The rain woke me up as it pounded against the house. I cracked an eye to check the time. 9:47 am. With a groan, I burrowed under my blankets. Mom would be by any minute to demand I leave the warm cocoon of my bed. Ten o'clock on a Saturday was her limit to sleeping in. I was a little shocked she hadn't been in here at the crack of dawn to roll me out of bed. She'd drafted me last night to help decorate for Halloween. The rain must have hampered her plans.

Rain. It was raining. A smile tugged at my lips. Megan would be ecstatic. Rain was the best possible omen for her induction ceremony tonight. It represented the purification process as one passed through the various stages of life. Today, for Megan, she would pass from novice to apprentice and become a part of the circle. She deserved for her induction to go well and the rain could only add to all of her blessings today.

"CJ! Time to get up!" Mom knocked sharply on the door.

"Give me five more minutes, please?"

"CJ!"

"I'm up!" I grouched at the door and threw back the covers. I bit back a curse as my feet hit the cold floor. I gave my bed one last look of longing and then headed for the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, showered and fed, I dragged myself up to the attic. Mom was bent over one of the trunks on the floor throwing costumes out of it. Goodness, but she'd pulled out everything. And I do mean everything—boxes, trunks, and storage containers were open with their contents strewn over every inch of the floor.

"Mom, you do have a plan, right?" I asked and surveyed the mess with dread.

"No, I don't have one," she said with a frustrated sigh. "I seem to be uninspired this year. Or it could just be the Parkers have the most amazing scene I've ever seen set up."

"I could go flirt with Jeff and get him to sabotage it," I offered with a perfectly straight face.

She burst out laughing.

"I'm serious here, Mom. We lost last year to their stupid headless horseman display. I am not above using my wiles to lure him to our side." I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

"Stop, CJ," she pleaded between giggles. "I might be tempted to let you if you don't."

"I'll bet for a kiss I could even get him to trash the yard right before the judges showed up." Wet, slobbery lips... shudder...it would be worth it for Mom to win. She'd looked so dejected when she was talking about it last night. With the fifteenth coming up, I didn't want her anymore unhappy than necessary.

"That's terrible, CJ," she grinned at me. I smiled back. Maybe today wouldn't turn out to be so bad after all. Mom and I hadn't spent a lot of time together recently. I'd missed her.

"Oh, look at this!" I scooped up my favorite witch's hat and put it on. "How do I look?"

"About twelve," she laughed and donned a hat of her own. "Now, back to this kissing business. Are you and Jeff Parker dating?"

"Uh, definitely not."

"He likes you, though." Mom pulled out a jumbled mess of orange lights. "I told your father not to just throw these lights in here!"

"Just make Dad untangle them," I told her and opened a container with more lights. She was right. Dad had made a mess of them. No way was I going to sit here all day and untangle these things.

"So who were you kissing on the porch Tuesday afternoon then?"

Huh? I dropped the tombstone I'd just picked up. How did Mom know about that?

"Mrs. Avery next door took great delight in telling me all about it." Mom laughed at my shocked expression.

Damn that nosy old woman. I was sure it was all over town by now.

"It was nothing, Mom," I hedged. "Don't worry about it."

"Kissing a boy is nothing, CJ? Mrs. Avery said you were a bit involved for a minute."

Damn, damn that nosy old biddy.

"Ethan Warren," I told her reluctantly.

"Ethan's back?" Mom paused. An expression of shock morphed into one of extreme excitement on her face. "When did he get back?"

"Back?" I asked, confused. "He's been here before?"

She nodded.

"But he told me his mom wouldn't let them visit."

"No, she wouldn't, but his father always made sure he and Ethan visited for at least a day every summer." She pulled her phone out of her pocket. "I'll be back in a few minutes, CJ. I need to make a call."

What the hell? I gaped after her rapidly retreating backside. Why did Ethan's name cause her to get so worked up she looked ready to burst at the seams with excitement like a kid on Christmas morning? Oh, hell no. She was going to explain this. I started after her.

My foot tangled in a mess of lights and I fell. I landed face down in a pile of costumes. I pushed myself up with my good hand and froze. Something shiny and bright caught my attention. It was hidden underneath Grandma Bishop's old Singer sewing machine. I crawled over and pulled it out. My mind froze up for a minute as it took in the box wrapped in metallic red paper sporting little happy birthday logos all across it.

Oh damn. It couldn't be.

A card with my name on was anchored under the silver ribbon. I ripped the card open and almost dropped it in shock.

