Coven of Bones #3

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Disclaimer: I have read this book of my own volition.  Any and all opinions and interpretations contained herein are my own.

The Spoiler Report is a recounting of the major events of the novel mixed with my own interpretation of the meaning and symbolism of events, emotions, and actions. Reading this report is NOT a substitute for reading the actual novel and should not be taken as such. Not every single detail, feeling, and event is divulged within. It is essentially a lengthy outline of the story. Many details and all dialogue have not been included. This report is for those who appreciate knowing what happens or feels they may miss things when reading, or just want to have a detailed overview of a book before, or during, reading.

****THIS REPORT CONTAINS SPOILERS****  

This is not a book review. For a spoiler-free review, read THIS.

The Before…

Beelzebub stalks through the halls of Hollow’s Grove, grumpy and pissed off, given Lucifer’s current decisions. This makes him resentful of the predicament he and the other demons are in.

The notes of a song that float through the air stop him in his tracks. He finds Margot singing and is instantly entranced, and not just by her song. Margot is far less impressed by the archdemon and is ready to dismiss him easily.

She further catches his attention as she tries to flee. Her indignant facade cracks as past trauma peeks through for only a moment at the archdemon’s actions. As Beelzebub takes note, his mind won’t dismiss her as easily as she insists.

Sitting in a class taught by her mother, Fritha, Margot is lost in her own lamentations brought on by the hindrance of consistent Red magic, sex magic, causing her strain.  The same magic woven into her song is strong enough to ensnare a demon. The turbulence of the encounter with Beelzebub is reflected in her outward appearance. Something her mother can’t let slide. She confronts her with it after class. Reminding her of the obligation the Reds have to maintain an impeccable appearance.

Margot confesses to her mother that Beelzebub heard her song. That is why her appearance is not to her mother’s standards, not because she is having what her mother believes are simply nightmares, her imagination, of abuse at the hands of a Tribunal Member.

Her mother is thrilled to know their magic can work on an archdemon. Already plotting what her daughter and Willow could help the witches accomplish if they sway Lucifer and Beelzebub, his second in command, with their respective magics.

Margot is scared of taking away the archdemon’s free will. Even more scared that he’ll eventually act on the desire her magical song evokes.

Running, Margot pushed her body toward exhaustion just to feel something the same way she did when she got tattoos and piercings. Striving to feel anything. Arriving at her destination, Beelzebub is in front of the library doors. She exchanges tense words with the archdemon before dodging him and retreating into the library. To her dismay, he follows her inside, wanting to know how long the effects of her song will last. Despite his discomfort, Beelzebub shows no signs of actually wanting to be rid of her. That threatens Margot’s jaded past as he questions her disdain for physical touch.

Entering the Tribunal room with its sordid memories causes Margot anxiety. Even more so as Della mentions Beelzebub’s recent attachment to her. Apparently, the gossip mill is grinding strong around Crystal Hollow. She just wants to be rid of the whole situation.

Acting against the Red magic Margot’s song and touch dictate, Beelzebub watches her from across the room until Willow and Lucifer enter. Willow approaches the Hecate throne. Itan makes no move to hide his disdain for her. Instead of taking up the throne, Willow uses her blood and magic to make the throne reassemble itself. Along with the Madizza throne, Willow fashions herself a new one that only she can take.

Margot can’t help but feel an emptiness and longing as she watches the dynamic between her friend and Lucifer. Itan, however, is bitter and outraged by their union. Margot has a rush of hope as Willow calmly threatens Itan. Silently, Willow asks Margot’s permission to show the world what kind of person he is, exposing his plan and intent behind his actions. What he has done to the dead, refusing them a proper burial. The things he has done to girls like Margot.

Margot can read the truth on her mother’s and aunt’s faces. They truly thought Margot had been making it up all these years. Willow forces Itan to wordlessly admit to the abuse he committed against Margot, straight to his nephew’s face, Iban.

Upon Margot’s request, Willow releases Itan. Not to spare his life, but to force a public confession from him. Once he does own up to the sexual abuse, Beelzebub comforts Margot as Willow continues the interrogation. Forcing him to divulge the tribunal’s plan to sacrifice all so the Coven and Tribunal could be free and all-powerful. Beelzebub shields Margot as Willow ends all the taitors’ lives.

