Sisters and Graves
Amanda A. Allen
TableofContents
TitlePage
Dedication
Chapter1
Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Chapter7
Chapter8
Chapter9
Chapter10
Chapter11
Chapter12
Chapter13
Chapter14
Chapter15
Chapter16
Chapter17
AlsobyAmandaA.Allen
Author’sNote
Copyright
Sisters&Graves
ByAmandaA.Allen
Dedication
Obvythisonehadtobeforyou,Em.
Loveyousister
Chapter1
MynameisRueHallowandI’mtheeldestoftheeldestoftheeldestofthe Hallowline.ThatlittletrickoffateisimportanttofarmorepeoplethanI’dhave everexpected,butitmeantjacktomysisterBranka.
“Tellmewhat’swrong,”Ibeggedherforwhatfeltlikethehundredthtime.
Weweresittingtogetheratthemassivefarmtableinthekitchenofmyhouse, Martha.Thelightwaspouringin,theradiowasplayinginthebackground,and exceptfortheFruitLoopsanddonuts—itcouldhavebeenanymorningofour lives.
“Idon’twanttogetintoitrightnow.Tellmeaboutthedarkwitchagain.”
“No.You’vebeenheretwoweeks,andyoustillhaven’tsaidwhatiswrong withyou.”
“Andthegravesinthewoods,”shesaid,ignoringmeasshetossedherred curls.Itriednottoletthewaysheflungherperfecthairaroundirritateme.I failed.Ifsheevennoticedthelookonmyface,itdidn’tshutherup.“That’s somespookysh—“
Icutheroffwithmysnapped,“No. Whatisgoingon?”
“Andyourclasses.”
“No.”
“Andaboutthatguywhohasthehotsforyouandthenastyhair.”
Ipausedonthatone.
“Youknowhisname,”Isaidsincewebothknewhelivedintheservants quartersofmyhouseandwasaroundallthetime.Thewenchknewme toowell.
IbetshehadmeandFelixfiguredthemomentshewalkedthroughthedoor.
“DoyouthinkIdidn’tnoticethatyoudidn’ttellmeabout‘Lixy,”Branka said,narrowinghereyesatme.
Myeyesnarrowedbackather,butshejusttookamassivebiteofherFruit Loopsandraisedabrow.Shewasfourteenmonthsyoungerandknewmebetter thanIknewmyselfwhichmeantthatshewaswellawarehowhardIwantedto punchher.Thatwasprobablywhyshestartedcacklinglikeacrazedorangutan.
ThethingaboutBranwasdespitethefactthatshewascurvywhereIwas
willowy,underthosecurves,shewasstrongerthanshelooked.I,ontheother hand,thoughnotaweaklingcouldn’twinagainsther.Branhadbeenbeatingme ineveryaltercationsinceweweretoddlers.Soinsteadofpunchingherashard asshedeserved,Idumpedmybowlofcerealdownthesink,grabbedmyschool bag,andleftherbehind.Laughingatme—likeajerk.
*****
St.Angelusisbothatownandacollege.I’dgottenafull-ridescholarship therewhichiswhyIhadtraveledfromoneofthefarthestpartsofWashington StatetoNewEngland.Thatscholarshipandmymotherwereplentyofincentive.
Thetownhadancientoaks,lushgreenery,andhadbeensettledbymyancestors whohadalsofoundedthecollege.They’dbuiltmyhouse,Martha,too.Isuppose youcouldcallitamansion,butthatfeltweird.Shewaslayeredinspells,had somethingofapersonality,andwasmyownineveryway.She’dchosenme whenIknockedonhergateandeachdayIwasastoundedbyhowluckyIwas.
Likemyhouse,thecollegewasoneofthosestoneandbrickplacesthat oozedsignsofpower,money,andexclusivity.I’dbeendelightedwhenIarrived atschoolhavingnoideamyscholarshipwasbecauseofanaccidentofbirth ratherthanmyskill-set.
