Sisters and Graves Read online

  Itwasaskillsetthathadsavedmylifemorethanonce.ItwasbecauseI’d spentmuchofmychildhoodbrewingthatIhadbeenabletodowhatIhadwith thedarknecromancerwhohadbeenresponsibleforthedeathofCyrus’sgood friendsandthereasonwhyhewaspartofourlittlefamilynow.Motherhadbeen ruthlesswhenitcametomysummerdays,weekends,holidays,andevenings.It wasbecausemymotherhadtaughtmetodisregardthingslikepainthatIhad beenabletotrapadarkwitchinmyhouseandsetoffcleansingspellsfordark magic—despitethefactthatI’duseditmyself.

  Ihadtakenthepain,embraceditandsavedusall.BecauseI’dbeen ruthless.Motherwasruthless.Iwasruthless.

  Ihadahorribleidea.

  “WouldthetalismanoftheSt.AngelusThinningwork?”

  Hironoddedonce.“Doyouknowthekeeper?”

  Iletmynextquestionbethatanswer.“Iwonderifyouknowhowtobreaka talismanfromthecurrentkeeper?”

  Therewassilencefrommyfriendswhohadheardmesay,timeandagain, thatIdidnotwanttobetheKeeperoftheSt.AngelusThinning.AndI didn’t. I

  didn’tevenhavewordsforhowmuchIdidn’t.Iwasn’tnoblelikeFinn.Iwasn’t ambitiouslikeMonica—atleastnotinthatway.AndIcouldn’tstateenough howmanykeepersdied.LetmejustreiteratebeforeyousayI’vebeenprotesting toomuch,myAuntDominique and mygrandparentshaddiedinthecalling.As farasIknewyoucouldkeepgoingbacktofindmoremurderedgenerationsof myfamily,Ijustdidn’tknowthatmuchaboutmyfamilytoknowwhathad happenedtothem,butIwouldnotbesurprised.

  Gods,IdidNOTwanttobethekeeper.Butevenmoreso,Ididnotwantto seemysisterbeovertakenbythehaunt.Iwoulddoabsolutelyanythingtokeep thatfromhappening,includingtakeupthetalisman.

  “Iknowthekeeper.”Notalie.Butsuchanuntruthallthesame.

  “You’dhavetobeprettyruthlessto take thetalismanfromthem.It’s incrediblypainful.”

  “Mymotherraisedmetoberuthlessandcold,”Itoldhim,knowinghehad noideathatmymother was thekeeper.ButIalsoknew,damnher,thatshe’d havetoldmetodoit.She’dhavedoneanythingtosaveBranka.Mymother wouldhavetakenthetalismanfrom her mothereveniftheonlywayhadbeento killher.MotherwouldhaveslainherparentsinasecondtosaveBranka.

  “Theeasiestwaytotakethetalismanfromthecurrentkeeperistogain possessionofit,useitinthewayitwasintended,andbefoundacceptablebythe talisman.It’sprettyiffy.”

  NoneofmyfriendssaidawordforamomentandthenFelixsaid,“WellI guessweknowwhythecouncilhasbeenlookingsohardforthetalisman.”

  “Isthetalismanofthethinninglost?”Hiroaskeddisbelievingly.

  “Sortofinflux,”Ianswered.Imean…thiswasmy brother andasmuchas IwishedthatIdidn’thaveabrotherandthatmydaddywas mine, Iwanteda relationshipwiththesestrangesiblingsofmine.WithlittleSaki,withfierce Tane.WiththemysteriousRuby.AndIdidn’twanttoscarethemawaywiththe monsterthatIwas.

  “SoIfindthetalisman,makeitmine,befoundacceptabletobethekeeper, andthenslaythehaunt.”

  “No,”Hirosaidseriously.“Thatdoesn’tevensolvetheworstofthe problems.Howareyougoingtogetthehauntoutofyoursister?That’sthe problemwithhaunts.They’reboundtothevictim.It’swhyyoucan’tsavethe cursedone.Toslaythehaunt,youslaythevictim.Youslayyoursister.

