thatIhopedwouldcontainthebiteI‘dreceived.
“DidyougethurtwhenyoufoughtwithBran,”Felixasked.
ItookadeepbreathbeforeIadmittedthetruth.“Yes.PrettysureIam overlyexhaustedfromit.”
TheyweremurmuringagainasIsearchedthroughmybaguntilIfoundmy familiarcasewithitsvials.Icould taste thepotionbeforeIevenopenedthe case.
“Youareaddicted,Rue,”Itoldmyself.Mycovenstoppedtalkingfora momentbeforetheywentbacktotheirwhispers.Iopenedthatperfectvialand letthesmellfillmynosebeforeItiltedmyheadbackanddowneditwithout measuring.
Theburnofithitmefirstbutitwasfollowedquicklybyarushoffalse-energy.Itdidn’ttakeawaythepain.AndIwastoolegitimatelyexhaustedforit tomakemefeelaware,butitgavemethestrengthtoturnthekeyinthewagon andstartforhome.
“Rue,”Jessieasked,“Didyougethurtenoughtobleed?”
Ilookedintherearviewmirror,noticedtheswellingblackeye,thebloody noseandmouthandthenglanceddownatthebiteonmyarm.
“Yes,”Isaidwearily.
“We’recomingforyou,”Felixsaid,cuttingoffwhateverJessiewasgoing tosay.
“I’mgoingtobemostofthewaytherebeforeyoureachme,”Isaidand thenyawnedapainful,jerkingyawn.AsIdid,IdiscoveredbruisesonmybodyI hadn’tnoticedbefore.Ishould not beyawningafterthatenergypotion.
“We’recominganyway,”hesaidfirmly.
“Kay,”Irepliedandblinkedseveraltimestosortouttheglowinghalosof headlights,taillights,andstreetlights.
TherewassilenceforamomentbeforeCyrussaid,“She’sbeingtoonice.
She'sreallyhurt.”
Isnorted.Yeah.Ihurtinmyhead,myheart,mybody,andthepulsating painofmybitewithitshauntinginfectionwastheworst.
“Wehavetomakeastop,”Jessiesaid,“Andthenwe’llmeetyou.”
“Youdoknow,”Isaidwearily,“thatIhaveouronlycar?”
“Don’tworryaboutit,”Felixsaid.“Justanswerwhenwecallagain.”
Inodded,rememberedtheycouldn’tseeme,andsaidIwould.Theyhung upandIletmyphonefalltomylapandfocusedontheroad,hopingIdidn’tkill mysisterandmyselfbutknowingitwastoodangeroustostayandletthemget us.Notwiththatbiteandthosebindingsonmypoor,haunted,sadsister.
Chapter9
Ididn’trememberthedrive.Iknowthat’sbad.IthankedHermes,godof travel,thatBranandIsurvived.Myphonebuzzedsomeincalculabletimelater, andittookmetwophonecallstoanswer.
“We’rebehindyou,Rue,”Chrysiesaid.Hervoicetookaminuteortwoto register.Iblinkedstupidlyandkeptdriving.
“Pullover,Rue,”Felixordered,andhisvoiceseemedtoregistermore easilyinmybrain.
“Oh,”Ireplied.Myeyesburned,mybodyhurt,mywoundshadsortof spreadacrossallofmeleavingmejustone,achingmass.“Ok.”
Thecarrolledtoalong,slowstopandasitdid,Felixopenedthedriver’s door.
“Whatinthehells,Rue?”FinnsnappedashesteppedupbehindFelix.
“Youshouldn’tbedriving.”
“Branneedshelp,”Isaidtiredlyandpulledmyselfoutofthewagon.
“Couldyoubemoreirresponsible?”FinntookmyarmwhereI’dbeen bittenandIgasped.
FelixshovedFinnoffasChrysietoldhim,“BackdownFinn.”