Beelzebub seeks out Margot, needing to check up on her while Lucifer and Willow’s relationship confuses him. He can’t deny Margot’s pull. Blaming it on the effect of her song, but not altogether resenting it. He finds her running through the woods. Watching her stirs questions he didn’t know he had. Making him feel vulnerable. Running with that, he shares his vulnerability with her. Margot blames it all on the spell he is under. The last thing she wants is an archdemon getting under her skin. But the look of conviction behind her words begins to show the cracks in her resolve against him. Margot may be strong, but not invincible.

Hurriedly leaving class, Margot is able to avoid direct contact with Beelzebub; he’s been more of a bodyguard from a distance than a nuisance. But she can’t avoid Keane, her betrothed, selected for her for the purpose of good breeding. Given recent events, Margot is overwhelmed and confesses to him that she has no intention to marry him or anyone. She is not capable of love, and he deserves better. Keane argues against her declaration until Beelzebub comes to Margot’s side. Keane’s egotistical claims force Margot to admit the archdemon is there because he heard her song, not because they are having sex. Even though Margot has no interest in sex.

Escaping those two, she makes her way to her mother’s classroom. Pausing outside to eavesdrop on a conversation between her mother and Ariah, Keane’s uncle. He is worried Willow will replace the lineage representatives, compromising all they’ve been working towards. Her mother isn’t worried, certain Willow would replace her with Margot, who would be able to do all that Willow would ask of her due to a binding ritual. Fritha eases Ariah’s fears that Willow might appoint someone who is not under a binding spell.

After Ariah storms away, Margot confronts her mother, who gaslights her until anger gets the best of her. That delights Fritha. She tells Margot the purpose of the binding ritual that was placed on Margot without her knowledge or permission. Margot cannot pull from the Source nor feed it. The Source within her is trapped on a continuous loop of power. Itan performed the ritual on her and others. Margot is the only one who hadn’t slept through the whole deal. Rape was not part of the ritual. That was all Itan.

Fritha reveals Margot also has a siren form. Something that was thought lost from the Red line of magic. A gift from Lucifer himself, for those who would use it for revenge. With so much new information now floating around in her head, Margot knows she must tell Willow.

Focused on getting to her friend, Margot doesn’t see the angel lying in wait.

Waking gagged and bound, her captor, Michael, drags her from the Tribunal’s private quarters to where Willow is bent over an open gate to Hell, bleeding profusely from a stomach wound. Michael is using Margot to keep Willow compliant. Michael keeps Margot in his grasp as Itan takes care of Willow. (We are now caught up to the ending scene of The Cursed).

Beelzebub bursts into the room, immediately freezing between Margot and Willow, not knowing which loyalty to follow. He chooses Margot, who falls through the open gate during all the fighting.

Expecting to die, Margot is surprised as she is saved by Beelzebub. He may have saved her from the fall into Hell, but demons are now attacking them, drawn by her living soul. Jonathan is already there, helping as two more archdemons descend through the gate to help.

Looking up, through the still-open gate, Willow sees Michael and Lucifer fighting. She tries to free herself from the seal and slits Iban’s throat. Michael and Iban fall through the gate. Iban’s life is sacrificed to save Willow’s. The gate closes. Jonathan transforms into his black cat form, injured. Margot protects him as she continues to watch the only path back home close.

The present…

Hordes of demons continue to attack. Injured, Beelzebub flies Margot and Jonathan away, the only way to save them. Margot gets somewhat of a chance to safely glimpse Hell’s landscape as she’s being flown to the palace in Purgatory.

Taking Margot to his room to patch up his wing, Margot cycles through a wheel of emotions. Beelzebub being under her spell, being in a bedroom with a man, memories of Itan, and so on. With a softness Margot didn’t think possible, Beelzebub tries to reassure her that he means her no harm in any capacity. Tries to help her to see how much control over the situation she has. The amount of control that he is willing to forfeit to her.

Reluctantly, Margot stitches up his wing. Beelzebub is unsettled that, unlike other Reds, she doesn’t use their magic to bring him pleasure while healing. She can’t bring herself to do it.  Whether or not she truly understands Beelzebub’s reaction to his wings being touched, he clearly isn’t in pain.