  Otherwise,thehauntwon’tleaveyoursister’sbodyuntilaftershe’sgone.”

  “Ruewillfindaway,”Sakisaidloyally.Therewasnoshadowofadoubtin hervoice.Branwouldn’thavebeensosure.IfIfollowedtheinstinctsofmy hearttoBran,Iwouldfeelterroranddesperatehope.Mostly,however,terror.

  Therewasn’tapathformetofollowtoSaki.Notthroughmyheart.Notyet.

  But,Ididn’tneedapath.Shewasthere,infrontme,faithshiningfromhereyes.

  Loyalalready.Alreadybelieving.AlreadywillingtobelieveIwas somethingotherthanasnake.Thesweet,naivelittleprincess.Gods.Whata crueljokelifeis.Someday,IwouldseeSakiassherealizedjustwhoandwhatI was.Andthatfaithwouldfade.

  “Youneedtodealwiththebitebeforeyoucanhelpanyone.”Hirodidnot havethesamefaith.Anditwasthereinfrontofmeaswell—soclear.So precise.

  “Right,”Iagreed.“Soyou’retheheirapparenttotheBostonThinning.

  You’vebeentrainedinthingslikecontainingbitesfromahaunt?”

  Myvoicewascuriousbuttherewas,perhaps,abitofachallengeinthat question.Iwasn’tusedtohavinganoldersibling.Iwasn’tsurewhattodowith thisone.Notthathewasarealone.MyonlyrealsiblingwasBranbecauseshe wastheonlyonewhocouldunderstand.

  Hejustnodded.

  “Wait,”Felixsaidashestartedsettingplatesonthetable.“Why areyou here?”

  “Saki,”Hirosaidprecisely.Heglancedathislittlesister,withhertwin braidsandblackpleatedskirt.Shewassuchabeautiful,determinedlittlething.

  “Soyouwouldn’thavecomewithoutSaki?”Felixdidn’tsoundaggressive, buttherewasnogiveinhisvoice.

  “Notlikethis,”Hirosaid.Heshruggedalittleapologeticallybuttherewas noguiltinhisface.“Notthissoon.Notwithoutcheckingthingsout.Ithought youwerecontactingusbecauseofthemoneyuntilIsawthisplace.”

  Myhouse,Martha,wasamazing.Shewasshockinglybeautiful,teeming withwealth.Shewasextravagantwiththetypeofbeautyonlyoldmoney seemedtoshowsowell.Oldmoneyputbeautyinthedetails.Intheperfect, wide-plankedwoodfloorsthatshone.Inthetwisted,wroughtironfencingthat madescenesinironhereandthere.Inthebricksofthehousethatformed patterns.Thewaythestoneandbrickofthehousecomplimentedeachotherasif eachbrickandstonewerepreciselychosenfortheirshadeandshape—andIwas surethatwasexactlywhathappened.Marthawas amazing.

  “Idon’twantyourDad’smoney,”Isaidhonestly.

  “OurDad,”Hirocorrected.Hedidn’tquitebelieveme,andIdidn’tquite blamehim.Ihadseenthatbrownstonemansionhisfamilyowned,andmoney wouldhavebeenacompellingargumentforalotofpeopletobotherhisfamily.

  Butthethingwas—justbecauseHiro’sparentsweremarriedtoeachother didnotmakemeanylessamemberofthatfamily.Right?Idon’tknow.I

  mean…Iwasblood-relatedtothem.Andthatmatteredtome.But my Daddywas TheodoreJones.

  “Icanhelpyouwiththebindingofyourbite,”Hirosaid.“Idoknowhowto dothat.Ifyoudon’thaveanyoneelseyoucancall,Iwillhelpyou.”

  Ididn’tneedtothinkaboutthat.“Idon’thavetimetowaitforsomeone else.Ifyouhelpme,I’llbegladtohaveit.”

  “He’llhelpyou,”Sakisaid.“Whereisyoursister?”

  “She’scurrently…”

  “Resting,”Felixfinishedforme.