Ithadbeenarudeawakeningtorealizethatthe realskillsIhadspentmy lifedevelopingandpursuingmeantnothingto thiswitchcollege.Theywere necromancers.Ilovedbrewingpotionsandthetraditionalcraft.ButI’dbeen determinedtopushonwhichcouldalsobedescribedasnotcallingmymother forhelp.ExceptthenIbecameamurdersuspectanddidcallher.BeforeI’deven startedmyfirstclasses,I’dfacedoffwithapossessednecromancerwhohad killedgenerationsofmyfamilyandI’ddoneitasamurdersuspect.That madnesswasfollowedbyhavingtodealwithanevilnecromancerthathadbeen manipulatedbytheHallowFamilyCouncilandadarkwitchwhokidnappeda littlegirlandmyroommate.Ihadbarelysurvivedeachtime.
Atthisrate,Ithought,I’dbeluckytomakeitpastChristmas.Sorecovering frommyfirstfewmonthsofcollegehadleftmewithoutalotofsympathyfor whateverBranhadbeenupto.Branka,myonlysibling,pronouncedBrawn-kah hadshownupoutofnowhere.She’daskedforhelpandthenrefusedtoexpand, exceptitcouldn’tbe thatbad.ShewasprobablyjustfleeingourMothersince Branhaddonesomethingtocrippleourmother’smagic.OnceMothergotfull useofhermagicback,therewasnowayBranwasn’tfacinganastyhex.
WasIcoldtofindherhedgingirritating?Ihatedfeelingtoomuchlikean evilsnakesinceIdid not wanttobemymotherwhowasfullreptileandpartial super-villain.ButBran,Imean…she’dbeenathome.Nothinghappenedthere thatwouldmakeherneedhelp.Especiallyhelpthatmadeherneedtocrossthe
country.Sowhatelsecoulditpossiblybe?She’dprobablyhitchhikedherway acrossthecountryforrefugefromMotherasthoughIcouldsaveBranfrom Mother.Icouldn’t.Bothofusknewit—whichdidmakemytheorykindof shaky.
Iwantedtohelpher.Shewasmy sister. Butthiswasn’tagoodtimeforher tojustbeherescrewingaround.Myroommateandcousin,Chrysie,hadbeen kidnappedbythatdarkwitchthathadBransocuriousatthetable.Ihadfeltlike itwasmyfaultshe'dbeentaken,andIhaddoneeverythingpossibletobringher back.Butshe'dstillbeendamaged,shehadbarelygottenherhandback—yes thedarkwitchhadremovedit.Chrysiewasrecovering slowly.Itmadeithardfor metofeelsorryformysisternomatterherreasonforbeinghere.
“Hey,”IheardBrancallbehindmeandturnedslowly.BranandChrysie werebehindme,hurryingabittocatchupasIheadedtowardsthecampus.
BecauseIhadto,Ipausedandwaitedforthem.I’dhaveenjoyedaquietwalkto schoolwhereIdidn’thavetoworryaboutmycousinandbefrustratedwithmy sister.
Chrysiewaseatingabagofpecans.Shewasawkwardlyholdingthebagin herbadhandandpretendinglikeitwasn’tbotheringher,butIknewChrysie betterthanthat.Magicmighthavegivenherbackherhand,butithadn’tmadeit easy.BranwastraipsingafterChrysieasifeverythingwasnormal.
“Youdon’thaveanythingelsetodobutfollowmetoschool?”
“Nope,”Bransaidcheerily.Shetossedherredcurlsoverhershoulderand shruggedatme.“IthoughtI’dvisitthelibrary.”
Imethergazeandshegavemeamischievousgrinthatdaredmetocallher onthatloadofbullcrap.IlookedatChrysie,butshedidn’trealizehowoutof characterthatstatementwasforBran.MyattentionwascaughthowChrysiewas sortofploddingalong—shehadlostherairofpixiness.Itmademewantto screaminfrustration.Whathappenedtomydancing,alwaysonthetipsofher toesfriend?Oh,that’sright.Adarkwitchhadkidnappedher.
