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.
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