After Harrowhark fails to return that evening, Gideon trains, experiments with a hot bath, and sleeps deeply. In the morning, Gideon finds Harrowhark back in bed and learns that Harrow has given the white key to Dulcinea Septimus as agreed, but Harrow refuses to explain more or get up.

On the way downstairs, Gideon realizes Isaac is following her. Isaac looks exhausted and frightened, and he tells Gideon that Jeannemary wants her because someone is dead. Isaac leads Gideon to the newly filled pool, where Coronabeth and Naberius are swimming, and tells Coronabeth the same thing.

Isaac brings Gideon, Coronabeth, Naberius, Lieutenant Dyas, and Colum to an outdoor incinerator, where Jeannemary is standing guard in a panicked, combative state. Jeannemary and Isaac insist that the ashes inside are fresh human remains, not old bone or a servant skeleton. Others are skeptical, especially Naberius, but Coronabeth does not dismiss the Fourth House teens’ fear.

Colum concludes that a necromancer is needed to examine the ashes properly, and the others drift away. Isaac admits that he has been seeing and hearing things at night, while Jeannemary warns Gideon and Coronabeth because Magnus had liked them both. Once the Fourth leaves, Coronabeth tells Gideon that she believes Canaan House is in serious danger.

Later, a storm breaks over Canaan House, deepening Gideon’s dread. Camilla finds Gideon and says the duel is off because the Seventh never appeared and are not in their quarters. Gideon and Camilla go to Dulcinea’s conservatory and find Dulcinea collapsed in the rain, bruised, soaked, and barely alive; Dulcinea coughs up pink foam, says “He never came back,” and faints.