Happy Birthday, Little Sister

Love Emily

I'd looked everywhere for this after the funeral. She'd tormented and teased me unmercifully about what she'd gotten me for my fifteenth birthday. I couldn't believe I'd found it after all these years. I traced the words over and over, mindless of the tears that rolled down my cheeks.

I pulled the wrapping paper apart very gently, not wanting to lose even a piece of it, and uncovered a plain white shirt box. Inside, nestled in a bed of red tissue, lay Emily's induction dress. Her silver locket rested on top of the sheer material. My hand shook as I picked it up. We'd searched for this locket after the accident. Dad had wanted to bury her with it. Now I knew why we couldn't find it—she'd planned on giving it to me.

A whimper escaped as pain ripped through me. The old wound had never really healed and seeing this just made it bleed even more than usual. I opened the tiny clasp. Her face smiled up at me. Our hair lay twisted together over my own face. She'd worn it so she could have something of me with her at her ceremony, and now I would wear it to have a piece of her with me always.

After fastening the locket around my neck, I held up the dress. It shimmered and glowed even in the dusty confines of the attic like a thousand tiny lights glittered against it. It was beautiful.

I started to put it back in the box when a letter caught my attention. It was addressed to me.

Hey Little Sis,

Happy birthday! I am going to put this at the foot of your bed so you'll see it as soon as you wake up. I can't wait to see your expression. I've tortured you long enough.

This gown is very special. It really is the original gown worn by Sara Bishop. She was the Coven Mistress in Massachusetts and this gown has been worn by all her descendants. Grandma Bishop gave it to me when I was twelve and told me its history. Like you, I didn't believe it then either, but it's true, Cassie Jayne. This gown is a part of our heritage, our history, and it's priceless for that reason. I know you'll take good care of it and the responsibility that comes with it. It belongs to you, always has I think. No one else has ever been able to touch it without the aid of a spell. It burns to the touch. I could hold it, but not for long. When you were able to touch it, I knew then it was yours.

I have something very special planned for your induction ceremony. You and Kay always celebrate your birthdays together, but your induction into the Junior Coven should be about you and you alone. That is why I have planned Kay's induction for the first Saturday in November. Yours will be on your birthday.

Before the Junior Coven leader can join the Coven, the next leader must be chosen and I choose you, Cassie Jayne. You are to be the next leader of the Junior Coven. Don't be afraid. It's scary, but amazing. I know you don't believe in it now, but after your induction ceremony, all your doubts will be swept away. I promise. It's who you are.

I love you so much, little sister, and am so very proud of you. Happy birthday!

Love,

Emily

Questions exploded into my mind. She'd planned to hand the Junior Coven over to me? It made no sense. Why would she warn me stay away from it then? What had happened to change her mind? I thought back to the night that was forever burned into my memory. She'd been scared that night. I'd always thought it was because she was in pain and knew she was dying, but now I wondered if there was more to it than that. She'd loved the Coven with her entire being. This proved it. So why, why had she told me not to go near it? What had she known about the Coven that I didn't? What had scared her into making me promise to stay away from it?

A horrible thought pushed its way in. What if the Coven had something to do with her death? Oh, damn. My stomach clenched painfully. I knew I was right. I didn't understand why, but I was right. Maybe her death hadn't been an accident after all. Could that be why she'd warned me away from the Coven? Because they'd tried to kill her?

I'd promised her I'd stay away, but I couldn't. She was my sister and I needed to find out if what had happened to her was really an accident or not.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and folded the gown back into the box. "I have to know, Ems."

I pulled out my phone and found Ethan's number.

"Cassie," he answered. I could hear the smile in his voice. My stomach flipped at the sound. He sounded like he'd just woken up. Images flooded my mind at that thought and I blushed to the roots of my hair.

"So what do I wear to an induction ceremony?" I asked him.

"What's wrong?" he demanded. "You sound like you've been crying."

"Nothing's wrong," I lied. "I just found something that reminded me of Emily, that's all."

"Are you okay?"

"Not really, but I will be. So, I'll meet you in the park at seven?"

"I can pick you up."

"No, I don't want Dad to know I'm going. It'll just upset him."

"Okay," he agreed with a sigh.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Did your dad ever bring you to visit you grandfather here when you were little?"

"No, I told you Mom wouldn't let us visit. Granddad came to us."

Who was lying? Ethan or Mom?

"Why?" he asked me.

"No reason," I said. "So, what do I wear tonight?"

"Something nice."

"Okay, I'll see you at seven. Bye."

I snapped the phone shut, my stomach clenched into knots. Mom said Ethan had been here before and Ethan denied it.

Who was lying to me and why?