterthanIamwithbookknowledge,butIamabetterwitch.I usedtothinkIwassortofHermioneorVelma.IusedtothinkthatIwasthe smartone.Thetruthwas—Jessiehadmebeat.SheknewallsortsofthingsI’d neverevenconsideredreadingabout.She—ifanyofus—wastheonewhomight abletofigureoutawaytokeepBranasBran.

  FinnwasintheOldCemetery.Himandhiswholeteam.Monicainhertight leatherpantsandblackskintightturtleneck.Everythingaboutherwasexotic andrichandtheoppositeofme.Iusednottocaresomuchabouther,butshe wasFelix’sofficialgirlfrienddespitehowhe’dkissedmeandwe’dignoredthat thathadhappened.Andthetruthwas…I liked Felix.Itwouldtakeonetiny nudgeformetofallforhimalltheway.

  ButhehadnotbrokenupwithMonica,andIwasnotthatgirl.Andmost importantly,noneofthatmatteredatthatmoment.

  “Finn,”Icalled—notbotheringwithbeingcovertthoughtheirteamof keeperswastryingit.Theywerehunting ghosts.S urelystandingintheshadows allsilentdidn’treallyhelpthemhide?Imean…ghostscouldjustmovethrough things.Whystandbehindatree?Maybetheghostwas in thetree.

  “Rue,damnit!We’vebeenwaitingfor hours.Andthere’snowayitw
ill comeoutnow.”

  “MysisterhasbeencursedwithahauntingandIdon’tknowwhattodo,”I toldhimwithoutpreamble,makinghimlistentome.Heknew,he’dcursedme forit.ButmaybeifI asked.

  “Gods,Rue…”Finnrubbedhishandsoverhisfacewhilehisteamofseven otheryoungnecromancerscameoutfromtheirhidingplaces.IonlyknewFinn andMonicabynamebutI’dseenthemalllotsoftimes.Theyweredoingwhat mymothershouldhavebeendoing.Theywereprotectingthelivingfromthe

  deadandthedeadfromthenastynecromancersanddarkwitches.Theywere protectingthepeopleofSt.Angelusandputtingthemselvesatriskastheydidit.

  Inthequietofmymind,ImightadmitthatIrespectedthem.Ididn’twant to be them,buttheytried.AndIrespectedit.ItwasjustthatFinny—No,Itold myself.You’rehereforhelp.CallhimFinn.

  Finn wassoself-righteousandarrogant.Iwantedtopunchhimmoreoften thanIwantedtohelphim,evenwhenhewasbeingheroic.ButwhenChrysie hadbeentakenandwe’dexpectedtobeattackedbyadarkwitch,he’dbeen there.WhenIfacedthepossessedguidancecounselor,he’dbeenthere.Hewas there,often,intheshadowsdoingwhatneededtobedone,damnhimtothehells formakingmefeelguiltyaboutnotlikinghim.

  “Rue,”hesaid.“Gods,Rue.That’s bad andDr.Hallowalreadytoldyou thatnothingcanbedone . ”

  “WhatdoIdo?Ican’tdonothing.”

  Heshookhisheadandlookedathisfeet.Hedidn’thaveanyideas.

  “Pleasedon’tsaynothing,”Isaid.Therewasapleainmyvoice,asoftness thatsorarelywasthere,Finnlookedupstartled.

  Andthenhelookedbackdownasheshookhishead.

  Iglancedattheothers,andthey all lookedaway.

  “Welldamn,”Isaidandturnedfromthegraveyard.

  “Youcanstilldotherightthingaboutthetalisman,”Finnsaid.

  “Finn,ifIhadit,Iwouldhandittoyourightnow.Ihaven’tseenitbutthe onetime,andIthoughtifIeventouchedit,Iwouldendupthekeeper.”

  “Thatwasstupid,”Monicasaidsnidely.

  IignoredherandtoldFinnwithararehonesty,“You’reagoodman,Finn.

  ButIwillfindawaytosave,Branka.”

  “Iwishitcouldbedone,”hesaid.Hewasthetypeofhandsomethatwould stopsomegirlsintheirtracks.“Thisiswhatkeepersandtalismansarefor.To preventthisfromhappening.”

  “Shedidn’tgethauntedhere,”Isaidwithsheerexhaustion.Therewasa growingpanicinmystomachthatIwasignoring.There couldn’t benothing.

