Richard must endure the Black Friars' ordeal, taking him to the blackest heart of his inner demons. His only objective: to survive--while the Marquis de Carabas meets an even crueler fate at the hand of Mr. Croup.

A memory of Anesthesia helps Richard pass the test laid out before him by the Friars, and he and Door are given the key Islington has sent them for. They head to the floating market to meet the Marquis, not knowing that he's been murdered by Vandemar and Croup, who's client is revealed to the reader.