#nightshades

Nightshades..

Madness blooms ~

While I know that Rafal took golden orchids out of Rhian’s heart/soul in Rise, I have felt that deadly nightshade fits Rhian more? (Again, this isn't just because it's one of my favorite plants!)

It has usually been associated with betrayal, deception, and evil-- all Rhian. It also could symbolize beauty and was even used to dilate women's pupils in the past. Obviously, it has a witchy feeling to it as well, fitting for a sorcerer.

I don't know, I think Rhian on the outside is handsome and "good" but once people have a feeling of his soul (akin to maybe consuming the berries of the plant) there's a rot, a poison. It would have happened to James, who knows firsthand how bad having Rhian’s soul was.

Just a random thought, not really a request or anything.

I absolutely agree that Nightshades fits Rhian!! It fits into his character VERY well, he's two-faced and deceitful yet also maintains a seemingly well-mannered and sincere man as his image. In fact he did kill a soldier with his soul. I don't know much about flowers, but I know Nightshades are highly poisonous and it can easily influence someone. (Hallucinations, confusion etc.)

When Rhian's soul is absorbed through another person, it won't matter by soul transmission or not, it will slowly and eventually kill them like what happened to Rafal and the soldier.

I think James was a special case because of Kyma. (In the scene where she asked James to give Rhian's magic to her) If she wasn't there it would've definitely happened to him. He would actually die.

Maybe I have remembered wrong, but in TLEA, "Rafal" aka Rhian mentioned giving his soul to Evelyn Sader, which had something to do with her own powers. I'm guessing that's how he immediately killed her in AWWP! It's interesting to see his eyes going red though. I'm wondering about that.

For the orchid, I like to think that the orchid Rafal drew was supposed represent his love and friendship towards Rhian. Not exactly Rhian's heart or soul, but something that Rafal himself pictures. I'm assuming it was a yellow orchid, because of the "golden glow."

Orchids represent love in general, while yellow orchids can represent joy and friendship.

Sadly, it wilted and crumbled when the orchid was handed to Rhian. I think it symbolized their bond and love that's been broken, the opposite of Rafal was hoping, but all of it had gone wrong because of Rhian himself.

I like the difference between the brothers' soul; Rhian's soul was so full of wrath and hatred, meanwhile Rafal's was cold, but also warm.