“Ididn’tmeantohurther,butshe’snotmeaningtohurtus,isshe?Where’s thetalisman?Howlongarewegoingtoletherfamilyleaveusindanger?It’s their faultthatwedon’thaveakeeper.It’stheirfaultthatwehaveacursedhaunt inourtown.It’s their fault.All.Of.It.”
Hethrusthishandsintohishairasheyelled,probablytokeepthemfrom grabbingmeandshakingme.
“Backdown,”Jessieshouted,pushingbetweenFinnandmeandshoving Finnback.“Backdown.Thisisn’tthetime.”
“It’sneverthetime.There’saghosthuntingattheOldCemetery.Issheout there?No!Butshe’skeepingthetalisman.”
“Thatisn’ther,”Jessiesaid.“I’msorryforwhathappenedtothatgirl,but thatwasn’tRue whohurtthatkid.”
“It’sneverRueorherfamily,isit?”Finnshouted.
“Enough,”Dr.Hallowyelled.Ihadn’tevennoticedhim.“Let’sjustget backtoSt.Angelusandhelpthesegirls.”
Iwantedtoyelltoo.Butgods,Iwasjusttootired.
“Rue,”Felixsaid,“Youlookterrible.”
“Whome?”ItriedtojokeandfailedsinceIlostmybalanceandstumbled forward.Finn’scursehadmestandinguprightandfacinghim,thoughIwavered.
“CanwesavethebattleforwhenI’mnotsobeatdown?CauseI’lltakeyou downanotherday,CaptainFinny.”
“You’remyfavorite,Rue,”CyrussaidasFelixopenedthebackdoorofthe wagonandstareddownatBran.She’dwokenupandwassortoflatheringand cursing.
“Itgetskindofmelodic,”ItoldFelixasBranmoaned,“Hungry.”
Felixnoddedandthenlookedthroughhisbagandpulledouthisscarf.
“Gag?”
“She’sgoingtomakeyoupayforthat,”ItoldFelixasItookitfromhim.
“Rue,”Dr.Hallowsaidgently,andmythroatwentdry.“Thereisn’t anythingthatcanbedoneforsomeonecursedwithahaunting.”
Thatcouldn’t…No…Gods…No.HewasWRONG.
“Ican’tacceptthat,”ItoldDr.HallowfirmlywhileIwasdyinginsideat thethoughtoflosingmysister.Mymother…that…that…shemusthave known, andsheleftmetofindout.IfocusedonmymotherbecauseIcouldn’t,wouldn’t considerthealternative.
“Youdon’thaveachoice,”Finnsaid.Buthesaiditsoftlytoolikehewas tryingtobekindandwasn’tquitesurehow.Imethisgaze,hismoviestar handsome,perfectgazeandsnarled.
“I don’t acceptthat.”
“Youcan’tchangethetruth,”hesnapped,losingtrackofhisgentleness.
IbitmylipuntilithurtandprovidedathreadofclarityandthenIsaid,“Go toHades,Finny.Andquitshowingupinmylife.”
ChrysietookFinnbythearmanddraggedhimawaywhileFelixandI turnedbacktomysister.
Felixshowedmetwopairsofcuffs—onelargerandIassumedforher ankles.
“JessieandMarthaworkingtogetherarecapableofuntolddepths,”Felix saidashehandedmetheanklecuffs.Theyweren’thandcuffsbutwidebracelet andanklecuffs.FromwhatIcouldseetheywereetchedinrunestobindthe hauntback.Itwouldn’tworkforever.Butitshouldworkforawhile.
“Careful,”ItoldhimasBransnappedherteethatFelix.
“‘Lixy,”sheasked,andhervoicewas her voice.MyheadsnappedupandI
steppedtowardsher,butFelixheldmeback.
“Lixxxxyyyyy,”shegrowled,andthehauntwasback.
Dr.HallowandJessiedoctoredmeupandthenFelixhelpedmeintothe backseatwithhim.CyrusandJessiegotintothefrontseatswhileChrysiejoined Dr.HallowandFinninhisvehicle.
