Fallen

The shadows are dark, amorphous, shifting visions that Luce has seen since she was a kid. They symbolize the mysteries of Luce’s past and the danger that lurks within those mysteries. The dangerous nature of the shadows is established in the Prologue when Daniel watches as the shadows descend upon him and Luce’s predecessor as they share their first and final kiss in that lifetime.

After Luce arrives at Sword & Cross, she notices that “[t]he shadows ha[ve] been popping up at an increasingly alarming rate” (112). This is a representation of Luce coming closer to the truth about her past and the danger that comes with it by being at Sword & Cross. The shadows continue to appear and become more aggressive with Luce the closer she gets to the truth. In Chapter 9, the shadows attempt to steal a note from her pocket that contains clues about her link to the fallen angels at Sword & Cross. In Chapter 10, Luce and Penn visit the library in search of Daniel’s book, The Watchers, which is later revealed to hold truths about Luce’s past lives. Before she can track down the book, the shadows appear, and a mysterious fire starts, forcing Luce to clear out of the library.