Book Read Free

Sisters and Graves

Page 2

by Amanda A. Allen


  “Areyou sleeping withhim?”

  SheknewIwasn’t,butshedidn’tlikehowIwasavoidingher.Wewereso goodatit,thetwoofus,sogoodatavoidingquestionsandrevealingourhearts.

  Asuper-powerfromoursuper-villainmother.

  Timetogetnasty.“Ifyouwantedbeautyspells,youcouldhavejuststayed homeandtalkedtoIngrid.”

  Branchokedforamoment.GiventhatIngrid,aformercovensister,was boththebestatbeautyspellsI’deverseenandalsooneoftheworstwitchesI’d everseen,itwasanastyblow.Ismiledevilly.

  Bran’seyesnarrowedandshesaiddistinctly,“Cow.”

  “Whiner.”

  Bran’seyesnarrowedtomereslits.“Iknowallyoursecrets.”

  “You knew allofthem,”Isaid.AndthenIhandedherthechipsI’dgotten togowithmysandwichandsaid,“Girlup,Brawny.I’mofftoclass.You’re gonnahavetospilleventually.”

  Shealmostseemedtogrowlatmebeforesheleanedbackandopenedthe bagofchips.

  “Youthinkyou’resosmart,butIalwayswinintheend.”Shetriedtomake hervoicesoundsinister—andhonestly,italmostdidn’tsoundlikeBran.Butshe wasn’tgoingtogettome.

  “Iamsmart,littleone,”Itoldher,usingthenameourDaddyusedforher.

  Sheflinched,butIwasonaroll,soIremindedher,“It’sneverbeenover.”

  Chapter3

  ItwasdarkwhenIleftpotionsclub.Ilovedbrewingwiththeotherseven thoughtheprofessorwasarealjerkandmostoftheotherstudentsdidn’tlike me.WhenIfeltthatmanypotionscoalescearoundme,itmademyheart—even myskin—happy.BeingaHallowwhoalsobrewedmademeapariahto everyoneelsethere.Thenecromancerwhorefusedtoleavethe“other”magicto thenormalwitches.EspeciallysinceIwasbetteratbrewingthanallofthem.To them,itfeltlikeIwastheprincesswhodemandedtobeallowedtoalsobethe pauperwhenitwasconvenient.

  Themoonwashighbutcloudcoveredanditpeekedthroughhereandthere.

  Theoaksacrossthecampuswerecallingtome,butIwasn’taloneandcouldn’t answerthecall.Duringclub,Ihadworkedwithmymaybe-friendSam.Ourclub hadbrewedanallergyrelieverwhosebasewashuckleberrysmokeand rosewater.Wewereonlyclassfriendssofar.Hewasdecentatpotions,andhe likedbrewing,soIlikedthatabouthim.AndIlikedhishairandthewayhis glassesglintedfirelight.Andheseemedtosmilerealsmilesbehindthoseglasses ofhis—anattributeIfoundgenuinelylovely.But,becauseIwaspartsnake, thosesmilesalsomademewonderwhathewanted.Ismiledrealsmilesat peoplesometimes.Itdidn’tmeanI‘liked’theperson.

  AndifIwerecompletelyhonest,everytimeIthought thoughts aboutSam, itmademefeelguiltyaboutFelix.WhichwasstupidsinceFelixwasnotand neverhadbeensomeoneIneededtofeelguiltyabout.

  “Hey,”IsaidtoSam,instantlyfeelingguiltytoFelixforwhatIwasabout todo.Youcouldn’tcheatonaguyyouweren’tdating,Iremindedmyself—yet again.Especiallyifhealreadyhadagirlfriendwhenhekissedyou.Andthen you’dnevertalkedaboutitagain.Itwasthiselephantintheroom.Thishuge,all thetime,elephant.ButIwasn’tFelix’sgirlfriend.Monicawasandthethoughtof herpromptedmetofinishmyquestion.“Didyouwanttogetsomecoffee?”

