Partying takes it toll, and Aiken is nearly exhausted by the time he gets back to Sylvania Jack's cabin. But the lure of the artifacts is enough to keep him awake for a time.

Feeling he needs to rest, the Kadie starts for the bedroom, only to notice the little box with the vermite statue in it. Giving in to his curiosity, he takes the obsidian rodent out and examines it in the lamplight. Noting the runes carved into look a little familiar, he takes the stone from his pocket that he found in the box of Gigi clothes at the Boathouse. Holding it close to the vermite where the runes look similar causes the statue to come alive and swallow the stone – and Aiken tosses the vermite away and goes to hide behind a crate.

The critter spots him though, and claims to be his familiar, since he activated the bonding ritual. It just needs a bit of his flesh and spirit to complete it, and then they can be as one and Aiken will learn the secrets of necromancy. The Kadie panics and literally runs up the wall, claiming over and over that he isn't a necromancer and doesn't want to be one.

The vermite isn't dissuaded, and suddenly vanishes. This makes Aiken really panicky. And then there's a knock on the door and Curiel's voice asking if he's alright. She wanted to see him before going to sleep. Aiken bolts the door, not wanting his wife to come in while a monster is on the loose, but this just makes her more suspicious – until she asks if he's been to the Boathouse, and if he has a girl in there with him.

Aiken has to open the door then, and goes out to assure his wife that he doesn't have a girl with him (although he did go to the Boathouse with Silas and Jack). Curiel hugs him, and he notices that she's very cold. It becomes apparent that 'Curiel' is really the vermite in disguise, and that it doesn't intend to let Aiken get away. The Kadie sees the stone hanging like a necklace around the creature's neck, and manages to yank it free. This causes the vermite to revert back to an inert statue, which the Kadie stuffs back into its box. Putting the stone into his pocket, he passes out right there on the floor.