“Brawny,”Isaidflatly,“FortheloveofHecateandHestiacombined,I don’tneedyoutolietomeaboutwhatyoudo.I’mnotMother.Dowhateveryou want.Trynottobetoostupid.”
“Rude,I am goingtothelibrary.Iread.”
“T
heydon’thavechooseyourownadventurethere.”
“Shutyourface.”
Igrinnedather,andshegrinnedback.Thenshepunchedmeonthebicep.
“You’regoingtohavetotellmeeventually,”Isaid,shakingoutmybicep.
ShestuckouthertongueandranupthestepsoftheQuietusBuilding.
ChrysieandIwatchedBranthrowherselfupthestepstwoatatimeand
thenlookedateachother.
“Shemakesmetired,”Chrysiesaidwiththetiniestofsmiles.
Inoddedandasked,“Didyoutakeyourpotions?”
“YesMum,”sheansweredandsmiledforreal.“I’mok.”
Shewaslying.Shewasn’t,butmaybeshebelievedherliesormaybeshe justwantedmetofeelbetter.BecauseIwantedhertofeelbetter,Isaid,“Yeah youare.”
“Whatdoyouthinkisgoingonwithher,”Chrysieaskedasweswungaway fromtheQuietusBuildingtoheadtowardsourownclasses.
“Ihavenoidea,”Isaidhardlybelievingmyself,thoughitwastrue.“Idon’t understandwhysheisn’ttellingme.”
Atthatthought,ItextedJessietokeepaneyeonBran.Mycovenmateand friend,shealsoworkedatthelibraryandcouldeasilycheckin.
“Givehertime,”Chrysiesuggested.
“Ifwedon’tfigureitout,mymotherisgoingtocomegether.Ican’treally believethatshehasn’tcomealready.”
“Orevencalled.IfeellikeyourMomisanaxehangingoverthedoorevery timeIopenit.”Chrysiesaidandthenwincedandimmediatelyapologized.
Shewasn’twrong.Mymotherwasasnake.Herswasadream.Elspeth, Chrysie’smom,beenvisitingnon-stopsinceChrysiehadbeentaken.Hermom woulddrive10hourstovisitusforaneveningandthengohomeearlythenext morning.She’dbroughtChrysie’slittlesisterstwiceandherdadonce.Iwas aboutoverit.Iwantedthingstogobacktomynewnormal,whichwasmy mostlyemptymansionfilledwithmycovenwhoconsistedofChrysie,Felix, Jessie,andCyrus.Withjustus,thehousewassobigitwasmorelikewewere peoplewholivedaloneuntilwewantedtospendtimewithsomeoneelse.
“Branisuptosomething,”Isaid.“She’sactingtooweirdtonotbehiding somethinghuge…ashardasthatistobelieve.”
“Hmmm,”Chrysiesaid.Sheturnedtogoandstumbled,andIcaughther.I wasn’taslouchbyanymeans,butbeforethedarkwitch,Chrysiehasbeenone breathfromflying.Nowshetrudgedandtripped.“Ooops.”
Thewordwassolight,airyandintendedtomakeherlittlefalteringseem likenobigdeal.Itwas,however,ahugedealwhenyouwereavampire.Iletit gojustasshewanted.Weweresoverygoodatlyingtoeachotherwithout sayingaword—justlikerealfamily.
Chapter2
“Arewegoingtotalkaboutit?”Chrysiesaidwhilebothofourgazeswere fixedonourroommate,Felix.Hewasacrossthecourtyardwherehewaseating withhisgirlfriend,MonicaandFinn—thepseudoKeeperoftheSt.Angelus Thinning.
“Hmmm?”Iasked,pretendingnottoknowwhattheyweretalkingabout andhopingplayingidiotwouldwork.Itdidn’t.
“Abouthowhekissedyou?”Jessietookalargebiteofhersandwichand thenshrugged.“Felixlovesyou,Rue.”
