Blood & Honey
Crosses to Bear: Lou
by Mahurin, ShelbyLou awakens to the sound of Reid and Coco arguing, her body aching but her back pain mysteriously gone. She feigns sleep, noticing the honeyed taste in her mouth and the cool air on her bare back where her shirt has been cut open. Reid’s frustration is palpable as he questions why Lou hasn’t fully recovered, while Coco dismissively explains the severity of Lou’s internal injuries from using magic. The tension between them is thick, with Lou silently observing, torn between irritation and exhaustion.
The argument escalates as Reid accuses Lou of erratic behavior since using magic, citing her impulsive actions and emotional instability. Lou’s indignation grows as she overhears his criticisms, feeling betrayed despite her efforts to protect him. Coco defends Lou, mocking Reid’s emotional detachment, but the conversation takes a darker turn when Reid expresses concern that Lou’s behavior mirrors someone dangerous. Coco warns him to stop, her voice trembling with anger, as she emphasizes the sacrificial nature of their magic.
Coco confronts Reid about his hypocrisy, pointing out his own “poison” while defending Lou’s struggles. She admits Lou will deteriorate further before improving, a grim prophecy that hangs heavily in the air. Lou, overhearing this, is hurt and angered, recalling a painful memory of her mother’s cryptic advice about fear and discovery. The chapter delves into Lou’s internal conflict, as she insists she’s fine despite the accusations, though her emotions betray her.
The chapter ends with Lou abruptly sitting up, startled by a cat in her face, her torn shirt fluttering. Reid’s relief at her awakening is evident, but the unresolved tension lingers. Lou’s physical recovery contrasts with the emotional wounds laid bare by the argument, leaving her to grapple with the unsettling predictions about her future. The scene sets the stage for further conflict and self-reflection as Lou struggles to reconcile her perceived control with the reality of her magical toll.
FAQs
1. How does Lou’s use of magic differ from Coco’s, and what concerns does Reid raise about its effects?
Answer:
Lou’s magic comes at a significant physical cost, requiring her to use air from her blood and tissues to perform feats like knife-throwing, which nearly kills her. In contrast, Coco uses magic without apparent consequences. Reid expresses concern that Lou becomes “erratic” when using magic—citing examples like impulsively dyeing her hair, emotional outbursts, and taking pleasure in violence. He worries her behavior mirrors dangerous patterns, possibly alluding to her mother’s traits. This highlights the central tension between magic as a necessary tool versus a corrupting force (pages 113–115).2. Analyze the significance of Coco’s statement: “Nature demands balance” in the context of the chapter’s themes.
Answer:
Coco’s assertion underscores the novel’s exploration of sacrifice and equilibrium. She argues that powerful magic (like Lou’s life-death abilities) requires proportional trade-offs—Lou’s physical injuries and emotional instability being the price. This contrasts with Reid’s view of magic as “aberrant” and poisonous. The phrase also foreshadows Lou’s worsening state, suggesting her trauma and power will escalate in tandem. The tension between natural order (balance) and unnatural acts (e.g., maternal filicide) drives the moral complexity of the story (pages 114–115).3. How does Lou’s internal monologue reveal her emotional state after overhearing Reid and Coco’s conversation?
Answer:
Lou oscillates between anger and hurt, masking vulnerability with defiance. She initially feels betrayed by Reid’s criticism (“ungrateful ass”) and Coco’s agreement about her worsening condition. Her recollection of her mother’s manipulative advice (“unafraid to look… unafraid to find”) suggests she fears confronting her own instability. Though she insists she feels “fine,” her physical reactions (coughing blood, startled movements) and fixation on their words reveal deep-seated denial, setting up her character arc toward self-awareness (pages 115–116).4. What symbolic role does honey play in this chapter, both literally and thematically?
Answer:
Literally, honey is a healing agent—Coco administers it to treat Lou’s injuries, its sweetness masking the taste of blood. Thematically, it represents duality: a natural remedy tainted by violence (Lou’s blood) and the false comfort of ignoring pain (Lou’s apathy). The “empty vial” Coco holds mirrors Lou’s depleted emotional state after sacrificing herself. Honey’s sticky persistence parallels the inescapable consequences of magic, clinging to characters despite their attempts to move forward (pages 112, 114).5. Evaluate how Reid and Coco’s conflict reflects differing worldviews about magic and morality.
Answer:
Reid views magic as a corrupting “sickness,” citing Lou’s dangerous behavior as evidence. His focus on control and emotional restraint aligns with his aversion to unpredictability. Coco, however, frames magic as a burdensome but inevitable part of their existence (“cross to bear”). Her acknowledgment of its costs—without condemnation—highlights pragmatism forged by lived experience. Their clash exposes deeper tensions: Reid’s fear of chaos versus Coco’s acceptance of necessary sacrifice, with Lou caught between these perspectives (pages 114–115).
Quotes
1. “There’s always a cost.”
This blunt statement from Coco encapsulates the central theme of magical consequences in the chapter. It comes during a heated argument about Lou’s injuries, establishing that magic in this world demands sacrifice and balance.
2. “Lou is different when she uses magic. Her emotions, her judgment—she’s been erratic since the pool yesterday… Yet you use magic without consequence.”
Reid’s observation highlights a crucial conflict about magic’s psychological toll. This quote reveals both his concern for Lou and his limited understanding of how different characters experience magical consequences.
3. “This sort of magic—the sort that balances life and death on a knife point—requires sacrifice. Nature demands balance.”
Coco’s powerful explanation comes at the chapter’s emotional climax, defining the fundamental rules of their magical system while foreshadowing greater challenges ahead for Lou.
4. “She’s going to get worse before she gets better. Much, much worse.”
This ominous prediction from Coco serves as both a character insight and plot foreshadowing. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of Lou’s psychological state and hints at future struggles with her magic and trauma.
5. “If you are unafraid to look, darling, you are unafraid to find.”
Lou’s memory of her mother’s wisdom appears during her moment of self-reflection. This philosophical statement contrasts with the chapter’s physical conflicts and reveals Lou’s emotional vulnerability beneath her tough exterior.