Chapter Summaries

Salomon told Coulson that the demonic threat remained active and asked him to drive to Houston, where Salomon planned to apologize to Romanoff. Coulson learned that Salomon had killed Romanoff and revived her, then crashed the car after Salomon revealed that Captain America had fallen in love with Peggy Carter’s niece.

• Salomon told Coulson that a fallen elemental creature had been captured, but the stowaway from Hell was still alive and remained their target.
• Salomon asked Coulson to drive him out of the base, and Coulson took him toward Houston in a Corvette.
• Salomon said he wanted to apologize to Romanoff and explained that he had killed her by piercing her heart to test whether she was a disguised monster, then revived her.
• Coulson worried that Romanoff might have suffered the painful effects of Project TAHITI, but Salomon said her wound had healed without a scar and he did not think she had felt pain.
• Salomon told Coulson that Captain America had fallen in love with Peggy Carter’s niece, and Coulson drove the car into a roadside ditch.

Salomon joined the Kamar-Taj Arcanists’ mission to stop Blackheart from claiming the San Venganza Contract, while also serving as bait for Mephisto’s avatar. The group reached the ruined town and prepared to attack, with Salomon and Cassilius advancing together.

• Coulson cut ties with Salomon for a month after Salomon insulted Captain America and Laura was damaged.
• Mordo briefed Salomon and the Arcanists on Blackheart’s plan to find the San Venganza Contract and rescue Ghost Rider’s girlfriend.
• Mordo led the Arcanists through a portal to the plains near San Venganza Town, where they arranged their forces for an assault.
• Salomon accepted his transformed Luoyang Twin Blades and learned that the Sorcerer Supreme was monitoring the mission to capture Mephisto’s avatar if it appeared.
• Cassilius joined Salomon on the approach to town, recognized the Vampiric magic on his blades, and insisted he could handle Blade Pact.

Salomon and the Arcanists captured Blackheart in the abandoned town, but Master Hamir reported that the chapel containing the contract had been ransacked. Carter Slade arrived with the group, and Salomon told Robbie that Johnny had been delayed by S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Salomon used Hadar's Grasp to interrupt Blackheart's chant, and the Arcanists bound and pinned the demon.
• Master Hamir told Mordo that the chapel had been ransacked and Carter Slade was barely alive when they found him.
• Carter Slade refused to reveal the contract's location, then traveled through a portal to San Venganza with the Arcanists.
• The Arcanists brought Robbie to the group, and Carter Slade introduced himself as the previous Ghost Rider.
• Salomon told Robbie that Johnny was delayed after S.H.I.E.L.D. stopped him for speeding, then urged Carter Slade to see Blackheart and hand over the contract.

The Arcanists recovered the San Venganza Contract from Carter Slade and revealed that their real mission was to trap Mephisto. The chapter ended as Mephisto appeared at the church and Salomon, Mordo, and Cassilius prepared to fight him.

• Salomon told Carter Slade that the Arcanists served Vishanti and demanded the San Venganza Contract.
• Master Hamir explained that people had the freedom to choose their fate, and Carter Slade agreed to lead the Arcanists to the contract.
• Mordo sent Blackheart back to Kamar-Taj and Master Hamir took Robbie, while Mordo, Salomon, and Cassilius accompanied Carter Slade to the church.
• Carter Slade retrieved the contract from a tree and asked the Arcanists how they would keep their promise.
• Mephisto emerged from behind a gravestone, and Salomon, Mordo, and Cassilius readied themselves to trap him.

Mephisto confronted Salomon and Carter Slade over the contract, but the Kamar-Taj sorcerers tried to drain power from his avatar and trap him in the Mirror Dimension. After Mephisto attacked, the Sorcerer Supreme brought the group back to Kamar-Taj and assigned them their next tasks.

• Mephisto demanded Carter Slade's contract, but Salomon took it and warned that the devil's avatar would weaken as it used more power.
• Cassilius and Salomon attacked Mephisto with Magic Missiles, and Mordo bound him with demonic flame to draw more of his power into the avatar.
• Mephisto vanished from Mordo's binding, but the Sorcerer Supreme's Mirror Dimension enclosed the chapel and its surroundings.
• Mephisto reappeared and attacked with hellfire, prompting the Sorcerer Supreme to open a portal that brought the group back to Kamar-Taj.
• The Sorcerer Supreme sent Cassilius to take Carter Slade to rest, ordered Salomon to place the contract in the vault and deliver it to Vishanti, and told the injured Mordo to rest.

