Fresh from their exoneration of the crime of violating the Masquerade, the coterie is summoned by the Baroness Tala. They discover that a familiar face has returned after ten years: Tala’s own childer, Soma. The coterie helps Soma relinquish his former life, and accompany him to his first Ball in over ten years. They find a moment of joy, but their illusions of levity are shattered immediately once a gunshot rings and tragedy strikes.