Ancient secrets threaten everything Sophia has come to treasure. They thought they were past the evil that had resulted in multiple murders, but Sophia quickly learns that the darkness seeping into the Athenaeum didn't stop with Dion's death. A magical infection begins to spread through the population, resulting in violence and paranoia. Lucas, the head of security, is on her side, but one by one, her list of allies and friends diminishes until she feels surrounded by enemies. Worse, the gods who protect the Athenaeum can do little to help. Sophia has to delve into the most hidden treasures of the ancient library to try to uncover the source of the infection. In doing so, she learns secrets that the world has long since forgotten, ones that terrify her. Yet nothing seems to be able to tell her what's causing the unrest. Then she's attacked repeatedly, and the few people she can trust begin to fear for her safety. While death isn't high on her to do list, she finds herself more afraid for the world.