Chapter 3 Summary: June's Video Confession About Vampires and the Three Binds

⚠️ 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

Chapter 3 is entirely a recorded video made by a fourteen-year-old June on Kidan’s phone, dated May 10, 2017, filmed in Mama Anoet’s private bathroom. June begins by explaining that she got in trouble for falling asleep in class because she has a condition called parasomnia, which causes her to scream, kick, and sleepwalk. She admits she is tired of her condition and of being a burden on her sister Kidan, who cares for her.

June then shares the real source of her fear: vampires. She explains that while vampires are no longer dangerous to most people (human blood now tastes poisonous to them), they still must feed. The First Bind forces vampires to feed only from specific bloodlines—about eighty families trapped in this cycle for generations. June reveals that she and Kidan belong to one of those families. They escaped after their parents died; their aunt brought them to live at Mama Anoet’s.

Kidan reminds June every night about the Three Binds placed on vampires. The Second Bind limits some of their strength, and the Third Bind requires a heavy sacrifice when a vampire turns a human. June thinks the Last Sage should have killed all vampires instead of placing restrictions on them.

June’s video is interrupted by a knock at the door—it is Kidan, who scowls at the wet phone. June quickly sets the video to private. Her password is a set of five numbers that add up to thirty-five, which is their biological mother’s age at death and also the number of vampires (called dranaics) assigned to their family. Those thirty-five vampires would have consumed June’s and Kidan’s blood if they hadn’t escaped.

Key Events

June records a video in Mama Anoet’s bathroom, explaining her parasomnia and her fear.
She reveals that vampires are bound to specific bloodlines by the First Bind.
June states that she and Kidan are from one of those bloodlines and escaped after their parents died.
She describes the Three Binds: the First (bloodline feeding), the Second (strength restriction), and the Third (heavy sacrifice for turning humans).
June expresses a wish that the Last Sage had killed all vampires instead of setting the Binds.
Kidan interrupts the recording; June makes the video private.
The chapter reveals that June’s password is linked to the number thirty-five—her mother’s age at death and the number of dranaics assigned to their family.

Character Development

June: At age fourteen, she is deeply burdened by her parasomnia and her constant fear of vampires. She is vulnerable yet seeks release by confiding in her guidance counselor and making a private video. Her wish that the Last Sage had wiped out all vampires shows her desperation and her fundamental distrust of the current system.
Kidan: Though only glimpsed briefly, Kidan is shown as June’s caretaker and protector. She reminds June of the Three Binds nightly and quickly checks on her. Her scolding tone suggests a weary vigilance.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Parasomnia as metaphor: June’s condition—screaming, kicking, sleepwalking—mirrors her waking terror of vampires. She cannot escape the fear even in sleep.
The Three Binds: The legalistic, ritualistic restrictions on vampires represent a fragile safety net. June doubts their sufficiency, believing total eradication would have been better.
The number 35: June’s password encodes both her mother’s age at death and the number of dranaics tied to their family. This number becomes a symbol of loss and looming threat.
The silver butterfly bracelet: June plays with a thin silver bracelet while talking, possibly a protective talisman or a keepsake from her family.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 3 provides the first detailed exposition of the story’s vampire magic system—the Three Binds—directly from a character who lives under its shadow. It establishes June’s trauma, her close bond with Kidan, and the constant danger that defines their past and present. The video format creates an intimate, confessional tone that deepens reader empathy. The revelation of the thirty-five dranaics tied to their family sets up a clear stake: these vampires would have fed on them. This chapter also plants a seed of dissatisfaction with the Last Sage’s solution, hinting that the Binds may not be a complete answer.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does June start recording the video, and what does she hope to achieve?
June records the video at the suggestion of her guidance counselor, Miss Tris, who told June to write down her fears. Since June hates writing, Miss Tris suggested recording herself and possibly sharing it if she felt brave enough. June hopes to stop living in constant fear and to feel safe.
What are the Three Binds, and what does each one do?
The First Bind forces vampires to feed only from specific bloodlines (about eighty families). The Second Bind restricts some of their strength. The Third Bind requires a heavy sacrifice when a vampire turns a human into a vampire. Kidan reminds June of these Binds nightly to reassure her.
What is the significance of the number thirty-five to June?
The number thirty-five is both her biological mother’s age at death and the number of vampires (dranaics) assigned to her family. June uses it as her password because it represents the loss of her mother and the exact number of vampires that would have consumed her and Kidan’s blood if they had not escaped.