Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, violence, and death.

Grandma Piperi symbolizes destiny in The Struggle Between Fate and Free Will. As the oracle, she serves as a conduit for the gods’ influence, reinforcing the idea that destiny is inescapable. Piperi’s prophecies drive key events in the novel, demonstrating how divine intervention shapes mortal lives. Her prophecy that Alex is an Apollyon directly leads to Rachelle’s decision to flee the Covenant with her daughter, believing she can protect Alex from the fate that awaits her. However, Alex returns to the Covenant despite Rachelle’s efforts, reinforcing the idea that one cannot outrun fate. Alex’s foreseen destiny—that she will kill those she loves—looms over her, making it unclear whether she has any true control over her own life.

Piperi’s cryptic prophecies also highlight the obscure nature of fate. She speaks in riddles, and her warnings generally only become clearly understood after the events she predicts have already occurred. This delayed understanding highlights the illusion of free will, as characters make choices believing they have agency only to later realize they were always moving toward a predetermined outcome. Piperi’s words, particularly her warning to Alex about mistaking need for love, suggest that even profoundly personal decisions, such as romantic relationships, may be influenced by forces beyond one’s control.