Itwasaskillsetthathadsavedmylifemorethanonce.ItwasbecauseI’d spentmuchofmychildhoodbrewingthatIhadbeenabletodowhatIhadwith thedarknecromancerwhohadbeenresponsibleforthedeathofCyrus’sgood friendsandthereasonwhyhewaspartofourlittlefamilynow.Motherhadbeen ruthlesswhenitcametomysummerdays,weekends,holidays,andevenings.It wasbecausemymotherhadtaughtmetodisregardthingslikepainthatIhad beenabletotrapadarkwitchinmyhouseandsetoffcleansingspellsfordark magic—despitethefactthatI’duseditmyself.
Ihadtakenthepain,embraceditandsavedusall.BecauseI’dbeen ruthless.Motherwasruthless.Iwasruthless.
Ihadahorribleidea.
“WouldthetalismanoftheSt.AngelusThinningwork?”
Hironoddedonce.“Doyouknowthekeeper?”
Iletmynextquestionbethatanswer.“Iwonderifyouknowhowtobreaka talismanfromthecurrentkeeper?”
Therewassilencefrommyfriendswhohadheardmesay,timeandagain, thatIdidnotwanttobetheKeeperoftheSt.AngelusThinning.AndI didn’t. I
didn’tevenhavewordsforhowmuchIdidn’t.Iwasn’tnoblelikeFinn.Iwasn’t ambitiouslikeMonica—atleastnotinthatway.AndIcouldn’tstateenough howmanykeepersdied.LetmejustreiteratebeforeyousayI’vebeenprotesting toomuch,myAuntDominique and mygrandparentshaddiedinthecalling.As farasIknewyoucouldkeepgoingbacktofindmoremurderedgenerationsof myfamily,Ijustdidn’tknowthatmuchaboutmyfamilytoknowwhathad happenedtothem,butIwouldnotbesurprised.
Gods,IdidNOTwanttobethekeeper.Butevenmoreso,Ididnotwantto seemysisterbeovertakenbythehaunt.Iwoulddoabsolutelyanythingtokeep thatfromhappening,includingtakeupthetalisman.
“Iknowthekeeper.”Notalie.Butsuchanuntruthallthesame.
“You’dhavetobeprettyruthlessto take thetalismanfromthem.It’s incrediblypainful.”
“Mymotherraisedmetoberuthlessandcold,”Itoldhim,knowinghehad noideathatmymother was thekeeper.ButIalsoknew,damnher,thatshe’d havetoldmetodoit.She’dhavedoneanythingtosaveBranka.Mymother wouldhavetakenthetalismanfrom her mothereveniftheonlywayhadbeento killher.MotherwouldhaveslainherparentsinasecondtosaveBranka.
“Theeasiestwaytotakethetalismanfromthecurrentkeeperistogain possessionofit,useitinthewayitwasintended,andbefoundacceptablebythe talisman.It’sprettyiffy.”
NoneofmyfriendssaidawordforamomentandthenFelixsaid,“WellI guessweknowwhythecouncilhasbeenlookingsohardforthetalisman.”
“Isthetalismanofthethinninglost?”Hiroaskeddisbelievingly.
“Sortofinflux,”Ianswered.Imean…thiswasmy brother andasmuchas IwishedthatIdidn’thaveabrotherandthatmydaddywas mine, Iwanteda relationshipwiththesestrangesiblingsofmine.WithlittleSaki,withfierce Tane.WiththemysteriousRuby.AndIdidn’twanttoscarethemawaywiththe monsterthatIwas.
“SoIfindthetalisman,makeitmine,befoundacceptabletobethekeeper, andthenslaythehaunt.”
“No,”Hirosaidseriously.“Thatdoesn’tevensolvetheworstofthe problems.Howareyougoingtogetthehauntoutofyoursister?That’sthe problemwithhaunts.They’reboundtothevictim.It’swhyyoucan’tsavethe cursedone.Toslaythehaunt,youslaythevictim.Youslayyoursister.
