Summary

In Chapter 7, Mariana asks Clarissa to translate the message on the postcard. She reads it aloud in ancient Greek first. She says the quote is from Euripides, at a moment when a character calls on an oracle to find out if an upcoming battle will be in his favor. The quote is the oracle's answer, calling for the sacrifice of a “maiden of noble birth.” The reference is to Demeter and Persephone. Mariana is shaken, remembering how she prayed to Demeter just before Sebastian's death. She does not tell Clarissa about that but does talk about the fact that Tara's parents are Scottish nobles. Clarissa believes Tara probably wrote it because she is studying Greek tragedies under Edward Fosca. Clarissa says Mariana should talk to Zoe because Edward is Zoe's director of studies.

In Chapter 8, Mariana decides she should not confront...