  Hismouthopenedasifhe’dbeenwaiting,orwasIreadingintothat, except,myphonerang.IpulleditoutofmybackpocketbecauseIwasn’tsure whatelsetodoandsawCyrus’sname.Mycovenbrotherwasnewtothisworld

  ofmagicandtheweakestofusall.Butitdidn’tmattertoourcoven.Weliked him,helikedus.Wewerethekindoffamilythatchoseeachother.

  “Um,”IsaidtoSam,myheartpoundingtohearhisreplyandatthe adrenalineofactuallyaskingit,butitwas Cyrus whonevercalledme.I answeredthecallwithasimple,“Hey.”

  “Rue,wehaveasituation.”

  Myheartwentfrompoundingtoracing.Cyrus nevercalledme.IfIhadn’t beendistractedbySamandhissmile,Iwouldhavealreadybeennervous.

  “Iseverythingalright?”

  “Um,sortof.It’sjustyoursistercamebacktodayandIletherin.”

  “Well,yeah,”Isaid.Imighthavesoundedabitimpatient.

  “But whenshecameinsideandthewardstripped.”

  “What?”MyfacemusthavereflectedsomethingbecauseSam’sexpression wasworried.

  “She’slike…lockedtotheflooroftheentryway.”

  “Areyoukiddingme?”

  “No.Wetriedtohelpher.Butnothingworked.Infact…Jessieispinnedto thewall.”

  “Aretheyok?”

  “Jessieseemstobe.”

  Ohgods,Ithought.Godsandmonsters. WhataboutBran?

  “I’llberightthere,”Isaid,endingthecallandlookedatSam.“I’msorry.”

  “Everythingalright?”Samsmiledbuttheeyesbehindhisglasseslooked worried.Ormaybehewasjustreflectingtheworryinmyowneyes.

  “I…havenoidea,”Surelytheremustbesomemistake.WhywouldMartha pinbothJessieandBrankadown?HowdidMarthaevendothat?Werethespells laiddirectlyintothefoundationtriggered?Ifso,how?Jessiehadmovedin recentlyandBranwasaHallowofthedirectline.Theybothshouldhavebeen safe.Branespecially.Shewas,Irealized,myheir.Marthashouldn’tattackBran.

  Ididn’tsayanyofthattoSam.Ijustsaid,“Ineedtogethome.”

  “Doyouneedhelp?”

  Ipaused.Ihonestlyhadnoidea.Maybe?ButevenifIdid,Ididn’tthink Samwouldbeabletohelpme.

  “Idon’tthinkso,”Isaid.

  “So….”Hetookmyhand,justforamomentandasked,“Raincheck?”

  “Yeah,”Isaid,andthistimemysmilewasarealonefleetingthoughitwas.

  *****

  Ijoggedhomewithmybagbangingagainstmyback,gettingmoreand moreirritatedwitheachstep.Whateverwashappeningmustbeconnectedto

  whyBranneededhelp. Whydidn’tshejusttellmewhatwasupwhenshecame?

  SheleftwhateverwaswrongunsaiduntilshewastrappedinmyhouseandIhad tomisswhatcouldhavebeenasort-ofdatewithapersonwholikedto brew.

  Ididn’tneedtoopenthefrontgate.Itswungopenformeasithaddone sinceIfirstknockedonit.Ikeptmyspeedupandjoggedupthesteps,opening thefrontdoor,andbangingitagainstmysister’shead.Shewas plastered tothe floor.Thelookonherfacewaspained,andshesaidoutofthesideofhermouth thatwaspressedthewide-plankedwoodfloors,“Bouttime.”

  Isquatteddownandnudgedher.Shedidn’tmove.Ipushedharderand could not budgehereventhetiniestbit.

  “Ow!”

  “Whiner,”ItoldherandrosetoturntoJessie.Shewasn’t sostuck.Herhair hungfreeandshewasabletowaveherfingersatme.

  “Ithelps,”Jessiesaidslowly,hereyesfixedonmysister,“Ifyoudon’tfight toohard.”

  IlookedbetweenmysisterandJessieandagain.BothJessieandCyrus werestaringatBranka.Bothofthemseemedworried.Bothofthembarelylet theireyesskipawayfrommysister. What hadhappened?