Salomon returned to Kamar-Taj, where the Sorcerer Supreme scolded him about resting and hinted she would attend his parent-teacher conference with Athena. He later met Coulson in Central Park to collect a dangerous grimoire, then left without agreeing to cooperate, saying he had a tea party to attend.

• The Sorcerer Supreme warned Salomon to rest, praised his school performance, and announced she planned to attend his parent-teacher conference with Athena.
• Salomon returned to his bedroom, arranged a handover with Coulson, and told Bayonetta and Jeanne he would sleep at Kamar-Taj.
• Salomon met Coulson in Central Park and explained that the grimoire’s spells could endanger all humanity.
• Coulson handed Salomon the grimoire, and Salomon checked it for the Azathoth Summoning Ritual.
• Salomon refused to agree to cooperate with Coulson and left to attend his art teacher’s tea party.

Athena brought Salomon to an art exhibition at the Four Seasons Hotel, where she introduced him to her artist friend Vanessa. Salomon remained unimpressed by the social event and the abstract painting, and Athena and Vanessa took him toward the buffet.

• Athena dressed Salomon for the exhibition and drove with him to the Four Seasons Hotel in a red Ferrari.
• Athena introduced Salomon to her artist friends, who welcomed him after learning he studied at Eton College on a King's Scholarship.
• Athena led Salomon through the exhibition and introduced him to Vanessa, the artist who had recently returned from Italy.
• Athena explained that Vanessa was seeking a patron, while Salomon tried to steer their conversation toward the buffet.
• Vanessa dismissed the guests' shallow interest in art and invited Athena and Salomon to leave the painting.

At an art exhibition in New York, Salomon learned that S.H.I.E.L.D. had taken Robbie into its custody while trying to monitor Johnny Blaze. Coulson then revealed that Johnny had disappeared and even Robbie could not contact him.

• Vanessa asked Athena where Arthur was, and Salomon realized the Sorcerer Supreme had once attended the exhibition disguised as a man.
• Athena told Salomon she would sponsor Vanessa in opening a New York gallery, then pulled him away from the buffet and into the exhibition.
• Salomon recognized Coulson at the exhibition and met his girlfriend, Audrey, while Athena led Audrey away to meet artists.
• Salomon asked Coulson where Johnny Blaze was and accused S.H.I.E.L.D. of taking Robbie away under the pretense of protecting her.
• Coulson said Robbie was safe but admitted Johnny had disappeared, leaving Salomon shocked.

Salomon learned that S.H.I.E.L.D. had concealed what it knew about Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider, and he refused to offer magical help unless Ghost Rider was actually in their custody. Afterward, Athena became jealous over Salomon’s relationships and threatened him with more spear training.

• Coulson told Salomon that Johnny Blaze had disappeared after S.H.I.E.L.D. arranged for him to meet Robbie, but he lacked clearance to explain more.
• Salomon suspected that Nick Fury had secretly captured Ghost Rider and warned that magic was required to contain the spirit.
• Salomon refused to provide Kamar-Taj’s magical assistance unless S.H.I.E.L.D. confirmed that it held Ghost Rider.
• Athena scolded Salomon for meeting S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and spending time with Bayonetta, then threatened to make him train with a spear.
• Salomon defended Bayonetta as the partner he had chosen, and Athena approved after he compared his ideal partner to her.

Athena and Salomon argued over his relationship with Bayonetta, with Athena warning that the Witch might not understand the burdens he would face. After a disastrous dinner with Bayonetta and Jeanne, Salomon returned to the orphanage, where Lorna questioned him and punched him for praising his girlfriend’s figure.

• Athena criticized Salomon’s manners at the art exhibition and insisted that social skills were part of his training.
• Salomon told Athena he had seriously considered her concerns but still believed Bayonetta was right for him.
• Athena reluctantly permitted Salomon to pursue Bayonetta but warned that he would eventually understand her doubts.
• At the orphanage, Lorna confronted Salomon and Athena for leaving the children with only bread while they went out.
• Salomon explained that his dinner with Bayonetta had also included Jeanne and had been painfully awkward.
• Salomon described Bayonetta’s figure to Lorna, who punched him in the stomach.

