Guinevere Godiva is showing a man called Doctor Evans her collection of memorabilia dedicated to great magicians. But Evans is hardly interested in her collection, stating that he is a man of science. She states that is why she invited him, she needs his expertise on crystal structures. He marvels at the cabinet she presents to him, but states that it will probably won’t work like it used to or at fully capacity. But Godiva simply asks if he has a crystal that will make it work. He hands her a crystal that is a replica of the specifications handed to him. She opens the cabinet in question and Evans slots the crystal into its place…but it quickly glows and disintegrates to dust. Evans is confused as to what happened, it shouldn’t have glowed. He insists that he should return to his lab, but Godiva is furious and shoves him into another cabinet. She sadistically explains her trick, the magician locks his assistant into a cabinet and produces a saw. To make sure the saw is sharp, usually a member of the audience has to verify it. But since its just the two of them, he’ll have to verify it first hand…as she plunges the saw through the cabinet and begins to hack away at the scientist as he screams in agony...
Ellie has taken the day off to help with Litefoot at his bookshop as he has just had a large delivery of books from a house clearance. He despairs at the sight of the paperback books, thinking them flimsy and transient in design. Ellie suddenly gasps at the sight of something amongst the pile, and quickly excuses herself from the shop. The door opens and a man with a strong Russian accent enters the shop and says that he is looking for a certain book…
Jago is reclining in Higgies having a drink. Ellie returns from Litefoot’s shop and Jago asks her about his whereabouts. He states that he is taking a break from show biz until the special live show that shows off the new Palace Theatre. Ellie states that he’s busy working at this bookshop with a customer, a strange looking man according to Ellie. He was a tall, skinny man dressed in black with a Russian accent that was cold as ice…
The book in question according to the Russian man, who is identified as Dreislav, is called ‘The Bloodchild Codex’. Litefoot can’t seem to find it in any of his catalogues, so he asks for information about the author. Dreislav states the author was Thomas Bloodchild, a man born in the 18th Century and he was an illusionist and patron of magic. According to Dreislav, Bloodchild was fascinated with the paranormal and collected all sorts of strange and mystical items. Litefoot mentions that he knows someone who is familiar with theatrical magic. Dreislav infers that Litefoot is referring to Guinevere Godiva. He is familiar with her and has met her numerous times, but her collection is only for certain eyes. He himself has not seen her collection, but states that she started her collection at the very same museum where Bloodchild started his fascination with the paranormal. Litefoot suggests that Dreislav seeks out the book in the museum, but Dreislav advises against it as only one copy exists and the other copies where supposedly destroyed in a house fire that killed Bloodchild – a fire that Dreislav believes was caused by dark, unseen forces. Litefoot is sceptical of his claim and poses more rational possibilities for the fire, but Dreislav stands by his belief. He states that Bloodchild acquired an ancient book from the Dark Ages written in old Welsh. He spent years translating the book and eventually finished doing so. He casted a spell that opened a portal to a dimension home to demons and allowed the fires of Hell to consume his house. Litefoot tries to hold himself back from laughing at the story…
Jago sits with Ellie. He notes how she looks lost in thought and asks if the stranger at the bookshop may pose a threat to Litefoot. Ellie is dismissive and denies the threat to Litefoot’s wellbeing. Jago presses Ellie for more information on what could be troubling her. She starts by saying she saw a certain book…but before she elaborates, she backtracks and tells Jago to forget what she said.
