Content Warning: Harper L. Woods provides a list of content and trigger warnings, including depictions of “rough and explicit sexual content,” consent violations, “ritualistic murder,” “forced feeding,” and graphic violence and abuse. This section of the guide includes discussions of abuse, violence, murder, and the mutilation of a corpse.

Alaric Grayson Thorne, or “Gray,” narrates, describing the appreciation that he has developed for Hollow’s Grove University in the 329 years since his “making.” He particularly enjoys the “tantalizing” aroma of the students’ witch blood. Now, he meets with the Covenant, the reanimated skeletal remains of Susannah Madizza and George Collins. These two witches were hanged many generations ago and were then resurrected by Charlotte Hecate so that they could lead the Coven. While Susannah has many descendants, George has none because male witches are forced to choose between having families and retaining their magic. Vessels like Gray—humanlike avatars for demons—are not made to be subservient. However, entities like Gray do rely on the witches for the magic that keeps their demon spirit bound to their Vessels, which do not decay like human bodies. Susannah and George have decided to reopen the university. Although Gray cautions against this, the Covenant insists that the measure is necessary for the preservation of witches and Vessels alike.