Salomon continued his studies at Eton while monitoring the threat surrounding The Book of Eibon and considering the dangers of time magic. In the Mirror Dimension, he began testing a new spell by summoning a shadowy tentacle.

• Salomon returned to his theology classes at Eton while Kamar-Taj watched for dimensional disturbances and possible copies of The Book of Eibon.
• Salomon suspected that Coulson’s earlier meeting with him had been staged and wondered why S.H.I.E.L.D. had not contacted him about New Mexico or the Ghost Riders.
• Salomon studied the Silver Key’s patterns and learned about the spells Time Trap and Gate of Worlds, which The Venerable One had forbidden him to use in their spacetime.
• Salomon entered the Mirror Dimension to practice a new, safer spell that he had learned after exhausting the second-level spells available to him.
• Salomon cast the spell, and a black tentacle formed from shadow rose from the ground.

Salomon struggled to perfect Efa's Black Tentacles, a fourth-level spell, while balancing school and his friendships. After two weeks of practice, the spell finally worked when it caught the Cheshire Cat, and Salomon celebrated by promising it beef.

• Salomon cast a weak, flawed version of Efa's Black Tentacles and revised the spell structure in his spellbook.
• Salomon went to class exhausted after trying the spell again, and Bradshaw invited him to a gathering at his family home.
• Salomon declined the invitation but later enjoyed cranberry jelly Bradshaw brought to him.
• Salomon spent two weeks correcting the spell and thought he still had not found all its errors.
• The Cheshire Cat jumped over Salomon's shadow pool, and the tentacles caught it, showing Salomon that he had mastered the spell.
• Salomon rewarded the Cheshire Cat with a promise of two cans of beef, and the cat protested his claim that it weighed fifteen pounds.

Salomon continued developing his magic and used the Cauldron of the Cosmos to search for the missing Ghost Rider. His divination was interrupted when Mephisto called out to him.

• Salomon expanded his spellcasting, alchemy, and divination skills after reaching the fourth circle.
• Salomon discussed the Eye of Agamotto and parallel worlds with The Venerable One, who pointed to his Silver Key rather than explaining further.
• At the New York Sanctum, Salomon rejected the Cloak of Levitation again but promised to let it play with the Cheshire Cat.
• Salomon dragged the Cauldron of the Cosmos into place to locate the Ghost Rider and planned to use Eagle Eye to find Johnny Blaze.
• Salomon considered crafting Vampiric Gloves because the spells required for his preferred Iron Serpent Bracers were beyond his abilities.
• Mephisto suddenly addressed Salomon, accusing him of watching.

Salomon used the Cauldron of the Cosmos to search for Ghost Rider and discovered that Mephisto had another avatar on Earth, then reported it to the Sorcerer Supreme. Mordo took over the surveillance, but confronted Salomon for breaking Kamar-Taj’s rules and ordered him to apologize to the Venerable One.

• Salomon used the Cauldron of the Cosmos to track Ghost Rider, and Mephisto’s weak Hellfire retaliated through the artifact.
• Salomon inferred that Mephisto had multiple avatars on Earth and sent a message to the Sorcerer Supreme warning her of the new sighting.
• Mordo took over Eagle Eye surveillance while recovering from his injuries, and Salomon warned him to protect the ceiling from fire.
• Salomon told Mordo he had seen Mephisto near Ghost Rider, but Mordo accused him of violating Kamar-Taj’s rules and dismissed the warning.
• Mordo blamed Salomon’s changed behavior on the Witch and ordered him to apologize to the Venerable One.

Salomon left Kamar-Taj to buy ingredients for dinner and unexpectedly met the blind lawyer Matt Murdock after fighting off street thugs. He vanished before Matt could stop him, leaving Matt baffled by another of New York’s strange encounters.