“Felixhasagirlfriend,”Isaidclearly.“WhoIhave always hated.Itisn’t lovetomakeamoveonagirlwhenyouarewithanother.”
“Monicaisarealsomething,”Chrysiesaid,whichwasherwayoflaying downaslewofinsults.Iwaseatingachickensaladsandwich.Jessiehada cubano.Chrysiehadatriplecheeseburger,alargefry,atunasaladsandwich,and twoicecreamsandwiches.Shewasavampirewhichrequiredblood-based potionsandaridiculousnumberofcaloriestokeepherwell.Shewasalso recoveringfromherkidnappingso….shewaseatingevenmorethannormal.
“WhatIamsaying,”Iinterrupted,“IsthatFelixandwhathappenedarenot somethingtobetalkedaboutwhenhehasagirlfriend.Whydon’twetalkabout youandCyrus?AreyousleepingtogetherinMartha?BecauseI’mnotsureshe’s preparedforthatkindofew-ness.”
Jessieblushedinawaythattoldmeifshewasn’tsleepingwithher boyfriend,shewasclosetocrossingthatlinewithCyrus.Iwouldn’thave thoughtofthemtogether,buthewasjustgenuinelykindandthoughtful.Anyone wouldlovehimgivenachance.Hells,Ilovedhimalittlebitthoughmoreasa brother.
“Soyoursisterwasdiggingthroughbooksaboutnecromancy,ancient treasure,curses,beautyspells,shapeshifters,vampires,andsomeofthose romancestheykeepinthelightreadingsection.”
“Smoothtransition,”Chrysielaughedasshefinishedherburgerandstarted inonthetunasaladsandwich.“ButIdon’tknowifwe’redonetalkingabout
Felix.”
Meandmytworoomieswereeatinginthecourtyarddespitethecold.Felix wasourotherroomie.HewasaJunioratSt.AngelusCollege,Jessiewasa Sophomore,ChrysieandIwereFreshman.Despitethecold,thesunwashigh andfeltsogoodonmyfacethatIdidn’tcareabouthowmyfingertipswere goingnumb.Ihadmygiantpuffyjacketontokeepofftheworstofthecoldand I’dgetanearlgreylattetobringtomynextclass.
MyguitarclasswascomingupwhichIlovedmorethanIhadever expected.Afterthat,I’dstudyforafewhoursinthelibrary,turninmyextra creditforNecromancy101—Ihadmissedtoomanyclasses,soextracreditwas vital.Ididn’tlikepracticingnecromancyverymuch,soIwasn’tdoingsogreat inmy101class.
Iwouldendmydaywithmyfavoritepartofcollegesofar—PotionsClub.
EvenwithmostofthePotionsClubhatingthatIwasaHallow,Ilovedbrewing withthem,justbecausetheothermemberslovedbrewingalmostasmuchasme.
“ButwhatareyougoingtodoaboutFelix?”Chrysiewastryingtobekind assheasked,butshe’dbeenbringingitupalotlately.Maybebecausesheknew Iwasbecomingmoreandmoreconflicted.
“SoBranwasjustkillingtimeinthelibrary,”Isaidhastily.
“Felix,”ChrysieandJessiesaidtogether.
“No. I’mgoingtoclosehimoutofmymind thatway,”Itoldthemsince theywouldn’tletmeavoidit.“Hehasagirlfriend.Heisnotfree,andIamnot goingtomakesomesortofmoveonhim.”
“Hey,”Bransaid,ploppingdown.“IassumefromRue’sblushyou’re askingherabout‘Lixy?Youcan’tdate‘Lixyuntilhecutshishairanywaycause ewandgross.Chrysie,Igotyousomepie.”
Mysisterhandedoverthechocolatecreampieandthenleanedbackasshe said,“Rue,thisplacemakesmyskincrawl.It’sallbooksandlearningand snootiness.Icanseewhyyouloveit,though.”
