“Let’smoveBran,”Isaid.“Andtieherbackup,sincereleasingherwas clearlyamistake.”
“How?”Felixlookedatthepentacleandthenbackatme.
“Iamhavingsomeangerissues,”Isaid.“IthinkI’llworkthemout.”
Iwentuptomylabandgotasleeppotion,loadingitintoasyringe.I wasn’tanexpertatsyringesbyanymeans,butthiswasthetypeyoushovedinto abuttorathigh.Iwastotallygoingtoleaveabruise,butconsideringmy STUPIDplan—ifIhadanyotherideas,anyatall,I’dhavetriedthemfirst.
MarthahadBranpinnedtotheflooronthestairs.Itlookedpainfulasliving inthehells.Ienjoyed—fartoomuch—jabbingherwiththesleepserumand waitingforhertofallasleep.Felix,HiroandIcarriedBrantothepentacles wherewetiedhertoachairandthencuffedherwiththemagickedcuffsthat Jessiehadmade.Jessiehadbeenforcedtomakeanewsetafterthehaunthad
somehowdestroyedtheoldones.Weredidthepentaclebutusedsomerunesthat Hiroadvised.Intheend,shewasassafeasIcouldmakeherwhilealsotryingto keepeveryoneelsesafe.
“Martha,”Isaidasweleft.Icouldfeelmycovenfreezeandlistenasthey waitedformetoaskherforthetalisman.“PleaselockthepoolroomsoBranka cannotgetoutandnooneelsecangetin.”
“Yourhousewilldothat?”Hiroasked.HewasholdingSaki’shandandhad watchedasI’dmovedthroughmyplace.Ithinkifwe’dbeenathisplace—he’d havebenemorelikelytotakeover.Therewassomethingofacommanderabout it.Somethingrighteous.Ididn’twanttosayit,butheremindedmeverymuchof Finn.ExceptIdidn’tdespiseHirointhedepthsofmyspinelikeIdidFinn.
“So…Idon’twanttominimizewhatyou’regoingthrough,butIdon’tsee howyoucouldpossiblygetthetalisman.Letalonetakeitfromtherightful keeper.”
SakihuffedatherbrotherandFelixsnorted.Hiroglancedaroundasmy covendidn’tmeethiseyes.TherewastoomuchbaggagewithwhyIcouldso easilyaccessthetalisman—Ithought.
IlickedmylipsandconsideredwhatIwasgoingtosay.Ididn’twantHiro tohatemeandmine.Eventhoughmymotherwaseminentlyhate-ableas evidencedbyhowmuchIhatedherrightthen.
“It’salonganduglystory,”Istarted.
Hiroexaminedmyfaceforamoment,maybehecouldreaditsinceitwas similartohis?IwascomingtolikehimmoreandmorewhichmadewhatIhad tosaysomuchmoredifficult.
“TheKeeperoftheSt.AngelusThinningusedtobemygrandparents.They died.Idon’tactuallyknowwhichonewasthekeeperandwhichonejusthelped out.”
Hiro’sheadcockedasIsaidthatandIknewhewasprobablycomparingto hisownfamily,tohisbadassGrandmaRuby.
“Theywerekilledbyawitchorwhateverthathadbeenpossessedwitha tonofghosts.”
HirowincedandSakigasped.
“MyGreatAuntDominquewasthenextkeeper.Thesamepersonkilled her.”
“Gods,Rue….”
“Thenmymothertookupthetalisman.Shemusthavetriedtokillthat witchandfailed.Somehowshesurvived.”
Hiroclearedhisthroat,maybethinkingaheadinthestory?Mayberealizing whereithadtogo?
“Shetriedtounbindthetalismanfromher,butshefailed.Shelockedup HallowHouseforthenexttrueheirorwhatever,leftthetalismaninside,andran.
St.Angelushasn’thadanactivekeepersincethen.”
“Butit’sahugelyactivethinning,”Hirosaid.“I…that’sbad.”