Back at the bookshop, Litefoot asks Dreislav about the validity of his claim that there is one copy of the Bloodchild Codex in existence, and of all the hundreds of bookshops in London, why come to his one? Dreislav simply states that he’s been looking for a long time and believes the trail leads to Litefoot’s shop. He confirms that Litefoot recently took in a large number of books from a house clearance. Litefoot is perturbed by his knowledge, but Dreislav informs him that he was simply tracking the book and believed it to be in possession of the man Litefoot claimed the books from. In fact, the man Litefoot claimed the books from died rather suddenly. The lawyers dealing with his estate palmed the books off to Litefoot to evaluate their value in the meanwhile. Dreislav assumes this means Litefoot must have the book amongst the pile somewhere, so he informs Litefoot that he is staying at the Savoy hotel and to contact him should he find the book. Dreislav leaves the shop and Litefoot is left rather confused by his encounter with the gentleman…
The next morning, Litefoot is visited by Sergeant Sacker, who apologises for the early visit. He invites the officer inside. Sacker states that he’s here to give Litefoot a warning. He asks the Professor if he has heard of ‘The Brain Drain Killer’, a serial killer that seems to be targeting academics. The academics go missing for several days before turning up dead. The only defining link between the academics is that the killer is targeting people whose field of expertise involves crystals. Litefoot asks Sacker if he believes him to be a target. Sacker reluctantly admits the cases have the police stumped and he’s privately come to ask Litefoot for insight. Litefoot accepts his request, so Sacker informs him of a third missing person – Doctor Evans…
Ellie is helping out with Litefoot’s book cataloguing when a woman enters the shop. Ellie asks her if she is looking for a particular book. The woman asks if the shop stocks any books relating to magic – particularly a book called ‘The Bloodchild Codex’. She elaborates that she is shopping on behalf of an academic who is researching magical history in England. Ellie checks for her but comes back empty handed. The woman quickly rummages through the books yet to be catalogued, which annoys Ellie because of her impolite incentive. She promises to let her know if she finds such a book and asks for the woman’s name. The woman identifies herself as Summer, she provides her address and offers to pay £5000 should she find it, an amount that understandably astonishes Ellie. Ellie accepts her proposal without question. Pleased to reach an agreement, Summer leaves the shop. Once she leaves, Ellie’s astonishment act drops and she immediately leaves the shop to follow the strange customer.
Jago and Litefoot are walking the streets of London in a dense fog. The two men discuss the validity and trustworthiness of the modern media. Jago’s rambling eventually comes to a discussion about the Brain Drain Killer – he thinks it preposterous that such a name could be given to a murderer. While Litefoot responds with their time period’s equivalent – Jack the Ripper. Litefoot brings Jago up to speed about the recent cases and how Sacker believes there to be a possible third victim in Doctor Evans. He hopes that while the papers have no knowledge of the possibility of the third man – they can gleam some light into the case without the media twisting the truth for the public. But before they do any of that, Litefoot wishes to finish cataloguing the books he received from the house clearance and the mystery of the ‘Bloodchild Codex’ book that Dreislav spoke of. To Litefoot’s surprise, he finds the shop closed, which is not right as he believed Ellie was working on the cataloguing in his stead. The two men cautiously enter the shop and Litefoot calls for Ellie. He deduces that Ellie must have left in a hurry, otherwise she would’ve left a note to inform him of her whereabouts. Litefoot begins to suspect that something may have happened to her, but Jago reassures him that she can take care of herself…
Summer has noticed Ellie following her and turns to pull a gun on her. Ellie isn’t the least fazed by the weapon, as she believes that Summer isn’t so stupid to shoot someone in the street. But Summer believes that no one will see her in the dense fog. Summer demands to know why Ellie is following her. Ellie feigns ignorance, but Summer isn’t fooled as she noticed Ellie was following her since she left the shop. Summer instead orders Ellie to come with her at gunpoint and to not do anything stupid lest she kills her…
