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While cleaning out the chapel, Adriana stumbles upon a necklace. When she puts it on, she suddenly finds herself
in a pre-Ebene Shaldani. A spirit who appears a bit like Warren appears to her. He explains that he is her guide
and that she is currently in the final memories of Lorac Mann, the House's legal owner. When she looks in the mirror,
she appears as Lorac and when she interacts with the people, she uses Lorac's words. Only Adriana can see and speak
freely with Warren. He guides her to the lobby where she meets with an irate Balthasar, still furious and humiliated
over his wife's suicide in the Phoenix House a few days back, in the arms of her lover, Stephan. He threatens Lorac,
who mistakenly reveals that she knows of his plans to help the Ebene take over the realm.
Balthasar seems to leave, although he actually hides in earshot. Lorac calls a meeting of her House residents.
Warren explains to Adriana that Lorac's Phoenix House was a coven for mages of every race and species of the realm.
They assemble, including Star's mother Leandra and her lover Lao. Also a member of the team, much to Adriana's shock,
is Quinn. Lorac reveals to her followers that Balthasar knows they're up to something and they must act quickly, using
a spell which they believe will help defeat the Ebene. Copper, a Windian mage and expert on the spell, says that in
order for it to be done, a "vessel" must be chosen. After a brief debate, Leandra is chosen.
In the kitchen, Copper explains exactly what the spell entails for Leandra. She will be chosen to carry the dormant
"conduit" inside of her body, created by the other mages. At a future time, when she deems the heroes that rise out
of the Ebene attack ready to end the war, she will bring forth the conduit, which will help them to somehow eliminate the
Ebene channeling what Copper calls "the soul's ultimate power." The conduit is revealed to be a child and Adriana realizes
that the child is Star, the baby recently adopted by Tranns and Lucien. Adriana tries to determine who Star's parents
are, but Warren advises her just to listen. Adriana, however, becomes certain that the soul's ultimate power must be
love.
In the lobby, Lorac's mages discuss the spell as if they are preparing to die. Quinn seems eager to greet oblivion
and when asked why he joined up in the first place, the other mages imagine that it was to die, a fact that Warren confirms
for Adriana. Arrangements are made to carry out the spell, but things take a sour turn when Balthasar shows himself.
Mistaking Lao for the vessel, he kills her. The other mages drive him out, however, before he realizes his error.
Although devastated, the mages follow their plan. They call forth a powerful spell, only able to work because of
their pure souls and their devotion to good. The spell transforms the mages, turning all of them into pure energy which
enters into Leandra. Only Quinn is unable to sacrifice his life, a fact that devastates him. Leandra does her
best to comfort him, but they are cut short by the sound of people outside the House. As Adriana watches, Casey and
two companions stumble upon the apparently abandoned House. Quinn sees Casey and thus begins his obsession with her.
Before too much happens though, Warren releases Adriana from the spell and she returns to the present, with Lorac Mann's memory
necklace and a lot of questions concerning the nature of Tranns and Lucien's baby.
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