Bewitched Chapter 18 (Chapter 16) Summary: Selene’s Failed Amulet and Memnon’s Threat

⚠️ 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

Selene works late in the spellcasting kitchen on a protective amulet, but her first attempt yields a charred, useless sludge. After Sybil leaves, Selene tries again with a pendant, only to have the potion explode. While cleaning up, Memnon appears in the doorway. He accuses her of being his long-lost wife Roxilana and demands to know her game. Memnon grabs her throat, and Selene struggles to convince him she is a different person. When he drags her toward the foyer, she casts a banishment spell using a strand of her hair, forcing him out the front door. Exhausted and paying a magical tithe, Selene collapses with Nero, hoping she won't see Memnon again.

Key Events

Selene fails twice to brew a protective amulet, creating only sludge and an explosion.
Sybil visits briefly and advises Selene to give up for the night.
Memnon appears suddenly in the kitchen, startling Selene.
He accuses Selene of being Roxilana and questions her amulet attempt.
Memnon grips her throat and drags her toward the foyer, having placed wards to isolate them.
Selene banishes Memnon with a spell using a strand of her hair, forcing him out the front door.
Exhausted, Selene tears down his wards and rests with Nero.

Character Development

Selene shows persistence in her magical studies despite repeated failure, but her fear of Memnon reveals her vulnerability. Her quick thinking in casting a banishment spell demonstrates resourcefulness and growing control over her magic.
Memnon remains consumed by anger and confusion about Selene's identity. His physical aggression contrasts with moments of hesitation, suggesting an internal conflict between his desire for revenge and lingering feelings.
Nero acts against Selene's expectations by rubbing against Memnon, hinting at a deeper connection between the familiar and the sorcerer that Selene does not yet understand.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Magic as a Double-Edged Sword: Selene's failed amulet spell highlights the difficulty and danger of untrained magic, while her banishment spell shows magic's protective potential.
Identity and Memory: Memnon's insistence that Selene is Roxilana clashes with Selene's clear sense of self, exploring the theme of lost or altered identity.
Power Dynamics: The physical and magical struggle between Selene and Memnon underscores unequal power—Memnon initially stronger, but Selene's clever use of a spell shifts the balance.
Institutional Protection: The lamassu guardians that expel Memnon reinforce the safety offered by the witch house versus the external threat.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter escalates the central conflict: Memnon's hunt for answers and Selene's fight for survival. It reveals Selene's magical shortcomings but also her ability to stand up to a powerful sorcerer, setting up a pattern of resistance. The failed amulet foreshadows her continued need for protection, while the banishment spell introduces a new magical tool she may use again. The chapter deepens the mystery of Selene's past life and the murder of Kate, linking Memnon directly to the coven's danger.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Selene attempt to make the amulet even after her first failure?
She wants both to complete her class project and to gain extra protection against the threat Mistress Gestalt warned about, demonstrating her determination and fear of the unknown danger.
How does Memnon's behavior toward Selene change during their confrontation?
Initially angry and demanding, he becomes more physically aggressive when Selene denies being Roxilana, but he also shows a flicker of confusion and listens to her attempts to explain, suggesting he is not entirely closed off.
What is the significance of Selene using a hair in her banishment spell?
Hair is a personal link, and the spell's wording ("with a hair from my head, and the touch of a spurned spouse") ties her power to the relationship Memnon believes they have, making the magic especially effective against him.