“You’regonnabefine,”Felixsaid.“Goodeven.Therehastobesomething wecandoforBran.”
HehandedmeathermosandItookitgratefully,lettingthewarmliquid flowovermytongueandprayedthecaffeinewouldhitmequickly.Instead, lethargyhitmefullforce.
“What?”
“Sleep,”Felixsaidsoftlyandmyheaddroppedontohisshoulder.
“Ok,”Isaidsoftly,toocompliantly,very,veryserumedup,“Youjerk.”
*****
IwouldhaveexpectedmyonlythoughttobeofBranwhenIwokeup,but itwasn’t.ItwasofourpoorDaddy.He’dlostthislifetimelovehe’dbeenso proudof.BranandIhadbothlefthome,andIalreadyknewthatneitherofus wouldeverreturn.Whatwasleftforhim?A
ndthentoloseBrantherestofthe way…andjustwhowasherfamily?Whyhadn’tsheansweredanyquestions aboutthem?
Ididn’tgoaftermysisterlikeshedeserved.Ididn’tmakesureshewasok.
Ididn’tcallDaddyandtellhimwe’dmadeourwayhome.Ididn’tfindmy covenandfindthestateofthings.Ileftthemalltothemselvesandhobbledto thebathroominstead.Mybathroomwasnothinglessthanridiculousandthat puritanshameI’dfelteverytimeIhaduseditbeforewasabsolutelyabsentthis time.IslidintowaterdeepenoughtoswiminandsankaslowasIcould,letting thewaterworkintome.Theheatwasmuchhigherthanusual.Itwasonebreath fromburning.Thefanoverheadwassendingdownaperfectbreezeasmy musclesrelaxed.
Mybitewoundwasburning.Theyhaddonewhattheycouldforitafter dopingmeliketheydid.Icoulddobetter.Iwashed,letthewaterswirlclean, andthenwashedagain.Ifeltcontaminated.But,ofcourse,Iwas.I’dhaveto figureoutthatbite.Ididn’tneedtotalktosomeonebetteratcursesand necromancyorwhateverthiswasthanmetoknowthatIwasindanger.
Asdelightfulasthewaterwas,Ineededtogetbacktomysisterandthings.
Ihadclasseseven.Maybe.Dependingonhowlongthesleeppotionthey’dgiven mehadkeptmeasleep.Iwasgoingtoflunkoutofcollege,giventhelastfew months.
Maybe—sincetheHallowFamilyCouncil—seemedtoruntheschool,I
couldfinaglemywayintoanotherchance.Ihadnoidea.Rightthen,Ididn’t carebeyondtherandomthoughtofit.Iwenttomypotionscabinetandrustled throughituntilIfoundapotionIhadn’tusedinawhile—consecratedwater.I tookitbacktomybathroomandpoureditoverthebiteonmyarm.
IthoughtIwascrossingasimpleprecautionoffofmylist.Butit burned.
Well,Itoldmyself,ifyouwonderedwhetheryouwereinfectedwiththiscurse—
theanswerisyes.Irenewedthecontainmentrunesonmyarm,hopingthey wouldworkandweren’tawasteoftimeandpowerandfinallydressed.
“Martha,”Isaid,speakingtomyhouse,“PleaseshowmethewaytoBran.”
Idon’tknowwhatIexpected.Idon’tknowwhatIwouldhavedone,but Martha’slittlefairylightledmedownthemainstairs,tothebackofthehouse, anddownthesecondsetofbasementstairs.
Marthawasamansion.Itwasoneofthosejaw-dropping,youcan’tbelieve anyoneactuallylivedinthattypeofplace,places.Evenwiththatbeingtrue,the poolinthebasement,whichcameacrossasasortofmarbleandcolumngrotto, wasshocking.Evenotherpeoplewholivedinextravaganthomeswouldpause.
Insidethepoolroom,apentaclehadbeendrawnonthefloor.Asecond pentaclehadbeenplacedoutsideofthefirstandspelledcandleswereateachof thepointsoftheinnerpentacle.Insideofthat,mysisterBranwastiedtoachair.