  SakiacceptedwhathesaidandHiroraisedabrow.

  Hiropulledouthisphonebroughtupaspellthathecarriedinhisdocsand said,“Thisiswhatwe’llneed.”

  JessieandIconferredandwesentCyrusforthefewthingswedidn’thave.

  “Thereare,actually,twooptions.ThisistheoneIwoulddo,”Hirosaid.

  “Butfirehasbeenthetraditionalmethod.Wewouldhavetobindyourarm down,writespellsonittokeepthefirecontained,wrapyouinflammable materialandsetyouonfire.”

  “Or…”Felixdemanded,shudderingatthedescription

  “Orwetattoothecontainmentandcleansingrunesonherskin.Itwillkeep thehaunt’sinfectionincheck.Thebiteistheavenueforthehaunttocomeafter youonceit’sdonewithyoursister.Anditmakesyouvulnerabletoitinafight.”

  “Sowhatdoesthetattoodo?”Jessieasked.

  “Itdoeswhathermakeshiftrunesdo,butwithma
gickedinkratherthan sharpie.Itwillcleanseandremovetheinfectioncompletelyovertime.”

  “Howmuchtime,”Chrysieasked.

  “I’msorry,”Sakiinterrupted,“Butareyouavampire?”

  ChrysienoddedherheadonceandSakisquealedalittlebitandsaidshe couldn’twaittotellTaneandherfriends.

  WhileChrysieexplainedbecomingavampire,IledHirotomylabandwe puttogetherthespelledinktotattooontomyarm.HirodidtheworkwhileI triedtopretendthattattooingaroundmyalreadybruisedandhurtingfleshdidn’t makemewanttoripoffhisface.

  “Howdidyoursistergethaunted?”

  Ithoughtforamomentandthendecidedtotellhimthetruth.Iwasgoingto havetobemyselfwiththesenewsiblingsandletthemchoosemeorrejectme.

  Pretendingtobesomethingelsewouldneverwork.

  “Iwashavingsometroublehere,somyMothercameouttohelpme.While shewasgone,Bran…”

  “Brawn?”

  “Branka,”Isaid,soundingitouttobeBrawn-kah.“Myfullnameis Veruca.”

  HeflinchedformeandIgrinnedforasecondbeforehewentbackto manuallyjabbinganeedledippedinspelledinkintomyarmandIwentbackto pretendingtobetougherthanIam.

  “Anyway,Bransnooped.Andfoundoutaboutallofthis.”Igesturedat him,buthisexpressionaskedmetoexplain.“Wethoughtthemanwhoraisedus wasourdad.Wedidn’tknowwehadhalf-siblingsanddifferentdads.”

  HiroflinchedformeagainandInodded.“Ifoundoutaboutyouguysand allofthisrightbeforeBrandrovemetoBostonandmademeseeyou.”

  “Andonthewayback,youdiscoveredshewashaunted.”

  Icouldn’tshrugwithoutriskinghimmessingup,soIhadtoexplainagain,

  “Iknewsomethingwasupwithher.Ijusthadnoideaitwassobad.”

  “I’msorrythatyou’relosingher,”Hirosaid.

  “WhatwouldyoudoifitwasSaki?”Iaskedhim,pullingawaysohehadto faceme.

  “Anything,”hesaid.“Everything.”

  “Thendon’tgiveuponBranyet.She’sallIhave.”

  Hetookmywristandpulledmypoor,bittenforearmbacktohim.Ashe wentbacktofillingintherunesonmyarmwithtattoos,hesaid,“Notanymore.”

  Chapter13

  “Rue!”Felix’svoicewasaroar.OneIshouldnothaveheard,butMartha wasamagichouseafterall.

  IjerkedmyarmawayfromHirowherehewascleaningitupand bandagingitandwentpeltingdownthestairs,downthehall,throughthe kitchen,anddownthebacksteps.WhenIgotintothemarblehall,whatIsaw terrifiedme.

  HauntedBranwasholdingSakibythehairandscreeching,“LETME

  OUUUUUTTTTT.”