While Beelzebub sleeps after she’s done with the patch job, Margot regresses about how easy her life would be if she could fully accept who and what she is. Fall into her power and feed as easily as Willow. Watching Beelzebub reach for her in his sleep as she sits in the chair next to the bed, justifies her choice not to platonically share a bed with him.

Margot’s nightmare wakes Beelzebub. The archdemon tries not to care, blaming his concern on her enthralling spell. Justifying her pain as the consequences of the Covent’s actions against all demons. But she hasn’t taken advantage of him as others of her kind would. Almost reluctantly, he tries to wake her. Resorting to using his power to drag her from the nightmare. It wakes her and calls to her siren power. She begins to transform.

Beelzebub hates how her spell has affected him. Hates how it makes him care for the first time. Hates that he wants to soothe her but is being denied the opportunity. Beelzebub draws a very distinct line between them after she says his name and feels the way it affects him. With their situation and their species being what they are, they would never work. He will do his duty to return her home and no more. After that, he will walk away from her.

Instead of comforting her, his words cause her more anxiety and regret. Steeling her emotions, Margot demands they make a plan. They must travel to the ninth circle of Hell to communicate with Lucifer and coordinate Willow opening a portal. For that to happen, Margot must prove herself at every circle to gain entrance or be claimed by it forever. 

Margit is convinced she will not get past the second circle – Lust. Beelzebub assures her that he will get her through all the circles. No matter what, the lords of each circle are going to weigh her even if they have to come to her in Purgatory to do so. 

Margot briefly meets Raum as he silently judges her and approves her, giving Margot the ability to travel through Purgatory.

Over dinner, Beelzebub tries to convince Margot that traveling with him through the nine circles is the best way. Leaving her unprotected is not safe; he should know, he is an archdemon and understands better than her how demons behave.

Relenting, their journey begins. The heat and sand affect Margot as they would any human. Annoyingly, Beelzebub seems immune. As they approach an oasis,  Beelzebub carries Margot, who is struggling through the deep, soft sand. Instead of being able to luxuriate in the cool waters, Beelzebub warns her that it is a trap set before the entrance to Lust.

The closer she gets to the entrance, the stronger the effects get. This circle is the place Margot will spend eternity once she dies. It is where all the Reds go.

Entering the circle, they emerge onto a balcony overlooking a cliff and join the onlookers. Those that the circle has claimed that have fallen out of Asmodeus’s favor are nude and being dragged over the jagged cliff. The rock tears the flesh from their bodies. Margot observes the onlookers, a tinge of jealousy in their freedom as they embrace lust. Not feeling the need to hide their bodies or desires the way Margot must. 

Asmodeus approaches a woman whom Beelzebub identifies as one of Margot’s ancestors, the original witch, Amelia. Asmodeus introduces them. He insists that she and Beelzebub stay for the night’s festivities. Beelzebub assures Margot that she’ll be safe getting ready with Amelia. Just for good measure, he threatens the witch. That unexpectedly pleases Margot.

As Amelia prepares Margot for the festivities, she gives her a brief, first-hand account of how the Reds came to be. A rare glimpse of both sides of her magic. The dark and the light side, Margot has never known. The true purpose of it is to bring happiness and peace.

Amelia discovers the mark of the binding spell on Margot. Revealing that only the caster can break the spell. Since Itan is dead, it will take extreme power to break the bonds and allow Margot to recognize and feel love.

Amelia gives Margot advice on how to release her magic without being touched or touching another. Warning that she needs to be mindful or suffer the consequences. Besides, Asmodeus won’t let her pass without giving something to the circle.

Beelzebub tries to negotiate with Asmodeus. Even going as far as asking for her passage as a favor. Almost unheard of, asking another archdemon for a favor. That intrigues Asmodeus enough to decline the offer. Reminding Beelzebub that he could claim Margot as his, so no one else could touch her. Beelzebub refuses since he hasn’t even told Margot that that was an option. That would make him no better than Itan. Their negotiations are interrupted by Margot and Amelia’s entrance.

