Serpent & Dove
Hell Hath No Fury: Reid
by Mahurin, ShelbyReid returns to his destroyed room, determined to find Lou after her disappearance. Aware of her skills as a thief, he knows she could be anywhere, but the presence of Chasseurs in the city complicates his search. The lingering magic in his room distracts him, fueling his urgency as he fears for Lou’s safety. He considers her possible hiding places, including the theater and Pan’s patisserie, but worries she may have fled Cesarine altogether. Ansel, his companion, suggests seeking help from Mademoiselle Perrot, Lou’s close friend, as Reid grapples with his distrust of the Chasseurs and the Archbishop’s lies.
Before they can act, Mademoiselle Perrot bursts into the room, demanding to know Lou’s whereabouts. Reid reveals Lou’s identity as a witch, expecting shock, but she already knew. Ansel also admits his prior knowledge, explaining he remained silent because Lou had once taken a witch’s pain during a burning, proving she wasn’t evil. Reid is stunned by their betrayal but realizes he wouldn’t have harmed Lou regardless. The revelation leaves him emotionally drained as he confronts his conflicting loyalties and feelings for Lou.
The tension escalates as Mademoiselle Perrot presses for details about Lou’s disappearance. Reid recounts the witch’s attack and how Lou saved his life before fleeing. His frustration and fear are palpable as he struggles to reconcile his duty as a Chasseur with his desire to protect Lou. Mademoiselle Perrot’s aggressive demeanor and scars hint at her own dangerous capabilities, adding to the urgency of the situation. Reid’s desperation grows as he realizes time is running out to find Lou before the Chasseurs or witches do.
The chapter ends with Reid, Ansel, and Mademoiselle Perrot forming an uneasy alliance to locate Lou. Despite their shared goal, distrust lingers between them, particularly as Reid grapples with the weight of his emotions and the consequences of his choices. The stakes are high, with Lou’s life hanging in the balance, and Reid’s internal conflict underscores the chapter’s tension. The group’s resolve to find Lou before it’s too late sets the stage for the next phase of their search, leaving readers eager to see how their alliance will unfold.
FAQs
1. Comprehension: What are the key reasons Reid is determined to find Lou before the Chasseurs or witches do?
Answer:
Reid is driven by multiple urgent concerns to find Lou first. Firstly, he fears the Chasseurs may kill her once they discover she’s a witch, especially since Jean Luc already knows her secret. Secondly, he feels betrayed by the Archbishop’s lies and broken trust, making him unwilling to cooperate with the Chasseurs’ plans. Most importantly, Reid’s personal connection to Lou creates an emotional imperative—he can’t bear the thought of her dying (“Each passing moment could be her last”). The chapter reveals his internal conflict between duty and care, as he admits he could never have hurt her even if he’d known her secret earlier.2. Analysis: How does the revelation that both Ansel and Mademoiselle Perrot knew Lou was a witch deepen Reid’s internal conflict?
Answer:
This revelation compounds Reid’s sense of betrayal and isolation while forcing him to confront his own blindness. The fact that both Ansel (his fellow Chasseur) and Perrot recognized Lou’s witchcraft while he didn’t makes him question his judgment (“Like you” echoes as an unspoken indictment). This realization that others protected Lou’s secret undermines his black-and-white worldview about witches. Importantly, Ansel’s explanation about Lou absorbing another witch’s pain during the burning presents Reid with undeniable evidence that not all witches are evil, directly challenging his Chasseur ideology and forcing him to reconcile his feelings with his beliefs.3. Application: If you were in Reid’s position, what strategic advantages would Mademoiselle Perrot offer in the search for Lou, based on her portrayal in this chapter?
Answer:
Mademoiselle Perrot offers three key advantages: insider knowledge, physical capability, and shared urgency. Her close friendship with Lou means she likely knows hiding spots or patterns the Chasseurs wouldn’t (like the theater or Pan’s patisserie). Her physical description (leather trousers, blood-speckled shirt, scars) suggests combat readiness to navigate dangerous situations. Most crucially, her furious demand for answers shows equal desperation to find Lou, making her a motivated ally. However, her clear disdain for Chasseurs means Reid would need to earn her cooperation through transparency, as he begins doing by confessing Lou’s secret despite his discomfort.4. Critical Thinking: Evaluate how the author uses sensory details in this chapter to convey Reid’s emotional state and the story’s tension.
Answer:
The author masterfully employs sensory imagery to mirror Reid’s turmoil. The lingering magic “scorching [his] throat” and permeating his surroundings (bedsheets, Bible) physically manifests his inescapable crisis. Violent verbs like “roar,” “snapped,” and “hurled” reflect his barely-contained rage and fear. The “blood-speckled shirt” and “lattice of scars” visually underscore the chapter’s life-or-death stakes. Most poignant is the tactile “whoosh” of air leaving him when betrayed—a visceral metaphor for emotional devastation. These details transform Reid’s internal struggle into a palpable, immersive experience that heightens the chapter’s tension.5. Synthesis: How does this chapter advance the larger theme of broken trust versus protective secrecy in the novel?
Answer:
This chapter presents a complex tapestry of trust violations and protective concealment. Reid feels betrayed by the Archbishop’s lies, Ansel’s secrecy, and Lou’s hidden nature, yet each deception served a protective purpose. The Archbishop may have lied to control his Chasseurs; Ansel kept Lou’s secret to save her life; Lou concealed her magic for survival. Even Mademoiselle Perrot’s aggression stems from protective loyalty. The chapter forces readers to question whether these breaches represent betrayal or love—a central tension in the novel. Reid’s realization that he too couldn’t have harmed Lou suggests that sometimes, secrecy preserves what rigid honesty might destroy.
Quotes
1. “She’ll die, Reid. If you do nothing, she’ll die.”
This internal monologue captures Reid’s desperate urgency to find Lou, revealing his emotional turmoil and the high stakes of his mission. It marks a turning point where his fear for her life overrides his previous conflicts about her identity as a witch.
2. “Though the Archbishop might try to protect her, Jean Luc knew she was a witch. How long would it take before he told the others? How long before someone suggested killing her?”
This quote highlights the central conflict of trust and betrayal, showing Reid’s realization that even his fellow Chasseurs could become threats to Lou. It underscores the precarious position of both Lou and Reid in this crisis.
3. “I wouldn’t have been able to tie her to a stake. I dropped my face in my hands. Defeated.”
This powerful admission shows Reid’s ultimate realization that his feelings for Lou transcend his duty as a Chasseur. It represents the climax of his internal struggle and his acceptance of her true nature.
4. “Because even though I knew Lou was a witch, I knew she wasn’t evil. She burned at the stake once. She doesn’t deserve to do it twice.”
Ansel’s confession reveals the moral complexity of the witch hunt paradigm and serves as a key thematic statement about judging individuals rather than labels. This challenges Reid’s black-and-white worldview.
5. “You’d have to be a total idiot not to see it.”
Mademoiselle Perrot’s blunt statement underscores the theme of willful blindness and the obviousness of Lou’s true nature to those who truly knew her. It serves as a harsh indictment of Reid’s previous denial.