The trial before the Council begins. Zio accuses Mammon of Left Hand magics based on what he saw at a meeting in February and from his postcognition since then. The council seems clearly divided about this.
As Mammon weighs his options, the voice of the Idigam advises him to accuse Zio in turn. He knows that the elder mage was meditating on the Abyss. He decides instead to question Zio about his motivations. He quickly sees through his cover story and press for the real reason behind this attack. Zio back peddles and tells them that he feels their plan for the release of Algol is a danger to Concilium and perhaps reality. Mammon continues to hammer at him, forcing out a confession of nihilism. Zio reveals he has no hope for the world but hopes to keep it going as long as possible.
Ezekiel asks Colt if Zio’s claim that Mammon is possessed is true. He reluctantly admits it is. He hastily adds that Zio broke their trust by spying on them. The Council is inclined to agree with this argument. Zio, his credibility crushed, excuses himself from further argument.
The Council takes up the prosecution in his place but Mammon defeats them on a technicality. Aiding in the possession of another is wrong but not oneself. The Council agrees his actions are not Left Handed, though he is to be watched. As for Zio, his actions earn him a black mark in the Concilium. Colt also formally revokes the Right of Hospitality for him and his cabal, though the Council stipulates an exemption for Cornerstone when he is on official business.
As March rolls around, the cabal begins preparing for Algol’s release. They ask Arachne to paint when Algol will be released. Her painting shows her cell phone displaying the text message: “Celestial Records 37th and Morgan, the breach is underway, make sure no fires break out” The phone shows the date and time: July 2nd, 8:24 AM.
Around the same time word returns that Black Dog has banished Red Thunder based on Zio’s evidence. Lealtad asks Valkyrie if she can go and kill him, but the Adamant Sage talks her down and to think of the possible consequences.
Later that month, Red Knight manages to get Valkyrie a new recruit. After further investigation, he decided against Mrs. Mokashi due to the possibility of her becoming a Banisher. But Alexander’s Awakening goes perfectly. He forces the fighter to chose between his faith and the easy path. Valkyrie meets the new mage soon afterwards. He seems like a skilled fighter and not as dumb as he thinks he is. In the coming months he adopts the shadow name Rocky.
Towards the end of the month, Adele spots someone lurking near the Sanctum on her way back from school. It is the Giovanni enforcer Jill, who is possessed by a Geist. She texts Colt and approaches.
Inside the Sanctum, Colt and Recon are chatting. Recon is thinking of joining the Fist of Talos as they need the support. However he worries that Valkyrie’s emergency response team might need him. Colt advises him to do what he think will help the most. Then he gets Adele’s text. He tells his student to spy on the woman outside without being seen. Then Colt heads out the front door.
As Adele approaches, Jill tersely greets her. She’s upset at having to deliver a message for some ghosts. She says it might be from a Deathlord. She recites, “discover the five parts of the soul and the doorway will open.” Then she leaves.
Adele heads inside to discuss this with the Geists of the house. They have been acting odd lately. House has been following Adele around protectively, while the others defer to her as if she were Rota. The Whisperer, Doris has been flickering in and out of existence as if she is passing on but is holding herself here to act as an Oracle for Adele.
On her way to Doris, Adele sees Arachne musing over her painting. The young mage thinks she should join the Emergency Response Team since she will get the text.
Adele continues on and talks to Doris. The mad Geist mentions the Neverborn and claims it seeks an ally such as Adele. As for the message she refers to the Epicurian Grimoire. Adele finds the ghastly book-Geist on the internet. As she explains the riddle, it becomes intrigued. It tells her about Rota’s research into the matter including the Egyptian view of the soul and the Arcana correspondences. Rota’s final notes speculate that the soul is made from the Subtle Arcana and each reflects the Gross Arcana, that is to say Mind is the Space of the soul. Adele has the Geist do more research for her.
Mammon gets a phone call from his brother. It seems his sister will be in town in a month for a big deal. His parents are thinking of coming out to visit. It seems everyone’s finances are going up. Mammon helps arrange their family gathering.
In early April, Valkyrie gets a call from work. It seems one of the other singers is sick. She agrees to cover for her. Then she calls White Ash and Kensai to reschedule their meeting. It seems the two have found some issue they need her expertise on. They agree to meet her at the club. Later that evening they inform her that the ley lines are shifting. Strangely Cicero is involved though most people believe he is dead. The three of them agree to investigate first thing in the morning.
The next day, they spend a couple hours scanning the lines. They find there are a few foci. Most are to the north but one is at Celestial CDs. The lines resonate with a strong Aether aura. Valkyrie calls the sanctum for some Spirit insight.
At the sanctum, Arachne is asking Colt for advice about her vision. Colt argue it is not set in stone and even if she helps the team on July 2nd, it doesn’t mean that she will remain a member of the team. After he gets the call he and Adele head over. On the way they alert Mammon.
Once gathered Valkyrie’s team determines that both Angelic beings and Cicero are involved. The other sites are Cog’s death site and Precinct 13, where Tibbs used to work and where the Antediluvian died. At the police station, Adele senses a demonic aura being drawn to collection of heavenly power. with some closer inspect it seems the precinct is attracting the Demon Spirit El somehow. The other locations are calling Algol. Adele questions an angel why they calling the El. It speaks of the Judgement and altering a balance.
Meanwhile Mammon checks on Zio’s activities as far as geomancy. He finds several locations primed to alter the magical landscape, just waiting to be triggered. He directs Vincent to counter this plan.
A week later, Nomos comes to chat with Colt. He sounds out the mage for the possibility of becoming a lictor. Colt agrees to shadow Nomos and learn what he does. As he does Nomos advises him where Colt needs to improve his skills.
May arrives and Mammon’s family arrives. Vincent picks his parents and brother from the airport. As they wait for his sister to arrive they chat. Mammon can sense Greed working its way through his sympathetic connections. They are becoming more concerned with wealth and richer too. His mom however still asks about his love life. Mammon admits to not having luck there but says he has friends.
His sister arrives. She tells them about her deal with Magadon Industries a subsidiary of Pentex. It seems Pentex recently was bought out by the Cheiron Group. His sister was able to get an inside scoop on their plans. She offers Mammon the option to get in on the ground floor of a new spin off company involved in longevity research.
As for Adele, she puts aside the riddle to study for her final exams. The idea of watchtowers of the soul plague though. She arrives at the study session to find Michelle there first, looking at a book on Egyptian mythology. Adele asks about it and she explains she is taking a course on Egyptology. She takes a look at it and sees more reminders of her research.
Henry and Reginald arrive next. They chat about their latest prank, involving a frat sign glued to a flag pole. Sasha arrives right after them. She borrows a CD from Michelle: Crypt of the Seraphim by the Five Part Way. Adele asks to get a copy of the indie album.
Halfway through their study session, Adele get a phone call from her adoptive mother. She asks if she’ll be over for dinner tonight. Adele declines but asks if she is worried. Adele’s mom is unable to explain her anxiety. Adele promises to come over later.
An hour later she leaves for home. She chats with her mother and notices one of her grandmother’s necklace on the fireplace mantle. Her mother explains they were clearing out some old stuff and found it. She offers it to Adele. She takes it. The next morning she aces her test.
The next month is quiet. Then on the evening of June 24th, every mage in the city has their unseen senses triggered. Adele, at the Sanctum, uses Space magic to find the origin as a location on the north end of the city. Mammon is at a charity event and reads the resonance as powerful, Supernal, and corresponding to a strange symbol. He relays this information to everyone, even Colt who is in California. Adele recognizes the symbol as that of one of the Exarchs, the General.