A Darker Shade of Magic
Chapter 35: One White Rook II
by Schwab, V. E.Kell and Lila move invisibly and intangibly through the streets of London, shielded by powerful magic from the stone Kell carries. The energy from the stone revitalizes him, masking his earlier weakness, though a part of him senses its danger. Lila remains unusually quiet, her grip tight on Kell and a timepiece, until she opens up about her past. She reveals her traumatic childhood, including her father’s betrayal and her first kill at fifteen, which she describes with a mix of bitterness and pride. Kell challenges her perspective, emphasizing that killing should never feel easy or empowering.
Their conversation shifts to Kell’s own experiences with killing, which he frames as acts of necessity rather than desire. Lila’s curiosity about whether magic feels like the rush of power she experienced during violence prompts Kell to reflect on the corrupt nature of power in White London. Before he can fully explain, their attention is drawn to the city’s scrying boards, which suddenly display a missing persons alert featuring Kell’s image and a reward for his capture. The entire city is now searching for him, complicating their already precarious situation.
Realizing they cannot remain hidden indefinitely, Kell leads Lila to Fletcher’s shop, where they phase through the locked door using the stone’s magic. Once inside, Kell releases the veil, but Lila notices the alarming spread of dark veins up his arm—a sign of the stone’s corrupting influence. Despite the stone’s soothing whispers assuring him of safety, Kell struggles to let go, his body resisting the command. Only when Lila throws a knife near his head does he snap out of the trance and force himself to drop the talisman.
As the stone falls, Kell collapses, his energy drained. The brief high of the stone’s power gives way to exhaustion and cold, leaving him vulnerable. Even as he recognizes the stone’s toxicity, part of him still craves its strength. Lila watches warily, her blades ready, as Kell grapples with the consequences of wielding such dangerous magic. The chapter ends on a tense note, underscoring the stone’s seductive yet destructive hold over him.
FAQs
1. How does the magical veil affect Kell and Lila’s interaction with the physical world, and what does this reveal about the nature of their current state?
Answer:
The magical veil renders Kell and Lila both invisible and intangible to the world around them. People pass through them as if they were ghosts, and they cannot interact with physical objects—demonstrated when Lila’s hand goes through an apple she tries to steal. This state suggests they exist outside the normal boundaries of reality, protected from detection but also isolated from engagement. The chapter emphasizes their paradoxical existence: while the veil shields them from threats (like being hunted), it also severs their connection to the world, making them observers rather than participants. This duality mirrors their broader struggles with belonging and power throughout the narrative.2. Analyze the significance of Lila’s confession about killing her father. How does this moment deepen her character and contrast with Kell’s moral stance?
Answer:
Lila’s admission that she killed her father—and her blunt acknowledgment of feeling “powerful” in that moment—reveals her traumatic past and complex relationship with violence. Her bitterness and dark humor mask vulnerability, as seen when she rubs her eyes “when she thought he wasn’t looking.” This contrasts sharply with Kell’s disapproval (“It shouldn’t [get easier]”) and his assertion that he only kills when necessary. Their exchange highlights Lila’s survivalist mentality, shaped by abuse, versus Kell’s more principled (if conflicted) morality. The dialogue also foreshadows themes of power corruption, as Lila equates violence with control—a dangerous parallel to the addictive magic of the stone.3. What role do the scrying boards play in escalating tension, and how does their messaging reflect the political stakes of Kell’s disappearance?
Answer:
The scrying boards amplify tension by broadcasting Kell’s status as a wanted fugitive citywide. Initially displaying celebratory notices for Prince Rhy, their sudden shift to “MISSING” and “REWARD” signals the crown’s urgency in retrieving him. The interactive instruction (“If seen, touch here”) turns every citizen into a potential informant, heightening the danger. This public hunt underscores Kell’s political importance and the kingdom’s instability—his disappearance isn’t just personal but a state crisis. The boards also symbolize surveillance culture in Red London, where magic and authority intertwine to enforce control, complicating Kell’s efforts to remain free.4. How does the black stone’s magic affect Kell physically and psychologically, and why does Lila intervene when she does?
Answer:
The stone’s magic initially revitalizes Kell, masking his pain and granting strength, but its corrupting influence manifests as blackened veins creeping up his arm. Psychologically, it induces a false calm, numbing his awareness of its toxicity—a dangerous complacency Lila recognizes. Her intervention (throwing a knife to startle him) breaks the stone’s hold, forcing Kell to confront its effects. This moment reveals the stone’s dual nature: it empowers but also consumes, paralleling addiction. Lila’s alertness contrasts with Kell’s vulnerability, emphasizing her role as his pragmatic counterpart when his judgment falters under magic’s allure.5. Evaluate the chapter’s exploration of power through the lens of Lila’s question: “Is that what magic feels like?” How do Kell and Lila’s differing perspectives foreshadow potential conflicts?
Answer:
Lila’s question—posed after describing the “powerful” feeling of killing—links violence to magical potency, unsettling Kell. His denial (“That’s just murder”) reflects his view of magic as a neutral force, while Lila’s association hints at her willingness to wield power ruthlessly. This divergence foreshadows ideological clashes: Kell fears magic’s corruption (evidenced by the stone), whereas Lila, shaped by survival instincts, may embrace it recklessly. The tension mirrors White London’s brutal ethos (“power held like a knife”), suggesting Lila’s potential to cross moral lines Kell resists—setting up future struggles over how power should be used.
Quotes
1. “They could neither feel nor hear them. It was as if, beneath the veil, Kell and Lila were not part of the world around them. As if they existed outside of it.”
This quote captures the eerie, supernatural state Kell and Lila find themselves in while using the stone’s magic. It establishes the chapter’s central tension—their physical and existential detachment from reality, foreshadowing the dangers of the stone’s power.
2. “‘I cut the man’s throat before he could get his belt off.’ […] ‘But I suppose the nice thing about killing is that it gets easier.’ ‘It shouldn’t.’”
This exchange reveals Lila’s traumatic past and moral ambiguity, contrasting with Kell’s more principled stance on violence. It highlights their differing worldviews and sets up later discussions about power and morality.
3. “‘Is that what magic feels like?’ she asked honestly. Maybe in White London, thought Kell, where power was held like a knife, a weapon to be used against those in your way.”
This moment crystallizes the thematic conflict between magic as a neutral force versus a corrupting one. Kell’s unspoken thought critiques how power is wielded in different worlds, foreshadowing the stone’s corrupting influence.
4. “The veins on the back of his hand were dark, so dark that they stood out like ink against his flesh, the lines tracing up toward his elbow.”
This visceral description marks the turning point where the stone’s corruption becomes physically manifest. It visually represents the dangerous symbiosis between Kell and the artifact, escalating the chapter’s central conflict.
5. “He hadn’t felt the stone leeching his energy, but now that it was gone, it was like someone had doused his fire. Everything went cold.”
This quote powerfully conveys the addictive, draining nature of the stone’s magic. The fire/cold imagery underscores the false vitality it provides—a key insight into the chapter’s warning about corrupting power.