“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.
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.