In the midst of the Christmas season shopping frenzy, Valkyrie braves the mall in search of some final gifts. At the Lowe Street Prosperity Mall she encounters a strange scene as a riot breaks out at a toy store. Her unseen sense triggers and though she is unable to identify the source she gets the feeling there is something supernatural at work here, likely a spirit or ghost. Afterwards she reports it to her superiors in the Arrow.
Meanwhile Athaliah calls Colt and Mammon for some aid with a summoning ritual. They visit her at her apartment where they are greeted by Alister Austin, a sleepwalker servant of hers with unusual powers. They help him gather the necessary materials and load them into her car. Athaliah explains they are displaying a spirit called Ingorcav, a page in the choir of wrath, to some mortals to further their enlightenment. The ritual happens at a home on the north end of the city. With Mammon's help, Athaliah summons the chitinous creature which is covered in barbed spines. Contained in its circle, the mortals question it about its nature. Some use scientific devices to measure its properties while others ask what it is and where it is from. After the ritual is complete, she dismisses it with Mammon's help.
Earlier that day both Adele and Valkyrie are called by Ishtar and asked to meet at the Promethean. Mammon receives a similar call after the ceremony. At the meeting the next day, they are told about the suspected trouble at the mall. Interestingly the mall is filled with a thick resonance of Greed. They agree to look into it.
The group goes to the mall, which has seen better times. Vacated by its anchor stores, it is strangely crowded. At the toy store, they find two people actually fighting over a Furby. Using magic they see that one of the women is possessed as is the Furby. Colt steps in to break up the fight and both women quickly leave the store. Forced to break up Valkyrie and Mammon follow the possessed woman while Colt and Adele trail the Furby. The possessed woman spends her time buying everything she can until her credit runs out while the owner of the Furby quickly heads home. They manage to get her license plate number however and Mammon calls in a favor to Fakir to find where she lives.
Valkyrie has to head home to deal with Evan. While helping him with his homework, she notices a Word document that appears on her computer. It contains a message from Cicero:
Valkyrie,
Congratulations on your success with the mortal geomancer. Could I discuss the specifics of the methods he or she used with you? There is always more to learn on any subject. I may be able to do a favor for you. We can meet at Celestial CDs at 37th and Morgan St on Thursday.
Cicero
Meanwhile in the mall, Mammon sees signs of wounded and hungry greed spirits in the area. He also learns there is a way from shadow somewhere in the mall. Continuing to follow the woman, they subtly dissuade her from stealing a car and then trail her back to her home. Staking out her house they try to decide what to do. As they argue, they notice her attempting to slip into her neighbors house. Using telekinesis, Valkyrie catches her and she and Colt drag her into the car quickly. They find an abandoned house and quickly begin the exorcism. Despite her attempts to free herself they keep her captive until the ritual is complete. A small wounded dragon is forced out. They heal the spirit and then drop the woman off at a church. Giving Ishtar a call they let her know there is trouble at the mall.
The next day is busy. Mammon working off Fakir's information tracks down the owner of the possessed Furby. With a bit of charm he gets her to return the Furby as part of a recall and exchanges it for a normal one. Adele is busy at work helping Dr. Summers and Evelyn deal with the animals at the clinic.
Valkyrie meets Cicero at Celestial CDs. The grimy music store houses a large moldering record collection and a fast growing collection of New Age CDs. The clients are a bit different from what she expects, with a more clean cut and wholesome look. They tend to listen to music for long periods with serene expressions on their faces. Cicero is there with a complex device that looks like some sort of scanner and is examining the effects of Aetherial Resonance on the locations. After expounding on the effects of ley lines to move resonance, he asks about the mortal geomancers the group faced and what methods they used. Valkyrie reveals that they do have records on this but that she would have to discuss it with the others first.
The group decides to break into the mall at night and search for the source of the problem. Adele and Colt hide inside until the mall closes to let the others in. Mammon and Valkyrie wait until the parking lot is deserted except for a pair of skateboarders then enter as well. Inside it is deathly quiet and deserted. Looking into Twilight they notice a greed spirit in the form of Mr. Monopoly dying from his wounds and a lack of essence. They feed him on the weak essence of money and ask him some questions. He tells them there is a verge in the back rooms of an abandoned store guarded by a powerful spirit called the Toll Toad. They go there and find the Guantlet has been torn down here. Mammon peers into Shadow and see the huge silver toad. Hypothesizing from the spirit's wounds, they injure themselves and cross into shadow one by one. Adele is one of the last to leave, calling Goes to leave a final message.