Otherwise,thehauntwon’tleaveyoursister’sbodyuntilaftershe’sgone.”
“Ruewillfindaway,”Sakisaidloyally.Therewasnoshadowofadoubtin hervoice.Branwouldn’thavebeensosure.IfIfollowedtheinstinctsofmy hearttoBran,Iwouldfeelterroranddesperatehope.Mostly,however,terror.
Therewasn’tapathformetofollowtoSaki.Notthroughmyheart.Notyet.
But,Ididn’tneedapath.Shewasthere,infrontme,faithshiningfromhereyes.
Loyalalready.Alreadybelieving.AlreadywillingtobelieveIwas somethingotherthanasnake.Thesweet,naivelittleprincess.Gods.Whata crueljokelifeis.Someday,IwouldseeSakiassherealizedjustwhoandwhatI was.Andthatfaithwouldfade.
“Youneedtodealwiththebitebeforeyoucanhelpanyone.”Hirodidnot havethesamefaith.Anditwasthereinfrontofmeaswell—soclear.So precise.
“Right,”Iagreed.“Soyou’retheheirapparenttotheBostonThinning.
You’vebeentrainedinthingslikecontainingbitesfromahaunt?”
Myvoicewascuriousbuttherewas,perhaps,abitofachallengeinthat question.Iwasn’tusedtohavinganoldersibling.Iwasn’tsurewhattodowith thisone.Notthathewasarealone.MyonlyrealsiblingwasBranbecauseshe wastheonlyonewhocouldunderstand.
Hejustnodded.
“Wait,”Felixsaidashestartedsettingplatesonthetable.“Why areyou here?”
“Saki,”Hirosaidprecisely.Heglancedathislittlesister,withhertwin braidsandblackpleatedskirt.Shewassuchabeautiful,determinedlittlething.
“Soyouwouldn’thavecomewithoutSaki?”Felixdidn’tsoundaggressive, buttherewasnogiveinhisvoice.
“Notlikethis,”Hirosaid.Heshruggedalittleapologeticallybuttherewas noguiltinhisface.“Notthissoon.Notwithoutcheckingthingsout.Ithought youwerecontactingusbecauseofthemoneyuntilIsawthisplace.”
Myhouse,Martha,wasamazing.Shewasshockinglybeautiful,teeming withwealth.Shewasextravagantwiththetypeofbeautyonlyoldmoney seemedtoshowsowell.Oldmoneyputbeautyinthedetails.Intheperfect, wide-plankedwoodfloorsthatshone.Inthetwisted,wroughtironfencingthat madescenesinironhereandthere.Inthebricksofthehousethatformed patterns.Thewaythestoneandbrickofthehousecomplimentedeachotherasif eachbrickandstonewerepreciselychosenfortheirshadeandshape—andIwas surethatwasexactlywhathappened.Marthawas amazing.
“Idon’twantyourDad’smoney,”Isaidhonestly.
“OurDad,”Hirocorrected.Hedidn’tquitebelieveme,andIdidn’tquite blamehim.Ihadseenthatbrownstonemansionhisfamilyowned,andmoney wouldhavebeenacompellingargumentforalotofpeopletobotherhisfamily.
Butthethingwas—justbecauseHiro’sparentsweremarriedtoeachother didnotmakemeanylessamemberofthatfamily.Right?Idon’tknow.I
mean…Iwasblood-relatedtothem.Andthatmatteredtome.But my Daddywas TheodoreJones.
“Icanhelpyouwiththebindingofyourbite,”Hirosaid.“Idoknowhowto dothat.Ifyoudon’thaveanyoneelseyoucancall,Iwillhelpyou.”
“He’llhelpyou,”Sakisaid.“Whereisyoursister?”
“She’scurrently…”
“Resting,”Felixfinishedforme.
SakiacceptedwhathesaidandHiroraisedabrow.