Ididloveit.Ihadcomeherewantingtoloveit,fellinlove,andthen discoveredsomanythingsIhadn’texpected.Buttherewasalsosomething aboutthiscampusthatspoketomysoul.
“Somethingismissingwithyouguys,”Bransaid.“Youhavethebig spookyhouse.Youguysneedcats.Aswarmofcats.Imean…areyouwitchesor areyouwitches?Thisiswitchschool.Youshouldhaveatoad,likeNeville, Jessie.”
Bransoundedhungry.Shehadn’tbeeneatingmuch,butitwasweirdhow shewentallgrowlytalkingaboutcats.Imean…shecouldn’twantonethatbad?
Surelyshe’dgottenoverbeingtheonlywitchfamilythatdidn’thavefamiliars?I
couldjusthearmymothersay,“Evenfamiliarsshedandpoop,Rue.”
“BecauseIamtheawkwardone?”Jessiewasn’toffended.Therewas somethingutterlycharmingaboutBranwhenshewantedtobeliked.Hergreen eyesweresparkling,hercutelittlefreckleswerestandingoutonherskinwith thewindmakinghercheeksred.Shelookedlikeamovingragdoll.
“Because,thevampireneedsthebat.Ruepromisedmewhenwewerelittle thatwecouldhavekittenswhenwegrewup,andFelixisclearlygoingtodo whateverRuedoes.Youhavetohavethetoadorthebird.”
“Andwhycan’tIhaveaprettylittleparakeetonmyshoulder?”
&nb
sp; “Triteandoverdone.Ihaveseentwogirlswithcutelittlebirdsontheir shoulders.You,myfriend,aren’ttrite.”
“Andyou,”ItoldBran,“Aremoreofacrowkindofwitch.Sowhywere youlearningaboutbeautyspellsandshapeshifters.”
Bran’sgazeshiftedandsheshuffledjustabitbeforeshesaid,“Spy.”
“Dropout.”
“Don’tworryaboutit,”Bransaid.“What’sforlunch?”
Ihandedherthesecondhalfofmychickensaladsandwichandlooked aroundthecourtyard.Thetableswerefullofotherstudentsandwitches.The brickbuildingsweregorgeousandold.Ifyoulookedcloselyorusedwitch senses,youcouldseethingsthatyouwouldn'tfindatanyothercampus.Things thatbespokeotherworldlypower.
“OhmyHecate,”Bransaid,leaningforwardtostareatFelixwherehewas kissingMonica.“Whoinallthehellsisthat?”
“Monica,”Chrysiesaidgently.“Umm….”
“Felix’sgirlfriend,”Isaid,myvoicewasflat.Thethingwas—whenFelix kissedme,Ihadn'tbeenthinkingofhimasapotentialpartner.AndIdon’tknow thatheintendedtodoitatthetimeorifhewasreadyforittobeanythingother thanjustanintensemoment.But…he’dsortofburrowedhiswayintomymind.
I liked himalot.Ilikedthathewasgoodathisownkindofwitchcraftanddidn’t careaboutmebeingaHallow.Ilikedthathewassneakyandsoldmypotionsto getusextracash.Ilikedthewayhegotscaredathorrormoviesdespitebeinga witchandthewayhetookcareofChrysieasifsheweredelicateinsteadofa vampire.But,Ididn’tlikehimhavingagirlfriend andkissingmeandtherewas thisangrywoundinsideofmebecausethathadbeenmyfirstkiss.
Bran’seyesflaredinawaythatgavemeabitofashiver,maybeshe followedtheinstinctsofherhearttomineandgotaflashofmytornadoof feelings.
Isaidcalmly,“Simmerdown.Piratetreasure?”
“Haveyoukissedhim?”
“Necromancy?Youheretolearnmoreaboutyourheritage?”Perhapsthere hadbeenasqueakinmyvoice.Sheseemedtoreadsomethingintomyresponse thoughIdidn’tsayyes.Besides, I hadn’tkissedhim.He’dkissedme.Itwas totallydifferent.
