Contents
Book Five: Save Yourself — 17.
Overview
Leaving the chapel, Gwen’s group is ambushed by Donna and Colin, who forces a fatalistic march and admits burning Bridget’s home and the Crane journal. Daphne arrives disguised and guns Colin down, then shoots Gwen and Donna. Tana intervenes with a scalding coffee urn, killing Daphne and saving Allie and Robin.
The ambush shatters plans for a controlled confrontation with King Sorrow, removes Colin and Daphne from the board, and leaves Gwen gravely wounded as alliances and stakes violently realign.
Summary
Gwen, Robin, Allie, and Tana leave the chapel, teasing gives way to tension over Allie’s feelings for Tana. At the cars, Donna ambushes them, but Robin tackles her. Colin emerges, threatening to summon King Sorrow unless Gwen comes to The Briars for a private execution, forcing Gwen to relent to protect her friends.
As they walk, Colin dismisses Gwen’s plan to wield Arthur’s soul-sword and admits killing Arthur. He further reveals he burned Bridget Fleming’s townhouse and the Crane journal, framing a bystander. This confession halts Gwen in anger and grief.
A battered white Shelby’s driver—an elderly woman—approaches, identifies Colin, and reveals herself as Daphne Nighswander. Daphne shoots Colin multiple times, killing him, then fires at the others, wounding Donna in the foot and putting three rounds into Gwen’s back, collapsing her lung as Robin drags Allie behind cover.
Tana returns with the hot coffee urn, scalds Daphne’s face, and knocks the gun away; then she crushes Daphne’s skull with the urn, ending the attack. Amid screaming bystanders, Gwen, soaked in blood, comforts the sobbing Donna while fading, fixating on a crude bumper sticker as she closes her eyes.
Who Appears
- GwenLeader targeted by Colin; shot three times in the back while protecting Donna; refuses to risk friends.
- Colin WrenAntagonist who coerces Gwen, admits arson and destroying the Crane journal; shot dead by Daphne.
- Daphne NighswanderArrives disguised; executes Colin; wounds Gwen and Donna; is scalded and bludgeoned to death by Tana.
- Tana NighswanderReturns with coffee urn; scalds and kills her mother Daphne, saving Allie and Robin.
- DonnaAggressor allied with Colin; insults Allie; wounded in the foot; sobs as Gwen comforts her.
- AllieDefies Donna, hints at feelings for Tana; nearly restrained from using her mark; survives thanks to Tana.
- Robin FellowsProtects Allie under fire, tackles Donna, and helps pull Allie to cover during the ambush.