  Iwalkedfarenoughawaytobebymyselfandcalledmyoldcovenleader Hazel,butshedidn’tknowaboutnecromancy.Shesortofdisdainedit.Icalled Saffron,thecovensisterfromtheSageIslandCovenwhohadbeenraisedina darkcoven,shedidn’tknowanything,butshesaidshe’ddowhatshecouldto findout.IcalledElizabeth,theancientvampirewhohadchangedChrysieand asked.

  Nothing.Igotnothing.IpursuedeverysingleavenueIhadandtheywere alltellingmethatBrancould not besaved.AndIcouldnotacceptthat.

  Whathauntedmewasn’twhattheHallowFamilyCouncilsaidorFinnand hislittleteamofdo-gooders.Itwaswhatmymotherhadnotsaid.She’sa snake.

  Gods,Ihatedhersometimes.Rightnow,Ihatedher. But,I knew shelovedme andBran.Shewouldandhaddoneanythingforus.It’sahardandhorriblething tobeadoredbysomeoneasmorallybrokenassheis.Whichmademeutterly confidentthat if thereweresomethingtobedone—anythingatall—she’dhave doneit.She’dhavehuntedupthosewhowerewithBranwhenshewascursed andmymotherwouldsacrificethemtothegodsifnecessary.AndImeantthat literally.Motherwouldactuallymurdersomeone,Ifeltsure,ifitwouldsave Bran.

  Andshehadn’ttoldmetodoanything.Anythingatall.Shehadn’tsentme afterabookorsomeweirdingredient.Shehadn’ttoldmetoasksoandsofor helporsaidthatshewascoming.Instead…shehadbeenwithoutorders, demands,ormanipulations.

  Godsand monsters. Shehadsaid nothing.

  Iwashauntedthewholewalkhome.Notbyghosts.Ormemories.Ormight havebeens.ButbytherealizationofwhatMothersayingnothingmeant and by visionsofBrandying.Orgoingslowlyinsane.OrturningintoMandiwhohad slaughteredpeople.

  BranandImightbepartsnakeandmonstersinourownright,butBran wouldwantmetokillhermyselfbeforeIletthathappen.

  AndtherewasnowayinanyofthehellsthatIwouldslaymysister.

  Chapter12

  IwentintoHallowHouse,laidmyheadonthetable,andtookinalong slowbreath.Iwastiredinawaythatwaspainful.

  “Areyouok?”Felixaskedcarefully.

  Ishookmyheadwithoutliftingitfromthetable.

  “Whatdidyoulearn?”

  “Hauntsarespelledandtorturedghostsbondedtothevictim.Thereis nothingthatcanbedone.”

  “Hecate,Rue,”Felixbreathed.Therewassomuchsympathyandworryin hisvoicethatitmadethingsworse.

  Iheardthechairnexttomescrapeagainstthefloorandfelttheheatofhim ashetooktheseat.Hereachedoutandtookmyhand,butIdidn’tliftmyhead.

  “WhatamIgoingtodo?”Ibegged.

  Hetookamomenttoanswerandthensaid,“Idon’tknow.Butwe’vemade itsofar.”

  Therewasabitofrustling,andIliftedmyheadtofacethesoundandfound therestofmycoven.Cyrusthelong,lankynormalhumanwhowaslearning magicfromus.TherewasJessieourauburnhaired,bookworm.Shewasall nerdandquietnessandfacts.Andtherewasmycousin,Chrysie.Mycousinwho hadbeenmurderedbeforeclassesevenstartedandturnedintoavampirebythe schoolwhowantedtopreventoutrage.

  I’mnotsurehowturningayoungwitchintoayoungvampirewassupposed todothat,butatleastChrysiewasstillwithusandbreathing.She’dbeen kidnappedbyadarkwitch,andherhandhadbeenremoved.Andbecauseshe wasavampire,ithadbeenreturnedtoherthoughitwasdefinitelyher‘bad’

  handnow.

  Sheusedtomovelikeafairyreadytotakeflight,butshe’dbeengrounded eversincethedarkwitchkidnapping.UntilBrankaarrived,Chrysiehadbeenmy greatestworry.AndI’dbarelythoughtabouthertroublesinceBranhadstarted actingup.Iwasn’tsureifthatwasnormalorifIwerejustabadfriend.Ihad neverbeensureofanyofmyreactionssincemyupbringinghadbeensooff,I

  couldn’ttrustmyself.