  “Jessiehasbeenpracticingdeepbreathing,”Cyrussaid.“Shedoesn’tliketo betrapped.”

  “Whodoes,”Bransnarled.Shesoundedsomadwhenthiswasallherfault.

  Iwasalittlesurprisedshewasn’tcrackingjokes.

  Jessie’sexpressionwasslightlypleading,slightlypanicked,andawholelot ofattemptedpatience.

  “Martha,”Isaidtakinginthesceneagainandwonderingwhatthehellwas goingon.

  Marthahadapersonalityifahousecould.Andherswassomethingofatoo helpfulgoldenretriever.She’dneverdoneanythinglikethis.Icouldseeher goinghaywireifwehadintruders.But,Jessielivedinthehouse.Branwasofthe HallowlineandMarthalikedthosewhocarriedourflavorofmagic.Sheeven like
dtheHallowFamilyElders,Leander,Portia,andMartin,and I couldbarely standthem.ButtheyhadmyflavorofmagicwhichiswhatcalledtoMartha.

  ThewayBranandJessiewereheldinplacebyunseenhandswascreepy andterrifyingandnotjustbecauseahouseheldthemprisoner,butaloving house.Ahousethatkeptuswarmand…godsRue,Ithought,youmightloveher butMarthaiswoodandstoneandspells.Ishookoffthosethoughtsand refocusedonthescenebeforeme.

  JessieandBranbothhaveredhairandthatwasaboutassimilarastheygot.

  Jessiewasnerdy-cutewithauburn-redhairintwolongbraids.Bran’sredhair

  wasin-your-faceorange,sprayedacrossthefloorandjustasstuckastherestof her.Whenshestoodshewasahandfulofadorablecurvesandhair.Rightnow shelookedlikearabidchihuahua.

  “Getmeup,”shegrowled.

  IignoredherandfocusedonJessie.

  “Whatwereyoudoing?”

  “Tryingreleasecommandsandrunestogetherfree,”Jessie’svoicewas soft,barelylouderthanawhisper.

  “Martha,”Isaid.“Releasethem.”

  Sherumbledandtherewasaswirlofairinthehouse,butitpushedatme.

  Pushingme away frommysister,sendingthelittlehairsonthebackofmyspine tofullalert.

  “Martha,”Isnapped.“Stopit!”

  Shequitpushingatme,butdidn’tletBranorJessiego.

  “LetJessiego,”ItoldMartha,leavingBranforthemoment.

  “Hey,”Bransnarled.MartharumbledagainandIsaid,“Nowdamnit.”

  JessiegaspedandstumbledforwardandCyruscaughther,holdingherback fromBran.

  “ThankHecate,”Jessiesaid,lettingCyruswraphisarmsaroundherand squeezehertight.HereyeswerefixedonmeandBran,Jessie’sbreathingwas jerky,anditseemedthepanicshe’dbeenabletoholdbackbeforewasboiling up.

  “Deepbreaths,Jessie.You’reok.”

  IsquatteddownagainandmetBran’seyes.Thethingwas—Branka PenelopeJoneswasagreen-eyed,pocketgoddess.Theeyesstaringatmewere blackthatswirledtoredandyellowandbackagain.

  “Huh,”IsaidasifIweren’ttemptedtorunawayscreaming.OrasifI didn’tneedtoscream at Bran.Whatinallthehells?Howcouldshehave somethinglike whatever thiswasgoingonwithherand not tellme?

  Bransnarledandtriedtotwist.

  “So….”IturnedtoJessieandCyrusandsaidcalmly,“Thisseemsvery bad.”

  “Yes,”Jessieagreed.SheandCyrustookastepbackthatseemedalmost instinctiveasBransnarledagain.

  Istarteddownatmysisterwhowastryingtomove,tryingtoreachoutfor me.Idon’tknowhowIknewthat,butIknewBransowell.Sovery,verywell.

  “Ithink…”Mymindwasracing,tryingtocomeupwithanything.Ihad zeroideawhattodo.Iwasn’tsomecatholicpriest,andIwasn’tsurewhatwas happeningatall.Wasshepossessedofghosts.

