Accused of the slaughter of pauper children in the wake of the touring theatre company he manages, Tom Sayers is forced to disappear into a twilight world of music halls and travelling boxing booths. As he seeks the truth behind the killings, he is pursued in turn by the tireless Detective Inspector Sebastian Becker. Desperate to ensure the safety of actress Louise Porter, Sayers calls on an old friend, Bram Stoker, for help. But Stoker's links with the world of the Victorian occult lead Sayers to discover a danger even greater than he could have imagined. Thrown into a maelstrom of obsession, betrayal, and sacrifice - where even the pure may not escape damnation - Sayers must face the implications of an unthinkable bargain...