Serpent & Dove
Consorting With the Enemy: Reid
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with Madame Labelle guiding the group toward Chateau le Blanc, a hidden fortress only visible to her kind. Despite skepticism from Beau, she explains the enchantment concealing the chateau, hinting at the magical bridge that grants access. Reid, the narrator, drifts away from the conversation, sensing Lou’s presence in the forest. The natural elements—sunlight, wind, and water—seem infused with her essence, evoking a deep emotional connection and unspoken promises between them.
Coco joins Reid, sharing her conflicted feelings about Lou, whom she’s known since childhood. She reveals their secret friendship, strained by Lou’s disappearance and the hidden agendas of the Dames Blanches. Coco’s frustration stems from Lou’s silence about her past and the trauma she endured, leaving Coco feeling helpless and guilty for not protecting her. The emotional weight of their conversation underscores the complexity of their bond and the mysteries surrounding Lou’s actions.
The tension escalates as Coco admits her initial desire to either kill or kiss Lou upon their reunion in Cesarine. She confesses their argument at Reid’s ball, where she warned Lou against falling in love with him, fearing the dangers posed by his Chasseur background. Despite her distrust, Coco acknowledges Reid’s efforts and their shared responsibility to rescue Lou from Morgane’s clutches. Her urgency reflects the grim reality of the Dames Blanches’ brutality and Lou’s precarious situation.
The chapter closes with Coco outlining their rescue plan, emphasizing the need to prioritize Lou’s escape while assisting the others. Reid’s unease grows as he contemplates the risks, particularly for the younger and less experienced members of their group. The unresolved tension between Reid and Coco, coupled with their shared determination, sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation at Chateau le Blanc. The emotional and physical stakes are laid bare, leaving the reader anticipating the challenges ahead.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter illustrate the theme of hidden truths and deception through Lou’s character?
Answer:
The chapter reveals Lou as a deeply private person who uses humor, sarcasm, and deflection to conceal her true feelings and past. Both Reid and Coco reflect on how Lou kept significant secrets—Coco mentions Lou never explained her escape from the Dames Blanches, while Reid observes her defensive mechanisms (grins, tricks) as barriers to intimacy. The italicized internal dialogue (“We’re both such pretty liars”) underscores this theme, showing even Lou’s marriage vows to Reid contain layers of unspoken truths. These elements paint Lou as someone who protects herself through deception, leaving even her closest allies questioning how well they truly know her.2. Analyze how the setting of Chateau le Blanc and its magical concealment mirrors the characters’ emotional journeys.
Answer:
The hidden Chateau le Blanc—visible only to Dames Blanches until crossing its enchanted bridge—parallels the characters’ struggles with perception and revelation. Just as the group cannot yet see their destination, Coco and Reid grapple with incomplete understandings of Lou’s past and true nature. The forest’s magical atmosphere, described as both familiar and elusive (“like Lou”), reflects their sense of nearing truth while still confronting obscurity. This mirroring heightens tension, suggesting that just as the physical destination will soon become visible, emotional truths (about Lou’s suffering, Coco’s guilt, Reid’s devotion) may also come to light upon reaching their goal.3. What does Coco’s confession about her conflicted feelings toward Lou reveal about their friendship?
Answer:
Coco’s admission—”I wanted to kill her. Or kiss her”—captures the intensity and complexity of their bond. Her anger stems from Lou’s secrecy and disappearance, which left Coco grieving, while her love persists from childhood loyalty (symbolized by Lou braiding flowers in her hair). Their friendship, forced into secrecy due to coven rivalries, carries a fraught history of protection and betrayal. Coco’s tearful regret (“I should’ve been there”) shows her guilt over failing Lou twice, framing their relationship as one where deep care coexists with unresolved wounds. This duality echoes Reid’s own conflicted emotions, creating a thematic thread about love intertwined with pain.4. How does Reid’s reaction to Coco’s story demonstrate his character growth regarding witches?
Answer:
Reid’s empathetic response—resisting the urge to comfort Coco but listening intently—marks a departure from his earlier rigid Chasseur ideology. Where he once saw witches as monolithic enemies, he now recognizes individual pain (Coco’s scars, Lou’s trauma). His rueful chuckle at Coco’s “kill or kiss” line shows self-awareness about his own complicated feelings for Lou. Notably, he defends Lou’s resilience (“Don’t underestimate her”), proving his loyalty transcends prejudice. However, his visceral reaction to the throat-scar imagery (“bile rising”) hints at lingering internal conflict, illustrating that growth is ongoing and fraught with discomfort.5. What strategic concerns arise from the group’s plan to infiltrate Chateau le Blanc, and how do they reflect broader tensions in the story?
Answer:
Coco’s warning about the Dames Blanches being “zealots” and her focus on vulnerability (Ansel’s inexperience, Beau’s confusion) foreshadow high stakes. Her insistence that Reid prioritize Lou’s rescue underscores Morgane’s brutality and Lou’s symbolic importance as both victim and key to larger conflicts. The plan also exposes factional divides: Madame Labelle’s knowledge contrasts with the humans’ blindness to magic, while Coco’s distrust of Reid (“I don’t like you”) lingers despite their alliance. These tensions mirror the novel’s broader exploration of how prejudice and secrecy hinder collective action against oppression.
Quotes
1. “Her essence infused everything—the sunlight filtering through the pines, the creek trickling beside us despite the cold. Even the wind seemed to dance. It swirled her scent around me, soothing my frazzled nerves like a balm.”
This poetic passage captures Reid’s deep connection to Lou, showing how her presence permeates the natural world around him. It represents the chapter’s recurring theme of Lou’s lingering influence even in her absence.
2. “I wanted to kill her, or kiss her.”
Coco’s raw admission about her conflicted feelings toward Lou encapsulates the complex relationships in the story. This quote highlights the duality of emotions characters experience toward Lou—both love and resentment—which drives much of the narrative tension.
3. “She was an incredibly private person. The grins, the easy laughter, the tricks and coarse language and sarcasm—all defense mechanisms. Distractions.”
Reid’s realization about Lou’s true nature serves as a key character insight. This quote reveals the deeper understanding he’s gained about her protective facade, marking growth in their relationship dynamic.
4. “We have to save her. I have to tell her I’m sorry.”
Coco’s emotional plea represents the chapter’s central mission and theme of redemption. This moment crystallizes the characters’ shared purpose while hinting at unresolved history between Coco and Lou.
5. “You don’t know the Dames Blanches like I do. They’re zealots. There’s no telling what sorts of torture Morgane has inflicted on her.”
This ominous warning establishes the stakes of their mission and the threat posed by the antagonists. It serves as a turning point where the characters fully confront the danger Lou faces.