Hiropulledouthisphonebroughtupaspellthathecarriedinhisdocsand said,“Thisiswhatwe’llneed.”
JessieandIconferredandwesentCyrusforthefewthingswedidn’thave.
“Thereare,actually,twooptions.ThisistheoneIwoulddo,”Hirosaid.
“Butfirehasbeenthetraditionalmethod.Wewouldhavetobindyourarm down,writespellsonittokeepthefirecontained,wrapyouinflammable materialandsetyouonfire.”
“Or…”Felixdemanded,shudderingatthedescription
“Orwetattoothecontainmentandcleansingrunesonherskin.Itwillkeep thehaunt’sinfectionincheck.Thebiteistheavenueforthehaunttocomeafter youonceit’sdonewithyoursister.Anditmakesyouvulnerabletoitinafight.”
“Sowhatdoesthetattoodo?”Jessieasked.
“Itdoeswhathermakeshiftrunesdo,butwithma
gickedinkratherthan sharpie.Itwillcleanseandremovetheinfectioncompletelyovertime.”
“Howmuchtime,”Chrysieasked.
“I’msorry,”Sakiinterrupted,“Butareyouavampire?”
ChrysienoddedherheadonceandSakisquealedalittlebitandsaidshe couldn’twaittotellTaneandherfriends.
WhileChrysieexplainedbecomingavampire,IledHirotomylabandwe puttogetherthespelledinktotattooontomyarm.HirodidtheworkwhileI triedtopretendthattattooingaroundmyalreadybruisedandhurtingfleshdidn’t makemewanttoripoffhisface.
“Howdidyoursistergethaunted?”
Ithoughtforamomentandthendecidedtotellhimthetruth.Iwasgoingto havetobemyselfwiththesenewsiblingsandletthemchoosemeorrejectme.
Pretendingtobesomethingelsewouldneverwork.
“Iwashavingsometroublehere,somyMothercameouttohelpme.While shewasgone,Bran…”
“Brawn?”
“Branka,”Isaid,soundingitouttobeBrawn-kah.“Myfullnameis Veruca.”
HeflinchedformeandIgrinnedforasecondbeforehewentbackto manuallyjabbinganeedledippedinspelledinkintomyarmandIwentbackto pretendingtobetougherthanIam.
“Anyway,Bransnooped.Andfoundoutaboutallofthis.”Igesturedat him,buthisexpressionaskedmetoexplain.“Wethoughtthemanwhoraisedus wasourdad.Wedidn’tknowwehadhalf-siblingsanddifferentdads.”
HiroflinchedformeagainandInodded.“Ifoundoutaboutyouguysand allofthisrightbeforeBrandrovemetoBostonandmademeseeyou.”
“Andonthewayback,youdiscoveredshewashaunted.”
Icouldn’tshrugwithoutriskinghimmessingup,soIhadtoexplainagain,
“Iknewsomethingwasupwithher.Ijusthadnoideaitwassobad.”
“I’msorrythatyou’relosingher,”Hirosaid.
“WhatwouldyoudoifitwasSaki?”Iaskedhim,pullingawaysohehadto faceme.
“Anything,”hesaid.“Everything.”
“Thendon’tgiveuponBranyet.She’sallIhave.”
Hetookmywristandpulledmypoor,bittenforearmbacktohim.Ashe wentbacktofillingintherunesonmyarmwithtattoos,hesaid,“Notanymore.”
Chapter13
“Rue!”Felix’svoicewasaroar.OneIshouldnothaveheard,butMartha wasamagichouseafterall.
IjerkedmyarmawayfromHirowherehewascleaningitupand bandagingitandwentpeltingdownthestairs,downthehall,throughthe kitchen,anddownthebacksteps.WhenIgotintothemarblehall,whatIsaw terrifiedme.
HauntedBranwasholdingSakibythehairandscreeching,“LETME
OUUUUUTTTTT.”
