Contents
65. Harlow
Overview
Harlow flees North Hold to Bea’s unused apartment, drinks, and confesses Henry’s Polm-and-Elvodeen compulsion. Bea urges her to rest and let the Poison Vixen network continue without her.
Alone in Aidia’s room, Harlow grieves and envisions Aidia, who pushes her to stop running and accept love. Harlow completes their farewell rite and chooses to move forward.
Summary
After fleeing North Hold, Harlow retreats to the untouched apartment Bea once secured for her and Aidia. She drinks to numb the turmoil, throws darts, and faces the emptiness of a life that never unfolded there. Bea enters, calm and incisive, and prompts Harlow to speak.
Harlow reveals Henry’s lie: he is twice-blessed by Elvodeen and Polm and used compulsion when she was unraveling over her parents’ role in Aidia’s death. Bea absorbs it without shock, asks if Harlow loves him, and then reframes the Poison Vixen work—others can carry it. She urges Harlow to accept safety and let the network she and Josie built continue while Harlow heals.
Left alone, Harlow goes to Aidia’s shrouded bedroom, sits at the vanity, and breaks down. In the mirror she envisions Aidia: whole, teasing, and blunt. The vision names Harlow’s fear—being known and then abandoned—and argues Henry is the kind of “monster” Harlow deserves on her side. Aidia warns that seeking reasons to run will always produce them.
Aidia urges Harlow to stop abandoning herself, accept love without certainty, and move on. At Aidia’s prompting, Harlow completes their shared rite—“My heart,” “My bones,” “Our blood”—formally saying goodbye. When the vision fades, Harlow knows it was her grieving mind but feels Aidia’s blessing on her decision to let go and move forward.
Who Appears
- HarlowProtagonist; flees North Hold, confides Henry’s compulsion to Bea, grieves in Aidia’s room, envisions Aidia, and resolves to stop running.
- BeaEx-lover and ally; finds Harlow, urges rest, and affirms the Poison Vixen network can continue without Harlow.
- AidiaHarlow’s dead sister appearing as a vision; pushes Harlow to accept love, stop running, and complete their farewell rite.