Back at her dorm, Alex deflected roommates Mercy and Lauren’s teasing about a supposed date and headed to Black Elm, dressed up and hoping to search Darlington’s rooms before the others arrived. In Darlington’s office and bedroom, she found little of use beyond an old carriage trade magazine noting the opening of North & Sons’ factory with Darlington’s marginal note, “the first?”, linking to the Bridegroom’s history.

Guests arrived: Dean Sandow, Michelle Alameddine, and from Aurelian, Amelia and Josh Zelinski. Over wine and small talk, Michelle recalled Darlington’s thrill-seeking tendencies; Alex and Dawes bristled at the tone but focused on the plan. Sandow proposed a hound-dog casting keyed to Black Elm’s deed, which Aurelian would activate to summon the signatories if the connection took. The group set a circle in the second-floor ballroom, leaving the northern gate open for Darlington’s return, and Alex stood watch for Grays without blood magic.

Sandow invoked in languages Darlington knew; candles flared green as hound howls seemed to answer. Aurelian ignited the deed with iron filings; legal words rose from the flames and vanished. The house surged to life—lights, music, television—then the Gray of an elderly man in a robe appeared and vanished. The team rang silver bells to draw Darlington through.

The ringing became uncontrollable, windows blew open, and spectral scenes of Black Elm’s past flickered. The air turned sulfurous; a massive presence pressed against the circle with booming impacts like something breaking through. Amid the din, an inhuman, deeper version of Darlington’s voice snarled “Murder,” and an immense, shifting hellbeast—boar, ram, scorpion aspects—loomed over them as if the house had fallen away.

Sandow seized control, casting Latin commands to silence and seal the house. The bells ceased; candles relit; only shattered glass testified to the manifestation. Amelia and Josh sobbed, Dawes was stunned, and Michelle paced in shock. Michelle concluded the creature had consumed Darlington and spoke with his voice because it had devoured his soul, not merely trapped him beyond the Veil.

Alex connected Darlington’s interrupted warning in the Rosenfeld basement—“It’s not a portal”—to the truth: the structure had been a mouth. Sandow, shaken and tearful, declared no soul could endure such consumption; they had raised only a poltergeist echo. Dawes repeated that Darlington was gone, and Alex did not deny it.

Outside, they found Darlington’s Mercedes had crashed into Amelia’s Land Rover, presumably under the poltergeist’s influence. Sandow arranged logistics; Michelle offered future help via Columbia’s Butler Library before departing. Alex supported a grieving Dawes as they left Black Elm in falling snow, recognizing that the hopeful belief in Darlington’s return had been shattered. The golden boy of Lethe was gone.