  “Getthisstupidhousetoletmego.”

  “YouknowyouloveMartha,”ItoldBran.

  Astringoffoulcurseswasherreply.

  “I’mgoingtowashouryourmouthwithsoap,younglady,”Itoldherto infuriateherfurther.Iwassoangry.What,byHecate,was happening?Why hadn’tshetoldmewhatwasgoingon?Whyhadsheletitgettobethisbad?

  And wasthisfixable?Ifitwasn’t,Iwasgoingtobeatthispseudoversionofmy sistertodeathwithmybarehands.

  “Um,Rue…”CyrustrailedoffandIturnedtolookathim.“Pleasedon’t makeit—”

  Thelookonmyfacestoppedhimthereandheclearedhisthroatseveral timesbeforehefinished,“Her.Don’tmakehermad.”

  “Isshescary?”IaskedmildlyasifIwasn’tterrified.Iwasn’tsurethat anythingcouldbescarierthanthisexperiencerightnow,andI’dseensome prettyhorriblethings.Itwasjust…Branwasmy sister.Herfacewasoneof thosememoriescarvedinsideofme.Seeingherlikethiswaslikeseeingmy childhoodpetcomebackfromthegrave.Itwasunacceptable.Itwas…

  Cyrus’sanswerwasahigh-pitchedlaughbuthebackedalittlefurtheraway fromusboth,andhepulledJessiewithhim.

  “I’mgoingtomakeanadjustedpentaclearoundmysister,”Itoldthemto remindthemthatshe was mysister.Iwasn’tsayingIwasn’talsotemptedto sendsomeoneforholywater.Whateverittook.Thepentaclewasthebarrierand asafetynet.Alotoftimesitwasavehicleforaspell..Therightrunesinthe rightplaceswithmagicandwill—thatwaspowerfulstuff.Evenifyouweren’t quitesurewhatyouweredoing.

  Inthiscase,itwasabarrierbetweenherandus.Myverybestfriend,my sister,theonepersonthatmeantthemosttome.AndIwasputtingherina magicalcage.

  MyvoicewasemotionlessasIcalmlysaid,“Thereisn’tenoughroomtodo atraditionalonewithherinthecenter.”

  ShehadtobeinthecenterbecauseIneededtoformthelinesaroundher.

  Thelinesofapentaclewerethephysicalrepresentationoftheborderofaspell.

  Thepentaclewasthesymbolicboundaryallowingawitchtotakeatinypieceof theuniverse,temporarilymakeitherown,andenforceherwilltherein.Inthis case,itwouldbeaprotectionspellforthoseofusoutsideofthepentacle,a bindingspelltokeepmysisterinsideofthepentacle,andpossiblyarevelatory spelltoshowuswhatthehellwashappening.

  Myheartwasracingandmymindtrippingoveritself.IwasprettysureI didn’twanttoknowtheanswer.Evenstill,Idrewthepentacleandplacedthe

  runesofdiscernment,protection,safety,barrier,andbecauseshewasmysister andwe’ddonespellstogethertimeandagainacomplexrunethatmeantfamily andloveandknowledgeoftheother—allmixedupintooneineffablefeeling thatonlyfamilythatadoresandneedsoneanotherfeels.

  Itwaswiththatlastruneasthepentaclemagicfueledthatmysisterwas freed.Marthaallowedmetotakeoveranddroppedwhateverwardswerein place.Iwasn’tsurethatshewouldn’treactagainifthepentaclewere disassembled,butfornow,Ihadspacetowork.Aseriesofsounds—sortof grunts,growls,gnashing—whateveritwas—itwasn’tBran.

  “Ohshi…,”Cyrussaidashespokethefrontdooropened,andFelixand Chrysiecamein.

  “Hey,”Felixsaidandthentookinwhatwashappening.“Um…”

  “Ohmygosh!”Chrysiesaidatthesametime,herheadswingbackand forthbetweenmyselfandBran.

