A kind of magic

The group continues to go about its business, with Meical receiving a letter from Ada explaining how her relationship with Ardeth began.

Balthazar and Pidge decide to investigate Adler’s secret society. As things are a bit tricky on the streets, the Hecata decides to go to her Masonic lodge to seek advice from his Sire. Certain details have caught her attention, and after searching through her files, she tells her infant that the symbol belongs to the Sons of Ether. Mages capable of warping reality. She isn’t very familiar with this branch; she herself is closer to the Euthanatos. She advises caution, as a Mage on high alert is extremely dangerous.
Even though they look like a bunch of bumbling idiots, they have access to resources we can’t begin to fathom. At least the team will be able to study them, as they’re currently setting up their laboratory at Dr Murie’s place.
In an attempt to understand what led to their ostracism from Oxford, Balthazar sends a letter to the prestigious university asking for a letter of recommendation. Perhaps it is a conflict between Mages, or a political struggle, but it would be good to know exactly where the Vampires are getting themselves into.

Given this revelation, it is quite possible that the gloves, the android, the book (given to the Tremeres), and the battery-like object found last time are magical items, which explains why it is impossible to use or understand them. Let’s hope that giving a magical grimoire to the Tremeres, former Mages, wasn’t a bad idea.

Meical goes to see Ardeth to express his sympathy over the loss of his museum. The Egyptologist thanks him and explains that he hopes to encourage all the colonies to demand the return of the stolen artefacts to their countries. And indeed, Finn can attest that Ardeth is a tireless campaigner, building up a network amongst the colonised peoples. Ardeth thus hopes to persuade Cairo to create a much larger and more modern museum, as it will need to house more artefacts.
He is searching for many artefacts, but in particular a Bronze Age scarab, which is unique because the stone from which it is carved should not have been workable until the Iron Age. This scarab, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, was stolen during the flood, and Ardeth believes it is in the United Kingdom.
Sensing that he is hiding something from her, Meical’s beast takes over; the vampire’s eyes turn serpentine and red, his voice becomes a hiss, and Meical forces Ardeth to admit that the scarab is also very precious because it was used by the cult of Imhotep to guide souls to Heliopolis.
Fortunately, James, who was accompanying the vampire, realises that Ardeth is the only one who has noticed that the masquerade breach. But he is certain that the relationship with Ardeth will change somewhat.

The group heads to the Nosferatu court to find out what is going on. There, they exchange information about the Spirits’ silence for intelligence that the Ventrues are attempting to undermine the Prince, using the Fair as a pretext.