Jago rummages through some of the books and announces to Litefoot that he has found the elusive ‘Bloodchild Codex’ book. Litefoot tells Jago not to touch it. Due to its age, it requires delicate handling. So he equips a pair of gloves and picks the book up himself. He flicks through some of the pages and stutters in shock at what he reads, claiming its contents to be impossible. Jago is quick to remind him that they’ve dealt with seemingly impossible scenarios since The Doctor entered their lives. Litefoot informs Jago that the book details a way for one to be granted eternal life…
Ellie tries to reassure Summer that there has been a misunderstanding, but she won’t listen. She knows Ellie has found the secret to eternal life, knows she was born in the 19th century and has seen photographs of her in the Red Tavern during its heyday. Ellie once again feigns ignorance and states that the woman she saw was her grandmother. Summer states Ellie’s birthyear to be 1865, making her 103 years old. Which can only mean that Ellie has the ‘Bloodchild Codex’ and has achieved immortality…
Jago and Litefoot head off to the police station to leave the ‘Bloodchild Codex’ with Sergeant Sacker for safekeeping. They are stopped by Dreislav, and he’s not alone this time as he’s brought two thugs with him for ‘persuasion’. He calmly demands Litefoot to hand over the ‘Bloodchild Codex’. The infernal investigators feign ignorance about the book and Litefoot calls out to an imaginary police officer. The thugs turn to look for the policeman, giving the two gentlemen the opportunity to run. Dreislav and his thugs give chase. As they run, Jago suggests they both split up and meet at the Red Tavern. Litefoot agrees and the two split up. Dreislav orders his thugs to follow Jago while he follows Litefoot. Due to the dense fog, Jago unfortunately falls over. The thugs approach him lying on the ground in a daze. They order him to lie still while they search his person or they’ll attack him. Jago whimpers in fear with his eyes tightly closed. Once he opens his eyes, the thugs have gone.
Dreislav manages to catch up to Litefoot and corner him in a dead-end alleyway. With nowhere else to go, all Litefoot can do is surrender…
Jago manages to make it to the Red Tavern, completely out of breath and shaken after his experience with Dreislav’s thugs. He’s quick to order a large brandy to soothe his nerves and asks the barman if Litefoot has arrived at the pub. The barman denies seeing Litefoot, leaving Jago to wait for him alone. His solitary drink is interrupted by the arrival of Guinevere Godiva, who asks Jago about the preparations for the Palace Theatre’s filming. He confirms things are going smoothly and regales the lady with his experience of being chased by Dreislav and his thugs. In his reverie, Jago comes to a startling thought. Perhaps Litefoot has been killed by the Brain Drain Killer – after all, he is a renowned pathologist who would fit the killer’s M.O. but Godiva laughs and assures Jago that she believes Litefoot is in no danger. After all, she states that there have only been three victims. Jago is quick to correct her about there only being two victims. Godiva quietly confirms her error. So Jago asks about the missing scientist who may have been a victim. Godiva confirms that person was Doctor Evans. She assures Jago that Litefoot should be fine. She changes the subject to her hobby of collecting beautiful objects and produces a pendant. She then asks about Jago’s crystal that he showed her not so long ago, to her it looks to have come from another world…She offers to buy the crystal from Jago. But Jago refuses. Mildly disappointed, Godiva gives Jago her card with an address and map of where she houses her collection. Should Jago change his mind, he can visit her there…
Ellie tries to convince Summer that she doesn’t know anything about the ‘Bloodchild Codex’ and her immortality ‘curse’ has nothing to do with it. Summer envies Ellie for being able to cheat death, but Ellie doesn’t see it that way as she explains that she has to watch as her friends grow old and die while she stays young and spry. She even states that if she had the option to become mortal again, she would take it. Summer is astounded at Ellie’s perspective of immortality, stating that Ellie is too weak-minded to encapsulate the prospects of immortality. Summer reveals to Ellie the reason why she seeks the ‘Bloodchild Codex’ – the author Thomas Bloodchild was her Great-Great Grandfather and the story of his secret to eternal life had been passed down the Bloodchild family bloodline. But she reveals there’s more to the book than just the secret of immortality – the book contains Thomas Bloodchild’s soul and in the right hands, he can be resurrected. Ellie has decided she has heard enough. She tricks Summer into looking away, and she quickly knocks her out. Ellie looks over the knocked-out woman and imparts one upside to immortality – you learn new tricks. And with that, Ellie makes her escape.
