Your heart goes ‘bang’!

A month of diligent research passes. The group believes they have the list of artefacts needed to perform the exorcism ritual. They must recreate a room reminiscent of ancient Egypt. They plan to lure the spirits inside using the scarab and then exorcise them.

To obtain the artefacts, Cornie uses her contacts. She promotes an exhibition/show recreating life in ancient Egypt. The owners agree to lend them the artefacts but want VIP seats and a large share of the profits.

Balthazar and Grace agree that the ritual should take place in the Masonic Lodge, and they will divert the energy of these spirits to create a magical Node that they will control – but shhh, that’s a secret.

Pidge decides to put on a free street theatre performance to cheer up the less well-off residents. She asks Duncan to write the play – a play that portrays the English as child-eaters and orphan-makers, whom they will devour – what monsters! Duncan warns that this might cause a stir, but Pidge insists. He suggests that, to get rid of the English, it would be better to persuade the Scottish Parliament or to find those responsible for the attack on the castle. A play is, after all, much more fun to put on.

And indeed, it does cause a stir. The play is a hit; all the children in town are talking about it, and so are their parents. But as a result, the English soldiers feel insulted and tensions rise. Theo Bell points out to Pidge that, whilst the quality of the play is undeniable, it would be good form for the Edinburgh police chiefs to put a stop to it. Pidge prefers to wind up the English – it’s more fun.

To smooth things over with the English delegation, Captain Edward Pennyworth, its leader, has been officially invited to the Egyptology event to be held very soon at the Lodge.

Meical manages to secure a spirit for the sacrifice to Seth. The spirit is provided by Balthazar. The sacrifice goes off without a hitch, with the cultists led by Lucrezia and Denon. When the heart is swallowed, the various occultists in the city sense a disturbance in the Force. Meical, for his part, feels the warmth of his God. His eyes take on a serpentine appearance and gleam in the night.

Cornie is called in by the police. Matthias has fallen into a trap. An informant told him about a large shipment in a warehouse at the port. He and his men were violently attacked there by a group of masked men. Mathias is the sole survivor, but he is in a very bad way. He believes this is a message from his attackers, the Headless Knight gang.

Cornie arranges for a private doctor and the best possible equipment to aid the policeman’s speedy recovery. Pidge and Meical go to investigate at the harbour. James accompanies them. They find the site of the ambush. One crate bears a drawing of a headless knight. When Meical opens it, it explodes.

The two vampires end up in the mortuary and are freed by their companions, who can see the damage they’ve suffered. Their faces and bodies are burnt, and Pidge has lost his familiar. Prunella asks him if he wants some make-up – she’s good at make-up – ‘yes, yes, and anyway, you’re still ugly, so it makes no difference whether it’s a bit more or a bit less.’

Meical is contacted by Ada, who is passing through Edinburgh; she has been visited by Ardeth, who showed her what was either a miracle or a scam. But the mummies in her exhibition have started to move. He claims this is proof that his gods have returned and that she would be a valuable ally. By the way, why did you give him my contact details? In any case, it was awful, but I don’t know if it was the moving ancient artefacts or Ardeth’s excitement. Yes, I’m going back to London.

The Prince is not going to be happy…