Blood & Honey
Stolen Moments: Reid
by Mahurin, ShelbyReid watches Lou sleep peacefully, her rhythmic breathing a stark contrast to his own restless state. Since Modraniht, sleep eludes him, and when it comes, it brings dark, disturbing dreams. A shadowy figure, Absalon—a matagot drawn to troubled souls—joins him, reinforcing his inner turmoil. Reid tries to dismiss the creature but ultimately allows its presence, a silent acknowledgment of his unspoken distress.
Lou wakes and notices Reid’s wakefulness, her concern evident as she searches his eyes. Their conversation shifts to her mother, whom Lou describes as someone who lost herself to the addictive nature of magic. She explains how power corrupted her mother, turning her into someone unrecognizable. Lou defends magic as a beautiful gift, urging Reid to embrace his own connection to it, though he remains hesitant and withdrawn.
The discussion turns to the impending funeral for Lou’s father, a topic laden with tension. Reid reassures her that the king will honor the dead man despite his scandalous ties to a witch. Lou’s grief and confusion are palpable, but Reid’s internal struggle is far deeper. He grapples with the weight of his actions—having killed her father—and fears the moment she discovers the truth, knowing it will shatter their bond.
As Lou presses Reid to confront his emotions, he is overwhelmed by guilt and shame. A flashback of the murder haunts him, and he pleads with her silently, unable to voice his confession. The chapter ends with Reid on the brink of emotional collapse, trapped between his love for Lou and the irreversible act that threatens to destroy their relationship.
FAQs
1. How does Reid’s emotional state manifest physically and through his interactions with Lou and Absalon in this chapter?
Answer:
Reid exhibits significant emotional turmoil through physical numbness and hypervigilance. He describes being unable to sleep since Modraniht, staring blankly at the trees while Lou sleeps peacefully against him. His interaction with Absalon, the matagot (a spirit drawn to troubled souls), reveals his internal conflict—he initially shoos the creature away but eventually relents, stroking its back while denying his own troubled state. With Lou, Reid’s throat tightens inexplicably when she searches his eyes with concern, and he deflects her attempts to discuss his feelings by abruptly changing the subject to her mother. These physical manifestations and avoidance behaviors demonstrate Reid’s deep emotional distress and inability to process his trauma.2. What does Lou’s explanation about magic reveal about its dual nature and its impact on her mother?
Answer:
Lou presents magic as a double-edged sword: while inherently beautiful, wild, and free, it can become addictive and destructive when pursued excessively. She contrasts Reid’s negative perception of magic (shaped by traumatic experiences) with its potential as a gift, emphasizing that “too much of a good thing is a bad thing.” Her mother’s descent into evil illustrates this—she became consumed by power, losing herself to magic’s allure. Lou’s bitter chuckle when stating “the more we gain, the more we lose” underscores the high-stakes consequences in their world, where magic intertwines with life-and-death outcomes. This duality challenges Reid’s black-and-white view, suggesting magic is a neutral force shaped by its wielder’s choices.3. Analyze the significance of the funeral discussion and its connection to Reid’s guilt.
Answer:
The funeral conversation serves as a subtle yet charged exploration of Reid’s unresolved guilt over killing Lou’s father. When Lou questions whether King Auguste will honor her father given his affair with La Dame des Sorcières, Reid insists the king won’t condemn a dead man based on a witch’s testimony. His reflexive use of “a dead man” triggers visceral memories of the murder—his knife piercing ribs, blood on his wrist—highlighting his inability to separate the act from its consequences. Lou’s gentle but expectant plea for him to “look at me” forces Reid to confront the looming revelation of his actions, fearing her eventual hatred once she learns the truth. The funeral symbolizes both public reckoning and personal shame, mirroring Reid’s internal conflict between duty and love.4. How does the chapter use contrasting imagery to reflect the characters’ emotional states?
Answer:
The chapter employs stark contrasts between peace and turmoil, innocence and corruption. Lou’s serene sleep (“cheek pressed to my chest, hair sprawled across my shoulder”) opposes Reid’s numb wakefulness (“stared, unending… seeing nothing, feeling nothing”). Absalon’s purring contentment clashes with Reid’s grumbling denial of being “troubled.” The witch’s “angelic” appearance during Ye Olde Sisters’ performance belies her devilish role, just as Lou’s mother’s fall from grace contrasts with magic’s inherent beauty. Even the setting—patches of sky visible through swaying trees—mirrors fragmented hope amid darkness. These juxtapositions deepen the tension between surface appearances and hidden truths, particularly Reid’s outward stoicism versus inner torment.5. Evaluate how Lou’s approach to Reid’s emotional withdrawal demonstrates her understanding of trauma.
Answer:
Lou exhibits remarkable emotional intelligence by balancing persistence with patience. She recognizes Reid’s avoidance tactics (e.g., changing the subject to her mother) but respects his boundaries, dropping the issue when he says “not tonight.” Her physical gestures—cupping his cheek, tethering him without coercion—show she prioritizes connection over confrontation. By framing magic’s dangers as an external corrupting force rather than an inherent evil, she indirectly reassures Reid that his actions (which readers infer are tied to magic) don’t define him. Her question about the funeral gently probes his guilt without accusation, creating space for eventual honesty. This approach reveals Lou’s intuitive grasp of trauma’s complexity—she offers steady support while allowing Reid agency in his healing process.
Quotes
1. “Lou slept like the dead. Cheek pressed to my chest and hair sprawled across my shoulder, she breathed deeply. Rhythmically. It was a peace she rarely achieved while awake.”
This opening passage establishes the intimate yet troubled dynamic between Reid and Lou, contrasting her rare moment of peace with Reid’s emotional numbness—setting the tone for their strained relationship and Reid’s internal conflict.
2. “‘It’s not like you think. Magic isn’t… well, it’s like anything else. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. It can be addictive.’”
Lou’s explanation of magic’s dual nature introduces a central theme: the seductive danger of power. This quote challenges Reid’s black-and-white view of magic while foreshadowing the corrupting influence it had on Lou’s mother.
3. “‘The more we gain, the more we lose.’”
This recurring motif encapsulates the chapter’s core tension—the paradoxical cost of power and love. It applies both to Lou’s mother’s descent into darkness and Reid’s own moral sacrifices, mirroring his later confession about killing Lou’s father.
4. “‘A beautiful witch, cloaked in guise of damsel, soon lured the man down the path to Hell.’”
The recalled performance lyric serves as a haunting metaphor for Reid’s perception of his relationship with Lou and his guilt over her father’s death. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of betrayal and inherited sin.
5. “‘He was her father. And I’d killed him.’”
This climactic revelation exposes Reid’s defining guilt and the source of his emotional paralysis. The stark confession crystallizes the chapter’s themes of moral ambiguity and the irreversible consequences of choices made in conflict.