Dreislav has captured Litefoot and locked him in his hotel room’s bathroom. Litefoot demands to be let out, but Dreislav demands he calm down as he means him no harm. He frees Litefoot from the bathroom. Dreislav apologises for his rashness and asks that he explain his side of the story. Dreislav reveals that he has terminal cancer with only three months left to live. When he dies, he’ll leave behind his wife and son with nobody to care for them. He explains that the book contains the secret to eternal life. But he’s not interested in that, he’s interested in the method of how Bloodchild managed to use the book to cheat death. Convinced with his reasons, Litefoot tells Dreislav that the book is in his bag. Dreislav elatedly picks up the book and ruffles through the pages, but finds to his horror that he is suddenly unable to breathe. Litefoot instructs him to drop the book but can’t as the book is making Dreislav grip it tightly. All he can do is watch as Dreislav rapidly ages before him before crumbling to dust…
Litefoot recounts the horrific scene to Jago later that day. Ellie arrives in the shop out of breath. She recounts her encounter with Summer and how she was interrogated in regards to her immortality and the whereabouts of the ‘Bloodchild Codex’. With so many people seeking the dangerous book, Litefoot decides the book needs to be destroyed. Jago suggests that they could sell the book to Guinevere Godiva and reveals the location of her warehouse on the card she gave him. But Litefoot is dead set on the book’s destruction. Summer enters the shop and demands the ‘Bloodchild Codex’. Jago and Ellie try to play dumb, but Litefoot tells her he has the book in his bag. Summer is grateful to Litefoot for not patronising her, but she knows that the book is protected and that anyone who touches it will die. Litefoot reveals that this was what happened to Dreislav. Summer reveals that Dreislav is actually her cousin who lied to Litefoot about his terminal illness in order to play on his emotions to get him to give him the book. She callously shows little remorse for his death, he served his purpose and sprung the deathly trap so the book can now be touched without fear of aging or disintegration. But just to be safe, she decides to make Jago touch the book and points a gun at him to force him. Litefoot instructs Jago to pass the book while only touching the dustjacket. Jago tentatively passes the book to Summer and suffers…no ill side effects! With the book in her hands, Summer believes that Bloodchild’s protective curse has been spent after Dreislav touched it. She madly rants about how Bloodchild acquired the secrets from all manner of mystics and sorcerers from across the world, how he discovered the dark dimension and communed with the demons that inhabited it. All his knowledge now belongs to her! As she concludes her rant, she struggles to breathe and groans in pain. She screams at how the book’s curse should’ve been broken. All the infernal investigators can do is watch as she wails in agony as her body ages rapidly before crumbling to dust just like Dreislav. Litefoot picks up the book by it’s dustjacket and with his mind made up, decides that the book now must be destroyed.
That evening, Litefoot lights the fireplace in his apartment and, with Jago and Ellie watching, throws the book into the fire. They watch nervously as the book begins to emit strange fumes from its burning pages, the fumes take on a more solid, humanoid shape. The fumes emanating from the figure begin to choke Jago. They manage to free Jago of the fumes, but they theorise they’ll need more than their arms to dispel the gaseous creature. The creature booms ‘I live!’ and introduces itself as Thomas Bloodchild, reborn. He asks what century he has been resurrected into. The investigators inform him it’s the 20th century – 1968 to be exact. Bloodchild looks forward to the strange new world he has to explore, but first he must secure his mystical artefacts and asks where they may be kept. His family have been instructed to keep them safe after his passing. But the investigators don’t know what he means. His patience running short, Bloodchild forms a gun from the smoke and threatens the group. Litefoot reveals that he may know where some of his artefacts may be kept as he heard it from Dreislav before he died. Bloodchild recognises the name and reveals that his family were servants and thieves. Dreislav’s ancestor was dismissed from Bloodchild’s servitude, but the servant made sure to give his former master his comeuppance by reporting his occult activities to the police. With no other options, Bloodchild faked his own death and sealed his soul inside the ‘Bloodchild Codex’. With his soul now resurrected, he wishes to exact revenge on his former servant, to which Litefoot confirms that he already has done so with his curse. Bloodchild revels in this, so he demands the investigators take him to his mystical artefact collection…
The investigators take Bloodchild on a trip via the London Underground. Bloodchild is amazed by the train and the progression of technology around him. They disembark from the train and walk along the tunnel. Jago tells the group that the map Godiva gave him notes a secret entrance in the underground tunnels. They notice another train coming quickly and Bloodchild begins to feel strange as the rush of wind from the trains begins to dispel his gaseous form. The investigators push Bloodchild into the path of the train where the train passes through him and dispels Bloodchild’s form for good – killing him once more. This was their plan all along to get rid of Bloodchild!
