Serpent & Dove
Secrets Revealed: Lou
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with chaos as witches attack a panicked crowd, with Lou’s mother standing ominously amid the turmoil. The Archbishop protects Lou while battling the witches, including Fate, who is wounded but not deterred. Reid emerges, killing a witch with his Balisarda, and pulls Lou to safety. Despite their efforts, more witches appear, and Lou loses sight of her mother. The Archbishop orders Lou and others to barricade themselves in the Tower, but Lou resists, demanding to fight. Reid and the Chasseurs forcibly drag her inside as the witches’ assault intensifies.
Inside the church, Reid and Jean Luc secure the doors while Ansel questions Lou about the shocking revelation that the Archbishop may have a child with Morgane le Blanc. Jean Luc suggests it could be a diversion, but the group has no time to ponder as a witch breaks through a high window. Reid and Lou flee to their bedroom, where Reid attempts to ward off the witch with salt, but Lou admits it’s futile. Reid confronts her, demanding the truth about why the witches are targeting her, emphasizing he can’t protect her without honesty.
Before Lou can respond, a dun-haired witch enters through the window, overpowering Ansel and Reid with her magic. Lou reacts with fury as Reid is injured, and the witch accuses her of betraying her mother and the Dames Blanches. Lou defiantly rejects the witch’s claims, and a tense magical standoff ensues. The witch’s attacks fail due to Angelica’s Ring, which protects Lou. Seizing the opportunity, Lou turns the tables, using her own magic to hurl the witch against the ceiling, though the effort leaves her drained.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as Lou, weakened but determined, faces the aftermath of her counterattack. The confrontation highlights her internal conflict between her loyalty to Reid and her ties to the witches, particularly her mother. The revelation of her true identity looms as Reid demands answers, setting the stage for deeper revelations and escalating tensions in the ongoing battle between the Chasseurs and the witches.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Lou’s reaction to seeing her mother during the witch attack, and how does this moment reveal key tensions in the story?
Answer:
Lou’s reaction to seeing her mother, Morgane le Blanc, standing calmly amidst the chaos reveals deep emotional conflict and foreshadows their complicated relationship. While the crowd panics, Lou experiences “wild disbelief, debilitating fear, and violent rage” (p. 369), suggesting unresolved trauma tied to her mother’s identity as a powerful witch. This moment also highlights the central tension of Lou’s dual heritage—her connection to both the witch world (through Morgane) and the Chasseurs (through her alliance with Reid). The Archbishop’s protective stance toward Lou further complicates this dynamic, hinting at potential familial ties yet to be fully revealed.2. Analyze how Reid’s actions during the attack demonstrate his evolving priorities and internal conflict.
Answer:
Reid’s actions show a shift from blind loyalty to the Chasseurs toward prioritizing Lou’s safety. Initially, he fights with “primal hatred” (p. 370), reflecting his ingrained witch-hunting instincts. However, his focus quickly turns to protecting Lou—dragging her to safety, barricading her in the Tower, and even placing himself between her and the dun-haired witch (p. 372). This contrast reveals his internal conflict: his duty as a Chasseur clashes with his personal connection to Lou. The moment he abandons his Balisarda to shield her (p. 372) symbolizes this transformation, emphasizing that his emotional bonds now outweigh his ideological convictions.3. How does the chapter use magical elements (e.g., Angelica’s Ring, salt barriers) to explore themes of power and protection?
Answer:
The chapter contrasts traditional Chasseur methods (salt barriers, Balisarda knives) with Lou’s innate magical abilities, underscoring themes of ineffective versus authentic power. Reid’s frantic salt ritual fails (p. 371), symbolizing the limitations of superstition against real magic. In contrast, Angelica’s Ring—which passively nullifies the dun-haired witch’s spells (p. 373)—represents inherited power Lou hasn’t fully embraced. The witches’ ability to bypass physical barriers (e.g., entering through the rose window) further highlights that true protection requires understanding one’s own power rather than relying on external defenses. This dichotomy mirrors Lou’s journey toward self-acceptance.4. What does Ansel’s questioning of the Archbishop’s paternity reveal about the broader societal conflicts in the narrative?
Answer:
Ansel’s shocked inquiry about the Archbishop potentially fathering Lou (p. 370) exposes the hypocrisy and secrecy underpinning the story’s societal divisions. The rumor—that the leader of the witch-hunting Chasseurs may have a child with their greatest enemy, Morgane—threatens to dismantle the moral authority of the Church. Jean Luc’s deflection (“perhaps it was all a diversion”) reflects institutional denial, while Ansel’s horror mirrors societal conditioning. This moment critiques rigid binaries (good vs. evil, holy vs. profane), suggesting that the real “secrets” driving conflict are the hidden connections between opposing factions.5. How does the dun-haired witch’s confrontation with Lou deepen the reader’s understanding of Lou’s identity crisis?
Answer:
The witch’s accusations—that Lou “dishonors” her mother and the Dames Blanches (p. 372)—force Lou to confront her rejected heritage. Her defiant retort (“burn in Hell”) masks deeper guilt, as seen when she recoils from the golden cords symbolizing her magical ties (p. 372). The witch embodies the expectations Lou has failed to meet, while Angelica’s Ring (a tool of the Chasseurs) ironically becomes her shield. This paradox mirrors Lou’s liminality: she wields magic instinctively yet aligns with witch hunters. The physical clash externalizes her internal struggle to reconcile these opposing identities.
Quotes
1. “She stood still in the swarming crowd—a beacon of white in the impending shadows. Smiling. Hands extended in supplication.”
This vivid description of Lou’s mother, Morgane le Blanc, captures her eerie calm amidst chaos, symbolizing her power and control. It foreshadows her role as both a literal and figurative antagonist in the scene.
2. “His Balisarda dripped with her blood, and his eyes burned with primal hatred.”
This moment reveals Reid’s violent capabilities and internal conflict, showing his deep-seated animosity toward witches—a stark contrast to his growing relationship with Lou, who is secretly a witch herself.
3. “‘The truth now. I can’t protect you without it.’”
A pivotal demand from Reid to Lou, representing the chapter’s central tension: Lou’s hidden identity and the inevitable confrontation about her heritage. It underscores the theme of trust versus secrecy in their relationship.
4. “‘You dishonor your mother. You dishonor the Dames Blanches.’ ‘The Dames Blanches can burn in Hell.’”
This exchange between Lou and the dun-haired witch highlights Lou’s rejection of her witch lineage and her defiance against her mother’s legacy. It encapsulates her internal struggle with identity and belonging.
5. “Angelica’s Ring burned hot on my finger—dispelling her patterns.”
A crucial turning point where Lou’s hidden power (and protection) is revealed. The ring symbolizes both her connection to witchcraft and her resistance to it, marking a key moment of survival and revelation.