Inside the silent foyer, Genevieve took in extravagant yet decaying grandeur: a night-sky mosaic ceiling, jeweled murals, deep-blue wainscoting, and a tiered crystal chandelier dusted with neglect. She noted that large frames throughout were draped, which she discovered hid mirrors rather than artwork. In a side hall, a gallery of silver-framed oil portraits drew her attention: a pale-haired, black-eyed young woman posed with a snow leopard, and a similar-featured man with near-white eyes and a black owl.

A thud overhead pulled Genevieve into a vast ballroom, frescoed with violent scenes between supernatural beings and lined with tall windows, draped mirrors, and a massive gilded clock set to four. Spotting a grand staircase, she climbed to a balcony and saw Umbra, the black fox, which fled into a corridor of empty rooms. There, she was confronted by the girl from the portrait—Ellin—speaking an unfamiliar language that Genevieve nevertheless understood. Ellin accused her of arriving early for something called the Hunt, saying a funeral would be that night.

Sevin, Ellin’s brother with crimson eyes and tally-mark tattoos, arrived, also speaking the same mysteriously comprehensible language. He referenced a “Hellmouth,” Knox’s slaughter over centuries, and asked if Rowin had let Genevieve in, threatening to kill her quickly if she was not with Rowin or before Knox or someone named Grave found her. Genevieve claimed she was with Rowin, and as a shout sounded downstairs, Ellin and Sevin traded wary remarks about Grave and Rowin’s intentions.

Genevieve turned invisible to slip away, raced back to the foyer, and reached for her bags before Rowin trapped her against the wall, furious to discover she was a Specter. He accused her of ignoring warnings and declared she had no idea what game she had entered. Genevieve challenged his hostility and mentioned his siblings’ threats; Rowin demanded to know whom she had met and then pressed her with a pointed question about whether she was married, focusing on her gloved left hand, implying the answer had ominous consequences.

When Genevieve tried to leave, Rowin blocked her, saying that leaving ceased to be an option the moment she stepped inside. Without clarifying why, he grimly suggested she would need to get used to his presence. Rowin then summoned shadows that coalesced into Umbra, whose eyes matched his. He tasked Umbra with watching their “guest,” the word carrying a darker implication.

Before they could move, a voice addressed Rowin by his full name, Rowington, and a tall figure arrived in a swirl of violet smoke, reminding Rowin that Knox would be angry if the mirrors remained covered. Genevieve recognized the newcomer: Barrington Silver, finally appearing in person.