Beelzebub is entranced, not magically; he is genuinely attracted to Margot. He can admit that it isn’t her magic that he finds intriguing.  But the way his heart beats erratically, and his breath hitches as she approaches, has to be a by-product of the spell. Right?

Accepting Beelzebub’s offered arm, Margot runs her fingers over his wing. The power of lust is beginning to affect her. Asmodeus gives Margot the parameters required for her to pass. That is not what upsets her. It’s the fact that Beelzebub clearly knew this was the cost and didn’t tell her. Furious, Margot joins the festivities, asking Amelia to distract Beelzebub so she can pay her debt.

Beelzebub is forced to watch from a distance as Margot hums a tune to attract women. She tells them to be of service to Beelzebub. Guilt and a tinge of regret eat at Margot. Leaving Beelzebub to find his pleasure, even though he was fighting the women off, she can’t watch, not yet anyway.

Grabbing a random man, she leads him up to Amelia’s room. Preparing the man by tying him to a chair so she can enact her plan to appease Asmodeus without touching or being touched. Her ironclad plan is interrupted as Beelzebub bursts through the door. Without a word, he kills the man. The commotion brings Amelia to the door. Beelzebub takes his place in the chair where Margot was going to tie up the random stranger. He waits to hear what exactly Margot’s plan was.

Traveling back in time a few minutes to Beelzebub’s POV. He watches Margot escort the man upstairs. Torn between wanting to go after her and respecting her boundaries, as he understands why she made this choice. Amelia throws some hard truths at Beelzebub. Being an archdemon, rather the Archdemon of Gluttony, he cannot be affected by Lust, only love. His feelings for her have nothing to do with her magical song, as it has no effect on his kind.

Tearing up to Amelia’s room, Beelzebub throws open the door, kills Margot’s partner, and takes his place as he questions the witch. Gladly offering himself for her use as she pleases, forcing Margot to act on her anger. It works.

She ties him up. Regret at ensnaring him in her spell is still prevalent in her thoughts. Beelzebub tries to free her of that notion without actually confessing his love for her. Margot quickly recognizes the change in his behavior. Beelzebub’s reluctance to ever be set free from her awakens Margot’s emotions. Not willing to examine and accept them, she heads for the door to go find another victim. Beelzebub’s voice stops her as he offers her three options. Ultimately, she chooses option three, the one that will allow them to move on and get home to warn Willow as quickly as possible.

Straddling Beelzebub, both fully clothed, Margot reminds herself that she is in control. She chose to be here, and she can choose to leave at any time. Just like Beelzebub is choosing to remain tied to the chair by bonds he can easily break. She takes what she needs. Bringing him pleasure and paying her debt.

Immediately after, she feels the aftereffects, the pain of her curse. She needs her own release, but still feels too monstrous to deserve it. Understanding, Beelzebub goes as far as commanding her to take care of herself if she won’t allow him to do it for her.  Margot refuses and does what she always does: takes a cold shower.

Having left Margot to herself after clearly being dismissed, Beelzebub apprises Amelia of the situation. Amelia tells him about the binding spell placed on Margot. Explaining what that means for her magic and emotions. Until the spell is broken, Margot will only know the dark side of Red magic. She will also never be able to love, not truly. Worse, if the magic ever takes over Margot’s body and she fully takes on her siren form, she may never come back from it.

The two of them find Margot huddled in the shower, fully clothed, burning up. Prying her out, Amelia bleeds Margot to relieve some of the pressure, allowing her to sleep and recover as much as she can.

Joining Asmodeus and Amelia for breakfast, the Archdemon of Lust tells Margot how much she affected his circle last night. Also revealing what Beelzebub abstained from doing with his half of the magic that he absorbed from her. Something akin to loving appreciation floods her system. She squashes it. Still blaming it on her song and her position as a powerful Red.

Asmodeus tries to stop them from passing into the next circle. Appealing to her magic instead of the witch herself. Even trying to pull Beelzebub into his lust, but he’s immune, and Margot can see that now. Doing the impossible, Margot cuts bonds with Asmodeus and passes over into the third circle, Gluttony. The weight of Beelzebub’s actions and inactions finally becomes clear to Margot.

