Bewitched Chapter 17: Dream Encounters and a Dark Discovery

⚠️ 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 awakens from a vivid, sexually charged dream in which Memnon commands her declarations of love and ownership. The dream culminates with Memnon using both his mouth and magic to bring her to the brink of orgasm, then stopping with the words, "you—will—pay." Her alarm jolts her awake, and she realizes she has to meet Sybil for a morning run.

The run takes them along a forest path behind the coven grounds. Selene's mind wanders back to the dream and to Memnon's earlier words: "All twenty centuries of it?" She calculates that Memnon is two thousand years old, a revelation that chills her and raises many unanswered questions about how he navigates the modern world.

As they near the end of their run, the path is blocked by crime scene tape and Politia officers. Sybil and Selene are questioned by an officer. When the crowd part momentarily, Selene glimpses a gruesome scene of "crimson and pink and beige and black" and recognizes that there has been another murder.

Key Events

Selene experiences a sexually charged dream where Memnon demands her submission and threatens payment.
She wakes to her alarm and meets Sybil for a morning run.
During the run, she reflects on Memnon's age (two thousand years) and feels guilt for abandoning him.
The run is cut short when they encounter a crime scene with a fresh murder.
A Politia officer questions them as potential witnesses; Selene catches a disturbing glimpse of the victim.

Character Development

Selene: Her internal conflict deepens as she is both repulsed and drawn to Memnon. The dream reveals her subconscious attraction, yet she resists it. Her guilt over releasing Memnon and then leaving him shows a growing sense of responsibility. The discovery of the murder confirms her worst fears and sharpens her vigilance.
Sybil: She appears as a supportive friend, sensitive to Selene's mood, but remains unaware of the deeper trouble. Her presence provides a grounding contrast to Selene's turmoil.
Memnon (absent but felt): His manipulation of Selene even in dreams underscores his power and patience. His parting threat ("you—will—pay") and his claim of being "Memnon the Indomitable" reinforce his ancient, regal, and dangerous nature.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Power and Control: The dream sequence is a study in power dynamics. Memnon orders Selene to speak declarations of love and ownership. He controls her pleasure, building her desire only to withhold release. This mirrors the larger struggle for agency between them.
Sexuality as Weapon: Memnon's use of magic and physical touch blurs the line between intimacy and coercion. The dream feels consensual but is revealed to be a manipulation, highlighting the theme of enchantment versus genuine desire.
Death and Foreboding: The murder scene intrudes on the pastoral beauty of the run. The description of "oily black" malevolence and the perception of "ruthless, agonizing death" establish a mounting sense of dread. This chapter signals that the supernatural danger is escalating beyond Selene's personal struggle.
Isolation and Guilt: Selene's internal questions — about where Memnon is staying, how he got clothes, who informed him — reveal her guilt. She feels responsible for a being she barely understands, and she carries this burden alone, unable to confide in Sybil.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 17 serves as a turning point that merges Selene's intimate conflict with the escalating external threat. The dream deepens the psychological tension between Selene and Memnon, while the murder at the end of the chapter indicates that Memnon's return has deadly consequences. This is the first clear link between Selene's personal entanglement and a broader wave of violence. It also raises narrative stakes: Selene can no longer ignore the reality that Memnon is not just a dream figure but a living, ancient being who is leaving a trail of death. The chapter ends with Selene's recognition that "there's been another murder," thrusting her into a situation where she must decide how to act.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What critical piece of information does Selene realize about Memnon during the run, and why is it unsettling?
Selene recalls Memnon's question, "All twenty centuries of it?" and realizes that he is two thousand years old. This is unsettling because it confirms that he has been alive since ancient times, knows the current year, and likely has knowledge and power far beyond what she imagined. It also raises unanswered questions about his adaptation to the modern world.

2. How does the dream sequence illustrate Memnon's manipulation of Selene?
Throughout the dream, Memnon demands declarations of love, exclusivity, and ownership. He uses his magic to replace his physical touch, controlling the pace of her arousal and stopping just before her orgasm. His final words — "you—will—pay" — transform the sexual encounter into a threat, revealing that his goal is not intimacy but domination and coercion.

3. What is the significance of the crime scene at the end of the chapter?
The murder scene establishes that the danger is no longer confined to Selene's dreams or personal encounters with Memnon. The violent death serves as a tangible consequence of his awakening, linking Selene's actions (releasing him) to real-world harm. It also forces Selene to confront the fact that she may be involved in something far larger and darker than she initially believed.