  “Rue,”Chrysiesaidcarefully,sittingnexttomeandtakingmyotherhand.

  “IfanyonecansaveBran…”

  “Everyoneistellingmeshecannotbesaved,”Isaid.“Iguessthebite makesmesuperiffyaswell.”

  “What?”Felix’svoicewasalow-shout,andheturnedmyhandovertostare downatthebandagethathadbeenreplacedbyPortia.Underneathwasaperfect circleofteethandscabs.Ithadbeena nasty biteandithurtastupidamount.

  Therewasapartofmethatrelishedthatpain.RelishedthatIcouldfeelit andwascertainI deserved it.

  “We’llhelphoweverwecan,”Cyrussaid.Hewassuchagoodguy.Itmade metired.IfIlostBran,Iwasn’tsureIcouldkeepfunctioning.Iwassureour covenwouldfallapart,andnoothercovenwouldtakepoorCyruswhowas comingtolovemagicsomuch.

  SomeonerangthebellofthehouseasFelixpulledouthamburgerand startedformingpattiesforcheeseburgers.Itwasmycomfortfood.Cheeseburger withcheese,bacon,avocado,andmorecheese.Wealwayshadtheingredients, andFelixhadmademeaburgermorethanonce.

  Chrysiehelped,whileshenibbledeverythinginsightandJessiewentto answerthedoor.Whenshecameback,shehadmysiblingsHiroandSakias well.

  “Theyaskedforyou,”Jessiesaid,carefully,“Andrefusedtoleave.When theymentionedBran,Ithoughtmaybeitwouldbebettertoletthemcomein.”

  Istood,didn’tkno
wwhattodo,andsatbackdown.

  “Guys,”Itoldmycoven,“thisismyhalf-brotherHiroandsister,Saki.”

  “Ohshiiii,”Cyrusstarted,cuthimselfoff,andthenblushed.

  “Sakisaysyoursisterishaunted,”Hirosaidwithoutgreeting.Imethis gazeandhestaredbackatmewithoutwelcomeoranyemotion.

  “Sheis,”Isaid,wantingtoknowwhatheneededtoknowbythat.

  “Youdidn’tlooksobeatupbefore,”Sakisaid.

  “Bran’shauntcameoutonthedrivehome,”ItoldSaki.“Wefought.It wasn’taclearvictory.”

  “Didyoubleed?”

  “DidIgetbittenorscratched?”Iaskedforhim.Iflashedhimmyarm.“It’s currentlycontained.”

  “Whatdoesthatmean,”Felixdemandedasheflippedtheburgers.He’d addedtwomoretothepanandcontinuedcookingwhentheothershadcomein.

  Buthe’dbeenwatchingcarefully.

  “Itmeans,”Hiroanswered,“Thatmy half-sister isindangerofbeing

  hauntedherself.Whathaveyoudoneaboutit?”

  “Whyareyouhere,”Icountered.

  Sakicrossedtheroom,bypassingherbrotherwhotriedtocatchher,and squeezedinbetweenChrysieandme,takingmyhandfromChrysie.

  “I’msorryaboutyoursister,”Sakisaidsoftly.Hereyestearedupandshe wascrying for me.

  “Iamgoingtosaveher,”ItoldSaki.“Sistersareimportant.Youneed them.”

  AtearrolleddownSaki’sfaceandshenoddedsolemnly.Thatlionessinside ofmethathadawokenforSakiandTanebeforeshifted.Gods,Ilovedthislittle girlalready.

  “Theonlywaytoslayahaunt,”Hirosaid,“iswithamagicobjectlike keepersuse.Youcan’tdothatwhileitisinsideoursisterwithoutalsoslaying yoursister.”

  IletgoofSaki’shandtostandandpace.Ivowedtothem,“Iwillfinda way.”

  “Ihopethatyoudo,”Hiroanswered.“Whydidyoucomevisitmyhome?”

  “Whyareyouhere?”IcounteredasIkeptmoving,backandforth,back andforth.AsIdid,Ithoughtofmymother.Shewas ruthless.ForMother,being ruthlesswasapartofMother’sarsenal.She’druthlesslymadeBranandIspend ourchildhoodformingpentaclesuntilwecoulddrawthemquicklyandwith musclememory.