Walking through Gluttony, a hand reaches toward Margot from out of the ground. Jonathan, in his cat form, leaps onto it, biting. While Margot is thrilled to see the black furball, Beelzebub is less so. After greeting a pleasant Cerberus, Beelzebub takes Margot into his home. One she greatly appreciates.

At least until she meets Proserpina – the jealous ex type. Margot gives in to her jealous anger and attacks, partially shifting into her siren form. Beelzebub supports Margot’s actions and safety, surprising Proserpina and her companion.

Taking Margot to his room, he explains how Gluttony works, especially on her.

After awkwardly resting for the night, Beelzebub leads Margot into the fourth circle – Greed. A circle they must enter separately. Margot lands in a room with three women ready to prep her to the nines. Something Margot has managed to avoid doing her whole life.

Beelzebub finds a similar fate as he lands. Even though a shirt has to be fashioned to accommodate his wings, he still arrives at the masquerade before Margot. Joined by Mephistopheles, who has taken Mammon’s place while he’s topside with Lucifer. Margot, having been made up to resemble a phoenix, enters. The entire room takes notice. Margot and Beelzebub dance. Smiling, laughing, letting loose, and unknowingly feeding. Margot enraptures everyone.

She wakes the next morning, remembering only snippets of the night before. Well rested, she goes to find Beelzebub. His voice floats through the door as he talks with another, claiming Margot is nothing but a task to him. She doesn’t listen to the whole conversation as her heart is torn in half, devastated. Retreating within herself, Margot chooses to do what she always does: build walls and hide.

Beelzebub immediately notices a change in Margot. Trying to appeal to her, he gets no answers. Margot reacts like a scared animal backed into a corner. Pushing Beelzebub far enough that he gives in to what she wants and tells her how to get into the next circle, clearly no longer willing to take her himself.

Too engulfed by her rage, Margot storms away from him. But Beelzebub understands the ramifications of her traveling alone. It is merely his presence that keeps her relatively safe. For example, Mephistopheles has taken notice of Margot during the masquerade. Beelzebub has to play it off as if she means nothing to him, or the acting lord of Greed will try to keep her for his collection.

Seeing how Beelzebub interacts with her just now, Mephistopheles sees through Beelzebub’s lies. Beelzebub is torn: respect Margot’s impulsive boundaries or go after her before Mephistopheles’s men catch her. Or simply hope she crosses over into Wrath before they catch up to her.

While trying to decide the best course of action, Beelzebub realizes Margot must have heard him talking to Mephistopheles. Beelzebub sprints after her, only to find small hints that she already crossed over. Beelzebub wields his Scythe as he plummets into Wrath, a circle perpetually on fire.

Finding her along the path that cuts through the battling souls, Margot is quickly overtaken by them. Knowing he isn’t going to reach her in time, Beelzebub yells for her to sing. Launching himself forward, Beelzebub sink into his anger and battles the souls. Margot’s throat is too damaged to scream as Beelzebub is overwhelmed by souls. He is being dragged into the fiery pit, quickly losing the battle. At the brink of death, Beelzebub can just barely hear her song, believing he is falling into a memory as he looses consciousness.

Desperate to break Beelzebub’s immunity to her song, Margot still continues to sing. Satauns approaches, telling her how futile her efforts are to save the archdemon. Satanus is unmoved by Margot’s display of emotions. Realizing she is truly falling in love with him, she begs Satanus to help him. Offering him anything in return. Instead of asking for something, Satanus frees Margot of the binding spell Itan placed on her. Agony overtakes her as everything she has been denying rushes her.

She and Beelzebub are transported to a room where a woman begins to bandage Beelzebub, but makes no attempt to heal him. Satanus, in a very nonchalant tone, tells Margot she is free to heal him if she wishes. The ruler of Wrath is cold and indifferent throughout the entire exchange.

Left alone with him, Margot knows there is only one way to bring him back, and it scares her more than anything. Settling herself on the bed, Margot begins to sing, finding Beelzebub watching her, encouraging her to keep going with her song and her physical, healing touch.

