Lena Duchannes

Lena starts at Gatlin's high school and becomes a target on day one. When classmates needle her in class, the windows blow out. The town quickly decides her family are witches and side-eyes her everywhere, from church to the cafeteria. Only Ethan comes near her, and Lena finds out he has been dreaming about her too. She can't tell if that is luck or one more problem.

Lena tells Ethan she is a Caster and that at 16 she will be claimed by the Light or the Dark. A locket shows them where it all began: during the Civil War, Genevieve Duchannes used forbidden magic to save Ethan Carter Wate, and the family's women paid the price. Since then, each one has gone Dark at 16, and Lena fears she is next.

Lena tries to keep Ethan at a distance. She knows a mortal near a Caster about to be claimed is in danger, and Uncle Macon reminds her every chance he gets. Even so, they keep seeing each other. Lena shows Ethan a little of what she can do and, for the first time in Gatlin, has someone who doesn't run from her. The days until her birthday run short, and her fear grows along with her feelings for Ethan.

Her cousin Ridley, a Dark Caster, shows up to pull Lena to her side. Behind it all is Sarafine, Lena's mother, who works through Mrs. Lincoln's body. In the Caster library, Lena learns that breaking the curse requires the death of someone she loves. To protect Ethan, she wipes their love from his memory.

On her birthday, Lena's rage becomes a deadly storm over the Civil War reenactment. Macon sacrifices himself in Ethan's place and, before he dies, tells her to claim herself. Lena hides the moon so it can't claim her, lets Ridley escape and seals away Sarafine's spirit. She ends up between Light and Dark, in charge of her own choice, but without her uncle and far from Ethan, who no longer remembers her.

Alice Englert, daughter of director Jane Campion, plays the role. In the books, Lena and Ethan talk to each other in their heads, something the movie mostly drops.