“SinceHallowHouseisopennow,theHallowshavebeenwaitingforthe talismantoshowbackup,tofinditskeeper,butithasn’tbeenableto—”
“Because,”Hirosaid,“It’sboundtoyourmother.”
“Yeah,”Isighedandthensaid,“Martha,mayIhavethetalismanplease?”
Thereshouldhavebeenaladyinalakeoraswordinthestoneora mysticallightthattransformedmefromiffyprincetobattle-readyhero.But therewasn’t.Adraweropenedandinsidewasabladeaslongasmyforearm, etchedinrunesandblackasether.
Whatdidhappenthatwasfarmoreterrifyingwasthatmysoulrecognized it.Asifithadlongsincefeltitandknewit.WhenIpickedupthetalisman,it feltasthoughitwerereachingback.AndwhenIgraspedthatrunecarved handle,Ihadneverfeltanythingmorefamiliar.
SomethingIdidnotwanttofeel.
“HolyHecate,”Hirosaid,reachingouttoalmost,butnotquite,runhis fingersoverthebladeinmyhand.
“Ican’tbelieveyoutookitup,”Felixsaid.Hedidreachoutandtouchthe talisman.Hisgazemetmine,andwebothseemedtothinkbacktothemany, manytimesIhadsaidhowIdidnotwantthismomenttocome.AndIhadn’t.I stilldidn’t.ButwhatIwanteddidn’tmatterinthefaceofwhatwashappeningto Bran.Ihadn’tbeenjokingabouthowIwoulddoanything,anythingatallto saveBran.
“Itwillhurtyourmotherifyouforciblytakeitfromher,”Hirosaid.
“NotasmuchaslosingBranwill.Plus,Mothershouldhavereleaseditlong ago.Thisshouldn’tbewhatithascometo.”
Ididn’tfeelbadaboutmymother’spain.Atall.Iwasn’tsureifthatwas becauseIwassoangrywithher.Orbecausekarmicallyshedeservedit.Or becauseIknewshewoulddoitherself,1000timesoverforBran.
“So…you’llhelpmeslayaghost?”
“Youknowonethatneedstobesentthroughtheether?”Hiro’squestion clarifiedwhatwouldbehappeningandIcaughtthelesson.Igavehimaquick grinasIsaid.
“Tobehonest,anyghostwouldbefinetosaveBran,butyes…there’s somethinghappeningintheOldCemeterynearthecollege.”
Wetookthestationwagon,leavingSakiwithCyrus,Jessie,andChrysie.
Felix,Hiro,andIwenttofindtheghost.TheOldCemeterywasontheSt.
AngelusCollegecampusandsurroundedbythehugeoakgrovethatwove throughthecampus.Ihadonceseenacovenmeetinghereinblackcloaks.Ithad scaredmeatthetime,butIdidn’tknowaboutSt.Angeluscateringto necromancers.Thegravestoneswerelargeandcarvedliketheonesfrom previouscenturies.Now,peoplegotthetinylittleplaquesthatdidn’tinterfere withlawnmaintenance.
Thecemeteryevenhadamausoleum,afamilycrypt,thosefencesthat threwtheterrifyingkindofshadowsasthesunfell.Itwasdark.Thesunhadset sinceHirohadarrivedwithSakiandnightruledinherfullglory.
“Howdowemakehercomeout,”Iasked,notcaringthatthegraveyard wascreepy.They’dneverbotheredmebefore,andIwasn’tgoingtoletitbother menow.
“Thereareways…but…they’redangerous.”Hirosoundedhesitantand maybeabitworried.Orwasthatjustmehopingthathewouldcareifsomething happenedtome?MaybeitwouldbebetterforhisfamilyifBranandIlostthe fightagainstthishaunt.HeandSakicouldgobacktoBostonandpretendthat theyhadneverheardofme.Theywouldn’thavetotelltheirmotherwhattheir fatherhaddoneandtheywouldn’thavetoseehergrieveacrimeagainsther marriagethathadoccurredmorethan19yearsago.
