Communion: Belial’s Coronation and the Fight for London

⚠️ 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

James Herondale, possessing Belial’s consciousness, finds himself trapped inside his own body as Belial takes control. Belial walks through a deserted, corrupted London to Westminster Abbey, intending to crown himself king of England. Outside the abbey, Shadowhunters—including Thomas Lightwood, Alastair Carstairs, Anna Lightwood, Ari, Grace Blackthorn, and Jesse Blackthorn—fight a desperate battle against the Watchers, the demon-possessed Silent Brothers. Cordelia Carstairs, Matthew Fairchild, and Lucie Herondale return from Edom via Belial’s portal. Cordelia learns that the only way to stop Belial may require risking James’s life. Inside the abbey, animated statues attack the group; Cordelia is urged to run to James. Meanwhile, Lucie finds Jesse and, through a kiss, reaches the spirits of the Iron Sisters and Silent Brothers, begging them to reclaim their bodies from the demons.

Key Events

Belial parades through London in James’s body, heading to Westminster Abbey for his coronation.
Thomas and Alastair encounter “James” on the bridge, but Alastair realizes it is Belial.
Grace Blackthorn and Jesse Blackthorn fight Watchers outside the abbey and confirm fire-messages are working.
Cordelia, Matthew, and Lucie arrive via portal from Edom and find a large battle already underway.
Thomas explains that destroying a sigil on the back of the Watcher’s neck forces out the Chimera demon.
Cordelia’s group learns Belial has raised a dead archbishop and the Coronation Chair to crown himself.
Matthew declares that James would rather die than remain possessed, and Cordelia resolves to trust James.
Inside the abbey, Belial animates statues of soldiers, knights, and Britannia to attack Cordelia’s friends.
Alastair saves Matthew’s life by pushing him away from Britannia’s spear.
Lucie contacts the spirits of the Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters, pleading for them to fight back.

Character Development

James Herondale: Even while possessed, James retains his own horror and disgust at Belial’s actions. He practices the control Jem taught him, determined not to lose himself.
Matthew Fairchild: Changed by his time in Edom, Matthew accepts that he must be James’s voice and support Cordelia’s plan, even if it means James may die.
Cordelia Carstairs: Demonstrates fierce trust in James and determination to reach him, refusing to give in to despair.
Lucie Herondale: Shows immense courage by voluntarily entering the spirit realm to call for help, risking her own consciousness to aid the Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters.
Alastair Carstairs: Acts heroically, saving Matthew’s life despite their past tensions, and urges Cordelia to go forward.
Thomas Lightwood: Struggles with the idea that James may have to be sacrificed but forces himself to follow the plan.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Communion / Desecration: The chapter’s title and epigraph (2 Corinthians 6:14) frame Belial’s act as a twisted communion—a union of darkness with the sacred. Belial’s coronation in the abbey defiles a holy place.
Body as Prison / Cage: James experiences his own body as a cage, unable to move or speak. This motif emphasizes the horror of possession and loss of autonomy.
The Power of Belief and Trust: Cordelia, Matthew, and the others must trust in James’s plan and in each other, even when the cost is uncertain.
Animated Statues / Walking Tombs: Belial brings statues of historical figures and soldiers to life, symbolizing his control over London’s history and death itself.

Why This Chapter Matters

“Communion” is the climactic confrontation chapter. It brings all major characters to the same location and raises the stakes to their highest point: Belial is about to become king of London, and the Shadowhunters must prevent it. The chapter also resolves Lucie’s arc of understanding her necromantic power—she uses it not to summon the dead but to call on the spirits of the Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters, transforming her ability from a liability into a potential weapon. The chapter sets the stage for the final battle inside the abbey.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Belial choose to crown himself in Westminster Abbey using the Coronation Chair? Belial explains that desecrating something held holy and significant by mortals is delicious to him. By crowning himself there, he believes he will “snatch hold of the soul of London,” solidifying his power over the city.

2. What different strategies do the Shadowhunters employ to fight the Watchers, and why can’t they attack them like ordinary demons? The Shadowhunters must first tear away the Watchers’ hoods to expose the sigil on the back of the neck, then destroy that sigil to force the Chimera demon out. They cannot use head-on attacks because the demons are bound to the bodies of the stolen Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters.

3. How does Lucie’s ability to communicate with the spirits change in this chapter? Instead of simply hearing the wailing of lost souls, Lucie now recognizes that these souls belong to the Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters. She deliberately reaches out to them, asking them to fight back and reclaim their bodies, showing her power can be used for rescue rather than just communication.