The trio regroup for tea at Litefoot’s shop. Litefoot’s telephone rings and he leaves to answer it. Jago mentions that they’ve solved the mystery of one book, but not the other one – the book that Ellie fretted over earlier from the house clearance. Ellie tries to dismiss her worry, but Jago is insistent that she leans on him and Litefoot about her worries. Ellie sighs and tells Jago not to tell Litefoot – Litefoot wrote a book, but from his perspective he hasn’t written it yet. Jago is delighted because if this book exists, then its definitive proof that he and Litefoot do return to the past. But he ponders how they do so, but Ellie forbids him from asking as he shouldn’t know his own future. Litefoot returns and informs the group the police have called to tell him that Jago’s house has been burgled. Jago is understandably upset, but Litefoot continues by saying that the house is completely intact aside from the study. Jago has a hunch as to who did the deed and what they were after. He produces the crystal he procured from Venus and deduces the most likely suspect is Guinevere Godiva or someone associated with her. He tells his friends how he met with her earlier and that she offered to buy the crystal from him, but how he refused to sell. She must’ve tried to rob it from him. Jago comes to a rather startling thought, all the Brain Drain Killer’s victims were experts in crystals, and Godiva showcased to Jago some rather valuable jewellery to him. Litefoot argues that its not much of a link, but Jago has damning proof that Godiva is involved. The only people who know of a third victim are Jago, Litefoot and the police. So when Jago chatted with Godiva about the killer, she named three victims and the identity of the third person…how could she possibly know such a thing if only a select few are aware of such information? The solution is simple – Guinevere Godiva is the Brain Drain Killer! Litefoot suggests he and Jago investigate Godiva’s warehouse for clues. Jago believes this to be a perfect time as Godiva is currently rehearsing her part in his ‘Those were the Days’ special the very next night, so the warehouse should be unguarded. The two gentlemen instruct Ellie to watch the shop and if they don’t return in a few hours to contact Sergeant Sacker.
The infernal investigators walk down the tunnels they ventured down earlier. They find the entrance to her warehouse and find the door is locked. Jago puts his lockpicking expertise to the test and manages to open the door…
The giant warehouse is dark and gloomy. The two men use torches to light their way around. They notice the impressive artefacts she has on display, including artefacts belonging to Bloodchild! Jago finds something that looks scarily familiar – Li H’sen Chang’s cabinet. Not the time cabinet as Litefoot initially believed, but his cabinet of swords. Jago suddenly trips and notices patches of damp on the floor…blood. Blood originating from Chang’s cabinet of swords. They tentatively open the cabinet and blood pours out everywhere and something else falls out. A driver’s license belonging to Doctor Evans – the third victim of the Brain Drain Killer! This concludes that Guinevere Godiva is the Brain Drain Killer! Jago is now completely white with fear as he realises that Godiva could’ve killed him for his crystal whenever she wanted. Jago once more falls over a drape covering another prop next to it. But his fall unveils something that the infernal investigators have seen before…Magnus Greel’s time cabinet! Litefoot examines the unique lock on the cabinet and theorises the reason she may have been killing crystal experts – she wanted their expertise to help unlock the cabinet. As if on cue, Jago’s crystal begins to pulsate in reaction to the cabinet. Litefoot takes the crystal and places it in the lock of the cabinet. The tiny sound of cogs clicking inside the cabinet begin to sound as it unlocks the door in reaction to the key. The door finally opens and the two men look on in horror at the familiar face staring back at them snorting like a pig – Magnus Greel’s murderous puppet…Mr Sin!