Noneofthatmatterednow.Ineededtogettheghost,bindthetalisman,and moveontothebiggerproblemofBran.Ididn’tcareaboutthesupposeddanger ofwhatIwasabouttodo.ItwasnothingcomparedtowhatIplanned.“What wouldwork?”
“Animperfectpentacle,ableedingnecromancerdoingpoorlycontained magicusingtheether.”
“Whatwillhappentome?”
“You’llhavetofighttheghostandwin.Butthewoundandthebroken substandardpentaclewillmakeyouaneasiertarget.”
“Ok,”Isaid.“Backoff,Ihavetodothismyselfright?”
IbroughtHirotomakesureIdidn’tdie.Ididn’twanthimtointerfere beforethen.IfIgotprettyhurt,Ineededthemtobringmehome.Felixwould takecareofthatandknewwhotocall.Hirowasprobablytrainedenoughto keepusalive.
Idroppedtothegrassand
formedapentacleusingspelledpebblesIcarried inmywitchbag.Iletmyhandshakeslightlyasitcametogether,ignoringmy musclememoryandthetwanginmymindthatsaidallwasnotright.Ipulled outthetalismanandslicedmyforearm,lettingmyblooddripontotheground withoutanyattempttostopitandthenItookholdoftheether,insideoftheSt.
AngelusThinningsincethefirsttimeIhadlearnedaboutthecallingofKeeper.
Minutespassedwithoutanythinghappening.Waitingwasnotgoodforme.
Itletmeremembermydaddyandwhyheshouldn’tloveme.Itmademethink aboutallthetimesI’ddisappointedhim.Washerememberingthosetimestoo?
WashethinkingabouthowIhadneverfitashisdaughter?Now,hedidn’thave tobesecretlyashamedofmymoralapathyandmywillingnesstomakeMindy Harpercrythatonetime.OrthetimeIhadsetJenniferGolde’sfrontyardon fire.
AtearrolleddownmycheekasIthoughtofhimandhowunworthyIwas ofmydaddy.Iwassogladitwasdark,noonecouldseeme.Myhandgripped onthetalismanandIrealizedhowmuchbetterofftheworldwouldbewithout me.
Except,Bran.Icouldn’tleavemysisterbehind.Theneedtoendthepain foughtwithmyneedtoprotectmysister.Theghostcouldjustcome.Iwould senditonitswayandthenIcouldtakecareofBran,andthenmyself.My frustrationwasmounting,myneedtojustenditallwhenIrealizedIwas freezing.Andterrified.Andsoepicallysad.
Thisghostwas good.ItwasmanipulatingmyemotionswhenIwas expectingittocome.
“You…” Buttherewasn’tacursethatwasgoodenoughforwhatithad done.Ithad almost gottenmetoleaveBranbehind.Iwould never dothat.But…
HiroHADwarnedme.HehadtoldmeIwouldbevulnerable.Ijustdidn’tthink itwouldmatter.
“Comeout,comeout,whereveryouare,”Isang.
Aneeriegigglefilledthegraveyard.
“Ialmosthadyou,”theechoing,child-likevoicesang.
Gods,Iprayed,pleasedon’tbeakidghost.
Andmaybetheghostheardme.Andmaybeghostscouldaltertheirform.I don’tknow.Buttheghostwasgray,withtwinbraids,andauniformsovery reminiscentofSakiandTane.Ifeltsicklookingatthem.
“Dotheylook…”IwasgoingtoaskHiroifhenoticedtheresemblance.
“Yes,”heandFelixansweredbeforeIcouldfinish.
“SweetHestia,motherofthegods,”Felixbegan.
TheghostturnedslowlytowardsFelixandroseintotheair.
“Don’tsaythatword,”theghostscreeched.
Felixflinchedandbackedup.Istartedforward,butmybrokenpentacle heldmeback.
“No,”Iyelledandtheghostgiggledagain.Giggledandthenafloodof branchesfromtheoakgroveroseintotheair,spunlikearrowstakingaimand flewatHiroandFelix.