  “Saki,”Hiroshoutedandfelltoahorrifiedstop.Ifhegottooclose,haunted Branwouldhurtourlittlesister.

  “Bran,”Isaid,steppingforward.“Howdidshegetoutofthechair?How didSakigetinthere?”

  Iwasnotreallylookingforanswersandnooneanswered.Wewerealltoo focusedonthehauntwearingmysister’sbodyandclutchingsweet,littleSakiby theneck.

  “Let.Me.Out.”Thistimeitwasmorecutoffgrowlsthanshrieks.

  “Ok,”Isaid.“LetSakigo.”

  “Iknowyouforaliar,”thehauntsaid.

  “Ohgods,”Hirosaid.“Ohgods,howdidthishappen?”

  “Iwillgetherout,”IsworetoHiroandlookedatSaki.“Don’tbeafraid.”

  “Iwillkillher,”thehauntsworeusingBran’smouth.

  “Martha,truthserum.”Myvoicewasclipped.Buttherewasenoughof Branwithinthehauntthatitknewthatofferforwhatitwas.

  AcupboarddooropenedandChrysiedartedwithhervampirespeedtoit.

  ShewasbackabreathlaterandIhelditoutforBrantosmell—nooneknewthat scentlikeus.Brancrossedtojustoutofreachwiththesilent,terrifiedSaki thrustbehindherandtookadepthbreath.

  Thosetwistedeyesfocusedonmeandtheheadofmysisternoddedonce.

  Idownedtheseruminoneswiftgulpandsaid,“IthoughtIwoulddo anythingtosaveyou,butIwon’texchangeSakiforyou.Youchosewell.”

  “Letmeout,”thehauntsaidwithBran’slips.

  “YouhavetoletSakigounharmed.”

  “Youwon’tletmeoutthen,”itsnarled.

  “Youknowbetter.Thereisnowaythatyoudidn’tfigurethiswithBranin yourhead.”

  Thehauntcackledandthensaid,“Sheknewthatyouwouldsacrificeanyof therestforher.”

  “ButnotSaki,”Isaid.ItriedtolookcomfortingtoSaki,butIsuspected thatIseemedcoldandhard.

  “NotSaki,”thehauntsang.

  “IsweartoyouonthelifeofDaddythatIwillbreakthepentacleifyoulet Sakigo.”

  Bran’seyeslookedatme,thendartedaroundtheroom.

  ThehaunthesitatedandIsaid,“Truthserumed.Icannotlie.”

  Bran’sheadnoddedoncebeforehermouthsaid,“Backagainstthewall.”

  Felix,Chrysie,Jessie,andCyrusbackedtowardsthewallwithoutdelay.

  Thelappingofwaterinthepoolandtheechooftheirstepsfloatedeerily throughthebigopenroom.

  “Youtoo,”Bransaid,lookingatHiro.

  “No,”Hirosaid,buttherewasabreakinhisvoicethatsaidheknewhe couldn’tsaveheralone.NotwiththewaythehauntheldSakibythethroat.

  “Go,”IshoutedandHirobackedreluctantlyup.

  “Don’tbewrong,”hepledashemovedaway.ButIhadnotimeforhim.

  “GivemeSaki,”Idemanded.

  “Letmeout.”

  “One,”IwaiteduntilthehauntnoddedandthendraggedSakitotheedgeof thepentacleasclosetomeasshecouldget.

  “Two,”Isaid.ItookadeepbreathandprayedtothegodsbeforeIsaid,

  “Three.”

  Ikickedasidethecandleattheedgeofthepentacle,focusedmywill,and letoutBran.ThehauntthrewSakiatme,knockingusbothintothepool.I foughtmywaytothesurfaceandyelled,“Martha.”

  Ashriekoffuryfilledtheair.

  “Canyouswim,”IaskedSaki.

  Shenodded,butshewascryingsohard,gaspingsomuchthatIpulledher towardsthesideofthepullwhereHirodraggedheroutandwrappedhisarms aroundherwithoutregardforthewater.