“Saki,”Hiroshoutedandfelltoahorrifiedstop.Ifhegottooclose,haunted Branwouldhurtourlittlesister.
“Bran,”Isaid,steppingforward.“Howdidshegetoutofthechair?How didSakigetinthere?”
Iwasnotreallylookingforanswersandnooneanswered.Wewerealltoo focusedonthehauntwearingmysister’sbodyandclutchingsweet,littleSakiby theneck.
“Let.Me.Out.”Thistimeitwasmorecutoffgrowlsthanshrieks.
“Ok,”Isaid.“LetSakigo.”
“Iknowyouforaliar,”thehauntsaid.
“Ohgods,”Hirosaid.“Ohgods,howdidthishappen?”
“Iwillgetherout,”IsworetoHiroandlookedatSaki.“Don’tbeafraid.”
“Iwillkillher,”thehauntsworeusingBran’smouth.
“Martha,truthserum.”Myvoicewasclipped.Buttherewasenoughof Branwithinthehauntthatitknewthatofferforwhatitwas.
AcupboarddooropenedandChrysiedartedwithhervampirespeedtoit.
ShewasbackabreathlaterandIhelditoutforBrantosmell—nooneknewthat scentlikeus.Brancrossedtojustoutofreachwiththesilent,terrifiedSaki thrustbehindherandtookadepthbreath.
Thosetwistedeyesfocusedonmeandtheheadofmysisternoddedonce.
Idownedtheseruminoneswiftgulpandsaid,“IthoughtIwoulddo anythingtosaveyou,butIwon’texchangeSakiforyou.Youchosewell.”
“Letmeout,”thehauntsaidwithBran’slips.
“YouhavetoletSakigounharmed.”
“Youwon’tletmeoutthen,”itsnarled.
“Youknowbetter.Thereisnowaythatyoudidn’tfigurethiswithBranin yourhead.”
Thehauntcackledandthensaid,“Sheknewthatyouwouldsacrificeanyof therestforher.”
“ButnotSaki,”Isaid.ItriedtolookcomfortingtoSaki,butIsuspected thatIseemedcoldandhard.
“NotSaki,”thehauntsang.
“IsweartoyouonthelifeofDaddythatIwillbreakthepentacleifyoulet Sakigo.”
Bran’seyeslookedatme,thendartedaroundtheroom.
ThehaunthesitatedandIsaid,“Truthserumed.Icannotlie.”
Bran’sheadnoddedoncebeforehermouthsaid,“Backagainstthewall.”
Felix,Chrysie,Jessie,andCyrusbackedtowardsthewallwithoutdelay.
Thelappingofwaterinthepoolandtheechooftheirstepsfloatedeerily throughthebigopenroom.
“Youtoo,”Bransaid,lookingatHiro.
“No,”Hirosaid,buttherewasabreakinhisvoicethatsaidheknewhe couldn’tsaveheralone.NotwiththewaythehauntheldSakibythethroat.
“Go,”IshoutedandHirobackedreluctantlyup.
“Don’tbewrong,”hepledashemovedaway.ButIhadnotimeforhim.
“GivemeSaki,”Idemanded.
“Letmeout.”
“One,”IwaiteduntilthehauntnoddedandthendraggedSakitotheedgeof thepentacleasclosetomeasshecouldget.
“Two,”Isaid.ItookadeepbreathandprayedtothegodsbeforeIsaid,
“Three.”
Ikickedasidethecandleattheedgeofthepentacle,focusedmywill,and letoutBran.ThehauntthrewSakiatme,knockingusbothintothepool.I foughtmywaytothesurfaceandyelled,“Martha.”
Ashriekoffuryfilledtheair.
“Canyouswim,”IaskedSaki.
Shenodded,butshewascryingsohard,gaspingsomuchthatIpulledher towardsthesideofthepullwhereHirodraggedheroutandwrappedhisarms aroundherwithoutregardforthewater.