“Felix,”Ishouted.“Hiro!”
Ibangedonthewallofthepentacle,trappedandunabletohelpbeforeI rememberedthetalisman.Iwondered…Istabbedout,rightatthepentaclewall andthenfelloutofit.Ifaceplantedonagraveandpushedmyselfup.Ihad heardapainfulscreamandwantedtobegtheuniversetonottakeeitherofthem, butfirsttheghost.
“Areyoucontaminated,littlewitch?”Theghostlaughedasitrushedme.I doveawayinstinctivelyandbarelymissedbeingranthroughbythecreature.I hadnoideawhatthatwouldhavedonetome,andIcalculatedinthebackofmy mindhowterriblymymotherhadsetmeupforfailurebysendingmetobethe keeperwithoutanytraining.
IwantedtorushtoFelixandmybrother,butIcouldn’t.Icouldn’tlet myselfbedistractedfromtheghostandlosethewarforallofus.
Itdoveatmeagain,andthistime,Iside-stepped.Perhapstheghostdidn’t recognizeatalisman.Perhapsithaddiedafterthelasttimetherewasanactive keeperinSt.Angelus.Perhaps,itwassureitcouldtakeme.
Islashedoutandhittheghostsarm.Itshrieked,butdidnotbackoffthe fight.Itrosehighintheairandcannoneddowntowardsme.Imovedback, trippedoveragravestoneandrolledfranticallytotheside.
Ididn’tmakeitandtheghostgotmeintheshoulder.Thechillnumbedmy entirelefthand.Icouldfeelnothing,exceptsadnessandself-hatred.Iwantedit tobe over. Ineededmetobe over. Tobedone.
Butno…
Icouldn’tletBranbetakenover.Icouldn’tleaveherwhenIknewshewas countingonme.
Istoodup,lamedinmyleftside,butIhadmymagic,myruthlessness,and atalismantomakemyown.
“You’vegotmorefightinyouthanthelastone,”theghostlaughedevilly andIrealizedthatwhoeverhaddiedwassomeoneelse’s loved one.Itmademe soangry.Sovery,veryangryandthatcutthroughthesadnesstogivemea clarityofpurpose.
“Itcomesfrombeingasnake,”Itoldtheghost.“Whenyou’rea monster…”
Theadorable,terrifyinglittleghostlaughedherhigh-pitchedechoinglaugh andcameatme.Thistime,Ididnotdiveaway.ThistimeIletherdiverightinto mycenterandasshedid,Istabbeddown,gettingherinthespinewiththe talisman.SheshriekedandburstintoaspatterofshadowswhileIfelltothe ground.
Idon’tknowhowmuchtimepassed.Icouldn’tmove,couldn’tseeanything
butthecloud-coveredblacksky.Itwasalmostasdarkasmyheart.Butinthe sky,therewasabeautyinthesortofnavypitchtoitall.Therewasbeautyinthe starsthatpeekedthroughhereandthere.Therewasbeautyinthequietofthe night.
Ifeltmymindcomingandgoing,butIclungstubbornlytomy consciousness,tryingtomovemynumblegs,mynumbarm.Tocheckonmy brotherandmyFelix.
Gods,Iprayed,don’tletmefallyet.Don’tletmefailmyfamily.
Iblinkedstupidlywhentheskydisappearedandslowlyformedintomy brother’sface.“Rue!Areyouok?”
“Ican’tmove,”Isaid.
“Thenumbnesswearsoff.”
“IsFelixok?”
Hirodidn’tanswer.
ThehorrorthathitmewasalmostmorethanIcouldhandle,“Ishealive?”
“Yes,”Hirosaid,hoarsely
“CallthenumberinmyphoneforPortiaHallow.She’sagoodhealer.”
Hirodidn’tevenquestion.Hedugthroughmypockets,findingmyphone andmakingthecall.Iwantedtoaskquestions,IwantedtomovetoFelix,to slitheroverandholdhishandandlethimknowhewasn’talone.Iwantednotto bebrokenontheground,unabletohelp.
