Summary

In an effort to understand Marco's magic in the competition, Celia decides to steal his leather bound books so she can study his innermost thoughts and secrets. Perhaps if she can, she can figure out a way that they can be together for longer than a few stolen hours without compromising the competition. As she sneaks out of Marco's apartment, her father's ghost confronts her in the hallway: "You deceitful little slut" (Page 390). When she demands to know more about the competitions so that she can end it, he tells her that the competition is a test of strength, and that clearly she is weaker than he thought. Celia is horrified when he tells her that a winner will never be declared: they simply must play on until one of the opponents dies. Only then will the competition be over, and...