Serafina and the Black Cloak

Serafina puts the dress on. It feels both strange and welcome; it is exciting to wear something beautiful and meant for a girl for the first time. She leaves the basement for the first floor, but on arrival, instead of slinking in the shadows, she walks slowly, straight and tall, down the corridor, a regular girl. She waits outside the Winter Garden behind a column until the nearby Billiard Room empties of most of its guests: Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Bendel, others. Finally, only Mr. Thorne is inside. Serafina sees the Black Cloak draped over his arm. The sight terrifies her, but she sticks to her plan. Soon Mr. Thorne leaves the room, pausing outside the door when he senses her presence. Serafina gathers her courage, “and she did what for her was the most terrifying thing to do in the world: She stepped out into the open” (231).

Serafina planned on baiting Mr. Thorne, but she did not plan on Mr. Thorne recognizing her, which he does. This means Mr. Thorne does not simply follow her down the corridor—he follows with every intent to consume and absorb her interesting skills. Serafina must force herself to walk slowly. Finally, she ducks out a side door into the night’s gentle snowfall and runs to the Rambles. He follows her. Serafina, though, knows the hedge maze well. She passes through a hole in the hedge at the back and runs into the forest.

She allows him to pursue her for miles, slowing when necessary to keep him close on her trail. Finally, she arrives at the old cemetery. She enters the clearing, then heads directly for the mountain lion’s burrow, praying that the mother cat will be out hunting. She goes into the den. The cubs wake, recognize her, and welcome her with sniffs and rubs. Serafina reaches out to the mother lion in her mind, pushing the thought that the cubs are in danger. She instinctively knows when the mother turns and starts running. Her plan entailed the Man being in the clearing when the mother returned, but Serafina did not account for the snow; he sees her footsteps and knows exactly where she hides. He starts crawling into the den to get her, but the mother mountain lion attacks him in that instant. She drags him into the clearing. The man tries to fight back but the mountain lion overcomes him. The Man in the Black Cloak lies on the forest floor, bloodied and limp. Serafina starts to climb from the den, but the lioness turns and stalks near to attack her next.

Serafina pushes against the back wall of the den, trapped. The lioness gets closer, ready to attack. Serafina screams, “her teeth bared, and threatening, like a corned bobcat” (243). This seems ineffective, but then the lion looks deeply into Serafina’s eyes. Serafina realizes that their eyes are very similar. She senses a connection between them that deepens as the lion watches her. Serafina realizes they are family.

Serafina and the lioness gaze at one another. Serafina wants to talk to her, as she sees “an intelligence and awareness in the lioness’s eyes” (246). The lioness smells her and pushes her head against Serafina. Serafina reaches up to pet and scratch the big cat’s face and neck, feeling a distinct sense of welcome and love from the lioness. After a minute, though, she feels doubtful and leaves the den. Confused, she wonders aloud what the lion’s reaction means. She sees the almost-dead man and the cloak. Suddenly, the cloak seems to call out, inviting Serafina to put it on.

At first Serafina tells the cloak “You’re dead! Now hush up!” (250), but it continues speaking tempting and soothing words. Serafina starts to feel a desire for the control and understanding the cloak promises. She thinks she will just put the cloak on for a moment—then it is as if she cannot control her own movements, and she puts on the cloak. Immediately she senses the words, “Welcome, Serafina. I’m not going to hurt you, child…” (251).