“Finally,”shesaidinawithering,I-will-make-you-payvoice.“Ohmygods, Rue,your face.”
“Hello,”IsaidasIcircledthespells,examiningwhattheyhaddone.“We fought.Youwerewinning.Iusedmagic.”
Bran’smouthopenedandclosedseveraltimesbeforeshetookadeep breath,pressedherlipstogetherforamomentandthenshruggeditoff.
“Letmeout,”Branordered.Andit was her.Icouldhearthatedgeofpanic inhervoicethattoldmeshehatedbeingconfined.SomethingIknewtoowell already.Herexpressionwassteely,buthergazedartedaroundandaround, lookingforescape.
“Yeah,”Isaid,steppingforward.
Chrysiegentlylaidherhandonmeasshesaid,“Youcan’tletherout.She’s haunted.”
“Not now,” Bransnarled.
“She’sgoingtokeeplosingtime,”Chrysiesaid.“Untilshedoesn’tcome back.”
IturnedtoChrysieandconsidered.Shewasourcousin.Butshecouldn’tbe moredifferent.Evenasavampire,sheexudedasweetnessthatbeliedthefact thatshelivedoffablood-basedpotion.She’dbeenstolenbyadarkwitchtofuel herspellsandstillChrysiewasgentleandsweet.
“I’mgoingtofixher,”Isaid.
“Yeah,”Branadded,butIheardthepanicinhervoice.Isuspectedthatshe knewwhathadbeendonetoherandherprognosisgivenherreaction.Iturnedto facemysisterandshelookedawayfirst.Yes.Sheknewexactlywhathadbeen donetoher.
“You….”Istartedbutstopped.
“Don’tdothat,”Bransaid,gazenarrow.
“Dowhat?”Chrysieaskedgently.
“Stopyourselfbecauseyoudon’twantthelastthingyousaytometobe mean.”
“Itwon’t,youstupidsnake,bethelastthingIsaytoyou,”Iyelled.“Iam goingtofixthisandthenIamgoingtomakeyoupayfornottellingmeright awayandgivingmemoretimetohelpyou.”
Herbreathjerkedandhergazemetmine.Shedidn’thavemuchhope,but therewasaglimmerthere.
“Ican’tsurvivewithoutyou,Bran,”Itoldherhonestly.“Iwilldo whatever ittakestohelpyou.”
“I’vebeenthinkingaboutthat,”Chrysiesaid.“SinceI’vebeenstuckdown herewithyoursister.”
“You’restuck?”Brandemanded.“You!Iam tied toachair!”
ChrysiesmiledsweetlyatBranandsaid,“Someonecursedwhateveryou wentafteronyourhunt,right?”
“Obviously,”Bransnapped.“Itwaslinkedtotheopeningofthetreasure.”
“Didyousaytreasure,CaptainJack?”Iasked.
MysisterandChrysieignoredme.
“Sooooooo,”Chrysiesaid.“Someone,somewhenknewhowtomanipulate thehaunt.Tobindittothatlock.Weneedtofigureouthowtodothat,andthen doittoo.BindittosomethingotherthanBran.”
Ipausedonthatcommentandsaid,“You…brilliantangel.ByHecate and Hestia,Chrysie.Youcouldbeontosomething.”
Bransighedandsaid,“Listen,Idon’twanttosoundlikeadowner,butdo youhavethebookofancientmagicusedbypirates?BecauselastIchecked around,noonedoes.”
“WearegoingtofixthisBran.”
“Iamtiedtoachairinsideofadoublepentacle.Idon’thavealotoffaithin thatrightnow.”
“Crymeariver,”Isaid.“Ifyouhad said somethingwhenyoushowedup, maybeitwouldn’thavegottenthisbad.”
ThedoortothepoolroomopenedandFelixcamein,“Youhaveaphone
callfromaHiro.”
BranandImetgazesandthenIsaid,“Ican’trightnow,Felix.”