HiroleftmetotakecareofFelixandIhadneverfeltmoreuseless.
PortiabroughtFinnandhisteam.IcouldhearMonicacallFelix’snameand hearhimtrytocomforther.I’mnotsureherworrieswereassuagedbutmymind calmedabitasIheardhimspeak.FromwhatIcouldpickup,hewashurt,butit wasn’tterrible.Hewasn’tdying.
ThankHecate.
Theyhadbroughtlampsandpeople.TheyweremovingFelix,focusingon himlikeIwantedeventhoughIwasincapableofmoving.Finndroppeddown byme.Hewascheckingmeover,tellingmeIwasstupidwhenhesawit.His handshookashepickedupthetalismanandashedid,Ifeltinmysoul,thatwas mine. Itwasconnectedtome.Andhistouchingitwas not ok.
“Youfounditwhenyouneededit,”hisvoicewasflat.Notaccusing.He musthaverealizedwhatIhaddone.Ihadtakenitformyownandthecallinghe hadbeensoreligiouslyservingwithoutthetoolsheneeded.
“IwouldhavegivenittoyouifIhadrealizedyoucouldmakeityourown.”
Hisjawtightened.Therewasadarknessunderhiseyes,strainattheedgeof hismouththatproclaimedhisdistress.
“Theytoldmenottosayanything.Theysaidyouwouldtakeitforyour
own.Theysaidyouwouldn’thaveinterferedwiththedarkwitchandMandiif youdidn’twanttobethekeeper.”
Ishookmyhead,sadforusboth.Istilldidn’twanttobethekeeper.Itwas mycalling—atleastfornow.
“Inever
wantedthis,”Itoldhim.Andmaybebecausehewasbrokendown, helistenedforonce.“Ineverwantedtobekeeper.ThishappenedbecauseIneed tohelpmysister.”
IttookFinnseveralattemptstoswallowbeforehewassuccessful,andthen hecroakedout,notunkindly,“Evenwiththetalisman,she’sgone,Rue.Youjust haven’tacceptedityet.”
Ididn’targue.Ididn’thavefaithinmyplan,whyshouldIletanyoneelse tellmehowstupiditwas.
Chapter15
Portiagavemeapotionthatletmemoveafteraboutahalfhour.Theyhad liftedmeintooneofthecarsandbroughtallofustoPortia’sclinic.Thesunwas risingbythetimethatIwasabletomovefreely,butFelixwasstilleitherin surgeryorrecovery.Itdidn’tmatterwhereotherthanhewasstillaliveandthey wouldn’tletusseehim.
“You’rethekeepernow,”Hirosaidunderhisbreath,soonlyIcouldhear.
HeheldSakionhislapwhilemycovenandthekeeperteamwerespreadout aroundthewaitingroom.
“Yes,”Iwhisperedback.
“Nowwhat?Istilldon’tseehowitwillhelpyoursister,”Hirosaid.He soundedsorryaboutsayingit,andIcouldseeinhisgaze,becauseitmatchedmy own,thathewassorry.
“Havefaith,”Sakisaid.
Myphonebuzzedinmypocket,showingthatpicofmydaddyandI.I almostdidn’tanswer,but…hearinghisvoicewassomethingIcraved.Ineeded tohearifhestilllovedme.
“Rue,”hesaidaftermygreeting,andhesoundedworried.“Yourmother…”
Oh.Ofcourse.Mymotherhadthetalismantornfromhersoul.Iwantedto besorryforit,butIwasn’t.WhatIwassorryaboutwasthatmydaddyknewit becausehewastherewithher.Hehadn’tleftyet.Asheshouldhave.
Iassumedshewasalive.Noonehadmentioneddeathasarisk.
“Issheconscious?”
“No,”Daddysaid,paused,andthenasked,“Howdidyouknow?”
“IbrokeherbondonthetalismansoIcouldtrytohelpBran.”
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