Denying the urge to take over, knowing this has to happen by her own hand, he still can’t resist the urge to see her without the barrier of her underwear as she touches herself. Margot agrees. Seeing her bare and spread before him, Beelzebub can’t stop from touching himself. Margot wants him just as exposed as she is. He agrees and removes his own pants.

Beelzebub watches as Margot learns her body, taking careful mental notes for the future. Reading the hesitation in her movements and face, Beelzebub reassures her as he strokes himself. Her orgasm coaxes his. Her magic fills the room, healing him.

Margot is just as anxious to move on as Beelzebub. First, he wants some answers. Simple ones, like knowing how he got out of the pit and where his scythe ended up. That leads Margot to lock down her new access to emotions towards the archdemon, confronting him over what she thought she learned while eavesdropping. Beelzebub tries to explain the lies he told Mephistopheles to protect the woman he loves.

Margot still isn’t ready to believe he is unaffected by her song. Now that her binding spell has been broken, her emotions are free, she begins to wonder what is possible between her and the archdemon.

Quickly moving onto Heresy, the circle where the witches who have not had a proper burial end up. Susannah Madizza crawls from the grave, trying to get to Margot. Instead of being afraid, Margot confronts and accuses the deceased witch before walking away.

Meeting Belphegor, Beelzebub’s brother, is almost refreshing for Margot. His relationship with Beelzebub is familial – it puts her at ease. Even going as far as inviting him to return to Crystal Hollow with them. Belphegor’s answer instigates a conversation between Margot and Beelzebub.

Margot explains Itan and the binding spell, and why she desperately needs to get home. In turn, Beelzebub tells her why he chose to leave Hell for Crystal Hollow with as much animosity as he felt for witches when he arrived.

Spilling Margot’s blood to gain entrance into Violence, Beelzebub is ripped from Margot as she lands in a dark pit. There she finds a mirror where a younger version of herself appears. Bruised, young Margot accuses present-day Margot of allowing the abuse to happen. Shadows attack her as the little girl continues her persecution. Handing Margot a shard of glass so she may end things, so Margot can’t harm others. Margot is no longer that bound and bruised little girl. Finding her strength, Margot breaks free, proving her worth to the seventh circle.

Beelzabub waits for Margot to wake from the vision of the pit. Knowing all too well what she had to face. When she does wake, Beelzebub reveals it was all an illusion and he has never left her side. She just couldn’t see him. Margot has found a new resolve in her life and Beelzebub is fully supportive.

The next morning, they head into Fraud where the entrance fee is a lie as they jump from a cliff. Margot’s offering: ‘I’m not in love.’ Fraud isn’t so much about deception as misdirection, hiding the ugly truth behind beauty.

Entering Fraud’s manor, they are met by Legion, who requires a debt of truth. Legion chooses the truth to Margot’s lie. In order to fulfill the debt, Margot must tell Beelzebub her truth. But she believes it will condemn him. When Margot hesitates too long, Legion threatens to make it so it is no longer the truth by severing their bond. Margot chooses Beelzebub and confesses her love.

Beelzebub leads her to the bedroom so that she can use her words to tell him what she wants. Trying to make her as comfortable as possible, he chooses the shower as the location for their first time together. Correctly assuming a bed still holds too much trauma.

Giving Margot a sleep tonic, Beelzebub proceeds into Treachery with a sleeping Margot in his arms, which will also serve as their entrance fee. Tucking Margot into bed to keep her safe and warm in Lucifer’s frozen palace, Beelzebub leaves to head to the Lake of Coccidus to talk to Lucifer. Plunging into the icy waters, Beelzebub finally gets in contact with an impatient Lucifer.

Margot wakes to Satanus standing over her. He tells her that Beelzebub is in the lake formulating a plan with Lucifer. A rebellion has broken out to try to close the gateway from the inside. Satanus claims Beelzebub asked him to get her to Gluttony to keep her safe.

Margot’s skepticism stops her from willingly following. Fighting him, Satanus paralyzes her by reminding her of the promise she made to him in exchange for helping Beelzebub. He wants her dead. Her life for the archdemon’s.  With a knife to the heart, Satanus takes what he’s owed. Margot concedes, Beelzebub was worth it.

But death is not the payment Satanus is looking for. Margot’s death is just the beginning.