“YoualsohaveamessagefromtheHallowFamilyCouncil.Theywantyou tocometotheiroffices.”
“Yeahright,”Isaid.“Weneedtofindsomeancientmagicbooksabout haunts.”
“Doyouevenknowthedifferencebetweenghostsandhauntsand possessions,”Felixaskedgently.
“No,”Isaid.IhadjustmissedmyNecromancy101class.Ididn’tknow jackaboutdeathmagic.
“Ihatetosaythis,Rue,butIsuspecttheHallowFamilyCouncilprobably does.”
Ipausedandthenmethisgaze.Helookedsorryforme,andIwassorryfor myself.TheHallowFamilyCouncilandIwerenotcongenial.Infact,whenthey weren’ttryingtoordermearoundormanipulateme,theywereshamingme.
Giventhattheywerecousinsandrelatedtome,you’dthinktheywouldbeallies.
Buttheyweren’tevenclose.
“Wellhells,Felix.Youmightberight.”
“I’llgowithyou,”Chrysieoffered.
“I’llstaywithBran,”Felixsaid.“Youmightwanttodosomethingabout yourfacebeforeyougo.”
“Damnit,Bran.Whenthisisover,you’llbepayingformakingmeask themforhelpANDformyblackeye.”
“Ithinkyoumean,”Bransaidcasually,althoughIcouldseetheguiltinher eyes,“Yourblackeye,fatlips,andthatbruiseonyourcheek.”
Chapter10
TheHallowFamilyCouncilconsistedofthirteenwitches.Theywere mostlyrelatedtome,butnotall.
Theyrantheschoolboard,themayor’soffice, theyran—everything.TheyalsoheldthetrustforHallowHouseeventhoughI wastheowner.UntilIgraduatedfromschoolorturned25…ORbecamethe KeeperofSt.Angelus,theyhadmyinheritance.
Theyweren’thappyaboutthatonelittlebit—asin,theydidn’twanttoturn themoneybackovertome.Ialsowouldautomaticallygainaseatontheschool boardandfamilycouncil.Itwasalllegal—butwitchstyle.Thinkfeudallordin somewaysandmebetheveryunwantedheir.
ThethingtheymighthatethemostaboutmewasthatIdidn’twanttobe theKeeperofSt.Angelus.Forsomebackwardreason,theydidn’tseemtolike thatIdidn’twanttobethekeeperEVENthoughtheydidn’twantmetobethe keepereither.Iguesstheydidn’tlikemesnubbingtheirlittleclub.
Butthenagain,Iimaginethemoneyfrommyfamilywasprettygreat.I don’tknow.Ihadnoideahowmuchaccesstoittheyhad.Orhowmuchofit therewas.AmemberofthePresidiumtoldmenottoworryaboutitandIhad enoughtothinkaboutbeforeIletthatbotherme.
Thecouncilhadthreeleadershippositionsandoneclearoverallleader.The bigthreewereDr.MartinHallow,PortiaHallow,andLeanderHallow.Iliked theminthatorderthoughIdidn’ttrustanyofthemveryfar.TheoneIlikedthe least,Leander,wastheheadofthecouncilaswellasthemayor.
Dr.MartinHallowworkedattheschoolandIkindoflikedhim.Portia Hallowwassnobby,rude,andreliable.Sheranthewitchhealingclinicandshe wasa good witch.Theyallwere,infact.Butthatdidn’tmeanthattheylikedme.
ExceptforPortia,mostofthecouncildidn’trespectregularmagicwhichwas myspecialty.Theydidn’tlikethatmymother,Autumn,hadlefttheinheritance, disappearedintothewind,andlockedthemoutofHallowHouse.Butifshe hadn’t,therewasnowaythatLeanderHallowwouldn'thavebeenlivinginit.
Ididn’tcareaboutanyofthatorthem.IhadgonetoSt.AngelusbecauseI hadgottenascholarship,notknowingIwasevenaHallow.Ihadneverbeen
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