• The Venerable One reassured Salomon that she did not blame him for using a magical artifact and praised his inventive spellwork.
• Athena called to say Lorna wanted to apologize, and Jeanne called to list ingredients for the evening’s meal and dessert.
• Salomon ignored Tony Stark’s call, traveled to New York, and went to buy groceries, collecting cash, a handgun, and marijuana from several thugs who attacked him.
• Matt Murdock confronted Salomon and warned him to leave the neighborhood, but Salomon said he still needed to shop.
• Salomon vanished before Matt could finish speaking, leaving Matt wondering at the strange disappearance.

Salomon prepared cakes and red wine jelly at home before Tony Stark arrived uninvited to ask about his magic and studies. The chapter ended with Stark asking whether Salomon had heard of the Tesseract.

• Salomon used magic to prepare plum wine chiffon cake, strawberry chiffon cake, and red wine jelly for Jeanne, Bayonetta, and the orphanage children.
• When Tony Stark rang his doorbell, Salomon initially shut the door on him and refused to welcome him inside.
• Tony Stark persuaded Salomon to let him in, and Salomon served him red wine jelly while asking why he had come.
• Tony Stark watched Salomon's animated kitchen utensils and questioned him about cooking, his girlfriend, and attending Eton College.
• When Tony Stark asked about the Tesseract, Salomon warned him not to provoke him and then asked what he wanted to know.

Tony Stark visited Salomon to discuss S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Tesseract research and asked him to help investigate it. Salomon refused, warned that changing the predetermined outcome would bring worse consequences, and reassured Stark that he would take responsibility for the lives at stake.

• Tony Stark explained how his research had revealed that S.H.I.E.L.D. was still studying the Tesseract at the Project Pegasus base in New Mexico.
• Stark asked Salomon to assist him with the Tesseract research as both a magical and scientific assistant.
• Salomon described the Akashic Records and argued that Stark's involvement would interfere with a fate already determined by the universe.
• Salomon refused to help Stark change the outcome, saying his teacher had chosen the least terrible path and humanity needed to prepare for threats beyond Asgard.
• As Stark prepared to leave, Salomon told him not to blame himself and promised to find a solution, accepting responsibility for the innocent lives at stake.

Salomon showed Tony Stark a vision of his future daughter with Pepper Potts, leaving Stark eager to know whether the vision would come true. After Stark’s excited remarks sparked pregnancy rumors, Bayonetta asked Salomon whether they would have a daughter too.

• Stark questioned Salomon about his future daughter, and Salomon revealed that she would be Morgan, his child with Pepper Potts.
• Salomon shared a vision of Stark’s future family, including Morgan skiing with Captain America’s shield, while warning that diverging timelines made the future uncertain.
• Stark left Salomon’s home and told reporters that Pepper was pregnant and they were having a daughter.
• Stark Industries denied that Pepper was pregnant but confirmed that she and Stark were in a relationship.
• Bayonetta asked Salomon whether she and he would have a daughter, prompting Jeanne to protest her teasing.

Salomon told Bayonetta he feared his fate might be predetermined and that escaping it could drive him mad, while Bayonetta reassured him that they would fight fate together. The chapter ended with Salomon preparing to explain in detail why he loved her, as Jeanne was left out of their conversation.

• Bayonetta flirted with Salomon while Jeanne kept her from getting close to him.
• Salomon admitted he doubted whether he was absent from the Akashic Records and feared his Silver Key and events in Salem Town pointed to a fixed destiny.
• Bayonetta told Salomon she chose to be with him because of her own feelings and said they would rebel against fate if it threatened their family.
• Bayonetta asked Salomon why he liked her, and he began preparing a detailed answer while Jeanne was ignored and quietly burped.

Salomon avoided Stark’s repeated attempts to draw him into magic, then visited Stark Industries and saw Tony Stark’s Iron Armor workshop. He left after Pepper Potts arrived, leaving her flowers as a housewarming gift.

• The Sorcerer Supreme declined to answer Salomon directly about whether he appeared in the Akashic Records, and Salomon fled when she questioned him about having children.
• Salomon ignored Tony Stark’s calls and spent his free time at the New York Sanctum sewing magical gloves.
• After Stark continued pestering him, Salomon opened a portal to Stark Industries and inspected Stark’s Iron Armors, including the Mark 6.
• Stark told Salomon he had designed an armor for his future daughter, and Salomon said she would like it.
• Pepper Potts entered with documents, and Salomon introduced himself, conjured flowers for her, and left.