Hell Bent

Mercy questions Alex about magic and Lethe. Later, Alex meets with Dawes, who is exhausted from researching the Gauntlet. Dawes considers stopping due to limited records, but Alex insists they must continue. Exploring Sterling Library, they find clues related to the Gauntlet’s path, mentioning Jost Amman, linked to Darlington’s “just a man” comment. They hit a dead end, failing to complete the required circuit for the ritual. Alex gets a call from Turner about another murder at Morse College. Before leaving, Dawes suggests Lethe might have built the Gauntlet but kept it hidden, and Alex wonders why there is no record of it.

Alex arrives at the scene of a second murder, this time of Dean Beekman. They examine the body and find that his neck is broken. The message on his desk, “Bewray not him that wandereth” (124), completes the biblical quote they discovered with Professor Stephen. Alex and Turner discuss the theatricality of leaving biblical quotes behind as clues. They wonder if someone is playing a game with them. They recognize the strange nature of these murders and acknowledge that magic blurs moral boundaries. Alex asks Turner if he has ever killed someone, implying she might want to involve him as one of the “murderers” for the Gauntlet ritual.

Turner agrees to meet Alex the following day, and they drive to Black Elm. Upon arriving at the house, they are greeted by Dawes, who expresses concern that Turner might report their activities. Alex insists that they need Turner’s help. Inside, Turner is shocked by the sight of a transformed Darlington and demands answers. Alex explains that he is trapped, and they need Turner’s assistance to free him. He initially refuses to get involved, but when Darlington recites the same biblical quote from the crime scenes, Turner gets frustrated. Downstairs, the doorbell rings, and Dawes checks the cameras to find Darlington’s parents at the door.

Turner and Dawes leave Alex to handle Darlington’s parents, Daniel and Harper Arlington. She seeks out the Gray of Darlington’s grandfather, who resides in Black Elm, to use his memories. They reveal the complexities of the Arlington family, including strained relationships, secrets, and regrets.

The Arlingtons insist on seeing their son, unaware of his condition. Alex poses as a house-sitter and tells them Darlington is in Spain, implying he wants distance from them, and urges them to leave. Tensions rise, and Darlington’s grandfather briefly takes control of Alex, expressing bitterness toward his son, which frightens Daniel. Eventually, the Arlingtons depart, promising to return with their lawyer. After they leave, Alex regains control and dismisses Darlington’s grandfather.

Alex ponders what she learned from Darlington’s grandfather about the Arlingtons pressuring Darlington to sell Black Elm. Despite the risks, she is determined to help Darlington confront his family. She and Dawes need a fourth murderer for the ritual, which requires accessing the Peabody Museum’s basement. Dawes hesitates about involving Turner, but eventually agrees.

Back on campus, Alex meets with Mercy and Lauren, discussing Dean Beekman’s murder and faculty jealousy, particularly in the English department. Alex wants to identify potentially motivated professors. Lauren suggests a Halloween party to lift their spirits, and they reluctantly agree. Alone with Mercy, Alex hints at a connection between Beekman’s and Marjorie Stephen’s deaths, implicating the secret societies. Mercy is horrified and tearfully urges Alex to stop the perpetrators.

Turner, Alex, and Dawes meet outside the Peabody Museum. Alex shares her findings on aging poisons in connection with Marjorie Stephen’s death. While Turner is interested, Alex doubts any are the culprits. In the museum’s hidden basement room, they find an amethyst model of New Haven that reveals the locations of individuals who committed specific crimes. In their case, they are looking for murderers. Turner gets suspicious and asks about the age of the artifact. When Dawes says it dates to the 1850s, he realizes it was created to locate Black people trying to escape enslavement. Alex offers to help destroy it, but Turner angrily tells them to finish.

The map points them to the tomb of Skull and Bones, which they discover is empty except for Tripp Helmuth, a former member of the society. Tripp explains that he has not graduated and has been stealing food due to financial constraints. Alex and Turner strike a deal with Tripp. In exchange for his help, he will avoid trouble with the Bonesmen and receive payment. Tripp accepts their offer.