Belladonna

Death arrives at midnight and Signa asks him again if he knows who has been poisoning Blythe, but he only sees pieces of the lives of souls he takes. Death suggests that when she dies, Signa will become a reaper like him, and Signa begins to see Death not as a monster but as a “ferrier of souls” (220) who helps those who die to pass on. When Signa passes behind the veil, she can hear, see, and feel the lives of the dying and wonders how Death can deal with the emotions of it day after day.

Signa feels sexually drawn to Death, despite the myriad warnings about how women can be socially ruined she has heard from society and her etiquette books. Signa and Death kiss, but she stops him before they can have sex, and he admits that he likes her. Signa feels Death becoming more human to her the more she learns about him.

The antidote continues to work for Blythe and the doctors find it miraculous. Signa receives a letter from Everett, asking her for a ride that day, but Marjorie warns Signa to be careful with men and convinces her to turn the offer down. Signa asks Marjorie why she never married, and she confides in her that she loved a man who left her, whom Signa thinks is Elijah.

Signa goes to the library and is surprised to find it on fire, expecting that someone did not like that she had found a cure for Blythe there. She finds Thaddeus, but instead of being warm and kind he is angry and begins to possess her. Signa feels all of Thaddeus’s feelings and rage about the fire when Death enters the room and convinces Thaddeus to let Signa go. Death asks Thaddeus who set the fire, but he was too absorbed in reading to see who it was.

Signa goes to find help and finds Sylas, telling him that she thinks they are being warned. Elaine tries to set a fire in Signa’s room, but it takes a while because someone has taken the tinder box from the kitchen. Signa makes a promise to herself that she will learn how to fend for herself no matter what it takes.

That night, she speaks to Death through her mind. Death assures her that she is not responsible for Blythe’s life, despite her beliefs. Though Signa still desires Death, she stops herself from summoning him that night.

As Christmas and the upcoming masquerade ball approach, Signa remembers holidays with her beloved grandmother and how she hasn’t felt like she has a family since.

Signa, Percy, and Blythe begin to take walks outside together, and Blythe thanks her cousin for not giving up on her. Blythe gifts Signa a mask for the ball, as she is still too weak to attend herself. Blythe warns Signa about exhausting herself by pretending to be someone she’s not, as she knows Signa should be valued for her true self.

As Signa gets ready for the ball, she fears she will not be satisfied with the life she imagined for herself. She wears Blythe’s gold mask and a scarlet dress that was given to her. Percy escorts Signa into the ball. She hardly recognizes Elijah, who appears sober and put together as he tells Signa she reminds him of her mother. When Signa asks what her mother was like, Elijah tells her that she cared little for the rules of society and was beloved despite being nothing like a proper lady from Signa’s etiquette book. Elijah thanks Signa for saving Blythe and says the ball is the first gift of many he will give her.

Signa is surprised to see Sylas at the ball, not looking at all like someone who works in the stables. She is stopped from questioning him by Diana and Eliza, who tell her that Charlotte is likely brooding over Everett, whom she hoped to marry. Signa does not know hw to feel when Everett approaches her, seeming to have eyes only for her despite having a myriad of suitors.

Signa and Everett dance together and he seems to imply that he will propose once she debuts in the spring. Signa’s dance card is quickly filled, though most men seem to acknowledge that they shouldn’t steal the last dance from Everett. Just as the ball is about to end, a new guest arrives, whom only Signa recognizes as Death.

The ballroom fades away from sight as Signa takes Death’s hand and he tells her that her dress was a gift from him. Signa asks Death what he looks like; he says he can change his looks but never shows his true face to anyone. Signa kisses him, but after a moment of kissing Death returns her to the ball, where Everett has been looking for her during the last dance.

A champagne toast is held at midnight, and for a moment everyone is merry before Sylas finds Signa and warns her to close her eyes as he does not want her to see Percy collapsing in front of the crowd.

Signa finds Percy quickly and gives him the last dose of the antidote. He begins to improve. Signa is suspicious of Byron, whom she saw with Percy earlier, and she tells Elijah that he might have seen something. She wonders about Marjorie as well, but worries for Blythe as she has just used the last dose of the antidote. Elijah works out that the attacks on his family might be targeted.

That night, Signa eats several belladonna berries but tells Death not to follow her as she manages to become invisible as he does. She moves through the house unnoticed, trying to discover once and for all what is happening to the Hawthornes.

She finds Marjorie’s journal, and from it she learns that Marjorie wanted Lillian out of the picture so she could replace her in the family. When she goes into Lillian’s room, Signa finds Marjorie there with her fingers stained with belladonna. Marjorie hears Signa, though she can’t see her, and thinks she is Lillian’s ghost. She is angry with Lillian, but Marjorie also apologizes to her. As the belladonna wears off, Signa runs back to her room with Marjorie’s journal and finds Death there, warning her about Blythe.

When Signa goes to Blythe’s room, it is clear her cousin is dying. Marjorie enters but Signa stops her and shows her belladonna-stained hands to everyone in the room. Signa tells Elijah her theory as Death steps forward to take Blythe. Signa begs Death to stop, and he asks if there is someone who would take Blythe’s place, but Blythe tells Signa it is okay for her to let go.

Signa, however, disregards everyone else and tells Death he should spare Blythe for someone else. Blythe’s breathing steadies and Elijah forces Marjorie to leave while Signa is drunk on her power over death.