Chapter 4: Baz – A Reunion in Coven Custody
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with Baz entering a stone cell in a Coven‑summoned tower where his aunt Fiona is imprisoned. She lounges on a velvet chair, boots on a writing table, and greets him with sarcasm: “You here to bust me out, Basil?” Baz explains that he has come to bail her out, not break her out. Fiona scoffs at the idea of paying bail, but Baz reveals that his father (a Grimm) posted the money and that Dr. Wellbelove and Headmistress Bunce vouched for her—only because Baz promised she wouldn’t flee.
Fiona is disdainful of the vouchers, especially Bunce, who occupies the rooms that once belonged to Baz’s mother, Natasha. The argument escalates: Fiona claims she was at Watford to retrieve something of Natasha’s, something she insists still remains in Bunce’s office. Baz counters that Headmistress Bunce gave him all of his mother’s books and that he chose to leave them at Watford. Fiona snaps that Baz never knew his mother, then immediately regrets the comment.
They leave the cell. Fiona kicks over a chair on her way out. Her wand and car were impounded; Baz signs for them. Fiona claims the front seat for herself, forcing Baz into the cramped back seat of her classic MG. During the drive, Fiona rails against the Coven’s treatment of the Old Families, insisting that the war is not over. Baz tries to calm her, pointing out that the Mage’s reforms have been mostly rolled back, but Fiona wants complete restoration of the Pitch family’s former power—including three guaranteed Coven seats.
Baz steers the conversation back to her break‑in at Watford. Fiona says she was looking for “something of your mother’s” that she believes Bunce still has. Baz repeats that nothing remains; he made the decision to leave his mother’s books there himself. Fiona retorts that he couldn’t possibly know what Natasha would want. Hurt, Baz sits back and falls silent. Fiona apologises, blaming her three‑day nicotine withdrawal. Baz presses her to stop pursuing the matter; if she is caught again, she could be imprisoned without trial. Fiona insists she will return when she pleases, citing her name on the observatory and her Pitch blood.
The chapter closes with Baz noting that he ducked into an alley to feed on rat blood as soon as he returned to town. He warns his aunt to stay out of trouble, lest she drag him down with her—the last thing his mother would want.
Key Events
- Baz arrives at the Coven tower to bail out his imprisoned aunt Fiona.
- Fiona refuses to cooperate; she kicks over a chair and scoffs at the arrangement.
- Baz retrieves her impounded wand and car; Fiona claims the front seat.
- During the drive they argue about her break‑in at Watford and the ongoing political tensions.
- Fiona insists she was retrieving something of Baz’s mother (Natasha) from Headmistress Bunce’s office.
- The argument reveals that Baz chose to leave his mother’s books at Watford.
- Fiona lashes out, saying Baz never knew his mother, and then apologises.
- Baz admits to feeding on rat blood in an alley after his return.
- He warns Fiona to stay out of trouble to avoid pulling him down.
Character Development
Baz Pitch is shown as responsible and pragmatic, trying to manage his reckless aunt while navigating his own grief. His decision to leave his mother’s books at Watford suggests a wish to preserve her legacy at the school. The mention of feeding in an alley underscores his ongoing struggle with vampirism; he is careful but still dependent. His final warning to Fiona reflects a desire to protect both her and himself.
Aunt Fiona emerges as stubborn, bitter, and defiant. She is still fighting the war she lost, refusing to accept the Coven’s new order. Her grief for her sister Natasha is raw, and she channels it into a reckless mission to reclaim something from Watford. Her quick apology after wounding Baz shows that she does care, but her pride and anger usually overrule her better judgment.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Legacy of the Mage vs. Old Families: The argument between Baz and Fiona encapsulates the political rift in the magical world. Fiona sees the Mage’s reforms as a direct attack on her family’s historic rights, while Baz believes the war is over and the changes are permanent.
- Grief and Unresolved Loss: Both Baz and Fiona are haunted by the death of Natasha Pitch. Fiona’s desperate need to recover a physical object from Watford symbolises her inability to let go, while Baz’s choice to leave the books there shows a different approach to mourning.
- Power and Control: Fiona’s imprisonment and the need for vouchers demonstrate that the Coven still holds authority, but her defiance threatens that control.
- Vampire Feeding as Private Struggle: Baz’s quiet act of feeding in an alley highlights his daily burden and the isolation of his nature.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens Baz’s character by placing him between his family’s rebellious past and his own desire for stability. It introduces Fiona as a potential source of future conflict—both with the Coven and within Baz’s personal life. The political landscape of the post‑war magical world is laid bare through their arguments, and Baz’s vampirism is shown as a constant, private challenge. Finally, the chapter sets up a mystery: what did Fiona want from Watford, and will she try again?
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Fiona break into Headmistress Bunce’s rooms at Watford?
Fiona is searching for an object belonging to her sister Natasha, Baz’s mother. She believes something valuable remains in Bunce’s office that Natasha would have given her, and she is unwilling to accept Baz’s assurance that nothing is left. -
How does Baz’s feeding habit reflect his character in this chapter?
Baz feeds on rat blood in an alley after returning to town, a discreet and practical choice that shows his self‑awareness and caution. He avoids endangering others and manages his curse quietly, contrasting with the reckless behaviour of many other vampires in the series. -
What does Fiona’s imprisonment reveal about the state of the magical world after the Mage’s death?
Her arrest for breaking into Watford shows that the Coven is still active and enforcing its authority. The need for Baz’s father to pay bail and for vouchers from respected figures indicates that the Old Families are under scrutiny, and tensions from the war have not fully dissipated.