  Iwasgoingtopullmyselfout,butFelixdraggedmefromthewaterand huggedmetohimaswell.

  “So,thehauntcanaccessBran’sthoughts,”Isaid.“Orhearher.Butitisn’t assmartassheis.Shewouldneverhavefallenforthat.”

  “Whathappened?”Hiroasked

  “And,”Jessiesaid,“Thehaunt’smemoriesarespotty.Itshouldhave rememberedthatMartha’swardstrippedbefore.”

  “Martha?”HirostoodandliftedSakiashedid.“What?”

  “Marthaisthehouse,”Isaid.“She’spretty…aware.”

  “Andpowerful,”Cyrussaid.

  “And,Martha’swardstrippedbefore.Whenthehauntwaspeekingoutof Bran’seyes,”Felixadded.

  “WhichiswhyIendeduptruthserumingBranandfindingoutaboutyou guys,”Isaid.

  “You truth serumedyourownsister?”Hirosoundeddisgustedthoughhe wasstillclutchingSakiclose.Beingdisgustedbymyfamilywasfairgiventhat doingwhatwedidtoeachotherwasagainstbasicwitchlaws.

  “It’ssortofafamilytradition…”Myvoicetrailedoffathislookofhorror.I addedlamely,“Youhadtobethere.”

  Whenhisdisgustdidn’tfadeatall,Isaid,“Look,Iknowotherwitcheswho doit.I’mnotsayingI’mproudofit…but….anyway.Martha’swardshadtripped before becauseofBranwhichwasmyfirstbigcluethatsomethingseriouswas goingonwithher.Somethingmorethanthisfamilycrapandourmotherbeing…

  ourmother.”
<
br />   “It’sok,”Sakisaid.SheshiveredinHiro’sarmsandthensaidquietlybut withleftoverterror,“I’msorryforgettingcaught.Thankyouforsavingme.”

  “What happened?”Hiro’svoicewastortured.

  “IwantedtoknowaboutRue,”Sakianswered.“Ithoughtitwouldbeok, but…”

  “ThehauntdistractedherandSakienteredthepentacle.Thehauntgrabbed herbeforeIcoulddoanything.”

  ThatwassayingsomethingsinceitwasChrysiespeaking.Andshecould movelikeTheFlashwiththerightincentive.

  “She’sok.We’reok,”Isaidandsatdownonthefloor.I…gods…Iwaslost.

  ButSakiwiggledoutofherbrother’sarmsandflewintomine.

  “It’llbeok,”Sakisaid—givingmethefirsthugfrommynewfamily.She pettedmyhairandwhisperedtomeandmadelosingmyDadasmyDaddyok.

  He’dbeenthatonegoodthinginmylife.Andhewasstillthere,plusIhadthis sweetlittlethingtoo.

  IwrappedherupinmyarmsandhuggedhercloseandprayedthatIwould beabletosaveBranasI’dsavedSaki.

  Chapter14

  “So,”Itoldmycovenandsiblings.“I’vetriedeveryone.Noonecan providehope.”

  “Areyousureyouwanttogetthetalismanthen?”ItwasFelixwhoasked, andheaskedbecauseheknewIdidn’twanttobekeeper.

  Inodded.AndthenIlookedtotheolderbrotherIneverknewIhadand said,“Ihavenotrainingasanecromancer.”

  Heseemedstartledbutsaidnothing.

  “IcangetthetalismanoftheSt.AngelusThinning.ButImightneedsome helphuntingupaghost.”

  “Youcan’tjustgoafteranyghost.”

  “Itjustsohappens,”Isaid,thinkingofFinn,“ThatIknowofonethatneeds tobesentonitsway.”

  Hironoddedonce.Iwasn’tsurehecoulddoanythingelsewhenSakiwas watchinghimsocarefully.

  “Ifyoucangetthetalisman…”Hirowasdoubtful,butIjustgrinnedathim, momentarilyamused.ImighthaveprotestedIcouldn’tgetitwhennooneelse coulduseit.Ihadn’tknownabouttheloophole.AndnowIwasgrateful.