Raven's Peak

Haatim awakens after the battle with Belphegor. Abigail contacts Frieda to cancel the strike and report success. Haatim learns that his spiritual knowledge and prayers now have real power against evil.

Abigail confronts Belphegor in the factory. The demon offers to return Arthur alive in exchange for retrieving a hidden knife from the mine tunnels. Abigail refuses the deal to preserve Arthur's ideals. The demon attacks with devastating telekinetic power, hurling machinery and tools.

Abigail hunts Belphegor through town. She sends Haatim away in a hot-wired car. She tracks the demon to a motel where Desiree (Bret's mother, driven insane) reveals Bret was taken to the factory.

Haatim is confronted with truth about the Ninth Circle organization and demonic possession. Abigail reveals demon Abaddon has marked him as replacement vessel. Apartment comes under attack. Abigail poisons Haatim to prevent possession. They escape as Ninth Circle closes in.

Marcus and Abigail meet at breakfast, establishing a complex dynamic of antagonism, attraction, and hidden agendas. Marcus reveals controlled knowledge of Abigail while maintaining mystery about his own motives.

Marcus follows Abigail through the city, observing her movements and interactions. The chapter reveals Marcus's tactical mindset and his covert interest in Abigail. His military/intelligence background is suggested through his methods of surveillance and situational awareness.

Abigail meets a mysterious woman in a library who makes her a cryptic offer regarding a book and reveals knowledge of Abigail's past. The encounter is tense and suggestive of danger.

The Reverend, imprisoned and obsessed with self-flagellation as penance, is interrupted by a visitor named Frieda from his past life. The chapter establishes his fractured mental state, his isolation, and hints at past crimes or sins.

Abigail searched the area surrounding the old mining town, and it didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for: a hidden entrance at the top of a waterfall leading underground. It was covered by a number of huge stones, and it took them a good thirty minutes to clear the area.