- Heath runs over to Zoey and hugs her. Aphrodite says he can stay, but her eyes are glassy, and she beckons him toward her.
- Erik says to get him out of there, which causes Heath to react jealously; Zoey reiterates that she is not Heath's girlfriend.
- Zoey knows something bad will happen if Heath steps into the circle. Aphrodite's body convulses as a wisp of gray leaves her, confirming that she was being possessed.
- Right then Damien leaps out saying that if Aphrodite doesn't contain the circle, the spirits will kill Heath. Aphrodite says she doesn't care, though, and her groupies drop their candles and run.
- Stevie Rae, Shaunee, and Erin all pop out, and they offer to form a circle with Zoey to contain the ghosts.
- Heath suddenly screams as the ghosts begin to tear at his clothes and leave him bleeding. Zoey summons all the elements to create the ritual circle, and pours out the goblet as a sacrifice to the spirits.
- She tells the spirits to accept the offering in their honor, and when they say they'd prefer fresh blood, she forces the spirits to disperse. Zoey closes the circle.
- Erin hands Zoey a mirror so she can see what has happened to her: Her Mark has been expanded, with a delicate-looking lacy swirl appearing around her eyes. Normally only adult vampyres get these markings. It extends to her shoulder, too.
- Aphrodite asks why it happened to Zoey and not her, and Zoey tells her off for being a selfish bully. Her friends pitch in, too.
- Zoey ends by telling Aphrodite that she's going to replace her as leader of the Dark Daughters, not because Zoey came to the House of Night seeking that kind of power, but because Nyx granted it to her.
- Aphrodite insults Zoey, saying she can't just take over—only a High Priestess can change the leadership—at which point Nefret speaks up, saying it's convenient that she's there.