Meanwhile, Lucien, taking on the role of the prime minister (and Aden's father), mistakes Insa for a concubine.  Mysteriously immune to the spell, Insa rejects him and he attacks her, only to be stopped by Tristan, also immune.  Lucien is distracted by the arrival of Tranns, playing a wiley slave, who informs him that his son has returned to the kingdom.  Together, Tranns and Lucien go to greet Aden, who offers Adriana as a gift to his fiance, Lex.  Lucien informs Aden that the monarch, Casey, is ill and may die soon.  It is time for Aden to marry Lex and take his place as future king.  Unknown to anyone else, Lucien is poisoning Casey.

 

Insa and Tristan determine that the Phoenix Fighters are enacting the opera and that they are immune because neither thinks in Common.  Tristan, familiar with the plot of the story notes that it ends with most of the cast dead.  Sensing Shadowman magik, they agree that Quinn is behind the plot and realize that Casey is slated to die along with everyone else.  They decide that the only chance they have of stopping the slaughter is to find Quinn and remind him of that fact.  Meanwhile, Tranns reveals that she knows Adriana's true identity, as princess, just before presenting her to Lex, a flighty, shallow girl who takes a liking to Adriana.

 

As they search for Quinn, Tristan and Insa learn more about one another, Tristan sharing his anguish over losing Mia and Insa confiding about her sordid past.  Back in the House, playing out the opera, Aden and Adriana are drawn to one another, so much so that their romance threatens to end Lucien's schemes.  Aden's affair with Adriana is further complicated when Aden's soldier, Gwen, announces the capture of the enemy king, played by Philip.  Together, Adriana and Tranns conspire to rescue Philip during Aden's wedding to Lex.

 

Sneaking through an Ebene stronghold, Tristan and Insa manage to find Quinn, revealing that he has joined up with the enemy against the Phoenix House.  Tristan informs Quinn of how the opera ends, including the fact that Casey ends up dead.  Quinn agrees, after some negotiation, to return to the House and undo the spell.  During this confrontation, Lucien decides to end Aden's dangerous romance with Adriana by killing her, however, when Gwen is sent to collect Adriana, Ariadne takes her place and is dragged off to Lucien.  He tries to poison her, but being immortal, Ariadne's body cannot die and she is able to break out of character.

 

Nevertheless, the opera continues to spiral toward its inevitably bloody climax.  Aden marries Lex, but is called away when informed of Philip's escape.  He discovers Tranns and Adriana helping Philip and realizes that Adriama is the enemy princess.  He is torn in whether or not to turn her in, but Lucien arrives on the scene.  He is about to kill Tranns when Quinn, Tristan, and Insa arrive.  With Quinn's instructions, Tristan manages to break the spell just in time.  Everyone is restored with full memories of the event and properly embarrassed for all the singing.