  “So,”IsaidcasuallyasIwipedthesweatfrommybrowthatwasforming.

  “ItseemsthatBranisinmoretroublethanIanticipated.”

  AsIspoke,shescreamedandjumpedtoherfeettorushthepentacle.An unseenwallflungherback.Andanunearthlyscreamranginmyears.

  “Well,”Felixsaid.“Maybeweshould…”

  Ilookedathimandheatme.Ihadnoideawhattodo.Wasthissome necromancyspellgonewrong?Ididn’tknowwhereshe’dbeenorwhatshe’d beendoing.Ithadbeenevidentfromthelittlebrushesofoursoulsagainsteach otherthatBranhadbeenuptosomesortofmischief.Butthetruthwas—that washernormal.Sheflungherselffromonecaseofmadnesstoanother.AndI’d spentmuchofmylifedoingjustthis—tryingtoprotectherfromthe consequencesofherchoices.

  “WhatcanIdotohelp?”Felixaskedashefinallyshutthedoorbehindhim andChrysie.Mycousin,Chrysiewasalreadykneelingnexttome.She’dtaken myhandwithhergoodoneandwaswhisperingthoseinane,heartfeltmurmurs thatpeoplewhisperedwhentheyhadnothingelsetosay.

  “Idon’tknow,”Itoldhim.Clearlymysisterhadstumbledintosomething bad.Ididn’tthinkshewaspossessed—shewouldn’thavebeenherselfforso longofhervisitifshewas.Iwondered…andmyheadcockedasIconsidered.

  “WhatifIputacontainmentspellonthepentacle?”

  Felixthoughtforamomentandthennodded,“Itcouldn’thurt.”

 
“It’sgoingtobeok,Bran,”Chrysiesaid.“YoucancountonRue.”

  “Oh,”JessiesaidassheletgoofCyrus’shand.“Ihaveanidea.”

  Jessieranfromtheentrancehallwhiletherestofusdiscussedpossible runesforasecondarysetinalargepentacle.Itwouldbehardtomakeitaround

  her,giventhespace,butitwasjustafocusdeviceandIcouldwritevery,very smallandstillbeeffective.MychalkformedthepentacleandatChrysie’sand Felix’ssuggestions,wedecidedontherunesforrecovery,self,safety,peace,and containment.

  Ipoweredthespellandwaited.Ittookawhile.Shestoppedtryingtoget outofthepentaclefirst.Andthendroppedtothegroundandtuckedherknees againstherchest,rockingbackandforthnext.Thenshewasquiet.Finally,when shelookedup,IsawherBran’sgazestaringbackatme.

  “Whatthehells?”Iaskedher.

  Sheshookherheadandthensaid,“I’moknow.Youcanletmeout.”

  “Yeahright,”Cyrussaidwithhishigh-pitched,terrified,laugh.

  “Whathesaid,”Felixagreedcalmly.

  “Whatinalltheever-lastinghells,BrankaPenelope?”

  “YoulistentomeVerucaDominique,”shecounteredbutdidn’tendher threatsinceIcutheroff.

  “Listentoyou?Listentoyou!”IshoutedasIstoodupandpaced.“What areyougoingtodoifIdon’t?Leave?Youcan’t,canyou?Youwerepinnedby thewardsonMarthaandyou’reblockedinthatpentacle.”

  “It’sovernow.Letmeout,”Branshoutedbackatme.Sheroseand poundedontheinvisiblewall.“Iamgoingtopunchyouintothenextlife.”

  “Girlup,”Ishoutedback.“Girlupandconfess,youidiot.”

  “No!”Sheshoutedback.Wefacedoff,onlyinchesapartbutblockedbythe pentaclewall.Sheslammedherhandsagainstitandsaidinshort,precise, statements,“Letmeout.”

  “Iwouldbestupidtoletyououtgivenwhatwejustsaw.”

  Hereyeswidenedslightlyandshetookastepback.Shetossedhercurls whichweremoreofonemattedmessthanhernormalluxuriouslocksand clenchedherfists.Finally,shesaidsoftly,“Idon’tknow.

 

‹ Prev