Iwasgoingtopullmyselfout,butFelixdraggedmefromthewaterand huggedmetohimaswell.
“So,thehauntcanaccessBran’sthoughts,”Isaid.“Orhearher.Butitisn’t assmartassheis.Shewouldneverhavefallenforthat.”
“Whathappened?”Hiroasked
“And,”Jessiesaid,“Thehaunt’smemoriesarespotty.Itshouldhave rememberedthatMartha’swardstrippedbefore.”
“Martha?”HirostoodandliftedSakiashedid.“What?”
“Marthaisthehouse,”Isaid.“She’spretty…aware.”
“Andpowerful,”Cyrussaid.
“And,Martha’swardstrippedbefore.Whenthehauntwaspeekingoutof Bran’seyes,”Felixadded.
“WhichiswhyIendeduptruthserumingBranandfindingoutaboutyou guys,”Isaid.
“You truth serumedyourownsister?”Hirosoundeddisgustedthoughhe wasstillclutchingSakiclose.Beingdisgustedbymyfamilywasfairgiventhat doingwhatwedidtoeachotherwasagainstbasicwitchlaws.
“It’ssortofafamilytradition…”Myvoicetrailedoffathislookofhorror.I addedlamely,“Youhadtobethere.”
Whenhisdisgustdidn’tfadeatall,Isaid,“Look,Iknowotherwitcheswho doit.I’mnotsayingI’mproudofit…but….anyway.Martha’swardshadtripped before becauseofBranwhichwasmyfirstbigcluethatsomethingseriouswas goingonwithher.Somethingmorethanthisfamilycrapandourmotherbeing…
ourmother.”
“It’sok,”Sakisaid.SheshiveredinHiro’sarmsandthensaidquietlybut withleftoverterror,“I’msorryforgettingcaught.Thankyouforsavingme.”
“What happened?”Hiro’svoicewastortured.
“IwantedtoknowaboutRue,”Sakianswered.“Ithoughtitwouldbeok, but…”
“ThehauntdistractedherandSakienteredthepentacle.Thehauntgrabbed herbeforeIcoulddoanything.”
ThatwassayingsomethingsinceitwasChrysiespeaking.Andshecould movelikeTheFlashwiththerightincentive.
“She’sok.We’reok,”Isaidandsatdownonthefloor.I…gods…Iwaslost.
ButSakiwiggledoutofherbrother’sarmsandflewintomine.
“It’llbeok,”Sakisaid—givingmethefirsthugfrommynewfamily.She pettedmyhairandwhisperedtomeandmadelosingmyDadasmyDaddyok.
He’dbeenthatonegoodthinginmylife.Andhewasstillthere,plusIhadthis sweetlittlethingtoo.
IwrappedherupinmyarmsandhuggedhercloseandprayedthatIwould beabletosaveBranasI’dsavedSaki.
Chapter14
“So,”Itoldmycovenandsiblings.“I’vetriedeveryone.Noonecan providehope.”
“Areyousureyouwanttogetthetalismanthen?”ItwasFelixwhoasked, andheaskedbecauseheknewIdidn’twanttobekeeper.
Inodded.AndthenIlookedtotheolderbrotherIneverknewIhadand said,“Ihavenotrainingasanecromancer.”
Heseemedstartledbutsaidnothing.
“IcangetthetalismanoftheSt.AngelusThinning.ButImightneedsome helphuntingupaghost.”
“Youcan’tjustgoafteranyghost.”
“Itjustsohappens,”Isaid,thinkingofFinn,“ThatIknowofonethatneeds tobesentonitsway.”
Hironoddedonce.Iwasn’tsurehecoulddoanythingelsewhenSakiwas watchinghimsocarefully.
“Ifyoucangetthetalisman…”Hirowasdoubtful,butIjustgrinnedathim, momentarilyamused.ImighthaveprotestedIcouldn’tgetitwhennooneelse coulduseit.Ihadn’tknownabouttheloophole.AndnowIwasgrateful.