dad tricked Mommy into marrying him and how you got all the demonic genes while I inherited Mommy's. Basically, I'm pure and you're gross."
"He's your dad too," I said, anger overcoming my shock. "And our grandparents stole you from Mom and Dad when you were an infant. Did they tell you that?"
She stuck out her lower lip and nodded. "It was to protect me."
"Yeah, then why did Mom stay with Dad all those years, huh? Why not go with them right then?"
"Because she wasn't sure how you'd turn out. Once she figured out you were a spawn, she left."
I opened my mouth to throw a retort in her face, but what if her words were true? What if Mom had left me when she did because she saw I was developing incubus powers? Becoming just like Dad? Even if the Conroys had filled Ivy's head with nothing but lies, I had no proof to fight them with. A million retorts flew through my head all at once, but none of them would do a damned thing to keep Ivy from hating me.
Except…why was she here?
Despite the lies and whatever twisted upbringing her—our—grandparents had given her, she'd come here, apparently on her own, to see me face-to-face. Maybe deep down she doubted what they'd told her. Maybe she wanted to decide the truth for herself.
"You can't believe everything they told you if you came here to see me," I said after a few seconds of silence stretched between us. "In fact, I'll bet you're full of doubt."
She giggled and shook her head. "No, I'm not, silly."
"Then why—"
"I came here to get rid of you so I can save the world. Otherwise, you'll have a good chance at wrecking everything we've worked so hard for."
I almost laughed at the idea being harmed by a tiny girl and almost cried because my own sister seemed so sure it was the right thing to do. "Get rid of me?" I shook my head. "Wouldn't that be the evil thing to do?"
"Not if it's for the right reason."
I turned away from her, shaking my head. "I can't believe this. I cannot believe my long-lost sister wants to kill me."
She giggled again and dragged the toe of her black tennis shoe in the dirt. "I didn't say kill you. I said I'd get rid of you. There's a difference."
"And you're not even going to hug me first? Geez, I realize we didn't get a chance to know each other, but I was hoping for a happier reunion than this."
She grimaced. "Eww. As if I'd touch demon spawn."
"We're related, Ivy. If you know anything about the birds and the bees—"
She waved her hands frantically. "Don't make me think about it! Gross."
I leaned against the tombstone and folded my arms. "Look, before you try to kill or get rid of me, why don't you take some time to get to know me? We could climb trees together, and drink Kool-Aid. I’ll cut the hair off your Barbie dolls and you could tell Mom and Dad on me. You know, like real brothers and sisters." Having never known her, I really didn't have a clue what growing up with a sibling would be like, but I did have friends with sisters and remembered some of those Barbie doll incidents pretty clearly. Especially the one we'd dismembered to see if it worked as a voodoo doll. It hadn't.
"I figured you'd try this emotional stuff on me." She blew out a breath. "I mean, if I didn't know you were pure evil, I'd love to have a brother. There are some really mean kids at the school I go to, and I would love to teach them a lesson if I could get away with it."
"Well hey, just point me in their direction and I'll beat them up." I smiled at the thought of coming to my sister's aid, especially if someone was bullying her. I'd been through hell with jackasses who thought nothing of pushing around others simply because they could.
She actually seemed to consider it, pursing her cute little mouth and tilting her head like a puppy, blonde ponytail hanging at an angle. A sigh broke through her lips. "It would be cool to sic a demon spawn on those meanies, but I really can't risk the end of the world just so you can beat up a few idiots."
I tried a different tact. "Why do you think I'll cause the end of the world?"