Gods & Monsters
The Chasm
by Mahurin, ShelbyReid and Beau find themselves navigating eerily empty streets after a fierce battle with witches, who have mysteriously withdrawn. Despite Beau’s injuries and reluctance, Reid insists on pressing forward to locate their allies or regroup. The duo notes the unsettling absence of both civilians and enemies, hinting at a larger, unseen threat. Their tension is palpable as they argue over strategy, with Reid determined to act while Beau struggles to keep up, his sarcasm underscoring the dire situation.
As they turn a corner, they stumble upon a horde of witches gathered in the shadows. The witches immediately notice them, forcing Reid and Beau into a defensive stance. Three witches—Elinor, Elaina, and Elodie—confront them, revealing a personal vendetta against Beau for past humiliations. The confrontation escalates quickly, with the witches attacking despite their apparent inability to use magic. Reid and Beau fight back, their banter masking their fear as they face the sisters head-on.
During the skirmish, Reid notices a massive chain being maneuvered by the witches, triggering a vague memory from Chateau le Blanc’s treasury. The ground begins to shake violently, cobblestones cracking as Zenna, a dragon-like creature, roars overhead. The witches redouble their efforts, stringing the chain between rooftops with magic. Reid is momentarily distracted, nearly costing him his life, but Beau intervenes, saving him with a well-aimed knife. The duo shares a brief moment of camaraderie amid the chaos.
The chapter culminates with Zenna’s dramatic appearance, her fiery presence reigniting Reid’s memories of a past encounter. The witches’ plan remains unclear, but the chain and Zenna’s involvement suggest a larger, ominous scheme. Reid and Beau, though victorious over the three sisters, are left with more questions than answers as the ground trembles and the dragon’s roar echoes through the streets. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next confrontation.
FAQs
1. What strategic shift occurs with the witches’ behavior in this chapter, and what might this suggest about their larger plan?
Answer:
The witches initially engage in direct combat but then gradually withdraw, almost imperceptibly, as if answering a collective call. This strategic shift suggests a coordinated plan beyond random attacks—likely regrouping for a more significant offensive or ritualistic purpose. The chapter highlights their sudden disappearance from the streets and their later reappearance en masse, working together to string a mysterious chain between rooftops. This organized behavior implies hierarchical control and a shift from chaotic violence to purposeful, magic-enhanced preparation (e.g., the chain’s deployment and the ground shaking under magical influence).
2. Analyze the significance of the chain mentioned in the chapter. How does it connect to earlier events in the story?
Answer:
The chain is described as ancient, wide enough to encircle half of Cesarine, and crusted with age—a detail Reid recalls from Chateau le Blanc’s treasury. This suggests it’s a powerful artifact, possibly repurposed by the witches for a large-scale magical operation (e.g., creating a barrier or amplifying spells). Its appearance aligns with the witches’ coordinated efforts and the unnatural seismic activity, hinting at a ritual or weapon. The chain’s prior presence in the treasury also implies it was once safeguarded for a reason, now exploited by the coven as part of their escalating threat.
3. How does the dynamic between Reid and Beau reflect their personalities and relationship under pressure?
Answer:
Reid is focused and decisive, pushing forward despite Beau’s injuries and skepticism (“We need to find them”). Beau, though physically struggling, uses humor and sarcasm to cope (“Have you ever heard of manifestation?”), revealing his resilience and wit. Their banter (e.g., arguing over who should shut up) shows mutual trust, even in danger. When Beau saves Reid by throwing a knife, Reid deflects with a joke about being set on fire, lightening the moment while acknowledging Beau’s skill. This interplay highlights their bond: Reid’s leadership balances Beau’s irreverence, making them effective partners.
4. What thematic role does Zenna’s appearance play in the chapter’s climax?
Answer:
Zenna’s arrival—marked by roaring, wings, and flame—serves as both a literal and symbolic turning point. Her dramatic entrance disrupts the witches’ activities and reignites urgency, recalling her earlier association with a “starry cloak” and torch-lit stage (hinting at her power or destiny). The ground shaking coinciding with her roar suggests her magic opposes the coven’s, positioning her as a counterforce. Thematically, she embodies chaos and hope, interrupting the witches’ calculated plans and foreshadowing a larger conflict between supernatural forces.
5. Why might the witches’ taunt—“Ask your sister”—be significant, and how does it create tension?
Answer:
The line implies Reid and Beau’s sisters (Lou and Coco) are either in grave danger or have done something to disrupt the witches’ magic (e.g., nullifying their spells, hence their reliance on physical knives). This cryptic warning raises stakes by tying the immediate battle to offscreen characters the protagonists care about. It also fuels dread, as Reid’s reaction (“a sense of dread at those chilling last words”) suggests the sisters’ fates are pivotal to the conflict. The unanswered threat lingers, driving readers to anticipate future revelations or confrontations.
Quotes
1. “We’d succeeded in sequestering most pedestrians inside their homes, inside shops. Inside any buildings we could fortify. Father Achille and Johannes Pan had converted the boucherie next door into an infirmary. They treated the injured there. They gathered the dead.”
This quote captures the grim aftermath of the battle, showing both the defensive measures taken by the protagonists and the heavy toll of the conflict. It sets the tone for the chapter’s tense atmosphere.
2. “As the hour had passed, however, each had slipped from the fray one by one. Slipped through our fingers. As if answering some unspoken call.”
This moment marks a pivotal shift in the chapter, where the witches mysteriously withdraw from battle, creating suspense and foreshadowing their later reappearance with a sinister purpose.
3. “At the end of the street, a horde of witches collected in the shadows.”
This simple yet powerful sentence marks the climactic confrontation in the chapter, where the protagonists discover the witches’ gathering and realize they’re orchestrating something ominous with the ancient chain.
4. “Though all three crooked their fingers at once, nothing happened. No patterns reared to strike.”
This quote highlights a key tactical advantage the protagonists have - the witches’ magic is somehow neutralized, creating an unusual physical battle dynamic that’s crucial to the fight’s outcome.
5. “With another thunderous roar, Zenna swept into view. The sight of her wings against the sky, of her white-hot flame, stole the breath from my throat.”
This vivid description of Zenna’s dramatic entrance serves as both a powerful visual climax and a callback to earlier events, while leaving the chapter on a suspenseful note as the dragon joins the fray.