The Secret You Missed: What Really Happened at the End of the Book

⚠️ SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS AHEAD! ⚠️

I wanted to return to the nuance discussion, because again, I’m concerned that some readers may have missed very important details when it comes to the end of the book. So, if you haven’t finished the entire book yet, please do not read ahead!

This is what I’d call a “The Hills Like White Elephants”-level nuance. (And yes, that’s also a clue if you've read the short story.)

Or maybe I’m just a bad writer... who knows? At this point, I can always do a second edition — and I’m only getting better! Anyway, let’s look at the scene where Gabrielle and Lex are at the occult building. Not the meeting or even the auction. Not yet. I want you to focus on that highly decorated room that looked like a doctor’s office because of the medical supplies but smelled like old-lady musk.

Gabrielle reviews the medical supplies, pads, and towels. Most of you might not have caught this and just thought it was a weird thing to have in the room. But if you experienced something like this in real life, you might’ve picked up on the clue when Gabrielle overhears the woman — the one who smelled like old-lady musk — say:

“Blood is still leaking down my leg... Dear, did you see the things they left me? To think they don’t know a vampire heals in moments. Why place all these items out like I need them? After hundreds of years of this, you’d think they’d know by now.”

I was pointing out the idiocy of their limited knowledge (any male vampire there who didn’t understand what had happened to her — and if you’ve read closely, you’ll know the higher-ups in the C.S.E. cult are all men[or so you think at this point]) (Additional note: I’m also just poking fun at the fact that many people don’t understand this process. Even I didn’t when I went through it, because it’s not something that’s really taught!) — and trying to lead you toward something important. Stick with me, and I’ll keep dropping those hints and explaining as we go.

Now, fast forward a bit into the next chapter — around page 353 or so — where Gabrielle is describing her dress. Let’s pull out the key parts: RED. EXPOSES THE ENTIRE STOMACH. VERY REVEALING. EXTRAVAGANT. This dress is designed to turn heads — to be seen, stared at, and adored. Maybe even worshiped...

Between this and the next key moment, I mention that everyone around her is bowing deeply — far more respectfully than they do to the sovereign — and that everyone there bows to them. 

Then, when Gabrielle “wins” the bid, everyone starts clamoring wildly. It’s not just about the money she “spent.” There’s something more to it, something everyone else in the room understands... but Gabrielle doesn’t. Yet.

Fast forward again to when Gabrielle — AGAIN: who is undercover as the woman they took down in the musky/doctorish room (the one with blood dripping down her leg) — “meets” Cain Stonne. Where he says:

“...Lovely gown...It practically screams what you’ve endured... the subtle swell of your belly... I expected to detect more... blood from you.”

I really hope you’re seeing what’s going on here. But if not... don’t worry, I’ll keep going.

Now jump to page 370 — the end of all the sacrifices. Priest Zade is reviewing why they were performed. While holding the bloodborne baby, he says:

“Divine feminine sacrifice... It’s another gift she has given us, one of many. And just as the years have gifted us this sacrifice, the mother will again bring forth that sacrifice with her child’s life — with her own hand.”

This is where (hopefully) you might start to understand. What’s the most divine feminine act? Creating life. Forming life. Childbirth.

Through this sacrifice — as you’ve probably gathered — the entire purpose of the cult’s ritual is to bring forth their “creator.” That word has come up a few times throughout the book, leading you right here.

So — the woman Lex had “drained” (and just to clarify, she didn’t drink her blood — it was only implied that she cut her wrists; my bad if that wasn’t clear — something I can fix in the second edition).

That woman — the one nagging in the room with the older nocturnal man — is a Randolph. Gabrielle had taken her place (AGAIN, UNDER COVER). Gabrielle was the only one in that entire cult gathering wearing red.

Gabrielle went undercover as the mother who had given birth to a bloodborne child, meant to be sacrificed in order to bring forth their so-called “creator” or “creation.” (Which, as I’ve repeated before... they still have no idea who actually created them.)

So… am I making sense here?
Or is this one of those very specific female experiences — like pregnancy and childbirth — that might not connect for everyone?

Is it too nuanced? Or am I just a bad writer? Because right now, in my head, it makes perfect sense. But that doesn’t mean it translates perfectly to readers. Maybe now that I’ve spelled it all out, it’ll click — but I realize that doesn’t help new readers who didn’t catch all those layers the first time. Not their fault. Again, could totally 100% be mine. 

Either way, would love to hear your thoughts. :) Have a great day! LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!