These Violent Delights

Juliette promises Roma not to share what she learned about the White Flowers’ secret lab with her family. While Lourens examines the vial holding the vaccine, Juliette gets into an argument with Marshall, who strikes her. Juliette fights back, almost stabbing Marshall, but he laughs. She realizes he was joking. Lourens shows Juliette some of his inventions, including a poison that makes someone appear as if they are dead. She secretly steals this concoction. Lourens cannot figure out much about the vial but determines that it contains lernicrom, the drug that Walter Dexter has been trying to sell to the Scarlet Gang.

Juliette realizes that she needs to find a way to ask Walter Dexter about his connection to the Larkspur. At a Scarlet Gang meeting, Lord Cai announces that there is someone in the inner circle spying for the White Flowers. Juliette worries that he means her, since she is secretly colluding with Roma. However, he is referring to someone else.

Meanwhile, Marshall searches for Benedikt by the river, seeking his company. They are in an alleyway when the monster approaches them. They hide underneath a tarp and barely escape it as the monster transforms into insects. Marshall pretends to be infected, but then reveals he is joking. Benedikt shows Marshall how much he cares for him, replying, “You don’t joke about that, Marshall. I will not lose you!” (304) The two share an intimate moment, but when Marshall tries to touch Benedikt’s face, he pulls away.

Benedikt goes back to the Montagov residence, where Roma is composing a letter to Juliette. He is having trouble writing the letter because it reminds him of the love letters he used to write to her. Benedikt tells Roma about seeing the monster and explains that the monster and the insects are “one and the same” (305). Roma realizes they can kill the monster to cure the madness. He asks Benedikt to go with Marshall to stake out Zhang Gutai’s residence and to see if the monster returns there. At first, Benedikt refuses without telling Roma why. He does not want to admit that he is uncomfortable being around Marshall because he is starting to have romantic feelings for him. Eventually he agrees to go.

Juliette goes on a date with Paul. She pretends to be interested in him romantically so she can obtain more information about The Larkspur, who she believes is his employer. Paul invites her back to his home, telling her he has a surprise for her, which turns out to be four portraits of Juliette. He shows Juliette the paintings in his father’s office. Juliette, wanting to search the office, pretends to feel faint and asks Paul to fetch her a remedy. While he is gone, she rummages through Walter’s desk, finding a note from the Larkspur’s henchman, Archibald Welch.

Juliette asks Kathleen to find out more information about Archibald Welch. Kathleen agrees, and Juliette thanks her for standing by her despite Kathleen’s misgivings about Juliette’s violent methods. Kathleen reminds her that Juliette stood up for Kathleen when one of Rosalind’s friends, Amethyst, was bullying her and almost exposed her transgender identity.

Roma and Juliette meet at Great World. They pretend to watch a show while having a conversation. He shares with her the discovery that the monster and the insects are the same, and she shares with him the name of the Larkspur’s contact Archibald Welch, whom she is going track down next.

Meanwhile, Benedikt and Marshall station themselves outside Zhang Gutai’s apartment and wait for the monster to appear. They notice many people are meeting with Zhang Gutai’s assistant, Qi Ren. Benedikt confronts a Frenchman leaving the apartment, asking him why he was meeting with Zhang Gutai. He threatens him with a knife but is stopped by a policeman. Marshall notices claw scratches on Zhang Gutai’s balcony.