Jonas and Adriana leave the House to gather supplies, separating at a crossroads. In the down time, Daerid
challenges Krysta to a spar which results in serious injury to her. Lucikly, a healer named Valero has just
joined the Phoenix Fighters. He patches her up, but continually talks to himself. It is discovered that although
he is a capable doctor, Valero suffers from multiple personality disorder. Still, as the only immune healer they've
found, he is placed in charge of the health of all the Phoenix Fighters. While recovering, Krysta asks Ariadne
to tell her about her past. Ariadne relays a few dark moments from her tragic past that leave her so upset she decides
to do the unthinkable and leave the House for awhile. The second she steps out of the magically protected building,
she loses all of her powers and her body reverts to that of an Andorian demon.
Under the veil of night, she travels Shaldani in her true form. In the town formerly known as Mancaro, Ariadne
finds Jonas hiding in an alley from the Ebene. When he doesn't recognize her in her demon form, she tells him that her
name is Shiana and that she wants to help him. The two of them hide in the former Alzondo Tavern. Jonas explains
to Shiana that his supplier sold him out and that the Ebene chased him to Mancaro. Back at the House, Krysta begins
to grow concerned over Jonas' absence and decides to start searching.
Out on the road, Krysta is attacked by two Ebene officers on their way to Mancaro. She returns to the House
unsuccessful. In Mancaro, an officer and Ebene researcher, Eriol, finds Jonas and Shiana and easily overtakes
them. He begins a series of brutal experiments on Jonas in an attempt to find out what causes the immunity of the Phoenix
Fighters to the Ebene soul stealing portals. At the same time, he attempts to seduce Shiana to work for the Ebene, having
never seen an Andorian before.
Shiana plays along, trying to beguile Eriol. She insists that she won't cooperate until he feeds her. Further,
she informs him that Andorians only eat Human flesh and demands that he bring Jonas to her. Her plans fail when Eriol
brings her another Human test subject. She rejects him and Eriol promptly stabs him, murdering him in cold blood. Shiana
kills Eriol with her talons.
Finding Jonas, Shiana helps him to escape, then returns to the laboratory to free Eriol's other Human test subjects.
Unfortunately, Eriol has already sent the results of his test to Zelazny who now knows why the Phoenix Fighters are immune
to his portals. Jonas returns safely to the Phoenix House with tales of the mysterious Shiana. Secretly, Ariadne
returns home as well, distressed over her awful deeds and loss of blood innocence. She feels so terrible, that she locks
herself in her room. Adriana, meanwhile, returns. It is immediately clear something is wrong with her, but no
one can determine what.
