The dark volume

A young heiress Miss Temple awakes from a fever to discover she has shot her fiancé dead. Fleeing from suspicious villagers, Miss Temple finds herself with a most unlikely companion in the shape of the seductive and deadly Contessa de Lacquer-Sforza. Meanwhile, assassin Cardinal Chang is following an orgy of destruction left by debauched aristocrat Francis Xonck, whose mind and body have been corrupted by a mysterious 'process'. Elsewhere, Dr. Svenson accompanies a sick young woman whose memories have been drawn from her, in the hope that what she can remember will help him unravel the mystery of a diabolical cabal bent on world dominion. As Miss Temple, Cardinal Chang and Dr Svenson uncover the devilish schemes of their deadly enemies, terrifying secrets are revealed one by one.